Constance Grail was at the main store of Bronson Company on Anastasia Street. A coat of arms flag with a laurel seal was hanging from the eaves of the store, indicating that it is a member of the commerce association of the castle town.
Neil’s suspension had not been completely resolved, but she heard that he is allowed to work now. It was a sudden visit, but she requested a meeting through the woman at the reception, and after a while, Connie was let through to the back office. The store was lively and there was no shadow on the faces of the employees*. The boycott riot seems to have calmed down. (TL Note: *The employees are not treated badly)
=====
[Long time no see, Constance.]
Neil Bronson, who used to be a fashionable person, had changed into a seemingly honest and modest young man. An unbleached shirt without any embroidery, and very simple lye-coloured pants. His hair, which he used to let loose, is now cut short. The surprise must have been all over Connie’s face, that Neil smiled wryly in response.
[Is my appearance not to your liking?]
[…I-I’m sorry. No, um, it’s unexpected. Umm, is that the style that is popular with women these days?]
[No, well, I’ve been abstaining from women for a while now…]
Connie gently averted her eyes in front of her ex-fiancé, whose heart flew far away when she said that.
Countess Constance is super scary.
After a quick update on their current situation, Constance said that although she couldn’t go into detail, there was something she wanted to know about the merchants of the Republic of Soldita―――and Neil looked at her apologetically.
[…I’m sorry. Bronson Company has no connection to the merchants from Soldita Republic.]
Behind Connie, the invisible to others Scarlet yelled out 『This useless third-rate company……！』 as if she had been ripped off. As if he had already expected this reaction, Neil continued [That being said―――], without changing his expression.
[I can write a letter of introduction so that you can see him.]
[…Him?]
Connie tilted her head.
[Yes. That man is an upstart, but his ability is unquestionable. Even if every other company in the royal capital were pitted against him, they probably won’t be able to match his skills.]
As he spoke, he moved the ink-soaked quill. When he finished writing, he dropped red wax on the lid of the envelope and stamped the seal of Bronson & Co. on it.
[―――Shipment King Walter Robinson. You have at least heard his name, haven’t you?]
=====
[Man, what a surprise]
The man was in his late thirties. A large body with well-tanned skin. A vicious face like a pirate in a picture book. The man, his terrifying face distorted, exchanged a stereotypical greeting with Connie, whose face looked like a child about to burst into tears. Then, he immediately dropped the facade and his friendliness will come out. Connie thought he was laughing like a boy.
―――Walter Robinson. A man who made his way up from the slums with nothing to what he is right now in just a single generation. His battlefields were mainly fought at the sea, and he was awarded the rank of a Knight for his achievements in opening up trade routes with several countries that had never interacted with Adelbaid until then.
[Who woulda thought the day would come when that uptight Bronson Company would come and bow their head to a new kid on the block like me.]
He laughed heartily again after saying that.
【Walter Robinson Company】, which bears his own name, is a trading company that has branches outside the country. Even Connie, who is ignorant of social circles, knows its name, as the company is a purveyor to the senior aristocrats. Even though they were also nobles, Connie secretly let out a sigh of relief because she thought that the Grail family, who were only a viscount, wouldn’t normally get a chance to have a deal with him.
[Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule.]
[What are ya talkin’ about? If anything, I’m the one who should thank you. Bronson Company is a small company, but it’s a long-established store that has been a junior aristocrat for three generations. I can’t beat their history even if I stand on my head. After all, havin’ them owe me is nothin’ to sneeze at.]
His bright, yellowish-grey eyes twirled happily.
[Actually, the O’Brians have been my best customer for a while now. And the other day, I happened to hear some about you from lady Abigail. That girl is like a little sister to me, so please help her out if something comes out, she said.]
―――Abigail?
Connie’s eyes blinked.
[She’s someone who always looks after her own, after all… Now then, if this letter is right, you have somethin’ you wanna ask me. So go ahead and ask, I’m listening. Since I tell her I helped you out, Duchess O’Brian will certainly be happy to buy anything from me, be that a teardrop pearl necklace or a moonsilk dress.]
He mischievously winked when he said so. Apparently, this man named Walter Robinson seemed to have a very sociable personality, betraying his boisterous, pirate-like appearance.
=====
[…A merchant from the Republic of Soldita called Badd, huh? I’ve never heard of a man like that.]
Walter frowned and folded his arms. His head slightly craned to the side.
[But if he’s a Soldita ethnic minority, chances are he’s someone from the Kanieri Autonomous region in the south. They’re a secretive bunch, so it isn’t too weird if I haven’t heard of the guy――― But, a carpet from the Raffine region, huh? We do business there as well, but the craftsmen there take extreme pride in their work. They only trust their goods to be sold by a certified member of the commerce association, so the people they deal with are limited. Of course, I keep tabs on my rivals. So, I usually know just what and where the other members of the association are up to.―――I’m pretty sure none of them has done any business in that region as of late.]
He put his finger to his chin while groaning.
[Besides, if this person really enters and leaves the palace regularly, that makes it even stranger that I’ve never heard anything about him. We’ll look into it on our side as well. If we find anything, I’ll be sure to inform you.]
Saying that he said something to the person who seemed to be his secretary who was waiting by his side.
The moment Connie stood up to excuse herself, she recalled something and exclaimed an ‘Ah’, before timidly confiding what was on her mind.
