“Merchants, huh,” Saybil muttered under his breath. “The Nurabehn were pretty much slaves… So are you saying we need more Ignas in the free district?”
“So long as a trade connection can be found, it by no means need be an Ignas… But we are newcomers to this world. ’Twould be most expedient to make use of established channels, and if the Ignas are the ones in control of them, then bringing in such individuals would be the easiest path.”
“But how do we manage that…?”
“There is naught to do in that regard but wait.”
“Will waiting really get us anywhere?”
Los laughed. “No sagacious merchant could possibly pass up this opportunity. Our free district is the only place able to produce the mana potions that might yet save this dying world. They shall find us, whether we advertise our location or no. The average merchant will not be up to the task, and ’tis for that precise reason that we have but to wait─for the truly capable to arrive.”
“Oh, is that the deal?”
“It is.”
And indeed, that very night a caravan of four-wheeled wizard carriages piled high with thaumaturgical devices arrived at the free district where it lay offshore. Saybil had been fast asleep in his room, but hurried to the pier when he heard that a fleet of merchants had arrived. The rest of the delegation were already assembled, gazing out at the six vessels─something like ships, but then again like wizard carriages─floating on the waves.
“Are those merchant ships?”
“Oh hey, Sayb.” Even in a crowd, Hort’s antlers were easy to spot. She turned around at Saybil’s question and nodded in response.
The roof of one of the vehicles opened slowly, as if the occupants had been waiting for enough of a crowd to gather, and an Ignas with the pointy ears of a fox poked his head out.
“Hey!” This was Kudo, who Saybil hadn’t even realized was standing behind him.
“Do you know that person?” Hort asked quizzically.
“That’s the guy I bought my two-wheeler from! Sold him a few mana potions in the bargain.”
“Can we trust him?”
“Dunno, I only talked to him for a few minutes.”
“My apologies for imposing on you at this late hour!” called the fox-eared Ignas, his polite tone at odds with his surroundings. “My name is Seth I presently serve as head of the Mildas Firm, a company with a storied history stretching over five centuries! As head of my organization, I would like to speak with the head of the free district!”
“Prove that you are no enemy of ours, and you will be allowed to come ashore!” answered the Dragon Conqueror King.
“Whoaaa. That was, like, real delegation chief stuff right there,” Hort murmured.
“When we set off for the free district, several constables made an attempt on our lives. We have brought you their heads by way of souvenirs! If the Ignas Har Bell is with you, she will be able to confirm their authenticity!”
A blood-soaked sack landed on the icy pier, and Har Bell dashed forward to examine the contents, her long, leporine ears bouncing as she ran. After peering inside, she nodded back at Ghoda.
“We have also brought thaumaturgical weapons, wizard carriages, thaumatheria─as well as fresh fruits and vegetables and an aquaculture system for growing crops without the need for soil!”
Whoa, incredible, Saybil thought to himself. An aquaculture system is exactly what the free district needs right now.
“If you happen to be interested, might we establish a few conditions under which to trade?”
Taken aback, Saybil couldn’t help but lean over and whisper to Hort, “So they’ve got conditions of their own, huh?”
She shrugged. “It’s probably just a bluff? I mean, plenty of merchants want to offer conditions to make it seem like they’re trading on equal footing, you know?”
I see. So that’s the deal.
Saybil and the rest looked on as Ghoda gave his reply: “Very well, let’s hear your conditions! What do you wish of the free district?”
A moment’s silence.
“Lady Utsuwa’s life.”