Chapter 32: Side Story (The Tale of a Certain Merchant Leader – Part 4)

"Trade in provisions…?"

"The only products we can offer are from the sea. However, since they are processed, they have a long shelf life and should be of value to you."

The “goddess” of Paraiso had suddenly brought up the idea of trading food. As a sample, she handed over something resembling dried fish, along with dehydrated seaweed. She explained that these items could be consumed as-is, grilled, or rehydrated with water. While it was known that fishermen sometimes ate seaweed, it wasn’t something commonly consumed by others.

However, the issue wasn’t the products themselves.

The real question was why they had abruptly decided to sell food. What prompted this sudden shift?

"We have some understanding of your circumstances. Up until now, our trade has been mutually beneficial. Losing this town would be a disadvantage for us."

"Losing this town… What an ominous thought."

If only he could have laughed off such a grim notion.

The residents of this town hadn’t been informed of the details, but the surrounding situation was dire. The town was entirely dependent on imports for food. Currently, caravans came in seeking the threads and fabrics brought by Paraiso, so there was no immediate problem. However, that trade relied on a precariously thin thread, one that could snap at any moment. During this third trade exchange, Paraiso had arrived with astonishing vessels. Not only was their massive trade ship impressive, but their accompanying ships were extraordinary as well. With such ships at their disposal, it was reasonable to expect continued trade relations.

But the supply caravans from the royal capital could stop at any time.

In this war-torn nation, where conflicts raged everywhere, how long could precious food supplies be exchanged for luxuries like threads and fabrics? Adding to the complications, large escorts were necessary to protect against bandits. Given these factors, it wouldn’t be surprising if the caravans ceased coming altogether.

Still…

Why did the people of Paraiso feel the need to point this out? Where were they getting their information?

"This is merely a report to inform you that food will be added to our trade goods. What follows is a proposal from us."

"…"

Last time, they had seemed like benevolent goddesses. Now, they resembled unfathomable demons—or perhaps that was an exaggeration. Nonetheless, their usual expressionless demeanor, paired with their ominous words, made them appear even more otherworldly.

"Our request is for continued trade in iron. For that to happen, this town must remain intact. However, at this rate, its future is obvious."

"…"

"What we can immediately provide is defensive power."

"Defensive power?"

"Our ships are capable of covering the area from the harbor to outside the town’s boundaries. Should there be an external attack, we can eliminate it with naval artillery."

Given our current situation, this proposal was undeniably appealing. If their precise artillery could annihilate enemies, the town's defenses would be unshakable.

But…

"…Doesn’t that mean the entire town is within your firing range?"

"Affirmative."

This revelation was tantamount to having the entire town held hostage. Of course, this was somewhat expected. Those familiar with such weaponry had likely already surmised that their cannons were long-range and highly accurate. However, hearing it directly from the source was another matter entirely—it was terrifying.

"We have no intention of threatening you, nor do we stand to gain from such actions."

She paused and picked up her teacup. Watching her pale throat move as she sipped, I was reminded that she was human like us. Unconsciously holding my breath, I slowly exhaled.

"I trust you to make a rational decision."

Rationally speaking, the town was within their range. A sword was pointed directly at us—no, Paraiso hadn’t even drawn their sword. It merely rested there. If that was the case, then fearing it was irrational. While emotionally, the situation was terrifying, logically, Paraiso was not an enemy. They had never acted coercively, demanded unfair contracts, defrauded us, or lied to us.

Admittedly, our relationship was still new. However, in terms of trade, Paraiso had been nothing but earnest during the past two exchanges.

"…Understood. I’ll trust you on this."

"We appreciate that."

Paraiso would not harm the town. On the contrary, they had offered to protect it from external threats. While their proposal was highly welcome, the question remained—what was their price?

"What we require is iron. Iron ore is acceptable. Securing iron must be the top priority."

As expected, what they sought was iron. Hearing it put into words for the first time clarified their intentions. Until now, they had likely kept this need concealed. Whether or not they succeeded in doing so was irrelevant—there was a clear difference between explicitly stating a need and merely hinting at it.

"Iron… But this town doesn’t produce iron. We can’t secure a sufficient quantity without going to the inland mining towns."

"We are aware. Since the mines are inland, we cannot dispatch forces for their defense or provide escorts along the way."

"Even if we deploy forces from this town, they are necessary for its defense. Protecting the mining towns as well would be… difficult."

As I said this, I realized the premise had shifted.

"We will handle the defense of this town. We can also provide personnel to some extent. To put it bluntly, we want you to allocate all your forces to securing iron."

"…That’s…"

Entrusting the town’s defenses entirely to Paraiso while dedicating all resources to protect the mining towns—it wasn’t impossible. However, it would mean placing the fate of Telek Harbor in Paraiso’s hands. As the town’s leader, was I prepared to make such a decision?

"We judge that there is no time to waste. Based on our analysis of gathered information, a major conflict is likely within a few months. Once war begins, refugees will flood in, riots will break out, bandit activity will increase, and, at worst, the regular army may seize this town."

The future she described was a nightmare. What made it worse was how closely it aligned with the council’s discussions. Paraiso clearly had an accurate grasp of the nation’s inner workings.

"We can also provide weapons and armor to some extent. Food will be prepared as well, though it will be limited. This town lacks many resources, but Paraiso will supply what we can."

After much deliberation, Kulavia Telek, the merchant leader of Telek Harbor, decided to fully accept Paraiso’s support.

While groundwork still needed to be laid, it was undeniable—he had agreed to place Telek Harbor under Paraiso’s protection.

The nation could not be relied upon. To protect the town and its people, including himself, drastic measures were necessary. Aligning with a foreign power would cause significant issues if discovered by the central council. However, that same council had long ceased functioning, leaving the kingdom in chaos. The king had lost his influence, and the nobles were locked in perpetual conflict, seeking to safeguard their interests and expand their power.

This country had no future.

That was the conclusion of the great merchant, Kulavia Telek.