A golden, glimmering tent set beneath the warm sun of the harbor.Following behind the trader and stepping between the tents lined up left and right, the entrance to the guild building appeared.We went inside the building, passed through a splendid corridor, and were guided to a reception room.A few minutes of waiting while we were told a manager would come soon, with refreshments to enjoy in the meantime.Knock knock-.With the sound of a knock, a woman with a mysterious air entered the reception room.A woman with brown skin and purple hair, dressed in a long, cloth-like garment that reached down to her ankles.She saw us and bowed politely.“Pleased to meet you, Lord Loen, Lord Garfield, Lady Ciel. I am Sheika, vice guild master of the Bellatea Guild.”Calling each of our names in turn, Sheika greeted us one by one.She was especially courteous to Garfield—naturally so, since no one in commerce would fail to recognize a scion of Moti.“Sorry to make you hurry over. I asked for a manager, but I didn’t expect the vice guild master herself to come.”Sheika shook her head and sat demurely on the sofa.“Not at all. I happened to have time, so it’s fine. Please don’t mind it. In any case, I hear you’ve come to trade with our guild?”“Right. It’s not a huge sum, but I intend to bet on a decline in spice prices.”At that, Sheika’s eyes narrowed slightly.“You’re staking money on a price drop… As you know, spice prices have been rising continually. In the present situation, I can’t recommend that.”“You don’t make money by doing what everyone else does.”“Go against the trend and you can take a big loss.”“Someone always makes a big profit in that very situation.”“Groundless confidence is dangerous, Lord Loen.”Smiling gently, Sheika tried to dissuade me from investing.To bet on a decline when spice prices were marching sky-high—beyond merely ill-advised, it was no different from throwing money on the ground, as she said.Of course, there are investors who dream of windfalls or enjoy going against the trend and pull this sort of stunt from time to time, but the probability of making money is extremely low, and Sheika was pointing that out.After a while of discouraging me, Sheika glanced at Garfield—who was picking up cookies beside me—and then nodded.“However… if you truly insist, it’s not something we can’t do. What sort of amount are you thinking?”I, the notorious wastrel, had no credit to speak of, but Garfield was different.He was a scion of the Golden Elephant Guild, one of the continent’s three great merchant guilds.Seeing Garfield accompany me, she seemed inclined to accept the contract proposal.“For now, nutmeg equivalent to five hundred million krone in cash.”“Ah, I see what you intend. In that case, how about structuring the contract like this?”Scratch scratch-.Tapping her abacus with a tok tok, Sheika began writing rapidly on a contract.The terms were complex, but the principle was simple.The more the price of nutmeg fell, the more money I made. In stock terms, it was an inverse.Of course, if prices rose instead, I would lose money—but that wouldn’t happen.Scanning the contract Sheika handed over, I smiled in satisfaction.“Quick and good.”By the book, one would have to borrow the spice, sell it at a high price, then, when the price fell, buy the spice again with the proceeds and return what was borrowed—an involved process.Moreover, that method demanded a warehouse and staff to manage the goods, not to mention merchants and laborers to participate in the transaction—tremendous hassle and manpower.But thanks to Sheika, the deal ended with a single sheet of contract, without the cumbersome process of actually buying and selling physical goods.There was a bit of a transaction fee attached, but a reasonable rate.As expected, going through the person in charge made things easy.Rustle-.Once I finished signing, Sheika handed over a copy and carefully asked,“By the way, Lord Loen, what is your reason for making such a contract in a situation like the current one? You must know the price trend is upward.”“You’re asking the reason after getting my signature on the contract?”To ask ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) for the reason at a point where the deal couldn’t be undone.Merchant-like, sly.At this, Sheika covered her lips and gave a small smile.“Hehe, I’m a merchant as well, after all. I must secure what needs securing first.”Sheika smiled as she tucked the original into a file.Well, whatever.She simply acted in accordance with her duty as a merchant, and I had nothing to lose.With the spice transaction done, let’s move to the next topic.Even with just the contract we made, I could make a fair bit of money, but something important remained.'No—this is the main point, rather.'The contract just now was nothing more than a pretext to open the conversation.Lowering my voice, I tapped the copy of the contract on the table.“Sheika, just now you asked why I made such a contract.”“Yes, though I’m not that curious. If the rumors about you are true, Lord Loen, it wouldn’t be strange for you to sign a contract that only loses money. I just do as requested and collect my fee.”“…Bold of you to say that to my face.”“Please don’t take it too seriously. I’m joking.”She waved her hand with a smile, then fixed me with a serious gaze.“In truth, I am interested. Since you even brought Lord Garfield, a scion of Moti, I suppose you have something else to say to me beyond a trifling contract like this?”“Good eye. This is merely a primer to begin the talk.”Looking at the contract we’d just concluded, I said to Sheika,“In fact, you’ve probably guessed to some extent. The whole story behind this spike in spice prices.”