"Hey, knight Aiden, knight Ajax." Tristan looked at his two knights standing on his right and left. "Can you guess why the merchant wants to see me?"
Tristan is a king, but in his previous life, he was a commoner. He still had a fear of dealing with rich people.
Even though he never had a problem with them, he often saw his co-workers being cursed at and dismissed disrespectfully by their boss.
Some of them were even having difficulty finding work elsewhere, since their bosses had told their acquaintances about what they had done.
He tried hard not to make mistakes, which made his life unpleasant. He couldn't be satisfied, even when he received his salary and ate well.
He had no idea why he had such a fierce and toxic boss, and he was amazed that he had been able to work there for so long.
Tristan should be proud that he can work under pressure.
Compared with the current situation, the system also pressured Tristan to obey its orders.
So Tristan shouldn't be stressed because of the duties of the system or the problems that befell the kingdom.
"We don't know, Your Majesty. We can't guess why he wants to meet you," said knight Aiden.
Tristan scratched his head. If he had asked his two knights their opinion on whether he should receive the merchant as his guest or not, they would have answered that he was your guest, Your Majesty.
That was right, the two knights would say that after they showed confused faces.
They couldn't understand the uneasy feeling that Tristan was feeling, and they also wouldn't express their opinion if, deep down in their hearts, they had feelings of suspicion towards the merchant.
"A person who is having a conflict with many people finds someone in an important position who can help him," muttered Tristan. He was not stupid, he knew what the merchant's true goal was.
Tristan decided to welcome the merchant to his throne room. After all, he had no important reason to refuse—he had already finished reading all the roll of papers from his people and the reports from the ministers—and he would find out whether his guess was correct.
"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty." The merchant bowed to his king. "Thank you for allowing me, a commoner, to enter your throne room, Your Majesty."
Tristan wanted to laugh. The merchant did not come from a noble family, but with his wealth and how well-known all the businesses he owned were, his position was almost equivalent to that of a noble.
"I don't like small talk. Tell me what brings you to me." Tristan sat up straight. He was a little nervous.
"You certainly know who I am," said Mr. Baron, his gaze fixed directly on his king, who sat on a gold-dust-covered throne. "The farmers told you about what had occurred to them. Then I heard you propose that they sell their plantations to me."
Tristan nodded. "You heard that right."
"I'm glad you're giving such advice to farmers." Mr. Baron looked at his king with teary eyes.
"For the past year, I've been begging farmers to sell their plantation lands to me. I don't even care if my wealth run out. I offered a high price for their plantations, and the price increased month after month."
Mr. Baron took a deep breath with his shoulders drooping limply. "I don't know how to get them to sell their plantation lands to me. I almost gave up, and then I got the urge to keep fighting until I got the plantations because of you, Your Majesty."
Tristan glanced at a man standing behind Mr Baron. At first, he didn't see the man. Mr. Baron's large and tall body had hidden the presence of his subordinate.
"I am not doing anything." Tristan shook his head. "The farmers did not listen to what I said. They are angry with me."
"On behalf of the farmers, I apologize to you, Your Majesty. You shouldn't deal with my problems and theirs," said the merchant as he bowed to his king.
"I'm used to dealing with my people's problems." Tristan said it casually. But the problem gave him a headache, and he regretted giving his opinion because he got a penalty. He failed to enjoy the special rewards from the system.
"I have a gift for you as my thanks to you." Mr. Baron took a small box from his subordinate's hand, and when he wanted to give it to the king, the king's two knights immediately prevented him from approaching the king.
"I've done nothing to deserve a gift from you, and I can't accept anything from my people," Tristan said.
Tristan's guess was very correct. If he accepted a gift from Mr. Baron, it meant he had accepted a bribe. He must not show his partiality, he must be in a neutral position, even though he has already interfered in the problems of the farmers and Mr. Baron.
"You have kept me fighting until the farmers wanted to sell their plantation lands to me," said Mr. Baron. Sadness was clear in his eyes, and his hand holding the small box was directed at his king.
"I also apologize to you because I have not been able to resolve my problem with the farmers, which caused the farmers to ask for your help through the roll of paper," said Mr. Baron. He would not return home until his king received his gift.
Tristan narrowed his eyes. He tried to guess what was inside the small black box that seemed to only be able to store 10 gold coins and two gold bars.
He would not be imprisoned if he accepted gifts from his people, but the news would spread widely, especially since Mr. Baron was having problems with the twenty farmers who had come to his palace this morning.
However, Tristan was curious. He failed to get a special reward. If he received a gift from Mr. Baron, he would consider it a substitute for a special reward from the system.
"What is that? I want to know what gift you gave me before deciding whether to accept it," Tristan stated. "If you have any objections, give the gift to someone else who will accept it."
The merchant stared at the small black box in his hands, his king, and the two knights standing in front of him. It was a gift for the king, the gift was secret. He would love it if the king opened the little black box when he was alone.
"I'm giving you a gift in the form of a signed agreement," Mr. Baron said. "I'll waive your room rental fees at my inn for the rest of your life." He looked at the two king's knights, who were shocked.
The gift did not match Tristan's expectations. "Are you sure those farmers will sell their plantation lands to you?"
"I am very sure, Your Majesty. I have a good feeling. I just need to wait a little longer." Determination and confidence shone in the merchant's eyes.
If that was the case, as a precaution, Tristan should discuss importing vegetables and fruit with the trade minister.
"Will you accept, Your Majesty?" Mr. Baron looked at his king with a pleading look.
"I will accept it, but remember carefully, I will not interfere with you and the farmers' problems again." Tristan said it firmly. He would disregard the merchant if he asked Tristan to order the farmers to sell their plantation lands.
[Congratulations on getting the reward.]
"What?" Tristan was shocked.