Published: August 10, 2026
Ever since then, I had been investigating the Hadwell Trading Company.
The Hadwell Trading Company's head was Hadwell Decken, thirty-two years old.
A body like a brown bear's, with a red mane like that of a lion. His golden eyes were like an owl's, missing no prey hidden in the darkness. His nickname was the evil magical beast bugbear. With those big hands, he would grab trade partners who displeased him and devour them starting from the head――.
...So went the tale, but the actual man's history was plain, or rather, solid.
Born in a coal-mining village on the outskirts of Oracle as the fourth child of a family of miners, like many of the villagers. Occasionally, he became interested in small pieces of gold ore, glowing stone, and fossils his father brought home, and taught himself processing techniques. His skill and eye for quality earned him an apprenticeship under a gemstone craftsman in the city.
He honed his abilities further and became independent at the age of twenty-six. "Hadwell's Stone Shop" quickly gained a reputation and even reached the ears of high-ranking nobles. With a patron, the stone shop changed its name to the Hadwell Trading Company and became an organization that handled the procurement, processing, and wholesale of gemstones and precious metals――and so on.
"In other words, he's a self-made man. It's common enough around the world for someone born lowly to rise through skill and eventually be taken in by a wealthy noble."
"Something like my sister's adoptive father, Norman Smith, perhaps?"
At my question, Lord Cyrus nodded, saying, "Exactly."
"In that sense, the gardener Johan, the bath attendant Tunic, and the head chef Toppo... no, to varying degrees, all the attendants in our castle are much the same. If they have ability and I take a liking to them, I hire them regardless of status."
He spoke with some amusement, and I couldn't help but furrow my brows.
"If you say it like that, it makes me want to let my guard down. Please stop."
When I said that, he drew in a sharp breath.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
He apologized in a serious voice. Then he glared bitterly at the letter on the table.
"Dear friend, Lord Cyrus. Thank you for your help the other day."
The letter began with those ridiculous words.
"We would like to establish a friendly relationship between the Hadwell Trading Company and the granado trading company. Therefore, we request that you suspend all trade in precious metal resources currently being purchased from Ipsandros by the granado trading company, and transfer the trading rights to Hadwell. In exchange, our company will cease all dealings in your company's main product, textiles."
"So... they're threatening to use textiles as a hostage and force us to stop trading in precious metals... right?"
"Yes, that's about right."
When Lord Cyrus nodded, the butler standing behind him stepped forward.
Wolfgang was the first to speak since bringing that letter here.
"So it was one of Hadwell's people who had been monopolizing the textile supply after all."
"Hard to believe, though. The Hadwell Trading Company deals in gemstones; they shouldn't have the know-how for textile trade. Besides, I doubt they have the funds to buy everything up at double our price."
"Hadwell's patron, the duke of dutchman household in Oracle, must be funding them. I believe one of the duke's daughters married into Shaina's family. Perhaps they had some connection through Shaina's raw silk farmers."
"...Do you have any suggestions?"
"Then, though I may be overstepping, allow me to offer a few."
Lord Cyrus asked the butler. Wolfgang immediately began listing his thoughts.
"First, comply with their demands. Precious metals are a major profit source for the granado trading company, but not as much as textiles. If it means taking a blow to your main product, it may be better to give up the less profitable one."
Lord Cyrus quietly shook his head.
"No... rejected. This isn't about profit, but trust with our trading partners. If we don't deliver the planned yearly amount, the granado trading company's reputation will suffer."