Chapter 103 : Chapter 103
Chapter 103
“The building is very neat.”
That was Young Master Prah’s comment as he looked around while climbing the stairs. I did not pay it much mind. It felt too perfunctory to take seriously.
Still, this was the sort of moment when you smiled.
When dealing with your betters, the best reaction to any remark is a pleasant laugh.
“Thank you. We were fortunate enough to acquire a building that had only recently been constructed. Come to think of it, Young Master, you are the first member of House Adeline I have had the honor of receiving here.”
“Is that so?”
“I will remember this visit for a long time.”
I said it deliberately, with meaning behind the words.
The meaning should have been clear enough. The sponsorship funds were already set to be delivered in our company’s name. They were the sort of offers no Young Master could simply refuse.
Prah nodded once and burst into laughter.
“Hahaha. It feels as though I met a distinguished guest at the auction house while merely trying to cool my head a little.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“You are not in very good spirits, are you? The fountain pen was sold off at far too low a price.”
By then we had arrived at the office I used. Still smiling, I opened the door first.
“Every object has its rightful owner. I believe it simply found the owner suited to it.”
“I see.”
As expected, the Young Master showed no real reaction. That was enough to confirm it. He truly had no particular interest in the succession.
I could not help wondering what exactly he was doing back at the mansion.
The Young Master went inside first, and while still holding the doorknob, I gave instructions to my subordinates.
“Eluna. Prepare the finest tea for the Young Master. And Kalmond, the moment the auctioned item arrives, bring it straight to my room.”
“Understood.”
The two of them scattered, and I followed Young Master Prah into the room.
“If you have written research papers, then you must have written books before as well.”
“Of course. I enjoy reading them too.”
The Young Master was standing in front of the bookcase that filled one side of the room. After wandering slowly along it, he reached out and pulled a single book free. Then he asked me,
“It seems you must like books as well. You have a great many.”
“I cannot live without books. I read whatever I can get my hands on whenever I have time, no matter the field.”
“Do you plan to pursue related business as well?”
“I have various ideas in mind. From ways of making books more easily, to producing premium paper that preserves them for much longer. There are all sorts of businesses waiting in my head.”
“Oh?”
He did not seem especially interested. Nodding absently, the Young Master slid the book back into the shelf.
“Please, sit, Young Master.”
“You as well.”
Soon we were seated opposite each other on the sofa. Fortunately, the Young Master seemed pleased with the tea Eluna brought, and for a while he simply savored its fragrance and enjoyed it.
“You seem mainly to create ingenious inventions. Did you study at the Academy?”
“No. I travel the continent, and from the things I see and hear, I try making one thing or another.”
“How interesting. My father has been using your inventions with great interest. Your name also seems to come up from time to time among his retainers. I hope you will continue to do much for our territory in the future.”
“How could I do otherwise?”
I answered with a smile.
While we were exchanging such pleasantries, Noblesse sent over the item I had won. After the full payment process was completed, Diablo’s Chalice finally ended up in my hands.
So there really was something to it.
The moment I took hold of the chalice, faint ripples began to spread through my previously calm heart. Something within the chalice was clearly reacting to my Magical Power.
As time passed, my suspicion toward Young Master Prah only deepened.
“The succubi carved around the chalice feel as though they might come alive and beat their wings. It is a very fine object. I imagine it would make wine taste all the better.”
Turning the chalice over in my hands, I offered my impression. From beginning to end, Young Master Prah’s gaze had been fixed not on me, but on Diablo’s Chalice.
I let a suitable amount of desire show. Like a greedy man who had poured ten thousand Gold into the thing simply because he wanted his drink to taste better.
“Earlier, did you not say that there was something you wished to ask of me?”
When I steered us toward the main subject, Young Master Prah set down his teacup and began, absently smoothing one hand over the other.
“Earlier, you said something like this. That every object has its rightful owner.”
“Yes. That is so.”
“I believe that I am the rightful owner of that object.”
“Ah.”
Those shining eyes really did not suit those words.
Of course, if someone else were looking on, they might mistake it for nothing more than pure scholarly curiosity. But I could see straight through the Young Master’s Status Window.
That was precisely why, even with Acting at S-rank, it would not work on me.
This was definitely a material needed for Necromancy. The core item for some horrifying ritual, perhaps.
I lowered my head in haste.
“It seems, then, that I overreached myself in bidding on it. I ask your pardon.”
“No, you misunderstand. It is not that......”
Slowly, I raised my head and looked at the Young Master, as though asking whether he truly meant it. He was smiling with complete innocence.
“I was hoping you might resell that object to me.”
“You mean to purchase it from me again? If it is for research purposes, I could lend it to you.”
“No. I think I will need to examine that object for quite some time.”
Young Master Prah approached the matter cautiously. I put on a troubled expression. I also let a merchant’s stubbornness show through.
“With all due respect, Young Master...... I spent the enormous sum of 10,000 Gold to acquire this object.”
“I am aware of that. Which is why I am prepared to add a premium on top of it.”
“Hm.”
“If I have that object, my research will surely Handle fruit. Many students and scholars will see my work and be influenced by it. Might the choice become easier, if you think of it as an investment in the future of our kingdom?”
Feigning deep thought, I snorted inwardly. As if he were really going to produce some great scholarly work. I would count us fortunate if he did not end up summoning a demon over a magic circle.
After pretending to deliberate for a long time, I acted as though I had finally reached a decision.
“If it would not be presumptuous, I would like to hear the price you have in mind.”
“15,000 Gold. What do you think of that?”
