“What the hell do you mean by that?” Toric glares at the Elder, demanding for a reply. The Elder, however, ignored his outburst and continued.
“Lord Lomn, I plead for your forgiveness for their desertions.” Hinder bowed once more. “These men, though they had deserted the army they have not forgotten their sense of honor and duty. You must understand that all men make a mistake, and they all make one major one during their lifetime.”
“You say their honor and duty is still intact? I must say that I see little proof of it.” Kai waves it off.
“Sir, you probably didn’t know as you are busy with other tasks but not 2 weeks ago this little village was enduring continuing harassment from other deserters. Those who had nothing but wish to murder and pillage, loot and rape. Many, many good men and women had perished. With this small village, everyone that is lost is another friend or a family member lost. It is not until this traveling band did the harassment ended. Please reconsider, a band who will fight not for money, not for life, but for the innocent, for the suffering, for those who cannot fight back. Is this not an act of honor and of duty?”
“... Toric is it? Tell me what do you plan to do if you survive today?” Kai looks at the scowling man.
“It is none of your-”
“Answer or die.” Kai spends no delay in interrupting Toric. “You have one chance. Speak your answer or die branded as a traitor.”
“Return home to Carrel, Tinwart, or where ever we are from and return to the simple life it used to be,” Toric responded reluctantly. “So what now? Are you fighting us or not?”
“Huh, that depends purely on Sir Zieten,” Kai stated, clearly no longer interested in talking and all eyes on me.
“Thank you, Sir Lomn.” Sending the message that I am definitely not amused to have the attention. “So Toric, let me ask you something. What do you know of the current situation, or rather, what reason did you use as a base to answer ‘return to the life it used to be’ to Sir Lomn’s question?”
“The reasons?” Toric asked, apparently bewildered by what he heard.
“Yes, the reasons why you would think that this ‘life it used to be’ still exists,” I stated as naturally as possible.
“What kind of question is that? Would anyone think about a reason to go home? Do you think about a reason to return and meet your family? If it is a thing for noble to do then count me out of it because the stories of family killing nobles are endless.” Toric scowled.
Before Kai can draw his sword and signal the beginning of a thousand men slaughter, I took the chance to reply. “Indeed the story of family killing nobles does exist but so does family killing commoner. Nobles are written much more often because poets found it much more amusing and interesting to write and sing.”
That seemed to calm down Kai a bit as he hasn’t made a move to grab his sword on his side, yet. “And let me continue. Although I am no noble of this land, I did study much of this nation and the war which had just ended. Members of your merry band are made up mainly of those who are drafted from Carrel as the name suggested. Then you should know that Carrel is very much at the far East side of this nation. Do you know that during the succession war that most barons in the County of Ingran decided to support the first prince?”
“County of Ingran… you mean-” Toric and his few bodyguards seem to have a revelation just as I hoped.
“Yes, the county that is directly South of Carrel. You have fought in the war and you should know from experience that the majority of fighting is done in the Western half of Fortra as that is where the capital Ostaburg is located but that doesn’t mean Eastern front has not seen its fair share of the war.” I said cautiously. It is always hard when I try to poke at the nerve of someone I have never met before because it is hard to predict how they will react.
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“Of course, the fight in the East is nowhere near the scale of the West but Carrel, the city, is, by my understanding, quite a target even now,” I added.
“Why are you telling us that?” Toric asked after a moment of silence, thinking. “When you first mentioned your name, it didn’t click, but now you express you are not a noble of this land I recognize it, the name ‘Zieten’. Although the Republic of Iodeal has… was distant in both name and influence. The family name Zieten is completely different. The head of one of the largest merchants guild, the ‘Red Gold’. So why are you here and what reason have you doing things here?”
I myself have little experience in term of organizing or managing ‘Red Gold’, so I couldn’t say much about them. All my interaction with them had been simply logistic works on transferring and arrival of goods in the port that I managed as I was in one of the subsection of Red Gold, Clear Silver. It seems that they are famous for what their name stands for. Red Gold, or Crimson Gold or even Blood Gold as some would call them. It represents how Gold is acquired, no matter who you are. All Gold is acquired through blood, be it clear or red.
“If you want to know why I am here then you have just as good of a guess as I. I am telling you because I am a merchant. But not just any merchant, I would like to call myself a fair merchant as well. After all, buying and selling is but a choice and all beings would without fail have at the very least 2 choices in a trade. Therefore with more information the better decision the… clients made for themselves.” I said. I actually have a great range of guesses of why I am here and I would imagine that the majority of them to be right.
“What do you want from us?” Toric finally stated. His expression is now quite dull compared to the constant changing state before. When one shows you this face, it means the person is really to make a legitimate deal.
“I shall save the exact details for when you accept it. But my offer is as such. Your band shall no longer be considered the citizens of Fortra thereby nullify all obligation to serve the local lords and the crime of desertion shall no longer hold power against you. Your band and those family members whom you wish to claim shall gain all the rights and protection which a citizen of Iodeal will enjoy. Iodeal being a part of the Kingdom of Levania, you shall also receive protection under Levania. In return, I expect that the band known as Brotherhood of Carrel is now disbanded. All former member of the Brotherhood of Carrel will become a member of Blood Silver, the Fortra area subsection of Red Gold.” I declared.
Kai didn’t show many reactions since I had already talked the talk with him beforehand but I can feel through his helmet that he wants to talk after this. Of course, at the time I simply stated to him that ‘I will find a peaceful way to disband this band of deserters’. Toric and his party are stunned by this deal since this kind of dealing where a group renounce their nationality and join another, especially for deserters, is simply unheard of.
“I say you take it, Toric.” Elder Hinder suggested. “A deal like this doesn’t make a second come around.”
“But what of Inlan? This village has housed deserters. Though we will be wiped off the so-called ‘crimes’, I doubt this village can get out free.” Toric stared at Kai.
“I can assure you that the village will be freed of it as well for even after this deal is done, most of you will stay in this village. As per a previous deal, Inlan will become one of the centers of storage for the Republic of Iodeal.” I replied.
“Is that true?” Toric directed towards Kai who nods in response. He then scans across the rest of his party who all also nods.
“How would I know that the moment we put down our weapon that you won’t retract the deal and brand us as traitors nevertheless?”
“Because I now talk to you as a merchant, not a noble. As much as that displeases Sir Lomn, I, in the end still find dead customers making some of the worst customers.” I replied naturally.
“So for profit?” Toric eyed me.
“Indeed.”
“Very well, I will take the deal. But do not expect everyone from my party to agree with you. I am only their temporary leader.” Toric finally took it after my response. In this world, words back by honor, glory, or other nonphysical things held little power to people like Toric because they are in the end, immaterial. Therefore the best deal and perhaps the most trusting one is one which both side profits from the same result.
“But you will do what you can to convince them I held no doubt. After all, they trust you enough to let you decide their future.” I said with a grin. “Then, with the blessing of Goddess Laviera, this meeting is thus concluded.”