Chapter 197 - Trade Partners of the Small Nations
Listening to the white-haired Village Head Dandy, the full extent of the situation became clear.
For a long time, the villages in this area had dealings with the McDallian Family. Their activities involved secret mining, drug cultivation, and smuggling—transactions that could never see the light of day. Despite the small scale, these dealings had been ongoing for a long time.
However, a few days ago, things took a turn for the worse. The McDallian Family arrived in unprecedented numbers and demanded not just the agreed-upon amount of goods but all the village's stock, and they did so by force, without paying a single coin. This completely dismantled the long-standing relationship.
Given the timing, it seems likely that these were remnants of the McDallian Family, trying to recover valuable items after the Kikyo Society had destroyed their organization. Probably.
Naturally, such actions without payment would lead to trouble. When the villagers tried to resist, the ruthless McDallian remnants used force to seize the goods and even took hostages, forcing the villagers into labor to extract more resources quickly.
It's a sad state of affairs when once-respected people become vicious bandits. Facing such ruthless bandits, any resistance meant certain death, and the hostages were in grave danger. With no hope of rescue, the villagers were plunged into despair. While the Kikyo Society's actions had driven the McDallians to this point, I refuse to believe we did anything wrong. If anyone suggests otherwise, I'll knock them down without hesitation.
Everyone has their reasons, and the world is interconnected. Sometimes, one incident can affect everything. Even if we were the ones suffering, we would need to identify the right person to blame. In this case, the villagers should blame the McDallian remnants, not the Kikyo Society.
Still, the existence of hostages is a concern. Their presence means the situation isn't over.
"Do you not worry about the hostages?"
I asked the village head, who remained calm and composed. I figured this was a significant concern.
"I've been worried, but we have no leverage to negotiate. I don't want to appear weak by pleading for their kindness."
He understood the situation well. Even if they offered us something like the ore they mined, we could just take it by force. After all, we had already wiped out the McDallians. There was no reason to think we would massacre the villagers, and the village head probably realized this by now. Still, his acknowledgment of our position was commendable.
"Indeed. It's refreshing to see someone who understands the situation. I look forward to a productive discussion."
"Can you tell me why you helped us? What was your purpose in turning such formidable enemies against you? The McDallian Family is one of the largest organizations in Exembra. They will surely seek revenge."
Sigh. This conversation will be tedious without an explanation of the situation in Exembra. It will take time, but I need to address any lingering concerns.
"Albert, Verone! Over here!"
I called over the two who had been watching the villagers.
"Do you remember the way back up?"
"The route we came down should be fine. Are we heading back now?"
They were former adventurers, so they remembered the way back. I, on the other hand, had a hazy memory of the path.
"Not yet. I have a different task for you two. Village Head, please tell them where the hostages are being held. You must have an idea of their location, right?"
"There's no point in worrying. Since we have no options, we can only trust you."
He seemed to be hinting at the risk of a failed rescue mission, but there was no reason to doubt our capabilities. For the McDallian remnants, there were no other options. This village head was particularly astute.
According to him, the hostages were being held in the neighboring village's head's house, where some McDallian remnants were also present. However, their numbers were not significant. Most of the hostages were children, with a considerable number of women as caretakers. That means there will be a fair number of people to deal with.
"Once you're back on the surface, take Liliane or Graylease with you. Using vehicles for transport might be better. Use recovery potions as needed."
"The number of hostages might make it difficult to bring them all back. Should we wait here?"
Considering the number of children and caretakers, it could be a substantial group. The village head hasn't accounted for those who fled or died, so the exact number is unknown. There's a chance it could be a larger group, similar to a recent slave hunt. It's an uncertain situation.
"Once the villagers are back, you can return with them."
"Understood. Albert, let's go."
"Hostages being children and women. I have a bad feeling about this."
Indeed. I thought this would be a straightforward rescue, but the presence of hostages complicates matters. I hope there are no further surprises. It's best to clarify everything now.
"Before you leave, see if there are any other related strongholds. I doubt there are more, but it's better to be sure."
"I agree. I'll make sure to ask."
Verone seemed to understand the importance.
Albert and Verone left to rescue the hostages, while Mira and Ophelia were investigating another route. Outside, Liliane and Graylease were securing the entrance, and the two young men were watching the vehicles and supplies. Only Valeria and I remained inside.
Seeing that there was no immediate need for vigilance, I called over Valeria. The village head, who had been watching us, approached as well. The other villagers, curious about us and recognizing the village head's authority, followed closely.
As I observed the ragged villagers approaching, they stopped at a distance, perhaps intimidated. Two of them stepped forward, their eyes filled with tension.
"What did you do? There are still more of them out there!"
"What about the hostages?"
They must be village heads, their families likely among the hostages. I understood their concern. However, their attitude was vastly different from the calm and composed Village Head Dandy.
If their children or grandchildren were hostages, their anxiety would be understandable. But Dandy had not let personal worries overshadow the situation. He prioritized confirming the situation and then calmly disclosed the hostage issue without revealing any personal details.
In such a dire situation, the unexpected help they received raises many questions. What was the purpose? Who were these people? What were their demands? There were many things to consider.
A powerful group capable of eliminating a formidable opponent might not be benign. These village heads did not understand the risk of provoking us. Angering us would be a foolish move.
I turned back to Dandy, who silently pleaded for help with the others.
"Both of you, calm down. You can trust these people with the hostages. It would be more appropriate to thank them first."
"Thank them? After what they did? How can you be so calm? What kind of tricks did they use to do this? How will they take responsibility?"
"Killing the McDallians is bad enough. If this gets out, a retaliation force from Exembra will come flooding in. What are you going to do about that?"
