The Commercial Federation, one of Kazimierz's highest-ranking power institutions, governs the country alongside the Surveillance Court and the National Assembly.
Merchants, once noble knights and citizens, saw their power and loyalty wax and wane. Aside from being unable to sell royal land, the relationship between these three was something Goki, the old ball-keeper, had long grown accustomed to.
Of course, this nominally governmental body is actually an organization composed of countless commercial enterprises, established over a hundred years ago.
After Kazimierz's knight squires, relying on massive commercial profits, successfully overthrew the knights from their noble status, several large commercial families at the time united to establish the Commercial Federation to protect their interests.
The Merchant Council constantly bickered and constrained the Citizen Council and the Knight Council, while various enterprises seized the booming popularity of the Knight Tournament to develop rapidly.
Countless enormous enterprises rose, built upon the foundation of the Knight Tournament as an entertainment spectacle.
"Allens Choice. Chiarne isn't from Meshko, but switching jobs is normal... Should I open the door, Margaret? You must know what he's here for."
Hearing the voice outside the door, Goki, who had just wrestled with Margaret, their bodies colliding and leaving them both sweaty, stopped his steps toward the kitchen. He turned his head with interest to look at the dilapidated wooden door.
"I think I know. My Aunt mentioned them; they're troublesome people. She said she'd help me fend off these troublesome people, and I even moved to this remote place... But now, pretending no one's home is probably too late."
Frowning, Margaret hesitated for a moment, then finally walked towards the door.
She could probably guess the visitor's purpose—it would be a deal destined not to be made.
"Sorry, Mr. Goki, you all go ahead and eat. I might need to talk with this guest."
Shaking off the grass from her tail, Margaret put on a white coat over her sportswear and smiled apologetically at Goki. Then, her Aura suddenly changed; her golden eyes became serious and stern.
Although the knight class no longer held noble status, the Nearl Family was a nobility certified by the Knight Association. Naturally, she had learned a great deal of noble etiquette from a young age, to deal with people she didn't wish to see often.
Goki, however, shook his head and waved back at Skadi.
"Skadi, Shining, Nightingale—you all eat first. I'll be there in a moment."
"Oh, you must come quickly, or the food will get cold! Come on, come on, Goki's cooking last night was so delicious, wasn't it? I used to eat it every day! He could cook for a year without repeating a dish!"
Skadi, still yawning, nodded. Without much thought, she took Shining's and Nightingale's hands and walked into the house—she loved showing others Goki's excellence. When others praised Goki, Skadi would be especially happy.
"Alright, alright, just save some for me. I'll be there right away."
Smiling at Skadi, Goki continued to look back at the door, quite interested in what was about to happen.
After all, Chiarne was half an acquaintance of Goki. It seemed that he wasn't yet in the position of spokesperson for the Knight Tournament six years later.
Chiarne was an antagonist in an event, yet not a true villain.
He was merely a delicate, replaceable cog in the machine that was the Commercial Federation—and in the end, he was replaced meaninglessly.
Compared to being a Knight Nation, Kazimierz is now more appropriately called a Commercial Nation.
Rose Press monopolized the country's newspapers, internet, TV stations, and other media industries. Glorious Shield Military Industry, which had grown strong in the vehicle industry, expanded its trade routes to several countries. Goki could even see Blue Ear Beer's sign in Columbia, let alone a high-tech daily necessities company like Allens Choice.
These giants from various industries united to form the Commercial Federation, a corporate trust that crushed one commercial competitor after another, achieving ultimate monopoly.
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