𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 (𝟑)
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Connections!
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In this world, connections were many times more important. Just as I’m feeling in the city now. . .
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After all, wasn’t joining Eldans’ trade caravan to forge a bond with this trading company?
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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Marcel city’s trading company branch manager, Iaon, listened to Eldans’ report with a curious expression. True to his feline beastman nature, his ears and tail twitched attentively.
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“A good meeting, was it?”
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“Yes, thanks to St. Ruoak’s care.”
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“So. . . what do you think is the reason?”
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Unperturbed by Iaon’s sudden question, Eldans understood its meaning.
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Knights who were not the firstborn and thus did not receive a fiefdom fell into several categories.
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If they were nobles with a good family background, they would be appointed by another family connected to their own and serve as knights. Even without a fiefdom, being able to act as a knight within the family’s protection was a great fortune.
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Of course, this was in the best-case scenario. . .
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If a knight failed to establish themselves, they would roam, participating in tournaments or hunting monsters to build fame and seek opportunities. Occasionally, spirited knights would approach nobles to serve under them, but this was rare.
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And if they fell further?
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They would become rogue knights, wandering battlefields with mercenaries and turning into bandits.
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Johan was not from a prestigious noble family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be wandering like this. It was clear he came from a humble or fallen noble family. . .
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Equipped so well and skilled, yet why did he not seek opportunities to impress nobles through tournaments, instead coming to the trading company?
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Knights would rather plunder merchants than come begging to a trading company. It was unusual.
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Iaon was asking for this reason.
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“I think it’s because of ambition.”
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“Ambition?”
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“Yes. What else could be the reason for a knight of noble lineage to visit a trading company? Surely not just to earn a few coins?”
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Eldans’ words were correct, but he himself did not realize that he had hit the mark.
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“If he had no ambition, he wouldn’t have made such a choice. He must have come here with the ambition to achieve feats as a knight and gain a fiefdom.”
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Normally, knights shunned associating with merchants. So, why would one visit a trading company?
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It was clear that he had an ambition that broke the usual stereotypes.
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A starving lion will not refuse to eat rotten meat while crouching down!
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If it’s to gain power, one can join hands with anyone!
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“Exactly, I thought the same.”
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“It’s also beneficial for the trading company. If we establish ties with a trustworthy knight. . .”
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Upon hearing Eldans’ words, Iaon nodded.
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The trading company and the knight could mutually benefit each other. The trading company needed force to protect its merchants, and the knight needed gold to equip and sustain his followers.
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The problem was that typically, their relationship wasn’t good!
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Few knights viewed trading companies favorably.
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To the knights, merchants were greedy and obsessed with gold, and to the merchants, knights were monsters filled only with vanity in their heads.
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But if Johan, as Eldans said, is a knight who does not consider it shameful to be thoughtful and follow the words of merchants. . .
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Certainly, this connection was worth investing in.
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“Alright. I will report positively to the higher-ups.”
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“Thank you.”
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“I trust Mr. Eldans’ judgment. That settles the matter of the knight. . . Is the situation in the Empire really that bad?”
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“Yes. It seems a major war is about to break out.”
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“As expected.”
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The Emperor crushed several nobles as an example to curb the anti-Emperor factions. Although the charges were plausible, everyone knew they were nonsensical.
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And this overreach angered the feudal lords.
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It was more than just expressing dissatisfaction; the sight of hiring mercenaries and diplomats coming and going was ominous.
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He may flaunt being an Emperor chosen by the gods, but in reality, he was elected by the votes of the prelates. His power was not much different from that of a great lord.
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In such a situation, crossing the line was bound to infuriate the nobles. It wasn’t that the nobles lacked swords to rebel.
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“Perhaps we should advise the merchants of our guild against going there. The vicinity is already troubled.”
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“?”