Wiltia's Traad army base administered the belt of land, which included Organbaelz, in the Pelfe region of the Principality of Wiltia.
The commander of this base, Colonel Bardenbelger, was a military man who had joined the Great War early, and rose from regular soldier to base commander.
Bardenbelger's subordinates put strong faith in him. He took great pride as a soldier, and placed the highest priority on maintaining harmony with the local civilians. He allowed soldiers to attend village festivals and he interacted with civilians in a positive manner.
He had an engaging personality, and was philanthropic, so he donated from his private funds to Marlene's church in Organbaelz.
However, there was a woman who caused Bardenbelger's face to turn beet red and burn with an anger that he rarely showed, even during wartime.
"You show up without warning and tell me to give top priority to routing materials and personnel to a military funds?!"
Bardenbelger used to be an artillery soldier.
His experience living next to bellowing cannons was all too real.
His angry shouts rattled his office windows.
"As I said, that's the order."
As if his shouts did not reach her, Hildegard von Hessen responded teasingly, her face openly mocking, as she brandished the order, pages flapping.
"You! Is that an attitude to take toward a superior officer?!"
Hildegard's rank was first lieutenant, while Bardenbelger was a full colonel.
Her attitude was so rude that Bardenbelger, who usually wasn't very strict, couldn't overlook her insubordination.
"Look, Colonel. We're from the Schutzstaffel. We belong to a different command system. There's no reason for me to follow your orders."
Hildegard belonged to the Schutzstaffel.
The only people to stand above the Schutzstaffel were Commander-in-Chief Genitz and the monarch.
If Bardenbelger disagreed, he would have to secure documents signed by the highest commander of the regular military, Marshal Elvin, and send a formal request.
Then, if he was luck, he might receive a vague commitment to "give the matter consideration".
"Why you...!"
"This order bears the royal seal. You understand, don't you? Refusing means disobeying the royal family, the monarch, and the Principality of Wiltia. Do you intend to stage an insurgency? From this tiny base?"
Hildegard was 15 years old. Bardenbelger, a veteran soldier, could not restraint his anger at being mocked by this girl, barely one-third his age.
"Urgh... Do as you like!"
The seal on the document she held was real.
He had sworn his loyalty to the nation and the royal family when he became a soldier, so he could not disobey.
"Indeed, I will. And I will start by occupying the best room on this base, which doesn't mean much in this country castle."
As Hildegard left the room, her parting words were guaranteed to rub him the wrong way.
As soon as the door closed, she heard him taking out his anger by punching one piece of furniture after another.
* * *
"Heh... That's why I don't like soldiers who are commoners. He's an unrefined country bumpkin. No wonder he serves under Elvin!"
As she had promised, Hildegard now occupied the VIP room. She sat on the sofa and continued scoffing at Bardenbelger.
"Lieutenant? Um.."
Two of her subordinates were with her.
The one who spoke was of average height and weight and wore an iron mask that covered his entire head.
"It would be better not to get ugly with the regular military. We often need its cooperation."
The man chided Hildegard with a voice that sounded as if he had something stuck in his back teeth.
"Corporal, kneel with your hand on the floor."
Hildegard spoke curtly, pointing at the floor, as if commanding a dog.
"Huh?! Yes, Ma'am!"
An order from a superior officer is absolute.
The corporal knelt on all fours, placing his hands on the floor.
"Umf!"
"Agh?!"
Hildegard kicked him with all her strength. In the face.
"Corporal... you're exasperating. I can't punch you because of your mask, but in order to kick you. I have to make you kneel!"
"Uarnnngh!"
The powerful kick, even protected by his mask, caused the corporal to writhe in pain.
I never asked your opinion...
So don't get mouthy with a superior officer.
Her words went unspoken, but the sentiment was expressed clearly as she kicked him the way she would discipline a dog.
"People from the lower classes do indeed cause trouble. Know your status and position."
Hildegard von Hessen was from the house of Hessen, an old and important family in Wiltia, much like Sophia's family, the Rundstadts.
The way Hildegard saw it, for a common soldier-and not even a non-commissioned officer-to criticize her actions was a disrespectful defiance of class distinctions.
