Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Confrontation Between Two Sides

In Hopeland City, the Helius family resided in the wealthy district on the west side. This area was originally inhabited by nobles, but after the Commercial Alliance gained independence, it became a gathering place for the city’s wealthiest merchants.

The Callites商会, on the other hand, was located in the northern middle part of the city. As a new rising star, with little vacant land left in the west, Angus had bought a large piece of land in the north-central area for the商会 headquarters at that time.

The Nisus family was situated in the east. Although this area wasn’t considered affluent, it held special significance for them. The ancestors of the Nisus family were fruit vendors, and they had settled in Hopeland by purchasing their first home here. Even as the family prospered, they never moved away from this location.

Currently, the distribution of power within the city was as follows: the three families on the west side—Anemias, Helius, and Tisiphone; the Callites商会 in the central-north; and the Nisus family in the east.

The city gates and walls to the west, north, and east were sealed off by Anemias, Tisiphone, and Nisus families, leaving the Helius and Callites商会 trapped inside. Due to the proximity of the Helius family to the other two families, their situation was particularly dire.

The once spacious and tidy streets were now completely transformed. Scattered debris lay across the green stone bricks, with wooden crates and barricades set up in the middle of the streets, blocking passage. Crowds stood on both sides of the streets, holding torches, wearing armor, and wielding weapons, facing each other.

Under the flickering light of the torches, these faces were so familiar, all employees of major trading companies, often bumping into each other due to their close proximity. Perhaps just a few days ago, they had drunk together, chatted together, and boasted together in the taverns.

If not for this sudden unexpected event, no one would have imagined that tonight they would be confronting each other with weapons. The complex emotions within their hearts could only be understood by themselves.

The benefits and stability provided by major trading companies were far superior to those of smaller ones. Thus, over time, many generations worked for the same company. For example, when the grandfather retired, the son took over, and when the son aged, the grandson took over. Some positions even became hereditary.

Take the gardeners of the Anemias family as an example; their ancestors had been serving as gardeners for three generations. They grew up interacting with other members of the trading company, and their forefathers and fathers had also worked within the company, making them very familiar with each other.

In this era, the accumulation and inheritance of experience were crucial. Passing skills down through generations was much stronger than those who switched careers midway. Therefore, these veteran employees and core members were the backbone of major trading companies, trusted advisors to successive family heads.

Major trading companies were no longer merely profit-driven organizations; they were more like a cohesive unit, with deep-rooted traditions and loyalty among their members.

The group benefited greatly from this, which was why these employees were so loyal, to the extent that even if asked to fight with knives and guns, they would not object, as their own interests were closely tied to those of the chamber of commerce.

To cut off someone’s source of income is like killing their parents, let alone something as severe as destroying their homes and families.

However, given that both sides knew each other, under the inertia of the past, it was still difficult for them to suddenly engage in a life-or-death struggle.

The fire basin supported by wooden poles burned brightly, occasionally emitting the sound of sparks bursting. Both sides questioned and cursed each other.

A significant portion of Tisiphone’s people had gone to the northern city gate and walls, so most of those confronting Helios on the west side were from the Anemii family. Even the lower-level employees were somewhat bewildered; how had they suddenly ended up fighting each other?

Helios could claim self-defense, but Anemii was quite perplexed.

At this moment, several messengers rode through the crowd and arrived at the street corner where the confrontation was taking place. Each messenger wore badges representing the three families and were formed by a joint effort of the three. They held documents and proclamations, then loudly read out:

“Residents of Hope Lane, an instruction has been issued by the General Assembly of the Vergha Commercial Alliance. The Helios family and the Karyates Chamber of Commerce have colluded to rebel against the West Wind. Their intention is treason.

Now, the Tisiphone Chamber of Commerce, the Anemii Chamber of Commerce, and the Nisos Chamber of Commerce are granted special authority to assist the Hope Lane Branch in capturing the traitors from the Helios family and the Karyates family.

However, considering that many employees of the two chambers of commerce were unaware of this collusion, hereby declared, those who lay down their weapons and do not participate in this rebellion will be pardoned for their offenses, their families spared, and past actions overlooked.

If they persist in their stubbornness and continue to resist, they shall be executed without mercy!”

The loud voice echoed far into the night. It was silent all around, and only after the proclamation was read did the murmurs gradually resume.

“I told you, it must be them causing trouble. Otherwise, why would Lord Noys summon us all so suddenly?” said one of Anemii’s guards.

“I really don’t understand what Helios is thinking, collaborating with the rebels in the north. Don’t they realize that even now, Vergha is still nominally a vassal state of the West Wind?”

“Who knows? I just want this to end quickly so I can go home and sleep. This night is too cold.”

“Oh, I wonder if the chamber of commerce will pay us more for standing here with guns all night. My wife just gave birth again.”

“You’re really something. This is your third one, right?”

“Of course, I’m the best.”

After hearing this, the Anemii family felt reassured and even began chatting. In their view, the General Assembly’s order and the joint action of the three families put them on the moral high ground, and it was only a matter of time before the opposing side would surrender.

The members of the Helius family across from them also began to waver as expected. After all, treason was too heavy a burden for ordinary people to bear. Their gaze towards the other side was no longer as resolute and fearless as before.

Some members of the Anemii family started to persuade George to surrender.

“George, stop standing there like an idiot. Come over quickly. I’ll talk to the manager about your situation and make sure nothing happens to you. You still owe me money, who am I going to collect it from if you’re gone?”

“Yes, George, come over quickly. Don’t you think about your mother and younger sister? They rely on you to support the family. What will they do if you’re gone? I still want you to be my brother-in-law.”

A young archer from the Helius family stood under the fire basin, hesitating. The person beside him wanted to say something, but after some thought, he just sighed and remained silent. With their own lives at risk, what right did they have to persuade others? They were all uncertain themselves.

If the Helius family truly fell, where would they go in the future? Who didn’t have something to hold onto, who didn’t want to live?

George turned his back and leaned against a large wooden crate, his emotions surging. His grandfather had been an old employee of the Helius family, and his father, due to youthful indiscretions, never worked for the guild. Even after getting married and having children, he continued this pattern until he died in a street fight while drunk a few years ago.

Last year, before retiring, his grandfather asked the butler to let him take over his position in the guild. Out of old affection, the butler agreed, allowing George to lead a life better than his peers, which made him feel grateful and proud.

After joining the guild, the butler took good care of him. He even had the chance to meet Miss Meilu, who praised his archery skills, making him proud for a long time. But now, they were asking him to become a traitor and leave the Helius family. This was something he couldn’t accept.

Just as he closed his eyes, hesitating, the sound of urgent horse hooves echoed from the other end of the street. It was a small group of mounted messengers, each wearing badges with night flowers and camellias on their chests. They held up documents with black ink clearly writing out the declaration, sealed with a crimson stamp.

“Citizens of the Veregha Alliance, we are now at a critical juncture. Tisiphone, Anemii, and Nisos, three guilds, have colluded with the Verdant Empire, intending to use Hope Lane as a stepping stone to land imperial troops and invade, destroying the Seven Snow Nations.

To break this evil and insane plot, citizens within the city, assist us Helius and Kallistes to eliminate the wicked, defeat these rebellious evildoers.

In accordance with the ancient alliance among the Seven Nations, long live the Snow Union!”

Thank you to xFrostyFeetx for the tip ~

(End of Chapter)