episode_0124

“Wow~ I’ve only heard about it, but the scale of the merchant group is really amazing! About how much is this, Advisor Ivan?”

Secular priest Sophia clicked her tongue at the long line of the 1st main merchant group.

The location where the main merchant group was waiting and the base camp of the Iron Cross Knights were half a day apart.

Therefore, except for Jeanne and Eugene from the Red Fox Mercenary Group, they had only heard about the scale of the merchant group,

and when they actually saw it, they were speechless.

Even if you turn the corner slightly, you can’t see the end of the merchant train.

“At this scale, it’s about 1/10 of the budget of one of the four major cities. Basically, the entire funds of the merchant association are invested, and it’s a procession prepared for several months. Especially since these are goods from outside the territory, the monetary value should be considered exponentially high, Priest Sophia.”

Ivan inferred the economic scale of the merchant group through his experience as a mercenary for a long time.

However, Ivan was not very confident either.

That’s because the current merchant train is a huge event that can be counted on one’s fingers even from the Empire’s perspective.

“Wow, 1/10!!! Then how many houses are there??? No, it shouldn’t be houses, should it be villages????”

Sophia tried to calculate the money by spreading her fingers.

Then, when she heard Ivan’s words that it was 1/10 the size of the four major cities, not just any big city,

her fingers stuttered due to buffering.

At the same time, her eyes widened to the extreme, and she couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Now I understand why Tyrannos is tackling this, Captain. To be honest, I’ve been hearing about Tyrannos’ obsession with the Alexandria Merchant Group in the meetings, but I didn’t quite understand it.”

Thomas, who was guarding Jeanne’s side, also listened to Sophia’s voice from afar and shared his thoughts.

“Even though Tyrannos is an anti-imperial group, strictly speaking, trade outside the territory is not very deeply related to the current Empire. In a way, they should be seen as people in neutral areas, so I thought it was unnecessary to turn those people into enemies. But looking at the scale of the transactions taking place, it may not be something to judge at that level of common sense.”

Initially, the Red Fox Mercenary Group participated in this quest after only hearing that it was a dispute between Tyrannos and the pro-Imperial Alfonso County.

Then, after coming to the site, it turned out that Alfonso County was actually just giving way, and the core was the Merchant Alliance.

As the core subject changed, Thomas, an assassin from the back world, tilted his head.

Merchants are beings who can stick to either the Empire or the anti-Imperial alliance.

In other words, there is no reason for Tyrannos to force things against such beings.

Persuading them is the usual method.

“That’s right. The trade volume is huge to just throw carrots. It’s a scale that could bring about a great new wind to the Empire. So, I think Tyrannos is impatient and using drastic measures.”

However, that method can be said to be a general method used when there is some leeway.

But the Alexandria secret trade was not such a general situation.

A scale that could create a wave of rapid change,

The trade situation outside the territory, which is 1/10 the size of the four major cities, is such a thing.

In other words, from Tyrannos’s point of view, if they responded slowly, they judged that their enemy, the Empire, might gain more benefits than expected.

If that happens, the Elysium Empire may change its existing route and increase the importance of trade outside the territory,

As a result, in addition to the development of the Empire, there is a possibility that the Merchant Alliance, which should be within their control to a certain extent, will have power equal to theirs.

Because of this project, which has such destructive power, Tyrannos is running with their eyes on fire more than expected at this point.

‘Besides Vivian, the fact that Vivian is at the center of it is probably why they are reacting even more.’

Jeanne, who agreed with Thomas,

couldn’t release as much information as she knew separately to him.

‘She’s a friend who has great affection and pride for her father. There’s no way she’ll take an anti-imperial path. She’s eager to prove that her father’s path was right for the Empire. From Tyrannos’s point of view, they’ll be more burdened by the fact that Vivian will further control the Alexandria Merchant Alliance after this project succeeds.’

Vivian’s feelings towards the Elysium Empire are subtle.

She had felt a great sense of betrayal towards the Elysium Empire.

When her father, who was so revered as the next emperor, suddenly passed away, the reaction of the imperial family, nobles, and ordinary people turned so cold that it was chilling.

In fact, the element that dropped the young life of Vivian into the valley of despair was that turning away.

Despite feeling such betrayal, Vivian did not think of taking an anti-imperial path.

That’s because Vivian knows very well that the moment she takes an anti-imperial path, her father’s remaining honor will be shattered.

That’s why the revenge Vivian chose towards the Empire was to prove the path her father had taken.

In order for that proof to be achieved, the Empire had to be even more prosperous and the nobles and imperial citizens had to be well-off.

That was exactly the dream Alexis aimed for.

Because Vivian’s mind was filled with that proposition, there was no room for the anti-imperial group Tyrannos to squeeze in.

Therefore, the anti-imperial alliance Tyrannos has been burdened by Vivian’s influence until now,

If this unprecedented secret trade succeeds smoothly, the anti-imperial alliance Tyrannos is expecting to move into an area that is difficult to handle anymore.

