The Chief Sentry, Howard, told me he wants to borrow enough battle slave for a short term.
He told me, that it was necessary to crush a nest of Giant Desert Isopods soon.
“We seemed to have discovered a nest of Giant Desert Isopods near the trading road. In this situation, all trading had ceased.”
“Is that so?”
Howard was telling me all about it with a serious expression, the Oasis district was in a crisis.
The Oasis district, as we know, was a town where trade was flourishing.
Generally speaking, it was a hotspot were people incessantly comes from all directions, from the north, south, east, and west.
However, there was a cloud hanging over the prosperity because a nest of Giant Desert Isopod had appeared.
It was only natural from the perspective of traders, if they are attacked, their merchandise will be spoiled. So they will hesitate in visiting the Oasis district.
Just because the nest had appeared only on the western route, it doesn’t mean northern and southern route was safe.
It was said that visitors coming into the Oasis district will decrease significantly from now on.
“And so…”
“Ah, therefore I had negotiated with the adventurer’s guild and will form a subjugation party.”
Was that just my imagination that Howard had a disappointed expression?
Perhaps the preparation for the subjugation party won’t be enough.
Thinking out aloud “Not enough manpower?”, his appearance showed that it was exactly how I thought when he heard it.
“That’s right, we don’t have enough manpower.”
Howard had a look that he was deeply regretting.
As far as I could see from his expression, it was almost telling me to lend as much manpower I can give.
I thought that the Giant Desert Isopod are monsters that can be easily subjugated. I asked Mina and Hetty to confirm, but the answer I got was “They are not weak, but they are not strong too.” What kind of answer was that?
“We of the sentinel division know to some extent the method to subjugate it. Douse them with flammable liquid and set them on fire, then attack when they are weakened.”
“I see.”
“However, if there are young isopods inside the Giant Desert Isopods, a multitude of them will come out immediately and it will become a picture of hell.”
“Umm, that is…”
The nest must not be set on fire then.
That’s what I thought but Howard rebuked me by saying “Well, even if a massive amount of young isopods comes out, they don’t have the ability to cause any casualties. As long as there are a lot of adventurers, we can finish them however we want.”
“When the number of adventurers is not enough, then it becomes a problem. Attacking a young isopod will just cause it to run away, thus, it is difficult. Even though it doesn’t have the ability to kill us, it will devour our livestock.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Therefore, I want to get as much help as possible. … I ask of you, please lend me your slaves.”
I have now understood Howard’s story.
The point was because there were not enough hands to kill the Isopods, it is expected there would be secondary damage from the young isopods. So it means they need more manpower.
“However Sir Howard, I cannot just simply help.”
“Of course, I have prepared reparations. … Just don’t expect a large sum of money.”
It seems this was the cause why Howard had disappointed look.
The rewards were probably limited by budgetary problems.
I felt like the reward was too little for this kind of work.
“I don’t care if the reward is small. However, can I request some other things in return?”
“What is it? I do not mind if I can arrange it within my abilities.”
I don’t know whether he can arrange it, but talk was cheap.
I tried to demand something that I wanted for some time.
“I think I want management rights in the Oasis district.”
“That…”
Management rights in the Oasis district.
The former shopkeeper, Mark, wasn’t able to obtain it. I think that would be considerably attractive.
It was a status symbol to be able to manage in Oasis district.
If it was the usual route, one had to prove they had managed for a long time or expect a stable profit and pay large amount of money to the authorities, then they can get into the Oasis district.
The important thing for them was to never allow a shop that will immediately go bankrupt in the Oasis district.
Instead of just becoming a status symbol because my shop appeared on the Oasis district once.
My shop will reap profits from my long time knowledge, that will become its brand.
It’s only human nature to think that travelers and foreign merchant groups visiting here through the trade routes will use shops that had status. All the more if it was a noble.
That was why the system makes the shop in the Oasis district very profitable.
“… It will depend on the negotiation.”
“If you can’t arrange it, make it a tax exemption certificate for at least a year.”
Tax exemption certificate, It’s simply a certificate to be exempted from tax from the feudal lord.
Presently the tax rate of the feudal lord was at 20%, that tax is too high for this place, that’s why I want to reduce it by all means.
“… If it’s tax exemption certificate, it will be possible.”
Howard was careful with his words.
I see, it seems that Howard had done this kind of negotiations for several times now. There may not be enough monetary rewards for forming a subjugation party from the feudal lord, therefore they gather manpower by giving different rewards such as tax exemption certificates. He’d gotten used to smoothly deal with these things that he was keeping an eye out for it.
