A Merchant's Secret War.

"Many people are jealous of merchants and think it is easy for them to make money."

"Little do these people know of the schemes, conflict of interest and secret wars behind the scenes that constantly happen between them."

"And that these wars can be just as deadly as battles in the courts of royalty."

"Where one wrong step can cost you your life."

Parmenio Paretti an Italian player and head of House Ryemire a merchant family in Nathia.

….

Ralston Ryemire looked at his caravan with a sigh of despair after finally going through 2 dynasty history quests to get himself a caravan and some vineyards and had spent years meticulously brewing some high-quality wine to sell to the wealthy nobles and courtiers in the capital he now faced ruin because his opponent had gotten in with the corrupt Duke of Deterner.

Ralston, a player originating from Italy, had done business in the Duchy long enough to know that those without the protection or goodwill of the Duke are prone to unfortunate 'accidents.' Whether it through increased tolls, taxes or even banditry, many a merchant had fallen trying to get access to this vital thoroughfare that connects the southern part of Nathia to its prosperous capital.

However, those who could navigate through this political web of intrigue were rewarded with the fastest trading route possible that cuts at least a week off the journey, meaning that many who take this route get to the capital first and can sell their goods for the best price allowing them an efficient trading route that makes business very profitable at the cost of a small toll to use the road alongside a small 'gift' as appreciation to the duke for his hard work in keeping order on the trade route infested by bandits.

What was unfortunate for this player was that he had failed in his dynasty history side quest to get the duke on board and now had to face the many trials this cunning noble would send his way the problem for him was that no one without this man's support had ever been able to leave the duchy successfully their caravans either stopped or destroyed by bandits.

As a result, instead of making use of the Duchy of Deterner as a base to expand throughout the kingdom, it is likely that his corpse will join the thousands of others, all of whom have the same ambition and failed.

The main problem was that very few mercenary groups and caravan guards were willing to provide security for him on the road out of fear of offending the Duke, who had many shameless and scheming ways of dealing with them.

The leader of one mercenary group known for his honourable conduct and deciding to defend whichever merchant could pay him most was accused of murder and subsequently hanged by the duke. His bones still hung from the city walls as a warning to others, and everyone now knew the price for going against the duke.

The player only looked at the final main quest he had received and sighed again, almost accepting his fate to be crushed by this unrelenting virtual world that was just as corrupt as the real one, as self-interest trumps virtue time and time again.

[Dynasty history main quest received 'Your first caravan.']

….

Your First Caravan (main quest):

Description: After setting up your business and successfully obtaining a special secret recipe for a high-quality wine, you have successfully sold it to many of the nobles in the local area, giving you the assets to make a caravan to expand your enterprise to other territories.

Using your unique, high-quality wine, you wanted to sell it or gift it to members of Nathia's royal court and influential nobles to gain political favours and profit. Unfortunately, your competitor and main enemy, Morven Ven, has acquired the favour and support of the Duke of Deterner Ridorfin Rikutus, a man of immense influence in the capital and feudal lord of the territory that you are based in.

The cunning duke is known for his dishonourable means, though no one has ever been able to link him to anything, making his position unshakable! Survive the journey to the capital and make a profit and connections to help you survive and thrive in Nathia.

Difficulty: unknown.

Quest Clear Conditions: Make it to the capital and sell your produce.

Quest Clear Reward: depends on how much you can sell and who you can make contact with.

Quest Failure Penalty: Potential eradication of your dynasty

….

Ralston had never had a Dynasty History Quest before that would eradicate his dynasty except for his first, which helped establish his position as a merchant. He sighed, knowing there was little he could do with the deck seemingly stacked against him.

Many of the nobles who were on good terms with him cut ties with him the moment they found out about his altercation with the duke, and only the Count of Brineyard, his good friend and a man with a distinct dislike of his liege lord the duke, offered him help. However, it was never in his lands that the bandits attacked as the count was one of the few virtuous lords left in the duchy who took his job seriously, so bandits didn't dare enter his territory as he had a talent for suppressing them.

It was also lucky that his vineyard was in this land and so was not confiscated on made-up grounds by the duke, who could not interfere in the feudal territories of his vassals easily, and Brineyard had just as much influence in the royal court as Duke Deterner did which made making any moves against him very difficult.

But just as he was about to fall deeper into despair, his loyal steward ran towards him.

"Young master, good news! The leader of The Crimson Blades, on account of our past relationship, has reconsidered and agreed to guard us to the Nathian capital!"

The steward shouted excitedly as he and his young master approached all the mercenary companies and caravan guards, only to be turned away by each one. This alone should show how much influence the Duke had in his territory, but now, finally, one had accepted their proposal, which may allow them to make it to the capital.

Heating this, Ralston's heart jumped with happiness only to calm down as the intelligent player's face turned dark.

'Why did they change their tune so quickly?'

Ralston thought, finding it suspicious that a mercenary group that had rejected them outright suddenly had a change of heart and now wanted to take up their contract. He was not a stupid man and was aware of the schemes that surrounded each transaction and move they made.

The Crimson Blades were a well-known and established group skilled in combat and had ties to Duke Ridorfin, so to say that Ralston was suspicious would be an understatement, but he had no better option as his caravan was ready to go. The last thing he needed was protection as he had yet to make enough money to hire and train a team of veteran guards loyal to him alone, though that would be next on his agenda once he had the exorbitant amount of money needed for it and their equipment.

