kscans

Chapter 136 - Being a Manager is Tough

Satsuki-san placed her smartphone on the table to call Yoshino-san. A ringing tone began to sound from the device. After a short while, the ringing stopped.

‘Hello? Satsuki-neesan?’

That’s Yoshino-san’s voice. As expected.

"Yoshino, you got a minute?"

‘Um, I’m in the middle of a meeting with the headquarters manager?’

It seemed Yoshino-san was at work.

"The headquarters manager is there?"

‘No, I stepped out, of course.’

"I see… well, whatever. I’m calling about that underground ruin in Kunaar Ruins."

‘The headquarters manager and I were just discussing that very matter. What’s the plan? Are you going to use Eleanor?’

I guess what happens next depends on me.

"About that, Eleanor and… what was it?"

I’m not sure what she’s on about, but Satsuki-san looked at Kaede-chan.

"Agent Seven."

She means Nanapon…

"That’s it. Agent Seven. Those two are going to investigate the underground ruin."

‘Huh. That’s surprising. I thought for sure she’d refuse. If she just sold me the Auto-Map, I’d go myself…’

"If you’re buying, it’s one million."

‘That’s expensive. Three hundred thousand.’

These two, really… And besides, don’t sell the one I gave you as a sample.

"Well, the price doesn’t matter. Anyway, Eleanor and Agent Seven are doing it, so tell the headquarters manager to issue a designated request."

‘Just out of curiosity, why did they decide to go? I can’t imagine her making a move right when the auction for the level 3 Healing Potion is about to start.’

See, she’s suspicious.

"Come over here so we can talk about that."

‘Hey, I told you I’m in a meeting.’

"It’s about what you’re discussing. If you go through the headquarters manager, you’ll lose your cut."

‘My cut… wait a second. I’ll just tell the headquarters manager something vague.’

Yoshino-san’s tone of voice changed.

"Hurry up. You can come in through the back."

‘I’ll do that. I don’t want to be seen going in and out of other branches too much.’

"There’s a suspicious taxi, though."

Harry and Claire…

‘I’ll leave that to Eleanor. Well then, I’ll talk to the headquarters manager and then head over.’

Yoshino-san said that, and the call ended.

"That girl is all about money…"

Satsuki-san sounded exasperated, but I think they’re both the same.

"Am I in charge of Harry and Claire?"

"Of course you are. You two are chummy enough to eat ramen together."

It’s mostly against my will, though… Claire and I want to go for tempura.

◆◇◆

Yoshino had stepped out to take a call from that vixen. I leaned back in my chair and thought.

I was aware that the vixen was probing me about the underground ruin. The call just now was probably about that… Will she use Eleanor? Or did she conveniently have something else drop again?

Now then, how will she play her hand?

As I was pondering, the door to the room opened, and Yoshino, who had been out, returned.

"My apologies."

Yoshino apologized.

"It’s fine. It was about the underground ruin, wasn’t it?"

"Yes. She said to issue a designated request for Eleanor Ocean."

Just as I thought…

"The job is mainly surveying and investigation, you know?"

"Apparently, she can create a map with some kind of unknown magic or skill."

Is that woman truly a witch…?

"Is that all?"

"I haven’t heard the details, but there may be another objective."

"I would think so. Would a witch so obsessed with making money accept a job like this?"

"I agree. She is a witch, so she may be interested in the ruins."

If that witch is truly from Frontier, there’s a possibility she knows about those ruins. In other words, there is something in those ruins.

"I’d rather not let that witch go there…"

"Either way, if we do nothing, we’ll end up posting a request for adventurers. Even then, the witch will likely show up. There’s a risk of conflict with other adventurers, so wouldn’t it be better to make it a designated request?"

There is that… After all, she just caused trouble the other day. Well, the witch wasn’t at fault in that case, but there’s a possibility other adventurers might attack her. That would be bad. From what I’ve heard in the reports, that witch is not a docile type. The worst-case scenario is conceivable.

"It can’t be helped… I’ll speak to the higher-ups and have them issue a designated request…"

"The Ikebukuro branch manager told me to come to the Ikebukuro branch because she wants to discuss the details, so I will go and listen."

Details, huh…

"Are they planning to demand something?"

"I expect there will be something. The SDF will be acting with them, after all."

That’s right… I’m worried about trouble with the SDF.

"Tell them not to cause any trouble. Or you get in between them."

"Does that mean I am to accept the request as well?"

"The witch is D-rank, right? You’re A-rank, so you will support her."

The SDF personnel will also be relieved to have A-rank Yoshino with them if they have to go underground with the witch.

"Understood. I will negotiate accordingly."

"I’m counting on you."

I said that, and Yoshino bowed once before leaving the room.

Haaah… All I do lately is sigh.