I Stole The Duke - Chapter 128
“If you’ll wait just a moment, I’ll separate the green beans for you. There’s quite a bit—will you be using a freight cart?”
“How much do you have in stock?”
“I’d say about fifteen sacks, each weighing 60 kilograms.”
It was too bulky to load onto the carriage they had arrived in.
“Then please call for a freight cart. Amy, give the merchant 700,000 rium.”
Eliana had grown used to dealing with figures in the millions. To her, a few hundred thousand felt like a small amount.
“Oh my! Miss, I’ll cover the cost of the freight cart!”
The merchant, having confirmed her Flencia Bank guarantee check, immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle. Not only had she cleared out his dead stock, she was clearly a VIP customer who could bring long-term profit. Free shipping was the least he could offer.
“Hey! Over here, please! No, not you—the Kantur man!”
The merchant stuffed the check into his belt pouch and hurried over to flag down a freight cart and workers who were passing near the warehouse.
“What kind of beans are those?” asked one of the knights.
“You’ll be tasting them soon enough. You can look forward to it,” Eliana replied with a bright smile.
This deal had put her in an excellent mood. Raw coffee beans at just 500 rium per kilo? That meant even if she bought ten tons, it would only cost her five million rium. The idea that this humble coffee could change the world made her smile even wider.
“Uh… right.”
The three knights still weren’t sure why their lady was buying beans by the ton, but they followed her lead.
As the merchant hummed cheerfully while sorting the beans, the Kantur worker began carrying the finished sacks onto the freight cart.
“That’s definitely Joel Terius. Which means that woman must be…”
The Kantur worker paused briefly, his eyes lingering on Joel, then drifting over to Eliana.
“What are you staring at?”
– What did you just say? I’m from Kantur. I don’t speak Imperial.
Caught by the “sailor,” the Kantur worker quickly hoisted a sack onto his back and turned away.
“We might be drawing a bit too much attention.”
It was one thing to blend in at a crowded market, but in the quieter rental warehouse district of the port, their group stood out a little too much.
“It’ll take some time to finish sorting and loading the sacks. Would you like to walk around the docks while we wait?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Eliana, honestly, had gotten a bit bored watching the repetitive sorting process.
“That ship that’s pulling in now… I believe it’s my father’s,” Joel said, his eyes fixed on the harbor.
A massive trade ship was being maneuvered in by tugboats. The faint outline of a noble crest could be seen on the central mast—barely visible but unmistakable.
“You mean Count Terius? Would it be all right if I went to greet him?”
“He would be honored, My Lady.”
Eliana was pleased to have the chance to meet Count Terius earlier than expected.
“Once the goods are sorted, have them delivered to the Mikkelsen estate,” said Sir Roanes, setting the delivery destination to his own home for security reasons.
“Oh! So, you’re a noble from the Mikkelsen family? Yes, of course!”
“When the rest of the order arrives, send word to the Mikkelsen estate.”
With that final instruction, Roanes turned and jogged toward the waiting carriage.
“That group placed a follow-up order for those beans?” asked the Kantur worker, still watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
“Uh… yeah, they did.”
“Then I’d like to help bring in those beans. If you’ll let me bring in my relatives as dockworkers, I’ll give you the beans for free.”
“Have you lost your mind? If you’re trying to run a scam, do it somewhere else.”
The merchant snorted, unimpressed. He’d dealt with enough con artists to recognize a suspicious offer when he heard one. There are no such thing as free beans. No sane person would do a deal where they took a total loss—unless they had another motive.
“Life’s not easy in Kantur, is it?”
“You’ve got that right.”
“I’m planning to rent a small boat and bring over some family members.”
“And?”
So, there was another motive. The merchant, ears pricked, started listening a little more carefully.
“As you probably know, the crackdown on illegal immigration has gotten worse lately.”
“Yeah… that’s true.”
“So, if I load the beans onto a small ship and disguise my family as sailors and merchants, we should be able to slip through unnoticed.”
“Please wait a moment; I’ll pack only the green beans separately for you. There’s quite a quantity—will you be using a freight cart?”
“How much do you have in stock?”
“About fifteen 60kg sacks.”
The volume was too large to fit in their current carriage.
