The Merchant and Tavern Master

Accusation

"Have a seat," I coldly instructed, indifferent to whether Sir Geoffrey complied or not. The tavern master nodded in acknowledgment and silently departed.

"W-What do you want?" Sir Geoffrey asked awkwardly, his voice betraying a hint of panic that he attempted to suppress.

"Nothing, really. I simply desire a companion to discuss Cordelia," I replied calmly.

Sir Geoffrey's eyes widened in alarm, but he made an effort to maintain his composure.

"I... I don't know anything about it," he stammered.

"No, no, I'm not insinuating anything," I assured him. "You see, it is thanks to you that I was able to meet Cordelia in the first place."

"Then why did you come here? What is the meaning of this invitation letter? Are you playing a prank on me?!" Sir Geoffrey grew increasingly agitated.

"Cordelia divulged everything she knew about you, and I thought I could offer some assistance." I reached into my bag and produced a pouch containing a certain item.

"This is the Gryphon's Potentius Elixir. It is believed to possess the power to remedy manhood problems, you see."

Sir Geoffrey's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that true?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I cannot say for certain, as I have never experienced such a problem myself. It is truly unfortunate if one's manhood fails to rise to the occasion when needed, wouldn't you agree?" I deliberately spoke with a mocking tone, emphasizing his perceived weakness.

He seemed uncertain about how to respond. "I... I don't understand what you're insinuating... I... I don't know anything..."

"To be frank, Sir Geoffrey, I suspect you to be the culprit behind Cordelia's murder. My suspicions stem from the fact that while evidence points to an attempted rape on her, there are no visible signs of such a heinous act happened to her body. The examiner has definitively ruled out burglary as the motive. While it is plausible that someone else may have harbored ill intentions towards her, the likelihood is slim. Cordelia enjoyed high regard among the patrons who frequented her, oblivious to the painful experiences she endured in her past."

I paused a bit to take a deep breath, calming myself.

"It has been said that the murderer of Cordelia attempted to rape her but refrained, possibly due to the fear of a witness. However, I believe the true reason lies in the perpetrator's inability to wield his manhood. How pitiful and pathetic, wouldn't you agree, Sir?" I continued.

This individual doesn't appear to be particularly astute. Despite being a merchant, his emotions seem easily swayed, evident from his gestures and demeanor.

"But that is merely my speculation, and I don't have any proof. The examiner also confirmed that they will not be able to capture you only by a mere speculation" I continued, my voice tinged with resignation. "Even if I accuse you now, I understand that it may never lead to your capture and punishment. I have come to terms with that. What I truly seek is an understanding. Why did you have to take her life?"

Sir Geoffrey's response was hauntingly silent, his head bowed in a display of remorse. A chilling laughter escaped his lips, a sound devoid of joy or sanity. It sent shivers down my spine, for in that moment, I glimpsed the depths of darkness that consumed him.

"I see," he whispered, his voice laden with a mix of relief and derangement. "So I am safe... I am... safe..."

I was taken aback by the calmness that washed over me at that moment. Despite the anger and rage boiling within, I knew that merely striking him wouldn't satisfy the depths of my fury.

"So, you admit it, Sir Geoffrey? You are Cordelia's murderer?" I questioned, my voice steady and firm.

In a sudden outburst, his spirit seemed to return as he shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and possession. "That whore! She should have understood that I was the one who freed her from the wretched confines of that brothel. Her freedom belonged to me! How dare she choose to give herself to another man! "

"Cordelia was never your possession, Sir Geoffrey," I firmly asserted, refuting his claim. "I understand that your manhood rendered you unable to physically engage with her, but you were captivated by her allure nonetheless. That is why you chose to purchase her freedom, despite the significant cost it incurred. However, even after she was liberated, you couldn't bear the thought of losing her. Your desire to possess her persisted, driven by your frustration over your inability to physically connect with her."

"That's precisely why you recommended her to the Pixie Blessing tavern, to maintain a watchful eye over her. Cordelia was unaware of this, since you said to her that the price you paid for her freedom was her silence, nothing more. She fulfilled her debt to you faithfully, until the day she witnessed you tell lies about her to me." I continued, exposing the extent of Sir Geoffrey's deception.

His eyes burned with a fervent intensity as he tried to make me understand his view. "Takahiko, as a fellow merchant, surely you can comprehend the desire to protect one's goods. If they were to be stolen, what lengths would you go to prevent such events? I would rather see my goods destroyed than in the hands of another!"

I comprehend that sentiment. I, too, have carried a small quantity of Dragonstone Orbs to ensure the destruction of my goods in the event they are robbed by bandits or thieves. I refuse to grant them the satisfaction of successfully seizing my valuable merchandise, even if it means risking my own life. Many of my fellow emerging merchants have adopted similar practices, driven by an emotional impulse rather than a purely rational decision.

"You are mistaken about one thing. Cordelia is not a commodity to be bought and sold. Your previous words suggested that you had purchased her, which would be a direct violation of the kingdom's laws against slavery. It is strictly prohibited to trade humans, elves, dwarves, or any sentient beings as property."

"What do I care? Such legalities are mere sophistry from the kingdom!" Sir Geoffrey retorted, his voice filled with defiance. "Besides, even the kingdom benefits from collecting taxes from those brothels who purchased their courtesans!"

Sir Geoffrey appeared oblivious to the government's motive for imposing high taxes on brothels. The king, while desiring to eliminate these establishments, faced challenges due to their substantial patronage. Instead, he resorted to implementing stringent regulations as a gradual approach towards closing them. This decision stemmed from the king's strong aversion to the commerce of living people, particularly children. The enactment of severe punishments under the new law further reflected the king's intention. The moment a brothel is found to be involved in the procurement of children, swift and decisive action will be taken to dismantle and eliminate the establishment.

"So, let me confirm once more: You are confessing to the murder of Cordelia, and you admit that you obtained her freedom in exchange for her servitude, essentially engaging in the purchase of a human being. Furthermore, you hold the belief that the kingdom's policies regarding taxation on brothels are absurd. Is that correct?" I calmly summarized Sir Geoffrey's statements, piercing him with a steady gaze.

His response was laced with arrogance and defiance. "And if it is? What are you planning to do about it, huh?" he retorted, a smug smile playing on his lips, convinced of his supposed victory.

"And there you have it, Sir," I spoke, directing my words to a different direction, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Sir Geoffrey.

"What are you talking about?" Sir Geoffrey asked, clearly perplexed by my response.

Emerging from the dark corner of the small tavern, a figure appeared. It was the gnome scribe officer, whose presence had been so inconspicuous that one might have assumed no one else was in the room. His hand seemingly did not stop him from writing in his book.

"You have transcribed his entire testimony, word for word," I stated, addressing the gnome directly.

The rarely spoken gnome simply nodded in confirmation, silently affirming that he had accurately recorded every detail as per Sir Geoffrey's own words.