Norland’s western district, the Alchemic Marketplace. At the upper level of an alchemic shop owned by the Klia Trading Company.
Fritt von Klia is the owner of the Klia Trading Company. The Klia Trading Company had a total of fifty stage stations in Norland.
It could be said that the heart of Norland’s transportation industry was held in the hands of this old gentleman from the Nation of Steel.
Together with his nephew, he developed a miraculous arcanotech device, a vehicle that could be propelled with magic. It was all so that they could open up new chapters to the future of the Klia Trading Company.
But today, Fritt was swearing in his heart that if he had a sword in his hand, no... if he had an axe in his hand, he would raise it up and chop down those scoundrels before her.
“Luno! You little bastard! You know what you did?!”
Fritt was tightly clenching the cane in his hand. The veins in his aged hand were bulging from anger. He was glaring at the people before him. One among them was his nephew Luno.
“Uncle, there’s no reason for you to be this angry. You still hold the rights to manufacture arcanotech vehicles,” Luno tried to appease his uncle’s anger.
“Still?! That is not the reason why you sold the rights to the arcanotech vehicles to those people!”
Fritt pointed his cane to the robust man standing next to Luno. Him and the people next to Luno came from the other large-scale trading company in Norland, the Loraft Trading Company!
All the merchants in the entire world were fancying the endless business opportunities presented in the bustling Capital of Magic. But, only three trading companies managed to truly establish themselves in Norland.
Fritt’s Klia Trading Company took control of Norland’s roads. As for these people before him that came from the Nation of Frost, their Loraft Trading Company took control of Norland’s originium crystal trade.
Although their specializations were different, they remained business competitors.
Fritt had fought against these old foxes from the icefields for over twenty years. Originally, he had planned to massacre them and purge them from Norland’s marketplace with his patent rights to manufacturing the arcanotech vehicles.
To his surprise, his foolish nephew sold a portion of the production rights to his old rivals.
“Dearest Fritt, you’re already too old. With your age, it’s time for you to retire. Shouldn’t you return to your motherland and purchase a manor to live out the rest of your life in enjoyment? You should pass on your Trading Company to your clever nephew.”
The negotiator from the Loraft Trading Company actually looked like a sly fox. His long and narrow eyes were filled with mockery as he stared at Fritt whose expressions were completely distorted from his excessive anger.
“Even in my death, I will not let this little traitor succeed my trading company!” Fritt took a deep breath to stabilize his anger. Then, he spoke with clarity, “Now, please get the hell out of my shop! This place does not welcome stinky foxes!”
“With how rough you’re with your customers, it’s no wonder there are rumors on the street stating that your Klia Trading Companying’s alchemic shop only sells dangerous goods.” The fox-faced man waved his hand. But, he didn’t forget to leave a final say before going, “Let’s hope the originium crystals in your shop wouldn’t explode again. The accident last time had caused you to lose quite many flame lizards, no?”
Hearing those words, Fritt seemed to have realized something. The hand he held his cane with started to violently tremble. However, he can do nothing apart from watching those men walk downstairs.
After they left, Fritt sat on a wooden chair like a deflated balloon. His cutch seemed to be unable to support him anymore.
“Attendant! Bring over the strongest wine in the store!”
He loudly shouted to order the slightly shivering attendant standing at the side. The attendant immediately took out a bottle of amber-colored alcoholic beverage from the glass cabinet behind and placed it beside Fritt.
Fritt did not bother to pick up the cup that was placed next to the wine. Instead, he directly picked up the bottle of famed wine that was worth over a thousand gold coins and poured an entire mouthful of wine into his mouth.
The burning sensation of his throat calmed down the aged gentleman. He began to ponder what he ought to do next.
The three major trading companies of Norland had been competing for many years already. Even though they all held dominance in their respective fields, they all hoped to be able to defeat the others.
Throughout the years, Fritt had experienced all sorts of gales and waves. Yet, in the end, it was his own kin, his nephew, who struck the final blow!
Loraft Trading Company had launched an all-out assault. Through various tricks, they’ve managed to sneak poor quality goods into his alchemic shop and successfully ruined his shop’s reputation.
And now, they’ve gained the rights to produce the arcanotech vehicles, Fritt’s lifeline!
What must he do now? Should he publicize the things those sly foxes did? No...
With his thoughts reaching this point, Fritt ordered for his attendant to bring over a letter. It was a letter he received last night from an owl.
The sender of the letter was Joshua Annerlaude. He... was also a demon!
Having been brainwashed by the propagandas from the missionaries of the Nation of the Holy Church, Fritt’s initial impression of demons was that they were between ‘monsters’ and ‘barbarians.’
But, after witnessing the deeds caused by that demon after he came to Norland, Fritt felt the urge of beating up those missionaries.
Movies, magic network, Voice of Norland... Every single one of those inventions were marvels on par with the arcanotech vehicle.
Fritt himself was a fan of ‘Léon: The Demon.’ Because of that, Fritt had attempted to acquire the method to make movies from Sir Weissenasche.
Unfortunately, in the end, he only managed to become a trade partner of that demon.
After he went to that lecture in the Lursk Advanced Magic Academy, that ‘programming’ course presented by that demon, he had never been able to meet that demon again. Apart from that demon sending some newcomers to join his alchemic factories, the cooperation gradually came to a halt.
Fritt opened the letter the demon sent him yesterday. Even though Fritt was also using the era-crossing communication device known as the magic network, he was more fond of sending letters using owls due to his age.
The content of the letter the demon sent could be roughly summarized to marketing...
If any believer from the Nation of the Holy Church was to see that letter, they would definitely become alarmed and burn it with fire.
The reason for that was because the content of the letter was no different from ‘Do you wish to obtain power? If so, the price shall be your soul.’
The only difference was that the price stated in the letter was money.
“To make my goods famous throughout Norland?” Fritt took another sip of the strong alcoholic drink.
If that letter came from someone else, Fritt would scoff at it. But, he believed that demon possess the ability to do so...
“Cooperating with the demon again? If those people from the Nation of the Holy Church found out about this, they will most definitely burn me at the stake.”
Fritt gulped down all the alcohol in the bottle. Then, he smashed the bottle on the ground.
“But, this is motherfucking Norland!”