The merchant's room was on the fifth floor of the building.

A man sat, almost lying amid a room full of relics. This was Goose, a merchant so fat he could not get up by himself.

"As you can see, I must ask your understanding for not being able to greet you properly. Judging by the look of you, it appears a young man has come to see me by request."

"I am Roger of House Hader."

"I am Goose, heading the Goose Merchant Guild. If Lord Hader has sent his young child rather than coming personally, that alone shows how clever he is. Ah, please, take a seat."

I sat down, and Russell stood behind me.

Contrary to his large build, merchant Goose's eyes were quite sharp. His impression was rather genial, which made him appear more capable than expected.

"As a trade ship is due to dock soon, please understand that we do not have much time for discussion. So let us get straight to the point. I hear you wish to borrow some money—how much is it that you seek?"

I answered without delay.

"I'd like to borrow 100 gold coins."

"100 coins, you say?"

"I know it's not an easy amount to repay. But I am asking to borrow it because I am confident I can."

Goose looked at me, then at Russell.

Russell just continued staring at Goose.

"Is the inheritance from your old domain finally arriving? Or is it that you've discovered something valuable up north?"

A merchant is a merchant, after all.

He surely suspects that we can't easily repay the money.

"Mr. Goose, as long as you can get your money back with interest, does it matter the source? I don't see why we'd need to tell you."

"It'd be different if it were but a small change. Anyone can claim they'll repay. We need to make sure it's feasible."

"Those left in the western lands will come in the spring. We had to rush north and couldn't liquidate all our assets."

"Is that so? The western traders I know told a very different tale."

"The truth is always different from rumors."

"That may be. But is it truly just a rumor? For merchants, information is money. I doubt a merchant spreading false information could stay in this business."

A sly smile spread across Goose's face.

It was clear he was saying he knew everything about our family—even the circumstances when we were still in the west.

Would a tycoon have responded to our request just to lend a few gold coins for interest?

He probably thought, with us struggling, he might extract something else. But then, I asked for 100 coins.

"So even for a tycoon, 100 gold coins is a large sum?"

"With 100 gold coins, I could employ a hundred workers for several months. I doubt a noble house of such stature would cheat a humble merchant like me out of money. Still, one never knows, so I have to check."

"You heard people from the western lands are coming in the spring. What more do you need to verify?"

"What if those people never arrive?"

What exactly is this man after?

Initially, he seemed intent on securing the last remaining wealth or fortress from our family.

Now that I claimed I could repay, Goose must suspect we discovered something in the polar region—he must have learned we crossed the barrier.

"If that concerns you so much, why arrange this meeting?"

"How could a humble merchant possibly refuse a noble's request?"

"Since you don't trust my word, I suppose I should find another merchant. Still, thank you for considering our request. Let's go, Russell."

I expressed my gratitude and stood up.

I truly intended to leave.

If I couldn't borrow money from a merchant, no matter how awkward, I would have to return to that demon cave.

"Please, sit. Without me, you'll find nowhere else to borrow money."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly as I said. Here in the northeast, house Hader has no other merchant but me to borrow from."

"It sounds almost as if you want to force the loan on us."

Goose sneered at my words, revealing his true colors.

"The reason you want to borrow is because of the thirty-year cold snap, isn't it? I have a feeling that if you fail to overcome this cold, house Hader will be in even worse straits."

"So?"

"That's why I will lend you the money. But there are conditions. I was going to close my eyes to the details if you brought up the real reason for the request, but since you haven't, I must bring it up myself."

"What is the other condition?"

"Instead of repayment, give me the mining rights to the firestone."

So it was the firestone.

It looked like our expedition kept quiet about it, yet somehow he found out.

Goose continued.

"You'll need to borrow this money. Only then can you survive this winter and plan for the next. If you hand over the firestone and withstand the cold, it doesn't seem such a bad deal."

"Are you threatening a noble?"

"A noble, you say..."

Goose's face twisted into a sneer.

He clearly knew our situation well.

