The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 32. Predator Merchant Company (2)
An arrogant bearing adorned with every conceivable jewel, his garments blazing with ostentatious splendor.
A man whose very presence screamed, “Behold my refinement!”
“Ahem! I am Dunar, Marquis of the Denar Kingdom.”
A nobleman.
Free cities harbored no absolute power—no monarchs or lords wielding dominion over all.
But other kingdoms were different.
The Battenberg Kingdom, to which House Whitewolf belonged, like all kingdoms across The Continent, was moved by the nobility.
In other words, if one could sway the nobility, one could sway the entire kingdom.
I gave a subtle nod to one of my merchants, who understood at once and retrieved a specially preserved piece of meat from the carriage.
He then discreetly offered it to Marquis Dunar.
“What is this?”
“It’s a monster called Rexes….”
The merchant began explaining Rexes in detail.
The very creature from which I had obtained my Metabolic Acceleration [D] ability.
Rexes were monsters that had undergone extreme muscular atrophy to regulate their metabolic rate.
Consequently, their fat content far exceeded that of other monsters, and their meat was nothing short of exquisite.
Having tasted it myself, I could attest that among all monster flesh, Rexes meat possessed an overwhelmingly superior flavor.
Thus, I had not sold Rexes meat to the people of Frecce.
“It is the finest of our finest offerings.”
My intention was to sell it to nobles of other kingdoms at a premium.
Through this, I sought to spread word of it throughout the noble circles themselves.
The salon—that space where a kingdom’s refined culture was born and exchanged.
Being a noble myself, I possessed the right to enter the salons of the Battenberg Kingdom.
But gaining entry to the salons of other kingdoms was far more difficult.
“Ordinarily, we do not sell it….”
The merchant glanced subtly at me before continuing.
“But Adrian specifically instructed us to present this to you, Marquis.”
“Specifically…?”
“Yes. Specifically.”
The Marquis’s lips twitched upward.
Nobles, as they invariably were, harbored such strong senses of privilege that they adored the word “specifically.”
Most of the nobles I had observed in the Allied Forces were precisely like this.
The Allied Forces were a coalition of every kingdom and city across The Continent, so I could confidently say I had witnessed every noble on The Continent.
And regardless of kingdom, the nobility universally possessed an overwhelming sense of entitlement.
Particularly among lower-ranking nobles like barons and marquises, this tendency was even more pronounced.
“Ahahaha! What a fellow! Hahahaha!”
As expected, Marquis Dunar was thoroughly delighted by the word “specifically.”
A marquis was still nobility, after all.
He maintained relations with other nobles and could naturally spread word among them.
And once word-of-mouth takes root, it develops a life of its own.
Once that life takes hold, rumors grow flesh and swell of their own accord.
For instance, a rumor that person A broke wind on the street transforms into person A defecating in the street by the time it reaches the neighboring village.
A rumor that person B caught a cold becomes person B teetering on death’s door in the village beyond.
A needle’s prick becomes a cudgel—such is the miraculous transformation.
And word-of-mouth was precisely the force that wrought such miracles.
“How delightful! Once I taste this, I shall certainly recommend it to others.”
The moment the Predator Merchant Company made its debut in the social circles of foreign nobility.
That name would spread across the entire Continent like an unstoppable wildfire.
* * *
The Continent held several free cities, Frecce among them.
Free cities developed around specific industries—mining, agriculture, animal husbandry—and Frecce had flourished as a city of commerce.
Thus, it boasted far more merchant companies than other free cities.
“Hmm….”
Adlern was one such merchant company proprietor.
His primary trade goods were grapes and wine from the Beneci Kingdom.
As luxury items sold only to the middle class and above, demand remained modest.
And with the recent economic downturn, his sales had plummeted dramatically compared to last year.
Already irritated, Adlern’s mood had been further tested by something of late.
“The Predator Merchant Company….”
For days now, the Predator Merchant Company had been conducting business in Frecce’s Central Plaza.
At first, he’d dismissed it as some unremarkable establishment.
Predator—a name meaning devourer.
What a dreadful name from the outset.
Yet despite its inauspicious name, the Predator Merchant Company wielded considerable influence.
“Everywhere I turn, it’s the Predator. Everywhere I look, the Predator.”
Now, no one in Frecce remained ignorant of the Predator Merchant Company.
It was sweeping away every customer in the city.
Like a true predator, devouring all in its path.
“I hear the rumors are even spreading among the nobility now.”
Which meant the gossip would soon permeate the social circles. Once it took hold there, the path to success would be assured.
