kscans

Chapter 167 - 10:30 is Morning

"...noa-san... Eleanor-san."

I was awakened by someone calling my name.

"I’m sleepy."

"It’s morning. Please wake up."

Thinking what a nuisance, I assumed it was Kaede-chan waking me up and turned my face toward the voice.

"Huh? It’s Nanapon. Where’s my Kaede-chan?"

"Your Asakura-san is still asleep."

"Then I’m going back to sleep... Good night."

Don’t wake me up if Kaede-chan is still sleeping...

"Um, your phone is ringing. It’s Claire-san."

Claire? Oh, Claire!

"Seriously?"

I immediately sat up and looked at Nanapon. Her hair was sticking up all over the place, a clear sign that she had just woken up too.

"Seriously. I just woke up a minute ago, and Eleanor-san’s phone has been blinking constantly."

I looked at Eleanor-san’s phone on the low table in front of me. Sure enough, the screen was lit up, and Claire’s name was displayed on it.

"You’re right. I guess I’ll answer... Nanapon, you go take a bath or something. You didn’t have one yesterday, did you?"

"Neither did you two... Well then, I’ll use it. Also, please switch back to your Eleanor-san mode when you answer the phone."

Ah, I’m completely half-asleep. But what does she mean by ‘switch back’...

"Got it. Oh, while you’re at it, wake Kaede-chan up... No, never mind. I’ll wake her."

Kaede-chan is sleeping in my room, which isn't locked. I'll be the one to wake her.

"...I’ll wake her up, so please answer the phone. It must be important."

Cht! The nerve of Nanapon.

"Alright, alright. Feel free to use the bath salts or shampoo or whatever."

"Thank you."

Nanapon thanked me and left the living room. Once I confirmed she was gone, I pressed the call button.

"Ah, you finally answered."

It was Claire’s voice.

"What time do you think it is?" I said, lodging a complaint.

"10:30. I don’t think that’s a time to be complaining, is it?"

Wait, is it that late already? I thought Nanapon was an early riser, but it turns out I just slept in really late.

"I’m sorry. I was asleep."

"I figured. Your voice is all raspy."

That would be the alcohol.

"I was celebrating the auction until late last night."

I think I went to bed around two.

"You seem pretty relaxed..."

"It went over a hundred million, you know. Of course I’m happy."

"Good for you. I’d like to talk about our next business deal regarding that."

"Right. We can do that another time. Something else is more important right now."

What's important now is that demand for my custody.

"That’s what I called about."

"Did you find anything?"

"First off, I told the President what you asked me to."

Oh, she actually told him.

"And?"

"He was extremely interested in the Healing Potion Lv3 and the 2000-kilo Item Bag. And he really did put pressure on the Japanese government. He called your prime minister directly."

Sorry, Mr. Prime Minister.

"And?"

"To put it simply, the Japanese government has nothing to do with it. It was a complete surprise to them, and it seems they’re scrambling to deal with it."

So the government doesn't know?

"Doesn’t that mean it’s definitely fake news?"

"That’s not necessarily the case."

"Is there something else?"

"The President must have been very pleased. He put pressure on the Guild as well, for good measure."

What a hard worker. I’ll throw in a Translation Potion for him as a bonus.

"How did the Guild react?"

"They were evasive. Said they couldn’t say anything right now."

Couldn’t say anything right now... That means they'll have something to say later.

"Huh? So there really is a demand?"

"I don’t know about that, but it’s a fact that the Guild knows something. This is as far as we can investigate. You’ll have to use your own contacts for the rest."

Satsuki-san and Yoshino-san... Since it’s the Guild, I guess that makes sense.

"I understand. I’ll try to find out more on my end. Thank you. I’ll prepare a Christmas present for the President, so please give it to him when we next meet."

"I’m sure he’ll be delighted. After all, he gave an order to win the 1000-kilo Item Bag at all costs when it was on auction."

Seriously? And he failed to win it...

"Tell him that if he’s a good boy, Santa will come again next year."

"Aren’t you a witch?"

Well, yes. I’m not some bearded old man.

"We’re both equally suspicious. Thanks to you, too."

"It’s fine. I can’t afford to lose a major client."

I'm certain of it now. She has completely forgotten about her job as my bodyguard. All she has on her mind is business.

"I’ll contact you if I find out anything."

"Please do. Well, I’m hanging up."

"Alright, alright. Good night."

"Don’t go back to sleep."

Claire said with a laugh before hanging up.

"Hmm, the Guild, huh..."

After finishing the call, I leaned back on the sofa, stared at the ceiling, and began to think.

The Guild knows something? In that case, should I ask the Chief Director through Yoshino-san, or ask Satsuki-san... Hmm, I’ll start with Satsuki-san. She’s probably been looking into it as well.