Chapter 147: Quiet War

Hearing Krause's words, Serek and Keller couldn't help but glance at the black-haired boy sitting next to them, but Rhodes didn't say a word in the face of the two of them, and the expression on his face didn't change in the slightest, as if he didn't hear what Krauser was saying at all.

"Since Mr. Rhodes won't say it, then I'll come first."

Seeing that Rod refused to speak, and Krauser stopped pressing, he opened his mouth with a smile, and then looked at Keller, who was sitting next to him.

"Mr. Keller, the Merchants' Federation has gone too far lately, and I have warned them about this, but these people have no intention of repenting at all, on the contrary, they think that the price of ore has been artificially depressed, which has harmed their interests, and I think this is why these guys would want to do these things."

Speaking of this, Krause's tone was a little gloomy, and Keller's face was also serious.

Rod picked up the teacup and stared at the black tea in front of him, seemingly indifferent to Krause's words, but in fact he knew the whole thing very well.

In the Duchy of Moon, merchants have no status, they can make a lot of money, they can make a name for themselves in many ways, but they can't improve their power too much. The ruling class of the Duchy of Moon has always been very strict about trade, especially in the basic materials such as salt, ore, and grain, and has tried to keep the prices of these goods in a stable situation. This is of course good for stabilizing the whole country, but for businessmen, they lose a good opportunity to make money, and the nature of businessmen is to chase profits, although they can also get a lot of benefits in the Duchy of Moon at the moment, but they can't pursue the maximum benefits, which makes many businessmen very dissatisfied.

Not only that, the lack of voice of merchants in terms of power is also a problem they are very concerned about, in the Duchy of Moon, the royal family is the supreme existence, to put it bluntly, they do not allow those big chambers of commerce to threaten their power with or through monopoly, so once a chamber of commerce tries to threaten the rule of the royal family by means of this, it is a ——— fattened pig for the royal family, and it is finally time to kill and eat meat.

So people who do business in the Duchy of Moon know one thing very well, if you just make money honestly, then it doesn't matter. But if you want to use this to shake the authority and power of the royal family, then you are dead......

Although under such coercion, many merchants have complained and even angrily threatened the Duchy of Moon, believing that they are breaking the rules, if they continue like this, no one will dare to do business with them. But for these threats, the Principality of Moon has never paid attention to it, after all, it is located in the center of the continent, the transportation artery, the trade routes are extensive, the products are abundant, the price is good, you don't come, someone else will come. If you don't want to make money, it doesn't mean that everyone doesn't want to make money, you think it's dangerous, but there are speculators who want to get rich in danger——— chasing profits is the nature of businessmen, and morality and justice have never been something they should care about.

In fact, the merchants of the Duchy of Moon would prefer to be treated like the great chambers of commerce in the Land of Light——— and in the Council of the Nation of Light, those councillors have a very close relationship with the big chambers. Legislators use the money and manpower of the chamber of commerce to increase their influence, and the latter redistributes political resources by giving them. Therefore, these great chambers of commerce have a lot of power in the realm of light, and some of them even have a much higher status than the lords of those territories.

This was a source of great concern for the Merchants' Federation of the Duchy of Moon, who had made several suggestions in the hope that the royal family of Moon would ease their restrictions, but no one was stupid enough to bring up the topic after Lydia had hung a few of the screaming and fiercest guys on the Eternal Sleep Square outside the Golden City like a chopping melon and chopping vegetables. ..., after all, the goal of a businessman is to make money first, and then everything else, and if you don't even have your life, then how can you make money?

"I have again issued them a written warning asking them to bring the ore price back down to a reasonable range within three days. Otherwise, I would consider some tactics to force the price down. ”

Saying this, Krauser sighed.

"I've been in contact with other business organizations in the area, and I've promised to compensate them for some of the difference, but they have to keep the price of their goods the same. I don't want to see this cause any problems, because of the attacks on the air trade routes, we are not as good as we used to be in the flow of goods........."

With that, Krauser smiled at Rod again.

"It's thanks to you this time, Mr. Rhodes, otherwise, it's hard to say what would have become of the Parfield region if the trade route had gone on like this............

Rod took a sip of black tea, still without saying a word, but Krauser didn't care, many people who don't know Rhodes at the first glance of him, it's easy to think that he doesn't like to talk because of Rhodes' boss with a dead face, in fact, only people who are more familiar with him like Serek will know the way, don't look at Rode's expressionless on weekdays, but his words are actually not a lot at all.

Rod didn't know what to do, Krauser always pulled the topic to himself, and he could vaguely guess a little reason in his heart, but this did not mean that he was willing to follow the other party's ideas. In any case, Krauser invited him over to participate in this secret meeting, and it can be seen that he should have noticed something, but since the other party did not intend to tear his face and open the skylight to say something bright, then Rod would naturally not be stupid enough to stand up himself.

“…… But I think the Merchants' Union is likely to reject my request. ”

Krause's tone became much colder for a moment at this time, obviously sitting in the sunny and warm living room, but it was like a cold current blowing, which made people shiver.

"It's going to be a big disappointment for me. Mr. Keller, I know that the Keller family has always had their own way of mining intentions, and that your family has been in Waterdeep for a long time, and I have faith in your credibility. I don't know what to do...... Are you interested in expanding your industry? ”

Hearing this, Keller's eyes widened slightly, he put down the teacup in his hand, and his face stiffened a little.

