Chapter 6: A Completely Legal Transaction Without Any Legal Flaws 1

In a building located at the central market of the city.

Even considering its location in the commercial district, the place was of considerable size. At this hour, a group of people had gathered there.

Six individuals of various ages and genders were seated – an elderly man, two middle-aged men, two young men, and a young woman.

However, despite their differences in age and gender, they shared a few commonalities in this moment.

One was that all six were dressed in rather luxurious attire, indicating considerable wealth.

The other was that, to varying degrees, all six wore serious expressions as they occupied this place.

Their demeanor suggested they felt rather complex emotions simply by being present.

Some repeatedly drank from their cups as if parched, while one was even breaking out in cold sweat, unable to hide his anxiety.

As this heavy silence lingered among them…

Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, one person spoke up.

“Um… are you truly certain… it’s alright for us to be here like this?”

The first to speak was the youngest male among them.

Seemingly waiting for this, another young man opened his mouth with an uneasy tone.

“To be honest, I’m not so sure either. Although we’ve benefited greatly from Lord Santana until now, engaging with an excommunicated individual is…”

“Quiet, you foolish youths, why must you be so reckless!”

“As you know, Santana possesses numerous records and ledgers of our transactions with him. No matter how sharp the Archbishop’s blade may be, if he were to make a move against Santana, we would not be spared either.”

The middle-aged man responded harshly to the young men, revealing his discomfort.

However, the elderly man, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a composed voice tinged with calm.

“So you were thinking such thoughts? Haha, well then… if those who call themselves branch managers came to this place out of mere fear, this old man finds it rather disappointing.”

“But… Branch Manager. Isn’t that the reality of the situation?”

“Just between us, but some of those transactions may include legally questionable items. It may not matter since Santana will soon be leaving this place, but if he were to expose them as he departs…”

“Haah…”

The middle-aged man spoke with apprehension, and the Branch Manager let out a small sigh in response.

Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward the young woman seated across from him.

A beauty with long, lustrous blue hair, deep azure eyes, a captivating face, and a rather fine figure.

Looking at her, the Branch Manager respectfully lowered his head and spoke in a courteous tone.

“My apologies, Miss Amalia, it seems my guidance has been lacking in many ways.”

“No, it’s only natural to feel that way in a situation perceived as dire. Especially when there’s incriminating evidence like ledgers involved. However…”

Along with those words, her tone carrying a hint of interest amidst her seriousness, she asked the elderly man before her.

“It seems you, Branch Manager, harbor little fear about meeting with this excommunicated holy knight. Is there perhaps a reason you feel so confident?”

“Haha, of course not. An old man like me could never have such confidence. I’ve simply grown numb with age, that’s all.”

As the one with the greatest influence in this city among those present, his words were likely half in jest.

A figure whose power even the Archbishop overseeing this entire region could not easily dismiss.

However…

At least, the others could vaguely sense that his attitude did not stem solely from the power he wielded.

The Branch Manager then continued, addressing Amalia in a composed tone.

“However, even without such confidence, is there truly a need to feel fear? As you are already aware, Miss.”

“Hoho… indeed, you speak the truth, Branch Manager.”

The two exchanged a dialogue only they seemed to understand, quietly savoring a sense of intellectual superiority as they smiled.

Although the other branch managers appeared oblivious, these two clearly knew the reason they had gathered here…

More precisely, they had already grasped the approximate reason why Santana, the former holy knight who had been excommunicated and was one of their most important clients, had summoned them.

‘In about four days, his excommunication will be processed, and he’ll have to leave this place. In the meantime, he’ll likely be preoccupied with packing and making preparations to depart.’

‘Yet such a person went out of his way to summon us to gather here like this. It’s clear he wishes to engage in some kind of transaction with us.’

A simple assumption would be that he wanted them to purchase the lands and buildings he owned. However, the two were well aware that it would not be so straightforward.

No matter how wealthy they were in this city, it was impossible for them to quickly amass enough funds to purchase all of Santana’s possessions in the short term.

And if he had intended to sell only a portion, there would have been no need for formal summons or subtle hints – he could have simply proceeded with impromptu transactions.

‘For someone pressed for time to go about things in this manner… there must be something more to it.’

‘That man has always used unconventional trading methods we were unaware of to profit in ways we never imagined. He’s undoubtedly employing some special means this time as well, ensuring things don’t unfold as the Archbishop desires, although we can’t say for certain…’

Despite bearing the title of holy knight, a profession seemingly far removed from commerce, the special talents Santana had demonstrated in their contracts and transactions over the past year had brought a fresh sense of wonder, even to those who made their living through trade.

Frankly, had this been a more moderate situation where he was simply expelled from the Order of Holy Knights instead of the extreme case of excommunication, they would have scouted Santana at the commercial guild level immediately.

Thus, with a slight sense of anticipation about the bombshell this man might have prepared, they calmly awaited the arrival of today’s main event.

And shortly after…

“Lord Santana has arrived.”

The voice of an attendant came from beyond the door.

Those inside the room began to feel a slight tension.

Then, their eyes fell upon Santana entering the meeting room, accompanied by a beautiful holy knight.

“Thank you truly for gathering despite your busy schedules.”

Santana spoke with his usual smile.

While the branch managers responded with slightly stiff smiles, the Branch Manager and Amalia greeted him with smiles as serene as his own.

After the simple greetings, Santana took his seat.

Immediately after, erasing the smile from his face, he spoke to everyone present in a serious tone.

“Well then, since we are all busy people, allow me to get straight to the point.”

With those words, Santana opened the bag he had brought and produced thick stacks of documents.

The moment they saw this, expressions of anticipated realization appeared on Amalia and the Branch Manager’s faces.

“The reason I have come here is precisely this… to dispose of all the assets I have accumulated until now, in this very place.”