Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 191

Gooljin, who is called in, initially appears confused about the situation, but as he listens to Jilboa’s explanation, his face begins to flush with anger.

“So, are you still holding those guys?”

“Yeah. There’s a room in the back of the office for that. They’re tied up and rolling around in there.”

“Tch! I want to see their faces!” Gooljin says this as he tries to head toward the back. 

Jilboa raises his right arm to stop him. At Jilboa’s signal, the members of the group stand in front of Gooljin, blocking his path. Though they don’t draw their swords, the lightly armored members form a loose circle around him.

“…What are you planning?”

Ignoring Gooljin’s demeanor, Jilboa speaks in his usual calm voice. “Gooljin, I find it reasonable to believe that you might be involved in this incident. Our naive Kenji seems not to suspect you, though.”

“What?!” Gooljin is furious, but it seems he hasn’t lost his reason enough to attack the leader in the presence of so many armed members in the Sword Fangs Legion office. Reluctantly, he lowers his raised fist. “…So, what do you mean?”

“It means exactly what I said, Gooljin. You have the strongest motive in this attack. It seems you’ve been making quite a profit from the Guardian Shoes. However, if Kenji continues to increase shoe production, your profits will decline. Therefore, you wouldn’t want him to increase production. If you can kidnap Kenji and seize the secrets of shoe manufacturing, your profits could be limitless. Isn’t that right?”

Confronted with this line of questioning, it appears that Gooljin realizes the precariousness of his position.

He looks around at the other members of his group, regretting his foolishness in going in with nothing but the clothes on his back, and begins to make excuses.

“W-wait! It’s true that I oppose Kenji’s policies. But this guy is like a goose that lays golden eggs. If I kill him, I won’t make any money. Right? If he lays too many eggs, they might turn into silver, but that’s still silver. We just need to make the basket to catch the eggs bigger. I have enough sense to understand that. Right, Kenji? You tell them!”

At a glance, he appears pitiably flustered. However, there is a glimmer of alertness in his eyes, and he shifts his body to look for a chance to escape from the tight encirclement, quickly moving his gaze around.

In fact, no evidence is needed. With the recent strength and credibility of the Sword Fangs Legion, they could easily eliminate an inter-city merchant like Gooljin if they wanted to. The caravan Gooljin manages could be more favorably bought by a better employer if Jilboa intervenes. In extreme cases, I could even purchase it myself as a sponsor.

While Gooljin may have made money from the shoe business, both the Sword Fangs Legion and I have also gained local connections and power in this city. The power dynamics are no longer such that Gooljin can act however he pleases, as when we first started cooperating with his company.

Perhaps realizing this, Gooljin sweats profusely.

Having no choice, I called Jilboa. “Jilboa, don’t scare him too much. Gooljin has a motive, but this time it’s different.”

When I intervene like that, Jilboa shrugs and lowers his right hand. At that signal, the members surrounding Gooljin step back against the wall.

“However, I do think this is your mistake, Gooljin. You’d better cooperate fully.”

As I say this, it seems my earlier threat has worked, and Gooljin nods obediently.