The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 69

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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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“Let me get straight to the point. That guy is indeed an appraiser. He succeeded in appraising the watch I gave him.”

“Really?”

“But his professional ethics are complete garbage.”

“…Professional ethics?”

“Here, this is the watch I gave him. Try appraising it yourself. Keep in mind that it’s broken.”

Alter, frowning, handed me the watch.

Since I happened to have my tools with me because of the hourglass, I carefully disassembled the watch.

“Let’s see… I’ve checked the dial and hands. The ruby on the crown is also a real gem… I’ve checked the movement too. It’s authentic.”

“So, what’s the appraisal value?”

“It’s a discontinued model but a popular watch, so I could offer up to 4.5 million gold.”

Alter raised one eyebrow.

“Even though it’s a broken watch?”

“It’s just stopped, not completely broken. Here, if we just replace this part called the hairspring and apply some lubricant, it’ll be a usable watch. Everything else is fine.”

Hah.

Alter let out a hollow laugh and ran his hand through his hair.

“How much do you think that guy quoted for this watch?”

“Hmm. Including the repair costs, about 4.3 million gold? If he wanted some profit, up to 4 million gold would be…”

As I was calculating while reassembling the watch, Alter bluntly spoke up.

“300,000 gold.”

“What?!”

“The purchase price that so-called appraiser quoted was 300,000 gold. He said that normally a broken watch would be worthless, but he’d make a special purchase as an opening commemoration.”

“He said that to you of all people? He’s got some nerve, really.”

Alter glanced back at the pawnshop and spoke mockingly.

“What’s even more ridiculous is that when I refused, he started reading the room and raised the purchase price. 300,000 gold became 2 million gold in an instant.”

“Even so, he was trying to rip you off for half price. Plus, he adjusts his business based on who he’s dealing with?”

“Do you understand why I brought up professional ethics?”

“Absolutely.”

Not only was he blatantly scamming customers, but he was also adjusting prices while reading the room.

It was a disgrace to pawnshops. Even being associated with him was unpleasant.

I clenched my fist, but Alter’s story wasn’t over yet.

“That wasn’t all. He seemed to be dealing in stolen goods too.”

“What? How did you figure that out?”

“After reading my mood, he asked if I was interested in buying a new watch. He said he’d show me some very good items.”

“And told you to keep it secret from others?”

“Right. It’s a typical stolen goods trading method. Then he gave me his business card.”

Alter, who had been spinning the business card between his fingers, muttered coldly.

“I felt like turning the whole place upside down…”

Crunch.

Alter crumpled up the business card and stared at me.

“You must have some plan in mind to send me there. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. If I followed my feelings, I’d want to throw stones at him, but please bear with it a little longer. We need to make sure that bastard can never do this again, don’t we?”

Crescens had been quiet, so I wondered if he was scared by our murderous conversation and glanced back at him.

But surprisingly, he didn’t show much reaction.

He was just frowning while staring at the appraiser from the new pawnshop.

“Crescens?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Why do you keep looking at the pawnshop?”

“Oh. I agree with the Manager’s thinking too. …Should have cut it from the root, that kind of thought. Though looking at it now, it seems to have grown too much for just a sprout.”

His words made sense, but I was slightly confused about whether Crescens should be saying such things.

Anyway, well, he was taking my side.

As I was thinking, Crescens approached with a cheerful expression.

“Then we’re going back to the shop now, right? Let’s go together, I have something to give you.”

“Something to give? To me?”

“Yeah. You know, what you asked for?”

Come to think of it, Crescens was holding two bags in one hand.

One of them was a bag full of glass bottles. The holy water I had requested.

It seemed he decided to deliver it personally instead of sending it by mail.

And the other one?

“This here is blueberry cake. I felt like I ate too much by myself last time, so I brought this as repayment.”

Blueberry cake.

I appreciated the gesture, but since I can’t eat blueberries, I hesitated for a moment before accepting it.

Ah, come to think of it, I still had something to do.

“Yes, thank you. I’ll gladly accept it. But this customer came first, so just a moment.”

I handed Alter the reassembled watch.

And I was about to return the remaining bread too…

“Oh, I ate it all.”

It seemed I had nibbled away and finished everything.

The bag was completely empty.

I smiled sheepishly, but Alter casually remarked.

“I gave it to you to eat. Why?”

