Humans are not very brave creatures. Even when they see sothing wrong before their own eyes, they tend to ignore it, knowing that nothing would change, even if they stepped forward. Ultimately, they understand that all it would bring would be aningless harm to themselves. But even they would stir if sothing small began to appear—sothing trivial, yet offering a clear opportunity. Then, they would be willing to risk everything and start making their voices heard.
“Awaken the church!”
“Corrupted priests, end the blasphemy now!”
“We are followers of the Lord, not the p0pe! Let’s dismantle false doctrines and restore true faith!”
The calls for religious reformation echoed across the continent. This movent began with a few clerics opposing the sale of indulgences, but their ssage quickly gained montum, rallying strong support from lords and nations opposed to the Holy Church.
As a result, a continent once united under the church’s na was now fractured, with the entire land swept up in a whirlpool of chaos.
Amid this upheaval, Schwyz remained tranquil.
There, Bahamut Fernandez of the Beden rchant Company wore a look of displeasure as he addressed the ssengers trembling before him.
“So, you want to lend you more money now. Is that it?”
“…Yes. I have no excuses, but we humbly request your help,” one ssenger replied, his face tinged with desperation.
“Yes… His Majesty himself has requested this. So, just this once…”
Bahamut let out a deep sigh, causing the ssengers’ faces to fall in anxiety.
“Do you know how many tis this has happened already? The funds borrowed during the last war haven’t even been repaid. You keep asking for more money. Even though you are monarchs, shouldn’t there be a limit to how shaless you can be?”
The ssengers fell silent, unable to respond to Bahamut’s blunt words.
They were, in fact, still burdened by unpaid debts that Bahamut had lent at minimal interest in the last war. The recent wave of religious reform within their realms had drained their finances, forcing them once again to rely on the Beden rchant Company and others like Uranus.
‘D*mn it… I never imagined this debt would trap like this…’
‘I was too complacent, thinking I could repay it if I tightened my belt. But who could have foreseen such urgent turmoil across the continent right after we barely repelled the Tarkic offensive?’
The people before Bahamut were high-ranking nobles—dukes or marquises from various countries. Yet now, they were forced to grovel before a rchant they normally deed beneath them. If they couldn’t secure the funds here, they could lose their heads, placing their lives in this rchant’s hands.
“Please! We beg you! Anything helps; just lend us the funds!”
“We will repay this debt one way or another! Please, sir!”
Bahamut sighed deeply, sensing their desperation. “I don’t want to, but I have my loyalties. Above all, if anything happens to you, I won’t recover my previous loans. So, I’ll make an exception here.”
“Oh… thank you, Mr. Bahamut!” The ssengers expressed their gratitude. However, Bahamut’s response was cold.
“Even so, I cannot lend to you again without compensation. The principal and interest are still unpaid, and we’ve suffered considerable losses. I expect sothing from you in return.”
The ssengers’ faces grew tense as Bahamut presented them with a docunt. Mixed emotions played across their features as they reviewed its terms.
“Understand, I won’t force you. The choice to accept or decline is yours.”
The ssengers realized they had no choice. From the beginning, they had been bound by this debt.
***
“So, how did it turn out?” Bertina asked, smiling as she embraced her husband, Bahamut, her b0dy against his.
“It went as expected. The answer was clear from the beginning.”
The Beden rchant Company had secured extensive comrcial rights from indebted nations, effectively gaining control over them. Despite the heavy price, these nations had no other option, needing the ‘blood transfusion’ to keep their weakened states alive amid the continent’s turmoil.
“Congratulations, honey. With this… the continent’s comrce is practically ours.”
“That’s true. I hadn’t initially intended for things to go this far, but sohow it did.”
Bertina’s smile deepened as she held Bahamut closer, happiness radiating from her. She thought to herself, ‘I was so fortunate to have t a man like you.’
Initially, he had brought her despair, only to later bring joy and the sense of being a woman once more. Over ti, he had beco her support, allowing her to fully love again. Now, he was the man who had fulfilled all her dreams.
As she lovingly embraced him, Bertina began to consider another delightful plan. ‘Perhaps… we could have another child. This ti, a son who resembles his father…’
***
In the comrcial city of Benessa, the atmosphere had changed.
The city, once suffering from attacks by the Tarkic Empire and losing its colonies, was now dominated by ships bearing the Beden rchant Company’s insignia, even at ports usually reserved for Eastern trade goods.
“The price of spices is slightly lower this year due to the continent’s current issues. I’ll accept 160 talets,” Isolda announced calmly.
Her words brought a wave of relief to the rchants gathered.
The Beden rchant Company now commanded not only Eastern trade but also wielded debt as a powerful weapon over monarchs across the continent. Though they could have easily inflated prices, the company instead showed rcy, dispelling the rchants’ anxieties.
“Thank you, truly. Given the current situation, we were concerned, but your consideration ans a lot.”
“In these troubled tis, we rchants must support each other. Mr. Bahamut has also urged humanitarian aid for the needy. He believes that every citizen on this continent is our custor, and in tis of crisis, it is our duty to help the public.”
“Oh, absolutely! We’ll gladly cooperate.”
“As expected of Mr. Bahamut. We’ll do our best to contribute.”
The rchants agreed to support this initiative, moved by Bahamut’s vision.
Beside Isolda, Yuria also smiled sincerely.
With the spice deal completed, Isolda and Yuria returned to their lodging, escorted by the Predator mbers who had been guarding them.
“Anything to report from the watch?” Isolda asked Echid, who had been on guard.
“I kept a close eye in case of suspicious activity, but there was none.”
Isolda nodded, satisfied, and addressed her team with a warm smile. “Thank you all for your hard work. Now that the deal is done, let’s enjoy a al together. I’ll treat you today.”
“Oh! A al out? That’s a treat!” Nea exclaid.
The others shared their excitent.
“I heard that Benessa’s dark spaghetti is excellent…”
“Yes! Made with squid ink, I believe?”
“I… I’d like to try it too.”
“Then it’s settled. Spaghetti it is!” Isolda declared with a cheerful smile.
Her warm smile, radiating genuine happiness, was a rare sight, one that her companions would not soon forget.
Sponsor Chapters at the Patreon Shop: Along with BuyaCoffee where you can now make paynts in your local currency, the Shop section on Patreon can be used as a way to make a one-ti-paynt. I will be creating products in the Shop section with the title of the webnovels. It will only have an image as the product, but it will count as the paynt for the Sponsored Chapters.
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