In the Imperial Capital Carter, I found myself ushered into the reception room of the OTK Trading Company.
Sitting on the sofa, I fiddled with my smartphone, utilizing the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) to search for the person I was about to negotiate with.
What I found was quite interesting.
“Ah, I apologize for the wait!”
With a loud bang, the door swung open, revealing a man wearing thick glasses. He stood at a height of 180 centimeters—quite tall, indeed.
However, he was overweight, and his hair was slick with grease. One wouldn’t expect him to be the head of a trading company… or at least, that’s what a normal person would think.
Lisia-chan stood up and bowed.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Lisia D. Caster, the lord of the Dead End territory in the Geita Niiga frontier.”
“What a courteous introduction! I am Show Ida, the guild master of the OTK Trading Company! Please remember my name!”
Hmm…
“Is there something on my face, Mika-san?”
“No, not at all.”
Well, that was beside the point for now.
“Shall we proceed with the negotiations? Please, have a seat.”
The reason Lisia-chan was here was to invite merchants to Dead End. Without merchants, the people of Dead End couldn’t purchase essential goods.
Moreover, if there was nothing to sell, no one would visit that territory.
“Therefore, I would like to request that the esteemed OTK Trading Company send merchants to us…” Lisia-chan stated her request.
Show listened with a smile on his face.
“Then, let us agree that the OTK Trading Company will send merchants to Dead End on a regular basis!”
“W-Would that be alright?!”
“Yes, but there are conditions. I would like to receive the medicinal herbs and water that can be harvested in Dead End.”
“So, in exchange for the herbs and water, you will send merchants… is that correct?”
“Precisely! Isn’t it a splendid deal?”
“Yes! We have plenty of water and herbs to spare!”
“Excellent! Our trading company will be pleased, and the people of your territory will be pleased as well. It’s a win-win situation!”
…Sigh.
“What troubles you, Mika-san?”
“Don’t you think that’s rather childish?”
I had intended to remain a bystander, but Lisia-chan’s plight was too pitiful to ignore.
“What do you mean?”
“Your proposed terms are as follows: ‘Give me the medicinal herbs and water, and I will send merchants.’ Am I correct?”
“Indeed. It’s a good deal, is it not? We won’t even charge for the costs incurred while bringing the merchant’s wagon here, so we’re actually losing a bit in this arrangement.”
How shameless…
“The profits from the merchants selling in Dead End won’t even come back to Dead End.”
Lisia-chan finally realized the unfairness of his terms.
The OTK Trading Company would gain access to the high-quality water and herbs from Dead End, and they would be able to conduct business there.
“On the surface, it seems like you’re graciously accepting the other party’s request, but in reality, you’ve concealed the fact that you’re the only one profiting from this arrangement. You’re doing this to a child.”
That’s why I called it childish.
“I did not conceal anything. I simply did not mention it.”
He said this without a hint of remorse.
“Let’s make a deal. I will purchase the herbs and water from you. In return, you will send merchants.”
“Eh?” Lisia-chan exclaimed.
“No. That’s insufficient.”
“W-What?!”
Show sighed.
“You are quite demanding, aren’t you, Mika-san?”
“The potions from Dead End have a powerful healing effect, capable of restoring lost limbs. You understand the immense profit that could generate, don’t you?”
Yet, he was being stingy with his money.
“Then, what do you desire?”
“Send an alchemist. One who can produce potions in Dead End for sale.”
By having the OTK Trading Company produce potions to sell in Dead End, Lisia-chan and her people would profit.
“However, that leaves us with no benefit in this deal, does it?”
“You plan to buy the potions from us and resell them elsewhere, don’t you?”
“Fufufufu, ahahaha!”
Suddenly, Show burst into laughter.
“Ah… you are quite the formidable woman. I find you very likable!”
“I dislike people like you. I can’t tell what you’re thinking behind that facade, you liar.”
