TNMN 09

Chapter 09

“So, what is it that you want?”

“I thought you’d first ask about how to screw over the head of the Laosh Merchant Group.”I had expected her to just suck up all the information from Alosha and then clam up, so I was slightly surprised by her unexpectedly reasonable attitude of asking me to state what I wanted.

Just as I was feeling a little guilty for having prejudged her based on her appearance or whatever, the head of the O’Claire Merchant Group slapped his thigh and let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha, I know how to read people a bit. Seeing the young lady’s confident demeanor, I figured you wouldn’t easily answer even if I asked.”

“As expected! That’s the discerning eye befitting the head of the O’Claire Merchant Group. I’ve been told I’m a pretty sharp person myself.”

Alosha was someone who had successfully gotten refunds from notorious clothing stores in shopping districts a few times, and had even walked out unscathed on her own two feet after being dragged into religious organizations or multi-level marketing schemes.

“Of course! Besides, the fact that you want to get back at the head of the Laosh Merchant Group means you must have your own bone to pick with that bastard—I mean, that merchant group head, right? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Well, that jerk… I mean, everything that merchant group head does just rubs me the wrong way.”

Whether Alosha’s words hit the mark or not, the head of the O’Claire Merchant Group’s mouth stretched wide, practically reaching his ears.

“So, what do you want? Tell me what you desire, and I will do my best to accommodate you.”

“What kind of question is that? Shouldn’t the O’Claire Merchant Group first make an offer of what you can provide to me?”

*Customer, how much have you come here knowing?*

In contracts and deals, the key is always who holds the initiative.

Everyone has a different set of calculations, and stating what you want first is no different from gambling by laying your cards on the table from the start.

The head of the O’Claire Merchant Group looked slightly flustered by Alosha’s words, but then flashed a smile dripping with capitalist greed and spoke.

“Then how about we first hear how significant this information is before we decide?”

“The Laosh Merchant Group has been spending time and money for a long time searching for a specific item.”

“…We know that much. You wouldn’t have come all this way to trade such outdated information… Huh? No way!”

“That’s right. I know what it is and where it exists.”

Well, technically, she *had* it, but Alosha looked at the merchant group head with a triumphant expression.

When Alosha, like a villain scheming something, let out a “Heu heu heu” and brought up this rather useful piece of information, the head of the O’Claire Merchant Group gulped.

If he could just successfully charm this young lady in front of him, he could get his hands on the Phoenix Ring before that infuriating young punk and secure the trade deal with the desert nation of Hamusha. The thought of getting a substantial cut for his own merchant group and being able to land a major blow to Emil made him start to feel a bit excited.

“How about this: in exchange for the information, our merchant group will provide the young lady with dresses and jewelry of your liking for life?”

It might seem a bit excessive to say ‘for life,’ but if he could get the token to resume trade with Hamusha, which had been cut off for so long, it would be well worth it.

“Do you think I came here because I lack jewelry or dresses?”

“Of course not. However, the items handled by our O’Claire Merchant Group are extremely valuable and rare, enough to be supplied to high-ranking nobles and even the Imperial Court. They are on a completely different level from the ordinary things you might have. Isn’t this a prime opportunity to be the very first to wear the newest dresses and jewelry each season? I’d say this is a pretty favorable condition for you as well.”

While Alosha’s visit was ultimately intended to provoke the head of the Laosh Merchant Group, she absolutely couldn’t stand being treated like a fool so openly.

“I came here because I heard you were a renowned merchant group in the Empire, but you’re more insignificant than I thought.”

“Insignificant! You seem young and inexperienced, but the only merchant group that would make such a large offer based solely on the word of a young lady like you is ours. What do you say? It’s a pretty good deal, isn’t it?”

There are always those types of people. If you treat them nicely, they mistake you for a pushover and try to take advantage.

*’As expected, appearances don’t lie.’*

Thus reaffirming her faith in pseudo-science, Alosha rose from her seat.

“It seems the O’Claire Merchant Group doesn’t fully grasp the value of this information. I suppose I’ll have to find another merchant group willing to pay its proper price.”

The merchant group head, who had been dreaming of becoming rich through trade with Hamusha, was startled by Alosha’s firm words.

“W-wait just a moment! You came all this way, and if you just leave like this, what am I supposed to do?”

The flustered O’Claire, moving with surprising agility for his large frame, blocked Alosha’s path as she headed for the door.

“I gave you a chance, and it was the O’Claire Merchant Group that threw it away. Well then, I’ll be going now.”

“W-wait! Young lady! If dresses and jewelry aren’t enough, how about furniture? Or perhaps a good match for marriage? Young lady! Young lady!”

Ignoring the head of the O’Claire Merchant Group who followed her to the door trying to persuade her, Alosha left the building. Spending this much time here was enough anyway.

