The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 102

“There haven’t been any acts of retaliation. The Elpine Merchant Guild has a solid foundation in the Empire. They wouldn’t dare.”

“It’s a relief to hear that. Still, if any issues arise, don’t hesitate to report them immediately. The world is such a rough place that sometimes basic common sense doesn’t prevail.”

“Haha, yes, I will. Thank you for your concern.”

By the end of the conversation, the Chief Manager had completely let his guard down. The familiarity of seeing someone known seemed to play a part as well. He smiled warmly at Camille.

“Although I had heard that Young Master Rouster had joined the Security Department, seeing you perform your duties in this capacity is quite moving. It feels like just yesterday when you would visit in the arms of your butler. You’ve grown into such a distinguished gentleman.”

“…You’re saying too much.”

“Haha, it’s just the ramblings of an old man. But please don’t stop visiting us. I would get in trouble with the Head if we lost such a valued customer.”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen. Enough with the jokes.”

At the playful chiding, Camille’s face turned deeply red. Though likely from genuine embarrassment, it further eased the atmosphere.

“But the esteemed visitor here seems to be someone we are meeting for the first time.”

“Yes, you’re right. I’ve seen the place in passing, but this is my first visit.”

“I thought so. How do you find your first impression of Elpine Guild? If you notice any shortcomings, please let us know.”

With the impeccably decorated interior, there wasn’t anything to criticize.

‘That’s an invitation to compliment them.’

It was the customary way nobles exchanged courteous pleasantries to build rapport. It wasn’t difficult, so I smiled and gave the expected response.

“The interior decoration is exceptionally beautiful and elegant. It feels like stepping into an exhibition hall. I have heard much about Elpine Guild’s reputation, and from the interior alone, I can see why it is well regarded.”

“Haha, thank you. It’s something we are particularly proud of. Given that high-ranking nobles form our main clientele, the Chief Manager has paid great attention to detail.”

“Yes, it seems so. However, it’s a bit disappointing that someone with such good taste might not fully appreciate the importance of outdoor landscaping.”

The Chief Manager’s face quickly stiffened, clearly not expecting that remark.

“Outdoor landscaping…?”

The wealthier the guild, the more they paid attention to the building’s exterior. Elpine Guild was likely one of the top investors in external aesthetics in the area.

The building we had seen earlier was impeccably beautiful. It was understandable that the Chief Manager found my comment surprising. I ignored Camille’s questioning glance and continued.

“Even in a commercial district, the outdoors isn’t just limited to the buildings. I noticed that the paving work around the building was in terrible shape.”

“What? You mean the paving?”

“Yes, the paving. There were areas where the ground was exposed. As I recall, those spots were originally landscaped with trees. Did you intentionally remove them?”

The Chief Manager took a deep breath, visibly wary of the pointed observation. He probably wasn’t aware of his reaction.

“The trees were gone? They were gone?”

“Yes, they were.”

Camille, still bewildered, asked and I answered while observing the Chief Manager’s expression. Under Camille’s scrutinizing gaze, the Chief Manager reluctantly replied.

“Yes, we did remove them on purpose. The trees had died. It was upsetting to leave dead trees standing, so we disposed of them. We plan to fill the empty ground, but the stones aren’t ready yet…”

“Is that so? It seemed like there were at least five trees. All of them died?”

“Y-yes. Some sudden infestation, it was quite distressing for us too.”

“I understand the situation.”

As I nodded, the Chief Manager kept glancing at me nervously. He seemed at a loss, unsure of how to handle my indifferent attitude. Of course, I didn’t intend to draw too much attention here.

“However, the commercial district is all under His Majesty the Emperor’s domain. Any urban landscaping falls under that jurisdiction. Did you obtain imperial permission before disposing of them?”

The Chief Manager’s face brightened as he grasped what I was getting at.

“Oh, aha! You were inquiring about the authorization, of course. Naturally, we wouldn’t handle such matters without permission. I can show you the documents if you’d like.”

“Please do. It’s part of the procedure, so we have no choice.”

“Certainly. Please wait a moment.”

Relieved, the Chief Manager fetched the documents without a hint of displeasure. It was indeed an imperial landscaping permit with the royal seal, issued around late last spring. After confirming there were no issues with the documents, I handed them back to the Chief Manager.

