Spice & Wolf IV (35 page)

“They may go with Sem to settle matters of religion, but you, Mr. Riendott—you have matters of coin to attend to,” he sa id.

Riendott looked like a criminal who had been unable to escape capture.

Bishop Van did not know Lawrence and was about to demand to know who he was when Sem, having listened to a short whispered comment from Elsa, spoke softly to him.

A surprised “ah” was all the bishop could manage.

Likewise, the villagers regarded Lawrence with suspicion until hearing Sem’s explanation. Their expressions of surprise were different from Van’s, but eventually they nodded begrudgingly,

Holo whispered in Lawrence’s ear, “It seems he is willing to leave everything to you.”

Lawrence had gone from being suspected as the villain who'd poisoned the village’s wheat to the man responsible for negotiating on that same village’s behalf.

Remaining there on the meeting stone, Riendott seemed painfully aware of the fact that he had set Lawrence up. He looked like

he was about to cry.

The stone was still surrounded by villagers, and even the people from Enberch discussed the miracle in excited tones.

In this atmosphere, the negotiations would be simple.

“Well then, Mr. Riendott.”

“Er, yes!” came his hoarse reply. It was hard to tell whether he was deliberately trying to elicit sympathy or not.

By the way Holo coughed and glared at the man, his actions were probably an act.

“I have been asked by Miss Elsa and the village elder to conduct all financial negotiations. I would first ask whether every villager here can accept those terms.”

“If the village elder says so, I don’t see that we have a choice,” said one villager.

The baker piped up next, scratching his head. “We’ve always left everything to do with coin to the elder.”

Lawrence nodded. “There it is, then. I shall begin with the greatest demand. I would have you keep the wheat.”

Riendott sputtered, “Th-that’s preposterous! I couldn’t possibly!”

“Why is that?”

“Th-the reputation of the wheat! After all, a man has died! My shop’s reputation has been damaged!”

Given everything else, the story of a death had also probably been a lie.

Lawrence looked at Holo. Her eyes asked him what he wanted to do. Yes, the dead man was a lie surely.

But there was nothing to be gained in exposing it. That could even prove fatal.

“And besides—besides!” continued Riendott. “It’s written in the contract with Father Franz that any wheat touched by Khepas liquor will be returned!”

This was an obvious position for him to take, and the villagers could hardly argue this point.

Even if they suspected Riendott himself of planting the poison in the wheat, they could prove nothing.

“Very well, then. Suppose we accept the returned wheat. What would the price be?”

Riendott took a deep breath upon hearing Lawrence’s concession, as though he was finally breaking the surface after having been trapped underwater.

“T-two hundred
lim
—”

“That’s absurd!” cried the baker, grabbing Riendott by his collar. “That’s the price you paid us originally, you bastard!”

It was true—Riendott must have sold off at least some of
the
wheat already, so he could hardly demand the same amount back. Moreover, if that was the amount the village truly owed, the people would still be short a full seventy
Umar.

Lawrence couldn’t help admiring Riendott’s sheer nerve, quoting the highest possible price even in these circumstances. “F-f-fine then...O-one hundred ninety—”

The baker tightened his grip, but Lawrence stopped him.

His intention was not, however, to save Riendott.

“Mr. Riendott, if another miracle was to happen, that would be quite disadvantageous for you, would it not?”

The villagers did not understand the true meaning behind these words, but thanks to Holo seeing through Riendott's
lie, Lawrence knew what worried the man most.

What he feared most was that Enberch’s lie would be exposed. Riendott’s face looked like a drowning pig’s. “O-one h-hundred...six...ty..."

In
trenni
silver, this came to a concession of eight hundred pieces. The baker loosened his grip.

Lawrence watched Riendott cough; this was probably the limit of how much the man could afford to concede.

Pushing further would only serve to create more resentment. After all, the contract between Tereo and Enberch had been abnormal to begin with.

“In that case, let us settle the return at that amount. Let all present bear witness.”

