Chapter 31. The Predator Merchant Company (1)
Everything about the merchant company was sloppy, starting with the location they had claimed.
“Just where is that merchant company based for it to be like that?”
The people’s gazes naturally turned toward the emblem engraved on the carriage.
A large, sleek white wolf.
The wolf, roaring toward the front as though it might pounce at any moment, projected an image of strength and majesty.
“Isn’t that the emblem of the House of White Wolf?”
“Oh, you’re right! It’s the white-wolf emblem of the House of White Wolf!”
The House of White Wolf was a noble family of the Kingdom of Vatenberg, situated at the northernmost end of the continent.
The family was fairly well known even here in Freche.
“Have they come to sell monster materials again today?”
That was because the materials obtained from the monsters of the Northern Snowy Mountains were of exceptionally high quality.
“But….”
“Did the House of White Wolf operate a merchant company?”
Only the occasional traveling merchant had ever visited before.
They had never once arrived as an organized “merchant company” like this.
While the people were wondering about it, a man emerged from inside the carriage.
He had a delicately handsome face.
His skin was flawless and free of even the slightest blemish. Anyone could tell that he was the young master of a noble family.
It was a face they had never seen before.
However, the merchants, who were more sensitive to information than anyone else, were not unaware of the man’s identity.
For starters, people with black hair were rare on the continent.
Moreover, when someone mentioned a black-haired young master from the House of White Wolf, only one person came to mind.
“The Count’s delinquent?”
Adrian White Wolf.
He was the eldest legitimate son of the White Wolf family and was notorious for being a delinquent.
“Why has the Count’s delinquent come here?”
“I heard his younger sister took everything in the family away from him....”
“Is he trying to scrape together a living by running a merchant company?”
Everyone openly sneered at him.
After all, running a merchant company was no easy task.
Even seasoned merchants who had spent decades navigating the marketplace could go completely bankrupt while operating one.
What could a delinquent who had spent his life immersed in gambling and pleasure possibly accomplish?
Even if Adrian possessed extraordinary talent as a merchant, it would make no difference.
“What does he intend to sell from White Wolf County?”
He needed to possess something worth selling before he could even think about doing business.
No matter how skilled a cook might be, rotten ingredients would only produce rotten food.
Likewise, no matter how talented a merchant might be, if the merchandise was garbage, it would merely become a garbage merchant company.
“There’s no point watching any longer.”
“Tsk, tsk. He’s obviously going to lose everything.”
Everyone clicked their tongues and jeered.
Adrian, however, paid no attention to their gazes or whispers.
While the company members set up the street stall, Adrian took out various cooking utensils and began arranging them.
“What in the world is he trying to do....?”
“Huh? Is that….?”
“Meat?”
It was remarkably appetizing meat at that.
Before long, Adrian lit a fire and began cooking it.
Sizzle—!
The gentle sound of cooking meat rang out as its savory aroma spread throughout the plaza.
The location occupied by the Predator Merchant Company was tucked away in an extremely secluded corner.
“Hmm? What’s that smell?”
“It smells incredibly delicious!”
However, the spreading aroma instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Eventually, several people who had been lured by the scent made their way to the Predator Merchant Company.
“Welcome!”
Another company member, rather than Adrian, handled the customers.
The place hardly resembled a merchant company, so it felt strange to call them company members, but that was nevertheless what they were.
“Was there always a street stall in such a secluded place...?”
“We just arrived recently.”
“Really? Hmm…. In that case, perhaps I’ll try something. What’s good here?”
“We are confident that everything is delicious, but I personally recommend the Alakron belly steak and the Dermexus hindquarter.”
At that moment, the people tilted their heads in confusion.
“Alakron belly steak...?”
“Dermexus hindquarter...?”
“Aren’t those monsters?”
“That is correct.”
An uproar immediately erupted.
“A-Are you people insane?!”
“You’re selling monster meat!”
“Have you all lost your minds?!”
“There is no need to be so concerned.”
“How could we possibly not be concer—Eeeek!”
The people screamed and jumped in fright.
It was because of the sight unfolding before them.
Munch, munch. Gulp.
The members of the Predator Merchant Company were openly eating the monster meat for everyone to see.
“As you can see, the Predator Merchant Company removes all the Madness contained within monster meat and deals only in products that are safe for consumption.”
Everyone stared blankly at the company member who had addressed them.
“Whaaat...?”
“You removed the Madness...?”
“That is correct.”
Even after receiving the company member’s firm assurance, the people found it difficult to believe.
That was only natural, as no one in the entire history of the continent had ever accomplished such a thing.
