Act 5: Chapter 16: Audience With Great Merchant Lord(Side: Wontz)
Three days after the reopening of Mel's general store magic tool, the 《Fairy's Wings》, in the headquarters of Greed Company.
Wontz, the leader of Greed company had the highest authority second only to the director of the company.
「Wontz-kun… I didn't get a report from you but, it seems you are involved in something interesting.」
Company director, Greed.
He was also the city lord of the commercial city of Polorock.
Maybe because he grew fat, he had fewer wrinkles on his face, he looked quite youthful despite his advanced age.
He wore an elegant tailcoat with a black hat covering his hair.
his cunning, slit eyes were looking straight into Wontz's eyes.
「W-W-W… What a— Ah… Are you talking about the matter of 《Fairy's Wings》?」
Wontz replied with a flattering smile on his face.「It seems you tried to ensnare a child of her shop alas, the said child's shop seems to be going strong after employing an otherworlder. The customer of your group of stores that united to crush her store seems to be leaving, and I heard that they're starting to lose. As if that isn't worse enough, though you have been harassing her until now with various actions that bordering crime since she's powerless, it is instead making her shop garnering more attention than before.」
It was the one thing that Wontz didn't want to talk about.
Though the amount of money he lost was nothing more than chump change, the fact that he lost to such a girl was a huge blow on his face.
「Hahaha… It's not a big deal really, Greed-sama. It is just a trivial matter unworthy of your time. Just like being bitten by a stray dog when trying to earn some chump change. Though it hurt me that I can't get back that plot of land, it doesn't really matter anyway.」
Greed didn't say anything back and just glared at Wontz.
Wontz felt as if something gripped his heart.
Wontz had been working for Greed for a long time alas, even he still had no idea about what his boss was thinking about inside.
As if that wasn't bad enough, his boss was also short-tempered, and he had no idea what was wrong once he lost his temper.
In addition, he was a cruel and cold-hearted person.
He was the absolute ruler of this city, so much so that he could cover up a murder in broad daylight if he wanted to.
The matterof Greed having connection with crime organization in the Dark Ward was an open secret among the top brass of Greed Company.
That was even more so for Wontz who was one of Greed's aides, he knew that the Dark Ward was used to cover Greed's shady business and to corner someone into bankruptcy with its' deteriorated public order.
No one in this city could live in peace once Greed set his eyes on them.
「E-Even if I can't regain that plot of land… That shop… And Mel is bound by the rulers and regulations of the company. The complicated agreement and contract of this city isn't something that a mere outsider can understand. There are numerous ways for us to suck her profit and the land will finally return to me. Well, it might be a slap on the face for now alas, it's actually not a big deal. To begin with, it's just past time hobby for me.」
Wontz spoke quickly.
In fact, the arrangement of Greed Company was really complicated so even if a merchant from outside managed to make a profit, their profit going to be sucked dry in various ways.
Though there were countless ways to reduce that amount as long as they understood the rules and were willing to fill in various documents, an outsider wouldn't know about that with just a bit of study.
Though he really got a slap on the face since the shop set up by an outsider like Mel succeeded and started to make the other shop around which was part of his group started to lose their profit, It wasn't a big deal for Wontz.
It just as he said, it was nothing more than a bit of a stray dog.
He was vexed alas, it was a trivial matter.
「I see. So it's not a big deal… So when will you exterminate that stray dog, Wontz-kun?」
「N-No way, I'm not in such hurry…」
「Your opponent is just a dog, right? Are you going to let that stray dog to smear mud on your face right in the district under your jurisdiction? If it's not a big deal, you better deal with her as soon as possible.」
「But, I don't think I have to go that far for such a trivial amount of money…」
「Wontz-kun, I don't need a failure among my subordinates. I'll say this for the last time, since she's not a big deal, you should deal with her as soon as possible.」
「Y-Yes, if Greed-sama wishes for it, I shall arrange with those guys to crush her shop immediately.」
Wontz bowed in hurry to Greed.
「Wontz-kun, do you know the reason why I give you special treatment?」
「The… Reason? Is it because I, have never suffered from a huge setback in Polorock?」
「That's part of the reason but, not the main reason.」
Greed shook his head then revealing an evil smile.
「I want to see. I want to see those ridiculous and pathetic people who have more greed than they can handle, fight, struggle, and perish. The person you trying to get some pocket money with made my heart jump with joy alas, I can't be helped but feel bored about the success of a girl from the countryside.」
Strong malice is reflected in Greed's remark.
Wontz who stood before him was drenched in cold sweat inside.
「N-No matter what kind of method she uses, I'll crush it for sure. Well, crushing such a small store is a piece of cake. She's not worthy of your attention… If Greed-sama wished for it, I could crush that store in a few days.」
「Uhm, I have high expectations for you, Wontz-kun.」
Said Greed with a grin on his face.
It was truly a devilish grin.
Wontz gasped upon seeing that grin.
It was something that he never felt despite knowing Greed and had been spoken with him for a long time.
Greed was by no means a proper human.
Nor did he look like a human right now, it was as if he was a humongous, evil monster.
The old man with one leg in the grave was hated and envied by the younger generation.
Wontz bowed to Greed while cursing the latter in his heart and then turned around.
「Wontz-kun. I did say that I want to see a greedy human get destroyed by their own greed alas, for me, it makes no difference whether that countryside girl or you got destroyed.」
A chill ran down Wontz's spine then he turned to Greed.
「Kukuku… That's a joke. Do your best, Wontz-kun. I'm looking forward to your next report.」
Wontz's lips twitched as he forced himself to smile at Greed.
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