Each villager nodded, and Riendott finally looked up.

Now came the crux of the matter.

Though Lawrence had extracted a significant concession, it still was not a sum that the village could afford to repay. In order to prevent this whole farce from repeating itself, a more proper contract needed to be established.

“Incidentally Mr. Riendott,” said Lawrence.

“Y-yes?”

“Regarding this returned wheat—I presume it would not be possible to persuade you to repurchase it.”

Riendott immediately shook his head. He would ruin his business in such a transaction.

“Understood. However, according to Elder Sem, the village does not have enough cash to buy back the wheat. Even at one hundred sixty
Iimar,
there is still not enough.”

The villagers raised their voices in surprise.

Evidently the elder had hidden this truth from them in order to avoid a panic.

“Thus I have a proposal for you,” continued Lawrence before the villagers could pounce on Riendott.

“Wh-what do you...?”

“It is but a simple thing. I would ask that you persuade the bishop to allow the village to sell wheat under his name.”

Riendott thought hard, obviously trying to see what Lawrence hoped to gain in such a deal.

He would not figure it out, though, Lawrence was confident.

“I-if you plan to sell to another wheat broker...you had best give up as—”

“Why?!” shouted the baker, causing Riendott to recoil in fear briefly. His look made it clear that this was not something under his control.

“It’s been a good harvest this year...There’s a surplus of rye. No matter where you look, no town can possibly buy the amount this village is looking to sell. To preserve trust, we’ve already bought all we could...”

Despite its purported poisoning being a lie, the wheat now had a history. Merchants would avoid it if they could.

“No, even if that’s true, it will not matter,” said Lawrence. "So, will you do us this favor?”

Riendott looked at Lawrence beseechingly, then nodded slowly He seemed at once to be begging for God’s grace and praying that a miracle would not occur. It was a strange sight.

“I-I s-suppose that would be a-acceptable...”

“One more thing.”

“Wha-”

“It is possible that the people of Enberch may try to cause trouble with the business I am planning. I would ask that you be our ally in such a case.”

Riendott’s mouth dropped open. “Ah—surely you don’t plan to make bread!”

“Close, but no. The bakers would never allow such a thing, would they?”

Riendott managed to nod despite his fleshy chin.

Still, it was true that Lawrence’s plan was very near to a bread baker’s business.

“Also, regarding payment, it will have to wait until the business is moving along well,” said Lawrence.

“What—what are you—”

“I certainly won’t force anything upon you. I’ll even add a condition you may well find attractive.” Lawrence looked over at the assembled villagers, then back to Riendott. “What would you say to dissolving Father Franz’s contract—the contract that requires

Enberch to unconditionally purchase Tereo’s wheat?”

The villagers instantly raised their voices in protest. “Hey, you can’t do that just because you’re negotiating for us!” said one.

“Ah, but so long as this condition remains, it will be a source of resentment on Enberch’s part, is that not so?”

It was a difficult question to answer, but Riendott, the largest wheat merchant in all of Enberch, finally nodded.

“This was never a normal contract to begin with. Normally
a
village has one of its citizens who’s good with money take charge of such things—that’s business,” said Lawrence.

Riendott nodded emphatically but soon shrank back at the angry glares he received.

“What say you, Mr. Riendott? Will you agree?”

“Hey! You can’t just—!” came the protests, but Lawrence did not back down.

He was confident that he would be able to turn a large profit here.

“If Mr. Riendott and Bishop Van are on our side, I can tell you a way for this village to create a business that will turn wonderful profits,” said Lawrence with a smile.

His confidence was disarming; the villagers backed down.

“What-what kind of business...?” asked one.

Lawrence enjoyed the moment of superiority and then explained. “I suppose I’ll tell you. You’ll need some cooperation from the baker.”

A bit surprised, the baker nodded.

“Then can you make ready some eggs and butter? And honey if you have it.”

All present looked at once amazed and confused.

It was Holo alone who spoke. “It sounds like something rather tasty shall come from all this.”