The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 22

Chapter 22: The Mayor of Alanis Moves to Rectify the Situation (Alanis Administration POV)

“What is the meaning of this?”

At the weekly meeting of the Adventurer City’s higher-ups, today’s agenda was the sudden downturn in economic activity. As the head of the administration appointed by the king, and as the chairman, I sought the opinions of the assembled dignitaries.

“Compared to the details from a week ago, it has dropped by thirty percent. It seems some shops are reluctant to sell or are raising their prices to the limit. What is your take on this, Merchant’s Guild President Badadas?”

“Regarding this matter, we are currently investigating…”

“The purpose of this meeting is to report the results of that investigation. Please provide the information you have.”

I sighed inwardly at Mr. Badadas, who was fumbling with his documents. He was sent from the central council to replace the retired former Merchant’s Guild president, but… he’s utterly useless. If he’s not used to it, he should ask for help, but he can only do things by the book, so his reputation is not very good.

“The, the guild members are conducting business in accordance with the rules, and I see no problem.”

“Then why are they reluctant to sell and raising their prices?”

“That is… it has been reported that their inventory is low.”

At Mr. Badadas’s words, I turned my gaze to the Adventurer’s Guild president. The big man, who had been an adventurer in this city for thirty years before becoming the guild master, gave a small nod and stood up.

“It is true that activity in the dungeon has stagnated. Therefore, it is certain that the collection of materials and the sale of excavated items are on the decline.”

“Then it is not the fault of the guild members!”

Mr. Badadas’s tone suddenly became accusatory.

That central council, they’ve sent us a small fry.

“So? Why have the adventurers stopped working?”

“They haven’t stopped working. They’re doing just fine.”

“Then why has the output of dungeon resources decreased?”

“We believe it is due to a decrease in safety.”

A small murmur rippled through the room at the Adventurer’s Guild president’s words. This was a cause for concern in two ways.

One, the danger in the dungeon has increased to the point where adventurers are scaling back their activities—meaning there is a possibility of some kind of dungeon disaster.

And two, the city’s economy is heading towards collapse. This place, the Adventurer’s City of Alanis, was built to explore the ‘Great Labyrinth’ discovered in the mid-eastern part of the kingdom, and most of its economy is driven by the exchange of treasures and materials produced from the dungeon. In short, this is a matter of life and death.

“I apologize for the follow-up question… but what is the reason for the decrease in safety? Is it a situation that requires a request for the military?”

“A request for the military is not necessary. However, we need the cooperation of the Merchant’s Guild president for countermeasures.”

“Mine?”

Mr. Badadas, who was suddenly brought into the conversation, furrowed his brow and looked at the Adventurer’s Guild president. In response, the big man looked down on him with a somewhat cold gaze.

“For a while after you took office, you were active in various ways, claiming to reform the Merchant’s Guild system, were you not?”

“Yes, that is correct. I worked to ensure proper business practices… I corrected what needed to be corrected and clearly defined what was ambiguous. What of it?”

“And in the process, you suspended the business licenses of several companies and deregistered them?”

I was beginning to understand what the Adventurer’s Guild president was trying to say. I had heard whispers, but so that was the cause.

“What of it? I merely eliminated those who were engaged in illegal business.”

“Are you referring to the armed merchants who delve into the dungeon?”

A hint of anger crept into the Adventurer’s Guild president’s voice. Mr. Badadas’s face turned pale, but he still responded.

“That is correct. There were complaints from other guild members. They claimed that they were engaged in illegal business under the pretext of being inside the dungeon! The rules must be followed!”

“That is incorrect, Merchant’s Guild President Badadas,” Yorcan from the Dungeon Management Department said in a quiet, dissenting voice.

“Commercial transactions within the dungeon are at the discretion of the individual. This is stated in Article 17 of the ‘Provisions Concerning Dungeon Management’, and it should be stipulated that all services and transactions are not under the jurisdiction of the guild or the administration… Have you confirmed this?”

“Ah, no… I am a member of the Merchant’s Guild, not a dungeon administrator…”

“Mr. Badadas. This is an ‘Adventurer City’. You cannot be unrelated to the dungeon.”

He is right. As long as you live in this city, you cannot be unrelated to the dungeon. The result of imposing his ‘rules’ without understanding that is this.

“I apologize for interrupting, please continue. Mr. Bordo.”

“Yes. The cause is the increased risk within the dungeon due to the suspension of those armed merchants’ business licenses. The decrease in armed merchants and dungeon shops has caused the… so-called, safety net they had built to collapse.”

“Over something like that?”

Mr. Badadas raised his voice, but it seems he has not realized the gravity of the situation.

“Especially the disappearance of the ‘Rip-off Company’ is a major blow to the adventurers.”

“—Rody Vottark is gone?”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice. Rody Vottark of the ‘Rip-off Company’ is a famous merchant of the ‘Adventurer City’, so well-known that even I have heard of him. I heard he is a man who always has a shop in the deep levels of the dungeon, an armed merchant who provides safety in exchange for money in the most dangerous parts of the dungeon.

…Damn it! No wonder sales are down!

High-quality materials, valuable excavated items, powerful magical artifacts… all of these are items that can only be found by delving deep into the dungeon.

If the ‘Rip-off Company’ is gone, it’s only natural that the number of adventurers who delve there would decrease. The cost and risk of exploration would skyrocket if they couldn’t count on resupply, rest, or healing.

“The ‘Healer’ and the ‘Transporter’ have also lost their business licenses and left the city. The adventurers are exhausted and have lost their motivation. The other day, the ‘Goldnic Adventuring Company’ even consulted with me about the possibility of moving to another city.”

“This is bad…”

I let out a long sigh at the Adventurer’s Guild president’s words. The situation is far more serious than I thought. The downward trend of the past week will likely not return to its original level.

“Merchant’s Guild President Badadas. Please meet with the armed merchants whose business licenses you revoked and offer to reinstate them. This is urgent.”

“Y-Yes…”

I shook my head slightly at the ashen-faced, trembling Mr. Badadas and turned back to Mr. Bordo.

“Adventurer’s Guild President Bordo. Could you please use the Adventurer’s Guild’s network to send a Mail Bird to Mr. Rody Vottark?”

“Understood. What should the content be?”

“Please ask him to resume his business in Alanis, promising the reinstatement of his business license and an apology payment of one thousand gold coins. Is that acceptable? Merchant’s Guild President Badadas.”

“O-Of course!”

I sighed at Mr. Badadas, who had turned into a bobblehead, and stood up.

“Then, this regular meeting is adjourned. We will meet again in a week.”

I gave a small bow and quickly left the room. I couldn’t bear to look at that small fry’s face any longer.