Keller wasn't a fool, and he certainly knew what that meant. It is clear that if the Federation of Merchants did not intend to accept Krause's proposal, then three days later it would be him who would have sat in that position!

And now, the reason why Krauser made this suggestion to himself was actually a hint that he should prepare early and take over as soon as the time came.

Thinking of this, Keller couldn't help but feel a cold sweat behind his back, it was obvious that the reason why Krauser made this suggestion to himself must have investigated the previous things and perceived the contradictions and conflicts between him and the merchants' federation, so he made this decision.

As soon as he thought of this, Keller was glad that he had made a decision, although he had heard of the methods of the Golden City for a long time, but it was still beyond his expectations to be so unscrupulous, if he had succumbed to the merchants' federation and agreed to join forces with them, then I am afraid that someone sitting here would now be in his place.

If it really comes to that point, what will happen to your family?

Keller couldn't help but shudder, he couldn't care about Rod and Serek, who were still watching the show next to him, and immediately stood up and replied firmly.

"Rest assured, Master Krause, I'll be ready." ..., "That's good." ”

Krauser smiled at Keller's answer, and then he turned his head to look at Serek and Rod.

"So, you two, the next thing I'm going to talk about is your business——— especially about the Emerald Tears Mercenary Regiment."

"If it's about the topic, then I don't have much to say."

Rod put down the teacup in his hand.

"I just did what I was supposed to do, it's that simple."

Hearing Rod's answer, Krause's eyes flashed with a glint before he narrowed his eyes and smiled again.

"I know what you mean, Mr. Rhodes. But I think I still have something to tell you...... Just two days ago, Mr. Clinton, the envoy of the Radiant Dragon Nation, had left here and left for home. He lodged a diplomatic protest with me before leaving........."

"Hmph."

Hearing this, whether it was Rod, Serek or Keller, they couldn't help but snort coldly.

Clinton was originally a native of the Duchy of Moon, and it was just a betrayer to go to the Land of Light, and after only a few years as a watchdog, he ran back to make a diplomatic protest on behalf of his master, and really regarded himself as a thing?

Betrayers are not welcome anywhere.

"He thinks that the destruction of the Emerald Tears mercenary group and the unexpected disappearance of Captain Frank have something to do with you, since Captain Frank is a prestigious family member of the Land of Light, I'm afraid this matter will not end so easily, listening to his tone, presumably in the near future, the Land of Light may officially send a note to our country, asking for an investigation of you and your mercenary group."

It's a lot of fun.

Rod raised an eyebrow, he now understood one of the reasons Krauser had invited him to come.

"It's a baseless accusation, and I don't think I need to worry about something that doesn't exist."

Rhodes spoke with strict righteousness, without any pause or hesitation, as if the unlucky ghost who had died under his sword was a strange passer-by.

"Very well, young people should have this kind of momentum."

Hearing Rod's answer, Krauser smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"But you don't have to worry too much, after all, this is the internal affairs of the Principality of Moon, and there is a limit to how wide the country of light is. And this is Parfield, not Barcelona's rat's nest, they want to make trouble on my territory, and they have to ask me if I agree, anyway, you're doing a good job............"

Saying this, Krauser paused for a moment, and then, he raised his head meaningfully and looked at Rod in front of him.

"So, I have a request that I need your help with, and I hope you don't refuse."

Hearing this, Rod was silent for a moment.

"Please."

"That's right."

After receiving Rod's answer, Krauser quickly became serious.

"Recently, according to reports from my subordinates, villages near the Lorende Mountains have been infested by the undead."

"The undead?"

Hearing this, Serek said with some surprise.

"That's right, the undead."

Krauser nodded affirmatively.

"Although I have not seen it with my own eyes, I heard from the messenger that it must be something like ghosts and ghosts, which haunt the local area every night and bring great harm to the people there, although I have also sent local garrisons to help, but to little avail. Therefore, I hope that a professional can come forward to help, your Starlight Mercenary Regiment's outstanding performance in the face of undead creatures is unmatched by other mercenary groups, and now that all mercenary groups in the Pafield area have suffered heavy losses, for a while, I can't find a better helper, so I hope you can help them deal with this scourge. ”

At this, Krauser paused, and then he looked at Serek.

"Mr. Serek, I am aware of the recent ban of the Mercenary Association, but as a political officer, I am afraid that I will not be able to wait such a long time, after all, the villagers there are being infested by the undead, and if the recuperation period is really over, I am afraid it will be too late. And I think you know very well that our church here is not very powerful, otherwise we wouldn't have allowed the undead to wreak havoc for so long. ”

"Of course I can understand that, Mr. Krauser."

Serek nodded hurriedly.

"Since it is the order of the administrative officer, our mercenary association can also handle it at its discretion, please rest assured in this regard."

"The reward will be paid by us in Deep Rock City, I believe it will definitely satisfy you, and as compensation, I can pay you half of the reward in advance, and the rest will be paid after you return from completing the mission, what do you think?"

In the face of Krause's inquiry, Rod did not answer immediately, he first drank the black tea in the cup in one go, and then leisurely crossed his hands and sat on the sofa, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's probably the residents of Gaoya Village who are asking for help. Mr. Krauser? ”