Chapter 18

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Princess Only Deals in the Real Thing 26

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My tension melted away completely.

I'd wondered if I'd done something else shady besides that self-slave-trade proposal.

Letting out a hollow laugh, I shook my head.

"Yes."

"......Yeah......?"

At any rate, I'd confirmed he was genuinely with the guild, so that was enough.

This wasn't the main point anyway.

'At least he was a lunatic with a verified identity.'

Whether that was a blessing or a curse, I couldn't say.

As William muttered to himself about how I must really mean it when I said he didn't scare me, I got straight to the point.

"Anyway, the reason I came here is that I have two requests."

"Ah, right. You're the pawnshop owner. That look on your face says you're wondering how I knew, but you haven't forgotten what this place is, have you?"

"I forgot for a second. We somehow started talking about interior design and cats first."

William let out a hearty laugh and propped his chin on his hand.

"So, what are these requests?"

"First one: I'd like an introduction to someone who could serve as an external consultant. I don't really have the connections myself."

William glanced over my shoulder at the list I'd handed him.

What's back there? As I started to turn, he spoke up.

"Call it a hunch. Since you said I give off good vibes, I'll tell you this one for free. Aged whiskey? This owner here has a good eye for it—go see him. Mention my name, and he'll know. And......"

How am I supposed to feel about a guy worried about sales giving away free info like this!

......I desperately wanted to say, but I kept my mouth shut.

I'll bring some bread next time as thanks or something. Instead, I diligently jotted down what William said.

"Weapons expert? Hmm, nothing comes to mind right away. If I think of someone, I'll let you know."

"Really? Thank you."

"Well, fate might have you bump into someone before I get back to you."

Huh?

It sounded so vague and airy, but since I'd gotten free info already, my conscience made me just smile.

William raised one eyebrow, gesturing for me to go on.

"You said two. What's the other one?"

I gazed steadily at William.

A man who'd risen to head of the Intelligence Guild at a young age.

Separate from my personal impression of him being likable, his olive eyes were sharp.

"From the way you're hesitating, it seems like a pretty secretive request. Want me to dig into some high-and-mighty folks? Or maybe get dirt on someone's weaknesses?"

Of course, those were exactly what I needed.

If he could properly uncover the Lionet family's weaknesses, I'd pay any price without regret.

But.

'The Intelligence Guild doesn't work on honor. They work for money.'

In other words, any story I spilled could become my own weakness and get sold off at a premium.

To no one else but Rozanne Viscountess and Count Hugo, no less.

Having thought it through, I opened my mouth.

"You could call it digging into high-and-mighty folks, in a way."

"Really?! It's been a while since I'd get some real work......!"

"But it's not background on specific individuals."

"Then?"

"What I need are rumors. Rumors floating around high society."

William tilted his head, then his face lit up with understanding.

Not the guild master for nothing. Quick on the uptake.

"Ah. Like who's planning to invest where, who's hunting for top-quality gems, who's cozying up to whom. That kind of thing?"

"Yes. Rumors let you know ahead of time, right? Which items to snap up, how much prices might climb, who's the trendsetter."

I deliberately whispered conspiratorially.

"As you know, the pawnshop business is all about timing. Buy low, sell high—that's the core. But info from newspapers is always a step behind."

"So you'll use rumors? Heh, sounds like you're going all in."

"Of course. Gotta make money. My lifelong dream is to get filthy rich."

I played it cool, acting like it was all purely for the pawnshop.

Business was secondary; my real goal was tracking Rozanne's movements.

'Know their investments, and you'll see the cash flow. Know the trends, and you'll spot the power players. Know the connections, and the overlaps will show.'

And among them.

'Rozanne's bound to be in the mix!'

A chance to uncover her social circle and activities in one go.

'Plus, I might pick up leads from the smaller gossip too.'

Like with Hanna, whom I'd run into at the auction house.

Being the Intelligence Guild, they'd filter out unreliable rumors, saving me the verification hassle—an efficient method.

Hide a tree in the forest, as they say. I masked my pursuit of Rozanne as business savvy.

"Sure. That shouldn't be too hard."

"You look a bit disappointed, though?"

"Busted. I was hoping for something tougher. 'Catch my cheating lover,' 'find my runaway pet'—not those cliché requests. For once, something worthy of the Intelligence Guild!"

William's sparkling eyes dimmed just a touch.

Good—he hadn't caught my real intent and took it as a standard job. A relief for me.

As we wrapped up with an agreement to send info as it came and settled on fees, I turned to leave when he suddenly asked,

"How's Mr. Michele doing?"

It didn't sound like simple well-wishing.

To him, it was just more information.

'I'd wondered how word of Grandpa's illness leaked out......'

This man might be the source of what Rozanne and Hugo heard.

Not that it was wrong. He'd just done his job as Intelligence Guild master; the details weren't his concern.

So, my own little lie wasn't a big sin either.

"Of course he's fine."

I answered with an even brighter smile and turned away.

'I'm just doing my job too.'

A faint bitterness settled in.

It'd be nice to have someone to vent to about Grandpa.

'But that's a luxury I can't afford right now.'

Life's a solo journey anyway! No time for sentiment! I pepped myself up and strode forward.

Then I smacked my forehead right into something stark white that jumped out of nowhere.

What the—? This hard thing. A rock......?

"Busy as ever today."

That voice.

"When am I not busy, exactly?"

It was Alter.

My sore forehead outranked the surprise.

Looks like what I'd mistaken for a rock was his chest.

"Why block the way?"

"You should've watched where you were going."

There was a doorsill behind Alter as he said it.

Anyone would think he was warning me about tripping on it.

As I mulled it over, I let out a sly smile.

"Were you telling me so I wouldn't trip on the sill?"

I'd figured out how to end conversations with this guy.

I flashed a bright smile and looked up. Maybe because we were closer than I thought, Alter flinched.

"What nonsense."

"Come on, no need to play coy. But like I told you, even if you do, I can't give you special treatment."

"What?"

"How'd you know I was here? Were you waiting?"

"Waiting? I'm with this place. We just happened to run into each other......"

"Hmm, sure! I'll buy that."

"You'll buy it?"

'Nice solid hit.'

That seemed enough. Pushing further might provoke who-knows-what.

'Anyway, since he's here, guess he really is with the Intelligence Guild.'

I gave him a smile without another word and spun on my heel to leave when I heard footsteps.

What? Looking back, Alter was following me.

'What the heck? Why's he tailing me?'

We'd barely exchanged words—did it piss him off that much?

I slowed my pace slightly, and the footsteps slowed too. I picked up speed, and they matched.

I wasn't scared. Partly because I had self-defense items from Emma's shop, but more than that.

'He's not that scary.'

As William said, Alter didn't have a frightening, chilling, or guilt-inducing face.

If he tried anything funny? Perfect chance to test those items.

As I stealthily rummaged in my bag for a magic tool,

Thud—

"Ow......"

I smashed my head into a statue.

Why's this in the middle of the path?

Having toppled over, I glared up resentfully at the statue from the ground when a shadow fell over me.

"Told you."

It was Alter.

"Watch where you're going."