“But then there’s none left for you.”

“My share?”

He questioned back and chuckled while looking past me.

“By the way, Alter, you said you stopped by our shop this morning. What was your business?”

“That business is resolved.”

It was resolved already?

‘Maybe he came to get the watch appraised?’

As I was wondering what Alter’s business had been, he glanced at the empty cherry cream bread bag for a moment and gestured with his chin.

“Speaking of my share. I’ll take this cake for that.”

Alter swiftly took the blueberry cake bag.

Crescens jumped up.

“Hey-?”

“Why? You gave it to this woman anyway. Gifts are up to the recipient to use however they want, aren’t they?”

“Well, that’s true, but?”

“Also, compensation is up to the person taking it. Since I fulfilled your request to spy on them, I’m taking this.”

Then he disappeared in a flash.

Crescens, who had the expression of a raccoon whose cotton candy was stolen, let out a hollow laugh.

“The real thief was someone else…?”

I couldn’t help but laugh too.

I felt a bit sorry for Crescens, but Alter’s words strangely made sense, and more than anything.

‘It seems like he took it because he noticed I was troubled about not being able to eat the blueberry cake.’

I had somewhat soft thoughts about it too.

“Let’s go, Crescens. It’s a bit awkward to call it a replacement, but I have pound cake, so I’ll cut you some of that.”

“Yeah, what can I do about getting robbed by that shoulder-broad daylight robber. But why do I feel like something else was stolen too…?”

“Something else? What could that be. What? Common sense?”

“Gasp, there was a photo of the Manager in that bag!”

Well, anyway, is this fortunate?

I prevented my photo from becoming part of Crescens’s portfolio.

‘Anyway, Alter wouldn’t be interested in my photo. It’s a shame to think it’ll be thrown away, but it can’t be helped.’

I chuckled and headed to the shop with Crescens.

‘I had things to ask Crescens anyway, so this works out well.’

***

Some time later.

Crescens left the pawnshop.

Walking along the path to the temple, he recalled the question Elisha had asked.

‘She asked if the temple also heals diseases…’

When he pressed her about what was wrong, Elisha didn’t answer.

She said she planned to ask Cardinal Crescenziano directly about the details.

Crescens had to suppress his laughter at those words.

‘Since that cardinal is me, after all.’

He’d be able to receive contact soon, wouldn’t he?

Crescens, who had been walking in good spirits, stopped at one place.

It was in front of the new pawnshop.

Crescens’s expression hardened coldly as he stared intently at the goateed appraiser.

‘To think he’d cause trouble here.’

He knew the goateed appraiser.

Because.

‘He’s the bastard who lost his dealings with the temple after misappraising a crystal bird as a sacred object.’

The appraiser had insisted to the very end.

That it was merely a simple mistake. He submitted evidence claiming there was no conspiracy behind it.

Though it was suspicious in many ways, they had no choice but to release him when he swore even to the World Tree while claiming his innocence.

But now that he saw him here again.

‘Since he dared to sell the World Tree’s name, he must pay the price.’

It was time to cut off the rotten sprout.

Before that rotten sprout could ruin even the other new shoots.

Crescens glanced back at Elisha’s pawnshop and smiled slightly.

If he gave this information to Elisha, would they be able to become friends then?

‘Ah, but she said this isn’t how you make friends.’

Should he sleep on it first and think about it?

Crescens’s white robe disappeared into the distance.

***

Late at night.

Two telegrams were spread out before me.

One was from Nicholas.

Miss Elisha, a letter suddenly arrived from Rosaline saying she would consent to the divorce.

It was just as you said, Miss Elisha, but I have no idea what this is all about…

And the other one was.

Hello, young Manager. It’s William. A carriage just departed from Farnon Estate.

It was a telegram from William.

I rolled my stiff shoulders.

‘Right, now they’re making their move. In that case?’

It was time for me to move as well.

Tap. Tap.

I wrote a reply to Nicholas.

You have everything I mentioned beforehand prepared, right? I’m heading to Alchemeia Duchy now.

After sending the telegram, I was about to gather my magic items and belongings to leave when I headed back to the safe.

As I fastened the dagger Alter had given me to my waist, words came to mind.

‘The things I must protect.’

Mulling over those words, I murmured.

“I’ll help you. Chloe.”

After locking the door, I ran to the train station, thinking of the mage I would soon face.

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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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