Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Situation in the City_l
Translator: 549690339
On the other hand, hearing Leo Ray’s blunt question, Kombu’s chubby hand holding the teacup couldn’t help but pause.
Keep in mind that, in this city, to commoners like them, the City Lord is an absolute ruler.
However, looking at Leo’s Ray’s unconcerned expression, Kombu’s pounding heart couldn’t help but calm down a bit, and a trace of irrepressible admiration appeared in his eyes.
“It seems that this young man standing before me has a really extraordinary background.”
With that thought, Kombu steeled himself, clenched his teeth, and laid all his cards on the table, “That’s right, just as you have imagined, the reputation of the City Lord here is indeed not so good; one could even say it’s very poor. All of this must be traced back to a few years ago…”
Next, through Kombu’s description, Leo Ray learned the following.
It turns out that Cyan Town a few years ago was just an obscure small town and had not reached its current size as a large city.
The reason it developed so rapidly was that the current City Lord not only invested heavily in improving the roads connecting nearby areas but also employed extremely favorable and even subsidized investment incentives.
In a short period of time, it quickly attracted a large number of merchants from the surrounding areas to open shops and trade here.
In this way, after the scale of the city expanded to a certain extent, it began to show its true colors, exploiting its inhabitants even more.
By now, because the trade network in the surrounding areas had taken shape and many merchants had moved here with their families, the choice between stability, relative safety, and reduced income was clear. So most people still chose to stay in Cyan Town.
Hearing this, Leo Ray couldn’t help but scoff.
“What a guy, this City Lord must be a Tier 3, Nine-Star farmer, harvesting a good crop of leeks.”
On the other side, Kombu swallowed his spit and added, “Not to conceal anything from you, sir, this kind of behavior has naturally aroused great resentment from us merchants.
Prior to me, several previous heads of the Chamber of Commerce in the city had more than once approached the City Lord to negotiate regarding this matter.
In the end, it all came to nothing.
Not only that, but the former heads of the Chamber of Commerce and their families all mysteriously vanished, forever disappearing from the city.
Moreover, on the eve of each disappearance, people saw members of the Blood
Scorpion Mercenary Corps lurking nearby.”
“So it turns out, it looks like the City Lord is also a ruthless and cruel
character.”
Nodding slightly, Leo Ray casually asked, “In that case, are you merchants in the city still very dissatisfied with the City Lord?”
“Dear Lord, that’s not to be casually discussed, we might end up…” At this point, Kombu rolled his eyes while making a throat-slitting gesture.
After a pause, Kombu leaned in closer and whispered carefully to Leo Ray, “My Lord, actually, not only us merchants, but also the common people of the city are full of complaints about the City Lord.
Firstly, as I mentioned before, they condone the Blood Scorpion Mercenary Corps’ bullying of men and women.
Secondly, compared to other cities, the exploitation of civilians by the City Lord is quite skillful, and they even glorify it in the name of enhancing their strength and protecting the city.
In fact, apart from the City Lord’s confidants and a small number of Imperial Guards, the treatment of ordinary soldiers is also much worse than in other cities.”
“Understood.” After mulling it over for a moment, Leo Ray asked further, “So aside from the Blood Scorpion Mercenary Corps, other mercenary forces also have the same dissatisfaction with the City Lord, right?”
“In reply to Your Excellency, it is indeed so.”
On the other side, Kombu heaved a sigh and continued, “The Blood Scorpion Mercenary Corps is particularly ruthless towards other mercenaries.
Sometimes, for the sake of a commission, they would fight on the spot, causing casualties or injuries among other Mercenary Corps.
As for us merchants who often issue tasks, we are all too familiar with this.”
“How about the relationship between Sanders’ Trading Conference and the City Lord?” After thinking for a moment, Leo Ray gently tapped the table with his finger and asked another question.
“I’m not very clear about the specifics.”
Shaking his head slightly, Kombu admitted, “Sanders’ Trading Conference has a strong background and is extremely wealthy, so they rarely interact with ordinary merchants like us.
However, it is said that the City Lord has always been very fond of the young president of Sanders’ Trading Conference and wanted to take them under his wing, but he was always refused.”
“Fond of them and wanted to take them under his wing?”
Hearing this, a vivid scene of absurdity filled with philosophical aura began to form in Leo Ray’s mind.
He then quickly shook his head, erasing that eye-gouging image from his thoughts and immediately asked, “So, the young president of the Sanders Family’s collateral branch should be a female, right?”
“That’s correct.”
Kombu nodded, carefully putting a freshly boiled pot of hot water to the side and said, “I have had the honor of seeing the young president of the Sanders Family a few times, and she is indeed an extraordinary person.”
“I see.” Nodding thoughtfully, Leo Ray stood up and said with a faint smile,
“That’s enough for today. Thank you for providing this market information.”
“Not at all, my Lord. You are too kind.”
On the other side, Kombu stood up quickly and fawned, “I don’t know if Your Excellency has found a place to stay?
I happen to know a place with an excellent environment and service…”
“No need.” Leo Ray waved his hand slightly and added, “By the way, regarding that Magic Medicine from last time, do you still have any in stock here?”
“I’m truly sorry, my Lord. I only had that one, which I brought back from Darkshire on the other side of the forest.’
Kombu shook his head helplessly and replied, “As Your Excellency should know, Magic Medicine, a precious item, usually doesn’t appear in remote small towns like Cyan Town.
Therefore. Dlease don’t take offense.”
“It’s okay. Keep an eye out for any information on this, and I believe we’ll meet again soon.”
Patting Kombu’s thick shoulder, Leo Ray donned the hood of his cloak and left the inner room of the shop with Taylor.
Afterward, under Kombu and the shop clerk’s respectful gazes, they returned to the busy street.
Later, when the two were passing through a sparsely populated area, the silent Taylor finally couldn’t help but ask, “Lord, is the small transaction you mentioned earlier about attacking and seizing Cyan Town?”