"Corporal, you have served in the military for years, but if I didn't have orders from the revered lord lieutenant general to permit you to accompany me, I would punish your impertinence."
Hildegard drew the firearm at her waist-a Walther PKK-and pushed the muzzle against the mask covering the corporal's head.
Her finger was on the trigger.
"Ulp..."
The corporal screamed when he heard metal scraping against metal.
"You're lucky... so be pleased. What's wrong? Aren't you going to thank me? I'm not killing you."
"Th-Thank you!"
"Hmf... You're a pitiful man."
Hildegard lowered her gun as if she no longer had any business with him and looked at Vanessa, the other subordinate.
"Third Lieutenant, are you sure about that information? You won't get off easy if it turns out to be mistaken after I've come all the way to this godforsaken backwater."
"It came from the Intelligence Bureau so I'm quite certain it's accurate. Shylock will spend this week visiting every city in Pelfe and then head for Ponapalas, the old capital."
Hildegard's face showed irritation as she listened to Vanessa's reply.
"Why is he going to so much trouble?"
"He is performing an inspection tour in preparation for expanding his business to Pelfe."
"Hah!"
Hildegard barked contemptuously, with a scoffing expression on her face.
"Of course, backward people behave awkwardly. How inefficient to survey the area himself!"
"An inspection tour is important. He will see many things that he would miss without experiencing the atmosphere at each location."
The corporal couldn't help speaking up.
"When did I grant permission for chitchat, Corporal?"
"My apologies!"
Hildegard gave her subordinate a lesson with another kick.
"Who is that old man, anyway?"
"Oh... He's the chairman of Billions Trading."
Vanessa's face showed surprise that Hildegard didn't know this.
"I already know that! I'm asking you to give me details!"
Hildegard had not known this, but her discomfort when others recognized her ignorance and immaturity showed through the cracks.
"Joseph Shylock was originally a rich man, but during the Great War, he earned huge profits delivering military goods. People say his total assets are enough to buy a small country."
The corporal had spoken again, for the third time.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I spoke without your permission again!"
He shut his mouth in a hurry.
Afraid of a third punishment, he begged for forgiveness by deeply bowing his head.
"And?"
"Huh?"
"Tell me more! I grant permission, so out with it!"
"As you wish, Thank you!"
Despite the scolding, he seemed happy to continue.
"Mr. Shylock used his enormous fortune to expand into a new business-the industrial consignation of weapons for the military of the Principality of Wiltia."
It was almost impossible to produce all the weapons the military needed at the military factories. Further, the operation and maintenance of a manufacturing base would be highly inefficient.
So the military contracted with the heavy manufacturing industry and entrusted it to produce the weapons developed by the military.
Weapon designs and new technologies were the most sensitive of all national secrets.
For that reason, the only companies to receive these commissions were those that had a long-standing relationship with the government, making the entry of newcomers nearly impossible.
However, something unusual happened during the Great War.
The Hunter Units.
"Enemy nations, as well as high-ranking members of our own military, questioned the practicality of Hunter Units. As, of course, did most existing business enterprises. Thus, they all fell behind in preparing their production lines."
No one had heard of these Iron Giants that could stride through war zones unopposed.
This new weapon, using technology that had never existed before, could not be built by the current manufacturing base.
And Shylock had bet money on that.
He spent most of his fortune to establish a large-scale Hunter Unit manufacturing facility.
Moreover, he gathered highly skilled workers from parts factories and prepared the perfect production line.
In war, implementation of new weaponry is so important that it can determine victory or defeat.
Although Shylock was new to the business, the military had no choice but to hire him.
"It is said that the Hunter Units produced by Mr. Shylock's Billions Trading accounted for more than 60 percent of all Hunter Units in the Great War."
"Wait a second."
Hildegard interrupted the corporal.
"Did you say 60 percent? Does that mean that Teepneuen, which we use, was made there?"
A look of awful disgust showed on Hildegard's still somewhat childish features.
Her expression looked as if the food she was eating had been processed from worms.
"No. The Hunter Units used by the Schutzstaffel are produced at the military factories."
