Ch.2626. Dead Cat Bounce

Imperial Capital, Cordana Exchange.

Once a symbol of the Empire’s wealth, it had now fallen to become a scapegoat hated by all privileged classes.

The nightmarish days had begun immediately after the Beast King’s survival became known.

The exchange employees had been living under constant threat to their lives.

Logically speaking, one could argue the employees had done nothing wrong. After all, they merely processed investors’ buy and sell orders mechanically.

Though they did adjust prices based on where volume and price matched, it was difficult to blame them for price decreases.

However, logic had no place in the Cordana market.

“You bastard! You just told me to place a new order at a lower price. If I had sold just an hour later, I could have made 8 million more!”

“P-please calm down, my lord.”

“Why? Are you trying to squeeze out more commission fees because you think the market will close soon?”

“You were smiling while adjusting the price just now, weren’t you? Do we look like beggars sitting here all day?”

“Oh my, customer. I would never. I wasn’t smiling.”

“You’re smiling now! Is it funny? Is it funny?”

Agitated investors would observe the employees all day, pouncing mercilessly at the slightest perceived offense.

One might wonder why they couldn’t just forcibly remove troublesome customers, but…

That was impossible.

Most exchange employees were people who had previously worked at the Imperial Bank or Merchants Guild. Some were minor nobility, others commoners.

Meanwhile, the majority of investors causing trouble were privileged elites.

Even though they were anxious about their money being tied up in Cordana, they hadn’t completely lost their power.

Sometimes, they even used that power to threaten employees.

“You work at the counter, right? And you’re a senior staff.”

“C-customer. Coming to my home is… how did you even find my address?”

“Tomorrow when the market opens, process my orders first. I need to get out now.”

“I’m sorry, but we must follow the order sequence…”

“Your brother is in the Royal Guard, right? I’m the deputy commander of the 4th Regiment.”

The mental health of exchange employees suffering such threats was understandably poor.

Though quitting such a workplace would make sense, that wasn’t easy either. What institution would hire someone from the exchange in the current climate?

But today, the atmosphere at the exchange was unusually warm.

This was because trading volume had somewhat recovered after rumors spread that an investigation into Prince’s actions would begin late this afternoon.

Some investors hastily predicted the outcome, indulging in wishful thinking.

“Did you hear? They say the Prince will take political responsibility by buying back shares and raising prices!”

“Where did you hear that? Is it true?”

“Everyone who matters already knows! Of course, the Hero bears most responsibility for the crash, but the Prince’s off-market trading was also a significant negative factor.”

“Oh! That makes sense!”

The nobleman who spread this unverifiable fake news scratched the back of his head while chuckling.

Though it was a baseless rumor first spread by a baron from a small territory far from the capital, some investors nodded, saying, “That could be…”

It wasn’t that they truly believed it; rather, there were many who desperately wanted to believe in something.

And that belief was actually generating buying interest. Thanks to this, employees could finally escape their scapegoat status and perform their actual roles.

“I’ll order one. I should lower my average cost at times like this.”

“Yes. It’s been executed at 189 million.”

“By the way, are you adjusting in 1 million increments now? That’s a wise move. Actually, even 10 million lyra isn’t a small amount, so my heart would pound with every fluctuation. Of course, about a year ago, it normally moved in 100,000 increments.”

“Um, customer? Cordana hasn’t even been issued for a year.”

“Don’t nitpick. I just meant the Cordana market has been through a lot. Hehehe.”

“…Haha.”

A scene of light banter between employee and investor.

Even though prices were still less than half their peak, expressions showed slight relief.

It wasn’t that everyone had gone crazy or reached enlightenment; rather, after experiencing such deep despair, they found great comfort in even the smallest rebound.

Compared to the days of watching a trading floor littered with hundreds of metaphorical corpses, the present felt like heaven.

Just the fact that Cordana was still being traded,

Just the fact that positive conversations were happening in the exchange reception room,

Just the possibility that things might gradually improve—all these gave hope to every market participant.

Those who had recently sold at a loss sighed when seeing such scenes.

“Tsk. Did I sell too early? Should I get back in…”

“Oh my. Are you crazy? Just stay out, honey.”

“Alright. Let’s go back to our estate. We don’t have a separate house in the capital, and it’s wasteful to keep paying expensive hotel fees.”

“Let’s go. Don’t even look at Cordana again.”

As some investors who had cut their losses left with bitter expressions, those remaining waited for the investigation to begin, managing their tension at the exchange, their workplaces, or their homes. The atmosphere was a mix of anxiety and expectation.

