The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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You have some responsibility for following me, you know?

I was about to say that but stopped myself. My forehead hurt, and I needed to gather up everything that had spilled from my bag first.

But Alter moved first.

He stared at the scattered self-defense magical devices for a moment, then sighed and put them back in the bag before handing it to me.

“Take it.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go. Weren’t you going back to your pawnshop?”

Well, yes, but why are you…?

Perhaps worried I might say something nonsensical again, Alter added:

“I’m accompanying you because I have business to attend to.”

“Business? With me?”

“Yes. We still have something to settle.”

Ah, could it be that?

“How much does it cost to rent a customer for an hour?”

Remembering what I’d said at the auction house, I nodded.

Right, he’s from the Information Guild that operates on money, so he wouldn’t just let it slide. How much will he charge?

I took the bag and bowed politely.

“Thank you for picking up my bag. I was wondering why you were following me.”

“It’s absolutely not because I was worried and chased after you, so don’t get any unnecessary ideas.”

“I didn’t say that?”

“You definitely had the look of someone about to say that.”

Not this time though.

I shrugged and walked ahead.

I heard a voice from behind me.

“Did something happen?”

“Something happen? Oh my, you really are concerned about me…?”

“I’m not asking because I’m interested in you.”

“Then what reason do you have to ask?”

Alter frowned and sighed.

“I only asked because you’re carrying a bag full of self-defense magical devices. You run a shop on Ashen Street, and I’m affiliated with the Information Guild, so if something’s happening on this street, I need to know about it.”

Ah, so that’s why?

It was a reasonably understandable reason. I answered indifferently.

“Nothing special happened.”

What’s the point of mentioning that a thief came by?

“But you bought a bunch of self-defense magical devices?”

“There’s nothing wrong with buying them. If I have them, I’ll find a use for them someday.”

“Shouldn’t you hope you never have to use such things? Do you have enemies or something?”

“Enemies can appear anytime. Isn’t it better than regretting later when you need them but don’t have them?”

“From what I can see, your greatest enemy isn’t anyone else but yourself for not watching where you walk.”

My greatest enemy is myself, huh.

That’s accurate. I was nodding seriously while recalling the spray incident when the voice behind me got closer.

Alter, who had been walking behind me, came to my right side.

“Are you sure absolutely nothing happened?”

“Hmm, now that I think about it, something did happen.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Well, the day I met you at the auction house. The day it rained heavily in the morning.”

Alter’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…I remember. What about it?”

“I checked just in case, and the roof on the top floor was leaking? I definitely paid to have it fixed, but I guess it couldn’t handle the downpour. So I had to rush to buy materials and repair it, which was quite a struggle. But now I’ve fixed it well enough that it should be fine even if a typhoon comes…”

My steps stopped as I was talking and walking.

Because Alter had blocked my path.

‘Is there another step or something? Why does this person keep blocking the way? Just say it with words.’

What is it this time? I looked up at him, puzzled.

Then Alter asked quietly in a somewhat subdued voice:

“Is that pawnshop precious to you?”

It was such an unexpected question that I laughed.

I was about to answer that of course it was precious.

Then he added:

“…Precious enough that you’d cry sadly if even the slightest thing went wrong with it?”

Alter had a somewhat complicated expression.

“Uh, yes. Of course.”

I tried imagining the pawnshop collapsing, as Alter with his surprisingly vivid imagination suggested.

It was a scenario I didn’t even want to imagine, but if it really did collapse, would I just cry sadly?

I’d definitely roll around wailing.

I nodded in that sense. But why is he asking such a question?

‘It must be for information gathering purposes?’

I looked up at Alter, who still had a complicated expression despite my answer. Our eyes met.

‘Is he scary?’

Setting aside personal likes and dislikes, I have to acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.

I’m not sure about scary, but I can tell he’s quite good-looking.

As I stared at him for a while, his ears seemed to turn a bit red.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something different about me?”

I couldn’t say, “People said your face was scary, so I took a look.”

And you don’t usually voice evaluations of other people’s faces anyway. Whether it’s good or bad.

So I answered briefly.

“I was wondering why we weren’t moving.”

“Ah, right.”

Alter cleared his throat and turned around, walking ahead.

‘Come to think of it, the atmosphere does seem a bit different from usual?’

I looked at Alter’s back.

His legs are very long. I don’t know if it’s from exercising a lot or natural, but his shoulders are broad too.

By the way, doesn’t that shirt look a bit small on him?

Tilting my head, I arrived at the pawnshop.

“Shall we negotiate then? When I asked William, he said simple requests start at 100,000 gold. Since the work at the auction house was short, how about 200,000 gold including success fee?”

“There’s something I want to tell you first.”

I was about to start negotiations with a defensive price when Alter cut me off.

Is he going to appeal about how much he suffered? Even so, I have no intention of raising it above market price.

Let me hear it first, I thought, and gestured with my eyes.

“Go ahead. What is it?”

“What you can request from the Information Guild isn’t just information.”

I didn’t quite understand.

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand his words. I was puzzled about why he was telling me this.

Perhaps interpreting my expression as the former, Alter rubbed his face and spoke:

“It means we can also handle requests, arrangements, or personnel mediation. You can request security or crime prevention personnel when needed.”

“Oh…”

“Of course, even when the pawnshop ceiling gets damaged.”

“Aha.”

‘So it was a sales pitch?’

Since I received networking information from William for free, it would be proper to handle simple requests beyond just gathering rumors.

Originally, favors are meant to be exchanged, and if you want to do business, you need to become friendly with the surrounding merchants.

And the fact that Alter said that means he listened carefully to what I said, right?

‘He’s doing good work. Even if it’s for promotional purposes, he’s still showing consideration.’

“Thank you, I’ll contact you again if we have another unfortunate leak.”

“One more thing. Didn’t you ask William earlier about external consultants? Whether there’s someone who knows weapons well.”

“Yes, I did.”

Who was he planning to recommend? I was thinking when.

Ahem.

Alter cleared his throat and arrogantly crossed his arms.

“I’ll take on that job.”

“Pardon…?”

It is a recommendation.

The problem is it’s a self-recommendation.

Perhaps taking my bewildered question as a request for verification, Alter narrowed his brow.

“You remember what I was looking for, don’t you.”

“Stolen goods.”

“Not that, other characteristics.”

“A one-handed sword with pearls embedded in the handle.”

“I was assigned that job because I know weapons well.”

Alter tilted his head and spoke in a flat tone.

“We were supposed to negotiate compensation. My condition is simple. You’ll consult me about weapons. You have no choice.”

After ending his words decisively, Alter stared at my face and added somewhat slowly.

“To create an excuse to come see you, something like that…”

“Of course not. Naturally.”

Alter paused at my words.

He blinked several times, then nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Right. It’s not.”

I thought I understood why Alter was acting this way.

‘He must really want to see the 2nd Floor Weapon Collection.’

He probably doesn’t believe what I said about not dealing in stolen goods.

He seems to want to see the weapons on the 2nd floor directly, even if it means making a work contract with me. That’s the only way I could think of it.

But his persistent attempts didn’t feel particularly bad.

Like William, Alter was also doing his job. Since he’s an Information Guild member, it’s perhaps natural that he wouldn’t readily believe my words and would dig deeper.

“You’re taking a long time to think. I said you have no choice, and it’s not a proposal that would harm you, is it? It would be reasonable to accept quickly.”

“That’s right. What reason would I have to hesitate.”

So what can I do?

I have to do my job too.

“So I refuse.”

I smiled brightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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