"I see. Good. I would hate to use weapons made by the Degas Clan."
With a relieved smile, Hildegard adjusted her position on the sofa.
"......"
The corporal remained silent for a moment.
He appeared uncomfortable at Hildegard's bias against Shylock because the blood in his veins came from a different ethnic group.
"What? Is there some problem?"
"Not, not at all!"
If he voiced his thoughts, she would deliver another brutal kick.
The corporal kept his silence and stared at the floor.
"So the point is that he's a merchant of death who raked in money during the Great War? What a filthy parasite! But... he's got money. If we could get him on our side, the lord lieutenant general would gain the power to silence the regular army."
At this point, the regular army and the Schutzstaffel were at a stalemate, but both had areas of dominance; the regular army due to its vast numbers, the Schutzstaffel because it controlled the royal capital.
If the Schutzstaffel claimed Shylock, who had enormous financial power, that balance would crumble.
"To do so, we must court him carefully."
The Schutzstaffel had attempted several negotiations but had never managed to reach an agreement with Shylock. He had influence with aristocrats and the royal family. The authority of the Schutzstaffel didn't get anywhere with him.
Therefore, they had switched to a means of persuasion better suited to him.
To that end, the Schutzstaffel had looked into every aspect of his affairs.
However, so far they had found nothing they could use on him.
He had no close friends, girlfriend or lover, or even a family. Or so it seemed.
But the brilliant Intelligence Bureau of the Schutzstaffel discovered one fact of which even Shylock was unaware.
"Organbaelz? We must take custody of his grandson, who lives there."
Wearing a cruel smile, Hildegard read the documents from the Intelligence Bureau.
Attached to the documents was a photograph, taken secretly and from a distance, of a boy with goggles around his neck.
* * *
The day after Sven's trial sales run, Lud received her report inside Tockerbrot.
"That's all, and I think the results of the recon-in-force op were quite good."
"I see... I never thought about retail consignment."
Sven had discussed doing business with the owner of the general store.
The man had said that he wouldn't charge Tockerbrot for using space in his store. If they could deliver goods three times a week, his store would benefit.
According to the store owner, since Saupunkt's economy was improving, the townsfolk preferred higher quality foods even if they cost a little more.
"The economy is improving?" Lud asked.
Lud knew little of the world since his life was consumed by baking bread from morning to afternoon in the small town of Organbaelz.
"I hear that big businesses from Wiltia are coming to Pelfe, so there will be factories and shops in Saupunkt, too. It seems employment in the town has rapidly expanded."
"I see... That must be why Charlotte is thinking of moving there."
"The population of the town will likely increase soon. Local businesses are searching for new trials. So I was thinking about rounding up a few more shops for retail consignment."
"Hold on a second! I understand the economy is doing well, but even with more retailers, I can't bake any more bread than I am now."
Lud immediately slapped down Sven's proposal, which would steer them toward even more aggressive sales management.
"Why don't we get more ovens?"
"We don't have that kind of budget."
The shop was already deep in debt when they took the additional loan from the bank to expand the building.
Sales were good, but the balance of payments was still in the red.
"Don't worry! I already have an excellent plan!"
Tockerbrot's recovery from the brink of bankruptcy wasn't just due to Sven's looks and charm.
It was because of her wise sales recommendations.
There was no way this same girl would miss such an obvious flaw in her sales strategy.
"We should get involved in stock management."
"Stock management?"
Lud's parents had been merchants, so he was born into a business-oriented family. But he had lost his parents before he had a chance to learn the business. He lived the rest of his life amid the smell of gun smoke on the battlefield.
He had heard of stock management, but knew little about how it worked.
"We'll ask the consignees for investment, which we can put toward a production increase."
"Um, does that mean we'll be borrowing money from individuals instead of the bank."
"No, It's not a loan, but an investment. So it would be more accurate to call it joint management through an exclusive contract, rather than retail consignment."
Sven's plan was to grant exclusive sales rights, and in return for delivery of product, they would receive investment from each retailer, and split the profits as dividends.
