A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 37

※The Beginning of Revenge※

The cuisine of Blue Warren was characterized by its salty, intense flavors.

The children, tasting spicy food for the first time in their lives, were practically dazed. Curiously, even as they complained that their tongues were stinging, they persisted in eating with dogged determination. Both seemed to possess the spirit of true adventurers. Eventually, Fermos had to intervene, warning them that any more would surely lead to a stomachache.

Once dinner was concluded, the night deepened.

Creak.

The door opened with a cautious groan. Randall slipped into Fermos’ room. Though Shellan and Dief were staying in a room at the far end of the hallway, they were taking no chances.

[Fermos] "Oh, you're back."

[Ashker] "Welcome back, Sir."

Ashker had just joined them after confirming the children were sound asleep.

[Randall] "Hah. Those bastards have hooked a big one."

Randall had just returned from meeting his usual informant in Blue Warren.

[Fermos] "A big one? What is it?"

Fermos’ intuition had been correct. There was a specific reason the Rambasol crew had crawled onto land right when they should have been occupied with their primary trade.

[Randall] "They captured an entire cargo ship bound for Gria."

Every year, the Kingdom of Gria imported vast quantities of luxury goods from the eastern part of the continent. These luxuries included dried palms, figs, green pistachios, and various spices. While pirates weren't usually picky, they generally avoided such cargo.

Merchant ships hired by nobility were always heavily escorted, and since pirates rarely knew the delicate preservation methods required for such goods, the cargo often rotted in the hold. Furthermore, the contents didn't exactly suit a pirate’s palate.

Consequently, very few pirates bothered to plunder such items. This, however, was a peculiar case. According to the informant, rumors suggested the Rambasol crew had practically acquired the luxurious vessel for free. Apparently, a plague had broken out during the voyage; with the crew either dead or stricken, the ship had fallen right into their lap.

Had it been only a crate or two, they would likely have just consumed the goods despite the taste. But an entire ship was a different story. If they could sell it all before it spoiled, they would have enough money to live in idle luxury for years. Thus, the Rambasol crew chose to suspend their pirating and head for the mainland.

[Randall] "They’ve taken over a modest inn and are currently drinking themselves into a stupor. A few of the smarter ones are meeting with fences in Blue Warren. They’ve approached three or four different places, likely trying to start a bidding war."

[Fermos] "Good grief. Those pirates are certainly full of surprises. Since when did they start using their heads?"

Fermos grumbled, irritated. While he claimed to be annoyed by their attempt at price negotiation, the truth was that even if he had simply watched a member of the Rambasol crew breathe, he would have found a reason to be offended by the way they inhaled and exhaled.

[Randall] "I have the list of fences they contacted. What’s our move?"

[Fermos] "How can we screw them over as thoroughly as possible?"

Regrettably, killing them was out of the question. He wanted nothing more than to drag them all to the gallows, but the free city of Blue Warren had its own set of rules. Any transaction made within Blue Warren was considered valid until it crossed the city walls, and interference by force was strictly forbidden.

The enforcers of these rules were a mercenary group known as the Red Rocks, and they were not to be trifled with. Even when Tiwakan were sweeping across the battlefields of the continent, they had maintained a relationship of mutual respect for each other's territory.

[Randall] "We must act within the rules."

Ashker nodded as Randall spoke.

[Fermos] "That goes without saying... The Red Rocks are an obstacle, certainly."

Fermos scratched the side of his nose with his index finger.

[Ashker] "And our names must not be discovered."

[Fermos] "Correct. We must strike and vanish like ghosts."

[Randall] "That won't be easy."

[Fermos] "No, it won't."

[Ashker] "How about posing as fences ourselves? We could drive up the price during negotiations and then back out at the last second. Wouldn't that irritate them?"

Fermos gave Ashker a light swat on the head.

[Fermos] "Do you think I haven't considered that? What about the 'Rocks'?"

Posing as fences was difficult enough, but doing so carried a high risk of clashing with the Red Rocks standing behind the deal.

[Fermos] "We can't open a direct trade. It’s better to use an existing fence."

