Black Label Union #2(1)
Warren, who was the captain of the Dragoon Pirate Crew and held the executive position in the Black Label Union, doubted his ears at the unexpected news.
"What? What did you just say?"
Once a notorious pirate captain, he had received a noble title from the royal family who couldn't deal with him. He was now a peaceful outlaw who guards the Black Label. The news he heard this time was simply mind-blowing.
"The Lyon guild leader came here? And he dares to run a business on my territory?"
The person bowing before him now was Joseph known as 'Turtle Ship' among pirates, who used to be Warren's right-hand man.
"Yes, I heard he audaciously opened a shop in Holant and is doing business. And because of that fearless guild leader, our side has been suffering a great amount of damage recently."
"Is he out of his mind? Where does he think he is!"
Warren, the representative of the Union, wore an expression of disbelief.
"No, what sort of nerve does their guild leader have to mess around in someone else's place of business! Where has the courtesy toward others gone!"
Joseph, standing by his side, continued.
"He offers loans with lower interests than us, and also gives out deposit interests if they deposit their gold coins. So, all the bank operators in Ranstadt are in chaos. Customers who heard the rumor all came to take out their gold coins. There's an uproar that just because of an audacious guy, we may have to close our business."
Warren spoke with a scrunched-up face.
"Even though the income is problematic, I was planning to increase the loan interest this time, but what? He has lowered his loan interest too for his business?"
"Yes. That's what I heard. It's hard to believe though."
"But how can he have the guts to do that? If the loan interest is lowered, their income would naturally decrease, right?"
"That, that's true."
"Have you ever seen such a crazy fellow? In addition to doing business here, he's even lowering the interest rate on loans, is he trying to kill us all? What is going on? Moreover, he completely disregards who runs the union here. What a mess?" The union boss slams his fist onto the table next to him, splitting it in two.
"Just because I've been the union boss, it doesn't mean that my pirate blood has gone anywhere. To what audacity does this insane person comes here to do business, especially in my territory!"
Compared to the weak vendors who started the Lyon Guild,
Black Label was stronger because of the pirates. Hence, their representative was a pirate captain who had a sixth sense for money. The man sporting a stylish moustache grumbled in a threatening tone,
"I heard there was a change in leadership on their side."
"Indeed, a very young lad, barely of age, is what the rumor is."
"Got it. Being so young, he has yet to understand the world, behaving so brashly. He is willing to show up like this, without knowing who I am?"
Warren stood abruptly, his voice booming, "Call the troops and prepare the weapons! We should annihilate them entirely. How had they perceived me, Warren Dragon? Even the admiral of the Imperial Navy bowed his head in front of me! I cannot tolerate this humiliation! I need to imprint my existence in his mind."
Stunned, Joseph jumped in,
"Mr. Warren, that's not advisable."
"What! Why not?"
"The guild leader has apparently hired a ton of soldiers in anticipation of this. Their guild members are also doing business here and didn't come alone, but brought something akin to mercenaries. If we act rashly, we may face a counterattack. We need to proceed in a calm manner."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, why would I lie about such a thing here?"
"You mean they came prepared?"
"That... appears to be the case."
"Ugh, my blood pressure..."
Clutching the back of his neck, Warren Dragon sat down, massaging his pulsating head. "Those insignificant ones, do they think I've become a gentleman just because I'm not a pirate anymore? This blood of mine would still boil even if I went to the ocean."
"Mr. Warren, please calm down. How about talking things out first?"
"Talk? What talk! What can you possibly talk about with people who show up prepared to fight!"
"But we still have the Ismail family, don't we? And this is originally our territory. Shouldn't we at least attempt to speak to them first?"
"What? Do these people take us for fools? If it were like the old times, I wouldn’t even be having these discussions."
The past thoughts of running wild, lawlessly, startled Joseph making him start to persuade Warren. "Mr. Warren, you must show patience. We're no longer pirates looting seas, right? We've become land people now; shouldn’t we maintain some decorum?"
Decorum...
Hearing this crap, the union leader could only smirk.
‘Decorum, my foot . Those are only for times when the world is in our favor.'
Meanwhile, Joseph continued.
"And isn’t Mr. Warren a noble now? Having become not just a land dweller but a noble, shouldn't you at least try to handle this matter in a noble manner, unlike before? Didn't you promise me you would bury your pirate temperament?"
And so, remembering his promise to stay patient, the union leader, with his loyal followers, sought out Rockefeller, who was doing bold business in their domain.
As the infamous former pirate and current union president made his presence known, their patrons bewilderingly ran for the door, leaving the shop empty. In this deserted place, the union leader, with his harshly creased brow, addressed the fearless Rockefeller, "Are you the newly elected Lyon Guild leader?"
There was no need to ask who this visitor was.
Rockefeller himself knew well who the union president was.
‘Just like the one in the novel. He was quite the infamous pirate in the past, wasn't he?'
"Aren’t you Mr. Warren, the representative of the union? I've heard quite a lot about you."
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