[65] A Request III

As Princess Ariel and her escorts departed after concluding their visit to the Costatine Company, the atmosphere inside the horse-drawn carriage en route to the royal palace was thick with anxiety and tension. A momentary silence that enveloped the carriage was broken by the voice of Princess Ariel, who attempted to calm her two escorts.

"Luke, stop being so upset. You witnessed how a single servant managed to subdue the both of you, and the same goes for Fitz here," Ariel said, her tone gentle yet firm.

Luke, a man with the handsome features typical of Asuran nobility, his brown hair neatly slicked back, appeared frustrated. He clenched his hands, clearly dissatisfied with the situation they had just encountered.

"But, Princess!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with irritation. "They showed no respect at all. How could they behave like that? Commoners daring to act like high nobles? If any of our nobles witnessed such behaviour, they wouldn't just end up scoffing at it!"

Fitz and Ariel exchanged glances, and Ariel gently shook her head. Fitz, a female with short-cropped white hair, was often mistaken for a male due to her slight build that hadn't developed like that of a typical woman. Though many were mistaken, both Ariel and Luke were well aware that Fitz was indeed a woman and a Half-Elf.

"It was indeed tense," Ariel said thoughtfully, her eyes focused on the vast landscape stretching out beyond the carriage window. The speed at which the carriage moved under the late afternoon sun added a contrasting dynamic to her reflective mood. "That man named Carmen, he seems to have once been a warrior, despite his youthful appearance. Or perhaps Costatine himself possesses some extraordinary secret methods for training their guards."

Luke, with a deep look of frustration, couldn't contain his anger. "Princess, you're exaggerating! No matter how successful they are as merchants, they are still mere commoners!"

Ariel, with a tone filled with wisdom, responded, "Luke, don't underestimate those you refer to as commoners. Aurelia is one of the main pillars of the Costatine Company. As such, she has experience dealing with all sorts of people, and of course, as an experienced merchant, she possesses the ability to assess character and situations with great precision."

The tension within the carriage seemed to escalate as Fitz, who usually remained silent, finally spoke with a voice that was soft yet full of concern. "Princess Ariel, I still don't quite understand why you're so worried about the Costatine Company. Shouldn't your attention be more focused on the nobles who will support you in the succession of the throne?"

Fitz's question hung in the air, adding to the tension that had already filled the carriage. Ariel looked at Fitz with a meaningful gaze, as if carefully considering the right response.

"Fitz, the situation is more complex than you might think. The Costatine Company is not just an ordinary trading entity. They hold power and influence that can sway the political balance within the kingdom—you heard it yourself, didn't you? They control 40% of the kingdom's economy, and that number continues to grow. If they were to sponsor one of the candidates, it could drastically change the game. I cannot overlook the potential impact they might have."

Ariel grasped the edge of her cloak with tension before continuing. "And, besides, when facing people like Aurelia and Carmen, I must be cautious. They may appear as mere commoners, but their experience and capabilities surpass many of the nobles I've encountered."

Luke and Fitz exchanged glances, as if trying to grasp the depth of their princess's concerns.

---

In one of the rooms of the main castle, an atmosphere of tension prevailed. Prince Grabell, with a face flushed with anger and breath coming in ragged gasps, vented his fury by smashing everything around him. Flower vases shattered into pieces on the floor, and other luxurious furnishings were also destroyed in his unrelenting rage.

"Those insolent merchants!" Prince Grabell shouted, his voice thundering as he projected his anger in all directions.

The servants standing near the door, frightened and anxious, remained frozen in place. They were well aware that Prince Grabell's wrath could be a threat to their lives. Every second felt like torture, and they could only hope to be dismissed soon.

Suddenly, a man with a stout build, bald head, and a face full of wrinkles entered the room. This man, known as Darius, appeared calm and composed amidst the chaos. With a demeanour that was tranquil yet authoritative, Darius directed his gaze at Prince Grabell.

"Oh dear… You've destroyed so many valuable items, Prince," Darius said in a soothing yet meaningful tone, glancing at the damage that had been done.

Prince Grabell, who had been wholly focused on his anger, now turned with a furious glare. His bloodshot eyes bore into Darius, the man he considered his strongest supporter. "Darius!" he yelled, his voice brimming with rage and frustration. "What are you doing here? I don't want anyone bothering me while I'm angry!"

Darius, with an unchanging smile and a still-calm attitude, stepped closer. He waved his hand, signalling the servants to leave the room. Once the door had closed firmly behind them, Darius looked at Prince Grabell with an understanding gaze.

"Must we continue like this?" Darius asked, his voice gentle yet emphatic. "Your anger won't solve the problem. We must think of our next strategic move."

Prince Grabell let out a heavy sigh, his body slumping into a chair with an expression of exhaustion. "The Costatine Company… They're becoming increasingly outrageous. They dare to challenge our authority in ways I never imagined."

Darius walked closer, carefully observing the still-smouldering anger in the Prince. "We already know that Costatine wields tremendous power and influence. However, responding with anger and chaos like this won't bring us the results we want. We need a better plan, something that will turn the situation in our favour."

Prince Grabell looked up, his eyes filled with uncertainty yet tinged with a sliver of hope. "What do you suggest?"

Darius, with a serious and calculating expression, explained, "We need to find their weakness, identify the vulnerabilities in their strategy. If we can exploit information and manipulate the situation cleverly, we can force them to compromise or even retreat."

The atmosphere in the room gradually began to calm as Prince Grabell started to ponder Darius's words. The damage that had occurred could not be undone, but with the right strategy, perhaps they could turn the tide of this game.

However, beneath his calm demeanour, Darius also felt a deep sense of resentment and anger. The Costatine Company, once regarded as insignificant, had now grown into a serious threat. Darius was not only dealing with material losses but also feeling the direct impact of the company's success in the capital. Costatine's power and influence were increasingly threatening his position and the balance of power he had long enjoyed.

His attempts to nip the problem caused by Costatine in the bud had failed completely. Even the assassin organisation he often used to deal with his enemies had been obliterated overnight, leaving a threatening message to the entire underworld. The message was clear and terrifying: Do not trifle with Costatine, or you will face a fate worse than death.

The situation was further worsened by the destruction of the Fittoa Region, which left Darius feeling that there was no one to blame but the central government, which he deemed to have failed in managing its own territories. The central government's inability to address this disaster only added to Darius's frustration, as if all his efforts and strategies had been in vain.

Furthermore, Darius had not received any guidance from the Human God through his dreams, as he often did in the past. Those visions typically guided him towards satisfying solutions and provided clear direction. Now, without that guidance, Darius felt adrift, uncertain of which way to turn.

Darius felt pressure from all sides. Costatine's increasing success, the growing attention from the king and great nobles, and the prosperity brought about by the company, all made the situation more complicated. The Costatine Company had significantly boosted the nation's revenue and improved the welfare of the Asuran people with innovative goods and infrastructure improvements that had never been seen before.

Darius considered the option that seemed to be a shortcut to dealing with the threat they faced: sending the Water God, Reida, to kill the head of Costatine, whom he considered the root of the entire company. However, this move carried great risks. Reida was an extremely valuable ace, one he would only use in truly desperate situations. Expending this card now would mean losing the potential gains that could be obtained from the Water God in the future.

With trembling hands clenched tightly behind his back, Darius pondered the strategic importance of utterly destroying Costatine and turning its expertise to his own advantage.