For the social circles were where the era’s finest thinkers and literati gathered—cultivated nobility of the highest order.
In other words, the essential nobles who guided each kingdom.
The benefits gained from mingling with such figures were boundless.
One could identify new business partners, investors, and patrons from each kingdom.
One’s credibility and reputation as a merchant would soar, securing more clients and trading opportunities.
Above all, one could monopolize the exclusive information available only within the social circles, while gaining advance knowledge of political, economic, and cultural trends.
And that was merely the beginning.
Through connections with the elite, one could gain favorable legal and administrative advantages, expand political influence to shape business decisions favorably, and receive tax benefits.
And though rare.
Through marriage to the scions of noble houses, one could rise in status.
All of these were benefits obtainable in the ‘social circles’—that grand arena of exchange.
Thus, entering high society was nothing short of a merchant’s dream.
In that sense, Adlern too had strived desperately to break into those circles.
“Insufferable aristocratic bastards.”
Naturally, every attempt had failed.
He couldn’t even linger at the threshold of high society.
“As if they’re so superior.”
Especially the ‘Central Social Circle,’ where the kingdom’s power concentrated—that was a dream beyond even dreaming of.
Yet a merchant company barely days old, run by nothing more than a reckless upstart, was now eclipsing decades of Adlern’s efforts.
“This infuriates me… truly infuriates me….”
There was simply no way to stomach it.
Therefore, I could not remain idle.
“How dare you cause trouble in my own domain?”
Adlern was a merchant company proprietor who had operated in Frecce for decades and an executive of the Merchant Guild.
And in Frecce, the Merchant Guild’s influence was formidable.
A fledgling merchant company could be swept away at a moment’s notice.
Until now, I had merely observed their conduct….
“I can tolerate this no longer.”
Adlern steeled my resolve.
And it was at that very moment I rose from my seat.
Ding.
The shop door opened and a customer entered.
“…Welcome.”
I suppressed my irritation and greeted the newcomer. By their appearance, they were quite affluent.
No—they were nobility.
Adlern hastily adjusted my attire.
Moments ago I had cursed them, but nobles were the privileged class that guided the kingdom.
In other words, they were the source of wealth.
Even a merchant operating in a free city had no choice but to cater to their whims.
Adlern offered an ingratiating smile. And soon I could discern what the noble held in their hand.
‘That is….’
Meat sold by the Predator Merchant Company.
My mood twisted once more, and it was at that precise moment.
“I came on the recommendation of the Predator Merchant Company.”
An unexpected statement escaped the noble’s lips.
* * *
Frecce is a free city where no lord or liege holds absolute power.
One might think citizens, being free persons, lived more comfortably than those in fiefdoms, but the reality was entirely different.
As the saying goes: where there is no ogre, the troll becomes king.
Since no absolute power existed within the city, it was common for a handful of wealthy merchants to effectively wield lordly authority.
Ultimately, the Merchant Guild exercised powers no different from those of a lord.
There were no ranks, yet the hierarchy was unmistakably present.
In that sense, the Merchant Guild’s power in free cities—especially Frecce—was absolute.
Naturally, I was well aware of this fact.
I retained vivid memories and experience from my past life: not only special operations missions, but also intelligence work encompassing information creation, collection, and distribution—espionage and intelligence operations.
I knew the free cities intimately and had anticipated that the Merchant Guild would undoubtedly assert territorial dominance.
Yet I deliberately chose to come to the free city of Frecce rather than the Battenberg Kingdom.
This was because I had already devised methods to win over and appease the merchant guilds.
Wine, cheese, and fruit to accompany meat.
Butter, salt, and pepper to enhance the meat’s flavor.
Furthermore, various household tools necessary for cooking.
I instructed my company members to naturally recommend these items to visiting guests and subtly mention the merchant companies that sold them.
And my company members executed my instructions with remarkable efficiency.
“If you pair the Dermexus hindquarters with Beneci wine, this evening will become the finest of your life.”
“Ha! That fellow certainly has a way with words. But Beneci wine, you say…?”
“You’ll find it at the Adlern Merchant Company, located in the Central Plaza.”
“Ah, I see! Thank you so much!”
“Pardon me, but could you recommend something for me as well?”
“Ah! For Alacron’s brisket steak, nothing surpasses Leprica cheese. I assure you it will deliver the finest flavor you’ve ever tasted.”
“Cheese steak! That’s an excellent idea!”
“You can obtain Leprica cheese at the Larak Merchant Company, situated on the outskirts of Frecce.”
“Oh my! Thank you so much!”
