#1108 The Reason Behind Monopoly

The Heavenly Five-ring Mercantile Crash.

It’s a method of settling arguments passed down among traders, invoked only as the last resort when no consensus can be reached.

Merchants pit their wits and business savvy against one another, and whoever wins decides the outcome.

Loser obeys.

Winner takes it all and the loser loses everything.

It’s the ultimate showdown with absolute, final authority.

That’s what they call the Heavenly Five-ring Mercantile Crash.

—From “One Hundred and Eight Otherworldly Bizarre Festivals,” published by Minmei Books.

Don’t hold that weird high-stakes event here!

Take it somewhere else, please?!

But Mr. Shax, and all the trading-firm presidents challenging him, are already too hyped up to turn back. They’re in full festival-mode.

Another challenger steps up to face Mr. Shax.

“Go, my beloved mare, Sharoste! Super-Express Hit-and-Run Attack!”

Whaaaaaa-?!

Wait a darn minute!

That merchant’s charging in on horseback?!

Is that even allowed?!

“My trading firm ships loads of goods by horse-drawn wagon, earning massive profits in record time! For us, the horse is both a partner and a vital business tool. So of course, it’s perfectly natural to bring a horse to a merchant duel!”

Uh, if you say so…?

The thing is, with all that hauling, the horse must be used to smashing through obstacles instead of daintily jumping over them.

If that beast barrels into you at full tilt, a person would go flying like a bowling pin!

And Mr. Shax is the one about to get struck!

“Take this, Shax! Wagon-Master Trading Firm’s Ultimate Art: Rider’s Bargain ‘Belré’ and Rein ‘Fawn’!”

Aah!

As if this wasn’t insane enough, the mounted merchant whips his steed even faster until he’s just a white blur streaking across the landscape.

That’s how extreme his speed is?!

“Impressive! As the head of a transport-heavy trade network, his skill with horses is unmatched!”

“Indeed, achieving that kind of speed is proof of the business acumen he’s honed over the years!”

Is it, really?!

The other merchants provide expert commentary, but I’m more concerned about how lethal this all looks.

If that hits Mr. Shax head-on, no human being would survive!

Mr. Shax, run! Run for ittttttttttttt!

“Pandemonium Company’s Forty-Eight Negotiation Tactics…!”

But Mr. Shax doesn’t dodge. Instead, he steps forward with both hands raised like he’s ready to catch something...

“‘Just A Moment, Please!!!’”

“?!”

At those simple words, the thundering horse skids to an immediate stop, like time itself just froze!

“Ohh! That’s the ‘Just a Moment, Please’ technique from the greatest merchant in the Demon Capital!”

“When Shax, the top merchant, politely asks you to wait, you can’t help but stand still and listen!”

“No logic or trickery needed, his sheer dignity and courtesy lock you in place!”

“Hard to admit, but I see now why Shax is called the greatest merchant in the Demon Kingdom…”

The bystanders explain everything for us.

Now that the merchant on horseback and his steed have come to a dead stop...

“Galaxyonin Explosion!!!”

“Gwahaaaaargh!”

Mr. Shax’s super-finishing move lands clean, and the opponent goes soaring.

He’s so strong.

No matter how many merchants come at him one after another, he’s still undefeated.

There’s no sign of fatigue on him at all.

Even if they ganged up on him dozens more times, it doesn’t look like he’d flinch.

“Pandemonium’s president… is he really this strong?”

“Guess the biggest firm in the Demon Kingdom, the one supplying the Demon King’s estate, really does live up to its reputation...!”

“Much as I hate to say it, we’d need all of us combined, and even then, who knows if we could bring him down...?!”

“So in the end, he might snag all of the Saint’s profit for himself?”

The other firms are already tasting defeat.

They obviously underestimated Mr. Shax’s power as a merchant.

They figured if they all piled on him, they’d beat him no sweat. Not so. Even if there were three times as many of them, Mr. Shax wouldn’t budge.

With their plans backfiring, frustration is written on their faces.

And when people get desperate, they do desperate things.

“Well, if it’s come to this…!”

Suddenly, one merchant dashes straight for me?!

“Lord Saint! Please, won’t you do business with our company too?!”

