kscans

Chapter 149 - Suspicious, Suspicious, Suspicious!

After everyone had climbed the ladder, I was the last to return to the surface, and I showed the map to Yanagi-san.

"This is what we have for today."

"Yes, it’s a good map. Please continue the good work."

"Is it alright if I deliver the final version at the very end?"

Actually, I’m not the only one who can make this map. I’d rather not hand it over midway.

"That’s fine."

"Understood."

I said, then took out a pen and drew a horizontal line at the bottom left corner of the map. Drawing a line there temporarily stops the auto-map function. To resume, I just need to erase the line with an eraser. And when it’s completely finished, I just draw a circle at the bottom left corner to finalize it.

"Well then, please come here at ten o’clock the day after tomorrow. I expect it will go through lunchtime, so please prepare your own lunches. We can provide some, but they will be military rations, so I don’t recommend them."

Sounds gross… I’d rather just buy something from a convenience store, or have Kaede-chan’s rice balls.

"We’ll do that. Well, we’re heading back. Good work."

"Yes, get back safely. You’re still in the Frontier, after all."

Nanapon, Yoshino-san, and I bid farewell to Yanagi-san and Maede-san, then left the building and started walking towards the Gate.

"It’s better if I’m not seen with you, so you two go on ahead. I’ll wait a little while."

I especially didn’t want to be seen with Nanapon by other adventurers, though Yoshino-san was one thing.

"Alright. Then I’ll walk Nanapon back. See you the day after tomorrow."

Yoshino-san gave a small wave.

"Yes. See you later, Nanaka-san."

"Okay. I’ll be waiting by the Gate."

Nanapon waved with a smile and started walking towards the Gate with Yoshino-san. To kill some time, I looked at the ground, searching for Fluffy Grass.

If I remember correctly, it grows in places that don’t get sun, like behind buildings.

Recalling the information I heard from Lin-san before, I went around to the back of the building. I found quite a few plants that looked like Fluffy Grass, so I crouched down and began gathering them while appraising them.

I had planned to head back right away, but there were more than I expected, so I spent a little time on it. Then, I felt a presence behind me. I stopped gathering, stood up, and turned around. Behind me stood a young male adventurer, watching me.

"What is it?"

I narrowed my eyes and glared at the man.

"Uh, um, are you Eleanor Ocean-san?"

The young man asked, flustered.

"I am. What do you want?"

Is he hitting on me?

"Um, actually, I was asked to give this to you…………"

The young man said, taking an envelope out of his pocket.

"Excuse me? From whom?"

A fan letter? No, it might be a love letter.

"Um, I don’t know. An elderly gentleman at the Gate gave it to me."

Elderly? Are there adventurers that old? This is incredibly suspicious.

"What did he say?"

"He said he wanted me to give it to you. That he was too old to fight skeletons himself."

…………Then why did he even come here?

"Oh well. Asking you won’t get me anywhere. Hand it over."

"Yes! H, here you go!"

The young man straightened his posture, bowed his head neatly, and offered the envelope with both hands.

"This is the exact pose for handing over a love letter…………"

Exasperated, I took the envelope and looked at both sides. On the front, "To Eleanor Ocean-sama" was written in elegant script, but the back had no sender’s name.

"Hmph, you can go now. Thank you."

"Yes! Excuse me!"

The young man saluted for some reason and quickly left.

Now that the man was gone, I tore open the envelope, took out the contents, and began to read the letter inside.

"Hmm…"

The content of the letter was neither a fan letter nor a love letter. It simply said that the sender wanted to make a deal and asked me to call.

"Now, what to do…………"

The content is extremely suspicious. Honestly, I could just ignore it.

"Hmm, well, maybe I’ll try calling with my number blocked?"

They’ll probably try to contact me again even if I ignore it, so I might as well hear what this deal is about before deciding.

Since my phone wouldn’t work in the Frontier, I decided to head back and walked to the Gate. When I reached the plaza in front of the Gate, it was as crowded as ever, and I drew a lot of attention. I scanned the motley crew for the elderly man the young man had mentioned, but I couldn’t find anyone like that.