[Randall] "But wouldn't we have to pay the full price then? If we attempt a fraudulent trade, the Rocks will come rolling in immediately."

[Fermos] "That’s why we have to make the goods unsellable."

[Ashker] "Mmm... to do that..."

[Fermos] "We have to ruin the cargo. Do we know where their ship is?"

[Randall] "It seems they’ve moved the goods. There should be a warehouse attached to the inn they’re using."

[Fermos] "Ah, that makes it tricky. Didn't you say they were hovering around the inn?"

[Randall] "I did."

The problem was that there were only three of them against a much larger number.

[Fermos] "Moreover, we can't use any quick methods... Fire is out. It draws too much attention."

[Ashker] "Yes. I can already hear the sound of the Rocks rolling toward us."

[Fermos] "Hmm..."

As Fermos sank into thought, Randall added with a look of disappointment.

[Randall] "Then should we just grab a few of them and beat them senseless? It’s not much, but at least we won't run afoul of the Rocks."

[Fermos] "No. That’s not enough. This is ten years of revenge in the making."

No matter how Fermos looked at it, the best way to torment the Rambasol crew was to ruin the massive deal that was supposed to sustain them for years.

To achieve this, they first had to wait until a deal was struck with a real fence. They had to sabotage the goods just as the transaction reached the point of no return.

Inserting a middleman was easy. Fermos could use the name he employed while operating merchant ships. While it was common knowledge that those ships belonged to the Kingdom of Nauk, many royal families purchased goods through Blue Warren. If they claimed to be looking for expensive spices not produced in Nauk, it wouldn't raise any suspicion.

[Fermos] "First, we’ll have the informant leak some news."

Once word spread that a big buyer was searching for spices, local brokers would spring into action. Some brokers bought goods honestly from their source, but others repackaged items that had "slipped out" of the black market. Blue Warren was the kind of place where the latter were more active.

In any case, once the brokers moved, the fences would follow. A date for the transaction of Rambasol’s goods would soon be set, and that was when their revenge would strike.

[Fermos] "Let’s make this as malicious as possible."

He began to elaborate.

[Fermos] "First, we’ll put a hole in their ship. Just enough so it requires a few days of repair."

[Randall] "Ah, so we pin them down?"

[Fermos] "Exactly. We let the transaction proceed. However, the goods will be 'defective.' We’ll move to demand compensation."

[Randall] "Oh, so those bastards will actually have to cough up a penalty?"

[Ashker] "And even if they want to run without paying, they won't be able to because their ship is stuck."

[Fermos] "Precisely."

[Ashker] "But would pirates even have enough money to pay a penalty? It’s not like those thugs lead a virtuous life of saving money."

[Fermos] "That’s where the Rocks come in. They’ll catch them and force them into hard labor to pay it off, wouldn't they? And as a bonus, we’ll break their ship apart and sell it for firewood."

Randall and Ashker clapped their hands in admiration.

[Randall] "Wow. That is malicious."

[Ashker] "This might force an entire pirate crew into early retirement."

Fermos shrugged with a smug expression.

[Fermos] "It’s a win for everyone. We get our revenge, and the sea becomes a more pleasant place."

[Randall] "Perfect."

The plan was set. As Fermos added more details to account for potential variables, the scheme reached a point where failure seemed impossible.

[Fermos] "Now, let’s get to work."

The three legendary mercenaries who once took the continent by storm exchanged looks of grim, vengeful determination.

[Fermos] "Oh, but one more thing."

Among the variables Fermos had calculated, the largest by far was Shellan.

[Fermos] "We must keep a close eye on the Princess. Don't forget that. She is a girl capable of anything. Furthermore, since we left Renfel behind, we must be extra vigilant about her safety."

[Randall] "I know."

[Ashker] "Of course."

Before leaving Nauk, they had promised to stay quietly in the manor, but it was a promise not worth believing.

[Fermos] "Before we head out tomorrow, warn the servants again. Tell them the Princess must never be allowed outside."

As always, Fermos was wise.

However, some weapons could defeat even the greatest wisdom: coincidence, accidents, and pure cuteness.

Prev

Chapters

Next