Monopolizing Goods #3(5)
The dwarves were at a loss for words at the blatant demand for an exorbitant price for beer.
The same was true for Orin, who came as the representative of the delegation.
'It's outrageous. I can't believe they prepared like this.'
It might be possible to find another place if they looked elsewhere.
They hadn't checked everything yet.
However, the other party was very confident.
In other words, it meant that there was a high probability of it happening as the other party said.
"What are you so confident about? Beer can be easily obtained anywhere."
"Then you can go to your side and easily get it. There's no need to argue with us."
Their bravado was too strong.
The dwarves who came as a delegation began to stir all at once.
They whispered to each other for a short time.
As their opinions converged, representative Orin spoke up.
"We need to check first. We need to see if there is really only one place to get beer in this area, as you say. If there's another place, then obviously this place will be at a loss. We won't trade like that."
Rockefeller had no reason to lose his composure.
Whatever they did, the result would be the same.
"You can feel free to check if what I said is true or not. After all, time is on our side."
The dwarves, upon seeing this, strongly felt that they had no other choice. They thought that if they could get beer from another place, they wouldn't have to deal with this unpleasant place.
As the dwarves left, Priest Peter, who had not been involved in the conversation and had just watched, spoke to Rockefeller.
"I've been watching."
Priest Peter had a confident face.
"It looks like it will go as you say. They have no choice."
At that, Rockefeller briefly smiled.
"They will have no other choice. I've worked so hard not to give them another choice."
"That's right."
"It won't be long."
Rockefeller also spoke with a confident tone.
"Just wait a few days."
It didn't take long for the dwarves to return after visiting several territories, including the Montefeltro territory.
The expressions on the dwarves' faces as they sat down at the negotiating table again were not good.
After all, they had to overpay just to get beer.
Rockefeller, who returned to the church, spoke to the dwarves with a bitter expression on their faces.
"So, have you made a decision?"
Orin, with a sour expression, muttered an unintelligible sound.
He was so angry that he unconsciously let out a sound.
"Khuh... We're not short on beer for now. We still have some left from the supplies brought from the Thunder Mountains."
Orin's eyes were flickering as if to devour Rockefeller.
"But once that supply is exhausted, the war with the Redskins cannot continue. As someone said, we live on beer, and we die on beer."
The following words were like lamentations.
"I'm a dwarf too, but this nature is too dirty. I don't understand why they can't be controlled without calming them down with real beer. I wonder what that damn beer is."
It was to the extent that there was a saying called 'the curse of beer' among dwarves, as beer was like the elixir of life for them.
"Let me ask you one thing."
"Yes, anything."
"We could change our minds and attack here, what do you think about that?"
It would have been possible if they were an evil force.
Plundering was one of the many ways to secure scarce supplies.
"If you were going to do that, you wouldn't have sent an envoy in the first place."
"Can you be so sure?"
At that question, Rockefeller didn't hesitate at all.
"Yes, of course."
"How can you be so sure? Do you think we're too scared of you humans to fight?"
Dwarves had a relatively friendly relationship with humans.
Would they break that friendly relationship and engage in plundering that didn't suit their nature?
If they were orcs, it might be another story.
But they were dwarves.
Among all races, they were second only to elves in terms of nobility.
Of course, their character was mean and dirty, but they would not commit evil deeds without a clear reason.
"It's not that, but you won't gain much from doing so. Over the years, dwarves have maintained a friendly relationship with humans. Why would you ruin your relationship with the Empire by attacking here? This land is not even a gold mine."
"Beer would be enough. We're crazy about beer."
"If you can't solve it with money, it might be possible. But if you have the money, would you really go that far? Anyway, you guys buy the necessary supplies from nearby places with gold because everything is bothersome."
"Hmph!"
"And even if you think that way, we won't be easily robbed."
Rockefeller then showed a deep smile.
"Our lord here has a lot of money. So the defense here is very strong. He even bought a wyvern and hired additional mercenary troops. And there's even a wizard from a famous magical family. If you touch us for no reason, you'll be the one at a loss. The Redskins you're confronting would be even happier."
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