Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

"First of all, why don't the two of you take a seat?" The man who seemed to be the leader of this secret society of merchants gestured at the two open chairs at the table.

Derot and Zach glanced at each other. They remained standing.

"Alright." The society leader shrugged indifferently.

"The seven of us have gathered here because there's one thing that we all share."

"What's that?" Zach knew the society leader wanted to dictate the conversation by making them ask the questions to his statements. He could stay silent like Derot and make the society leader talk on his own. But he didn't want to waste any more time. He wanted to learn more about Mandra now that he had seen the secret society.

"All of us managed to make some kind of deal with the Imperial Palace within a year of our official entry to the capital."

"Congrats." Zach's dull and insincere congratulations earned him a few sharp glares from a few of the others around the table. He ignored that, as did the society leader.

"So, if we manage to do the same, you will stop interfering with our business and allow our entry to this secret society of yours?" Derot asked, getting to the point.

"Yes." The society leader also stopped beating around the bush and acknowledged Derot's guess.

Derot looked at the society leader and the other members in silence. They were all impressive merchants, no doubt about it. He recognized a few of them. He could also guess who the society leader was. If it was the man Derot suspected, he was the only one truly worthy of respect.

The others were impressive for growing their businesses to the point of making some kind of deal with the Imperial Palace. But they grew their businesses in a year after entering the capital.

They didn't start from scratch in the capital. And they didn't soar high into the skies in that one year. It was understandable they didn't want other newcomers to intrude on what little slices of pie they had of the market in the capital.

But the society leader…He should have no reason to worry about upstarts, no matter how successful or promising they were.

"Vitigor?" Derot asked.

Vitigor nodded in confirmation.

He was one of the few merchants who could be said to stand at the top of the market world in the capital. No grain, gold, or bottle of ink passed through the gates of the city without him being able to have a say in it if he wished. His hands of influence reached long and far.

He wasn't the only merchant with that kind of influence in the capital since the imperial family who ruled the city promoted healthy competition and the growth of new merchants when necessary.

"Why go to the trouble of interfering with our business?" Derot asked with a frown.

Someone with Vitigor's level of power and influence wouldn't need to fear them.

"First, let me correct you. It was no trouble at all. I didn't even have to say so much as a word and your business almost ended before it could take off. Of course, it happened because I allowed it. Why?

"Because it's healthy."

"Healthy?" Derot questioned.

Vitigor nodded.

"Don't you feel it yourself? You're a much better merchant now than you were five months ago. You have much better control over your skills, your money, your subordinates, and your business.

"Even if I hadn't allowed it and let you soar freely into the skies of the capital, you would have sooner or later come crashing down. I could tell from personal experience that while you were talented, you didn't have the experience to succeed in the capital. You're not the first, and you won't be the last.

"If you ask me, stumbling at the start is better than crashing and burning later on." Vitigor shrugged nonchalantly.

"..." Derot looked at Vitigor in silence. He had to admit that he was a better merchant now than he had been five months ago. Vitigor might even be right about his fate if he hadn't faced any obstructions in the beginning.

That didn't mean Derot liked it. He felt small. He felt like a pawn in someone else's game. Powerless. He didn't like it.

Unfortunately, he was still powerless.

"Alright. As long as you don't get in our way anymore, we'll surely secure a deal with the imperial palace." Derot scoffed and boldly promised their future success. He was going to prove to Vitigor and the others that they had made a mistake by getting in his way.

Vitigor answered with a smile. Not a word was spoken as Derot and Zach turned around and left. As they did so, Mandra took down the light orb, sinking the merchants into darkness again. Then, when they had left the room and closed the door behind them, she flashed the merchants with a bright light that was just shy of being enough to blind them.

Vitigor held up his hand and stopped his guards from pursuing Zach's group. He did not want a fight.

Zach and Derot were young and emotional. They needed to let off some steam. Since Vitigor was the one who had tightened the valve, it was only right they let it off on him and the merchants who assisted him.

Vitigor had to admit that with Zach's strength, they would probably have made it pretty far in the capital still. But Zach was just one man, and if Vitigor's read on Zach was accurate in any way, it was that Zach wouldn't stay in the capital for long. He would finish his education and then wander around doing whatever he wanted.

Derot would still have Zach's backing, but it might be too late by the time Zach heard about any trouble.

So, it had been the right decision to push down the guild and Derot. It was so that they could leap up higher.
Enjoy new adventures from empire

Outside, Derot awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. He had taken charge back there.

"Sorry. I said we were going to secure a deal with the Imperial Palace even after what I said before, and without a plan."

"Oh, there's no need for you to worry, Derot. Let me handle this one." Zach smiled reassuringly as he patted Derot on the shoulder.