098. Great Merchant
According to what I was told beforehand, the merchant named Tonerico is one of the five most prominent merchants in the world, let alone in Hanaria.
Why is such a big man in Hanaria―in Bele? The reason is,
「A family trip ......is it?」
It was fortuitous that we were able to arrange a meeting with him through Luia's contacts and with the promise of only half an hour, but...
(He seems to be a regular old guy you could see anywhere.)
He was about 40-plus years old, I guess? In addition to his fat body, only the top of his head was bald.
He is also a skilled conversationalist with a soft smile on his face.
We had just been having a lively conversation about his bragging about his wife and children and the hardships involved in raising them, and I asked him if he had any idea of an elf named Philly.
「If you are looking for someone, wouldn't it be better to submit a request to the Fixer Guild?」
It was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. However...
「But, despite that, the fact that you went out of your way to ask me for help――is there something "behind the scenes" about it?」
The somewhat friendly chatting scene began to feel tense as if there were pins and needles in the air.
(I knew this old man was no ordinary guy.)
He didn't do anything in particular.
He just made a slight change in his facial expression, and that was it.
I pondered how to start the conversation, and then
「For some reason, they are on a 'people search' that I cannot ask the Fixer Guild to help us with. One is the aforementioned elf named Philly. We have confirmation that she disappeared a few days ago near Bele. The other is the same elf, Stella, but we have no leads on her.」
「That is why we came to ask Tonerico-shi, who has his own information network as a "Great Merchant," if he has any ideas.」
「Hmmm. Even if you say that, my main job is a merchant――I'm not an informant, so I don't know the details.」
「You don't know "the details". But you have an idea―That's what you have in mind about the uncertainty of the source of the information?」(?)
「Hahaha. I am troubled by such a play on words, but even if I knew something, I would not be able to say "for free". I can't tell you anything unless you pay me a reasonable price.」
「To be frank, what do you want?」
When Luia says something so intrusive...
「What. What I want is――Osada-shi. It's you.」
Because he said it so abruptly, I involuntarily thought, "Did I mishear him?". However,
「I hear that you have a storage ability called "S-Dimensiob Stomach". From my point of view, if Osada-shi, who has such an ability, would come to me, I could gain several times more wealth and power than I have now―which, of course, from your point of view, it would not be an easy thing for you to take. Therefore――」
「Cooperate. In return, I will give you information, huh. What exactly do I have to do?」」
「Fufu. I appreciate your quick response, but you don't have to be so defensive. The contents of the offer are simply to "deliver the goods we have prepared to the Aegir defense base". ......that's all」
「To Aegir? But why―I mean, no. Excuse me. Please pretend you didn't hear that.」
I was about to go ahead and do it, but I restrained myself
All I need now is information about Philly and Stella, the elves. Other than that, it would be wise not to pry into unnecessary matters.
Tonerico-shi, who seemed to have understood my thoughts, affirmed with a satisfied "Quite fine, Quite fine" and then clapped his hands with a "Clap, clap" as a man entered the room from outside.
By the looks of him, he was probably around 30 years old? He was a sharp-eyed man in a dark gray suit ―he was a demon race.
(If I were to be more precise, I would say he was a 'half-demon'?)
The reason why I knew this was because I could sense a slight resemblance between him and the "Verine," a lower-class demon I had previously eaten.
His skin is pale and his eyes are slightly red.
Above all, even though he could feel what he was supposed to be controlling, he still couldn't hide his tremendous "Force"――
「Dolpone. Have Osada-shi transport the goods in Warehouse 7. Upon seeing to its success, provide him with "B Information". You may leave now.」
The half-demon called Dolpone gave a small nod and walked out of the room.
「............」
I noticed Tonerico-shi's gaze on me and after a few moments of hesitation,
「Osada-kun. Luia. I'm sorry, but can I leave the transportation business to you two? Once you get the information, I'll meet up with you in the village.」
「Eh? I don't mind, but――Yuuto. What about you?」
I wasn't sure how to respond, but...
「――No. Got it. Well then, Luia. Let's get the job done quickly~!」
With that, Osada-kun left the room with Luia.
Then, only the two of us remained in the room, me and Tonerico-shi
「Now then. Yuuto-dono. Why did you remain here――May I ask the reason for that?」
When I was asked that...