‘So I think Tyrannos will launch a stronger attack than expected.’

If there is no room for negotiation, they will try to sweep through even more.

However, the appearance Tyrannos has shown so far has not met that expectation.

Jeanne thinks that it seems to be a deliberate setup by Tyrannos to pour all their power into today’s procession.

“Tyrannos! Tyrannos has appeared!”

Jeanne’s analysis soon became a reality.

At the point where a cliff loomed over the wide hospital,

Tyrannos’ cavalrymen rode along the sloping cliff and struck the flank of the 1st main merchant train.

A scout of the Iron Cross Knights, who discovered the scene, informed the situation in an urgent voice.

As a result, the 1st main merchant train escorts quickly began to deploy formations for an all-out war.

“It’s not just the cliff, side! Tyrannos’ troops have appeared on the sides too.”

Thomas, who was thoroughly examining the surrounding terrain, mentioned both sides.

Beyond the dust raised by the cavalry, even more enormous numbers were revealed.

Tyrannos’ infantrymen are rushing in together.

“That’s a huge number. It looks like they dug a tunnel somewhere and settled down?”

Srrrrrrrrr…!

Jeanne drew her sword and stared at the Tyrannos army that had appeared as if she had made up her mind.

Literally an army, not just a surprise attack-level of personnel, but almost a full-scale war-level of personnel fiercely attacked the 1st main merchant group as a target.

**********

“Is that so?”

Vivian, who was riding in the merchant group carriage, reacted to someone with a very serious expression.

“That’s right, Merchant Group Leader Vivian. The number of opponents is far exceeding our expectations. In that case, it is presumed that the number of troops that may appear on this side will also exceed the standards calculated in advance.”

To her carriage’s right was Deputy Commander Davis of the Iron Cross Knights, who had already arrived from the 1st main merchant train.

Davis was in the process of telling Vivian that the Tyrannos army had attacked the flank of the 1st main merchant group and a clash had occurred.

The reason why the deputy commander Davis is directly conveying the situation is because he is aware that the Iron Cross Knights’ credibility is at rock bottom.

It is possible that the manager may be playing tricks in the middle,

To prevent that in advance, Davis immediately rode his horse as soon as the incident occurred.

“So, how is the 1st main merchant group doing? Do you think they can handle the opponent sufficiently?”

Just because it exceeds expectations doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t handle it.

Realistic expectations and theoretical expectations are different,

and the merchant group escort force is based on theoretical expectations.

However, exceeding realistic expectations means that there are many variables and it is difficult to avoid bleeding on this side.

It was Vivian’s question to get that estimate.

“We will desperately defend it. Our knights are never afraid of losing their lives. Moreover, the opponent is Tyrannos. We will definitely protect the merchant group.”

To Vivian’s confirmation question, Davis indirectly gave an answer that it was not easy.

‘Hmm, but…’

Eugene, who was wearing a greatsword and riding a horse on the left side of Vivian’s merchant group carriage, was silently listening to the two people’s urgent conversation.

‘Something feels off~?’

He seemed to feel a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘It’s true that the 1st merchant group is a bigger procession, but the timing of the attack, the scale, and everything else feels very strong in trying to create an atmosphere. What should I say…it feels too flashy?’

Eugene thought that Tyrannos’ attack would take place in an area where ambushes and surprise attacks were easier to carry out after the merchant group’s advance had progressed further.

However, the place where Tyrannos is now appearing is still close to flat ground, even though there is a cliff.

Of course, it wouldn’t be strange if the purpose was an all-out war, but the very act of choosing an all-out war in the current situation is not common.

The momentum may be great, but the efficiency will be very low.

The purpose is to neutralize the merchant group, not to slaughter all of the Iron Cross Knights and the Red Fox Mercenary Group.

‘If that’s the case…’

As that suspicious déjà vu perked up, Eugene nodded slowly as if he had something drawn in his head.

“The fire is burning very well. Thanks to that, their eyes are all focused on the 1st main merchant train.”

Around the area that proceeds into the forest beyond the cliff section,

A man in a black helmet who was looking down at the huge procession from another cliff when the merchant alliance departed was receiving someone’s report.

“It is said that some of the Iron Cross Knights from the 2nd merchant train have also started moving towards the 1st main procession, Commander Adan.”

A man kneeling on one knee beside the man in the black helmet,

seemed to be his subordinate.

In that way, he reported the detailed progress of the conflict between Tyrannos and the Alexandria Merchant Group.

The name of the man in the black helmet is Adan,

the commander of the Tyrannos special forces.

Tyrannos’ main unit mainly defends the territories of nobles belonging to Tyrannos or leads battles with the Imperial Army.

Attacks against enemies other than that, and expeditionary battles are taken care of by the special forces,

and Adan is the person in charge of the main unit among those special forces.