Episode 324: Building Bulk (3)
Negotiations were set up immediately in the first-floor dining hall.
“I’m Alex Marcia.”
With that brief introduction, I opted not to meet each merchant individually. Instead, I gathered all the visiting heads of trading firms in one place to negotiate together.
Through the Leaves, they had already been informed of the key condition:
To negotiate with the World Tree Union, they had to give up all rights related to the enslavement and trade of other races.
Since all the firm heads present were aware of this, the negotiations proceeded faster than expected.
No—rather, they seemed to welcome the current atmosphere.
They appeared to view the World Tree Union as a new opportunity.
But whether that confidence would hold after I revealed the share price remained to be seen.
As expected, once I disclosed the equity price, their faces immediately stiffened.
“…Isn’t that price just absurd?”
“The Lenon Family paid that amount after lengthy deliberation. Are you saying they were fools?”
“No, but still…”
“This is the transaction record of the Lenon Family regarding their equity purchase. Now that this document is public, I can’t offer anyone else a better deal. The Lenon Family wouldn’t stand for it.”
The Lenon Family had paid a staggering amount of gold for just 5% equity.
With the release of that record, the hopeful energy in the room quickly faded.
The minimum buy-in price was set at 10 million gold.
Even for these wealthy merchants, it was a heavy burden.
“At that price, even draining all our surplus funds wouldn’t get us 1% equity. It’ll be the same for the other firms.”
“If you transfer your existing rights over other-race trade to me, I’ll offer bonus equity in return. It won’t amount to a full 1%, but you’ll be able to get a portion at a much cheaper rate.”
“That…”
At the mention of surrendering their trade rights, the firm heads avoided my gaze.
Their expressions were full of lingering reluctance.
It was clear the five core families hadn’t shown up, and the others were trying to straddle both sides—watching how the wind would blow before committing.
They were ready to switch sides the moment things shifted.
Not happening.
“I don’t accept fence-sitters.”
“If you won’t surrender your rights to me, there is no negotiation. This is the same deal the Lenon Family accepted. They can no longer enslave Dwarves.”
“…Understood.”
Apparently, the Lenon Family’s influence was greater than I’d anticipated.
Following the Lenon Family’s lead, the other merchants voiced no further complaints.
They were likely trusting in the name value of Italus, the Iron-Blooded Merchant.
If only they knew how thoroughly that old man had been outmaneuvered during our negotiation—I couldn’t help but wonder what expressions they’d make.
Using the Lenon Family as my figurehead certainly made things easier.
The negotiation concluded quickly, and the merchants left with subtle, uncertain expressions.
Now that they’d aligned with me, they looked unsure whether they’d made the right choice.
As I watched them leave, Karl—who had been leaning against the wall—looked displeased.
When I approached, he clicked his tongue.
“The negotiation go well?”
“Yes. Easier than expected. But what’s with your face?”
“Just imagining those bastards grinning later while clinging to your golden rope… it pisses me off.”
“Do you hate them that much? You’re human, Karl. It’s not like they’re trading your people.”
Karl snorted.
“There’s no such thing as ‘same side’ among humans. I just think, if I were one of the enslaved races, I’d be furious. Think about it—they’re using the money they made from selling others to share in the World Tree Union’s profits. That’s seriously messed up.”
“Well, for now we desperately need allies. Let’s call it a temporary alliance.”
“Temporary?”
“Once the World Tree Union doesn’t need to fear anyone, we’ll give the stage to the victims. So they can get their revenge.”
“You think that day will come?”
“Only if we make it happen.”
I shrugged, and Karl clicked his tongue again before pulling out a piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“Info on the five big trading firms. I had some conversations with them before you arrived.”
“Anything useful?”
“Just rough outlines of where each firm head is based.”
“Nice.”
“The Lenon Family only dealt in Dwarves, so they weren’t really in the slave trade at scale. But those five firms account for more than half of all race-trade rights. You need to either break them or persuade them.”
I reviewed the contents and nodded before tucking the paper away.
Having won over all the small and mid-sized firms today, I’d at least prevented them from forming a united front.
“So now it’s divide-and-conquer, huh?”
With the Lenon Family and the mid-tier slave firms on my side, negotiations would get easier as my influence grew. I planned to visit each of the five major firms one by one.
When I asked Karl to summon a carriage, he asked,
“You’re heading out now?”
“No point dragging things out. Better to strike while the momentum’s on our side.”
“What about the upstairs? You’re not going up?”
I looked up at the stairs leading to the upper floors.
Over a few hundred other-race individuals were staying in this building—some recently captured, others who had endured slavery for a long time.
Now, they were finally resting in peace after years of suffering.
They wanted to meet the person who had broken that terrible cycle.
