[Interlude] A Broker's Soliloquy
He was an unusual man.
I’ve dealt with countless merchants before, but this one felt like a completely different breed of person.
I’d heard rumors about him—Lake Gallard—long before meeting him.
A man who shut down an underground fighting arena that even the Knights Order and Magic Corps struggled to suppress, and the one who exiled Craig Beckart, a nobleman notorious for preying on female academy students, from the country.
Some already heralded him as a future hero.
Perhaps his rising fame irked "that man", prompting him to order his subordinates to attack the Gallard Company’s new store in Ganos.
Several branches of the same company had already fallen under "that man’s" control, so they wouldn’t help even if Lake begged.
That’s how absolute his influence is in this town.
And that’s why I hate merchants. It was a merchant—"that man"—who twisted this town into what it is today.
They care only for profits, lying and cheating without hesitation if it lines their pockets.
… It wasn’t always like this.
Ten years ago, the merchants of Ganos were kind-hearted.
They needed to make a living, sure, but never at the cost of betraying others. I’d never seen anyone so ruthlessly exploitative.
But about a decade ago, this town started changing.
No, it was "that man" who changed it.
Today, I was on my way to meet the very cause of this transformation.
As I stepped into a tavern, I found it teeming with drunken hooligans, women with lifeless eyes casting empty glances at men, and sly merchants likely in cahoots with "that man".
Avoiding eye contact, I made my way to the back.
There lay a special room prepared for him.
Its walls were soundproofed, and double doors ensured no secrets leaked out.
He even posted guards outside—paranoia in physical form.
I gave the guards my name and stated my business.
After confirming my identity, one of them knocked and entered to relay the message.
Following an excruciatingly tedious process, I was finally granted an audience.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Arze. Got some juicy money-making news for me?”
Seated on a sofa at the room's far end, flanked by two women on each side, was the man.
Zarfin.
He was once a soldier in some kingdom, or so I’d heard, until he stole an armory’s worth of weapons and sold them for a fortune.
After relocating to Ganos, he began running illegal trades.
Recently, he seemed to have come up with yet another scheme. I had no doubt it was as vile as the others.
Zarfin’s methods were pure violence—he crushed his competitors with brute force.
Shops were destroyed, owners assaulted in dark alleys. Only those who submitted to him survived.
The Gallard Company was no exception.
Most likely, they were too afraid to report him to their main branch.
Lake Gallard seemed completely unaware of his antics.
“Well? Got something to say? I don’t have time for slowpokes.”
“M-my apologies. I have information I believe you should hear.”
I knelt and began my report.
“Information, huh? Let’s hear it.”
“Earlier today, Lake Gallard arrived in Ganos.”
“Lake? Oh, the spoiled brat of the Gallard Company.”
Zarfin grabbed a glass from the table and drained it in one swig.
“Is he making trouble?”
“It seems he was tasked by his father with opening a new branch here.”
“Now, that’s a pain… Still, I owe that kid a little gratitude. I’d rather avoid making things messy.”
“Gratitude?”
“You know about that underground fighting arena, don’t you? After he shut it down, all those thrill-seeking noble freaks started clamoring to join my auctions. My profits are projected to triple.”
Indeed.
The destruction of the arena had indirectly funneled its clientele—depraved nobles—to Zarfin’s business.
“Garbel was a fool. Flaunting his operation like that only brought attention. If you’re going to do dirty work, it should be done quietly and carefully. Isn’t that right, ladies?”
“Of course!”
“You’re absolutely right, Lord Zarfin!”
“So handsome!”
“Hahaha! That’s more like it. Here, rewards for my honest admirers!”
Basking in the women’s flattery, Zarfin slipped gold coins into their deliberately exposed cleavage.
It was because of filth like him that my beloved town had been defiled.
I wanted nothing more than to flee. But my hatred demanded revenge, and that fueled my resolve.
“Well, this could be an opportunity. Whether to recruit or crush him… having him here on my turf is advantageous.”
“Given his track record, I doubt Lake Gallard would side with you…”
“True. He plays the hero… But people like that often hide a much darker side.”
Was that really the case?
He didn’t seem that way when we spoke earlier.
Regardless, Zarfin seemed pleased with my report.
Standing, he turned his gaze toward another door at the back of the room.
“I’ll send someone to deal with him soon enough. But first… I’m in a good mood. I’ll show you something special, Arze.”
“S-something special?”
“You’ll see. Follow me.”
Obediently, I trailed behind him.
Beyond the door lay a passageway, apparently an emergency escape route.
At its end was another door. When it opened, I was left speechless.
Cages filled the room, and within them were countless children.
Their gazes were vacant, their eyes devoid of light. They had given up on life.
“This… what is this?”
“These are tomorrow night’s auction goods.”
“Tomorrow night…?”
“The auction will feature these slaves as the main attraction.”
“Wha—!?”
So that was the truth behind the auctions.
I’d thought it was about stolen art or luxury goods.
But this… was slavery.
Illegal.
Punishable by decades in prison.
Yet Zarfin’s smug expression showed absolute confidence in his immunity.
He was backed by a private army bought with gold and shielded by aristocrats hungry for depravity.
No wonder he felt untouchable.
“Hahaha! I can’t wait for tomorrow night!”
As he laughed triumphantly, I smirked inwardly.
Enjoy yourself while you can, Zarfin.
My hopes are becoming reality.
If it’s him—Lake Gallard, with his unyielding faith in people—he can defeat this monster.
What do you think about this chapter?