They’re coming right at me for a direct deal?!

They must be totally out of options.

As long as I say ‘yes,’ they’ll consider it a win and are ready to negotiate head-on.

“I promise it won’t take any of your time! Just let us slap the ‘Noujou’ brand on our products, that’s all we need…!!!”

Wait, what?

The Noujou brand is meant to show “made on the farm,” guaranteeing the product is ours...

Slapping it on stuff made elsewhere would break our rules, no...?!

“Just a tiny exception, please! The quality of Noujou goods is world-famous—sticking your label on ours would add an incredible markup…”

That’s counterfeit branding!

Absolutely not! I won’t betray our customers like that!

“Now, now. Please, take this token of appreciation! It’s not much, but…”

A bribeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!

Are you kidding me, you shady scumbag?!

I can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth. Life sure is unpredictable.

“Hey, you can’t be the only one! If he can cut a deal with the Saint, then so can I!”

“Saint, please sign with our firm too!”

“I’ll throw in free detergent! Or how about some pro-wrestling tickets?!”

Gaaaaaaaah!

The dam has burst, and now they’re all rushing me!

Hold on!

I’m from Japan! I’m terrible at turning people down to their faces!

Stop crowding me!

If you keep this up, I might say yes by reflexxxxxxx!

“Enough, you fools!!”

Eek!

Whoa!

That thundering roar startles me, but it stuns the merchants even more.

They leap back, practically frozen in midair.

And the one who shouted so thunderously is…

“The Demon King?!”

“I came here after Shax reported in… and what is this disgraceful sight? Harassing Lord Saint like this!”

It’s Demon King Zedan.

The ruler of the Demon Kingdom and mediator for all demonkind.

“Y-Y-Y-Your Majesty?!”

“Why would Your Majesty come here personally…? I-I mean, of course we bow before you!”

The merchants have no choice but to prostrate themselves.

They’re like lowly civil servants caught red-handed by the Shogun.

“I heard rumors that once people discovered Lord Saint’s location, the merchants started making a ruckus. But I never dreamed they’d be this shameless. Don’t you have any dignity?”

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, we believe the real culprit is Shax, President of the Pandemonium Trading Company…!”

They’re in deep trouble, but apparently, they think staying silent would be even worse, so they mutter their excuses while groveling.

“He concealed Lord Saint—an enormous business opportunity—for himself alone. That’s a grave offense in our field, even if you’re the Demon King, you can’t meddle in business squabbles among merchants, can you…?!”

“I was the one who told Shax to keep Lord Saint’s existence secret.”

Everyone’s eyes nearly pop out of their heads.

“I knew this would happen if Lord Saint was revealed. Greedy fools like you would descend in droves, bothering him. As the representative of demonkind, I couldn’t sit by and let that happen.”

So…

“I confided only in Shax, instructing him to trade with Lord Saint responsibly under strict discretion, by royal decree. All of it done to ensure Lord Saint could live in peace. Considering today’s spectacle, it’s obvious my caution was justified!”

With the chaos they’ve caused, the merchants have nothing left to say.

“Shax is a royal-appointed merchant of the Demon King’s house. I know him well and deemed him perfectly trustworthy for the task. I am the Demon King. Got a problem with that?”

“N-no, not at all, Your Majesty…!”

“You lot lost yourselves in greed, disturbing Lord Saint’s quiet life. Don’t think you’ll go unpunished. Especially you over there! Bribery, of all things? Did you want Lord Saint to lose faith in the entire demon race?”

“Wha-?! Your Majesty, I’d never-!”

“You think I didn’t witness it with my own eyes? Don’t even think about claiming ‘lack of proof’!”

Terrifying. He’s definitely scary when he’s mad.

I only know the friendly side of the Demon King as a buddy, but in moments like this, he shows the fierce leadership that’s made him ruler.

Still… how convenient that the Demon King showed up right at this moment.

How did he know?

Could it be that...Mr. Shax planned this from the start?

Did he flee here knowing that with both him and me present, the greedy merchants would swarm, only for the Demon King to bust them all in one sweep?

If so…

Then Mr. Shax really is a fearsome merchant indeed.