Chapter 115 (1/2)

「With this you can buy medicine for your sick sister. I get that the rumors will be nasty, but if you use it now there won’t be any problems.」

「Got it, Fegner. I really owe you one, so I’ll let you off with a fine, that way I don’t lose all the money I put into this resupply.」

「Thank you for your kindness. I’ll be going now.」

This was the seventh time. I’m not doing this as part of the Grond Trading Association, I’m going around and discussing contract cancellations with all of my business contacts personally.

That was one more negotiation down. I hurry through the small talk and head out.

「Out of the seven visits, only three of them allowed for punal fees. That’s pretty harsh.」

If you think about it, it’s strange that any merchant would make a contract so easy to void. In that sense, three of them agreeing to my request is a miracle, but it still isn’t enough.

I used bribes, I appealed to their emotions, I made myself pitiable, and the number of merchants who agreed to cancel their contracts was less than half the number I visited. And it’s not like there are many left who would be willing to hear me out. As for the merchants who I didn’t know particularly well, I would have to deal with the remaining contracts with bribes and threats and good old-fashioned haggling.

No matter how I measure it, the necessary resources exceeds what the Grond Trading Association has in inventory. How can I at least preserve the capital, the horses and wagons?

Ending contracts with punal fees has its own problems, since I still need to get the money from somewhere.

Tallying up my profits and expenditures, the total is deeply in the red, but if I can procure the necessary goods in another town and bring them here, I at least won’t lose my operations in this town.

「Even so, today is a bit hot.」

I wipe the sweat off my brow with my handkerchief. The beams of sunlight, strangely hot for this place, prick at my skin. Combined with the temperature, it’s almost too much for these old bones.

Since it’s near lunchtime, I headed toward a nearby favorite eatery of mine. Even though it was lunchtime, the eatery is nearly empty.

「Ah, Fegner! You here for lunch?」

「Yep, if you’ll have me.」

I exchange a light greeting with the owner and plop down in my usual spot. At this rate, it might as well be reserved for me.

「Now, what do I want to have?」

「Might I recommend our daily special, grilled fish?」

「Grilled fish, you say? That does sound good, I’ll take one.」

「Alright, one grilled fish coming right up」

After a while, the smell of fish frying wafts over me, and the owner brings me my fish with a side of rice. Back in the empire, bread was the staple food and rice was unusual, but I’ve taken a liking to it since coming here.

「It’s just as tasty as I thought it would be.」

「I know right. For some reason, the rest of my customers hated it.」

The owner then plopped down on the seat across from mine.

「Hey, isn’t it a bad idea for the chef to eat with a customer?」

「It’s fine, and I haven’t eaten yet. You’re the last of the regulars and it’s not like anyone new is coming.」

「That’s not the problem I… nevermind, let’s talk about something else.」

I could have given him more warnings, but he definitely wasn’t going to pick up on them either, so I gave up.

「By the way, Fegner, there’s been a nasty rumor going around about that company of yours.」

「A rumor?」

「Yeah, they’ve been saying that money has been disappearing from businesses that deal with the Grond Trading Association. The rumor has spread so far I’ve been hearing it even all the way out here. Of course, I don’t believe an ounce of it, but are you doing ok?」

This is insane. The information isn’t just spreading among merchants, but even among the general populace. That’s not a good sign. Even more than before, I have to deal with this quickly.

「The rumor is just baseless gossip, but because everyone’s acting like it’s true, they’re really pushing me.」

「Look, Fegner, I know you think you owe it to the previous head of the association, but haven’t you already done enough for them? I really think you should retire, find a hobby.」

「It’s not often I get to hear one of your jokes.」

「Idiot, I’m being serious.」

I reply without hesitation.

「I’m not going to. More than that, I can’t. I’ve long since established that this is my life. If I change that now, it feels like everything I’ve done up to this point will become pointless, and that’s scarier than any rumor」

「Damn it, Fegner! You’re still exactly the same as when I met you. Even though you could do anything you’re so reticent you never change.」

「I’ll take that as a compliment, and…」

Maybe the first to be deceived was me.

「And?」

「No, it’s nothing. Besides, I can’t retire until I’ve trained my successor. And it’s usually a lifetime appointment, even with all the mistakes I’ve made.」

I don’t have any proof, but I’m absolutely certain that the my current troubles stem from that time. There are many things I can’t help but think about, but I feel that if I can expose the puppetmaster my theory will be confirmed.

「Bye. See you again.」

I curse my foolishness as I stand. I may be old and frail, but that’s no excuse to be deceived so easily.

If it means making up for my mistakes, I have to work. After everything is calm, then I can decide my future path.

I put on my hat, pay the bill, and leave the store.

☆

It’s been now three days since I started, and things have only gotten worse.

「I’m sorry, but you should head home. No matter how deep you bow, I’m not going to make a deal with your association.」

「I apologize for the impudent request.」

「Where are you going, Fegner? Isn’t your home that way?」

Surrounded by hostile eyes, I put that company behind me.

「This one didn’t work out either.」

As if mirroring me, the town gradually becomes darker and less lively as night approaches.

Argh, I’m turning into a pessimist. The lack of activity is because all the adventurers are off keeping the monsters away from the roads. It has nothing to do with me.

The thought cheered me up more than I would have expected, but the fact that I hadn’t had a single success today fills my heart back up with impatience and darkness.

Furthermore, in the three days I spent meeting with people, almost all of the groups formerly associated with the Grond Trading Association have distanced themselves.

Negotiations are still going poorly, so it’s very important to go to another town to resupply.