A few hours later, everything was ready. All the wine was loaded onto carts, and Ralston was meeting with the leader of The Crimson Blades detachment as this group was large, and rarely did the leader their commander come out himself to do a job himself and instead sent his subordinates to do it instead they sent various captains on these types of guarding missions which are rather low risk as bandits rarely trouble a well-armed caravan.

"Thank you, Captain Packard, for coming with your men."

Ralston said as he bowed respectfully to the man who was doing him a huge favour.

"Don't worry, sir. We will make sure you safely get to where you need to go. I can guarantee that with my life."

"As soon as we have agreed on payment, of course.

The 35-year-old Captain Packard said with an amicable smile on his face, but beneath it lay hostile intentions that were not lost on the cunning merchant, who decided that he would keep a lookout and change directions if needed.

The Captain obviously wanted to take advantage of the situation to rinse more out of this merchant before him, as they were the only ones willing to accompany him.

Captain Packard himself was a veteran at the expert level, and only their leader, a master-level war veteran, was better than him. Behind him were 50 men, all mounted, armed and at the adept level, a force that could easily deal with most bandits on the road, showing the mercenary group's sincerity as many bandits were peasants or desperate people with little skill at arms and training apart from that which is picked up on their looting and pillaging of innocent people so you could not say they were insincere with their offering of help at least on the surface that is.

"How much are you looking for, Captain?"

Ralston asked resignedly, bracing himself for the extortionate figure to come. Usually, the prices of mercenaries would be pretty good as each company fought with the others for jobs, allowing the merchant some leeway when discussing price.

But this time was different. With no other offers from other mercenary groups and Ralston's desperate need for protection against the schemes of his enemies, the player had no choice but to bite the bullet and allow himself to get exploited like this as he suppressed his anger as no one enjoyed the feeling of being openly used by another like this while he drank from a nearby waterskin to help calm his nerves.

"It's rather simple, really. 1,500 gold should be a bargain for such fine men of our calibre and strength."

Captain Packard said with an evil smile as his eyes glinted with greed, knowing that this was an astronomical price that would considered a scam. But neither noticed the brown-cloaked man who looked on their interaction with calm, keen interest as he seemed to blend in with the crowd of passersby as the caravan was still in the bustling capital of the duchy where thousands of transactions happen a day in its prosperous markets.

"PPPOOOOOOFFF"

A fountain of water was spat out of Ralston's mouth and landed squarely in the face of the captain, who had a grimace on his face as cold water dripped from his chin and onto the frosty ground below as eyebrows twitched noticeably as anger surged up his body.

"Sorry, sorry, please excuse me. Your offer just took me by surprise."

Ralston said, taking out a handkerchief from his right trouser pocket and wiping himself down, not bothering to offer one to the captain as he apologised for his embarrassing outburst, blaming it on the preposterous price that the captain had given in hopes of bringing it down.

'30 fucking gold for one man for a week or two trip! This is bloody ridiculous!

The merchant complained to himself as even the captain of this detachment was not worth that much money, let alone his men! This was nearly 3x, if not 6x, the amount that this amount of men of this level would usually cost for a week's worth of work. Even with all his merchandise put together, he was likely to only come out with revenue of 3,000-4,000 gold, and this already was detracting the hundreds of gold he had spent even to produce such luxury items and the other costs that he needed to pay such as tolls, food, carts, horses porters and other men he needed to do business.

If it were an especially dangerous mission where he could make 10s of thousands of gold, which took several months to complete, such a price would be worth it, but he was spending nearly half of his potential revenue just on security even after all three years of trading with the nobility of the duchy and travelling around the nearby territories other nobles he barely had 2000 gold of liquid funds he could call upon.

But this was a two-week journey with only a few bandits in the way, and they wanted 1,500 bloody gold at this point! This was nothing more than blind theft! What's worse is that it's blind theft that he had to accept, or he would have no chance of getting to the Nathian capital as his opponent was almost guaranteed to send men to ambush and destroy his caravan and so needed guards to defend himself.

'Damn, this quest that forces me to go to the Nathian Capital!'

Out of people to vent to, he, like many other players who found themselves in situations like this, cursed their luck and the external forces around them instead of finding solutions. Lucky for him, a solution would present itself to him without him needing to lift a finger.

"1,500 gold, don't you think that's a bit much for only a week or so of work? You know a household spends only 2 or 3 gold on food and basic necessities yearly, right?"

A figure cloaked in brown said, laughing slightly as a slight scheming smile appeared on his face as Packard's face fell, the anger of the merchant's previous embarrassment of him boiled over, and he angrily said to the man in a threatening tone.

"Who the fuck do you think you are to question me or my price? Do you see anyone else who is willing to help this man?"

Captain Packard shouted, annoyed that just as he was about to extort this soon-to-be-dead merchant, someone would dare to get in the way, but the cloaked man merely whistled and, with a swoosh, removed his cloak to reveal a set of light mail and a deadly steel sword at his waist and a hundred other men appeared their light mail armour gleaming in the sunlight.

"As a matter of fact, there is someone else who is willing to help out this man."

"My name is Sigismond, leader of Sigismond's Security Solutions. We are a newly formed security company and offer our services to young master Ralston."

The man said in a pleasant, calm manner, cupping his fists and bowing to the stunned merchant.

'Damn, I already miss my customised armour.'

Sigismond, who was actually Darius, the Second Commander of the Pelican Guards, was already missing his customised armour, but due to how it revealed his loyalty to House Aurellion, he had to leave it behind at their makeshift camp as he vowed to get a new set made once they had enough money feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable in his current light mail that was far inferior to the customised armour made for the Pelican Guards.