The wolf and the jackal

The tax collector's death had helped Isaac grow closer to the cavalry captain, and the two could now sit together, chatting and laughing.

Isaac knew Chris's identity was sensitive, so he waved for him to leave.

Connie also quietly slipped away to warn everyone in the caravan not to drink, lest they get drunk and let something slip.

During their conversation, Isaac learned the cavalry captain's name... Popoli Alfonso.

He was the commander of the Third Company of the cavalry regiment attached to Bohemia's Twenty-Seventh Standing Army in El Province. He was currently on patrol... and collecting a little gray tax on the side.

Well, Isaac thought collecting gray tax was Popoli's real purpose. The patrol was what he did on the side.

This little place, Pinewood Town, was part of the Alfonso Family's territory and belonged to Popoli's older cousin.

That family connection was precisely why Popoli had angrily shot the tax collector.

The corrupt bastard had been secretly stealing property belonging to the Alfonso Family. As a member of that family, Popoli could kill him without facing any repercussions.

In fact, Popoli had disliked the tax collector for a long time, so shooting him had been a natural next step.

As for why he disliked the tax collector, Popoli merely gave a somewhat sleazy leer before dropping the subject. Isaac did not press him.

The two enjoyed their conversation so much that Popoli decided to stay. He ordered his cavalrymen to camp beside the caravan's camp, declaring that they would spend the night there and protect the empire's law-abiding merchants while they were at it.

"Go ahead and sell your goods without worrying. With me here, nobody will come looking for trouble."

That evening, Popoli came over for a drink and thumped his chest as he gave Isaac this assurance, leaving Isaac unsure whether to laugh or cry.

You lot are the biggest danger here, you know!

Not only that, but on the caravan's third day in camp, the Bohemian Cavalry put up tents inside the camp as well. After borrowing three empty wagons from the caravan, they began doing business with the townspeople and villagers arriving from nearby.

What were the Bohemian Cavalry selling?

The goods they had collected as gray tax, including the homespun cloth from Isaac's Caravan.

Even the players were speechless when they discovered this.

"Captain Popoli is one hell of a guy. Selling the victims' goods right in front of them and pocketing the money."

That was Home Alone's assessment.

"He's a damn cuckolder."

And selling was not all they did. When things got too busy, Popoli would shamelessly come over to borrow people from Isaac.

Who did he borrow?

Caravan hands to help sell goods, and cooks, cooking utensils, and ingredients so Isaac's Caravan could prepare dinner for the cavalry company.

What could Isaac say?

He lent them what they wanted.

Still, shameless borrowing aside, Popoli was a straightforward fellow. After dinner, he took out a purse and paid Aix, covering the cost of the ingredients.

He was a strange man, and for the moment, Isaac could not work out what to make of him.

For five days straight, the Bohemian Cavalry stayed put. Occasionally, Popoli would take some of his cavalrymen away, apparently to patrol or hunt. Whenever he returned, he never came empty-handed, bringing a few wild boars or some liquor when he visited Isaac.

After enough of these visits, Isaac felt too embarrassed to ask Popoli to take his men and leave.

Finally, on the seventh evening, as Isaac and Popoli sat slightly tipsy beside the campfire, Popoli revealed his true colors.

"Brother, you're a smuggler, aren't you?"

"Huh!?"

Still a little muddleheaded, Isaac froze. He looked at Popoli, who looked back with an expression that said, "Don't play dumb."

"It's no big deal. Don't be scared. There are loads of caravans smuggling goods into Raitelia from El Province, and I don't come down too hard on them.

After all, without them, where would I collect my gray tax?"

Isaac gave an awkward smile.

Popoli nudged Isaac twice with his shoulder.

"Don't worry. Given how close we are, I won't collect gray tax from you if we run into each other again... But speaking of which, what are you planning to smuggle?"

"Homespun cloth."

Since Popoli had put it that way, Isaac went along with him... What else could he say? I'm not a smuggler. I'm escorting the prince of Bagnia home.

Would that second answer make Popoli jump up and start hacking people down?

The cavalry captain might seem a little goofy now, but Isaac had not forgotten how abruptly he had turned hostile and shot the tax collector earlier.

"Homespun cloth?"

Popoli scratched his head. His first instinct was disbelief, but when he thought back to the gray tax he had collected from Isaac's Caravan, he believed it.

The homespun cloth really was the only thing of much value in Isaac's Caravan. As for the rest, just look at that worthless junk.

Fresh olives, chunks of meat packed in ice, and some linen, needles, and thread.

God of Light above, Popoli had almost thought he had stumbled across a bunch of peddlers wandering from village to village.

"Homespun cloth isn't worth much. Even if you smuggle it and don't have to pay the customs collectors, you won't make much money."

Popoli spoke in a concerned tone.

"Brother, where are you planning to smuggle it?"

"I'm planning to take a trip to Bagnia."

"Bagnia? Isn't that damned place in the middle of a revolution and a civil war?"

"Yes. That's why I think there might be opportunities there. I'm planning to bring some goods and take a look."

Isaac stated his intentions with an air of honest simplicity. Popoli's eyes darted about, and then he raised his drink to hide his face. After a moment, he lowered his hand and gave Isaac an earnest look.

"Listen, brother. You won't make big money doing business like that. Homespun cloth is popular with the mountain folk, but the most they can do is barter timber, wool, and leather for it."

"But if I don't sell homespun cloth, what should I sell?"

Isaac shook his head.

"Everyone needs clothes. I think homespun cloth is a good choice. As long as the price is reasonable, nobody will turn it down."

"But it won't make you big money. It isn't worth risking your head over.

How about this? We partner up. I supply the goods, you take them to Bagnia and sell them, and then we split the proceeds fifty-fifty. Let's make a fortune together. What do you say?"

"Oh? Is that so? What goods can you supply?"

Popoli glanced around. Once he was sure that he and Isaac were the only people within five meters, he leaned toward Isaac's ear and spoke softly.

"Weapons... I have a shipment of weapons. Take them into Bagnia, find those people fighting the war, and sell them the lot. You're sure to make a fortune!"