“Then please arrange for a freight cart. Amy, give the merchant 700,000 rium.”
Eliana had grown accustomed to dealing in millions; amounts in the hundred-thousand range now seemed modest.
“Oh, esteemed customer! I’ll cover the freight cart expenses!”
Upon verifying the Flencia Bank’s certified check, the merchant bowed deeply. Clearing out unsellable stock and securing a valuable customer warranted free delivery.
“Excuse me! Over here! You, my fellow Kanturian!”
The merchant quickly called over a passing freight cart and workers near the warehouse.
“What are these beans?”
“You’ll soon find out. You’re in for a treat.”LinkedIn
Eliana was delighted with the deal. At just 500 rium per kilogram, even purchasing 10 tons would only cost 5 million rium. She smiled, envisioning how this affordable coffee could transform the world.
“Ah… I see.”
The three knights were puzzled by their lady’s bulk purchase of beans.
The merchant cheerfully sorted the beans, while the Kanturian laborer began loading the selected sacks onto the freight cart.
“That’s definitely Joel Terius. Then that woman must be…”
The Kanturian laborer glanced at Joel, then scrutinized Eliana.
“What are you staring at?”
-
- What did you say? I’m Kanturian. I don’t understand the Imperial language.
Caught by the sailor while observing Eliana, the laborer quickly hoisted a sack onto his shoulder.
“We seem to be drawing some attention.”
In a bustling market, they might blend in, but in the port’s warehouse district, their group stood out.
“Sorting and loading will take some time. Shall we tour the docks?”
“Excellent idea.”
Eliana was beginning to tire of watching the repetitive tasks.
“That incoming ship… I believe it’s my father’s.”
As Eliana turned, Joel observed the massive merchant ship being guided by a tugboat. The family’s crest on the central sail was faintly visible.
“Is that Count Terius’s ship? May I greet him?”
“My father would be honored.”
Eliana was pleased to have the opportunity to meet Count Terius earlier than expected.
“Once the goods are sorted, send them to the Mikkelsen estate.”
For security reasons, Roanes designated his home as the delivery address.
“Ah, you’re a noble of the Mikkelsen family? Understood!”
“When the additional order arrives, contact the Mikkelsen estate.”
Roanes left this final instruction before heading to the waiting carriage.
“They placed an additional order for these beans?”
The Kanturian laborer watched the departing carriage.
“Yes, they did.”
“I’ll arrange a ship to bring more beans. In return, please introduce my relatives to local merchants. As you know, after three years of labor in the Empire, one can afford a house in Kantur.”
“I can’t guarantee employment. Just introductions?”
The merchant wasn’t concerned about Flencia’s law enforcement. It seemed like a profitable deal. If the beans didn’t arrive, he could simply delay introductions.
“Thank you!”
“Ensure the goods are of good quality. Prepare extra to account for any spoilage.”
“Of course.”
The laborer bowed to the merchant and resumed carrying the packed sacks.
A massive galleon was being guided closer to the dock by a small tugboat.
“Ah, it’s a Terius family ship.”
“Too bad.”
Upon recognizing the crest, the dockworkers dispersed, disappointed.
“Joel, why do the workers dislike Terius ships?”
“Our family handles all unloading with our own employees. We don’t hire dock laborers.”
Given the high value of their cargo, it was a necessary precaution.
“I understand.”
Eliana nodded, watching the approaching ship. Sailors atop the towering yards were diligently furling the sails.
“Heave-ho!”
While freelancers had dispersed, the port’s regular staff remained busy, signaling the tugboat and positioning a large movable staircase.
Thud!
The ship’s side met the staircase.
“Father.”
Joel’s eyes widened upon recognizing his father from afar.
“That must be Count Terius.”
As the man in the captain’s hat descended the staircase, Eliana instinctively stepped back, clutching Ista’s sleeve.
“Oh my.”
Amy, equally startled, hid behind Roanes.
“Yes, that’s my father.”
“Indeed, Count Terius.”
Eliana and Amy were visibly pale, while the three knights remained composed.
“Really?”
Eliana suddenly longed for Michalis. This man was the most intimidating person she had ever seen. She felt the need for her husband’s protective presence.
“Father! Welcome back!”
“Joel! How did you know to come greet me?!”
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