"Do you mean, it's a loan that we don't have to pay back ?! What kind of numbers trickery is this?!"
Lud didn't exactly understand it, but Sven's plan was the best way to further develop his business without increasing its debt.
"But there's one condition..."
Sven's face clouded a little.
"What? Don't ask me to bribe them!"
"No. They want me to-"
"No!"
Lud shouted before Sven could finish her sentence.
"I want lots of people to taste my bread! For that, I will quietly suffer any pain! But I will not put you through something horrible for it!"
Lud was usually a very reticent person. In fact, since he wasn't good at speaking, he couldn't say very much.
"Um, Master...?"
This time, however, his tone was so firm that it surprised Sven and made her wonder if he was the same Lud Langart she had known.
"We don't need retail consignment so badly that you have to do such a thing!"
"Um, what are you talking about?"
Sven asked him in confusion.
"I mean, instead of giving them money, they want you to..."
There were way too many vile people in the world.
Many of them would take advantage of another's weakness and ask for money.
In the absence of money, some might ask to use another's body.
And Sven was so beautiful that people couldn't help but turn to look at her.
Some were sure to entertain lascivious thoughts.
"That's not what I meant! He asked me to draw people into the store! When I was standing in front of his business, he had many more customers!"
"...Huh?"
The world wasn't completely full of lowlifes just yet.
"Oh... really?"
Lud blushed from embarrassment after realizing he had jumped to the wrong conclusion.
"Yes. But I can't afford to miss work here three days a week, so I didn't know what to say, Um... Master?"
"Uhhh... No... Um... Ah ha ha ha!"
Lud could only cover himself by laughing at Sven, who was confused.
As she watched Lud, Sven smiled.
"Master... by any chance... um... did you think that I would be someone's plaything? But... how could you?!"
Despite her words, she seemed rather pleased.
This beloved man, to whom she devoted everything, hated the thought of someone else touching her.
Sven felt the rezanium reactor inside her chest-her heart and brain-firing faster than usual.
"D-Don't worry, Master, My body and soul belong only to you, I have no intention of letting any other man touch me!"
"S-Sven..."
Her eyes wet, Sven drew close to Lud.
"In fact... if you wish... I will offer you my body."
Her cheeks were flushed, and she clasped her hands over her chest in a pose that suggested the promise to give him everything.
If only Lud had stretched out his arms...
"Hide me, Lud!!"
At that moment, Jacob appeared, throwing open the door.
As she tried to grab Jacob, her eyes looked about to overflow with tears, if she had the ability to cry.
"Jacob! Why couldn't you have waited another 30... or at least 25 minutes?!"
"Why such a specific number?"
Sven didn't know what might happened in exactly that amount of time, but she sorely regretted the missed opportunity.
"What's wrong Jacob?"
Lud was panicked by Sven's unexpected offer, and was delighted to be saved by Jacob's perfectly timed arrival.
"Just let me hide somewhere! Anywhere!"
"Um... how about in the oven? No, go to the back office!"
"Danke!"
Shortly after Jacob ran in the back, the shop door opened. "Hey! Did a snot-nosed-No, a spoiled rug rat-I mean, did a boy come in here?"
Two men dressed like gangsters-in black ties and black hats-came in.
"Gyah?! You!"
They jumped at the sight of Sven, as if she were a monster.
"Excuse me. Are you travelling entertainers or something?"
"No, you idiot!"
Their reaction looked exaggerated as if they were actors in a comedy.
Lud almost offered them some change.
"Hey, you're the thugs from yesterday."
"Oh, it was these two?"
Sven recognized the hooligans she had beaten up yesterday, and Lud finally understood why Jacob was running away.
"I'm surprised they chased him this far."
"They're persistent."
Sven and Lud whispered to each other so the men wouldn't her.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Give me the boy!! Or should we trash your shop?"
One of the thugs made as if to kick a shelf holding loaves of bread.
"If you do, I'll peel off your skin and pickle you, you pigs!!"
"Hunh?!"
The man's leg halted in midair upon hearing Sven roar.
Apparently, their fight yesterday had made more of an impression on these two than she thought.
"There's no choice, Master. I'll have to take care of them."