“……”For an instant, Sheika’s eyes changed, but they quickly returned to normal.It was a split second—barely noticeable—but I saw it clearly.'So Sheika knew as well, after all.'I nodded inwardly.There was no way merchants, who were more attuned to the market than anyone, would fail to sense the wrongness.But for now, they would simply take the benefit of the sharply rising prices and try to make money off the situation somehow.If an opportunity presents itself, it is a merchant’s duty to use it.It might smell a bit fishy, but there was no reason to poke a hornet’s nest by giving up a money-making situation.'But this won’t last long.'Mid-April, when Lombard returns to the Meteor Isles after stopping by the New Continent. A mirage-like situation that lasts only until then.If they don’t prepare in advance, the odds of taking a loss are high.Moreover, for Sheika, at least this time, it couldn’t be accepted as merely a matter of spice prices rising and falling.Because she had a hidden secret.“For now, you’ll benefit from these high prices, but the situation will never last. That’s also why I signed the contract just now.”“So… are you trying to advise me to prepare for a decline in spice prices?”“As if.”I shook my head, hardened my gaze, and spoke to her in a firm voice.“Sheika. I have solid intel. Information about the party that deliberately prepared for a drop in the Lombard Guild’s stock price and spread false rumors to engineer this situation—and high-grade intel that can overturn the board.”“!”Sheika’s eyes flew wide.Unlike before, she couldn’t completely hide her reaction.Confirming her response, I continued.“That said, I won’t ask you to trust me. I know my own infamy. But Garfield—you can trust him.”I flicked my gaze toward Garfield, seated beside me.To tell her to have confidence in my words when I’d only staked five hundred million would be absurd.Combined with my notoriety, it would only lower credibility.But Garfield’s face—as a scion of Moti—carried a measure of authority.Even if we’d said we wouldn’t borrow Moti’s prestige for this deal, there was no need to hide Garfield’s inborn lineage.Using this much was fair.“What exactly is this information?”“The forces that spread the false rumors of drought and shipwreck to manipulate Lombard’s stock and spike spice prices, and the guilds that colluded with them. I also know how they’re moving right now.”“……!”“Well?”Leaning back on the sofa, I asked leisurely.I’d laid my cards on the table. The choice now lay with Sheika.“…….”Silently thinking for a moment, Sheika gave a small nod and then spoke.“All right. For the sake of argument, I’ll believe what you say, Lord Loen. But why go so far as to tell me that information and propose a collaboration?”At her question, I smiled easily.“Because you are the owner of the ‘Lombard Guild,’ the victim of this stock manipulation.”“Hm?”“?”Garfield and Ciel tilted their heads as if to say, What are you talking about all of a sudden?Calling Sheika—the vice guild master of the spice-dealing Bellatea Guild—the owner of Lombard out of nowhere? Their faces asked what on earth I meant.“…….”But realizing that Sheika’s reaction was unusual, they soon understood that what I’d said was true.Well-versed in the commercial world, Garfield thought for a moment, then clapped his hands and exclaimed as if something had dawned on him.“I-I see now. I’d assumed Bellatea was merely a lower affiliate of Lombard… so that’s how it was. In truth, you’ve been controlling both guilds from beneath the surface!”Now that the truth was out, she clearly had no intention of hiding it further.“How did you know? Even among our own people, there aren’t many who know.”“There are ways to know. Don’t worry. I won’t go blabbing about it.”“…….”When I said I wouldn’t reveal my source, Sheika didn’t pry further.She knew that wasn’t what mattered right now.Judging that I’d persuaded Sheika, I brought the situation into focus.“In any case, if we turn this situation to our advantage, we can reap a tremendous gain. Even now, they’re borrowing shares to short Lombard and push its price down. You know what that implies, don’t you?”At my words, Sheika stroked her chin and murmured softly.“I see… In that case, we should slowly reduce stock float and increase our holdings as much as possible.”“Right. And at the same time, keep lending them shares through brokers. To the point they can’t possibly pay it all back. Then, pick the timing and snap their necks in one go.”“If that happens, the expected profit would be…”Tap tap-.I could see Sheika’s hands trembling as she flicked the abacus.Depending on the opponent’s short ratio, our side’s ownership share, and the amount of freely tradable stock, the numbers would vary—but if this plan succeeded, the profits would be astronomical.After a brief round of calculations, Sheika glanced at Garfield and me, then tucked the abacus away.“Can you procure additional funds for this plan? We’ll also need reliable brokers.”“I know people. I’ll introduce you later.”With the underworld’s capital and through Alfredo, it wouldn’t be difficult.“I understand for now. Then, could you tell me the list of guilds that planned this affair? We need that pinned down to plan ahead.”To Sheika’s question, I answered firmly.“Heh, I can’t hand that over for free. That information is the core of this deal.”The list of guilds that planned and colluded in this stock manipulation—and the ratios of what they borrowed and their positions. That was the heart of this trade.Ssshhk-.Instead of answering obediently, I pulled over a blank sheet from beside me and slid it before Sheika.Then, with a faint smile, I spoke.“Now. Let’s make a contract.”If you give, you must receive. That is equivalent exchange.That—more than alchemy—is the law of this world.

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