“15,000 Gold. That is not a bad price.”
I let the smile disappear from my face. Then I fully stepped into the role of Master Suhyeon of the Metis Trading Company.
“But that does not make it a good price either. I would like more.”
As expected, Young Master Prah showed a slight sign of surprise.
“15,000 Gold is fifty percent more than what you paid......”
“And yet, if I consider all that I must give up, it is not such a great sum. More importantly, our company will be sponsoring you with a fixed amount every month, Young Master. Would that not mean your loss would be recovered in three or four months?”
I had agreed to offer Young Master Prah 1,200 Gold every month as well. In other words, after only four months, the loss would be made up. Of course, from the Young Master’s point of view, he might not think of it that way, since the money was his to receive regardless.
“Hahaha. You truly do think like the master of a trading company. Your arithmetic is exact. I am impressed. I suppose one could look at it that way.”
The Young Master laughed heartily and nodded. At least he had a minimum amount of conscience.
Truthfully, I had no idea how much wealth he possessed. But since the object was clearly one he valued highly, I felt certain I could press for more.
“Even so, any further increase would be a burden for me as well. It is not a small amount.”
“I see. Then, since this is such a major transaction, would it be acceptable if we postponed the negotiation until after I return from the Royal Capital? I need some time to think as well.”
“You said that you would soon be traveling there on business. Exactly how long do you expect to remain in the Royal Capital?”
“Allowing for plenty of time, perhaps three or four months.”
A sigh slipped from Young Master Prah’s lips.
“That is a long stay. Waiting that long is rather inconvenient.”
I put on an ambiguous expression and lifted my teacup. This was the point where I needed to wait for the Young Master to make his choice.
“Very well. Very well! Let us make it a clean 20,000 Gold!”
What a catch!
At 20,000 Gold, the profit alone would be 10,000. That was the same as selling the premium fountain pen at the price it ought to have fetched. That had been my expectation from the start.
“I would find anything beyond that difficult as well, so let us say there will be no further negotiation.”
“Haah, well now...... since you put it that way, Young Master, I can hardly refuse any longer. Had you been anyone else, I would never have sold this object. It is not in my nature to part with something once I have taken possession of it.”
“I can only be grateful for your trust.”
I made as much of a show of it as I could, and the Young Master responded in kind.
Once the verbal agreement had been reached, he extended his hand and asked for a handshake. Since there was something I wished to confirm anyway, I took the hand he offered.
The Status Window appeared.
“If there are any other objects I need in the future, I shall come to you. Do you think you could procure them for me?”
It was not only his Status message that had changed. The way he addressed me had changed as well. Looking into his eyes beyond the Status Window, I answered warmly,
“If it is something within my humble power, I would gladly help however I can.”
“How reassuring. Hahahaha. If my research should one day come to light, I will gladly mention your name.”
“I would count that as an honor to my House.”
By then, the Young Master’s Status message had changed from Favorability to Bond.
It left me feeling vaguely uneasy.
The very fact that his Status message had changed to Bond after a chalice meant for some unknown act had changed hands felt strange in itself.
The dictionary definition of Bond was a shared sense of connection.
What possible common ground could Young Master Prah feel with me? I had no interest in Necromancy whatsoever.
Perhaps I was simply being too sensitive.
Still, I had earned the tremendous sum of 10,000 Gold while barely moving from my seat, so I had little choice but to humor Young Master Prah for a while.
We passed the time exchanging perfectly soulless conversation.
***
Young Master Prah kept his promise. That very same day, he sent over the staggering sum of 20,000 Gold. Thanks to that, our warehouse was soon piled high with Gold Coins.
I had found myself rather interested in the object called Diablo’s Chalice, but it had already left my hands.
Still, I did not particularly regret it. As long as I still had my other identity as Dilen, I could gain access to that object whenever I truly set my mind to it.
Why did I think that?
Because I wanted to confirm the strange sensation I had felt when I held the chalice in my hand.
And in order to do that, I first needed to gain greater freedom in handling Mana.
I decided that I would resolve that problem in the Royal Capital. Even if I had to goad Sapiela into getting me into the royal library, I would achieve some result there.
“I really do wonder where the limit of your eye for these things lies, Master. How did you know that Young Master Prah needed that object?”
“I think I now understand what it feels like when ten thousand Gold falls straight out of the sky.”
Eluna and Kalmond each gave their impressions in turn. I merely laughed lightly and brushed it aside.
“Well, it was just a feeling.”
Naturally, neither of them looked convinced, and both shook their heads. But that was not what mattered right now. I now had to return and settle the last matters concerning our departure for the Royal Capital.
“There is one more thing the two of you must do while I am away. First, Eluna.”
“Yes.”
“Investigate the Delfino Merchant Company. There must be some point of contact between them and the Arkain Merchant Company. Find evidence that they were involved in the kidnapping of the Young Lady.”
“If it is the Delfino Merchant Company, then you are pointing to House Count Astria as the force behind them.”
I did not bother denying it. Then I gave Kalmond a very special order.
“You are to make regular contact with Young Master Prah, keep track of his recent activities, and look into him from behind the scenes as well.”
“I will obey.”
The two of them, quick to catch my meaning, each bowed in acknowledgement. All our business was finished. I rose from my seat, and together we left the building.
“I look forward to seeing you again in good health.”
“Travel safely. I’ll send Messenger Pigeons from time to time.”
“You two work hard. And make sure you eat properly.”
And the following day, Arthas, Arwen, and I set off in a carriage for the Royal Capital.
Together with Young Lady Sapiela.