Extra Chapter: Rocks’ Hidden Struggles
Many rough vendors have set up shop. Having heard such rumors, Rocks runs around the academy during the cultural festival preparation period.
“Oh my, Rocks-san. Has something happened?”
A gruff male voice called out to Rocks as he walked through the academy accompanied by knights. When he turned around, he saw the face of a young man from the Nevis family whom he occasionally conversed with. Rocks furrowed his brow and approached with quick steps.
“……Don’t call out to me so familiarly in public places.”
When he said this in a small voice, the young man’s eyebrows formed an inverted V and he pulled back his chin.
“Ah, sorry about that. It was broad daylight, wasn’t it.”
“Hehehe,” the man laughed while giving a quiet response. Rocks let out a deep sigh and turned back to the knights who had been following behind.
“I’ll hear what this guy has to say. You others go question the other shops. What you should ask about is their names and the names of the trading companies they belong to. Also, get details about what they’re selling.”
“Yes, sir!”
When Rocks gave his instructions, the knights gave good responses and each began to move. After confirming this properly, he turned back to the young man.
“So……from what I can see, there seem to be quite a lot of guys from the Nevis family here. Why did you start this kind of shop? Until last year, it should have been merchants from various countries running shops.”
When he questioned him, the young man shrugged his shoulders and shook his head left and right.
“That’s exactly it. If it were up to us, we wouldn’t want to do such troublesome things either. The problem is, this time it seems we can’t make money the usual way.”
“The usual way?”
He tilted his head at the young man’s words. Seeing this, the young man nodded with a somewhat troublesome expression.
“Usually, we just prepare these food stalls, and when traveling merchants or people from other countries’ trading companies come to the academy, we charge them location fees. That way, we don’t need any capital investment and we can steadily earn location fees. However, this year was completely hopeless. Only a few at the entrance and in front of each plaza sold, and the majority remained unsold. So we had no choice but to do business ourselves to make a profit.”
To the young man honestly explaining their business methods, Rocks opened his mouth while holding his head.
“You were doing that kind of business……it’s surprising that the major trading companies didn’t complain.”
To Rocks saying this with an exasperated expression, the young man shrugged his shoulders and made a mischievous face.
“Well, the domestic trading companies are in on it too. There’s no way they’d complain. Our target prey are traveling merchants from other countries and merchants from trading companies that don’t have branches here.”
It’s simple. The young man gave a hint with such a manner of speaking. Hearing this, Rocks became even more exasperated.
“……You told them they needed permission from trading companies if they wanted to do business inside the academy during the cultural festival, didn’t you. I see. If told such a system exists, outsiders would have no choice but to comply……The fact that this hasn’t reached the knight order means that neither the involved trading companies nor you guys are paying taxes, right?”
When he confirmed this with narrowed eyes, the young man gave an “ah” in response. Then, while breaking out in cold sweat, he averted his gaze. Watching this behavior with a stern look, Rocks opened his mouth.
“……You fool. Explain it a bit more skillfully. If it had been anyone but me, I would have had no choice but to crack down on this.”
When he said this with a sigh, the young man turned around with teary eyes.
“B-boss……”
“Don’t call me boss.”
When Rocks scolded the young man, the young man said “sorry” and laughed.
“I’m grateful.”
The young man who had nearly dealt a major blow to the Nevis family and related trading companies due to his own blunder seemed genuinely relieved that Rocks said he would overlook it. Seeing such a young man, Rocks shrugged his shoulders and returned to continuing the conversation.
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“So, why couldn’t you find buyers this year? The scale of the cultural festival hasn’t changed, and you should be able to expect crowds, right?”
When Rocks voiced his question, the young man scratched his head with one hand while groaning.
“Hmm……that’s right. Big sister said it might be because the cultural festival announcement was incredibly late, but the trading company guys said something different. Something about there being big money movements for something else this time, so most places couldn’t allocate budget for opening shops. When you think about it, it feels like it was only traveling merchants doing individual business who were willing to pay location fees to open shops.”