This guild master was hiding the biggest secret of all. Well, I had no intention of exposing it.
“So, to summarize the demands from Dead End… 1. Dispatch of merchants, and 2. Dispatch of an alchemist, correct?”
“That’s right. We have no intention of paying you anything.”
After all, he probably intended to siphon off the potions from Dead End.
“…Isn’t that a bit too presumptuous?”
Behind his round glasses, his silver eyes glared sharply at me.
“The initiative in this negotiation lies with us, the OTK Trading Company, you know?”
“Is that so?”
I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and placed it on the table.
“W-What is that?!”
Show leaned forward eagerly.
“Is that a Drifter?!”
“Yes.”
“Moreover, I’ve never seen a Drifter in such pristine condition! Amazing…!”
While Show’s eyes sparkled with excitement, Lisia-chan tilted her head in confusion.
“Mika-san, what is a Drifter?”
“It refers to items that wash ashore from another world.”
Occasionally, items from Earth—like appliances or books—drift in. Collectively, they are called Drifters.
Most of the time, they arrive broken, rendering them nearly worthless.
“Mika-san, is that not the smartphone that my ancestors possessed?!”
It was written in the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet).
Show Ida’s true identity, and what he would desire.
“This is a trade. I will give you this smartphone. In exchange… you will agree to all of our demands.”
“N-No, Mika-san…? What are you saying…?”
Lisia-chan interjected.
“There’s no way you can expect us to comply with all your demands for just a flimsy piece of board…”
“Agree to all demands!”
“Come on, agree to all demands… wait, wait, wait, wait, wait?!”
Lisia-chan’s face was one of shock. Naturally, from her perspective as a person from another world, this was nothing more than a piece of board.
It’s only natural to think that one piece of technology wouldn’t compel someone to comply with all your requests. But I knew better. I knew he was obsessed with items from other worlds.
“Negotiations are settled.”
I smoothly handed the smartphone to Show. It was a cheap, SIM-free smartphone I had bought from KAMIZON.
With just a few thousand KP, merchants from a major trading company and their resident alchemist would be dispatched to Lisia-chan’s territory. It was a significant profit.
“Now, Lisia-chan. Let’s seal the deal with a handshake.”
“Y-Yes!”
Lisia-chan stood up and shook hands with Show.
“That was a splendid negotiation! I hope you will continue to favor our trading company.”
“Y-Yes! Likewise!”
Alright, objective achieved.
“Let’s hurry back.”
Lisia-chan came over to my side and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Mika-san! Thanks to you, the negotiations went smoothly! I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Don’t mention it. I like children. Besides… I absolutely despise adults who bully children.”
I shot a glare at Show, who was feigning innocence, saying, “Who could you possibly be referring to?” It was clearly him.
“Well then, Mika-san. Until next time.”
“See you later, Prince.”
“?!”
～～～～～～
Show Ida di Madyukas
Second Prince of the Madyukas Empire.
He conceals his identity while serving as the guild master of the OTK Trading Company.
He has a keen interest in magic tools, particularly Drifters.
～～～～～～
I had known his true identity from the very beginning. That’s how I was able to steer the negotiations in my favor.
“…You are quite an interesting woman, aren’t you?”
Show removed his glasses, revealing a handsome young man with silver hair.
“W-What?! You transformed?!”
“You were disguised, weren’t you?”
Just like me.
The handsome prince, Show, approached me with a smile.
“Mika-san. How about becoming my fiancée?”
“Ehhh?!” Lisia-chan exclaimed.
I smiled sweetly and replied, “Absolutely not.”
“Whaaaaaaat?!”
Lisia-chan shouted in disbelief.
“That’s unfortunate. But I won’t give up.”
“Sorry, but I’m not considering marriage. Bye!”
I left the room with Lisia-chan and Hermes.
“Fufufu… Mika-san, you are quite the intriguing woman. I have taken a liking to you.”
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