They were loud and disrespectful. If I had first encountered these village heads, I would have demanded harsh conditions for the negotiations. I was grateful for Dandy's presence.
"Onee-sama."
I restrained the agitated Valeria and tried one last time to reason with them.
"We did this on our own accord, so I don't expect gratitude. However, I do want to discuss our situations. If you're willing, please sit down. If not, at least be quiet."
"Who cares about your situation!"
...Sigh. Their aggressive stance was born of desperation, but it was still annoying. Frustrated, I crushed a piece of ore on the table.
Dandy stood up, his tall and imposing figure adding to his presence. He spoke calmly but firmly.
"Stay out of this."
The excited village head lost his momentum and fell silent. Dandy gestured for him to sit down, and finally, we had a conducive environment for discussion.
With the three village heads present, we could proceed with the negotiations. I continued the conversation with Dandy.
"I understand that the villages around here had secret dealings with the McDallian Family, which turned against you. Now, I have some questions."
I directed my questions to Dandy, and the others understood that they were not involved in this part of the discussion. The two village heads, excluded from the table, remained silent under Dandy's unspoken authority.
"I'll try to answer as best I can."
"What can be mined here?"
"Mithril is the main resource. There are also magical minerals, but in small quantities."
Magical minerals could be profitable, and a Mithril vein would be valuable.
"Where is the metallurgy done?"
Raw ore isn't usable as-is. It needs to be refined into metal and purified.
"My village has the facilities. We transport the ore here and refine it when we have enough."
I see. Producing ingots would increase the value.
"What about the fields above? They're quite extensive, but there must be more, right?"
"...I've heard it's a type of stimulant. There are several fields scattered in the forest."
He seemed reluctant to admit it, but knowing the scale of the cultivation was enough.
"Are there any other items traded?"
"No. This was sufficient."
"Understood. Now, here are my demands."
The two village heads reacted negatively to the word "demands," but Dandy's silent encouragement kept them quiet.
"I have two demands. First, you will supply the ingots to us, the Kikyo Society, from now on. Second, you will stop cultivating drugs and grow alternative crops, which we will specify later."
The McDallians were likely buying at rock-bottom prices. Given the remote location and the price differences between here and Exembra, what was a fair deal for them would be a bargain for us. Especially since these were illegal transactions, the price gap would be even more pronounced.
"While it's understandable that you need to part ways with the McDallians, their threat is real. What do you plan to do about it? In the current situation, abandoning the village might be necessary."
Even if they were once business partners, the McDallians had betrayed and violently dominated the village. It was natural to still see them as a threat. However, with a clear understanding of the situation, that perception could change.
Let me explain the current situation in Exembra. They might not believe me, but it's worth a try.
"Don't worry. Your concerns are unfounded. The McDallian Family is no more. The ones here were just remnants. With them eliminated, there's no one left to seek revenge."
There's a chance that other remnants might appear, but it's better to be cautious. I'll recommend keeping the Kikyo Society's involvement a secret.
"Eliminated?"
"Ridiculous! You're lying!"
I ignored the noise.
"Go to Exembra and verify it yourself. Read the gossip magazines; they'll tell you everything, even the unnecessary details."
I have no intention of persuading the disbelievers or the skeptical. The best way is for them to see for themselves. The Public Relations Bureau has been active in spreading the news, and we have coordinated with the Clad Family and Anastasia Union to manage the media. All negative aspects have been attributed to the fallen organization, and we've reached agreements with all related groups. In life, the victors write the history.
If they go to Exembra and verify it themselves, their disbelief won't hold. Regardless, the villagers have limited options. Finding new illegal trading partners would mean dealing with the underworld, which would not end well.
We might not be saints, but we'll offer a slightly better deal than the McDallians. These terms should be favorable for them.
"Reasonable. We'll send representatives from each village, including myself, to Exembra."
"Good idea. Once in Exembra, visit the Kikyo Society's eastern district office. I'll write a letter of introduction. If you disclose your previous dealings, I can help secure better terms."
"There's no choice, is there?"
"It's up to you, but it will be beneficial. Without my recommendation, the Secretariat will be much harsher in their negotiations, offering the bare minimum."
The Secretariat would push for the lowest possible terms, but a friendly relationship with Dandy and the potential for alternative crop cultivation make it worthwhile to offer better conditions.
I grabbed a piece of paper from the management files and wrote a letter while listening to Dandy's account of their dealings. I summarized the necessary details and my impressions as concisely as possible.
"Say it's from Shinogami, and it should be accepted. I've outlined the background, so reading it will save time."
With this, the Kikyo Society's members in Exembra can handle the rest. There will be many details to work out, but the responsible parties can handle it.
"We'll go to Exembra as soon as the village's situation stabilizes. We won't forget your kindness, but we need to assess the situation for ourselves."
"That's fair. Let's head to the surface. The hostage rescue should be complete by now."
As Mira and Ophelia returned from exploring an alternate route, I announced it was time to leave.
Mira led us back to the surface, where Liliane and Graylease were waiting. Graylease had accompanied Albert and Verone to rescue the hostages and had returned.
The village, bathed in the morning light, was a beautiful sight. The bright sunlight and lush greenery were a welcome change.
Villagers, who had been confined underground, began to emerge, their joy and relief evident. They were returning to their homes after a long time.
We waited for the two who had been guarding the hostages to return. With the village's situation resolved, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
The next potential site for drug cultivation is a detour, and something will likely happen along the way. It's best to head directly to our original destination.
It's a complicated story, but in summary, we've secured a new source of magical minerals and an opportunity to introduce Lily's special crops to the village.
Next chapter: "The Great Escape from a Phobia!" A rare tale of continuous running and escaping!