Chapter 9 Act III-2

Although not many men were happy to compare themselves to sheep, there was indeed a wolf beside him.This is really bad. Is this girl really human? "So, I really want to invite your companion to this tavern." If you are not interested in money or fame, then this kind of spice is probably the most suitable if you want to spice up your daily life. Maybe she told herself the truth at the price of this kind of thing. "I've learned what I want to know." Hearing what Lawrence said, the girl seemed very unwilling, and poked Lawrence's chest with a smile. "Your relaxed and calm appearance is really infuriating."

"Because I'm a sheep, I lack emotion." After Lawrence finished speaking, he put his hand on the door of the back door. Then he turned to the girl and said: "Of course, I won't tell others what I hear here." "Is that the same for the people around you?" Still want to laugh anyway. Maybe I like this kind of girl better than well-behaved girls—— Lawrence thought in his heart. "So you're telling us all these words now?" "Exactly." Holo, who was reading the book in the same posture as Lawrence left the room, flicked her tail first, then lowered it all at once.

"Although it is also necessary to teach that little girl about the territory..." Holo cast her eyes on Lawrence, her expression seemed happy. "You have also begun to become quite sensible." "The horse that pulls the goods is held by the rein, and if it wants to move freely, it is best to obey the will of the driver who holds the rein," Holo smiled with satisfaction, sat up and said: "So, what do you think?" The fact that Eb sold the stone statues to the church seems to be true, and the fact that they broke up due to quarrels may also be true.

Moreover, the conclusion of the meeting that Abu told Lawrence can basically be regarded as correct information. The most interesting thing is that the church is planning to build power in this town, and its purpose is undoubtedly to set up a bishop seat here.It is said that the bishop's seat, which functions as the center of the church organization, can be established as long as it is recommended by the land authority and the church authority as the territory. However, ordinary land lords sometimes refuse the church's presence, or do not want new forces to rise. The existing church powers will also hinder it.

but.This is also usually something that can be solved with money and connections. As long as the bishop seat is established, the bishop of the church in this town will change from the position of being appointed to the position of appointing others.It also has the right to expropriate a certain amount of church donations concentrated in the diocese, and also has the qualifications to hold crowning ceremonies for secular power holders to show off their prestige. Moreover, he can also hold the power of religious inquisition in one hand. To give an extreme example, he can even abuse the power of the church and burn all those who dislike him as heretics.Of course, most of its rights and interests lie in collecting fines through trials, and more importantly, there is no power that can enhance authority more than judicial power.

It is precisely because of foreseeing this possibility that the girl in the tavern is so afraid to mention the church. In this way, it is also understandable for Eb, who had a falling out with that kind of place, to want to leave the town, and it is also understandable to stop leisurely saying that he can continue to trade next year. What I can't understand is the reason for falling out with the church and breaking up. As for Lawrence, even if he wanted to swallow the mud, he would resist it.Because he felt that this level of patience was worth it. If you can understand this, maybe it is not bad to let go of the gamble.

Judging from the huge influence of the church's power, it should be the judgment of the bishop who made the conclusion in the meeting of fifty people. Of course, the church made this conclusion in order to prioritize the protection of the town's economy.Therefore, Eb's attempt should be an act against the will of the church. Even if he thinks that he may be regarded as a target of obliteration here, it can be said that there is such a possibility. If a businessman from other places dies or disappears after apparently carrying out a legitimate transaction, the first person to be suspected is the power holder in the city who has a conflict of interests.After all, Lawrence was also a member of the Ron Merchant Guild. If he showed his identity, the bishop who aimed at the bishop seat would probably not take such rough actions.

Moreover, although the transaction amount that Eb expected is a huge amount from the perspective of individual merchants like Lawrence, it is not insignificant in terms of the fur transaction volume of the entire town, but it is not a big deal either. Huge amount.They don't need to pay special attention to such a small amount, and it shouldn't develop into things like killing or not.Of course, for someone, the sale of thousands of silver coins may also turn into a matter of life and death. Lawrence explained all these things to Holo. Holo listened carefully to his explanation at first, but her posture gradually became limp, and finally she even lay down on the bed.

