Chapter 503: Visit (2/2)

“If you cause some sort of uproar outside of the castle, they might come out.”

Unsure whether Reiko was joking or actually being serious about that, Jin scolded her and started walking again. Then, shortly after…

“Oh, but if it isn’t that Jin?”

Jin suddenly heard a voice from the crowd. When he turned to it, he found a familiar face.

“It’s been quite some time, hasn’t it? How’s my son doing?”

It was the director of the Raglan Firm and Eric’s father, Roland.

“I was thinking of going there to visit, but I’ve been way busier than expected with company work.”

“Business is going well, isn’t it?”

Roland invited Jin and Reiko into the head office of the Raglan Firm. They soon found themselves in an extravagant parlor.

“This is Raglan Eastwood, my father-in-law and Eric’s grandfather, and also the head of this company.”

“I’m Jin, nice to meet you. This is Reiko.”

“I’ve heard so much about you, Jin. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

His body was so robust that it was hard to believe that he was over 60 years old. His slightly greyed hair had a hint of brown similar to Eric’s.

“I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I saw that handy tool called ‘pump’, and here you are at last!”

The man who started the Raglan Firm from scratch and made it grow into such a large company even with Jin’s tools being around was a completely different type of merchant from Eckert, who Jin had met in the Celuroa Kingdom.

“Pumps, cooking stoves, wheat, balls, pens and nibs… You’re a big benefactor of this company, Jin! I can’t thank you enough!”

It was almost 6 o’clock already. Raglan had his attendants prepare a meal.

“By the way, what is your business here in Alban? Have you come to do some sightseeing?”

Jin suddenly came up with an idea. After all, the royal family wouldn’t be the only ones who had information about the Frantz Kingdom.

“Yes, well, in fact, I wanted to know more about the Frantz Kingdom.”

“Hmm, but why… Ah, but I don’t mean to pry. Yes, Roland is very well informed about it.”

In response to Raglan’s gaze, Roland started speaking.

“The last time I’ve actually been in the Frantz Kingdom was about 3 years ago, so I can tell you about how it was at the time. Its government system could be very well called a dictatorship.”

Jin nodded silently, acknowledging that Roland’s words matched Reinhardt’s.

“The difference between rich and poor is huge. While some aristocrats are swimming in luxuries, the common folk are barely able to eat. So it’s not a good place to do business.”

“…”

Jin frowned.

“At that time, I went to that town next to the capital Sanjerton… what was its name again… Ah, yes, Bubro. But the aristocrats were reluctant to pay even though they had money, so I realized I couldn’t do business with them and came back.”

With that said, Roland told Jin a few other things he noticed during his time in the Frantz Kingdom. Among them were the names of aristocrats who seemed to be relatively less greedy than the rest.

In addition, he gave Jin some more pointers under the assumption that he was going to go to the Frantz Kingdom.

“Thank you very much. You’ve been a great help.”

“Oh no, I can’t pay you back for even a tenth of what you’ve given me so far.”

Roland and Raglan laughed.

“Ah, if that’s okay with you, could you show me the inside of the store?”

Jin remembered that he had missed his chance to visit the company the last time he visited Alban with Elsa and Hanna.

“Yes, sure. Roland, please show him around.”

Still laughing, Raglan gave instructions to Roland.

“Very well. This way, Jin.”

They left the parlor and headed for the store.

“The head office mainly deals with small items.”

First of all, stationery. The pens and nibs that Jin wholesale were lined up on the shelves. Other items included ink, leather paper, pen stands, and pen plates.

Next was tableware and kitchen utensils. Dishes and bowls of all sizes, spoons, forks, knives. Carving knives, tongs, pots, and frying pans.

“Here’s where we sell stoves.”

There was a stove there that worked by fueling it with Magi Sand, which Jin had taught them how to make.

“I taught the craftsmen how to make them, and they managed to produce them in-house.”

Jin checked the stove, and found it was quite well-made.

“This is the daily necessities section.”

Magi Lamps, beast-repellent bells, and hand mirrors. There were also rubber balls on display in this corner.

“I’m glad Eric did all of the numbers for us.”

Every month, Eric would put together the required amount and order the items they needed, so whenever Jin and Elsa went to Kaina village, they could make it all in one go.

Therefore, they had a stable supply.

“Huh?”

In one corner of the store, there was something that caught Jin’s eye.