Chapter 10: The Twilight Clan – 08
“Ah, what a remarkable display of skill! I must say, I am truly impressed. I inquired with the adventurers accompanying you, and they mentioned that the monster you just defeated was of B-Rank. To take it down in a single blow—surely, you must be a renowned party. Might I ask for your name?”
The man who stepped down from the carriage was small yet sturdy, dressed in the neat attire of a merchant. He appeared to be in his late forties. His expression was cheerful, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that suggested a keen intellect. From my past experiences, he resembled a savvy personal buyer.
As we hesitated in our response, the man suddenly snapped to attention, flashing a friendly smile.
“Oh dear, how rude of me! I am Toronto, a merchant operating in several towns around the royal capital. Your prowess in slaying that monster, and your remarkable ability to store such a massive creature in your Item Box, are not things I can overlook as a merchant. Of course, I also feel a deep sense of gratitude for your assistance, and I thought it best to introduce myself and perhaps forge a connection.”
“How kind of you. I am Soushi. Our party is called ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ and we are a C-Rank party that has only recently begun our activities. We are quite unknown, so I fear we may not be worth your attention.”
Upon hearing my response, Mr. Toronto spread his arms wide, feigning surprise. For just a moment, he wore a look that seemed to say, “Gotcha!”
“Is that so? To possess such strength yet remain unknown—how curious! In that case, I must remember ‘Soul’s Guidance’ and its leader, Soushi. As a merchant, establishing ties with a party that is yet to gain fame holds even greater value.”
“Are you suggesting a speculative investment? I cannot guarantee that we will meet your expectations,” I replied.
Mr. Toronto seemed genuinely surprised by my words.
“Ah, Soushi, you are indeed a man of understanding. I find myself wanting to solidify our friendship even more. By the way, where do you plan to take the Salamander you just defeated?”
“To Bartran, just ahead.”
“Excellent! We were also planning to head to Bartran, so it seems we may be able to acquire some fine materials.”
Mr. Toronto wore a slightly mischievous grin. It was clear he intended to secure the Salamander’s materials before other merchants could get their hands on them. He struck me as a shrewd businessman, perhaps even a high-ranking executive of a large trading company.
“Regardless, since you have helped us, I would like to offer my gratitude. Is there anything you desire?”
“No, we merely happened upon the monster and defeated it, so I cannot accept any reward.”
“Nonsense! I cannot let it go unacknowledged. Had you not intervened, we might have faced danger not just to our goods but to our very lives.”
While I understood Mr. Toronto’s perspective, the truth was that it had merely been a matter of circumstance, and I felt no obligation to accept a reward. However, it was clear he wished to establish a connection with us, and simply refusing would not suffice.
“If you insist, then perhaps I could ask for a favor the next time we visit the royal capital. I will certainly remember the name of the honorable Mr. Toronto.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Toronto looked momentarily bewildered before bursting into laughter, as if he found it amusing.
“Ha ha! I must be grateful for this encounter today. Very well, let us leave it at that for now. However, when you come to the royal capital, you must visit the Toronto Trading Company. I can recommend some excellent accommodations.”
With that, Mr. Toronto strode back to his carriage with an air of confidence befitting a seasoned merchant.
“Until we meet again!” I called out as he and his party set off toward Bartran. I was surprised by how quickly their carriage moved, but upon closer inspection, it seemed the horses pulling it were of exceptional quality.
“That was quite the enigmatic fellow, wasn’t he? I couldn’t quite grasp the exchange, but it seems like you handled it well, Soushi,” Larni remarked, watching the departing carriage, and Freinir nodded in agreement.
“I felt the same. It seems you have gained the trust of that gentleman,” Freinir added.
“The Toronto Trading Company is among the top three in the royal capital. Gaining the trust of its head is quite significant for ‘Soul’s Guidance,'” Mariane chimed in unexpectedly, causing me to blurt out, “Huh?”
To think we would become acquainted with the head of one of the leading trading companies in the royal capital… Was my Bad Luck Skill working a bit too effectively? If I collapsed from overwork, no one would come to my aid.
Two days later, we arrived in Bartran. It appeared to be the second-largest town in the territory of Count Lautrec, bustling and comparable in size to Euron.
First, we needed to escort Mariane to the guild. Naturally, we planned to sell the Salamander there, which would likely be Mariane’s first task at the Bartran guild.
The Bartran guild was nearly identical in size to the one in Euron. The arrangement of counters inside was similar, designed so that traveling adventurers could conduct their business seamlessly, no matter where they were.
Upon arriving at the guild, Mariane headed to the back room and began her duties at the counter after about ten minutes. It seemed she had already spoken with the guild master, but the speed of her response felt a bit too swift. Perhaps there were established protocols for dedicated staff like Mariane.
Other receptionists watched her with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, but Mariane appeared completely unfazed, as was her usual demeanor.
“Soushi, shall we proceed with selling the Salamander?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” I replied.
With that, we moved to the disassembly area at the back.
Mariane called over a disassembly staff member, and I retrieved the Salamander from my Item Box in the courtyard before the disassembly area.
It seemed that pulling out a twenty-meter-class monster from an Item Box was quite a rare occurrence, as the male disassembly staff member’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“I’ve heard tales, but this is incredible! We already have a buyer lined up, so let’s get started right away.”
It appeared Mr. Toronto had already made a reservation. If the materials could be processed quickly, it would be a boon for the guild.
We returned inside the guild to complete the paperwork for the Salamander’s defeat.
A few adventurers in the guild seemed to take notice of us, perhaps realizing we were accompanied by dedicated staff.
Surrounding the town were one D-Class Dungeon and two C-Class Dungeons, suggesting that the average adventurer rank here was likely higher than in Euron. With that, there would surely be many keen-eyed individuals around.
Afterward, we ventured into town and secured accommodations at Mariane’s recommended inn. It seemed that Mariane would be staying at the same place, promising a lively atmosphere among the women once again.