However, Lawrence was not angry. Because, that's exactly what Holo found no reason to refute. "how do you feel?" At last Lawrence asked.Holo stretched greatly, and wiped away the tears welling up from the corners of her eyes with her tail. "There is nothing strange about your explanation itself. It sounds reasonable." Lawrence was about to ask her if it was all right to meddle in the deal, but held back. The one who should judge this should be Lawrence, who is a businessman. "Hehe, although we are virtuous wolves, we are not gods. If you expect God's instructions, then we should disappear from your presence."

"When faced with such a big deal, generally speaking, you always want to hear other people's opinions." "Hey, anyway, you have already come to a conclusion by yourself? Then, will you change your mind if we cry and beg you?" Holo laughed. However, Lawrence knew exactly how to answer at this time. "Even if I ignore your request, you will definitely stay in the hotel. I will successfully complete the transaction and come back here. That's all." Holo, who let out a crisp laugh, scratched her throat a few times as if she felt the itching was unbearable.

"When you can say this without blushing and panting, you will be able to stand alone." Holo's teasing words were also basically used to it. Lawrence shrugged his shoulders at her as if to say "this is like a greeting". "Well, when you explained it just now, your expression was very lively. Of course—" Lawrence was about to speak, but Holo stopped him and continued: "We don't think that's a bad thing. For males, the most natural posture is to chase their prey." This time it was Lawrence's turn to scratch his nose.But Holo would be pissed if she couldn't answer at this point. Lawrence sighed deliberately, explaining to himself that this was a joke to cater to Holo, and said: "It's just that occasionally I hope to look back at myself." "qualified." After Holo finished speaking, she immediately laughed. "However, if you fail in the deal, what will happen to us?" "After all, it's a mortgage. If you can't pay the money, it will be sold somewhere." "Oh……" Holo, lying on the bed, rested her face on her arms and swung her feet along with her tail. "Is that why you are so troubled that you murmur in your dreams?" "...There is also this reason." If the transaction fails and the money cannot be repaid, Holo will of course become the property of the Chamber of Commerce as collateral. only.Holo would certainly not be sold honestly. While that was reassuring, Lawrence wasn't optimistic enough to think that Holo would bite the rope and come back to him. "If that's the case... I hope the next partner will be a little smarter." From the narrowed slits, malicious amber eyes were staring at Lawrence. "Well, for the guy who can't even pay back the borrowed money, you can rub the sand with your hind feet." Facing Holo's slight provocation, Lawrence responded clearly. Xian Lang seemed very displeased with his attitude. "Hmph, thanks to you, you brat, you still dare to say that, obviously, as soon as we said we were going to leave, we would cry and grab us." My expression at this time is probably like swallowing a walnut with its shell. Holo bared her fangs contentedly and flicked her tail. After drooping her tail, she suddenly changed her expression. "However, we trust you, so we will provide you with assistance." There really is such a thing as a "serious smile" in the world. Lawrence scratched his cheeks, stroked his beard and said: "of course." at dusk. The orange-red sunset was gradually sinking to the west, and the lights of Wanjia lit up like fragments of the setting sun.After the sun went down, the cold air suddenly became aggressive. Pedestrians buried their faces in their collars and hurried home. Lawrence watched the scene in the city, and he closed the wooden window only after the sun had completely set and there were no pedestrians on the road.In the room, Holo was turning the pages of the book by the lamp that was fueled by animal oil. The book seemed to be written in chronological order, and she was reading it from newest to oldest. Considering Holo's time in Passrow Village, if you read them in order from oldest to newest, you might be able to find them faster.The reason why Holo didn't do this was probably because she had some spare energy in her heart. Even so, there are only two volumes left, and the possibility of finding corresponding records is very high.Thinking about it this way, she seemed to be very concerned about the content behind, and said that she would continue to read even after dark.Therefore, on the condition that she never put the book near kerosene or fire, Lawrence allowed her to use an animal oil lamp to read the book. However, Holo's attire for lying on the bed and reading a book is not the usual loose attire, but wearing clothes that can go out directly. Not only because of the cold, but