"No, you mustn't."
Lud restrained Sven, who was about to drive the two thugs out of the shop.
"I'll handle them. You stay inside the shop."
"But..."
"You tangled with them because you went to Saupunkt for this shop. That means the responsibility for this clash lies with me as the owner of the bakery."
Lud let Sven and Jacob show initiative, but he had pride as the shop owner, and although Sven was stronger than he was, he believed that a real man should protect women and children.
"Let's go out front and talk."
Leaving Sven inside the shop, Lud went outside with the two men.
"What should we do, Bro? He looks strong."
"You, moron! Did you forget what happened yesterday?"
The men turned their backs on Lud to confer.
"That skinny girl was demonically strong! So maybe a law is at work here where a guy who looks demonically strong, is really weak!"
"Bro! You're so smart!"
"You bet I am."
"........"
They were whispering, but Lud could hear everything.
"Excuse me?"
"What? We're still talking!"
"Well, um... I know my staff caused you some trouble yesterday, buy Jacob isn't the kind of boy to steal. There must be some kind of mistake. So would you please leave now?"
Lud tried to convince them in his earnest manner.
He believed they would understand if he looked straight into their eyes and spoke sincerely.
"Y-You... What's with that scary look?!"
"Are you an assassin?!"
However, it just alarmed them.
"Anyway, give us that snot nosed-I mean, that boy!"
"I cannot do that."
Lud replied firmly to their repeated requests to hand Jacob over to them.
"S-So you wanna fight?!"
Lud's face was so focused that it made him look even more intimidating. Despite their words, the thugs were truly scared.
"Argh! Well then, let's fight!"
As if deciding the conversation was going nowhere, the older man swung his arm and punched Lud.
A dull fump rang out, as if he had hit a tire.
"Gyaaaooow!"
After a crunching sound, like dry branches snapping, the thug screamed, clutching his bent wrist.
"You... What're you wearin' under your clothes?"
"N-Nothing."
"Don't lie! It's something really thick and hard!"
"That's just my chest..."
Lud had served on special military missions ever since he was 10 years old. Sophia, who was an expert in army fighting, had trained him after he became a Hunter Unit pilot. Now, he spent all his time performing the exhausting labor of a baker, which involved heavy lifting, so his body was covered in layers of muscle like the steel plate on an armored knight.
It made sense that the ruffian's fist, no stronger than fruit knife, would break when punching Lud's chest.
"Bro, I just realized somethin'! You said someone who seems strong might not be strong, but this ain't like that! This someone looks strong and really is strong!"
"Shut up, you lackwit! What's with this baker?!"
"I'm... sorry."
If someone apologizes with tears in his eyes, even if he was wrong, you have to wonder if you are actually to blame.
"What are you fools doing?!"
Another voice joined in.
"-!!"
The two thugs tensed.
The atmosphere suddenly grew taut.
This man possessed that much power and intimidation.
"Are you an ex-soldier? If so, you must have been through hell."
Shylock spoke.
Who is this guy?
Seeing Shylock, Lud was reminded of battle scenes.
Shylock wasn't an old man, but he had passed the prime of life.
He was a big man, but compared to Lud, an ex-soldier, it was doubtful that he had better than average physical strength.
Lud was certain of that with just one look.
He has sharp, discerning eyes... Just like a wild eagle's.
Shylock had a piercing glare. Lud had a reputation for his fierce scowl, but his was not sharp as that of the man in front of him.
His gaze was even more intimidating than Sophia's, which was called the Dragon Slayer.
Did he say I've been through hell? Was he talking about himself? If so, he must have been through hell many times.
Shylock wasn't a soldier. He was civilian, a non-combatant.
Nonetheless, he possessed the ferocity that came from experiencing agonizing life-or-death circumstances, over and over.
"I'm going in."
Shylock walked past Lud without looking at him and put his hand on the shop door.
"Wait!"
Shylock tossed something over his shoulder just as Lud spoke.
"What's this?"
It was a gold coin.
Lud was so unfamiliar with the currency that he wasn't sure of its exact value, but it was certainly worth enough to buy all the breads at Tockerbrot and still have plenty of left.
