Chapter 143: The Transaction
Franklin's tentative question immediately drew every eye in the hall toward Axel.
The merchants stopped whispering.
The waiters slowed their steps.
Dozens, then hundreds, of gazes gathered on the child standing alone beside the banquet table, waiting for his answer.
Axel did not respond right away.
He slowly finished chewing the food in his mouth, swallowed, then raised a hand and removed the tanuki mask.
His face was the answer.
Thanks to the Navy's recent propaganda, newspapers had been carried across the seas by countless News Coo. Unless someone lived on a remote island or had never bothered to read the news, they would recognize that young face.
White hair.
Red eyes.
Wooden sword.
The child Captain.
Just as Franklin had guessed, the moment Axel revealed himself, Franklin's smile became steadier, as if this was all within expectations.
Most of the merchants reacted the same way.
Only a small number showed visible panic after recognizing Axel's identity.
Raising prices was normal in business.
But if outsiders exposed that they had colluded to do it, the blow to their reputation would not be small. In the worst case, it might even invite Marine intervention.
Those who panicked were quickly avoided by the others.
The calmer merchants looked at them almost with disdain.
What was there to fear?
Yes, they had raised prices.
But the increases were still within the Navy's permitted limits. Even if the matter was exposed, it was not technically illegal. At most, customers would curse them as unscrupulous merchants and their reputation would take a hit.
But those who needed to buy would still have to buy.
That was business.
Franklin walked down from the stage.
Both of his hands supported his enormous stomach as he moved, as if he were worried it might fall off if left unattended. Even with both hands holding it, the swollen flesh still bounced slightly with each step.
He made his way to Axel with some effort and performed a standard salute.
"Captain Axel, you should have informed me before coming. I would have made proper preparations."
The meaning behind his words was clear.
You came uninvited.
Franklin had said it out of habit, not expecting a child to understand the implication.
Axel looked at him.
"So you're blaming me for showing up uninvited? Move aside. You're disturbing my meal."
Franklin's smile froze.
The moment Axel spoke, he knew the child had understood him perfectly.
But normal people were supposed to follow the flow of courtesy.
Exchange polite words.
Pretend not to understand hidden barbs.
Dance around the point.
This brat had torn the script in half before the first line was finished.
Franklin's carefully prepared approach became useless in an instant.
He comforted himself.
He was only a child.
After taking a breath, Franklin smoothed away the stiffness on his face and smiled again, as if the earlier annoyance had never existed.
"How could we possibly blame you, Captain? Your presence honors us."
"How?"
Franklin froze again.
That unreasonable question threw him into another dead end.
This child was definitely here to make trouble.
Still, Franklin's years of training allowed him to suppress his anger. His smile remained bright, though now it looked like a flower battered by a rainstorm.
"How should I put it…" Franklin said slowly. "It feels like seeing my parents again after many years."
"Nonsense," Axel said. "I don't have a child like you."
Franklin's smile darkened.
Even with his polished temper, he felt a brief urge to strangle the brat in front of him.
He restrained it.
He knew the consequences.
More importantly, he knew he could not win.
According to information from inside the Navy, this child had subdued the San Faldo base with his own strength. If Franklin truly made a move, his bloated, fragile body would have no advantage except being slightly harder to carry after collapsing.
"Hehe…"
Franklin forced out a laugh.
"Captain Axel truly has a sense of humor. Please, come over and have a drink with us."
He glanced toward the merchants behind him.
One person could be unreasonable.
Could an entire group be unreasonable too?
Following Franklin's cue, the merchants slowly gathered, intending to surround Axel with smiles, numbers, and pressure.
They had only taken a few steps when—
Boom!
A burst of sword energy tore through the reception hall.
It cut across the floor in a clean horizontal line, leaving a deep scar in the polished stone like a death mark drawn before their feet.
The approaching merchants stopped at once.
Several even stumbled backward.
Franklin also froze.
The change had been too sudden.
He turned stiffly and looked at the deep gash in the floor behind him.
A moment ago, that sword energy had passed close enough to his head that he could almost feel death brushing over his scalp.
Cold sweat broke across his back.
He did not care how Axel had made the sword energy fly over his head before striking the ground. That movement clearly went against the normal principles of sword aura, and under different circumstances, it might have sparked curiosity.
But right now?
That was not important.
"Captain… Axel," Franklin said, his voice far less steady than before. "What are you doing?"
"As you can see," Axel replied. "I made a mark on the ground."
It was another answer that could make a person's blood pressure explode.
But Franklin no longer dared show anger.
The crack in the floor was real.
He had no desire to let his body become the next example.
"Quite an artistic mark," Franklin said carefully. "May I ask what purpose Captain Axel had in making such a mark at this gathering?"
"What else could it be?"
Axel looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"To threaten you, then arrest you."
Franklin's eyes widened.
Threaten?
That much he understood.
But arrest?
That was absurd.
"We are law-abiding citizens," Franklin said, forcing confidence into his tone. "Captain Axel, you have no right to arrest us."
His eyes flicked once toward the gash in the ground.
His confidence weakened.
Axel asked, "The price increase. Was it your doing?"
"Yes," Franklin admitted without hesitation. "But we raised prices because of market downturns and increased risk. More importantly, the prices are still within the limits allowed by the Navy. In other words, we have not violated the law. You have no right to arrest us."
He waved a hand slightly, signaling the merchants behind him to support him.
The other merchants understood.
Although the deep scar in the floor made their scalps tingle, and none of them had the courage to cross it, their voices rose loudly enough.
"That's right!"
"We have not broken any law!"
"Business prices fluctuate. That is normal!"
"The Navy cannot interfere with lawful trade!"
Their voices came together, trying to overwhelm Axel with numbers and volume.
After all, the Navy was the Navy because it upheld the law and stood on the side of justice.
At least, that was how it was supposed to be.
Axel looked at them calmly.
"Who told you that you can't be arrested just because you haven't broken the law?"
The merchants fell silent.
Axel continued, "Don't you know there are plenty of Marines who act recklessly? I happen to be one of them."
"No, no, no."
Franklin immediately shook his head, smile returning with careful speed.
"You are not that kind of person at all. If you were, you could have simply sent the Marines to arrest us. Why come all this way personally?"
His smile carried a trace of confidence now.
"Everything can be discussed, can it not?"
Axel did not answer.
Franklin took that as permission to continue.
"Since you came here, you must wish to discuss the price increase. Very well. I can reduce the price by ten percent, and I guarantee that barring special circumstances, the price will not rise again."
He spread his hands.
"What do you think?"
It was a major concession.
A concession to Axel.
A concession to the Navy.
The merchants behind Franklin exchanged glances. Although some looked pained, their puffed cheeks twitching as if flesh had been carved from their bodies, none openly objected.
They silently accepted the deal.
After all, ten percent was painful, but survivable.
The focus of the entire reception hall returned to Axel.
Everyone waited for his response.
.....
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