The Kingdom’s Greatest Fool? No, I’m the Ruler From the Darkness ~The Hidden Face of the Fat Prince~ - Chapter 52: Dark Merchant

Chapter 52: Dark Merchant

I, the great one, walked through the slum’s alleys, reeking of excrement and decay.

Using the pseudonym “Hugo Black,” I posed as a mere slave trader.

Thanks to Iris’s transformation potion, I was a completely different person—slender build, gloomy eyes, not a trace of princely elegance.

This was better suited for such dealings.

“Negotiating with scum, but it’ll make a fortune.”

I sneered.

The dark business, leveraging my royal education in economics and strategy, yielded profits beyond imagination.

The thrill of operating in the underworld, where the powerful dare not tread, was exquisite.

I stopped before a filthy building steeped in the stench of waste and blood.

This was the lair of Zachary Flint, the slums’ top slave trader.

Flint, a vile man, dealt in everything from abductions to war orphans—a true scum of the slums.

Knocking on the door, a pudgy man appeared—one of Flint’s lackeys.

“Yo, it’s Black! Been waitin’ for ya.”

He flashed a gap-toothed grin.

His crude, informal tone was typical of the slum’s underbelly.

“Yeah.”

I brushed him aside coldly and entered.

The dim room reeked of liquor, sweat, and blood, nauseatingly so.

Flint sat sprawled at a table, drinking, legs wide.

A thick gold chain hung from his neck, his fingers adorned with gaudy gemmed rings—a slum upstart’s tasteless display.

“Oi! Black, there ya are!”

Flint bellowed, drunk.

“You’re late! I’m a busy man!”

I approached the table, hiding my disgust.

“Sit! Drink!”

He shoved a bottle at me, but I swatted it away.

“Business. No need for liquor.”

“Cold bastard.”

Flint laughed mockingly.

“Always like that. Stiffs like you don’t make it big.”

“I don’t need your lessons.”

I said icily.

“Show me today’s goods.”

“The usual trash slaves, eh?”

Flint sneered.

“Man, why a guy like you collects such garbage, I’ll never get. Got better stock, ya know.”

“No prying. Show them.”

Flint stood, grumbling, and staggered to a back room.

“Follow me.”

Opening the door revealed a hellish scene.

Over a dozen men and women, chained, lay on the ground.

Emaciated, scarred, half-unconscious—some were children.

Likely war captives, debt slaves, the sick, or vagrants.

“How’s that? Prime trash!”

Flint guffawed.

“Half’ll be dead by tomorrow. But if you’re buyin’, clears my stock today.”

“How much?”

I asked calmly.

I’d seen this before.

No need for emotions.

Just business.

“Well…”

Flint’s eyes turned sly.

“Got some fine ones this time. Seven gold coins each.”

“Don’t be absurd.”

I scoffed.

“Last month was three. Seven for this trash?”

“Market’s hot.”

Flint shrugged.

“Got other buyers.”

“Don’t lie.”

I shot back sharply.

“I’m the only one buying this filth. One coin.”

“What…!”

Flint’s eyes widened in shock.

“Don’t screw with me! That’s below cost!”

“Cost?”

I mocked.

“You snatch this garbage off the streets for free.”

Flint’s face reddened.

“You little…”

“Two coins. Be grateful I’m buying.”

“Damn… four.”

“Two.”

I made my final offer.

“Take it or I walk.”

“Tch… four and a half. Final.”

“Three. Final. I’m leaving.”

I said firmly.

“Guh.”

Flint looked bewildered.

“Three coins for the lot.”

I said coolly.

“But don’t ever try raising prices again. This is final.”

Flint stared, confused, then grinned slyly.

“Feels like you really want ‘em. Must be rakin’ it in, huh?”

“Shut up. How many total?”

“Forty-two. Kids included.”

“One hundred twenty-six coins.”

I tossed a sack of gold coins.

“Deliver them to my mansion tomorrow. Usual place.”

Flint caught the sack, checking its contents.

“What’re you doin’ with this trash?”

He asked suspiciously.

“Feedin’ ‘em costs money, ya know.”

“None of your business.”

“Maybe…”

Flint’s eyes narrowed.

“Rumor is, your trash slaves are workin’ mines, all lively. Got some secret cash cow, eh?”

“Shut it.”

I said sharply.

“No snooping. Want to die? Contact me if you get more.”

Flint grinned wickedly.

“Got it. But next time, price goes up. If you want ‘em that bad, they’re worth more.”

I ignored him and left.

Wasting time with scum like Flint was pointless.

He’s guessing my business model but lacks the brains.

To him, Hugo Black’s just a weird merchant profiting big.

But in truth, these slaves are the foundation of my empire.

