Chapter 16: Lua (3)

Lua had dealt with people from the Arcturus Merchant Company from time to time. So the moment Simon held it out, she recognized at once that it was a genuine insignia of the Company.

The Arcturus Merchant Company.

It was a great merchant company operated by the Arcturus Marquis family, and one of the companies that wielded no small measure of influence across the continent.

Naturally, in Arcturus territory, which was its home ground, it held greater power than any other merchant company.

Running a bakery was, in the broadest sense, a commercial enterprise as well.

A great merchant company was saying that it wished to invest. And on top of that, it had just helped her in an unpleasant situation. Of course she could not help becoming curious about Simon.

“An investment......?”

“It was rather abrupt, was it not?”

“No, it is not that, but...... this is the first time anyone has ever said they wanted to invest in us.”

Simon nodded as though he understood perfectly.

“To be precise, I want to invest in your father’s craft. Your father’s bread is far from ordinary. If you open a branch, it will certainly do well.”

“Really?”

“Adventurers praise it with one voice. They say that once you enter a Dungeon, you truly come to understand just how good the bread from that shop is. I agree.”

It was praise of the highest order. After all, what food could be more splendid than the kind that came to mind in a desperate moment?

Naturally, Lua’s guard softened, and a smile appeared on her face.

“Mm, I appreciate your kind words, but I do not think that is something I can decide on my own. Would it not be better for you to speak with my uncle?”

“Very well. Since it is already late tonight, how about we meet tomorrow morning instead? I have heard there is a pleasant tea house nearby.”

“Yes, I know the one. Then shall we meet there at around ten?”

“Let us do that.”

After bowing her head politely, Lua turned to leave, then suddenly halted with a start. A moment later, she put on an apologetic expression.

“Ah, I am sorry. I did not even ask your name. If it is not too rude, may I ask what it is......?”

“My name is Saimon.”

“Mr. Saimon. That is a fine name. Mine is Lua.”

“You have a lovely name as well, Miss Lua.”

“Thank you.”

A smile as beautiful as the moon lighting the night sky settled on her lips. Simon thought that it had been a good thing he had hurried here after all.

***

“You were impressively smooth.”

That was the very first thing Ranieri said when they returned to the inn. Simon let out a short laugh and placed the sword hanging at his waist on the table.

“My apologies for showing off in front of someone so slow.”

“Hardly. If it had been me, I would not have approached her that way. I would have used a more direct method. It was an extremely natural approach. A very good way of easing the other person’s guard.”

“Are you praising me or insulting me?”

“It is praise, naturally.”

Stretching lazily, Simon threw himself down onto the bed.

It was not as fine as the special bed back at the estate, but it was a hundred times better than sitting all day in a hard carriage.

“In any case, you do not bother with commoners, do you? You only chase noble ladies from good houses.”

“I would ask you to refrain from using so vulgar an expression as ‘chase.’ Please call it a healthy exchange of sentiments between grown adults.”

“And yet you conveniently leave out the physical side of things.”

“That is not what matters.”

“You mean that?”

Ranieri coughed lightly into his fist, then deftly changed the subject.

“Still, she truly was a beautiful young woman. She possessed a simple grace that shone softly like a jewel. I can understand why you fell for her, Young Master.”

“Do not covet her. She is mine.”

“As if such a thing would happen.”

With his arms stretched out and his eyes closed, Simon recalled Lua’s face once again.

Then his thoughts turned to the ugly business that had taken place in the broker’s office.

Naturally, he had no intention of letting it pass.

“You know that broker. Make sure the bastard cannot show his face at his office from tomorrow onward.”

“I have already taken care of it.”

“Oh, excellent. I like efficiency.”

“Would it not be better simply to give the office he used to occupy to the bakery instead?”

That was Ranieri for you. Like a true strategist, he could already see two moves ahead.

“If I were going to help that openly, I might as well open a bakery for her in the capital. If you try to get too close all at once, the other person is bound to feel burdened. Have you never heard that getting ahead of oneself is a sure way to fail?”