They were executing their duties flawlessly, going beyond mere efficiency.
‘They’re doing splendidly.’
Seraphia had evidently provided me with quite capable talent.
The reason I went to such lengths was simple: one cannot ignore the Merchant Guild in Frecce.
The Merchant Guild was a force wielding tremendous capital, commanding not just Frecce but all free cities.
Antagonizing them would prove considerably troublesome.
They would become a major obstacle to my plan of making the Predator Merchant Company the greatest merchant company on The Continent.
But if I made them allies instead?
They could become an invaluable source of strength rather than a hindrance.
Should anyone question the monster meat, they would be the first to defend the Predator Merchant Company.
In a free city devoid of absolute powers like lords and sovereigns,
‘public opinion is power itself.’
By making them my allies, I could secure overwhelming advantage in any battle of public opinion.
Moreover, I suffered no losses in the process of making them allies.
Through natural promotion alone, they would regard me as a business partner or something greater.
‘First, I’ll firmly secure the merchants of the free city.’
In doing so, I would effectively establish information networks throughout the region.
And gradually, I would expand its scale to stretch across the entire Continent.
The beginning is humble, but the end shall be magnificent.
I needed to proceed with the work step by step, just as the territory Quest demanded.
But in truth.
“Adrian! We’ve received a bulk order for forty portions!”
The beginning was anything but humble.
* * *
A nobleman’s words, saying he had come upon the recommendation of the Predator Merchant Company.
“Really? You came on a recommendation?”
“Ah yes, the Predator Merchant Company recommended the wine from this place.”
“Really? The Predator Merchant Company recommended our wine?”
“Indeed. They said that pairing it with Beneci wine would grant you the most blissful evening in the world.”
Adlern’s head tilted involuntarily.
He had no idea what was happening, but…
“Could you recommend a wine that pairs well with meat? I’d like to have the finest evening tonight.”
“For the finest evening, this one is perfect.”
Adlern retrieved a wine bottle from deep within the cabinet.
“It’s fermented without removing the skins of high-quality Beneci grapes, allowing you to experience a deep and complex flavor. It’s exactly suited for the finest of evenings.”
The price alone was a staggering 1,210 gold.
It was roughly equivalent to half a year’s living expenses for a middle-class family.
“Hmm… the price is rather steep.”
Even a nobleman would hesitate at such a price.
His hesitation was evident, but it didn’t last long.
“Well, since the Predator Merchant Company recommended it, it must be worth it. If I can have the finest evening, then so be it! I’ll purchase this.”
The nobleman cheerfully bought the wine.
Without having spent hours coaxing and flattering him.
“Hahaha, I’ll be back next time!”
The nobleman departed with a smile on his face.
It happened immediately after he left.
Ding.
The shop door opened again, and another customer entered.
“I came on a recommendation from the Predator Merchant Company.”
And then it happened again.
This customer had also come on a recommendation from the Predator Merchant Company.
And the next, and the next after that.
It remained the same.
Without fail, every customer who had purchased monster meat from the Predator Merchant Company stopped by Adlern’s shop.
“I heard the wine here is supposed to be excellent…”
“I also came from the Predator Merchant Company…”
And so, customers never ceased flowing into Adlern’s shop.
As a result, sales increased exponentially.
Ever since the Merchant Guild’s founding, I continued to break record after record for highest revenue.
At this pace, it was only a matter of time before I’d be rolling in wealth.
Before I knew it.
“Welcome, welcome! The Predator Merchant Company’s monster meat pairs perfectly with Beneci wine—we have plenty in stock!”
In Adlern’s mind, the Predator Merchant Company had transformed from a competitor into a business partner and benefactor.
* * *
With the Merchant Guild backing me, there was nothing to fear.
No one in Frecce dared to challenge the Predator Merchant Company.
As a result.
“This can’t be real…!”
“It’s all sold out…!!”
In less than five days, I had completely sold out every piece of meat I’d hunted.
And then came the consequence.
◆Territory Quest [Humble Beginnings, Glorious Ends!] has been cleared!
The notification that I’d cleared the Territory Quest filled my vision.
◆You have obtained 48,200 Quest Experience!
◆Your level has increased!
◆Your level has increased!
Enough experience to jump two levels at once.
Indeed, the experience gained from Quests was overwhelmingly superior to what I earned from hunting monsters.
‘There’s no additional reward.’
I’d secretly hoped for one.
It seemed the system wasn’t handing out bonuses indiscriminately.
Still, the true reward this time wasn’t the experience.
◆As a reward, 「Management Mode」 has been unlocked!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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