MTLNOVEL Chapter 185
Chapter 185. The Bumpy Family And Naraku’s Negotiations
It was a corner of the upscale residential district, filled with particularly grand mansions.
Today’s attire: a dress shirt and slacks.
Sitting pompously in front of me was the mayor of Hanshon, Dodol Messara, 30 years old (though he looked 50).
Yesterday, I couldn’t meet him when I visited under the guise of a business negotiation, but the full-length mirror I left as a sample seemed to have worked. Today, Dodol himself appeared.
Perhaps my statement that “negotiations must be conducted directly with Lord Dodol” also had an impact.
“Now then, regarding the item you delivered yesterday—where on earth did you find such a thing…?”
A large full-length mirror, as tall as a person.
Even making glass is difficult, let alone a mirror. It’s no wonder Dodol’s fingers trembled as he stroked the reflective surface.
“Dodol-sama, surely you know about the carriage we were riding in…?”
“I see… so it was unearthed at the western edge?”
The outfit Dodol was wearing was a copy of a Tessa folk costume that Cherina had gifted me, made in the SHOP. Expecting he might be wearing it, I visited in a dress shirt today.
“So then, how much would you be willing to sell this for?”
As expected, he was terrible at business.
His former butler, who had excellent financial sense, was left behind in Hanshon. Negotiating with him was a breeze.
“About that… actually, we have several of those mirrors prepared.”
“W-What?! Such a national treasure-level item, and multiple copies of it?!”
“Indeed. It’s hard to believe, but I think seeing the actual items will convince you.”
“Oh… really? How many do you possess?”
“Well…”
I deliberately paused, shaking my head theatrically.
“What? Are you saying the claim of having multiple copies was a lie?”
Dodol’s expression soured instantly. Truly, this guy was the worst of the worst as a merchant. Who interrupts a negotiation to accuse someone of lying?
“No, no. Actually… it’s the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
I shook my head dramatically. His brows furrowed, and he tilted his head.
“In other words, I possess a significant number of these valuable items.”
“What? You’re referring to these mirrors?”
“Yes. It must have been luck. We excavated a large quantity from the ruins.”
“H-Hmm!”
Dodol’s eyes sparkled. Of course, hearing about a hoard of mirrors more valuable than most gemstones would stir anyone’s greed.
“To be honest, though, that’s caused us some trouble.”
“Trouble? Why? Isn’t it a good thing to make a profit?”
“Messara-sama, in business, sometimes deals that are too profitable simply don’t work out.”
“What…? I don’t understand what you mean…”
Well, it’s beyond your comprehension anyway.
Let me explain it in a way even you can understand—clearly and simply.
“It’s a straightforward issue. The quantity is so massive that the total cost is exorbitant, making it unaffordable.”
“Exorbitant, you say?”
“Yes. Smaller trading companies wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“What a waste. If someone could purchase them, they’d surely make a fortune.”
“Indeed, exactly.”
A clueless idiot who doesn’t understand the market.
Not everything you stock will sell—shouldn’t that be obvious?
“So here’s the idea… Messara-sama, why not take on the mirrors in place of a trading company?”
“W-What?”
Dodol looked confused, but I continued without giving him time to think.
In moments like this, letting someone reflect calmly is the worst strategy.
“I’ve heard rumors, Messara-sama, that you have a relative who is the head of the Graha Trading Company, a figure influential in the Citizen Council and the Council of Elders.”
“You’re well-informed. That would be my brother, Bell Graha’s trading company.”
I had already researched this. Dodol’s brother Bell had married into the Graha family to take over the company.
Their father was a key figure in this country’s political institution, the Council of Elders. No wonder they could do as they pleased.
When I found out, my anger was hard to contain.
“In that case, it’s simple. You procure the mirrors, and the Graha Trading Company can handle the distribution. Both you and Bell Graha profit, and everyone wins.”
“H-Hmm…”
“For me as well, it would be a relief to convert these mirrors to cash instead of carrying them around endlessly.”
“I-I see.”
“Now then!”
“Whoa?!”
My sudden loud voice made Dodol jolt.
“If you’ll agree to a certain condition… I will offer you a favorable price.”
“A condition?”
Clearly displeased by being dictated to by a mere merchant, Dodol scowled.
“Yes. I want you to purchase all the mirrors I have. That’s the condition.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“H-How many mirrors do you have?”
“Three hundred.”
For a few seconds, Dodol blinked repeatedly, tilting his head as he processed my words. Then…
“What?! Three hundred?!”
“Yes. Exactly three hundred.”
“T-This national treasure… three hundred?!”
“Yes.”
Speechless. Shocked.
Sweat poured down Dodol’s dumbfounded face. Even a fool like him could grasp the gravity of the situation.
Three hundred national treasures? This was no ordinary matter.
“But… three hundred? How much would that even cost…?”
A stupid question in such extraordinary circumstances. Deciding that is your job, isn’t it?
Of course, you’re too clueless to manage that.
So I’ll decide for you.
“Normally…”
Slowly, as if telling a story, I continued, deliberately placing my hand on my hip to appear authoritative.
“For mirrors of this caliber, the price would normally not be less than 4 million yen per piece—are you aware of that?”
“Ugh… W-Well… but…”
“Yes, but for the Graha Trading Company, selling them at 5 million yen each should be easy, shouldn’t it? Wouldn’t you personally pay that much for such a mirror?”
“Ugh… Perhaps…”
“If that’s the case, then buying them for 4 million yen each would leave the Graha Trading Company with a profit of 1 billion yen. Splendid!”
“A p-profit of 1 billion?!”
“Yes, 1 billion yen.”
Honestly… despite everything being a hypothetical scenario, he was genuinely astonished.
If this were a stage play, I’d have to concede defeat.
“A b-billion…”
“Indeed. A fantastic profit.”
“H-Hmm.”
“So, what do you think? Wouldn’t you like to make a fortune?”
“Ugh… but why bring this deal to me?”
Oh? Has he regained a shred of composure?
But that’s well within expectations.
“There is a reason.”
“A reason?”
“You need a large amount of money right now.”
“Wha?”
“Yes. For the restoration of Hanshon Village, isn’t it? Urgent funds are required.”
“Huh? …Oh, o-of course! Yes, that’s right. Money is essential for the restoration. Ha ha ha!”
…I’d love to kill him. He hadn’t remembered a grain of it until just now.
Which is precisely why I can deal with him so mercilessly.
“That’s why, as a gesture of support, I never even considered offering this deal to anyone else.”
“Oh… I see, I see. A noble gesture. Truly splendid.”
Feigning composure, Dodol wiped the sweat from his brow. My suppressed murderous intent was likely palpable.
I had promised Giro and Clari: I would subject this man to a fate worse than death.
This was an act of vengeance. I was their agent of retribution. I wouldn’t hesitate to drag him into hell.
“Well then… for the sake of Hanshon Village, shall we proceed with the negotiations?”
Surely, my smile must have been as dark as the abyss.