Chapter 32 - Episode 3: "It's a Fresh Leaf (Illegal) Salad"
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I am currently listening to the news from Keeb and Giovan.
...Yes. The two of them have returned! Bringing back the news of 'Success!'
"It was fun. I turned the bag upside down on a hill near the town. Slimes just went thud-thud-thud as they fell out. After that, I just scattered bait here and there leading to the town, and the slimes moved to the town on their own. Once they're in town, there's bait everywhere anyway."
Listening to Keeb's story makes even me feel joyful.
A town suddenly attacked by a quantity of slimes enough to fill the streets... It must have been a scene of pandemonium. Ah, I truly wish I could have seen it.
"As soon as we arrived in Poaris, I bought up a large amount of slime repellent. Well, they'll have no choice but to transport more repellent from the Royal Capital."
"By the way, what did you do with that slime repellent?"
"Hmm, it might have been fine to sell it, but I thought it might be bad if it left a trail, so I just brought it back as is. Maybe we'll sell it at our shop. The supply is bound to run low anyway."
Giovan seems to have handled things skillfully as well. The confusion in the town of Poaris will surely increase further. Dealing with slimes bit by bit is actually quite tedious. If you scatter repellent, you can exterminate them immediately, and even if they don't die, all slimes will scurry away the moment they sense the repellent, so that suffices. Conversely, it means they are a nuisance without repellent.
"What's the status of the security in Elsemarin?"
"Outside? Well, it seems they can't exactly withdraw everyone. But still, the numbers have decreased considerably. Apparently, the rumor is that 'Violia Nico Fortesia's next hiding place is Poaris.' You're very popular, young lady."
"Yes, quite so!"
I think it is a bit much that I am the only one being pursued, but on the contrary, if my infamy becomes my cover, I welcome it!
"Right now, it seems the soldiers are all flocking to Poaris. The ones left in Elsemarin are apparently just there 'to be safe,' and they don't seem to have any motivation."
Well, they likely do not think I would continue to stay in Elsemarin while causing all sorts of trouble. It is delightful. Ohohohoho.
...And so.
It seems it is about time that I, Doran, and Chesta can go outside as long as we are cautious.
In that case, I shall immediately execute the operation I was considering: 'Operation Drug Plantation in a Bag'!
Due to the strategy meeting and various preparations, the departure was late at night the following day.
The members this time are me, Doran, Keeb, and Giovan. Giovan could have stayed to mind the shop, but when it comes to drug sales routes, it is more convenient to have him along.
Ah, it is only natural that Chesta is staying behind. I cannot take a drug addict to a drug plantation!
"This way. It's in an interesting location, isn't it?"
"Yes... it is in the mountains, isn't it? And quite close by, at that."
Under Keeb's guidance, we head toward the drug plantation that the branch of House Fruitier was running.
I had wondered how far away a noble's drug cultivation might be... but it was surprisingly close. It is a day's journey if we push the horses.
However, in exchange, the plantation is apparently in the mountains so that it is difficult to find.
I imagine preparing a field in the mountains must be quite difficult. It must be the result of being cautious, but it also feels inefficient. Well, the fields will be inside a bag from now on, so it does not matter.
Two hours after entering the mountains. We finally arrived at the drug plantation.
We reached it smoothly because Keeb was with us, but it would be difficult to arrive if one did not know the way.
"It is quite large-scale, isn't it? They have carved out the slopes like stairs to secure the area for the fields."
"Interesting, right?"
"Yes. Very."
That drug plantation appeared before my eyes as a scenery I had never seen before.
Fields like extremely gentle stairs carved into the mountain slope. The leaves growing thick there, rustling as they sway in the wind. The scenery of the mountain valley at dusk. It is very peaceful.
Since I am here, I shall have a little snack of a fresh leaf.
"Eh, young lady, you're going to have a snack?"
"Yes. I will not get high from eating the leaves, but I can still tell the taste."
When I pluck a young, soft leaf from a nearby field and bring it to my mouth, a fresh juiciness spreads. The faint bitterness and the acridity that catches on the tongue prove that this leaf is top-quality. I look forward to collecting the fields.
Next, I thought to greet the workers here... but to my surprise.
"Oh, they're not here."
I searched the place that seemed to be the shack for the workers, but it was an empty shell. No one is there.
"That's strange... they were either in the fields or here."
"Didn't they run away? It's been nearly two weeks, and they probably found out what happened to their master in Elsemarin."
Hmm, if there are no workers, it is troublesome... Cultivating them will suddenly become a great deal of work...?
However, there was also one piece of good news.
"...Who are you people?"
People who are clearly not from the 'front' side of society have arrived!
"It's me."
The one who stepped forward was Keeb. Just in case, Keeb had been wearing a mask and a hood pulled low over his eyes, but when he removed them, the men who had come before us looked blankly surprised.
"Wh... You, you were alive?"
