Chapter 8

This is how Ramona and her party found the magic stone. In any case, the magic stone was not used by Ramona and her companion, but dedicated to the Imperial Family, so it would be okay for me to use it in advance.

“It’s true, right?”

“Of course it’s true.”

The man in the mask had dubious face. It seems a little suspicious to hear such a specific information. But as it is true, it was not so long that my gaze met the man’s eyes.

“We received your information. But we can’t pay you right now, because we can’t immediately verify the information.”

“Then….?”

“You have to give me a piece of security. And when the information turns out to be true, we returned the collateral and deposit the information fee.”

“I see. Here’s the collateral.”

I took a ruby out of the package and placed it down in front of the masked man.

The man picked up the ruby with his hands in white gloves and examined it.

“Ho … it’s quite a high quality. It’s a rare for a ruby with this reddish color. You must have been confident in your information.”

“Yes.”

“All right. So what do we do when we give back the collateral? Would you like to come and get it yourself or would you like to send someone? It’s a small tip for sending someone.”

“There is one thing I want to ask for. Cash-flowing and opening up a bank account. If the information is confirmed, please deduct the request fee from the ruby values and put the rest into an open account.”

Money is important.

Now that Marianne knew that I could interact with others in a good way, I knew that luxury items like dresses could be adapted to some extent, but I still had to hold the cash that I could use in case of emergency.

I knew when and what would happen. The possibility of being framed like my brother and kicked out to the street overnight is not zero person.

I also needed an account to keep the money.

It might be worrisome to have a large amount of money in person, and if I want to go around without a guard like today, I’d better get a check from the bank than a heavy purse.

But since I’m still a minor, I had to have Marianne’s presence in order to open a bank account under the name of Adriana Crescente.

It was an account to keep the emergency money, so it couldn’t be made in front of Marianne.

“Sure. How’s your depository name?”

“….Riana. Can I pick up the deposit book when I need it?”

“Please do so.”

The deposit book, or a small package of paper, also called a bankbook, is a kind of confirmation that it had its own account, and was also intended to record the use of the account.

“Confirming the information will take less than 3 days, but disposal of the magic stone will take time. We need to think about it to get the maximum benefits. I want you to know that.”

“You can pay for the information in less than three days, but you’re not sure when you’ll be able to pay for the sale of the magic stone?”

“Yes, you understand quickly. I don’t think there will be any trouble.”

“It’s no other place, it’s the Magnolia Trade, so I don’t have to worry.”

“Of course. Do you have any questions?”

There was one more question.

This was completely different topic from before. The reason was pretty clear.

“Is Black Town very dangerous? I’m thinking of going there.”

The man’s lips under the mask were visibly stiffened.

Black Town is an unlawful area on the outskirts of the capital, and was not affected by the Emperor.

It’s a place full of gambling houses such as casinos and decadent bars where decent and respectable people will never enter.

Rumor has it that this place is managed by a demon.

Since the laws of the Empire do not work, it’s reasonable to assume that the manager is not human.

Come to think of it, if the demon is in that place, then maybe the demon’s prince is there….

“You’re not trying to get your hands on gambling, are you? Once you step in, it’s hard to get out.’

“No way. You don’t have to go to the Black Town to the gamble area.”

In order not to bring out the people who went bankrupt out of gambling, the country was managing restrictions on gambling, making it impossible to bet a large sum of money. Beyond that limits, no more gambling houses were allowed.

However, the story was different if it was the Black Town where the imperial power can not intervene.

Those seeking a lump sum of money headed for Black Town with a fortune, but the majority end up ruining their lives with an unaffordable light.

I have no clairvoyance, and I didn’t intend to spend my money on anything as obscure as gambling.

I was going to the Black Town because of the possibility that there will be a magic stone there. But I couldn’t say that yet.

“Then it’s just a curiosity?”

“….Let’s just say that for now. Anyway, I’m thinking of going to Black Town, but I’m hesitant to go there alone because there’s so many bad rumors. If it’s a place where I need a guard, I’d like to ask for a reliable escort.”

“Of course you need an escort. You shouldn’t expect the security of the Empire in Black Town. Three or more are needed at night, and one skilled person is enough during the day.”

“I’m going in the daytime.”

“All right. Let’s have the escort ready for the day you’re going.”

Everything is done. I packed up my share of the contract, and left the basement behind with the help of a masked man.

✴️✴️✴️

As Adriana left the basement, a man appeared in the dark.

He sat on one knee and said politely.

“Your Excellency.”

Being called Your Excellency, the masked man took his mask off and placed it on the table.

The cool features of his face were revealed.

Although it was an aristocratic and graceful appearance, his intensely powerful eyes showed that he was in the position of leading many.

The masked man was the owner of the Magnolia Trade, Count Kenneth Relampago.