also because of waiting for the next negotiation with Abu. "Well, it's about time to go." Although there is no clear time for negotiation, since the agreement of "evening" is agreed between the businessmen, it can be locked within a certain range.However, if he excitedly waited downstairs with Holo just after dark, he might be judged by the other party as a little person who was inexplicably excited because of his interests. But if it is too late, there will be a number of faux pas. In general, this is probably a small test for Ebo. The reason why "in the evening" is not mentioned is because the businessmen's transactions generally end before the evening when they can write without candles, and it will take some time for them to return to the hotel after that. That being the case, the meaning of "evening" should mean coming back after the crowd of people returning to the hotel calmed down. In the hotel, even Lawrence could tell who had returned to the room if he listened carefully. Then, comparing the number of rooms, Lawrence made a judgment that it was almost time. "The so-called merchant is really a troublesome creature." Holo closed the book with a snap, sat up from the bed, stretched and said with a smile. I'm afraid even an ordinary girl can tell that she is anxiously estimating when will be the most appropriate moment. "If I have to be presentable in a hotel room, when the hell am I going to relax?" Lawrence said half-jokingly. Holo got out of bed, thinking about something as she adjusted her ears and tail inside her robes. "For a while after we met... No, until recently, no matter where you were, you always seemed nervous in front of us." "After all, it's my first time traveling with a woman. But I'm almost used to it." Moreover, even if she shows a slightly rough side, I don't think it's a big problem. It can be said that this kind of object that can completely relax the mood is almost the first time I have encountered it. "When we first met, just walking with us on the street, your nostrils were already puffed up." "Now if I had another woman, would you puff your tail for it?" Lawrence replied in a slightly stronger tone.Holo lifted her chin and smiled as if saying "what a boldness". "However, this is how the male gradually peels off the camouflage, and finally develops a gesture of lamenting 'how did this happen?'." "No matter who it is, as long as they become close, they will have this tendency, right?" "Big ass. I've heard people say, 'No bait for the hooked fish.'" "In your situation, it's better to say that you got into the carriage by yourself than a fish that was hooked. It shouldn't apply, right? Don't talk about giving bait, I want you to pay the fare instead." However, Lawrence was a little timid after saying this. That's because Holo's sharp eyes, which didn't look like they were joking, were shining with dull golden light under the animal oil lamp. Did you make a mistake in which aspect of the response? Or is it really embarrassing for you to be anxious? Or feel uncomfortable with your refutation? Seeing Lawrence's confused expression, Holo seemed to suddenly come to her senses, and turned her face away. "Ah... well, to put it bluntly, I just want you not to forget the beginning." Although he didn't know the reason, Lawrence nodded honestly. After all, Holo was very childish in strange ways, and maybe seeing Lawrence not only not flustered, but even making rebuttals from time to time made her feel very uncomfortable. There's no way—Lawrence smiled, then sighed. "I always feel a little uncomfortable." "It's an illusion... No, that's right." Lawrence coughed and looked directly at Holo again— "Can you see what's on my mind?" Asked this question that I wanted to ask when I first met. Holo smiled and approached him with her head sideways. "Big ass." "it hurts!" She kicked Lawrence mercilessly in the front of the shin in the leg. Despite this, Holo kept smiling, walked in front of Lauren gracefully, and put her hand on the door. "Okay, shall we go?" Holo is the same, even if she would make fun of Lawrence when she first met, she would not do such a rough thing-of course Lawrence had to swallow this sentence in his stomach, followed by the one who walked out of the room first Holo behind. Even if you don't forget the beginning, it is actually impossible. The reason why this sentence contains a heavy meaning is that everyone knows that time can never be traced back, and at the same time there is no fact that there is no completely unchanged human being. Since Lawrence thought so, Holo would understand, too. "Of course, it is because of the journey that we have been able to hold your hand so easily. But—" After Holo finished speaking, she suddenly showed a lonely expression. "I hope it will always be like when we first met—even poets can sing like that?" Is it the usual joke? The thought only flashed for a moment. Hearing Holo's words, as