"Don't go killing me off on your own. So? What about you guys? Surely you didn't not know what happened to the master of this place, or something like that?"
When Keeb said that and looked at the men... the men were clearly bothered by the three of us standing behind Keeb. Yes, yes. I suppose they would be. A trio consisting of a muscular wolf, a skeleton man, and a beautiful young lady. It is suspicious. No matter how you look at it, it is suspicious.
"Ah, don't worry about the three behind me. They're my companions."
"I-I see."
The men are still bothered by us, but Keeb seems to have decided to continue the conversation regardless.
"So? What did you guys come here for? Don't tell me you came to harvest it yourselves?"
...The men are all carrying sickles and such. In short, they are dressed for harvesting the leaves here.
"The guys who sell it came all the way here to harvest?"
"It can't be helped. As soon as word got out that the 'master' here ended up like that, the people here ran away. Apparently, they thought a national audit would come in. Because of that, this field was abandoned... and we're in a situation where we can't get the stuff we need at all. The customers are telling us to hurry up and hand over the drugs, so we had no choice but to come collect it ourselves."
"Ahaha, thanks for the hard work."
Keeb laughed... and then, suddenly, he looked back at me.
"Let me introduce them. These guys are the drug dealers who were operating behind House Fruitier. ...Apparently, they're in trouble because they can't get drugs, so what should we do?"
I was asked what to do, but there is only one choice for something like this!
"In that case, we shall let you have our drugs."
"Huh?"
"Are the people you sell to nobles?"
"Eh, ah, yeah... that's right."
I see. If the customers are nobles, we can probably get away with overcharging them a bit, and conversely, they are in a situation where it is troublesome if they do not stock and sell the next batch even if they are overcharged. Nobles, despite the fact that it would be terrible if it were discovered they were buying drugs, even exercise tyranny in obtaining them. They are likely hearing threats from all directions like 'Sell the drugs. Or else you know what will happen.'
...Since these dealers are so desperate that they have to harvest the drugs themselves... they have no choice but to accept this offer!
"Then it is fine. We shall let you have the drugs we possess. Of course, we do not require money. As a 'token of future friendship,' you see. For now, please tide over the emergency with that. Let's see, perhaps about 100 doses of magic-potion-type drugs. Will that be enough?"
"Wh... Magic-type drugs!? Those are high-end goods, aren't they?"
"Yes. Well, we shall give you that much. We are going to be friends from now on, after all."
The cost price is about the price of the bottles, though. Ohohohohoho.
...But, for these guys right now, it must be something they want so badly their throats are parched for it. After all, the drug cultivation side has been stopped for two weeks. If it is leaves, there is still the work of processing and such, and it will take more time before they are in a sellable form, right? If they are already being pressed by nobles right now... even if the type is different, if there are drugs of a quality and quantity that would satisfy the nobles, they should be jumping at the chance.
"...However, in exchange, I have a request for you."
Now. The other party is in a situation where they have no choice but to completely accept our conditions! ...Therefore, let us proceed peacefully!
"Would you care to do business with us from now on?"
Yes. From here on, Giovan will proceed with the detailed talk. To be honest, when it comes to the actual sales talk, I am not very useful.
It seems Giovan and Doran, who went along as his guard, decided to talk with the dealers in the shack.
...In the meantime, Keeb and I are preparing the Mystic Ruby.
"I am glad I brought it along."
What I took out from the Spatial Bag was a set of small bottles for Mystic Ruby and tools for dilution.
Now, I shall immediately move on to the production of Mystic Ruby.
...Just then.
"Hey... is it really okay to give them 'Mystic Ruby'?"
"I do not mind. It comes out almost infinitely anyway."
"No, that's not it. The bottle design for 'Mystic Ruby' is distinctive, right? So, I think even the nobles will be able to tell who is selling it."
...Oh.
"That is true... in that case, it would be better not to call it 'Mystic Ruby,' wouldn't it?"
'Mystic Ruby' is also sold at Giovan's shop, so it would inevitably become material that shows a connection to us. Even if it is no problem at all for the drug dealers to find out... will it be troublesome if even the people they sell to find out? Hmm, I cannot make a judgment yet...
Well, it is fine.
"If that is the case, let us make it something else, at least for the first time. It is fine. I have plenty of spare bottles."
"You just kept them in your Spatial Bag..."
I took out ordinary glass bottles, not the ones for Mystic Ruby, from the Spatial Bag. It should be fine to fill these.
...Ah.
"While we are at it, let us change the ingredients slightly, just as a placebo."
"Haah, fresh leaves are delicious, aren't they?"
"...It's my first time seeing someone munching on drugs..."
Yes. For now, I am plucking fresh leaves from the field and eating them in large quantities as a salad!
After eating a massive amount of them and waiting a little while before drawing blood, I can produce blood that contains some leaf components!
With this, I can claim it is a completely different thing! Probably!