The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 66

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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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***

An emergency strategy meeting was convened.

Emma, who was even more furious than I was, was fanning the flames when she suddenly asked.

“Hey, but when I think about it, isn’t this not really something we should be getting worked up about?”

“Why not, Guild Member Emma?”

“Because there’s no way she would have approved competing business operations, right? Everyone in this neighborhood knows how thorough Lady Helena is.”

Emma was right.

Ashen Street had a clause prohibiting competing business operations. It was a rule to protect guild members.

That’s why there were no overlapping shops on this street.

One bakery, one cobbler shop, one candy store.

So then?

“So that damn bastard who opened the pawnshop either forged a permit or is operating illegally! Then we can kick them out right away, right?”

However, Helena’s expression remained stern.

“That’s exactly the problem, Guild Member Emma.”

“Huh?”

“The prohibition on competing businesses only applies to this street specifically.”

“…Then?”

“The new pawnshop opened its doors right at the street boundary. They’re operating just barely outside the street!”

Emma’s expression crumpled in an instant.

“They really planned this out, they really did.”

“Right. Whoever it is planned their strategy quite meticulously. They used a clever trick so we couldn’t find fault with them.”

“Um, but…”

One guild member sitting at the end of the table raised their hand.

It was the mint-eyed man who owned the small candle shop.

“Isn’t this something we can’t help? We can’t do anything about them operating outside the street…”

“Something we can’t help. Yes, I suppose you could think of it that way.”

Helena’s eyes suddenly turned sharp as she answered.

“But would you say the same thing if a candle shop had moved in, Guild Member Luca?”

“Huh, what?”

“If, starting with that pawnshop, candle shops, bakeries, and cobbler shops started moving in one after another, would you still be watching and saying it can’t be helped?”

“Th-that’s…”

“The Merchant’s Guild isn’t just a social club, Guild Member Luca. We’re an interest group. We’re an organization that exists to protect this street.”

Helena emphasized her next words.

“Just like how we all worked together to prevent the crisis of guild members closing down one after another due to the permit situation.”

Luca was also someone who had almost had to close his shop due to lack of a guarantor.

He covered his mouth with a gasp and apologized.

“I’m sorry, I was thinking about it wrong…”

“I wasn’t trying to scold you. I explained it because we can’t have people misunderstanding. And look at this.”

Helena pulled out a flyer.

On the flyer with a photo of the new pawnshop prominently displayed:

[…An appraiser with 20 years of experience will personally appraise your items! Beware of similar businesses…]

“An appraiser with ’20 years of experience’ will ‘personally’ appraise items. Anyone can see this is advertising copy targeting Guild Member Elisha, right?”

“Similar businesses?! They’re the similar business! People who don’t know the situation might think that’s the original pawnshop in Mikele!”

“If they were just operating normally, I wouldn’t have convened an emergency strategy meeting. Anyone can see this is malicious black propaganda with dirty intentions!”

Emma slammed the table with a bang, and Helena clenched her fist with a grinding sound.

“The bigger problem is that we have a festival coming up soon.”

“Oh no, then…!”

“Even if Guild Member Elisha puts effort into promotion, we might just end up helping that shop!”

We can’t go around grabbing people and explaining that our shop is the original.

No matter how much we complain, people who don’t know well might just get tired of hearing it.

Moreover, location-wise, the new pawnshop is at the entrance of the street.

As Helena said, no matter how much we promote, people might notice the new pawnshop first.

“Looking at the timing, they really planned this whole thing out. To benefit from the festival. What should we do, should we reduce the festival’s scale a bit?”

“Oh dear, what about our Elisha. Should we explain on your behalf? Hm?”

“Should I cast a group dream spell?! I’ll make them dream of ghosts appearing in the new pawnshop!”

The guild hall was bustling with guild members worrying about me.

“Just who would do such a thing…”

Helena let out a deep sigh.

I, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.

“Um, I don’t think we need to worry about that part.”

“Huh?”

People’s gazes turned toward me.

The expressions of the guild members who had been looking at me strangely as I spoke calmly gradually changed.

“I think I know who did this.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. And let’s proceed with the festival as planned. Actually, I think it might be good to make it even bigger.”

I stood up and smiled brightly at the people who were staring at me blankly.

“If they’re making a big move, shouldn’t we fight fire with an even bigger fire?”

I flipped the whiteboard over and began writing down a new festival plan.

***

A little later.

“Yes, that should work!”

“It’s a new attempt, but let’s try it.”

“I like it too! I’ll help as much as I can!”

The worried expressions from earlier had disappeared, and I bowed to the people who were now admiring the plan.

“Thank you. You know that secrecy is essential for this new plan, right? So…”

“Don’t give them ammunition by unnecessarily snooping around the new pawnshop or making complaints. That’s what you mean, right, Guild Member Elisha?”

Helena, who had summed it up in one go, smiled.

“Yes, that’s a clean summary. As expected of Lady Helena.”

I gave a thumbs up and bowed once more.

“And thank you all, guild members, for caring about this as if it were your own business.”

“Hey, it’s Guild Member Elisha’s business, not just anyone’s.”

“It’s also for our street.”

“Cheer up! A pawnshop with no business ethics like that won’t even be competition!”

This is why Grandfather loved this street.

These were heartwarming words of encouragement.

People were flowing out like low tide after the meeting ended, and I was about to leave too.

“Um, I’m sorry about earlier. I said something unnecessary…”

Luca, who had been fidgeting in the corner, spoke to me.

I waved my hands dismissively.

“No, it’s fine. Thanks to that, others could hear the explanation too.”

It’s understandable that there could be misunderstandings.

Was he embarrassed? Luca’s cheeks were red.

He hesitated and then said quietly.

“Um, Lady Helena said not to give them ammunition, but… I still think you should find out how the new pawnshop is operating.”

“Ah, yes. I was actually thinking of sneaking around to spy on them myself.”

“Then it’s perfect since my shop is near that area! I’ll keep watch and let you know if I notice anything suspicious.”

“It would be even better if you help. Thank you, Luca.”

“Y-yes! Then I’ll be going now!”

Luca, whose already red cheeks had turned even redder, gave a greeting and ran off swiftly.

I guess he’s someone who gets embarrassed easily?

I scratched my eyebrow and checked the time.

‘There’s still some time left before opening. In that case?’

Strike while the iron is hot.

‘I should go spy on the New Pawnshop right away!’

Fortunately, I know an information gathering specialist.

I ran toward the Information Guild.

“Oh? I was just writing a telegram to send to Manager!”

William welcomed me.

Serving multiple glasses of juice and the cat quickly snuggling up to me – everything was the same as usual.

“Is it perhaps news about the New Pawnshop?”

“Yeah, of course! Ugh, this is so damaging to my pride. I only found out this morning too.”

William, who had stopped pouring juice and was grumbling angrily, pulled out some documents.

Wait, now that I think about it.

‘It’s obvious that the pawnshop is Rosaline’s doing.’

In my previous life, I could tell right away because Rosaline had shut down Grandfather’s pawnshop and opened her own.

It was called a pawnshop, but it was actually a slush fund laundering business for nobles.

This time it’s probably for a similar purpose. Along with being a scheme to shut down Grandfather’s pawnshop.

But the fact that William didn’t know about Rosaline’s pawnshop business means?

‘Rosaline isn’t getting street information through William?’

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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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