“That is an uncharacteristic strategy for you, Young Master. You have always been cool-headed, yet bold and aggressive.”

“That is how precious she is to me.”

Because he offered no further explanation, Ranieri could feel all the more clearly how sincere Simon was. He resolved then and there that he would help this matter succeed properly.

“I will make sure this succeeds.”

“You never really had any choice in the matter, but it is still a welcome thing to hear.”

“I shall send word separately to the Arcturus Merchant Company. If rumors begin spreading about this investment, then the man called Saimon will need to exist in reality.”

“I leave it to you.”

And then, the following day, Simon, Lua, and the man introduced as Lua’s uncle met together at the tea house.

“It is an honor to meet you like this. You are Mr. Saimon of the Arcturus Merchant Company, I believe?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“My name is Pollen. I run the bakery together with my elder brother.”

Smiling like an affable man, Simon offered him his hand. Pollen sprang up and shook it.

“Mr. Pollen. Please treat me at ease. If anything, it is our Company that is asking a favor here. Besides, I am no noble.”

“Ah, is that so? You simply looked so distinguished that I took you for one.”

It seemed he would need to take greater care with his disguise.

“Hahaha. I shall take that as a compliment.”

“Still, it is a great relief that you are willing to help us like this. As you must have heard, opening a branch has always been a dream shared by my brother and me. But when we actually came here, it proved just as difficult as we feared.”

And then, amid all of that, they received an offer of investment. Naturally, they would think heaven itself had come to their aid.

If anything, Pollen clasped Simon’s hand with both of his, as though to say, Please take care of us.

“So, to begin with, the difficulty you are facing is securing a building for the branch, yes?”

“That is correct.”

“Then first, let us have some tea.”

Simon ordered the three most expensive teas in the house. He felt that if he asked them to choose, it might take all day.

“My secretary is presently analyzing the surrounding commercial area. He will soon bring the materials here.”

“Ah, I see. I truly feel as though we are doing nothing but receiving favors......”

“There is no need to feel that way. Think of it as business.”

Simon took a sip of his tea.

He deliberately did not speak directly to Lua. He did nothing more than meet her eyes once or twice while he was explaining matters.

‘I am not trying to play games, but there is no need to start pawing at her from the very beginning either.’

In his heart, he wanted to ask her out for a late-night date at once, but he restrained himself.

Soon, Ranieri arrived.

“Pardon the interruption.”

He moved the teacups to one side and spread the papers in his hand across the table.

It was a map of the commercial properties in Alpina Village.

The places that could be contracted and those that could not were clearly marked in blue and red ink.

It was drawn so simply and intuitively that the locations of the buildings could be understood at a glance.

‘He prepared all of this in less than a day?’

Simon admired him inwardly.

If he kept pressing him properly, perhaps the dream of making a carriage fitted with a bed was not impossible after all.

“Which building was it that the young lady viewed yesterday?”

“This one here.”

Lua pointed with her finger to one of the blue-marked buildings. Ranieri nodded with admiration.

“You have a good eye indeed. It is an excellent building. There is a great deal of foot traffic, and with the Adventurers’ Guild nearby, it has excellent accessibility for potential customers.”

“But it was rather expensive.”

“A good location is naturally expensive. Which is why I would like to recommend a few other places I have prepared.”

Ranieri had prepared thoroughly.

He began his explanation, using a long pointing rod, goodness knew where he had acquired it from, to indicate spots on the map.

“The area I would most like to recommend is this one here. It lies at the outer edge of the commercial district. It is somewhat lacking in visibility compared to the center, but the rent is low and the space is large.”

“Then would it not be difficult for customers to come?”

Ranieri lowered the pointing rod and looked toward Simon.

Excellent timing.

If he kept explaining, he would only get in the way. The one who needed to hold their attention here was Simon.

“In ordinary circumstances, Miss Lua would be absolutely right. It is only natural for people to seek out the shop closest to them.”