"I'm your customer. I don't care if you're an ex-soldier, but if you're a businessman, you shouldn't turn away anyone, even an enemy."
He would not permit Lud to restrain him and went inside the shop as if he wasn't interested in listening any further.
"You're..."
As Shylock went inside, his eyes met Sven's.
Lud followed in a hurry, but Shylock did not show the slightest interest in Sven, who was the main cause of yesterday's incident.
"Wait a second. Please, don't bother the boy."
As Lud finished his sentence, Shylock called out.
"Jacob? Where are you? It's you grandpa!"
Shylock's voice was unexpectedly silky and gentle, completely unlike his harsh manner earlier.
"Huh?"
"What?"
Both Lud and Sven widened their eyes in surprise.
"Sorry about before, Jacob. Your grandpa was a little frustrated. I apologize, so please come out!"
He wiped the stern expression from his face and put his full effort into a smile that wouldn't scare Jacob.
"Excuse me?"
Hesitantly, Lud spoke to Shylock, who was wandering around the shop looking for Jacob.
"What?! I'm busy right now!"
When he turned around, his glare returned and his voice was threatening. But it was impossible to feel intimidated after hearing him plead for Jacob to come to him.
"What do you mean by grandpa?"
"I am his paternal grandfather!"
"What?!"
Shylock's reply greatly surprised Lud.
It wasn't just that the frightening man Jacob had met when visiting Saupunkt turned out to be his grandfather.
This man, who claimed to be his grandfather, could tell Jacob the whereabouts of his father.
Didn't Jacob say he doesn't know his father?
When his mother was a prostitute, his father was one of her customer. Jacob had told Lud that he knew nothing more than that.
"Jacob? Come out! Look! I brought many things you might like!"
Despite Lud's confusion. Shylock continued speaking to Jacob, who was hiding somewhere in the shop.
"Hey, Poracho! Faran! Bring the presents in here!"
Shylock yelled at the thugs-Poracho and Faran-waiting outside the shop.
""Yes, Sir!!""
His two minions hurriedly brought in gift boxes of all sizes, wrapped in pretty paper and ribbons, as well as snacks piled high in a wooden box large enough to hold an adult.
"See? Your grandpa brought lots of toys and sweets for you! Come to Berun with Gramps! I'll treat you a feast!"
He had prepared all these treats to lure Jacob.
He must have bought them in neighboring communities, since a small town like Organbaelz didn't even stock such products.
"Berun... Do you intend to take Jacob to Berun?"
"I told you not to interrupt me! I'm busy right now!!"
Shylock shouted at Lud and his expression showed great frustration.
"Jacob... Please, can you say something?"
He begged this with his silken voice, but Jacob didn't reply.
I don't think Jacob will answer because he is scared, I hope he stays silent.
Lud tried not to look at the door to the office, where Jacob was hiding.
"Jacob? If you want. I'll hire a dozen pretty girls to be your private maids. Do you like big boobs? Or big butts?"
Shylock was running out of ammunition to persuade Jacob, so he stooped desperately to vulgar bribes.
"He's bribing a child with women?!"
Lud was stunned by this, but-
Rattle!
The door of the office shook, revealing Jacob's hiding place.
"Finally!"
"What?!"
Shylock and Lud both reacted to Jacob's sudden decision to give himself away.
"I found you, Jacob! Now come with Grandpa!"
"That's not fair!!"
Jacob called out angrily as Shylock tried to break open the office door.
"I... I don't get it."
Lud knew that Jacob was mature for his age, but he was still 10 years old. Lud was slightly disappointed at the thought that Jacob was persuaded by the offer of girls rather than toys and sweets.
This is no time to worry about that!
"Outsiders should stay out of our family business!"
Shylock growled murderously at Lud as he tried to stop Shylock from taking Jacob out by force.
"I'm his friend! I can't stay quiet when my friend is in trouble!"
Lud shouted back in equal measure.
"Tsk... You need another one, huh?"
With a look of disgust, Shylock reached into his pocket.
