The moment those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.
Ross looked at everyone and said, "Now, do you still want to lend him money and collect interest?"
A half-elf merchant changed the subject. "The Howling Children of the Wasteland have been getting more and more outrageous lately."
"Kurto Shatterskull has indulged his army in raiding outsiders. They're practically a band of oversized bandits."
"Two of my caravans have already been robbed by them, and they even killed my men!"
"How are we supposed to settle this?"
The moment those words were spoken, it was like a powder keg had been lit.
Quite a few merchants began speaking over one another.
Clearly, Kurto Shatterskull had truly provoked public outrage recently.
The army under his command not only attacked settlements, but also passing caravans.
And this was far from the first time such things had happened.
Many merchants bore deep resentment toward Kurto Shatterskull.
The merchants discussed it, their voices growing louder and louder.
Until one merchant shouted, "With Kurto Shatterskull acting like this, why are we still keeping him around?"
"He can no longer trade with us. Fine, if he can't help us make money—but now he's even robbing us and making us lose money."
"If you ask me, we should find someone to replace him!"
"Replace the owner of the territory currently in his hands!"
The moment he said that, someone immediately chimed in, "That makes sense. I think it's perfectly feasible too."
"The Howling Children of the Wasteland rarely traded with us in the past. Even when they had slaves, they hauled them off to the great orc tribes behind them to sell!"
"What money could we possibly make from them?"
"I agree that the Howling Children of the Wasteland should be replaced!"
A human merchant said worriedly,