The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 67

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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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Looking at William jumping around in anger, it didn’t particularly seem like acting.

‘Asking him to deliver a letter to the Duke of Alchemiya was also partly to test whether information would leak from William. Seeing that Rosaline hasn’t come after me yet?’

William’s Information Guild seems to be quite capable.

Then how far can I request information?

As I was gauging this, William spread out documents in front of me with a flourish.

“But additional investigation is definitely not too late. Look at this.”

William pointed to a spot in the documents.

“The new pawnshop commissioned all the construction work separately, and even the person making the sign only found out this morning that it was for a pawnshop sign.”

“They deliberately hid it until right before opening.”

“You think that’s all? I even got my hands on the contract.”

“How on earth did you get that…?”

William made a smug expression.

“You’d lose sleep if you knew. Anyway, I had them look into the contractor written in this contract, you know?”

I focused on the contractor’s name that would come from William’s mouth. Who could it be?

“But it’s some 80-year-old old man living in a rural estate. He doesn’t have strength in his hands so he can’t even write his own name properly.”

“So someone borrowed that old man’s name and made a proxy contract?”

“Exactly!”

“More than that, where is this rural estate?”

I asked even though I knew the answer.

‘It must be Parnon where Hugo is.’

“It’s a county called Parnon. Stuck way out in the corner over there.”

As expected.

It became clear that this was Rosaline and Hugo’s doing.

‘Rosaline probably told him to put forward someone completely unrelated as the contractor, right?’

That bastard Hugo probably didn’t think deeply and just took a name from his estate’s resident list.

‘Well, thanks to that it became evidence.’

But to think he collected this much material in just a few hours?

When I looked at him with admiring eyes, William puffed up with pride.

“This much is basic.”

“Yes, what does it matter if it’s a little late? The foundation is this solid.”

“Don’t tease me, young manager…”

“I’m serious. Amazing, can I borrow these materials?”

“As much as you want. I’ll give you half price for this job.”

As I put the materials in a folder and drank juice, I asked casually.

“What kind of person is the lord of Parnon?”

I was curious how William would describe Hugo.

“Well. A pushover?”

Pfft.

I barely managed to hold back from spitting out my juice.

“Cough, why a pushover?”

“He’s someone completely controlled by his sister. If his sister told him to die, he’d probably pretend to die too. But he couldn’t actually die, he’s incredibly cowardly.”

“Who is this sister?”

“There’s this person, Baroness Rosaline Raum. Oh, maybe not baroness anymore? There were rumors that she’s practically finished with her husband the baron.”

‘Oh, so he found out even that?’

Since Rosaline wouldn’t have gone around talking about it herself, William’s information network must be quite solid.

I asked casually.

“Then could you look into people or carriages entering and leaving that pushover’s, I mean, Pagnon County? Since it’s a rural estate, suspicious people coming and going would probably stand out immediately.”

“Since the guy who borrowed the old man’s name for the contract must have been going in and out? Sure, why not. Actually, I was going to look into it even if you didn’t ask, since I’m pissed off, you know? But it’s even better if you make it an official request.”

Actually, there was no need to find out who made the proxy contract.

It would be Hugo anyway.

What I was curious about was the movements of the mage currently in Pagnon County.

If I make this request to William, I’ll definitely be able to get some clues.

‘Setting that aside for now.’

“What about Alter?”

Pfft.

This time William almost spat out his juice.

“Cough, why Alter?”

“I was curious about how the new pawnshop operates, so I wanted to request some spying. But I don’t see him around?”

“Ah, that, he’s originally a free spirit. I don’t know where he is either?”

He doesn’t know where he is?

Wasn’t William supposed to be managing the guild members?

When I tilted my head, William wiped the juice from his lips and cleared his throat.

“When I find Alter, I’ll tell him to come see you, manager.”

“Hmm, or you could introduce me to another trustworthy guild member…”

“Everyone’s busy, you see. Come, come! Hurry and go in!”

“Aren’t you being too obvious about kicking me out?”

