He continued, “They will profit from the lumber extracted from the forest. But what would building a road through the place earn us? What sits at the end of that path is our trade territory. The only competing product I can think of is the wool we would obtain from that crafty woman. Kerube and Karlan are similar. Trading the same loaves of bread will not help fill our bellies.”
Holo immediately huffed in what sounded like a sneeze.
Lawrence thought it was funny that he used the exact same metaphor. He had probably heard that very metaphor somewhere, from someone in his old trade guild.
“I see.”
“Yes. That is reasonable in trade.”
And if they had no choice but to rely on the extracted lumber, then could they discreetly get Tanya’s help to keep the Tonneburg Woods alive?
Holo said that building a road through it would change the nature of the forest drastically.
They would create charcoal in the burning huts, use it for fuel at new smithies, and ship lumber through Karlan and onward to the kingdom. Kieman was not thinking about how those profits meant all the lumber from the forest would serve as the foundation for the roads, and that the new road would bring about even more profit.
And there was nothing about that that could lead one to reasonably believe that Kerube had any reason to get in the way of Karlan’s trade. They dealt in the same goods, so the merchants naturally decided there was no real reason for them to use Karlan.
They could have managed something if Kerube was evil. But if they were not intentionally sabotaging the project, then there was nothing they could do.
“Logically speaking, we could make moderate use of the forest, Karlan could expand their trade, and Kerube should be able to obtain wool as you always have,” Lawrence said, feeling as though he was being shown a painting of a staircase that continued forever upward.
“Yes. If we manage to lessen the profits of that snake, and make sure she isn’t the only winner, then we could reduce the amount of lumber we plan to sell and protect the forest. Then both Karlan and our Kerube will be able to grow.”
But they could not find a way to accomplish that. Because all Eve was doing was adding to her list of right moves.
What little hope they had could only be found if all the losers here found a way to work together.
“Still, after all this thinking, the principles of trade block our path.”
“That’s your weakness, Lawrence. What happened to the show you put on in Salonia?”
His teasing tone reminded Lawrence of how Kieman used to be.
“That was less about my knowledge and more that as an outsider—I saw things that others couldn’t.”
Kieman nodded, and Lawrence continued.
“Let’s ignore the tie between Eve and Col for now. If she were actively using him for vicious purposes, then we could contact Col directly and have him stop her… But indirectly, it seems like she is using him deftly while acting thankful for no real good reason.”
Kieman nodded, vexed, and said, “If only we had a product that could match the wool.”
In the end, their weakness was being taken advantage of. But since Eve was deftly weaving together an honest deal, that meant she could not reject them for fighting back with honest means.
That said, if there was any product that could compete with lumber, all Lawrence could really come up with was to use Col’s fame and have favorable words written on leather. And that itself was a method so underhanded and shameful that not even Eve would attempt it.
“Can you think of something, dear?”
Holo’s tone made it sound as though she was asking what was for dinner, but Lawrence decided to take it as her honest expectation. And while Lawrence could be considered lucky, he was fundamentally a regular merchant, and technically not even a merchant anymore.
“If I could come up with anything on the spot, I’d be a great merchant in no time.”
This was after Kieman had doubtlessly racked his brains; there was no reason to believe that Karlan or Matthias had not done the same. Lawrence did not consider himself special enough to come up with an idea after so many people from all over had thought long and hard about it already.
“Ohhh… But how frustrating this is.”
Lawrence knew how Holo felt. Ostensibly, nothing was wrong with the situation, yet they could not shake the feeling that it was.
“Ah, yes! The two cities are not on terrible terms like we first thought. Can these people not lend a hand with regards to the forest family’s debt? If so, then the forest does not have to be sold, no? That would mean lumber must be bought from this city, and this place will soon fill with wool. That settles it, does it not?”
Holo gestured to Kieman and the area around him, and Kieman simply shrugged.
Lawrence answered on his behalf.
“That would solve the problems for Tonneburg and Kerube, but not Karlan. Karlan would lose its access to lumber, which is key to its trade expansion, and that means they wouldn’t be able to get wool anymore. But I guess we don’t have to help them…”
But Lawrence recalled how lively it was at the tavern. The optimism in the building was shocking, and it made his old merchant heart flutter.
And without cutting down the Tonneburg Woods, the refugees who came to Karlan for the express purpose of working construction would have nothing to do.
“Hngh…”
Holo seemed scarily close to stomping in frustration.
Benefitting one party would cause another to lose out. Saving any two of Karlan, Tonneburg, or Kerube would cause the third to sink.
And it was Eve who had miraculously built a temple out of all the same materials—she sat upon its roof and sipped her wine, laughing all the way.
Kieman then said, “Let’s return to the trading house. It seems you don’t have much time left, but I think we’ll be able to think better there.”
Holo may have forgotten about the cold in her anger, but they could easily fall ill standing here in the nighttime autumn breeze.
“How much time do you think you have until that snake of a woman figures out what you’ve been up to?”
Lawrence had used the excuse that he was going to talk to Matthias to leave Karlan, and come here.
“We will have to leave before…dawn, tomorrow.”
Kieman nodded. He smoothed down his bangs.
“I used to spend all night coming up with trade deals.”
No one was particularly at fault in this situation.
But Eve’s laughter echoed around them, and being forced to dance to her tune was most certainly vexing.
“Things are the opposite from last time,” Kieman said.
“Let’s try to resolve things peacefully this time,” Lawrence replied.
The men shared wry, merchant-like smiles, and Holo alone, who was not quite part of this, seemed dissatisfied.