Indeed, he seems to be more grateful I’m willing to accept tax exemption certificate.
There was definitely a reaction seeing that much from his mental chart.
Should I try to negotiate more?
“Let’s agree with the tax exemption certificate, but there is a condition.”
“Condition?”
Howard’s body stiffened for a while.
“First, our slaves are merchandise. If you damage or let them die, it will be your responsibility to buy them.”
“… That is.”
“This is my main rule. Since they are slaves, you may not care about them, that’s what I think if we don’t discuss about it.”
Howard’s speech faltered.
Perhaps he thought that I may possibly just accept the losses if it was just a few slaves.
I pressured him more.
“Next, you will be responsible for the necessary expenses for the meals, equipment, and such for the slaves. We will only prepare the manpower.”
“That would be troublesome.”
“It is not our problem.”
Meals and equipment, these must be covered by the other party.
Concerning such expenses, if I don’t confirm it beforehand, I will be in trouble. I have bitterly experienced giving in to the things as they are like these small details.
I am a weak person towards merchants that have position in society. Therefore when I make a contract, I can protect myself by clearly stipulating it, up to the minute details. I must protect myself.
“Honestly, we are not troubled if people stops coming to the Oasis district because Giant Desert Isopods appeared on the trade route. Rather people becoming slaves will increase because poor people will increase, and that is a business opportunity for us.”
“…”
“Because we are going out of our way to cooperate with you, it’s presumptuous of you to demand that we shoulder the cost of the equipment, please bear that in mind.”
I said so towards Howard.
Watching how he would react, Howard immediately looked at me directly.
“Besides, there are other minute details, please sign the contract that I will draw up if you agree to the conditions.”
“… Don’t be absurd.”
“But I’m not being unreasonable. Tax exemption certificate is rather cheap, and it’s only natural for me to ask you not to request anything unreasonable from my slaves…… If you think I’m being unreasonable, then you can decide that you won’t use us.”
To be frank, I thought that it was okay if I drop the negotiations.
But demanding the ridiculous will just needlessly worsen his impression to me.
It was just a class of common sense.
However, while looking at the trend of his mental chart.
“… I will consult with the Finance Secretary.”
As a result, Howard mentioned that I should look forward to it.
The Chief Sentry, Howard, told me he wants to borrow enough battle slave for a short term.
He told me, that it was necessary to crush a nest of Giant Desert Isopods soon.
“We seemed to have discovered a nest of Giant Desert Isopods near the trading road. In this situation, all trading had ceased.”
“Is that so?”
Howard was telling me all about it with a serious expression, the Oasis district was in a crisis.
The Oasis district, as we know, was a town where trade was flourishing.
Generally speaking, it was a hotspot were people incessantly comes from all directions, from the north, south, east, and west.
However, there was a cloud hanging over the prosperity because a nest of Giant Desert Isopod had appeared.
It was only natural from the perspective of traders, if they are attacked, their merchandise will be spoiled. So they will hesitate in visiting the Oasis district.
Just because the nest had appeared only on the western route, it doesn’t mean northern and southern route was safe.
It was said that visitors coming into the Oasis district will decrease significantly from now on.
“And so…”
“Ah, therefore I had negotiated with the adventurer’s guild and will form a subjugation party.”
Was that just my imagination that Howard had a disappointed expression?
Perhaps the preparation for the subjugation party won’t be enough.
Thinking out aloud “Not enough manpower?”, his appearance showed that it was exactly how I thought when he heard it.
“That’s right, we don’t have enough manpower.”
Howard had a look that he was deeply regretting.
As far as I could see from his expression, it was almost telling me to lend as much manpower I can give.
I thought that the Giant Desert Isopod are monsters that can be easily subjugated. I asked Mina and Hetty to confirm, but the answer I got was “They are not weak, but they are not strong too.” What kind of answer was that?
“We of the sentinel division know to some extent the method to subjugate it. Douse them with flammable liquid and set them on fire, then attack when they are weakened.”
“I see.”
“However, if there are young isopods inside the Giant Desert Isopods, a multitude of them will come out immediately and it will become a picture of hell.”
“Umm, that is…”
The nest must not be set on fire then.
That’s what I thought but Howard rebuked me by saying “Well, even if a massive amount of young isopods comes out, they don’t have the ability to cause any casualties. As long as there are a lot of adventurers, we can finish them however we want.”