"Accept the contract on these terms. As I said, there is no one else but me to lend you this money."

"How do you intend to handle the consequences?"

"Whose consequences do you mean? Are you talking about a family that will disappear after this winter if they have no money? Or a noble dreaming of vain restoration out here in exile?"

"Mind your words!"

Russell flared up, but I gestured for him to be quiet.

Goose grinned, continuing.

"In the north, the barrier fortress is called the tomb of high nobles. Not a single exiled noble has survived the thirty-year cold. Only the newcomers are ignorant of that fact."

"And yet you still intend to lend us money?"

"As a local merchant, I must help where I can. But even then, the thirty-year cold is so harsh, there's little hope."

"If we're gone, I suppose you'll manage the fortress."

"If the fortress is empty, someone will have to maintain it. It could be repurposed as miners' lodgings or something. At least until the next cold. Another noble will be sent."

Goose laughed quietly.

He didn't seem to think our family's restoration was possible.

"We can overcome the thirty-year cold without your help. You seem convinced that we'll never recover, but that might be the biggest miscalculation of your life."

"Is that so? Hahaha."

There was a subtle shift in Goose's laughter.

I couldn't say what caused it.

"I have a question."

"As many as you like."

No matter how wealthy, he was still just a regional merchant, hiding behind local powers.

"Does Count Urke know about our meeting?"

Goose's eyes wavered for a moment.

Just as I expected.

"This has nothing to do with the lord."

"If someone in the capital learns that we survived thanks to your money, what position do you think the count would be in? Or rather, what would happen to your business?"

Goose couldn't respond.

He hadn't expected such words from a child. No matter how big a merchant he was, he didn't understand noble society.

I only had a bit of political experience.

"And one more thing. Neither the central government nor the local lords interfere with us, but the barrier fortress is an estate granted to our family by His Imperial Majesty. You'd turn such an estate into lodgings for miners?"

"...."

"Occupying land granted by the Emperor without leave... That's an act of high treason, belittling the Emperor's authority. How many could bear the consequences?"

"What do you mean...?"

"Our family can't be punished. The count, as the local lord, won't be punished either. But a merchant, unknown to anyone in the capital and so far from the center, could lose his head at the Emperor's command."

"No, that's—"

"Even in exile, our house holds imperial blood. Only the Emperor has the right to punish us. Do you think the noble society of the capital would stand by if a mere merchant dared to insult such a house? Do you think we have only enemies in the capital?"

Merchant Goose's face had frozen.

This path was already set.

"Exile is exile, but nobility is nobility. In the capital alone, there are dozens of families who fought beside my father on the battlefield. Do you think high society would stand by and watch a merchant threaten a noble over a few coins? Do you think the local lord sheltering you would risk the scorn of the nobles in the capital for your sake?"

"Master Roger, I only..."

"House Hader commanded thirty-six knights and ten thousand soldiers as the great lord of the west. The first family head was the younger brother of the founding Emperor and the greatest hero of unification. Do you think a house of the Empire, just because it is temporarily exiled, should be treated with contempt by a lowly merchant? Do you really think so, Mr. Goose?"

Goose's expression had frozen.

He understood well enough what I meant; but what if we didn't fall? My words could become reality.

Goose's stiff face slowly relaxed.

This, too, had its meaning.

"Young master, you're quite the joker."

"One should laugh when the family is in trouble."

Truly a schemer.

Goose must see me as even more than that.

"Very well. I'll loan you the money, no conditions. But please, keep the source of your funds secret."

"Trying to keep both sides satisfied, are you?"

"That's the way of a merchant, to sway with the powerful above."

"I'll see the money is put to good use."

"I hope you can weather this cold and become the new power of the east."

Goose drew up the contract right there.

I don't think my threats were what changed his mind.

"Why did you change your mind?"

Goose gave a bright smile at my words.

"I saw a future for House Hader! Wahahahaha!"

Goose's thunderous laughter resonated.

Russell watched me silently.

I only shrugged my shoulders.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=That monologue is, chef's kiss...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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