Iris’s enhancement drugs heal them, earn their loyalty, and I sell them for 10,000 gold coins each on average.

Some are used as test subjects for special military drugs.

A perfect business model.

Leaving the slums, I steadied my breathing.

This foul air would soon be a memory.

Next, to Iris’s workshop.

*

I entered the detached palace through a secret back entrance, descending to the basement unseen.

Outwardly a mere palace, it housed Iris’s secret workshop below.

“Welcome back, Master.”

Iris bowed low.

A beautiful young woman, her eyes gleamed with deep wisdom.

Only she calls me “Master” as Black.

“The transformation potion worked perfectly.”

I said, glancing at my reflection.

A complete stranger.

“Thank you.”

Iris replied softly.

“No failures allowed.”

She’s my most trusted subordinate and lover.

A genius in magic and pharmacology, equal to Mia.

“Bought forty-two from Flint today.”

I said, sitting.

“Enhance them all.”

“Numbers keep growing.”

Iris nodded gracefully.

“We have enough materials, but the cost…”

“How much?”

“As usual, one coin each. Forty-two total.”

“Cheap.”

I said with satisfaction.

“The return on investment is perfect.”

“I’m honored by your satisfaction.”

Iris smiled.

The profit margin of this slave enhancement business was staggering. Buy at three gold coins each, spend one coin on enhancement, and sell for ten thousand.

Pure profit.

“Starting the drug preparations.”

Iris said, heading to her workbench.

“And the military deliveries?”

I lowered my voice.

“This month’s report?”

“Thriving.”

Iris said gleefully.

“Shipments to neighboring countries are on schedule.”

“Concentrations adjusted?”

“Of course.”

Iris picked up a document.

“As always: Skarge at 150% potency, Darnia at 35%, Brune at 40%, Mountain at 55%, Elmalia at 45%.”

“Good.”

I nodded, pleased.

“Sales?”

“Up 15% from last time, at 1.15 million gold coins.”

My military business is a secret even from the king.

Selling magical drugs to neighboring armies, manipulating their strength.

No country gets too strong or too weak—a delicate balance.

And, for emergencies, every drug has a hidden flaw.

A powerful side effect from an antidote, reducing strength and magic based on usage amount and duration.

This antidote, deployable as a smokescreen, is top secret, known only to me, Iris, and Mia.

“Serena’s case?”

I changed the topic.

“Well…”

Iris hesitated.

“During the development of Serena’s drug, we accidentally created one with a different effect.”

“Oh?”

“A drug that temporarily controls the mind completely.”

Iris produced a small purple vial.

“It lasts about an hour. The target obeys you fully, then forgets.”

Serena, the “holy mother-like princess,” flashed in my mind.

The possibility of controlling her at will…

“Tell me more.”

I leaned forward.

Iris smiled seductively, explaining.

“Administer this, and for about an hour, they’re entirely yours. No memory remains.”

“Side effects?”

“Minimal in small doses.”

Iris said cautiously.

“But repeated use may cause brain damage.”

“No matter.”

I laughed.

“Shall we test it on Leia or Eleanor first?”

“Those ladies?”

A flicker of emotion crossed Iris’s eyes.

“You’re still toying with them?”

“Yes. I want to drive them further into despair.”

Iris showed a fleeting look of displeasure but reverted to her professional demeanor.

“I’ll prepare a small dose. Test it first.”

“Good. That’ll do.”

As Iris prepared the drug, I smiled with satisfaction.

“Here you are.”

Iris returned with the vial.

“Usage instructions. First—”

I cut her off, pulling her arm.

“Later. I want something else now.”

Iris, startled, quickly gave a submissive smile.

“Shall I undo the transformation potion?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

Iris produced a vial.

I drank, feeling heat as my true form returned.

“Master…”

Iris called in a sultry voice.

“You’re back.”

I pulled her close.

Tomorrow would be busy again.

Military deliveries, slave enhancement and resale, new torments for Eleanor and Leia.

Everything was going as planned.

In this world, power and wealth are everything.

And I was gaining both, day by day.

Slave trading, secret deals with dark mages, backdoor military trades.

These vile dealings sharpened my senses, building steps to greater ambitions.

“Tomorrow’s the first prince’s audience?”

Iris asked.

“Yes, as Gray, I’ll meet my brother.”

I grinned wickedly.

“I’ll finally infiltrate his faction.”

“You truly…”

Iris chose her words.

“Relish revenge.”

“Revenge is sweet nectar. The thrill of crushing those who mocked me is sublime.”

I said, satisfied.

“And it heightens the pleasure of domination.”

I claimed Iris’s lips.

Everything was in my grasp.

Princely privilege, dark merchant wealth, and the joy of vengeance.

Could there be a more perfect life?