Published at 19th of December 2025 12:57 pm

Chapter 2402: Spreading Aftermath

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Kaori-san had always been like that, quick to switch gears, so at first she wore an inscrutable expression when she heard that Magnawell-sans visit was coming up, but after a moment she pulled herself together and spoke.

[Sigh. My stomach and my head hurt, but Ill think about that later. Sorry, Akane-san, I cut in on your story, you can go on.]

[You also had it rough huh, Kaori Well, anyway, we got off track; lets get back to the point]

Come to think of it, if scolding me wasnt the point, then Akane-san must have summoned me for some other business, and I hadnt yet heard what that was.

Since shed started by bringing up merchants from Archlesia Empire, maybe it was related to that?

[But listen, the matters simple. My merchant instincts say theres a big money-making sign in the movements of those merchants from Archlesia Empire. Word is the Lord Trading Company is even arranging the funds, so this looks like a major score. The thing with this sort of opportunity is that the initial speed matters above all, right now the informations all jumbled, so we cant tell where a spark might flare up. Conversely, if we can get the core information ahead of the other trading companies, theres a real chance to rake in solid profits.]

After saying that, Akane-san smiled in a way that made me feel a little suspicious and suddenly looped her arm around me, pressing close.

[Hey, Kaito, since were close, lets drop stupid secrets and be straight with each other. Also, Ive got a favor to ask Youre almost certainly involved in whatever spark is about to ignite, so spill everything you did in Archlesia Empire recently.]

[Ah, yes.]

So it seemed the reason Id been called here was simple: Akane-sans merchant senses had sniffed out a profit, and shed come to question me, the suspected or rather, the confirmed culprit for details.

A- As expected of an efficient merchant, shes quick to act well, fine. As for what Id done in Archlesia Empire related to merchants, the Victor Trading Company matter from yesterday came to mind, but that felt too recent to be the source.

So maybe it was something else I couldnt think of much, so I decided to start with the tea party Eris-san had hosted.

I explained, as thoroughly as I could, that Id met noble ladies at the tea party Eris-san organized, that Marie-san had given me ripples and it was a large amount, so Id distributed it to acquaintances while introducing them, about what happened with Cornelia-san from yesterday, and so on in as much detail as possible.

[So thats it for Archlesia Empire-related matters, I guess.]

[I see. I think what I caught wind of is something to do with the Ritch Barony. If it were news about the Victor Trading Company, itd be too soon to have reached me, and besides, that one involves Sharon County, so it wouldnt be this vague. After hearing what you said, Ive got a good idea of what the Lord Trading Company is aiming for Really, thanks for the info. But sorry, Ive got to retort to you a bit Youre spreading bombs around more extravagantly than I imagined! Are you trying to give the Ritch Barony and Sharon County stomachaches and topple them?!]

[Ive never met them, but I sincerely pity Lady Marie and Lady Cornelia]

While Akane-san kept making sharp remarks even as she thanked me for the information Id given, Kaori-san quietly nodded in agreement, as if acknowledging the truth of it.

However, Akane-san quickly switched to her merchant persona, her expression turning serious as she seemed to be contemplating something.

[The part our trading house can get involved in is the one with Ritch Barony. The Victor Trading Company is effectively under the Sharon Trading Company, so Sharon Trading Company will definitely be steering that. Theyre a pretty big trading company, and if we poke our noses in carelessly, wed just get on their bad side, so well ignore that part.]

[Arehh? But isnt the Lord Trading Company operating in Ritch Barony? Wouldnt it be worse to get on their bad side?]

[No, if our reading is correct, we wont collide there. Theyre one of the Five Great Trading Houses, theyve arranged the funds, so theres no way theyre fussing over buying ripples now. I mean, the fact that we even hear about them preparing funds shows that the ripple transactions arent that huge. This is just a prediction, but I think what the Lord Trading Company is trying to get their hands on was the Barony, and by extension, the logistics of Western Archlesia Empire itself.]

[What do you mean by that]

[Ah, dont worry, Ive heard the details, and since people you know are involved, Ill explain my reading in detail. This will be a long story Kaori, could I trouble you for a refill of tea?]

It seemed Akane-san was making predictions about something that was about to happen in Western Archlesia Empire, and she was going to explain them to me and Kaori-san.

I hadnt really done anything related to the Lord Trading Company to Nia-sans side, so why was the conversation leading towards them Perhaps listening to Akane-sans predictions would clarify that point.

Serious-senpai : [I see so this is how it ties into the story of Maries stomach being destroyed Dont you have a heart?]

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