Volume 3 Chapter 19 Business Negotiations
Following the map written in the invitation, I made my way to a grand mansion that towered before me.
"Wow... Truly noble. A separate mansion for children, even bigger than mine."
I, feeling impressed, approached the luxurious gate. There stood a gatekeeper who raised his hand to stop me.
"Halt. Who goes there?"
"I'm Wade, an adventurer. I've come in response to the invitation."
The gatekeeper checked the invitation I presented, looking puzzled.
"It seems you don't have a young lady with you."
"She's down with a cold. The other members are taking care of her."
"In that case, you can't enter without the young lady."
I see. It seems Moruru is the main target.
In that case, I'll just have to handle this with Alex's Negotiation Technique (Fear Version).
"Oh no, the invitation got torn."
I shook my head in front of the gatekeeper and ripped the invitation apart.
"What are you doing?!"
"Man, this is troublesome. I want to go back with my daughter, but I have no proof to show the invitation I received when I returned. If I leave this place, I won't be allowed in without the invitation. What should I do?"
"...Are you making fun of me? Calling me a fool who can't even remember faces?"
"You know, the world is full of mysteries. There might be magic that can change appearances, or a master of disguise who can come and the gatekeeper won't even recognize me."
"...That means"
"In short, only I, guaranteed by the invitation, am the truth. Right? And that proof has been lost. Now, at this moment. Hey, gatekeeper. When I come back, can you assert that I am the real deal?"
Deep wrinkles formed on the gatekeeper's forehead. Conflict. But it's difficult for anyone other than the supervisor to push back against this threatening negotiation.
"...Let him in."
"Thank you. It's a relief that the gatekeeper is understanding."
I opened the gate and patted the gatekeeper on the shoulder as I entered the premises.
I walked along the paved path towards the mansion. It was a stylish brick road with flower fields on both sides.
From this scene, it was clear that this place was quite prosperous. While I had a vague recognition that the dungeon city was thriving, it was now evident here.
I reached the main gate. Then, as if on cue, the door opened from the other side.
"It's Wade-sama, isn't it? Please come this way."
Thinking she was a maid, I was guided into the mansion.
I secretly enjoyed the soft feel of the carpet under my feet as I was led to the guest room. There was a plush and luxurious sofa. I sat down gently.
"Well then, please wait a moment."
The maid disappeared. Alone in the guest room, I gazed at the chandelier and the forest beyond the window as I waited.
After a few minutes, the door opened. It was the girl we saw before, Ridge of Noble Karditsa, and her butler and guard, Windy.
"Hello. Thank you for coming. Oh, where is Moruru?"
"She's sick. She's bedridden and couldn't come with me."
"Oh, that's too bad. Well, no problem then. Windy, lend me your ear."
Before I could sit down, Ridge started whispering something to Windy. Windy seemed slightly surprised and said, "But..." before accepting with, "It's fine. We have enough staff. That's how it should be, right?"
"Understood. Well then, I'll take my leave here."
Surprisingly, Windy decided to leave at this point. It seemed something more important than being a guard had come up. I tilted my head in confusion and waved, "Well then, see you."
"And then, Ridge sits in front of me. Graceful, yet not hiding his arrogance.
"Well, Wade. I don't think we have the kind of relationship where we chat, so let's get straight to the point."
Ridge snaps his fingers. As if waiting for a signal, men dressed in the same uniforms as the gatekeeper start entering the room, surrounding me.
"The Metamorph Dragon you're currently raising. Will you hand it over to me?"
I think to myself. This is what Alex would call a rough situation.
"I refuse."
Ridge's soldiers all draw their swords.
Ridge, unfazed, says, "I didn't quite catch that. What was that?"
"I said I refuse. What's the matter, Ridge? Could it be that your hearing is failing at your age? Are you cleaning your ears properly?"
"Wow, you're pretty gutsy. It's like a scene from a book. Kinda funny, huh?"
Ridge chuckles. Seems like this kid is quite something unexpectedly.
"That's cool. If you were a cowardly weakling, there wouldn't have been a need to talk, but since Wade seems surprisingly pleasant, would you like to join us for a chat?"
"Sure thing. By the way, don't they serve any tea to guests in this mansion? I'd offer tea at my party house."
"My apologies for that oversight. Indeed, you are a distinguished guest now. Let's prepare some tea."
Ridge rings a bell and calls out. It seems like until now, I wasn't treated as a guest.
I find it amusingly terrifying. Despite her youth, this girl named Ridge seems to be a proper noble.
"And then Ridge, with a faint, fleeting smile that hinted at his true nature beyond a thin veil, said, 'Well then, shall we have a fun chat?'"
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