kscans

Chapter 35 - Chapter 10: Part One, The End of Summer Vacation

A week had passed since the Shoken Festival. On the last day of summer vacation, the Vinder Company was even busier than it had been before the event.

"Boss, an order just came in from the Plural Company."

"This much already? Just how many French toasts are they planning to sell?"

"You're the one who took the order, so please get a grip. Also, another new sample arrived from the Roston Company. It's the fourth one this week. What do you think this is?"

Mia gave me a dubious look as she opened the box. Her expression was like she'd found a plastic model kit in a package addressed to her older brother, though maybe not quite as bad as if it were a pretty-girl figurine. Inside the box was a lumpy, black mass. The faint, garlic-like scent reached my nose.

"Whoa, isn't this a truffle? That's a super high-end ingredient."

"...The letter says it's a mushroom. It also says it's used as livestock feed."

"Ah, I see, for pigs... I've only eaten it once. I don't remember how to use it at all."

I think I remember it having some rather questionable properties. Was there any scientific basis for that, though?

"I've finished checking numbers 234 through 251," Fina reported.

"Got it, Fina. Then next—"

My summer-only part-timer was working hard again today.

Though, I really wish she hadn't come in today, of all days. Today was the big day.

"Vinn, this is terrible!!... Wrong shop. ...Huh?! Lady Alfina?? Why are you dressed like that..."

"What is it, Rilka?"

Rilka, who had burst into the shop, stared at us, her eyes wide with shock.

"Why are you all acting so normal? Is it common for your shop to have a princess helping out?! Seriously, that's just weird!"

"No, this is a form of social studies. More importantly, what's wrong? This is the first time you've come here, isn't it?"

"So my visit is the rare thing here... That's not it! Calest just left the guild headquarters. Maria-senpai told me to tell you."

"I see. Right on schedule."

How thoughtful of her to send a final confirmation. Things were proceeding exactly as planned.

"Alright, let's move the jars we're disposing of to the entrance."

"How can you be so calm? They're not just bringing guild officials, they've mobilized their hired thugs too."

So they're going that far. Fine by me. It was a pain to coordinate the schedule, so I might as well make the most of it.

"Once we're done moving them, Mia and Lady Alfina, please hide in the back. What will you do, Rilka? You should probably get away from the shop."

"It's fine. I'll watch over things with the two of them."

Two carriages arrived on the street in front of our shop. One was a rather luxurious vehicle for a wealthy person, and the other was a large transport carriage with a tarp hiding its contents. They parked in a V-shape to block the front of the store.

Trying to hide what's about to happen from public view, I see. I slowly stepped out in front of the shop.

A man in lavish clothes, a cigar clamped in his mouth, stepped out of the fancier carriage. So they have tobacco here. Not that I had any plans to introduce it if they didn't.

So he came in person. He was of average height, but with broad, square shoulders and a solid build. He was more intimidating than the pot-bellied Dorefano.

The guild officials who emerged from the same carriage as Theodore smirked from behind him. It seems the guild organization itself has plenty of problems, not just its members. Well, that's to be expected.

Men who were clearly not guild officials got out of the second carriage and surrounded the shop.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Vinder Copper Company. I am Calest, the Guild Master. You are under suspicion of fraudulent business practices. Comply quietly with the guild's—"

"Hold on."

"What kind of tone is that to use with the Guild Master? Save your excuses for later."

"No, that's not it. We're the Vinder Company. You should at least learn the name of your enemy."

I, for one, had learned his. Theodore Calest, father of the Calest siblings. Forty-five years old. The vice guild master of the Food Guild, and with the top position vacant, he was the de facto number one. He was in the middle of being pushed back by Kenwell after his son's failure at the Shoken Festival.

He was looking for an easy target to bully to reclaim his tarnished prestige. He was currently enraged by the news that Kenwell, his rival, was recommending Vinder, the cause of his son's disgrace, for a Silver rank.

Perfect, right?

"Fwahahaha! A Copper calling me an enemy. Just as my son said, you seem to have a strange way of thinking. I told you, this is an official inspection."

"Can you conduct an official inspection without any prior notice? The chairman isn't here, so if possible, I'd like to ask you to come back the day after tomorrow."

