Chapter 14
"Keep an eye on the sides," Yjhan instructed. He was walking in front of the head merchant.
Nash assumed it was only one merchant, but it is a bunch of merchants from different towns and villages. Nash and Aeries were walking side by side. Kane and Idris are trailing the merchants from behind, while Jaxael walks alone on the other side.
They entered the Imperial city without incident until they reached the warehouse. When they arrive at the warehouse, there are numerous trading carriages waiting for the merchants to trade their supplies to them.
Squad 15 assisted the merchants in transporting the products and supplies into the warehouse. It was chaotic because some merchants were competing over items that they lacked.
Everything is going well, not until a member of the merchants they're accompanying becomes involved in the fights between the other merchants.
"These goods are not for trade! This one is solely for the Imperial city!" The merchant Grol said, a member of the merchant they're accompanying.
"We, too, are a part of the empire! So please give us some!" Traders began stealing products from merchants.
"Wait! Stop!" A merchant shouted.
But no one listened.
Nash ran toward their leader, "Aren't we going to do something?"
"They won't budge since their business is at stake," Yjhan continued to carry the goods inside the warehouse.
Nash bites her lips and cracks her knuckles in frustration. She is becoming enraged at how the traders stole from the merchants who worked hard only to transport products from various places.
Nash wore her hood because she was afraid her white hair might show. As she turned her head, she noticed Kane staring at her. "What's the matter?"
Kane shrugged his head and went about his business.
'Weird.'
Nash shrugged and turned again, seeing a trader carrying a stone and racing towards a merchant battling with another trader. Nash rushes up to the trader and kicks his hand. The businessman was stunned as the stone fell.
Nash takes a deep breath and shouts as loudly as she can. "EVERYONE FUCKING STOP!"
Everyone in the warehouse is staring at her, and Nash is so surprised that she curses that she covers her lips. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to curse haha."
"Ehem, anyways, please make room for us. We're currently storing goods so PLEASE stop causing us problems. If you have any complaints about your trading, please direct them to the guilds, as they are the ones who should be supervising you."
'The hell's wrong with the guilds? As far as I know trading always happened in the empire.'
"Huh? You're only a knight! What do you know?!"
"Exactly as you said, sir. I am a knight, and what should I, a knight, know?" Nash showed her sword, flexing it. "I may be thin, but I do know how to wield a swords"
"What's with the commotion?!" A foreman suddenly arrives, witnessing the fights between merchants and traders.
"Where are the goods and supplies that were supposed to be traded to us!?" The foreman comes to a halt.
"U...uhm... the goods will be here shortly," the foreman was about to leave when he was stopped by a trader who grabbed his shoulder.
""I believe there is an issue here, sir. You should be aware of what is going on in the warehouse, given how crucial trade is to us. The guild informed us that the commodities are here to be traded, thus you, foreman, should be aware of their whereabouts. Don't tell me it's a fraud?"
Nash's brows furrowed. When she had finally calmed down, she removed her hood.
Is the foreman embezzling goods? There's no way the goods are lacking as the goods should be complete and as far as I know, the traders should have a list of the goods.
"No. wait. I'll call my master,"
The merchants concluded their work as the traders and the supervisor discussed. They have finished repairing their carriage and are ready to depart.
Nash looked at the trader who was in charge of the other traders. "I apologize for cursing earlier."
"No. It's alright. We apologized as well." He patted Nash's shoulder.
"If the items for which you are meant to trade are still not present. You can check their ledgers to see whether it is strange. I'm sure you have the authority to check it because you have the list. If the things on your list do not balance with theirs, you can notify your guild. Embezzlement is most likely. If it is embezzlement, then you can charge them with embezzlement and fraud."
She bid her farewell and returned to her post. She put on her hood.
"I had no idea you were that short-tempered," Aeries said.
"I know, I hate how short-tempered I am."
...
"Thank you for guiding us! We'll get going now!" The merchants bid their farewell as the knight unit arrived to guide them to the other countries.
Following their task, they travel to the Imperial Palace to meet the Knight Commander who assigns them the mission.
Nash lowers her head as she walks along the Imperial Palace's walkway.
"Are you sick?" Aidan asked as he wrapped his arm around Nash's shoulder.
"I'm fine. Your arm is too heavy," she slapped Aidan's arm.
They entered the palace to go to the Knight Commander's office, Vincenzo's office. To avoid any interruption inside the main palace, the head of the knight's office is placed in a separate palace building.
'Thank the highest that this place is not the main castle.'
"Greetings to Her Highness, the Imperial Princess, Celeste" Nash looked up and saw her sister who's out for a walk. Celeste lifted her brows in admiration as she gazed at Yjhan.
'What the hell?'
"Raise your heads, I suppose you're heading to my brother's office?" She asked Yjhan.
'What the hell, sister?'
She hid the shame inside her as she heard her sister's cutesy voice
"Yes, your highness. We've finished our mission so we're about to report what happened," Yjhan answered respectfully.
Nash glares at her sister and her sister notices it. "Oh, I see you have a girl member."
Nash bowed her head in respect. "I, Nash, greet her highness, Celeste."
"Raise your head."
Celeste gave Nash a long look before smiling. "You may proceed; I apologize for obstructing your path."
"It's alright, your highness. We'll get going then."
They bowed one more time before proceeding to the Knight Commander's office.
Celeste looked at their retreating figure, '"what's the name of that guy with red hair?"'
"Pft," They looked at Nash in sync. "Oh... ehem!"
Celeste is having a conversation with Nash through their mind.
'"HAHAHA I knew it. The way you stare at our leader is sticky."'
'"What do you mean by sticky!? Just tell me his name!"'
'"Yjhan."'
'"Okay."'
After a few walks, they arrived at the office.
"Please tell me your purpose," says the guard stationed outside the office of the Knight Commander.
"We're coming to report on the mission."
"Only the leader is permitted to enter." Yjhan nodded and entered the office.
While they waited for their leader, Nash leaned against the wall. The wall is soundproof, so you won't be able to hear anything they were saying outside.
After nearly 30 minutes, Yjhan left the room with Vincenzo, the Knight Commander. They raise their hands in salute to the Knight Commander. Vincenzo nodded, and they lowered their hands.
"You did well. For the money, I'll have a guard bring it to you later. I expect that whatever happened earlier will not happen again the next time."
"Yes, sir. We apologize."
"You may go."
"Is it my fault?" Nash asked Yjhan.
"No. It's not that," Nash nodded.
Nash was about to turn around to tease her brother by tucking her tongue out, but before it happened, Aidan wrapped his arm around Nash again and walked beside her.
Vincenzo's brows furrowed.
Nash kicked Aidan in the buttocks. "I told you many times already that your arm is heavy!"
Nash walked faster and walked beside Jaxael. When they got to their inn, Nash went to her room to shower.
...
"What did the Knight Commander say?" Aeris asked Yjhan.
"What happened during the mission," Yjhan answered.
"Then what took you so long?" Idris asked.
"We talked about other things,"
"Like?"
Yjhan glared at Idris.
"Oh! I have to go out now! Bye bye!" Idris runs outside the inn.
Yjhan sat on the couch, staring up at the spider webs on the ceiling.
'What did I just heard?'