Ever since monsters were first established as a biological classification, countless scholars and mages had attempted to remove the element of Madness embedded within their bodies.
Yet not a single one had succeeded.
Archmages whose names had been recorded in the continent’s history.
Scholars of magic who had advanced the continent’s civilization by several stages.
Individuals whom even the word “genius” could not adequately describe had attempted it, only to shake their heads in defeat.
An element imprinted at the cellular level could not be removed.
It was quite literally considered to be within the realm of the impossible.
“Lord Adrian personally conducted the research.”
And yet they claimed that Adrian had done it. Not anyone else, but the Count’s notorious delinquent.
That pale young nobleman over there, casually grilling meat!
“W-What...?”
“How could that possibly...?”
It was utterly unbelievable, yet they could not simply dismiss it.
Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes?
No, were they not still witnessing it?
The company members were chewing away at monster meat.
They had not gone insane. They had not been consumed by Madness.
“Is…. Is that really true...?”
“They truly removed the Madness?”
Even then, most people remained hesitant to place an order.
However, wherever one went, there would always be those who could not suppress their curiosity.
“I’ll give it a try.”
A man boldly stepped forward and ordered some monster meat.
“Give me one of those….Alakron belly steaks.”
“Please wait just a moment!”
The company member quickly prepared the belly steak.
With a slightly trembling gaze, the man carefully cut into it.
Then, as everyone watched—
“Holy shit!!!”
The man’s eyes widened as far as they could go, and he said nothing more after that.
Munch, munch! Munch, munch!
He began devouring it like a starving beggar who had not eaten in days.
He had seemingly tossed his fork and knife aside at some point, because his face was practically buried in the plate.
“H-Hey, are you all righ—?”
Munch, munch! Munch, munch!
The man emptied the plate in an instant.
“One more! No, two! No, just give me everything you have!!”
Apparently still unsatisfied, he even began placing additional orders.
There was no sign whatsoever of any element of Madness in his behavior.
Unless one counted gluttony as a form of Madness.
Perfect evidence was now right before their eyes.
Everyone involuntarily swallowed.
The words “monster meat” had made them hesitate, but that gorgeous marbling looked so appetizing that it was nearly enough to drive them mad.
“Give me one as well!”
“Me too! Me too!”
In a way, the ensuing flood of orders was only natural.
* * *
One day had passed since the Predator Merchant Company began doing business in Freche.
“Have you visited the meat restaurant in the central plaza?”
Rumors about the Predator Merchant Company were already beginning to circulate throughout Freche.
“Hmm? Was there a meat restaurant in the central plaza?”
“The Predator Merchant Company recently opened a stall there.”
“The Predator Merchant Company?”
“I heard it’s operated by the House of White Wolf.”
“Ah, that territory at the northernmost end of the continent?”
“That’s right.”
Still, they were nothing more than rumors.
Many people did not even know the merchant company existed yet.
However, that was merely a matter of time.
“I heard the meat they sell there tastes absolutely incredible!”
“It’s still just meat, isn’t it? How incredible could it possibly—?”
“You know nothing!!”
“Good grief, you startled me! Did you boil and eat an ogre’s lungs or something? Why are you shouting so loudly?”
“Because you’re talking about something you know absolutely nothing about!”
“Is it really that delicious?”
“Don’t even get me started! I’m not joking—it’s so delicious that two people could eat together and neither would notice if the other dropped dead!”
“Is it really that good?”
“Have you spent your entire life being deceived or something? This won’t do! Come with me! I’ll show you heaven myself!”
“H-Hey, wait!”
Just like that—
Word of the monster meat spread throughout Freche like an epidemic of madness.
* * *
It was now the second day since we had begun doing business in Freche.
The street stall had grown so crowded that there was not even enough room to set foot inside.
I swiftly flipped meat with one hand while moving a pan and cooking more with the other.
I was fairly proficient at cooking as well as butchering.
In truth, it would have been harder to find something I had not learned during my time in the Special Task Force.
Whoosh!!
“Woooow!”
“You’re incredibly skilled!”
People gathered around to watch the dazzling display of flames, which resembled a circus performance.
Even those who had not ordered anything could occasionally be seen stopping to watch.
‘My dexterity has definitely improved now that my Agility has risen.’
Agility did not merely represent quick movements.
It also represented the ability to transmit commands from the brain through the nervous system.
Put simply, every action performed through the nervous system was related to Agility.
In that sense, dexterity also fell under Agility, and my current Agility stat was 25.
It was equivalent to the combined neural transmission abilities and dexterity of no fewer than twenty-five adult men.