“Usually people don’t ask such questions so directly…? Anyway, goodbye! Take care! I’ll send you the investigation results as soon as they come out!”

I was kicked out before I knew it.

‘Come to think of it, William’s attitude was strange last time too.’

Asking if Alter didn’t look scary, changing the subject whenever Alter was mentioned.

Are the two of them on bad terms?

Or is he saying that because, as William said, he’s a free spirit who can’t be controlled?

As I was walking while thinking, my foot caught on something.

‘Ugh, again?’

The statue in the middle of the street that I had tripped over last time was right in front of me.

It was the moment I was about to lose my balance and crash into it.

My arm was pulled swiftly.

“Seriously.”

Alter, holding some envelope in one hand, was looking down at me.

“This is the second time. When are you planning to start watching where you’re going?”

“Life is best of three, so maybe I won’t trip next time…?”

“Yeah right.”

I wondered why his voice sounded so close.

Because he had grabbed and pulled my arm, I was half-leaning against Alter.

But before I could even step back, Alter quickly turned his head and stepped away.

“Someone should just destroy that thing.”

“Me?”

“No, why would I do anything to you…”

Alter ran his hand down his face, glanced at the statue, and sighed.

“Never mind. What brings you here again?”

“Looking for Alter.”

Alter paused.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Actually, I was thinking about Alter earlier and that’s why I didn’t see that statue.”

So I’m confident I won’t trip next time!

…That’s what I meant to say, but Alter’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

“…Why were you looking for me, and why were you thinking about me.”

“Should we talk while walking? Over there, that way.”

When I pulled on Alter’s sleeve, the man as big as a door followed without resistance.

I headed toward a secluded alley.

‘I need to go this way since it’s a shortcut to the street entrance.’

Where would be a good place to watch the new pawnshop?

I was moving while drawing a map in my head when I heard Alter’s voice.

“You weren’t at the shop this morning.”

“Oh, did you need me for something? I had a lot of things to do this morning.”

“…What makes you so busy every single day?”

“Being busy is good, though today’s kind of busy is a bit much.”

Perfect.

There was an alley that was just right for hiding and watching.

It was a space where I could see the new pawnshop clearly, but I wouldn’t be visible from the pawnshop’s counter.

By the way, that shop….

‘It’s a complete copy of our pawnshop! The structure and interior are exactly the same!’

Ugh, my blood pressure is rising.

Grabbing the back of my neck, I gestured to Alter.

“Look, can you see that building?”

“If I can’t see it from this street, wouldn’t there be something wrong with my eyes? …Don’t tell me you can’t see it?”

Alter frowned and stared at me seriously.

Is he underestimating my eyesight, or is this a terrible joke….

I shook my head and pointed at the pawnshop.

“That’s not the point, look over there, it’s a pawnshop. They completely copied our shop.”

Because the alley was narrow, I had no choice but to stand close to Alter.

When I lifted my head with effort, it looked like I was leaning against his shoulder.

Maybe that’s why.

I could hear Alter’s heartbeat loudly.

“…But.”

“So of course! I need to spy on them. What their intentions are, who’s doing the appraisals and how. So, would you mind pretending to be a customer and checking out their situation?”

“Me, instead of you?”

“Yes. I’d like to go together if I could, but if I go, I’d stand out too much. Hmm, it would be nice if there was a magical tool that could change my appearance….”

At the mention of a magical tool that changes appearance, Alter suddenly pulled back.

Thanks to that, I staggered and looked up, wondering what was wrong.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Before I could even ask, Alter continued speaking.

“So you want me to act like a customer and find out about that establishment’s operating system?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll give you the commission fee later at the shop.”

“Forget it.”

“What?”

“I said it’s not necessary. The commission fee.”

Alter, who had been staring at me for a moment, handed me the bag he’d been carrying.

Thinking he wanted to straighten his clothes, I took it, but Alter just walked past me.

Then.

“Eat while you wait.”

He went straight into the pawnshop.

I watched Alter’s retreating figure in bewilderment and opened the bag to find.

“Wow….”

It was a cream bun filled with cherries.

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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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