if clearly aware of the end of the journey, and looking forward to turning back time, Lawrence couldn't help being taken aback. Holo looked as if she saw everything clearly and had no attachments, but in fact she was not. Even so, she didn't say "I want to go back to the time when I lived happily in the village where I lived for hundreds of years", or "I want to go back to the time when I stayed in my hometown before traveling". It also made Lawrence happy. So Lawrence moved a little bit. Holo was holding his left hand. Although a little shy, he clasped fingers with her.Of course, that's what it said: "You may think it's good, but if it keeps going like that, I'm afraid I'll collapse from mental strain." Holo leaned in slightly as she walked down the stairs. "No problem, we will take care of you, don't worry." Hearing these words accompanied by mischief, of course Lawrence could only return a wry smile. However, on the way down the stairs, Lawrence suddenly realized that this sentence was not a joke at all. Even if Holo said that she could postpone her return to her hometown, Lawrence would definitely die before Holo.Even if Holo's journey is not over, the journey of the two of them will definitely come to an end. Holo didn't make a clear decision on what to do when she arrived in her hometown in the village of Trieo that she passed by before reaching Reynolds.Lawrence finally understood the reason. While thinking about these things, before finishing the stairs leading to the first floor, Holo let go of her hand.Walking up to someone holding a woman's hand, even if it was Holo, bothered Lawrence.However, it would be a little inappropriate to shake off her hand.Lawrence was therefore very grateful for her consideration. That's how Holo thought of herself. I'm afraid I've already reached a conclusion on how to deal with this kind of problem when I arrive in my hometown. "Sorry for the waitting." Therefore, facing Arold and Eb who were already waiting for him downstairs, Lawrence remained calm and greeted them with a more weighty voice than usual. "Well, let's get started." Eb said so in a hoarse voice. "So, what's the conclusion after investigating everywhere?" Lawrence wasn't even asked to introduce Holo. As if just seeing the face under the hood and the movement of sitting on the chair was enough. Indeed, the main purpose of this transaction is not to sell Holo, and this kind of reaction is actually quite normal.However, Eb's attitude of discussing the matter as it stands, even makes people feel a certain miser's breath. "Miss Eb was engaged in the sale of stone statues for the church, and she fell out with the church later, and I have confirmed the information that you can only use cash to purchase furs." Speak out and observe the other party's reaction. This can be said to be the first step in the initial stage of business negotiation. On this point, because Abu was good at hiding his expression, Lawrence couldn't fully grasp it with his vision alone, and he didn't think that he could grasp any information like this.Basically, it is equivalent to warming up before exercise. "Based on my own experience and intuition as a businessman, I think Miss Eb's words are true." "Oh." Her husky voice seemed disinterested.It seems that he is quite familiar with negotiation. "It's just that I am very concerned about a problem." "What's the matter?" "That's why Miss Aishi fell out with the church." Although it was useless to ask this question to himself, Lawrence had already decided in his heart that if her answer did not match the information he had collected, he would immediately judge that Abu was lying. Although Holo next to her would judge the truth or falsehood of the other party's words for herself, if she relied on her words, it would be no different from praying to Holo, and the best way was to veto it if it didn't agree with her. After all, Lawrence sold Holo to someone else based on Lawrence's judgment this time, so he must take responsibility for this behavior by making all his own judgments. "The reason for the falling out? Well, you probably also care about it." As if taking this for granted, Abe coughed lightly after finishing speaking. Eb should be trying his best to use his brain again. If Lawrence is not drawn into this deal, no matter what evil attempts she has, she will eventually fail. She must have been thinking about what Lawrence had seen and heard in town all day. If Abe was lying, it would be basically impossible to match what Lawrence said next with the information Lawrence had obtained. "Because the bishop of the church here is an old antique who can't forget the good times of the church in the past." Then, she said this. "When I was young, I heard that he lived a hellish missionary life around here every day. The reason why he persisted was all because he longed to sit on the throne of a big man and do his best. He was a man with a strong