Chapter 198 (2/2)

That was a great time.

Just thinking about it makes me excited.

“Thank you for telling me. I’d like to head down straight away, but there are other matters I need to attend to. Can I ask you to go down in my place, Sophia-san? I’ll be down shortly.”

“Eh? Oh, o-o-of course! I understand!”

Her face stiffened slightly before nodding in agreement and rushing out of the room. When the sound of her footsteps were gone, I got out of my chair and took care of my important matters.

After my son was satisfied, I made my way to the drawing room.

***

The man waiting for me in the drawing room was someone that I recognized.

“Oh, if it isn’t Oman-san.” (TN: This character never appeared in the web novel and only appeared in earlier volumes of the light novel before I switched from translating the web novel to the light novel. You can read the last two chapters of the manga (chapters 21 and 22) in which he and another character not in the web novel (the thief Hard) appear if you wish to get a little more info about them. )

“It’s been a while, Baron Tanaka.”

A slave trader that I had a brief interaction with in the capital. This man was demonized by the self-proclaimed Great Thief, Hard based purely on a misunderstanding about how Oman obtained his slaves. His reputation was dragged through the mud before the matter was resolved and Hard helped clear his name. In the end, everything worked out.

“I’m sorry to have shown up with so little warning. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

“Please, don’t mention it. I’m happy to see you.”

“I had heard word that you managed to achieve the rank of baron and wished to meet with you as soon as my schedule allowed. Not long after, rumours of your magnificent city also reached my ears. It would be an understatement to say I’m impressed.”

What else does Oman know?

It has only been four days since I was officially recognized as a baron and the carriage ride from the capital to Dragon City should take no less than five days. It’s safe to assume that he hasn’t heard about the events at the party and the subsequent dinner. It might be safe to take him at his word and assume he came here purely to see the new baron and his city.

“What business brings you here today?”

“I would like to setup a shop in your town. With your blessing of course.”

“A shop?”

“Yes, but to be completely honest with you, when I set out from the capital, my only intention was to greet you and witness this rumoured city for myself. The moment the walls of your city came into view, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave after only a simple greeting.”

“I see.”

“This town has a great future and I would lose all right to call myself a businessman if I didn’t try to get in on the ground floor. Of course, bringing my business to your town would benefit us equally.”

If I recall correctly, Oman is a member of the FitzClarence faction; the same faction that the Manson Group belongs to. Having two companies operating in my town with mutual interests doesn’t sound bad. Unlike when Hegel first introduced himself to me, I’m familiar with Oman. Let’s do it.

And the idea of having a shop filled with naked girls in cages doesn’t sound so bad either.

“I hope our partnership will prove fruitful for the both of us.”

“A-Are you sure? You made the decision so quickly.”

“As I’m sure you’re aware, both of us are members of the FitzClarence faction. If this weren’t the case, I’d show a little more reluctance to the idea, but I will support anything that I believe will benefit Viscount FitzClarence.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to support the FitzClarence family.”

“Thank you.”

Both parties appear motivated, so we might as well strike while the iron is hot. I don’t know when he’ll learn about what happened between Richard and I, nor do I know how he’ll react. We need to cement this partnership before he has a chance to change his mind.

“Let’s go build you a shop.”

“…e-eh? B-Build a shop?”

“Follow me. There a few quality areas in the noble district that I have in mind.”

“B-Baron Tanaka, building a shop is u-umm….”

It’s easier to just show him rather than try to explain with words.