“They’re all waiting for you.”
Waiting for me?
What changes just because they see my face?
I shook my head.
“What would change if I met them? There’s only one thing I can do for them—the World Tree. Sending them back home. A greeting can wait until then.”
“Well… that’s a solid answer.”
I turned toward the entrance.
“I’ll be away for a while. Look after this place.”
Even if the merchants had abandoned slavery, other-race individuals were still legally slaves in Aintrier.
There might be incidents, so I left Karl in charge of protecting them.
He could manage both Lily and Keros, so this place would be secure even without me.
“Where’s Lochter? Just you today?”
“He’s guarding the Lenon Family.”
“Great. Now we’re running out of hands.”
“What about the space portal?”
“Still not ready. Samuel’s already way past the promised time. Think something went wrong?”
“He’s not someone who gets caught easily. Just wait. Once the portal opens, let me know right away.”
“Better take a ghost with you, just in case.”
“Perfect. I needed a coachman anyway.”
Karl grinned and summoned a ghost.
Shortly after—
Neighhh—!
A carriage awaited me outside. The ghost on the driver’s seat gave a small nod, and I climbed in.
The carriage departed swiftly.
All the firm heads I planned to visit were based in the city center, so travel didn’t take long.
I decided to target the weakest of the five firms first— recruiting the smaller ones first would let me scale up fast.
“I’m Alex Marcia, representative of the World Tree Union.”
With clear credentials, the visit went smoothly.
I’d already acquired race-trade rights from the Lenon Family and many mid-tier firms.
Though my total equity was less than what the five families held combined, as an individual, I now held the most.
Add to that the muscle from Lochter Felice, and most didn’t want to oppose me.
“We will abandon the slave trade.”
“A wise decision.”
Thus, the first major firm fell easily.
Anyone with half a brain could see that the slave business had become a thorny path.
I expected the rest to fall just as smoothly—until the second visit.
“I refuse.”
The second firm head's rejection was immediate. I narrowed my eyes and asked,
“Do you regret giving up your rights?”
“No, I’m well aware that opposing you will make things very difficult. It’s not about greed.”
“Then why refuse?”
“Because of the Everfell Family.”
“Everfell Family?”
The name instantly rang a bell. They were the last firm on my list—the one I’d planned to visit last.
The Everfell Family, the richest slave-trading firm, amassed the most wealth through the trade of other races.
“If they don’t give up their rights, I won’t either.”
“So you’re willing to go down with them?”
“If that’s what being a partner means, then so be it. The moment I surrender the rights to you, they’ll abandon me. My firm can’t survive without their support.”
“The World Tree Union can support you.”
“I’ve known them from the start. You, I just met today—and you're already putting pressure on me. Who would you choose in my shoes?”
“Hmm. I understand.”
It was a roundabout refusal, but a refusal all the same. I stood up to leave, deciding to visit the next firm.
Then the firm head sighed and asked,
“Is your next stop the Rossus Firm?”
“Yes. Rossus, then Ventory, and finally Everfell, as you mentioned.”
“Rossus and Ventory will say the same thing. If you bring in the Everfell head, the rest will naturally follow.”
“Everfell…”
Apparently, since the early days of the slave trade, the four remaining families had built their empires around Everfell.
Purchasing, sales, and distribution infrastructure— everything was deeply entangled with Everfell at the center.
Just in case, I still visited Rossus. But as expected:
“If Everfell doesn’t surrender their rights, neither will we. Sorry.”
That confirmed it.
‘So in the end, all I need is Everfell.’
After a moment of thought, I instructed the ghost to take me back.
“Back to the inn? What about the others…?”
“There’s nothing more to gain. Let’s return for now.”
“Understood.”
As the carriage moved, I thought hard.
“Everfell… I don’t know anything about them.”
Even digging through my novel memories, there was no mention of them.
They were just one of many firms in Aintrier. I needed detailed info on them.
Once we reached the inn, Karl greeted me with a puzzled look.
“Huh? Back already? Did you finish persuading them all?”
“No. Only one success.”
“And the rest?”
I briefly explained the situation. Karl furrowed his brow and stroked his chin.
“Everfell, huh… This is serious. We’ll need to send ghosts to dig for intel.”
“How much would it take to find out the color of the Everfell head’s underwear tomorrow?”
“You wanna go that far?”
“Yes.”
Karl snorted, but seeing my serious face, he clicked his tongue.
“How long?”
“Three days.”
“You’re insane. That would mean bribing everyone working at Everfell. You’d need a fortune—millions.”
“So how much?”
“Five million gold? You’d seriously—”
“Cheap.”
“…What?”
Karl had thrown out a random number, but I just smiled and opened my pouch.
Naturally, Fenry must never find out.