I was excommunicated from the Holy Knights

14 – Merchant of Bennett 4

“We’re done. This is Shylock’s mansion.”

“Ah.. right here.”

We finally arrive at our destination and get off the carriage.

At the same time, I began to think of Kim Jeong, the joy that Cazeros could not hide on his face as well as me.

It was not simply the fact that I had arrived at my destination, but the relief that I could finally rest in peace.

‘Even though it wasn’t that far on the map, it was harder than I imagined…’

Although it was a familiar route as he had visited it frequently due to several transactions, the fatigue of this journey was more than double the usual.

It was also because it came out so quickly.

The biggest reason is that we met a storm on the way.

The river bank burst due to the pouring rain.

As a result, the road became muddy.

It was a terrifying experience to think about moving while forcibly pushing the machi that wouldn’t go out.

It was fortunate that there had been no such incidents after entering Benessa.

‘I thought I’d been lucky since I was suddenly excommunicated, but it’s been this way since the beginning of the trip.

With the thought of wanting to wash my body as soon as possible, I went as it were to the butlers standing at the entrance of the mansion for some reason.

People who have visited this place several times due to past trade reasons and are familiar with their faces to some extent.

However, for some reason, their faces seemed pensive, unlike usual, and I spoke cautiously, feeling a little suspicious.

“Excuse me. Do you remember me?”

“Huh?..ah.. no. Aren’t you Mr. Santana?”

“Ohhh… It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How have you been?”

“Yeah, but not all that well.”

Fortunately, the butlers recognized me and looked welcoming.

To this, I answered with a slightly bitter smile, and went straight to the main point.

“I came to see Mr. Shylock, but is he inside?”

“Ah…no, he’s not at the moment.”

Although I felt a little disappointed that there was no one to meet, in fact, the possibility of this happening was quite high.

Shylock is a famous merchant from Bennett.

As such, he was a very busy person who often went around business partners.

In that respect, it was only natural that he was not there now that I had visited the mansion a little unexpectedly.

Yes, but since there was no case of going far when there was nothing special going on, it was normal to return home within half a day.

However, even taking that into consideration, I cautiously asked the question, feeling that something was strange from the trends of the butlers.

“Is that so? Then when can we see you? Personally, I have some urgent circumstances.”

“ha..”

“That… that… that’s it.”

The butlers let out a deep sigh before answering my question.

I began to recognize that there was something wrong with their attitude, and then cautiously questioned again.

“Why is that? Or… what is the problem?”

“..yes. I’m sorry to say this, but… ”

“Right now, the master… is imprisoned.”

“yes? That… what do you mean by that? Why is Shylock suddenly…”

The words of the butlers who bring out unexpected stories.

A deep sense of embarrassment began to settle on my face, and then the butlers, as a friend and guest of the owner, took me inside and began to tell me what was happening.

*

Benessa, one of the continent’s largest commercial cities.

In the past, as the only gateway to eastern trade through the Adriatic Sea, it was a city with a glorious past that literally swept away the wealth of the entire continent.

However, as other trade routes with the east have recently been developed, and furthermore, pagan countries located in the east have begun to show a tougher attitude, the trade that has been a source of money for Bennett has been shrinking over time.

As a result, the city’s wealth gradually decreased over the years, and naturally, Bennett’s own national power also weakened.

And this weakening of national power naturally…

In the meantime, the neighboring country that was aiming for Benessa..

It came to bring interference from the Holy Empire.

Although it has declined compared to the past, Bennessa is still a major hub for continental trade as a transportation hub and a strategic hub.

In order to obtain this place, the Holy Empire began to secretly lay down the groundwork, and in the process, they secretly dispatched a troupe to seize the commercial power of Benessa.

Against this backdrop, this incident took place.

It started three months ago.

It originated from a trade between Shylock and a merchant.

*

As usual, Shylock is working with numerous clients.

His job was basically to run the store under his command, but what accounted for a greater proportion than that was lending money to others and receiving interest.

So-called usury was his main business.

And to Shylock, a young merchant visited him because he wanted to borrow money.

A young man whose name is Anton Bassano.

He was the owner of the Grano Merchant Company, which started making a name for itself in Benessa about a year ago, and Shylock had also heard of his name.

Anton is known for being resourceful as a merchant, but quite greedy.

He said he would urgently borrow money to expand the business he was running, and in the process, he presented documents including the transaction history at the top to prove his credit.

Documents that show the fact that we are running a sound top company with no flaws in many ways.

In response, Shylock decided to lend the money to him, who had no flaws in his credit, without much doubt, and was willing to sign the document form he had prepared in advance.

And, after a while…

Shylock was given an indictment from Anton instead of the money he lent him.

The crime is attempted murder for trying to kill Anton, a Christian with Jewish status.

The cause of this incomprehensible absurd situation was the contract signed by Anton and Shylock.

A contract that is no different from any other IOU.

A certificate that Shylock will lend Anton 200 talents, and Anton will repay the loan within three months with 210 talents.

In order to proceed with the transaction, it was a contract with no major flaws, such as the value of the mortgaged items and the deadline for payment. The problem was caused by one sentence written at the end.

A sentence that promises that the above contract will be kept, and that if it is broken, Anton will offer his heart to Shylock.

The expression of giving one’s heart is an idiomatic expression that is often used among Jews to mean that they will do their best to keep their promise without fail.

Expressed in an oriental way, it was the same as saying ‘I will fulfill my promise with all my heart’, and Shylock, a Jew, naturally accepted this as simply Anton’s promise to faithfully fulfill the contract.

However.. the moment the deadline for the upper limit of the price is over.

Anton took this phrase and accused Shylock of trying to kill him, and as a result, Shylock was taken away for investigation and trial.

and. The background of this incident was the conspiracy of the Holy Empire to seize the commercial power of Bennessa by taking care of Shylock with Anton at the forefront.

Shylock, who has been regarded as a nuisance by the merchants of Benessa because of his Jewish nature, despite having a large share of the commercial district of Benessa.

From the standpoint of the Holy Empire, which was trying to expand its influence in the upper world of Benessa, there would have been no prey like this as a stepping stone to expand its influence without stimulating other merchants.

Like that, Shylock, caught in Anton’s conspiracy with the Holy Empire behind it, is imprisoned in a cold prison at this moment.

With the false accusation of attempted murder that he had no intention or intention to commit…