But what he withdrew wasn't a weapon. He held out another gold coin to bribe Lud to keep his mouth shut.
"I don't need that! And I don't need this, either!"Lud refused the coin and tried to return the one he had received earlier.
"Don't you understand? No one, whether he's a kid or an adult, could respond to such a sudden demand! Why don't you give him some time to think?"
Lud hated all attempts to control others by force, whether with the power of money, materials, authority or violence.
After growing up in the military, and living in war zones, he hated actions that bent another person's will.
Now, his friend Jacob was in trouble.
He had to stop it.
"Tsk..."
Shylock clicked his tongue at the determination in Lud's eyes.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
After saying this, Shylock turned to leave the shop.
"Wait! I want to give this back!"
Lud was still trying to return the gold coin.
"I'm not so low that I take back money once I let it go."
Shylock glanced around the shop.
"But, I'll take this. Keep the change."
He picked up one of the breads on the shelf and exited the shop.
"I've heard of that man somewhere."
Sven mumbled as she watched Shylock walk out.
"Phew... I'm safe now... Thanks, Lud."
Jacob thanked Lud with a relieved sigh.
"He's no ordinary man."
Lud spoke with a serious look, still staring where Shylock had just stood.
"Master?"
"Lud?"
Sven and Jacob caught their breath at the sight of Lud looking so serious.
"The bread he took was a 'boule', the best bread baked today! He's got a good eye!"
A 'boule' is a round bread whose name means "ball."
It was among the most basic breads, and its name is the origin of the word boulangerie which means "bakery", and the word boulanger means "baker."
"Lud, this is no time for joking around..."
"No, Jacob. Master is serious..."
The two spoke in amazement at how Lud was such an absurdly serious baker.
* * *
A few minutes later...
Inside Tockerbrot, after the storm had passed, Jacob sighed, looking haggard.
"Yeah, for a moment, I wasn't sure how that would end."
They caught their breath while sipping the milk tea that Sven made.
"Can you fill me in? If you don't want to, that's fine."
"I'll tell you, we're friends."
Jacob answered Lud's question with a bitter smile.
"Somehow, I am Shylock's grandson."
"But you..."
"Yes. My mother was a prostitute. I thought there was no way of knowing which her customers was my father. So I didn't ask, and she didn't tell me. But..."
Jacob hadn't asked, but Charlotte did know the father was.
"And this is the proof."
Jacob picked up the goggles that he always wore around his neck and showed them to the others as he answered.
"I noticed them before. They must have been expensive. The metal part has a thin coating and the leather is cordovan."
Cordovan is an exceedingly rare leather that can be collected only in small amounts from each horse, and is called the "jewel of leathers," Jacob's goggles were a collector's item made of high quality materials by a skilled craftsman.
"There are initials written here, S.S. It must be stand for the name of my father."
Before he realized it, he was already wearing the goggles.
His mother gave them to him when he was little, and he had worn them ever since.
"My father gave these to my mom so he would recognize me as his son... But it doesn't make sense!"
Jacob said this with a laugh, but his tone suggested confusion.
It was understandable.
When he hadn't known anything about his father, he hadn't worried about it, but now that he had discovered even a little about him, he didn't know what to think.
"That old man is the chairman of a company called Billions Trading."
"Oh!!"
Upon hearing this, Sven raised her voice.
"What's the matter, Sven?"
"I remember now! Joseph Shylock! The chairman of Billions Trading! Greedy Shylock!"
Sven had been wondering where she had seen him before, and now she remembered.
She had seen a photograph of him in a newspaper she had picked up in the waiting room of city hall, where she had gone to file papers for the bakery.
"What kind of company is Billions Trading?"
"Its main business is consignment production of weapons. It's what is sometimes called a "merchant of death."
Sven continued to explain in answer to Jacob's question.
"According to rumors, he made money through unscrupulous means during wartime. In order to secure workers, he used women, children and sometimes, illegal immigrants. And people said, he didn't pay their wages."
"Sven... wait."
Lud tried to stop Sven, who was rattling on.
"The worst of it was that he was arrested on suspicion of treason against nation before the Great War. And he paid money so he wouldn't face prosecution. Anyway, no one is as shady as he is."
