Volume 7 Chapter 82: No Choice In The Matter

While Krystal was being hounded by Violet, Rodrick was going ballistic in another section of the estate.

"Are you kidding me?! Why is a Bradley here?!" The shock in Rodrick's voice was palpable. The last person he expected Krystal to bring home was Keith Freed. His name had been circulating among the nobility for years, but Rodrick never thought he would come face to face with the boy himself!

"Why didn't you tell me the Bradleys are making a move?!" Rodrick turned to the cloaked man.

"Shut up." The cloaked man's voice was cold and commanding, cutting through the tension like a knife. In a moment of anger, Rodrick had forgotten this man's identity.

"I apologize!" Rodrick and his family went silent, not daring to speak.

"..." The person didn't respond as he was lost in thought. This was outside his expectations as welll. Are the Bradley and Rustchil joining forces? That was something that would halt their plans. I need to inform the prince. However, he stared at Rodrick, who seemed to be looking for him with hope.

What do I do about him?

...

These past few days had changed the Rustchil Duchy. With the merchants going on strike, fewer goods were on the street. However, a carriage was soon brought over to the corner. Everyone was curious about the carriage at first before John came out,

"Hello, Everyone! My name is John, and I come from the White Owl Merchant Group! I have many things to sell and enough for everyone!"

"Hmm?"

"What do you sell?!" Some people became curious.

"For starters! Our White Owl Merchant Group sells butter and pepper for seasoning!" John quickly brought out the two items, "These items will help brighten up any food you make!" More customers had come to the carriage one by one, curious about his claims.

While that happened, snickering came from a building.

"This is the south. Did he think he could waltz in and take over?" The merchants on strike were now staring at John and his carriage.

"Did he think one merchant group could supply an entire dukedom?" The merchants were not stupid. They had heard about the fame of the white owl merchant group. But they were only one merchant group.

Plus, they supplied most of the resources throughout the northern regions. Yet, they were now coming to the south? Are you kidding me? The merchants understood they were bound to run out of supplies.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

That was when they struck.

The Rustchil Household was relying on that one merchant group. Once that group was gone, they would rake in the profits.

...

"Why aren't they going down?!" One merchant roared. How could this be?! It has been a few days since the white owl merchant group set up shop in the streets. However, what they expected of them leaving had never occurred. Instead, it was still there and running smoothly.

Actually, the number of people there was incredible.

"If it's not going down, then we'll go in!" They need to beat that shop at their own game! They were a long-standing shop in the duchy!

"We're open!"

"Our goods are fresh and tasty!"

"Come try it out!"

All their shops had opened up at the same time. Even when they did, the customers never returned. There were some. However,

"Eh? Why are the fruits like this?" One customer muttered.

"Hmm?"

"It's not as beautiful as the ones sold at White Owl."

"..." The customers would say those words before heading back to White Owl. Dammit! Are you saying we can't beat them in quality? Then, we'll go with quantity!

"We're going to lower our prices!" If they lower it below market prices for a few days, the customers will definitely return.

As they did this,

"Buy one product and get 50% off!" John wasn't going to be fazed as he quickly shouted. And when he did, the customers quickly became excited!

They flocked over, hoping to get something great!

…

"Don't you think today is a great day, Dear?" Keith had a mischievous grin as he stared at Krystal.

"…Indeed it has."

"Ahh, have some of this meat." Keith waved a piece of meat in front of her mouth. As he did this, Violet grinned, "Now, you two, you can't show off in front of everyone."

"Hmpf!" Rodrick slammed his hand on the table and left the room. He wasn't the only one who did this, as the others also left. The only people left in the dining room were the three. And that was when,

"Pff!"

"Ha ha!"

Keith and Violet started to tear up!

"Aunty, did you see how they ran?!"

"Pff, I think Rodrick is going to explode!" The veins on his forehead were so close to popping. And Violet's stomach couldn't handle it.

"...You two are having too much fun with this." Krystal wondered if Keith was actually Violet's child instead of her. The two were similar to one another; two foxes.

"Of course, we have to. Also, did you send them over there?" Keith questioned.

...

"Do you really think you can attack this place?!" Sterling grinned as he stared at a couple of troublemakers. These guys were waiting at the teleportation gate, prepared to attack something. Well, the supplies came from White Owl.

Sterling and the other knights grinned, "Young miss has everything down." What was going to happen next was going to be interesting.

….

"Dammit! Those merchants are so foolish!" Rodrick couldn't believe it. Those merchants were now hounding him for an explanation. They were promised riches if they did this strike! But the only thing they got was dread!

"If I can't take control of the dukedom while my brother is away, what am I supposed to do?!"

“…” The man in the cloak didn't say anything but continued to stare silently,

"I can bring this situation back into your control."

"Hmm?"

"You have no choice but to do this. If you don't, everything you did would go to waste."

"!" The cloaked quickly turned his head out to the window.

"What's the matter with you?"

"…Nothing." Was that my imagination? But he closed the curtains just in case. What he didn't notice was someone sneezing.

"Achoo! Keith is definitely going to give me sweets with this juicy information."