desire for power. Man. This guy really wants to set up a bishop in this town. To put it bluntly, he wants to be a Daston." "The Archbishop." This is simply a word equivalent to a synonym for power. Abe nodded and continued: "As I said before, although I have fallen, I am a nobleman after all. When I was looking for a lucrative business around here, I heard about the existence of a bishop who made money through informal means. That guy It was the bishop of this church. At that time, he had been using his chamber of commerce and church donations to intervene in the fur business, but in the final analysis, he was a guy who hid in the church and could only read books, and he was always in the red in terms of profits. So, that At that time, I proposed a plan that killed two birds with one stone." "That is, the sale of stone statues." "That's right. Besides, I'm not just selling stone statues. After all, I'm a nobleman of the Winfield Kingdom. At the very least, I can exchange information with those in power. I just help him establish a stable relationship there. The archbishop of the power base has built a bridge." That's how it is—Lawrence Xiaojin sighed. Then the processing of the stone statues should be the work of the skilled masons hired for the maintenance and restoration of the Great Cathedral under the command of the Archbishop.They are only employed temporarily when repairing the complex decorations of the church. Once the repair task is completed, they generally have to move to other towns, or do some hard work locally. Even so, due to the limited workload in the city, if someone stays there, it is very likely to become the cause of friction with the local masonry union.What's more ironic is that the skilled masons who have honed their skills in various places have an overwhelming technical advantage, and only skilled masons can restore the complicated church decorations. Because of this, in towns with great cathedrals, whenever the cathedral needs restoration, the local stonemasons fear that they will be robbed of their jobs, creating unnecessary tension. At this time, Abu commissioned them to process the stone statues, which was tantamount to providing a channel to relieve the tension.Whether it's the cathedral, which only employs skilled masons when necessary, or the towns, or the skilled masons themselves, it can be called a timely rain.In return for this, Eb sent a message to the Archbishop of the Cathedral, telling him that the Bishop of Reynolds City was eager to meet him.Then, Abu sold the processed stone statue to the church in this town to gain benefits. This is the ideal form of doing business for the benefit of all. "Great, this saves the trouble of explaining. Well, as you estimated. Of course, I am willing to accept the meager profit of the stone statue business, all because of the fact that the bishop who bet here becomes the high bishop on. But—" Is it due to acting skills or to suppress anger? It is really difficult to make a conclusion. It's just that the ins and outs of everything make sense, and up to here, they are all very reasonable developments - Lawrence made this judgment. "Seeing that I have obtained funds in the transaction to consolidate my foundation, the guys around will of course gradually realize that the future of the bishop is bright, and the bishop also has his own plan, and is going to get rid of some people who get in the way. The guy put this time He sees this as a good opportunity, so he just wants to kick me away. Especially since I am kind to him, if he keeps me by his side, he probably feels that he will be asked for all kinds of troublesome things at that time Right. Of course, I also intend to do this, and I think I have at least such a right. However, for the bishop, instead of waiting for an individual businessman like me to grow gradually, it would be better to change the target to an already powerful chamber of commerce. Convenience. Of course I understand why. But, of course, this is unacceptable." Human anger, perhaps like fire, can be clearly presented in the field of vision—Lawrence thought. "And then, it just fell out." Holo listened quietly in the seat next to her, making one wonder if she had fallen asleep after all. Lawrence once again straightened out Eb's words in his mind. Sure enough, Abb's words sounded completely flawless. Moreover, there is an astonishing degree of agreement with the information I have. If this was a lie, Lawrence even felt that he was willing to work under Eb. "I see. In this case, it will be very difficult to exchange the stone statues in the warehouse for money. I can't just relax and think about waiting for the Great Expedition next year. I finally understand." Abe changed his rapping posture just now, and did not respond, but kept silent under his turban. Lawrence took a slow, calm breath. Then, holding your breath after inhaling, you close your eyes. If you