“What’s going on here? Is there a problem?”

Suddenly, a languid voice came from above.

Looking up, I saw a man standing at the top of the stairs. His features were so delicate that he could easily be mistaken for a woman.

His long, luxuriously braided white hair and the way he was ornately dressed suggested that he enjoyed his striking appearance. He certainly didn’t look like just an ordinary merchant.

“Ah, Lord Arthas!”

The Chief Manager started visibly flustered upon spotting the man. He made hurried gestures and eye signals indicating to go back up, but the man paid no heed. Instead, he began descending the stairs deliberately.

“What’s all this? Who are they?”

“Lord Arthas it’s not something you need to worry about. We will handle it ourselves…”

“Did you not understand my question? I asked who they are.”

Despite his soft tone, it didn’t seem so to the Chief Manager, who visibly flinched and answered even more deferentially.

“I apologize, Lord Arthas. These individuals are agents from the Security Department.”

“Really? What brings Security Department agents here?”

“They said they’re here to verify some details related to the recent inspection. It’s just procedural; there’s no new problem, they said.”

“Hmmm…”

Despite forcing an answer out of the Chief Manager, the man seemed largely uninterested in the actual situation. He yawned lazily and scratched his neck before turning his gaze to us.

“What are you curious about? Just ask me directly. I know more than he does.”

“Lord Arthas!”

“But remember, nothing’s free. The more you know, the more responsibility you’ll have. Think you can handle that?”

His playful question made the Chief Manager’s face turn pale.

Camille, infuriated, was about to step forward, but I extended my arm to stop him. He looked at me with a puzzled expression, but I shook my head slightly and turned back to the man. He smiled leisurely, clearly enjoying the anticipation of our reaction.

“I was just verifying that the exterior landscaping had not been altered without permission. It turns out my concern was unfounded. If this caused any offense, I apologize.”

“…Is that all?”

“Regrettably, yes, that’s all.”

I smiled, and he stared at me intently. His gaze was so persistent it was clear he was trying to decipher my true intentions. I met his eyes without flinching.

“Are you absolutely sure that’s the whole truth?”

“…Yes, it absolutely is.”

The man was the first to break eye contact. With a somewhat disappointed expression, he rubbed his neck.

“Aw, man. I came down here expecting something entertaining.”

“…”

“Lord Arthas, if the higher-ups find out you were down here, they’ll be upset.”

The Chief Manager now looked on the verge of tears. Lord Arthas furrowed his eyebrows dramatically.

“Stop acting cute, you old man. Seeing something disgusting hurts my aesthetic sense.”

“I’m not acting; I’m desperately pleading! Must you torment this old man’s heart?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll go back up.”

Lord Arthas waved his hands dismissively and started trudging back up the stairs. I watched him disappear before turning to the Chief Manager. He was wiping away sweat and couldn’t hide his look of despair.

“I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Lord Arthas is a noble from a foreign country and is still unfamiliar with Aslan’s culture, hence the unintended rudeness.”

“A foreign noble, you say? Where is he from?”

Camille asked, unable to hide his displeasure. Judging by the way he continued to glare at where Lord Arthas had disappeared, it was clear that had I not intervened, things might have escalated significantly.

“He’s from the Kingdom of Akan in Bukryeong. We recently expanded our business there, and he’s been assisting with our distribution efforts.”

“I understand his connection to the guild. However, despite his speech, his behavior is far too free-spirited for a noble. The etiquette for treating others doesn’t vary much from country to country.”

The Chief Manager smiled ingratiatingly, as though he deeply understood.

“He was born with that disposition. It causes us no end of trouble. No matter how much we advise him, nothing changes. Just this once, for my sake, could you overlook this? I assure you it won’t happen again.”

Even though they were merely merchant and customer, it was a long-standing relationship dating back to childhood. Seeing the Chief Manager plead so earnestly, Camille couldn’t bring himself to press the issue further.

“Let’s leave it at that and head back.”

I brought the situation to a close. The Chief Manager couldn’t hide his relief. Seeing this, Camille narrowed his eyes but eventually nodded reluctantly.