All that was left now was to sit in some quiet café and wait for her target to approach.

*’He’s definitely watching me from somewhere, right?’*

For a moment, driven by a surge of anger, she considered actually selling the information, but just as Dane had somehow managed to deliver the bracelet to her, it would eventually end up in the hands of the Laosh Merchant Group anyway. There was no need to unnecessarily complicate the story and waste panel time just to cause herself a headache.

“Ah~ I should have come to the O’Claire Merchant Group in the first place. I wasted money going to Laosh for nothing, right?”

Alosha put on the most satisfied smile she could muster to make it look like the deal had been struck.

*’Good, that was a perfectly natural act.’*

Now, the nameless watcher monitoring her would go to the head of the Laosh Merchant Group and report, ‘It seems she has made a satisfactory deal regarding the Phoenix Ring.’

Imagining Emil, who would come rushing to her upon hearing that news, Alosha found a seat by the window of a café that looked upscale within the plaza, a proud expression on her face, and simply began to wait.

But even after enough time to drink two cups of tea had passed, there was no sign of him. Alosha frowned.

*’He should have come by now…’*

If patience is a virtue, Alosha deserved a great deal of it.

“Should I just sell it off to someone else for real?”

The moment she thought that, with impeccable timing, she heard someone coming up the stairs.

*’Of course! There’s no way he wouldn’t come.’*

Taking a deep breath to calm her anxious feelings about things not going as planned, Alosha gazed out the window, savoring her tea as if she knew nothing.

“Hello there. Fancy meeting you again here.”

“Oh my, hello? The head of the Laosh Merchant Group is also here a-l-o-n-e to have some tea?”

She elegantly twisted the words to ask, ‘What business does a man like you have in a café like this, which seems meant for ladies?’ Understanding her meaning, Emil smiled and approached Alosha.

“No, I didn’t come here to drink tea. I just happened to be passing by and saw Lady Nocturne on the second floor, so I thought I’d stop in to say hello.”

At Emil’s words, Alosha pouted one corner of her mouth.

What a joke.

While Alosha’s seat was by the window, the second floor was barely visible due to the terrace. It was an audaciously transparent excuse, but Alosha pretended to believe it and nodded with a smile.

“I see. Well, you’ve said your hello, so shouldn’t you be on your way now?”

“Haha, since we’ve run into each other like this, it must be fate. How about we sit down together and have a cup of tea?”

Despite Emil’s polite demeanor almost smoothing over her anger, Alosha held firm. Not until she got what she wanted.

“I’m sorry, but I’m waiting for someone, so that might be difficult.”

Throwing in the unspoken message, ‘And the person I’m waiting for is certainly not you,’ she tried to assert her pride a little belatedly. However, Emil unceremoniously sat down in the seat across from her.

“…I didn’t say you could sit.”

“It seems I’ve somehow offended you, so I’d like to have a conversation.”

At Emil’s serious tone, Alosha wiped all expression from her face, her own turning stern.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“How can I earn your forgiveness? Just tell me, and I will do my utmost.”

Alosha considered making Emil squirm a bit more, given how angry he had made her, but dragging out this war of nerves any further would only give her a headache. She decided to let it slide.

“Go ahead, speak.”

“I heard you offered the Phoenix Ring to the O’Claire Merchant Group as leverage to undermine me.”

“…Did you have someone following me?”

“For your safety, my lady.”

The information was accurate, even though it hadn’t even been half a day since she left the merchant group.

*’Right, this is the caliber needed to be Dane’s financial backer and informant.’*

Satisfied that she had indeed found the right person, she nodded approvingly. Emil spoke again.

“I also heard you left the O’Claire Merchant Group with a very satisfied look on your face. I take it you came to a rather favorable agreement?”

“It was certainly more satisfying than with a certain merchant group head who claimed to have no interest and told me to leave. At least I was offered a drink there.”

She threw out the noble-style version of, ‘You said you weren’t interested in my info, didn’t you? Quite the talker for a guy who wouldn’t even offer me a glass of water and kicked me out.’ The head of the Laosh Merchant Group understood her meaning, and his expression stiffened.

“Claiming to have no interest is a misunderstanding. I want that ring more desperately than anyone.”

“Then why did you just send me away?”

“I am a merchant. How many times do you think someone I’ve never even met before, let alone traded with, has come to me claiming to have the Phoenix Ring and asking me to buy it? I thought you were a con artist.”

“A con artist! Have you ever seen a con artist as kind and pretty as me?”

“Appearance has nothing to do with being a con artist. However, it is true that the prettier and more handsome one is, the easier it is to win people over.”

At Emil’s persuasive words, Alosha clamped her mouth shut.