「You had been looking at me for something since a while ago, and I guess you must have done some research on me when you knew about [S-Dimension Stomach], which we were supposed to have told only some of the people involved. On top of that, maybe there is "something" that you can't talk about with other people――That's what I think.」
There was no need to change my tone or anything. I thought he might be offended by my rudeness, but...
「I see. I wonder if people from other worlds are all as quick-witted as you are.」
「Who knows. In my case, I seem to have a tendency to spin out of control, so I'm aware that I'm more dangerous than those single-celled people out there.」
「Certainly, according to my research, your actions and thoughts are quite "rough"―I may look this way, but I'm a good judge of faces in my own right. Two people except for Sansaoma――I had a chance to talk to otherworldly people featured in "Avengier" and "Japangu", but...... and it seems that the country of "Japan" is a very strange world.」
「So you mean to say that the two otherworlders you met also told you that they were Japanese?」
When I asked him, he nod his head.
「I have an 'ambition. As the saying goes, I have a dream to become the world's best merchant. ...... but this is quite difficult. In addition, two otherworldly people are also quite peculiar. One is obsessed with "absolute justice" and the other is obsessed with "Labyrinths". And――the otherworldly who was summoned to Sansaoma is, according to rumor, obsessed with "Folia"」
「And I, for some reason, am obsessed with "women"――」
「I hope you don't take offense to this, but I personally like your worldly ways. I also like the fact that you are faithful to your desires. Above all――your activity and growth rate from the time you were summoned to Hanaria to today are astonishing」
「I don't really get it myself, but ...... Is it abnormal after all?」
「Yes, it is. To put it bluntly, the way your level rises is not normal. The otherworldly man from Avengier was a very skilled fighter, but he was only level 18 when I met him three months ago.」
「In the first place, the level is only an evaluation by "Magmet, the God of Management"――That's what I have heard, though?」
「In that case, you have a higher evaluation by God than the three who were summoned by regular means―you could say that you are the center of attention, I guess?」
「That's――」
「Frankly speaking, if you are willing to cooperate with me, I would like to have a close relationship with you in the future, not only this time, ...... that's what I hope」
「For the fulfillment of your own dreams, too, is it?」
「Indeed. I have gathered together people who are skilled and talented in their own right, but as expected, there are no "otherworldly people" here. I don't know "what are you doing" or "where do you want to go", but――we can cooperate with each other, can't we?」
I gazed into Tonerico-shi's eyes without uttering a word. And then.
「If I come under your protection, you promise me reasonable treatment―and in exchange, you propose that I become your lapdog?」
「Sorry for the wording, but you can take it that way. I'm sure we can foresee more than enough profit for you as well.」
――It was too tempting a proposal.
I don't know much about him yet, but I'm sure he's a competent man.
Also, looking ahead to the future, it will be far easier to move with "investors (patrons)" than to move as "Fixers" or "Buster" as I have been doing up until now.
「――There are a few conditions, though. One, I will not follow any order or action that is against morals. Two, If you touch or use my companions without my knowledge or consent, I will kill you. Three. If you betray me or try to betray me, I will kill you.」
「Is that condition enough for you?」
I was a little taken aback by the fact that he accepted my condition surprisingly easily.
(No matter how it turns out, I won't be killed or anything――although it doesn't sound like he thinks so either.)
Or is it that this level of condition is already expected? It's just...
「To be honest, I'm not good at "trying to find out the hidden motive of each other" or anything like that. But then again, I'm not cool enough to pretend to be an outlaw. I'm just a brat, as you say, a vulgar, petty, cowardly, incompetent kid. If that's the case, it's easier for me if you use me well, at least to the point where I don't feel uncomfortable.」
In that sense, I feel that the big merchant in front of me probably knows how to use me.
I have no intention of pretending to be a free man forever, and I would be happy if we can expect mutual benefit.
I said, "I'm a capricious and moody cat person, but I'm looking forward to working with you." I held out my right hand, and Tonerico-shi smiled in satisfaction and took it.
「No, no, no. I must thank God for this day, I suppose! This is going to be a great step forward for my ambitions!」
「That's good to know.」
I did not know whether this choice of mine would prove to be a good or bad thing in the future, but I decided to join the big merchant Tonerico-shi.
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