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Chapter 44: Trade City Livonia

「Uncle Athos, they’re saying this place is the trade city Livonia.」

「Livonia? Never heard of it…」

Even Uncle Athos, who knows just about everything, didn’t recognize the name of the town we’d discovered.

We of Barbar have lived our lives centered around the Vaffancrow Empire in the south of the continent.

But this is the north.

It’s no surprise Uncle Athos doesn’t know this place.

I slipped some silver coins to the port official to see what information I could get.

「This town of Livonia, does it belong to the Kingdom of Algeas?」

「No. We’re under the protection of the Kingdom of Algeas, but this is an autonomous city.」

I translated the Algeas Kingdom language into Barbar tongue for Uncle Athos and the others.

I didn’t quite grasp what the official meant, but Uncle Athos seemed to understand.

「I see. They probably pay money to the Kingdom of Algeas in exchange for a certain degree of self-governance. It’s like how we of Barbar are ruled by the Vaffancrow Empire but still govern our own affairs.」

「Ah, got it!」

So essentially, Livonia is in Algeas’s sphere of influence.

They’re likely under light control by the kingdom.

I asked the port official another question.

「We want to sell rock salt and liquor. We’re looking for buyers, where should we go?」

The port official gave a pained look and hedged his words.

「Well, that depends. In business, trust is everything…」

「Hard for newcomers, huh?」

「I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. Livonia is the biggest city in this region, so there are plenty of merchants. But they’re cautious about trading with foreigners. Barbar isn’t a recognized state under the protection of the Kingdom of Algeas, is it?」

「No. Barbar refers to the northern tribes under the control of the Vaffancrow Empire. We don’t have any official contact with Algeas.」

The official shrugged with his hands raised.

So… in this region, name-dropping the Empire doesn’t carry weight!

I asked for directions to the market district and city hall, then parted ways with the official.

「Uncle Athos, I got directions to where the shops are. Let’s head into town after posting a watch.」

「Good idea. Let’s get a feel for the place.」

We left two people behind to watch the ship and went into town.

Not far from the port, we came across a plaza where an open-air market was underway.

「Wanna browse a bit?」

「「「「Agreed!」」」」

This was business reconnaissance, too.

The open-air market was full of makeshift stalls, just cloths laid out with goods.

Energetic voices rang out across the square.

「C’mon, get your North Sea fish! Rich in fat and flavor!」

「Fresh-picked vegetables! Anyone need some?」

「Grilled meat skewers! Step right up!」

The open-air market seemed focused mostly on food.

There were food stalls too, it was a lively, fun place to stroll through.

After checking it out, we headed toward the main shopping street.

Just as the name 「Trade City Livonia「 suggested, it was a thriving commercial hub.

Wagons piled with goods and merchants in exotic garb crowded the main street.

Most of the shops were large and well-built.

However, the town didn’t have the polished feel of cities in the Vaffancrow Empire.

There was energy, yes, but also a rough edge.

Many passersby wore fur, looking like wild mountain folk.

「Uncle Athos, let’s look for a store that deals in rock salt or liquor.」

「Right. That’s what we’re here to sell. Let’s find a food merchant.」

I told our companions to head back to the plaza while Uncle Athos and I searched for a grocer.

Before long, we found a street lined with food stores.

We entered one of the shops.

A middle-aged man came out, smiling as he greeted us.

「Welcome! Looking for something?」

He was speaking Algeas Kingdom language.

I replied in kind.

「I’m Gaia, chieftain of the Blumunt Tribe of Barbar. We’ve brought rock salt and liquor, are you interested?」

「We don’t deal in salt or liquor. Please try elsewhere.」

I was taken aback.

There were barrels of liquor at his feet, and I could smell it.

Next to them, I could see barrels of salt, too.

Had I misspoken?

I carefully and clearly repeated myself in Algeas language.

「We brought rock salt and liquor by ship. We want to sell. Are you interested?」

「We don’t deal in salt or liquor. Please try elsewhere.」

Same answer.

Why?

One thing was clear, he wasn’t interested in buying.

So I changed tack.

「Do you know anyone who trades in food or alcohol?」

「No one comes to mind.」

「I see. Sorry to bother you.」

Shut down completely.

After we left, I explained the exchange to Uncle Athos.

「Hm… salt and liquor are easy to tamper with. So maybe they’re wary of first-time sellers.」

Some shady merchants mix sand into salt or dilute liquor with water.

Uncle Athos made a sour face, recalling how he once bought salt that turned out to be full of grit.

「So that’s why they’re so guarded…」

「Yeah. Cold calls probably won’t get us anywhere. Let’s regroup for now.」

He was right.

We returned to the plaza where the market had been held.

Our companions were there, but they looked a bit aimless.

Rosso, especially, was visibly restless.

That’s unusual for him.

「Rosso! What’s wrong?」

「Oh! Gaia! Let’s head back to the ship!」

He explained he felt uneasy with so few of us.

On mercenary expeditions, we’d always moved in groups of a hundred.

But this time, we were only twenty, and he worried we’d be outmatched if trouble started.

「I see… That makes sense, but this isn’t enemy territory.」

「Yeah, but it’s not ally territory either, is it?」

「…True enough.」

「Gaia! If something happens to the ship, we’re stuck! We can’t get back to our village over land from here! That’s why I don’t want to leave the ship!」

It was rare to see Rosso this anxious.

Looking around, the others seemed to share his concern.

(The excitement of reaching a new town must’ve worn off, leaving only unease in unfamiliar territory…)

I understood how they felt.

We had left only two people to watch the ship, and if someone went after our cargo, or worse, set fire to the vessel, it’d be a disaster.

I decided to go with Rosso’s judgment.

「Understood! Let’s head back to the ship! Everyone, grab food and drinks from the stalls on the way!」

With a cheer, my companions scattered toward their favorite food stalls.

Traveling by sea is hard.

I’d been so focused on opening a trade route and accomplishing our goals, I’d overlooked how the crew might be feeling.

(The captains of the Age of Exploration must’ve had it rough…)

For a moment, I felt like I could understand the struggles of Columbus or Vasco da Gama.

By the time we returned to the port, the sun was setting.

We pulled tents from the longship and set up camp in an out-of-the-way spot on the pier.

Then a voice called out from a nearby ship docked at the next pier.

「Hey there! You’re the ones who passed us at sea, right?」