Did he go home already? An old man would stand out, after all.

I continued walking and passed through the Gate. In the passage where the Gate was located, Nanapon was waiting for me.

"Oh, you’re late. Did something happen?"

Nanapon approached me, complaining.

"Yes, something came up. I’m going to make a call now, so let me know if anyone seems to be coming."

The Ikebukuro guild has few adventurers, so not many people usually come, but it was currently the evening rush hour. Someone might come, so I’ll have Nanapon with her Clairvoyance keep watch.

"A call? Uh, okay, I understand."

Since Nanapon agreed readily, I dialed the number written on the letter, blocking my own number. After a few rings, the call connected.

"Hello?"

‘Yes. May I speak with Eleanor Ocean-sama?’

It was a man’s voice. It was hard to tell over the phone, but the quality of his voice suggested he might be elderly.

"That’s me. Are you the one who sent the letter?"

‘Yes, I am. I apologize for this suspicious method of contact.’

"You should have just spoken to me normally."

‘There are some circumstances…………’

Circumstances, huh. Well, I figured.

"What are these circumstances?"

‘I would like to meet and discuss that, among other things.’

"You want me to meet a man I don’t even know? No way. I’m busy."

I’m not interested in being picked up.

‘I believe it is a deal that would not be a loss for you either…………’

"This just sounds like a sales call. The kind I’d hang up on. Tell me the content of the deal. If you can’t even say that, then goodbye."

‘I understand. The content of the deal, you see. I would like to purchase the Healing Potion Lv3 at its buy-it-now price.’

Buy-it-now?

"Why? Just bid normally."

‘There is a reason why I need it urgently.’

"Is that your ‘circumstance’?"

‘It is.’

Is someone on the verge of death?

"Specifically, when do you need it by?"

‘The sooner the better, but at the latest, the day after tomorrow…………’

The day after tomorrow…

"Don’t ask for the impossible."

‘I am aware that I am asking for the impossible. That is why I am prepared to offer a premium on the price of the healing potion.’

A premium, huh…

"How much, specifically? You’ve seen the auction, I assume. It’s already surpassed fifty million yen. The current expected final price is seventy to eighty million yen."

The expected final price was written online.

‘Of course, I am aware. Including the price negotiation, I would like to meet with you once. I will explain the circumstances at that time.’

"You need it by the day after tomorrow, right? When are we supposed to meet? I have work the day after tomorrow."

‘Could we meet now?’

"Impossible. I have plans."

I’m going to dinner with Kaede-chan.

‘In that case, could you possibly make some time tomorrow?’

Tomorrow… Kaede-chan has the day off, so I was planning to just laze around with her…………

"I can spare a little time in the afternoon."

Can’t be helped.

‘Thank you very much! Where should we meet? I would prefer to avoid the guild, if possible.’

This is definitely a shady situation.

"Fine, but where? Like you, I don’t want to be seen by anyone. The secret photos are annoying."

‘We would also like to avoid that.’

Confirmed, shady circumstances.

"Do you have a car?"

‘I do not, but I can arrange for one. It would be a rental, though.’

Alright! Let’s go with the American method.

"Let’s make the deal in the car. Come to the back of the Ikebukuro guild."

This way, if anything happens, Harry and Claire can help me.

‘Understood. Then, I will be waiting behind the Ikebukuro guild tomorrow at noon. Please come at your convenience.’

"Alright."

I said, and ended the call.

"What was that? Another suspicious deal?"

Nanapon, who had been listening to the call, asked.

"Seems like it. I’ll at least hear him out."

"Should I go too?"

Hmm, do I need Clairvoyance? I wonder.

"Can you ride in a taxi with Claire and Harry?"

"That’s a little…………"

Scary, huh.

"No, it’s fine. You go to university."

"Okay. But what is it really about?"

I guess she’s curious…

"Are you free after this?"

"Yes, well. I’m just heading home."

"I’m going for drinks with Kaede-chan now, you come too. It’s my treat."

"Really!? Yay!"

Nanapon rejoiced happily.

But does she understand? The one taking her for drinks is not Eleanor-san, but Okita-kun…