still have to doubt the other party in the face of such a reasonable situation, you probably won't be able to make any other transactions. In other words, even if this is a trap, you have to accept your fate. This is the peculiar feeling of a businessman who makes a living playing tricks. "I see." While exhaling the breath he just inhaled, Lawrence said so. At this moment, Abe's shoulders trembled slightly. It's definitely not acting—Lawrence could say that with confidence. At this moment, there is absolutely no businessman who can remain expressionless. "Let's reconfirm the strategic arrangement." "...Let's do it like this." Eb's mouth seemed to smile in the shadow of the hood. It was Abe who offered his hand first. Lawrence held her hand, only to find that it was trembling slightly. Afterwards, Lawrence, Eb, and Holo came to town together. This is not to celebrate the compact.Businessmen don't raise their glasses to celebrate until the moment they actually get a profit. Since they don't know when the conclusion of the fifty-member meeting will be announced, or when the furs will be monopolized by foreign businessmen, it is necessary for them to withdraw cash as soon as possible. They came to the Chamber of Commerce to exchange Holo as collateral for cash. The name of the Chamber of Commerce is the Drinking Chamber of Commerce. It is located in a location overlooking the port, but it does not have its own unloading yard, and the building is small. The flag representing the chamber of commerce is also very small, just hanging inconspicuously on the door. However, the walls of the building are made of solid stone blocks. Although it is a five-story building, it seems that there is no sign of relying on the adjacent buildings at all. Relying on the dim light of the oil lamp to take a closer look, the small flag is also a first-class product decorated with embroidery, as if announcing the long history of the Chamber of Commerce. It matches the color of the stone and has the momentum of a little giant. In terms of publicity, they probably have a different attitude from other chambers of commerce. "I am a representative of the Drinking Chamber of Commerce, Luz Ellinkin." The habits of the merchants who deal in different commodities are also very different. There were a total of four members of the Drinking Chamber of Commerce who greeted Lawrence, and each of the four had the air of representing the chamber of commerce, and it was also difficult to determine who was dressed most appropriately. I've heard it before that businessmen who focus on people often have multiple people judge products at the same time.The operators of the Chamber of Commerce must be these four people. "I'm Clover Lawrence." Lawrence shook hands with Erinkin. It was a very soft hand, and there was a smile on his face that didn't know what he was thinking.If you want to use sheep as the business object, it should be more useful to bark the dog.And if you want to use people as the target of business, maybe this kind of smile is more useful.Although Holo shook hands afterwards, he was looking at Holo like a snake or a lizard. Abe just took off his turban and didn't say hello to them.Probably when Abu was bought by an upstart businessman before, this chamber of commerce also got involved. "Please sit down." After hearing what Ailingin said, Lawrence and the others sat on chairs wrapped in silk gauze, which was a high-end product filled with cotton. "I have heard the details from the head of the Bran family." So don't have those unnecessary conversations - that's what it means. Lawrence also did not intend to negotiate a price.After all, he didn't understand the market at all about the sale of a noble girl. "Just, I want to ask a question. I heard that Mr. Lawrence is a member of the Ron Business Guild, right?" The three men behind Ai Linkin stood there motionless, staring directly at this side. Obviously, no one showed a particularly obvious expression, but overall there was a weird atmosphere. Even those who are very familiar with negotiations will be oppressed by its momentum. It would be difficult for someone who was sold here alone to lie in front of them. "That's right." Lawrence answered briefly, and the strange atmosphere of the three behind them disappeared without a trace. Sure enough, this was a strategy to get the truth out of Lawrence's mouth. "If it's Ron, we've also had several transactions with Mr. Goldens. The so-called people with insight, I think, refer to people like that." Hearing the name of one of the central figures of the guild, Lawrence couldn't help becoming nervous. Even if he knew it was a ploy to make Lawrence understand that there was no escape. "It belongs to that place, and the dress is quite decent. Moreover, what you brought is indeed a lady with an aristocratic appearance. Therefore, I plan to announce the result of the agreement between the four of us here."