As a result, the meat tasted markedly better.
Monster meat had evolved to possess thick layers of fat to withstand the cold.
That alone gave it a flavor incomparable to any other meat on the continent.
But once my Agility was added to the equation, I could produce a truly fantastical taste.
As a result—
“Over here! Two more servings of Dermexus hindquarter!”
“Five servings of Alakron belly steak!”
We became the most popular merchant company and restaurant in the Free City of Freche.
The money began piling up at an astonishing rate.
And that was not all.
By hunting three additional Rexes this time, I had also managed to strengthen one of my abilities.
◆Promote Metabolism [D] : When this skill is activated, the player’s endocrine system is stimulated, greatly increasing their metabolic rate. The player’s Strength decreases by [-15%], while the player’s Agility and Stamina increase by [+20%].
<This skill can be toggled [On/Off].>
<Absorbing additional Genetic Factors will strengthen this ability.>
Just like that, I had improved the Promote Metabolism ability, which had previously remained at rank [E+], by an astounding two ranks to [D].
The reduction applied to my Strength stat had decreased significantly.
Conversely, the increases applied to my Agility and Stamina stats had risen considerably.
The total increase now outweighed the reduction.
In addition, I had managed to hunt eight more Alakrons and three more Dermexuses.
As a result, Hardened Skin [D] had advanced to Hardened Skin [D+].
Nutrient Synthesis [C+] had advanced to Nutrient Synthesis [B-].
Each had risen by one rank.
Unfortunately, I had not managed to level up.
‘The required experience keeps increasing.’
Hunting monsters alone was no longer enough to keep up with it.
Judging from my previous experience, leveling up through quest rewards was the most efficient approach.
And the quest I could complete immediately was the Territory Quest I had received earlier.
== [Though the Beginning May Be Humble, the End Shall Be Grand!] ==
[Details]—Establish a merchant company and safely complete your first trading expedition.
[Reward]—Unlocks 「Management Mode」.
[Upon Failure]—Exile from the County.
I had no idea what the 「Management Mode」 listed as the reward actually was.
I had a rough idea, but even setting that aside, the completion experience would likely be substantial.
Of course, there was the condition that it had to be completed “safely”, but….
‘At this rate, we’ll sell out in no time.’
Things were going far beyond merely being safe.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that we had struck the jackpot.
There was no reason to worry too much about completing the quest.
Therefore, rather than focusing on the Territory Quest right now, I needed to remind myself of my original objective.
‘Ian wasn’t in Freche.’
Ian was not in Freche.
I had investigated Freche while taking breaks from the business, but I could not find even the slightest trace that Ian had ever visited.
Just as I had predicted, Ian was wandering the continent in search of me.
However, since I had no idea where he was looking for me….
‘I need to spread the name of the merchant company.’
That was why I had named it the “Predator Merchant Company.”
Predator.
It was my code name during my time with the Coalition Forces.
And Ian had been the one who gave it to me.
The word was not entirely unused on the continent.
However, it was rarely used.
The name “Predator Merchant Company” was even less likely to appear.
Therefore, all I needed was for rumors of the Predator Merchant Company to reach Ian’s ears.
All Ian needed to learn was that the Predator Merchant Company was operated by White Wolf County.
‘Then he’ll immediately realize it.’
Ian would realize both that I was currently in White Wolf County and that I had also returned to the past.
He would then immediately come to White Wolf County to find me.
For that to happen, I needed to spread the name of the Predator Merchant Company far and wide.
That was why I had come to the Free City of Freche.
‘Becoming famous within the kingdom alone isn’t enough.’
The White Wolf family belonged to the Kingdom of Vatenberg.
I could easily obtain news from within the Kingdom of Vatenberg.
However, obtaining information and news from the other kingdoms was somewhat difficult for me.
The Free City, meanwhile, was a “free” city that belonged to no nation.
It was a city through which goods produced in the continent’s many kingdoms were distributed, as well as a place where information from those kingdoms gathered.
This was not solely about finding Ian.
Merchant companies from the Empire also frequented Freche.
Therefore, I could use the merchant company to enter not only Imperial territory but even the Imperial Palace itself.
That would allow me to observe the Emperor and the Empire’s movements.
Furthermore, I could accumulate the funds required to establish the Coalition Forces.
For that purpose, I planned to turn the Predator Merchant Company into the greatest merchant company on the continent.
The first step toward that goal was right here in Freche.
‘It should be about time for something to take the bait….’
It happened at that very moment.
“Ahem! Hmm!”
At last, I heard the sound of the one I had been waiting for firmly taking the bait.
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