[Umm, well, I actually was wondering about a herb used for contraception, but…]
[Contraception?]
Walter glanced at Connie with a puzzled look. Then his gaze shifted to her stomach.
[It, it’s not for me…!]
When I shouted while turning pale, Walter Robinson burst out into laughter with all his might.
[Kuh, I’m jokin’, sorry… Haah, man, I can see why lady Abigail took a likin’ to you. So, you’re talkin’ about some abortion drug, right? Well, it’s in high demand, so you can find all sorts of things everywhere. Got anything more to go with?]
[It’s the sort that can be blended into tea, and it smells like forest.]
[The sort that is commonly used around here is shaved root from the Amyula tree. If it has a forest-like smell, as you said, it’s probably Oreia. Unlike Amyula, it has a much less unpleasant taste and smell, and it is said to take effect much faster too. That said, it comes with a dear price, and can only be obtained through a special route.]
[A special route?]
Walter nodded in confirmation.
[―――Faris has a complete monopoly on it.]
=====
When Connie went outside, the sun was already setting. The slick Walter had called a four-wheeled carriage out front. Connie thanked him and climbed into the black-painted carriage. A wooden shutter was installed in the cabin, and one can freely see the outside by lifting it.
『That would’ve been impossible if it’s just me』
Scarlet whispered as she sat face-to-face with Connie inside the carriage cabin.
[Hmm?]
『Because you helped him back then, Neil Bronson was willing to write the introduction letter. That is something I wouldn’t be able to do. ―――good for you, Connie. You’ve earned yourself a slave who’ll be at your beck and call his entire life.』
[No, that’s wrong…!]
And she was saying something good halfway through…! The carriage suddenly stopped right after Connie shouted. [Hmm?] Connie tilted her head.
[Excuse me.]
A man on the other side of the glass partition called out to Connie apologetically.
[It looks like the rear wheel is not working properly. I’ll check it out.]
[Ah, yes.]
―――The afternoon sun was coming in through the gaps in the shutter. It seemed that the carriage had stopped in a suburb just off the main road. There was no pedestrian traffic, so it didn’t seem to be a nuisance even if the carriage was stopped. As Connie stared blankly at the setting sun, Scarlet opened her mouth in frustration.
『…..slow is he? I wonder what takes him so long.』
[Maybe the wheel actually got stuck in the mud or something?]
『Even if you say that it still takes too long for my liking. Let me have a look myse―――』
[…Thank you for waiting. It seems that the rear wheel was about to come off. It’s fixed now, so we’ll be going immediately.]
The coachman calls out from outside at just the right time.
[Ah, see, it’s fine after all.]
Just when Connie said that and turned to Scarlet, she realized the latter’s expression had become grave.
『The voice, it’s different』
[―――eh?]
『That man’s voice, is different, from earlier…..didn’t you notice？』
She tilted my head for a moment, but when Connie understood the meaning, she felt her blood leave her face. She couldn’t dismiss it because she knows how exceptional Scarlet’s memory is. Her mouth felt dry. Her heart palpitated.
『…..that said, I was not able to see the coachman’s face earlier, so it’s possible that I may have been mistaken. What to do』
Even if told, Connie wouldn’t know what to do.
Should she wait for the man to sit on the coach stand, then escape, or―――
Then, the conversation from the Morris Orphanage was brought up.
[…Sure, there was a word that could be used at a time like this.]
The red-haired boy said he heard it from Lily Oramunde.
―――that one can see through bad guys by saying it.
The other party is still outside. Connie took a deep breath the moment she slowly and deliberately lifted the shutter that was fitted in the window. Before she knew it, a middle-aged man was clinging tightly to the window and peering back inside.
[Is there something I can do for you?]
The man smiled and tilted his head. Scarlet muttered those words. Connie nodded and opened her mouth.
[―――Kiliki Kilikuk.]
The man’s eyes opened wide. His friendly expression melted away, and the next moment, he put his hand on the door of the carriage. Scarlet clicked her tongue. A flash of light runs through the iron bar. The man released his hand as if he had been repelled. He distorted his face and stepped back as if to be wary. Connie was relieved for a short while until he took something out of his pocket. That glowing dull color is a gun.
『Get to the back now！』
Connie scolded her trembling self and crawled to the back as far as she could. She got to the corner of the carriage, but that was it. She crouched down and covered her head tightly with both hands. At the same time, gunshots rang out. Once, twice. Connie kept her eyes closed. Then another gunshot rang, sending her heart racing.
Before long, silence came.
There were no signs of anyone trying to come in. However, Connie was too scared to move.
『―――it’s fine now』
Scarlett said quietly. When Connie slowly opened her eyelids, she saw the window was splattered with bright red blood. It flowed in many streams like rain. Connie involuntarily covered her mouth.
[Just what in the world is happening…]
At that moment, the door suddenly opened and Connie let out a muffled scream.
A tall man appeared. Cold eyes and smooth-bridged nose. In his hand was a pistol with smoke rising from its muzzle. ―――Connie decided to ignore the mass of something lying at the man’s feet.
―――Who is this man?
The man silently glanced at Connie, who was inside the carriage, and for some reason turned around and tried to leave. Connie was just stunned by the shock.
At that time, Scarlet raised a surprised voice saying, “Oh dear.”
『I was wondering who it was―――that person, is none other than Aldous Clayton』