“I am curious. For what reason did your secretary recommend it? Was it because of the cost after all?”

“No. It is because your father’s skill is far from ordinary, Miss Lua.”

Question marks appeared on both Lua’s and Pollen’s faces at once, though it did not take them long to grasp his meaning.

“The main shop in Minor Village is not in a particularly good location either. And yet many people go out of their way to buy bread there. If the taste is guaranteed, then the exact location of the shop is not such a major problem.”

“Ah! Then that means we only need to build word of mouth.”

“There will be no need even for that. One advertisement from our Company will be enough.”

“Wow......”

Lua wore a deeply happy expression.

How long had it been since he last saw that smile?

It felt as though he had been repaid for everything. Once again, Simon thought it had been the right choice to force himself out of bed.

“Mm. I understand what you mean. But what is it exactly that the Arcturus Merchant Company wants from us? Could it be the recipe...... or perhaps the secret method?”

Since the conditions were so favorable, Pollen could not help but worry.

There were countless cases where people used investment as a pretext to steal a family’s secret techniques. That sort of thing was especially common in trades related to production. They would provide a location, then naturally absorb the techniques for themselves.

Once a craftsman’s secrets were stolen, he could not hope to compete with a great merchant company. All they had to do was begin a capital-driven price war.

Naturally, Simon had anticipated that concern as well.

“Not at all. What we want is profit. And there is also a personal wish of mine to let more people know of your elder brother’s handiwork. We will not steal your secret methods. Nor will we interfere in management in any way.”

“In that case, I can see no reason for us not to sign. My elder brother back in Minor Village will be delighted when he hears this news. Will he not, Lua?”

“I do not know for certain, but...... I think it sounds good.”

Simon deliberately avoided Lua’s gaze, which was now tinged with favor, and raised a hand to calm them.

“Now then, please hear out our proposal to the very end.”

Simon produced the contract he had prepared. Lua and Pollen both stared at it with eyes that still seemed unable to believe what they were seeing.

It was only natural to be startled when a contract was suddenly placed before you like that.

Simon explained it to them in a kindly tone.

“Our Company will take full responsibility for setting up the shop. We are also prepared to purchase the building ourselves. That way, there will be no danger of the location being taken from you later. In exchange, we will take half of the net profit.”

“Is that truly enough for you?”

“It is enough. It may be somewhat difficult at first, but as sales grow, it will not become an unbearable burden for you. We, too, will recover our principal more quickly that way.”

“Good.”

“There is still one more condition.”

As though what he was about to say was of great importance, Simon raised a finger and continued.

“You do understand that you will be doing business under the name of the Arcturus Family, yes?”

“Of course.”

“One condition is that bread made by your bakery be supplied regularly to the Arcturus Family residence in the capital.”

“Oh...... that is something we would rather be the ones to ask for! It would be an honor to the Family!”

“You would need to supply it at a price lower than market rate. Would that be acceptable?”

“That is no problem at all! It is food to be eaten by our lord!”

With a grin, Simon nodded.

“Very good. Then take this contract back with you to Minor Village for now. About a fortnight from now, we will visit the bakery ourselves.”

“Yes, let us do that!”

“Then let us leave it at that for today. Thank you for making time for us. We shall take our leave now.”

“Um, Mr. Saimon.”

Simon, who had just been about to rise, turned his eyes to Lua. She smiled shyly and asked,“To repay you for yesterday as well...... would you perhaps have time to let me treat you to a meal?”

He would have had to make time, even if there had been none.

At that moment, Ranieri stepped in.

“Mr. Pollen, if you do not mind, while those two are dining, I would like to take a look together at the proposed shop locations.”

“Ah? Yes, certainly! Of course. Let us go!”

And so, before he quite realized it, Simon was left alone with Lua.

Simon made up his mind.

The moment this matter was concluded and he returned, he would bestow a great reward upon the Betelgeuse Family.