“When the number of adventurers is not enough, then it becomes a problem. Attacking a young isopod will just cause it to run away, thus, it is difficult. Even though it doesn’t have the ability to kill us, it will devour our livestock.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Therefore, I want to get as much help as possible. … I ask of you, please lend me your slaves.”
I have now understood Howard’s story.
The point was because there were not enough hands to kill the Isopods, it is expected there would be secondary damage from the young isopods. So it means they need more manpower.
“However Sir Howard, I cannot just simply help.”
“Of course, I have prepared reparations. … Just don’t expect a large sum of money.”
It seems this was the cause why Howard had disappointed look.
The rewards were probably limited by budgetary problems.
I felt like the reward was too little for this kind of work.
“I don’t care if the reward is small. However, can I request some other things in return?”
“What is it? I do not mind if I can arrange it within my abilities.”
I don’t know whether he can arrange it, but talk was cheap.
I tried to demand something that I wanted for some time.
“I think I want management rights in the Oasis district.”
“That…”
Management rights in the Oasis district.
The former shopkeeper, Mark, wasn’t able to obtain it. I think that would be considerably attractive.
It was a status symbol to be able to manage in Oasis district.
If it was the usual route, one had to prove they had managed for a long time or expect a stable profit and pay large amount of money to the authorities, then they can get into the Oasis district.
The important thing for them was to never allow a shop that will immediately go bankrupt in the Oasis district.
Instead of just becoming a status symbol because my shop appeared on the Oasis district once.
My shop will reap profits from my long time knowledge, that will become its brand.
It’s only human nature to think that travelers and foreign merchant groups visiting here through the trade routes will use shops that had status. All the more if it was a noble.
That was why the system makes the shop in the Oasis district very profitable.
“… It will depend on the negotiation.”
“If you can’t arrange it, make it a tax exemption certificate for at least a year.”
Tax exemption certificate, It’s simply a certificate to be exempted from tax from the feudal lord.
Presently the tax rate of the feudal lord was at 20%, that tax is too high for this place, that’s why I want to reduce it by all means.
“… If it’s tax exemption certificate, it will be possible.”
Howard was careful with his words.
I see, it seems that Howard had done this kind of negotiations for several times now. There may not be enough monetary rewards for forming a subjugation party from the feudal lord, therefore they gather manpower by giving different rewards such as tax exemption certificates. He’d gotten used to smoothly deal with these things that he was keeping an eye out for it.
Indeed, he seems to be more grateful I’m willing to accept tax exemption certificate.
There was definitely a reaction seeing that much from his mental chart.
Should I try to negotiate more?
“Let’s agree with the tax exemption certificate, but there is a condition.”
“Condition?”
Howard’s body stiffened for a while.
“First, our slaves are merchandise. If you damage or let them die, it will be your responsibility to buy them.”
“… That is.”
“This is my main rule. Since they are slaves, you may not care about them, that’s what I think if we don’t discuss about it.”
Howard’s speech faltered.
Perhaps he thought that I may possibly just accept the losses if it was just a few slaves.
I pressured him more.
“Next, you will be responsible for the necessary expenses for the meals, equipment, and such for the slaves. We will only prepare the manpower.”
“That would be troublesome.”
“It is not our problem.”
Meals and equipment, these must be covered by the other party.
Concerning such expenses, if I don’t confirm it beforehand, I will be in trouble. I have bitterly experienced giving in to the things as they are like these small details.
I am a weak person towards merchants that have position in society. Therefore when I make a contract, I can protect myself by clearly stipulating it, up to the minute details. I must protect myself.
“Honestly, we are not troubled if people stops coming to the Oasis district because Giant Desert Isopods appeared on the trade route. Rather people becoming slaves will increase because poor people will increase, and that is a business opportunity for us.”
“…”
“Because we are going out of our way to cooperate with you, it’s presumptuous of you to demand that we shoulder the cost of the equipment, please bear that in mind.”
I said so towards Howard.
Watching how he would react, Howard immediately looked at me directly.
“Besides, there are other minute details, please sign the contract that I will draw up if you agree to the conditions.”
“… Don’t be absurd.”
“But I’m not being unreasonable. Tax exemption certificate is rather cheap, and it’s only natural for me to ask you not to request anything unreasonable from my slaves…… If you think I’m being unreasonable, then you can decide that you won’t use us.”
To be frank, I thought that it was okay if I drop the negotiations.
But demanding the ridiculous will just needlessly worsen his impression to me.
It was just a class of common sense.
However, while looking at the trend of his mental chart.
“… I will consult with the Finance Secretary.”
As a result, Howard mentioned that I should look forward to it.