“Why did you come out, Teil? Do you have anything to report?”

“Shall I look back?”

“….the woman who just left? That’s enough. It’s my own business ethic not to dig into my customer’s personal identity.”

“She’s suspicious.”

“It’s rare to find someone who isn’t suspicious visit this place.”

Kenneth put the cigar in his mouth in a casual manner.

Although he was a young man in his mid-twenties, he has lived through a hard times, not a well-grown nobleman, and even the single gesture of biting the cigars made him an adult charm.

Teil didn’t back down.

“The hair that I saw under the hood was black. Black hair is rare among humans, but it’s quite common among the demons.”

“You’re saying she might be a demon?”

“Yes, and besides the information she sold is about the magic stone. If it’s a trap sets by the demons….”

“You have a point.”

Kenneth tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers as he smoked the cigar. When he heard it, he couldn’t let it go.

Among the nobles in the capital, the only black haired family was the House of Duke Crescente, and among humans dark hair was rare.

Not as rare as that, but there was no doubt that it’s uncommon. That makes she is more likely to be a demon.

Kenneth was not a closed-minded person who refused to trade just because the other party was a demon. However, it was strange that a demon sold the information about the magic stone.

The demons and humans can live together in other part of the world, but only in terms of the magic stone, they can’t find any compromise.

“Go. Just check if she’s a demon or not.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Teil silenced himself into the darkness again.

Kenneth recalled the little girl sitting on the opposite side until a while ago.

The pink eyes were nervous. Although she tried to look calm, she was as transparent as looking into a clean lake for Kenneth, who raised the stakes by dealing will all kinds of people.

“It was like my eyes back then.”

Count Relampago, a small upperclass, managed to make ends meet, but his grandfather’s business began to falter so much that his father had to sell the company with only a little light left on him.

Born of a businessman and adventurous spirit, Kenneth jumped on his own feet and brought the family business back on track.

Although it took some time, but the fallen aristocracy, who had nothing, ended up being the continent’s foremost financier.

The young self who knew that his house was going to be ruined and he was going to be thrown out on the stress, and decided to do something about it.

The light of determination reflected in the eyes like a mirror.

Such a light was also seen in the girl’s eyes.

It was underground so there was a little bit of a stale smell, but now there was something like a sweet smell of raspberry on the place where she sat.

Kenneth grinned.

If you have a good face, you just say that you are a lady who haggles over price on the market.

It wasn’t until an hour later that Teil had returned.

“It’s later than I thought. I thought you’d be back soon.”

“She didn’t take off the hood right away.”

“She’s a very careful woman.”

“Yes, and to begin with, she wasn’t a demon.”

The demons had soft ears. It was not as long as an elf, but its shape was kind of sufficient. The ears of the woman Teil identified were round ears, which were usually the same as humans.

“Well, and this is my own judgement, but I don’t think the information about the magic stone is false.”

“How do you know that?”

“She went into a store that the common people used. It seemed to me that she didn’t have enough money to make a purchase at a small clothing store. I thought that a person who couldn’t afford such a cheap clothes wouldn’t sell false information by putting a precious jewelry as collateral.”

“You’re right. The jewels aren’t in possession of criminal activity.”

“It wasn’t a tough-grown look, so it could be a noblewoman’s maid.”

“Yes, a maid can have a piece or two jewelry. Maybe she’s raising independent funds?”

“It could be the owner’s division.”

Ruby was a little less valuable than diamonds and emerald. Of course, for the commoners, it’s a piece of ruby or diamond. But if you work in noble household, the enshrined jewel was the most generous present the owner could offer as a gift.

This was quite a big reddish piece, so it was a rare among rubies, but if the owner was wealthy….

Kenneth nodded and put the documents Adriana signed in a locked drawer. It was a drawer for an important contract.

“How is the preparations for the textile business?”

“It’s smooth. The cotton kingdom is also cooperative in exports.”

“What’s the trend of the Duchess of Crescente?”

“It doesn’t seem to notice at all. You know, Marianne Crescente only talks, because she never actually done anything.”

There are several projects that have been done by the Duchess of Crescente. One of them was the cotton textile business.

The distribution of cotton in the Empire was almost monopolized by the Duchess Crescente, now Kenneth was trying to break the monopoly.

With the distribution network was already in place, pioneering a new route was impossible without some financial resources and connections, but even if it were possible, most would have tried to avoid the Duchess’ eyes.

But he was a businessman before he was a nobleman.

“Surely His Majesty will not interfere.”

“Didn’t you start because you knew he won’t? No matter how he cares about the Duchess of Crescente, he won’t stop the legitimate business.”

“That’s not all. The tax we pay is huge.”

“And so is he.”

“Now, then, I’ll get ready to grab a big one. Teil, I want you to set up a reconnaissance team to send to Mount Broke and report it.”

“All right.”