***

“Nice weather.”

I was strolling through the capital for the first time in a while, flanked by my close associates.

One was Bingo, a former administrative officer of the Royal Order, and the other was Amelia, the maid who cooked and did laundry at my house.

I wasn’t doing this out of some noble compulsion to be accompanied by attendants; I simply needed the help.

“Bingo. I want you to manage the soup kitchen in District 18 for a while. In return, feel free to use my name if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.”

“You mean I can claim to be a retainer of Baron Wellesley?”

“What retainer? I don’t even have a fief… Anyway, just keep the soup kitchen running properly. I received my title for contributing to welfare, so I can’t just abandon it.”

“Got it. But… soup kitchen? It’s a school.”

Right. It was originally a school. But not for now.

“Call it a soup kitchen for a while. I’m going to pretend I received a severe blow to my pride after being beaten in front of my disciples.”

“Isn’t that actually true?”

“No, I’m fine. And somehow my senses seem sharper after receiving guidance from the Captain. I’m just doing this for the Captain to see. Besides, I need to fatten the kids up before I can teach them anything.”

“…”

Bingo stared at me blankly before nodding.

I then decided to assign a task to Amelia as well. I had decided to hire additional staff.

My house was quite spacious.

As the former residence of the highest-paid lawyer in the capital, it was among the largest in District 3. While it couldn’t compare to the mansions in District 1 where the imperial family and high-ranking court nobles lived, it was too much for a single servant to manage.

“Amelia. Do you happen to have any friends who can cook…”

As I was giving instructions, someone suddenly blocked my path.

Could it be someone wanting to confront me about Cordana?

I doubted anyone would openly antagonize me now that I had a title, but you never know. Someone who lost their entire fortune might not care about barons or anything else.

“Excuse me. You’re Sir Erick, right? I apologize for the intrusion, but I’d like to ask just one question.”

From the looks of it, she didn’t seem intent on picking a fight.

She was a woman, probably in her late thirties. She was quite attractive and well-maintained, but there were signs of hardship that makeup couldn’t conceal. Judging by her subtly light attire and demeanor, she was probably…

‘From the pleasure quarters.’

Her request to ask a question was unusual, so I decided to engage.

“Speak. What is it?”

“…Actually, I’m a Cordana investor. I just overheard some nobles in front of the exchange saying that Cordana will rise significantly after this investigation concludes. …I was wondering if you share that opinion, Sir Erick.”

“I’ve already cashed out.”

“I know that, but still.”

She probably hoped I might know something since I had successfully realized profits at the peak. Being a former Royal Order member with connections to the Hero, it was a reasonable assumption.

In truth, I did have a rough idea of the “truth” that the Prince needed to reveal.

But I couldn’t tell just anyone. That would be undermining the defensive wall I had barely managed to erect.

Yet it felt wrong to simply ignore her. After a moment’s consideration, I decided to indirectly show her an escape route.

It wasn’t out of pity. I just felt I didn’t need to be too harsh when my own interests weren’t at stake.

“What was your purchase price?”

“170 million, for one.”

“You got in early. Sell now while watching the situation. I don’t know if prices will rise after the investigation, but I doubt you’ll get a chance to sell then. Hundreds will rush in—do you think you can hold your position in that crowd?”

“…”

“You couldn’t even enter the exchange during the crash, right? And you probably don’t have the ability to trade off-market. So just sell. You can still make a decent profit after fees.”

“That’s true.”

“Go.”

I turned away abruptly.

Glancing back as I walked, I saw the woman standing still, contemplating something. But soon after, she quickly walked toward the exchange.

Despite her long legs compared to Bingo, she didn’t run frantically.

‘That woman will manage somehow.’

I went about my business, wandering through the capital’s commercial district, which was showing signs of vitality again.

I bought magical potions, ordered cheese to serve with bread for the poor in District 18, and hired another servant. I even waved to my old colleague Selin, who looked much thinner, probably from her hardship at the border command.

And in the late afternoon, right after the market closed.

News spread that the investigation into the Prince would soon begin. My neighbor, Professor Weaver, came to tell me with a subtly excited expression.

Due to strong requests from the Arknight ducal family and the cardinal managing the capital’s diocese—both major players in the Cordana market—the face-to-face investigation would take place in the chapel within the imperial palace, with the Emperor, ministers, and imperial family members in attendance.

Essentially a public execution.

It was reasonable to interpret this as a political decision already made.