I emphasized the words "the day after tomorrow." The day he thought Kenwell's recommendation would be submitted.

"Silence. Don't think you can get away with hiding the evidence. Men, go in."

The men surrounding us responded to their boss's order and shoved me aside.

Crash, crash. The sound of smashing pottery echoed. It seemed they had kicked over the jars lined up at the entrance.

"Wait, those jars are our property."

"Like I care. Regret your foolishness in defying Lord Theodore."

I returned to the shop to protest. Of course, the men paid me no mind. Another jar was smashed against the floor, making a loud noise that could be heard outside.

I'll have them replace them with new ones and pay for the damages.

The men who pushed their way into the shop began to do as they pleased, pulling open drawers and overturning boxes. Of course, all the important things had already been moved to the back. Still, it was infuriating...

"What was that noise? Vinder, are you okay?"

"Ah, you idiot, I told you not to come out..."

Rilka poked her head out of the back door. And to make matters worse, Mia and Alfina were with her. One of the men, who had been staring blankly at the empty shelves, saw the three of them and his face twisted into a smirk.

"Heh, what's with this place? It's full of a real collection of beauties."

"Hey, wait. You guys..."

I have no intention of running a business where I offer a side of lèse-majesté. I stood protectively in front of my female classmates.

"Yeah? Get out of the way, you brat."

He grabbed me by the collar. It was terrifying. Please, hurry up and get here.

As if my prayers were answered, I heard the sound of more wheels. A commotion began to stir outside. It seemed they had made it just in time.

"Wh-what's with this carriage? Hey, we're busy here!"

"What business do you have with my shop, Lord Theodore?"

"Vinder."

After confirming that Mia and the others had closed the door, I stepped outside. A man alighted from a carriage so magnificent it made Theodore's look like a cargo cart.

He wore a formal suit. However, it was tailored from fabric of a quality just barely acceptable for its price. What's more, perhaps because he'd haggled on the tailoring, it was already showing signs of wear after only a month. The slender, forty-something man looked strikingly out of place against the backdrop of a grand noble's carriage.

Sorry, Dad. Not that I have any room to talk, having made do with my uniform.

"I return from my investment negotiations to find quite a commotion," my father said to Theodore in a nonchalant voice.

"Hah, what investment negotiations? Your shop is finished. On charges of fraudulent accounting. Give up and quietly......... Wh-why, why is Your Grace..."

Theodore's words trailed off. From behind my father, a lady stepped down from the carriage. As expected of a major merchant, he seemed to recognize her.

"Hmm? You seem familiar."

As expected of a great noble. It seemed a vice guild master was someone she had merely seen somewhere before.

"I am Th-Theodore Calest, Your Grace, Grand Duchess Bertold. What is the meaning... Why are you here?"

"Hmm? I am an investor in this company, so my presence should not be strange."

"Ha, hahaha, th-that's impossible."

Theodore's face was a picture of a man betrayed by the world.

"Then, it is my turn to ask. What is the meaning of this? It appears my property is being damaged," the Grand Duchess said, looking at the ransacked interior of the shop and the shards of pottery scattered at the entrance.

Don't just casually call it your property. Your investment share isn't over half yet. Although, by the definition of a shareholder, her statement is technically correct even if she only owns a single share.

"N-no, this is all some kind of mistake..."

The guild officials instantly put some distance between themselves and Theodore.

"Riccardo. What did this man say?"

"Yes, he said he was here as the vice guild master to conduct an official inspection of our company. Along with those guild officials over there."

I pointed at Theodore and the trembling officials behind him. Like I'd let you get away. It was precisely because they were protected by their positions as guild officials that I had to deal with them all at once when I had the chance.

"Hoh. Then show me the proof."

"N-no, that is..."

"Did you not hear me? I am telling you to present the grounds for conducting an inspection of my company. Right now. Since you claim it is official, there must be guild documents. Show me those as well."

Theodore's shoulders trembled. If this were a story about a retired vice-shogun meddling in domestic affairs, this would be the point where he'd snap...

"M-my deepest apologies!"

The man's head touched the ground. So prostration existed in this country, too.

"Seize every last one of these men and hand them over to the city guard."

That seat of honor at the New Year's festival is a long way off now, former vice guild master.