42-39

Chapter 39: Throwing Spear Demonstration 

Valpar, a skilled merchant close to Person and his senior when Person was a deputy, had also been relegated to a remote assignment this time. When Person returned from his remote post with a fortune from selling Holstaurus milk across the kingdom, Valpar laughed heartily as if it were his own success. 

“Ha! Holstaurus milk, you say? Did you strike gold? To come back with five jars of such a rare commodity no other merchant could show their face! Hahaha!” 

The merchants who had maneuvered to get the best trade routes had made some profit, but most failed by treating foreign markets like domestic ones. 

“Take a jar for yourself, senior. I’ve sold some in other towns and have two left. I’ll let you have one.” 

“No, that’s all your credit. You should report it. But how did you get so much milk?” 

“I traded with a large, nomadic Holstaurus tribe. They seemed to like me and told me one of their regular routes. If the timing is right, I’ll be able to get Holstaurus milk regularly.” 

As promised, Person cleverly concealed his dealings with Milk’s tribe, making it sound like a lucky encounter with nomads. This way, no one would suspect his source. 

Valpar, impressed, patted Person’s shoulder. “Looks like your chance has finally come. But… what’s this odd weapon? It’s short for a spear, and the tip looks like an arrow… is it a throwing spear?” 

It was the throwing spear Person had traded for with Milk an unfamiliar design to the world’s humans, enough to make even experienced merchants like Valpar ask. 

Person, confident, replied, “This might be the most important item I’m reporting today. It’s the work of a remarkable new blacksmith, so I secured an exclusive contract.” 

“Your eye for goods is sharp. I see devilbear hide, and is that a gloss finish? Holstaurus milk for the gloss this is a real find. But why so short?” 

“Haha, I’ll explain as we go. You’ll see.” 

Just then, a messenger summoned them to the merchant lord’s meeting. 

“Let’s go, Valpar.” 

“Right.” 

All the merchants gathered, Person standing confidently with his goods list. Most others looked dejected, having failed to achieve good results. Only a few, both well-placed and skilled, looked content, but even they had only modest profits. 

Once the doors closed, only the merchants and the lord remained to discuss important business. 

Some time later, Person visited Milk’s Holstaurus tribe again, now as a senior merchant. 

“You’ve been promoted? Congratulations.” 

“Thanks to you. The faces of those self-important merchants were priceless. Meeting you was the luckiest moment of my life, Chief.” 

“That’s enough flattery. So, what happened?” 

“This is confidential to our company, so please keep it to yourself.” 

“I can keep a secret. Don’t worry.” 

“Thank you. First, the merchant lord praised me highly for bringing Holstaurus milk…” 

Person began to recount the events of the previous day’s general meeting of the Esta Company. 

A stern old man glared at the merchants, calling each by name. 

“Gibson!” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Aporco!” 

“Yes! Here.” 

“Malden!” 

“Yes!” 

After confirming everyone was present, he took his seat and scanned their faces. 

“You were all so confident, but the results are terrible. How can you call yourselves merchants?!” 

“S-sorry, sir!” 

“Am I asking too much? If you can’t do it, don’t try! Why do you overreach? I warned you foreign trade is risky, and one failure can ruin you. Only those truly capable should step up. But you insisted, and I didn’t stop you. Now look at this! You’ve betrayed my trust!” 

His jaw trembled with anger, not just from age. The atmosphere was tense. 

After scolding them, he returned to the main point: everyone must report their results in front of all. It was a public shaming. 

Each merchant reported. Some did okay, but most failed and mumbled their results. 

“Louder!” 

The merchant lord’s voice rang out. He clearly intended to shame them into improvement, especially those who had used their standing to push out newer but capable merchants. 

One by one, the failures were revealed until it was Person’s turn. 

Person had been sent to the remote Remton village a risky assignment for a new merchant. The others, thinking he’d fail, waited for his report with relief. 

“I’ll be brief. On our way back from Remton, we met nomadic Holstaurus and traded for five jars of fresh milk. Two were magically preserved and brought here, three were sold en route for a large profit.” 

“Milk?!” 

“Holstaurus milk?!” 

“Unbelievable!” 

The merchants were stunned. Magically preserved jars are made to strict standards, holding about 200 liters each. Person had brought back 400 liters. 

Holstaurus milk sells for 1 gold per 500 mL enough to feed a family for two months. So 400 liters is 800 gold, equivalent to two years’ tax revenue for a territory. With the other three jars, Person’s total profit approached 1,400 gold about six years’ taxes. 

He’d traded for ore, food, and necessities items Milk’s tribe needed. The profit from selling those was minimal, but both sides benefited. 

Person had more to offer Milk, but after such a windfall, he was willing to do anything for him. 

Other merchants, who’d returned empty-handed, were too ashamed to lift their heads. 

Sensing the attention, Person quickly introduced his other goods, but the milk overshadowed everything. 

Then came the highlight: the throwing spear. Person presented a sample to the merchant lord. 

“What’s this?” 

The lord’s eyes changed as Person produced a short, unimpressive-looking spear. He normally ignored anything unprofitable, and only Person’s huge profit spared him from immediate dismissal. 

Calmly, Person explained the spear though he embellished the story. 

“During this trip, I met a brilliant, reclusive blacksmith named Milk. This spear is his work.” 

“Hm… that’s a throwing spear?” 

The merchant lord, initially uninterested, examined the short spear again. The head looked like a giant arrowhead, the shaft was devilbear hide, and the gloss finish was clear. 

“To put so much effort into a mere throwing spear… It’s a fine piece, but I doubt its effectiveness as a weapon.” 

He acknowledged its craftsmanship but dismissed its usefulness, as throwing spears were seen as obsolete. 

The other merchants began to murmur so he failed after all, they thought. 

Person, sensing their skepticism, called for the demonstration. 

“Bring it in.” 

Valen, his deputy, brought in a target: a wooden board covered in devilbear hide. 

“This target is made from devilbear hide scraps given by the Holstaurus. I’ll now throw this spear at it. Please stand back.” 

The merchants moved aside, clearing a path about 100 paces to the target. 

“I’m thin and weak, but this spear is so light and balanced that even I can throw it easily.” 

He hurled the spear at the target with all his might. 

Thunk! 

Despite his lack of strength, the spear flew straight and embedded itself in the devilbear hide target. It didn’t go as deep as a Holstaurus could manage, but the head pierced the tough hide. 

Everyone was speechless, even the merchant lord, who had been watching with a skeptical smile. 

“As you can see, it’s an excellent weapon. I brought about 20 of these. We’ll brand them under blacksmith Milk’s name and sell them at a high price. What do you think, sir?” 

Now the situation was reversed the merchant was boldly asking the lord for his opinion. 

A tense silence fell, and then the merchant lord finally opened his mouth to speak.