The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 30

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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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“Right? A festival is being held on our street!”

The general meeting’s agenda was precisely about the festival.

‘Of course, our shop won’t make big money from the festival.’

Given the nature of a pawnshop, we couldn’t hold discount events or giveaway promotions.

I also considered a free appraisal event, but that was obviously impossible.

I only have one body, and I couldn’t handle all the appraisal requests that would flood in like a tide.

That’s when Hanna’s words came to mind.

“Wow, I never dreamed such a place existed in the Capital City. If I had known, I would have come much sooner!”

Hanna spent a whopping 2 million gold in one visit.

There must be other potential customers like Hanna who could spend big money but don’t know about the pawnshop or hesitate to visit due to high entry barriers.

In that case?

‘I should use the festival as a promotional platform. That’s far more valuable than immediate money.’

I had already thought of all the methods.

This was the first festival to be held on Ashen Street.

‘Everyone will gossip about what kind of festival could be held in such a gloomy place. But even negative mentions are still mentions.’

It was essentially free noise marketing. The attention would be tremendous.

If executed properly, it was an opportunity to attract far more customers than word-of-mouth could ever bring.

“I’m really excited. When the festival happens, lots of customers will come, right? I hope people come and buy lots of shoes from our shop.”

“I’m incredibly excited too. Well then, see you at the Guild Hall later!”

The customer who sold the stamps was the Manager of the shoe shop.

After seeing her off with a smile and organizing the safe, I jumped up at the sound of a ding.

“It’s a telegram!”

The end of the paper coming out of the telegraph machine was stamped with the Information Guild mark.

‘William has already started working. That’s fast.’

I took out the spray that William had sent separately with the telegraph machine.

It was a special solution. The text would only be visible while the paper was soaked in the solution, and would return to blank when the solution evaporated. Quite a decent security strategy.

What content could be in the telegram?

Expectantly spraying it with a hiss, I frowned at the revealed text.

Hello, young Manager. In case you’re expecting it, let me say upfront that this telegram isn’t about rumors among the nobles.

However, as a Street Merchant’s Guild member, this is something you absolutely must know, so I’m sending it urgently.

What kind of news could it be?

Reading the subsequent content with curiosity, I had no choice but to agree with William’s words.

The Imperial Palace is issuing new permit forms to merchants.

So, if you can’t comply with the new permit forms, you’ll have to go through closure procedures.

The problem is that the grace period is very short, and above all, there’s talk of Ashen Street being prioritized for implementation.

‘Closure if you can’t get a permit?’

Since this happened at dawn today, I haven’t obtained the changed conditions yet, but I have a bad feeling about it.

I knew the higher-ups didn’t like this street much, but this is too serious, don’t you think?

Anyway, prepare yourself mentally. That’s all for now.

Folding the telegram, I sighed deeply and ran my hand through my hair.

Something came to mind. I immediately thought of what happened just a few days ago.

‘This feels similar to the banned book scheme. Pretending to be legal while trying to do shady things. The fact that higher-ups need to be involved to make this happen, could this also be…’

What if this was another scheme Rosaline was orchestrating targeting my pawnshop?

Biting my lip, I immediately sent two telegrams.

One was to William. It asked him to tip me off if he found out who argued for revising the laws related to permit forms.

And the other one was.

‘Hanna. She said she was a document officer at the Imperial Palace. Permit documents would have passed through Hanna’s hands too!’

I sent it to Hanna.

A telegram asking if she could let me know the permit forms in advance left my hands.

While waiting for a reply, I recalled the information I knew about Rosaline.

‘Hugo is simply afraid of Grandfather, but Rosaline is different.’

In my previous life, when I wouldn’t sign until the end, Hugo brought other relatives.

The most notable person among them was Rosaline. Not because of her cold appearance.

She didn’t even look at me and passed by, heading straight to Grandfather.

I could never forget what Rosaline said while looking down at Grandfather, who lay sleeping unable to wake up.

“Haha! Uncle, you would end up like this after all!”

What appeared in Rosaline’s eyes as she spoke with a voice full of madness was clear triumph.

‘Rosaline had an inferiority complex toward Grandfather. Even after Grandfather was excommunicated and left, his presence would have remained strong.’

The family’s status had fallen unlike when Grandfather was there. And the ruined finances.

I could clearly see Rosaline, who instead of trying to overcome this, burned with jealousy and inferiority toward Grandfather.

‘He must have seemed like an insurmountable wall for life. When such a person was lying sick, she must have felt as if she had won.’

How hellish must those three years spent with such a woman have been for Grandfather, in his state of incomplete memory.

I clenched my fist tightly.

It was when the paper crumpled miserably in my hand.

“Are you open for business?”

A voice was heard.

Looking up, a man was standing at the door.

I was a bit flustered. Not because he appeared suddenly, but…

‘Ow, so bright.’

It was because my eyes were literally dazzled looking at the man.

Was it because his vivid blonde hair was reflecting sunlight? Or because he was wearing pure white clothes?

Light that looked like a halo at first glance was surrounding him.

Anyway, quickly shaking my head, I swiftly put on my business smile.

Mood shouldn’t become attitude, after all.

“Yes, we’re open. Hello, have you been waiting long?”

“Not at all. May I look around the shop?”

‘Wow, this is the first time I’ve had such a polite customer.’

Unlike someone else, keeping such a well-mannered customer standing!

I gathered all my kindness and gestured.

“Of course. Please look around as much as you’d like.”

“Then excuse me.”

As the man entered the shop, the light that had been circling around him disappeared like magic.

Was it really because of the sunlight?

I watched the customer slowly looking around the shop.

‘He’s like some prince.’

The man had blonde hair and sea-colored eyes. The color of a very deep blue sea with a tinge of turquoise.

He was quite tall and dressed in pure white clothes, so he looked exactly like a prince who had jumped out of a fairy tale.

This was just my opinion from someone who grew up watching Cerberus, so I’m not sure if it’s an objective assessment.

‘Hmm, come to think of it, aren’t those clothes a knight’s uniform?’

The high-ranking knights I saw in newspapers all wore uniforms with various fancy ornaments.

The man before me had only one accessory—a large golden brooch—so I wasn’t quite sure.

But looking more closely, I could tell. Seeing the strap for hanging a ceremonial sword, it was definitely a dress uniform.

Which meant?

‘Could he be conducting an investigation…!’

Grandfather had told me. Sometimes knights come to request cooperation with investigations.

Judging by his few accessories, this man must be a low-ranking knight?

‘If he’s investigating something, I should cooperate.’

I was rummaging through my business card case when I looked up to find the man had somehow gotten closer.

I hadn’t even sensed his presence—when did he approach?

I put on my business smile, but the man was looking at his own brooch, not at me.

‘Strange. The brooch is blinking.’

The man stared at the flickering light on his brooch and let out a short sigh.

For just a moment, a complex expression crossed his face that had been picture-perfect but emotionless.

An expression as if he was enduring something.

‘Is being a low-ranking knight tough?’

Soon regaining his impassive demeanor, the man spoke.

“Are you the owner of this place?”

“Yes, what about it?”

Well, it is physical work, so it must be difficult.

Maybe he’s looking for weapons or magical tools to help with training?

“I see.”

However, his next words made me think otherwise.

Prince my ass, I must have guessed wrong.

“Under whose permission are you conducting business here?”

‘…This bastard isn’t a knight.’

He must be a thug…

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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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