"Sven, that's enough!"
Lud stopped her with a rough voice.
"Oh... I'm sorry!"
Too late, she realized why.
Jacob would be upset at learning how evil his grandfather was, even though he just met him.
"It's all right, Sven. I understand. It seems like my father must have left home for good reasons."
Jacob said this with a dry smile and gestured with his hand.
"What do you mean?"
"My father and that old man didn't get along. So my father finally left."
Unlike Shylock, Jacob's father was an honorable man. He and Shylock had fought viciously ever since his father was young, so the son had eventually moved out.
"He illegally gained a place in the military register, changed his name, and became a soldier. Then the war started and he met Mom. That's what I heard."
"Oh... Your father was quite an adventurous man himself!"
Sven said this in a voice either impressed or stunned.
Since Jacob's grandfather had been corrupt, his son had become as tough as necessary.
"That's all anyone knows about my father. There's no information about what happened after that. That's all Mom knows."
"If they could find out that much, they should also be able to discover where he is, but-Oh!"
Lud didn't continue.
If a soldier went to war and then disappeared, it could only mean one thing.
He had been killed in action, Jacob's father had very likely departed this world long ago.
"I don't know... People have given me a lot of information, so I'm confused. What should I do? Ha ha ha..."
Jacob was laughing, but it was obvious that he felt a little desperate.
The secrets surrounding his birth-his father's likely death and his grandfather's role as a merchant of death-were too heavy for a 10-year old to carry.
"Uh-oh... Seriously... What should I do?"
Jacob set his cup on the table and held his hand.
"Jacob... Um, how about your family? I mean, what does your mother say?"
"Not much. But she did say that what the old man told me was true."
Neither Lud nor Sven knew what Jacob's mother was thinking.
Perhaps she simple didn't know what to say.
"Jacob, do you want to go with Shylock?"
"No."
Jacob's answer was clear.
"That old man... As soon as he found out I was his grandson, he put on a sweet face, but I knew he's thoroughly evil to other people. I don't care if we have the same blood. I don't want to be with him."
Facing Shylock in the frightening circumstances yesterday in Saupunkt made Jacob want to stay far away from his grandfather.
"If you go with him, you can live in great luxury."
"No thank you!"
"He said he would hire pretty girls."
"To be honest, that did appeal to me somewhat, but... no."
Even the prospect of money, luxury and women didn't entice Jacob's compromise.
"I see. Well, in that case..."
Lud made a decision.
"You can stay here as long as you want."
"Huh?"
Lud's offer surprised Jacob.
"You can sleep on the floor in my room. Most meals will be leftover bread. And I want you to help in the shop. If you don't mind that, then you can stay as long as you like."
"Can I really, Lud?"
As Shylock had said, Lud was an outsider.
However, when Lud said that Jacob was his friend, those words were spoken from the heart.
"I don't mind."
Lud was a pacifist.
He didn't like trouble and wouldn't allow problems to be solved with violence.
He had tried to use words to resolve the conflict with the thugs.
He was a pacifist, but he didn't believe in peace at any price.
He would never abandon a friend in need just to avoid trouble.
"Jacob, don't underestimate my master. You know who he is."
Sven said this with a shrug of her soldiers. It wasn't clear whether she thought there was no use in trying to stop Lud or she didn't want to stop him at all.
"Um... uh..."
Jacob, who was usually a more fluent speaker than Lud, looked as if he didn't know what to say.
"Thank you."
Embarrassed, he said nothing more.
Surprisingly, when people are truly thankful, few words come from their mouths.
* * *
That very day, Lud tried to write a letter to Shylock, but in the end, it was Sven who wrote and sent it.
In summary, it read, "Jacob has no intention of going to Berun with you."
"How dare you cross me..."
Shylock was a battle-hardened businessman, so those words alone were enough for him to guess the broader situation.
The incredible fury that Shylock-his pair of underlings-fear for their lives.
"Fair enough..."
He ripped up the letter and prepared to take action.
An assault of swift decisions had been the secret to his business success.
Lud and the others soon would realize this all too well.