Volume 9 Chapter 22 The Way To Swallow A Business Deal
The auctioneer leaves the auction room with shaking legs. At the same time, Ice keeps an eye on the Ice Bird, and I rub my ring and start talking.
"Clay, can you hear me? We've succeeded in getting the manager's attention, so come over here."
'Got it. Thanks, Wade-kun.'
I end the call. Then, we wait for a while until the manager and Clay gather around.
About ten minutes later, surrounded by ice statues, we're seated for our business discussion. Clay leads the way, followed by me, Ice, and Rollo, while the manager and auctioneer sit across from us.
The manager looks around at the frozen customers with a cautious expression, then turns to us.
"...What's the point of this? Even if you take our customers hostage, it's none of our business."
He's still trying to act tough, but it seems like he's got some leeway left.
Ice responds to him.
"If all the customers turn into ice, there'll be no one left to buy from your shop, right? That means your shop will go bankrupt, doesn't it...?"
"..."
The manager opens his mouth to say something, then closes it, repeating this action a few times. Then, he reaches for the tea the auctioneer has prepared.
He takes a sip, wets his mouth, and glares at us, especially Clay.
"So, you're trying to threaten us. I've seen your kind before. You're a newcomer who recently joined the Merchant Guild, trying to intimidate an old-timer like me with these tactics, thinking you'll get away with it."
However, Clay just gives a relaxed smile.
"We're aware of the mercenary unit's combat power that you have backing you up. And they're no match for us. I think you can see that from this ice statue, don't you?"
"...Tch! ."
The manager clicks his tongue in frustration.
No matter what you say, violence is what gets the final say in a desperate situation. Pressure that might take effect someday is too slow.
"What's the point of this?"
The manager asks, realizing that his threats won't work on us.
Clay answers calmly.
"Will you sell us all your merchandise? We won't buy it at a bad price, though."
"...? .....Ah, I see. So, the goal isn't us, but the surroundings."
Clay's single demand was enough to make the manager sense our hidden intentions. I was impressed, my eyes wide with surprise.
"Are you planning to swallow up all the people frozen in this place? Did you target us to dry them up?"
"You understand perfectly. That's correct."
"Hmph, it's a common tactic. Being targeted isn't a rare occurrence... but I've never been crushed by such overwhelming power before."
The manager snorted, then crossed his arms to think.
"What's the price? We're an auction-based business, so it'll cost you a pretty penny."
"No problem. If we can dry up everyone, we'll be the only functional shop in this area. We can raise the prices as much as we want."
"Hahahahah! You're ruthless. You're as ruthless as the devil."
The manager laughed, then asked further.
"Such ruthlessness is rare even in the city. What's your goal?"
"Wade-kun."
Clay said, pouring water on me. I was taken aback, then nodded in agreement and turned to the manager.
I smiled fearlessly, crossing my legs. With an air of confidence, I said:
"First, we'll take over the Merchant Guild. We'll use that as a foothold to secure personnel and bring down all the towers protecting the Demon King's castle."
The manager's eyes widened at my words. He looked like he had encountered a monster he couldn't comprehend, his face pale.
"...What do you plan to do after bringing down the towers?"
"..."
I removed the horn on my head. The manager and the moderator turned pale.
"We're going to kill the Demon King. We've come all the way from the surface to Nilfheim for that."
The room fell silent, the silence as cold as ice.
I quietly put the horn back on, speaking brightly.
"That's what this is all about, a festival. We've scattered over a thousand personnel throughout the city, taking root and starting to nest. We'll make you take the first step."
"...Wh, wh, wh, you're... human...?"
"Yeah, humans. We have the power to slaughter Demons and still have some left over."
Do you get it? I press on.
"You're lucky. We've been messing up this city, destroying it, and reaching the Demon King's castle. You're lucky to know about it now."
"...Can I get ahead, then?"
"That's an option too. You can run away if you want. Then, we'll just take over this whole store. But the Demons under us are thinking like this."
I place my hand on Rollo's head and give a sly smile.
"'Killing the Demon King is a ridiculously rare festival, we're definitely going to ride it!' That's it."
"Since we won't die no matter what~, not riding the Demon King killing fest would be a waste, right~?"
Rollo raises her hand enthusiastically. I burst out laughing.
He has a shocked expression, unable to move. He is also deeply contemplating, looking serious.
"...Demons, no matter how stupid, won't say they'll rebel against the Demon King."
The manager says.
"Strong Demons are even more so. Strong Demons are often clever and won't say something like 'we'll kill the Demon King' even if their mouths are torn apart."
What does 'won't say' mean?
"But you guys have strength that can't be compared to those Demons. Since the horns have been removed, you're really humans, huh. Ah, that's right. I have no choice but to believe it."
After saying that, the manager closes his mouth. He bites his lower lip and remains silent again.
Just when I think he's opened his mouth, he looks at me and says...
"You said you'd make a deal with the Merchant Guild, right?"
"Ah, yeah. I said that."
"So, that means we'll take down Yor, the Queen of the Bazaar, the Guild Master of the Merchant Guild, right?"
When I glance at Clay, Clay just nods. I turn to the branch manager and answer, "Ah, that's right."
The branch manager looks at me with a determined expression.
"...Got it. Then, let's accept the conditions. We'll set the wholesale price at the market price."
"Huh? What kind of mental change is this?"
"Killing the Demon King... is just unrealistic. I don't even know what's going to happen. The fear is winning. But―――Yor, that arrogant snake woman who looks down on everything."
The manager smiled faintly.
"I'd rather die than bow down to her and act all humble. Even if she offered me thousands of money, I wouldn't do it. So, if you took her down, then I'll do it, so count on me!"
"Leave it to me."
I shook hands with the manager. The deal was set.
Then the manager moved to the stage. He told Ice to "melt all the customers" with a glance, and it was done.
The demons around us started chattering, "Huh? What's going on? What happened? Right now... I don't get it, but my body's freezing from the core...!"
"―――We will inform our esteemed customers. As of today, we will be ending the auction we've been conducting."
The manager's words echoed. After a moment of silence, the merchants around us erupted in anger.
"What the hell?! I only have this place to buy from!" "Yeah, yeah! How can we accept this sudden announcement?!"
The merchants were in an uproar, on the verge of rioting.
The manager clapped his hands, and the mercenaries who were waiting in the back surrounded us, the customers. The demon merchants all fell silent, their spirits crushed.
"This is a done deal. Thank you for your patronage until today."
The manager said, and then left the room.
The demon merchants around us let out despairing cries. Clay, hearing this, shrugged his shoulders with a calm face, saying "Well, it'll dry up in a few days anyway".
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