Unexpectedly useful information was obtained. Rocks crossed his arms and nodded, looking around.
“I see……so they got an opportunity to do business with someone other than general customers? No, but even opening shops inside the academy, they should be able to sell things to royalty and nobility sufficiently. So does that mean they can do some completely different kind of business this year?”
What kind of business are they planning to do? As royalty responsible for maintaining the city’s security, Rocks became interested. If it was business that would be bad for the city or country, he would definitely need to investigate the details. Depending on the situation, it might be necessary to stop that business.
As Rocks was thinking with his arms crossed, the knights who had gone to investigate other shops returned.
“You’re back. How was it?”
When Rocks asked, the knights straightened their backs and gave their report.
“Yes, sir! Most of those doing business in this area were residents of the city! The goods were also extremely common food and drinks, crafts, and daily necessities!”
“There were merchants from other countries too, but for some reason they were only from the Grandsands Kingdom and the Bushmills Empire.”
“For now, there appears to be nothing illegal.”
Rocks nodded at the knights’ reports and pondered.
“……Usually, other countries would also open shops, wouldn’t they?”
He didn’t really remember. With such an atmosphere, when Rocks asked, one of the knights nodded.
“Yes. I recall that merchants from the Court-Highland Federation in particular often opened many shops.”
Not only the knights but also the young man from the Nevis family who had been listening from behind nodded at this report. Glancing at this sideways, Rocks pondered further.
“……So merchants from Court-Highland, who are skilled at business, are conspicuously absent. That’s certainly strange. Then, let’s expand the scope of our investigation.”
Saying this, he looked at the knights’ faces.
“Half of you investigate whether there are any Court-Highland merchants inside the academy. The rest search outside the academy for Court-Highland merchants. If you find any, confirm what kind of business they’re doing in this city. However, business itself isn’t bad or anything. Don’t respond with high-handed attitudes. And if they’re trying to buy or sell suspicious goods, bring them to me.”
When Rocks said this, the knights lined up in an orderly fashion and responded. Confirming the line, Rocks divided them into two groups and began action.
Rocks was concerned about the collusion with trading companies that the Nevis family young man had mentioned, so he decided to go outside the academy. First, he should probably go to Wintervalley’s largest trading company after all. Thinking this, he headed to the trading company with two knights.
“Rocks-kun? Where are you going?”
At that moment, a woman’s voice called out from behind. Rocks jumped with a start, his shoulders twitching as he froze, then turned around with stiff, robot-like movements as if his oil had run out.
“? What’s wrong?”
There was Aoi, a beautiful black-haired senior teacher. Aoi looked puzzledly at Rocks’ complex expression that seemed both laughing and crying, tilting her head slightly. At this sight, Rocks opened his mouth while his face reddened slightly.
“A-Aoi-sensei……! N-no, it’s just, I was concerned about the merchants’ movements……”
To Rocks trying to explain the situation in what seemed like incoherent excuses, Aoi’s eyes narrowed.
“……Is there something you can’t say here?”
Perhaps interpreting Rocks’ attitude in some way, Aoi’s eyes sharpened. At this, Rocks vigorously shook his head left and right.
“N-no, I don’t know yet. Usually Court-Highland merchants should be doing business inside the academy, but this year they’re completely absent. When I asked the Nevis family, it seems there might be some big business or something going on that’s bigger than the academy’s cultural festival……”
Information about suspicious business obtained from underground information networks. Because Rocks continued his explanation with such nuance, Aoi felt an ominous atmosphere and pulled back her chin.
“……I see. That is a bit concerning. I don’t think it’s the case, but they’re not trying to secretly sell illegal goods at a gathering of dignitaries from various countries, are they……”
Aoi made such a speculation. At this, Rocks nodded with a serious expression.
“That’s the most likely scenario. Not just major powers, but many dignitaries and merchants from neighboring small countries are gathering too. Whether it’s slaves or drugs, they wouldn’t lack for buyers.”
“That cannot be overlooked.”
Having such a conversation between them, Aoi immediately made a questioning sound “Hmm?”
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