Chapter 10 …
Zararak—!
“This… I think I’ll need an explanation for this, Tania.”
I pushed the sack I had placed on the merchant lord’s office floor toward him.
It was so heavy I couldn’t even lift it, and I had only managed to drag it here with great difficulty.
“Lord Ageratum Merchant, shall we make a contract?”
“A contract?”
The merchant lord, who had just moments ago looked dazed, now straightened up with a spark of interest in his eyes.
“How far did you investigate, customer?”
Even knowing my abilities weren’t ordinary, it wasn’t easy for an adult to treat a child like this.
The merchant lord truly seemed born with the instincts of a businessman.
“I’m talking about the grain purchase deal to prepare for next year’s famine. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity either.”
“Well, if you’re investing, it increases the credibility of the information, and I have no reason to refuse. But where would you get the money…?”
The merchant lord shot me a look that clearly said, ‘You didn’t take it from the house you’re staying in, did you?’
I shrugged lightly and pointed at the sack on the floor.
“I gathered it myself over the past few weeks, so please open it.”
“Oh? Now I’m curious what you brought that makes you so confident.”
Still speaking lightly, the merchant lord opened the sack—and his eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mana stones? Good heavens, and they’re top-grade purity! How did you get these…!”
“My abilities are quite versatile, you see.”
Seeing the satisfying reaction from him, I curled my lips into a smile.
It had been three weeks since Uncle Aiden left the house to handle urgent matters.
During that time, I had roamed the monster-infested mountains and brought back high-purity mana stones from a mana spot that would be discovered in the future.
I remembered its location because the Empire would later conduct a large-scale monster subjugation to obtain the mana stones there.
Luckily, it was close to the capital, so I could go there and back quickly.
Ah, you’re wondering how someone with almost no combat ability managed to mine mana stones in a forest full of monsters?
Of course, I abused save-load like crazy and avoided every place where monsters appeared.
I smiled leisurely and opened my mouth.
“So, do you accept the deal?”
The merchant lord already looked half possessed, but he asked out of courtesy.
“Tania, I’m not foolish enough to kick away a blessing that’s come rolling into my lap.”
“Oh, by the way, I’m not here to trade these mana stones.”
“…What? Then?”
“The place where I found these is actually private land. It’s a monster-infested area, so even the owner can’t do anything about it and is struggling with it.”
It was like a piece of land swarming with wild beasts on Earth.
In other words, for the owner it was worthless land that couldn’t be sold and only drained property tax every year.
“If you bring up a monster-byproduct business and offer to buy the land, they’ll welcome it with open arms.”
This might make price negotiation a bit disadvantageous, but it would avoid suspicion that something valuable was buried there.
“I’ll tell you where the land is. Confirm that mana stones are buried there, then resell it or mine it yourself.”
“You… you knew the location of land where such high-purity mana stones are buried?”
“Yes. Instead, I’d like you to use the profit from that to purchase grain, and give me a percentage.”
A big fish!
That expression was clearly written on the merchant lord’s face.
I didn’t miss the moment and pushed the mana stones forward with a bright smile.
“Consider this a bonus.”
Originally, it was both proof that I knew the location of mana stone deposits and also a goodwill gesture toward the merchant lord.
As expected, his eyes were dripping with greed as he looked at the mana stones.
Better finish negotiations before that goodwill effect wears off.
“So, what ratio are you thinking, Lord Ageratum Merchant?”
“I’ll have quite a lot of work to do. Buying the land where the mana stones are buried. Converting the mana stones into money. Buying grain. Storing grain, and so on. Especially the monster disposal costs…”
His words grew longer and longer.
And the longer people talk, the more likely the outcome becomes unfavorable for me, so I cut him off.
“So, the ratio?”
“Tania, this isn’t something that can be decided immediately…”
“Ratio.”
“…How merciless. Then how about a 5 to 5 split of net profit after fees?”
See? Push him a little and it comes right out.
He already had a number in mind from the very beginning.
With a very serious expression, I asked,
“Who gets the 5?”
“……”
Looking at his speechless face, I shrugged.
“I guess I can’t joke with you, huh, Merchant Uncle.”
“…Anyone would’ve been fooled looking at your young face.”
“Hehe.”
Anyway, 50% of net profit was far more generous than expected.
“I thought you’d demand at least 70% starting from full delegation.”
The merchant lord laughed heartily while stroking the mana stones.
“Haha! I’m not foolish enough to cut open the belly of a goose that lays golden eggs.”
“That’s a good principle.”
Honestly, I had planned to squeeze as much as I could… but seeing him give ground so willingly changed my mind a little.
“Alright. Let’s draw up the contract based on what you just said.”
“Wait! What if, worst case, the monster density on that land is so high that costs exceed profits and we go into the red?”
That was certainly possible, since it had been part of a large-scale monster subjugation in the future.
“As I said, you can always resell the land at a high price. And…”
I narrowed my eyes into a crescent smile.
“A merchant’s duty is to minimize risk, yes—but if you can’t even handle that level of risk, you can’t call yourself a merchant.”
It meant: if you’re scared, don’t sign and step away.
I can always find someone else to deal with.
Sensing the hidden meaning in my smile, the merchant lord quickly chimed in to avoid losing the deal.
“Haha, yes! You’re absolutely right. Then shall we prepare the contract, customer?”
With a warm smile, the merchant lord swiftly began drafting the contract.
I discussed the finer details with him as we wrote it up.
Thanks to how smoothly we communicated, the contract was completed in one go.
“Oh, come to think of it, you’ve become much prettier since I last saw you, Tania.”
Well, that was only natural.
Nearly two months had passed since arriving in the capital.
In that time, my previously starved body had filled out slightly, and my once-dry hair had gained shine from being combed daily with oil.
My long pale pink hair fluttered like cherry blossoms with every step, and my clear eyes now glowed with a distinct amber light.
I looked completely different from the street orphan I once was.
I couldn’t hide my pleased expression and smiled brightly.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve been loved.”
“Hah, you speak so beautifully for a child… unlike my own son.”
The merchant lord muttered to himself, saying he should’ve had another daughter, then suddenly remembered something.
“Right! What did you talk about with Ron the other day?”
“Uh… I don’t remember saying anything particularly meaningful. Why do you ask?”
He shook his head as if he couldn’t deal with it.
“Ever since your visit, the boy’s been out of his mind. He keeps asking who you are and where you live.”
“Haha, then I guess I shouldn’t show myself in front of Ron until he cools down.”
“He’s not angry. It’s actually the opposite.”
“…The opposite?”
At that moment, the office door swung open, and someone stormed in as if protesting.
“Hey! If you came, shouldn’t you at least say something?!”
Uh oh. I’ve been caught by Ron.
Thinking I couldn’t slip away quietly now, I turned around—
And Ron, meeting my eyes, flinched and rubbed them hard.
“…Who?”
Who?
What did he mean, who?
I blinked for a moment, then a possibility came to mind. With a cautious expression, I asked,
“Pretty boy, have I changed so much you can’t recognize me?”
