The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 10

Chapter 10: The Ordeal of the Goldnic Adventuring Company (Young President’s POV)

“The ‘Rip-off Company’ is gone? What do you mean?”

Surprised by the report from the members who had retreated from the deep levels of the dungeon, I found my tone becoming accusatory.

Bad, bad. As the leader, I must remain calm.

“My apologies, I was just a little surprised. Please, tell me again. Let’s sort out the situation.”

“Yes, sir. Our party entered the dungeon from the Gazzar Gate and headed for the 27th deep level. On our way back, we planned to rest at the ‘Rip-off Company’s Room’ on the 25th level.”

“The usual routine.”

“But he wasn’t there… the ‘Rip-off Company’.”

That’s strange.

Rody Vottark of the ‘Rip-off Company’ would leave the dungeon, rest for two days, and then set up shop again on a specific level of the dungeon.

He’s been doing that for over ten years, a famous armed merchant of the Adventurer City of Alanis.

“He wasn’t on any of the other levels either, right?”

“No, sir. Not on the 23rd level, nor the 20th. Because of that, we were too exhausted…”

“I understand. For now, get some rest.”

After seeing off my company’s top earner with a bow, I took a moment to think.

This warrants an investigation.

Knowing that ‘Rip-off Company’, it’s highly unlikely he’d have kicked the bucket in the dungeon.

So, why isn’t he in the dungeon?

Well, he’s human too. Maybe he’s sick, or perhaps he’s taking a longer vacation.

In any case, it was our mistake to act under the assumption that the ‘Rip-off Company’ would be open for business in the dungeon. And we’ve seen each other many times… I should probably try to propose a business partnership again, even though he turned me down before.

The risk level of the dungeon is completely different depending on whether he’s there or not.

He’s saved our company’s adventurers more than once or twice, and while we had to pay a hefty sum each time, it was a small price to pay for their lives.

He’s called the ‘Rip-off Company’, but he could be considered the foremost armed merchant who conducts proper business in the deepest parts of the dungeon.

Besides, if he partnered with us, the ‘Rip-off Company’s’ bad reputation might improve somewhat.

That man seems to be completely indifferent to that sort of thing.

…Then, there’s no time like the present.

I believe his city shop, with that cute half-elf shopkeeper, was on East Street.

If I go there, since he’s not in the dungeon, he’ll probably be at the shop, and I’ll be able to find out why he wasn’t in the dungeon.

Alright, I’ll go myself. You’d better be there, Rody Vottark.

◆

“This has become a serious problem.”

In the conference room where the key members of the ‘Goldnic Adventuring Company’ were gathered, I announced with a sigh.

“What’s wrong, Boss?”

“You look pale.”

“Did something happen?”

I gave a small nod in response to the concerned voices of several members.

“…The ‘Rip-off Company’ has disappeared.”

At my words, the expressions of most of the members tensed.

“You’ve heard that Panack’s party came back half-decimated, right?”

“Yes, the story was that their plans were thrown off because the ‘Rip-off Company’ wasn’t at his usual spot in the dungeon…”

“It was our fault for relying too much on the ‘Rip-off Company’. So, I went to his shop to offer my greetings and discuss a business partnership again, but… it was closed.”

“Wha—?”

One of the members let out a bewildered cry, but the others had the same expression.

That’s to be expected.

The executives here are also adventurers of our company.

In other words, every single one of them has benefited from the ‘Rip-off Company’s’ services.

“No, that’s impossible… So, does that mean he’s working as an adventurer?”

“If he closed his shop, does that mean he won’t be coming to the dungeon either…?”

I quieted the murmuring conference room and shared the information I had gathered.

“According to my investigation, seven days ago, the ‘Vottark Trading Company’ was issued a business suspension and expelled from the guild. This seems to be the policy of the newly appointed Guild President. Several other armed merchants in the dungeon have also been expelled.”

“O-Others as well…?! What does he think our lifeline is!”

“To the bureaucrat who parachuted in from the capital, the business of armed merchants probably looks shady. He doesn’t understand the way of adventurers, or the business of the dungeon.”

My sigh-filled words prompted the executives to sigh in unison.

This could truly be called a matter of life and death.

The armed merchants who travel the dungeon are people who, for a price, provide all sorts of conveniences.

Clerics who heal wounds and poisons, people who serve meals in the dungeon.

Some stand guard while you sleep, while others sell various materials obtained in the dungeon.

It’s not just adventurers who make a living in the dungeon of the Adventurer City of Alanis.

They, too, are important people who support the adventurer city.

“And that’s not all… this will also affect the business of adventurers. If the new head of the Merchant’s Guild pushes for a one-size-fits-all ‘proper business’ model, the town’s merchants might become timid, and the buy-back rates at the Adventurer’s Guild could worsen.”

“That’s true. If fair prices go too far, we lose our competitive edge, and it might get to the point where delving into the dungeon is no longer worth it.”

The accounting executive nodded and muttered, and the faces of the others turned grim.

We’ve been operating as an ‘Adventuring Company’ in this city for ten years, taking on requests related to the dungeon, but things have started to smell fishy.

Even so, that ‘Rip-off Company’.

If that’s the case, he should have come to us for help.

Even if we paid him a salary equivalent to what he usually earns, a talent like him would be more than worth it.

An excellent warrior and a powerful magic user.

A genius at finding traps and scouting ahead, an alchemist who can concoct potions on the spot.

What’s more, he’s also a competent merchant, able to appraise things found in the dungeon… a truly versatile man.

He’s the kind of guy who could become a state-sponsored adventurer if he wanted to.

“For now, keep in mind that the ‘Rip-off Company’ is gone, and carry out your work with caution. If the cost of a contract doesn’t add up, you can turn it down even if it’s a direct request to our company. Safety first.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll circulate the notice to all departments.”

Watching the executives stand up and busily get to work, I called out to one of the attendants standing behind me.

“Kaede, find the whereabouts of the ‘Rip-off Company’.”

“As you wish.”

I acknowledged the attendant who disappeared like a shadow with a turn of my back and stood up to get to my own work.