kscans

Chapter 228 - The Meeting

After the representatives from each country, Satsuki-san and the director also passed through the gate. The only ones left here were me and the three little ones.

"Eleanor, why did you make me do the explaining? And you even ignored me."

Arc started to complain.

"You know more about it, and it was good practice for you. If you're going to be king, you should at least become a good speaker."

It was definitely not because it became a hassle.

"Well, I was the one who offered to explain... but they definitely figured out I'm from Frontier."

"That's fine, isn't it? The moment you're seen with me, that's what they'll think."

In fact, Lydia-chan didn't even seem to have any intention of hiding it.

"At this point, there's no point in trying to hide it, I guess..."

"Personally, I was hoping to downplay the Sand Dragon."

"That's impossible. Anyone would get hooked if you mention the word 'dragon.'"

Well, that's true. I got hooked too when the King explained it to me.

"Oh well. Arc, please take Nanaka-san and Lydia-chan home. All that's left is to talk with the director."

I had a grasp of the director's stats, and I knew he wasn't carrying any hidden weapons. Well, even if an old man like him had a weapon, I could handle it.

"Okay. Can I join the meeting too?"

"Of course. Who do you think is going to take me home? Besides, this is also a learning experience."

Since he's going to be king, he should experience all sorts of things.

"It's easy to tell which of those is your real reason... Nanaka can go to your house, right? What about Lydia?"

"I will also go to Eleanor-sama's residence, if I may. I have been invited to a tea party by Kaede-sama and Yoshino-sama."

When Lydia-chan says 'tea party,' it sounds so elegant. Even though they're just going to be gorging on snacks.

"Alright, so you're both going to that house. I'll take you there."

"See you later."

As I said that, Arc vanished in an instant along with Nanapon and Lydia-chan. Now that I was alone, I felt like it, so I took my sword out of my bag and gazed at its blade.

"I guess I won't be using this much after the auction is over..."

It felt a little sad. It wasn't that I particularly wanted to cut something, but swinging a sword for the first time in eight years had been fun.

"I'm back... Whoa, that's scary!"

As I was admiring my sword, Arc returned right away.

"That was fast."

"Well, I was just dropping them off... Hey, what are you doing? It's unusually scary when you're looking at a sword..."

"Nothing... I was just thinking that I probably won't be using this much anymore."

Such melancholy.

"That's creepy... That's something a street slasher would say... Eleanor, try smiling just like that."

As Arc told me to, I gave a soft smile.

"Whoa... that's not funny at all."

Then don't make me do it!

"I guess I can't even feel melancholy... Whatever, let's go."

I put the sword back in my bag and started walking towards the gate.

"Oh, the gate isn't connected anymore, so I'll take you."

"Then, please do."

Arc and I decided to return to the Ikebukuro Guild, where the director and Satsuki-san were waiting.

We returned to the Guild's gate with Arc's teleportation magic and headed straight for Satsuki-san's room. When we arrived in front of her room, I knocked.

"You can come in."

Having received Satsuki-san's permission, Arc and I entered the room. Inside, Satsuki-san and the director were already seated on the sofa, so Arc and I sat down across from them.

"Where are the other two?" the director asked as we sat down.

"I sent them home. We can't all fit here."

This sofa was reasonably large, but it certainly couldn't seat four more people.

"That one is here, though..."

The director looked at Arc.

"For his studies. She's a child I'm taking a special interest in."

"...What an unpleasant way to put it."

Arc really dislikes that. Is she a tsundere?

"Well, don't mind it. More importantly, thank you for your hard work today."

"Yes, indeed. Thank you for your hard work. I was also nervous, it being my first time in Frontier in a long while."

The director was quite old, after all.

"I'm glad it ended without any incidents. I thought it would be more chaotic."

I had thought someone might attack me, so I had hidden a sword in the hood of the robe I use as an item bag, but there was no need for it.

"We did have to eject some people... but to be honest, I also thought it ended more peacefully than expected."

The director must have also expected some country to break the rules.

"I'm sure there will be complaints and excuses, but please handle them."

"Indeed... Well, that is the Guild's job."

The director looked extremely displeased, but it seemed he would handle it.

"So, we've been to the Emeraldas Mountains. From the Guild's perspective, do you think it's okay to put this up for auction?"

"At the very least, we confirmed that it was not a lie. Furthermore, the Guild has also confirmed it with Frontier."

Oh, so the King answered them properly.

"Then it's fine?"

"Yes, I will permit it. However, there are a few conditions."

Conditions...

"Well, that's what this meeting is for."

"Precisely. First of all, I want to decide on the auction format."

Auction format...

"Is the usual Guild website not good enough?"

"The server will undoubtedly crash. In fact, the Guild's website has crashed several times since you announced your intention to hold an auction."

"Ours crashed too. And apparently, the main headquarters' site also crashed."

Oh my. Japan's too... My apologies.

"Then what should we do? Rent a venue somewhere and hold an old-fashioned auction? Like a bidding war."

"Impossible. We cannot gather representatives from all over the world, and it would cause a panic."

Well, that's probably true. I didn't think that would work either.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"The price may fall, but I would like to use a sealed-bid system."

"What's that?"

I've never heard of it.

"Each country will submit the amount they are willing to pay for the Emeraldas Mountains to the Guild. The country that offers the highest amount will win the bid."

"So no bidding against each other?"

"That is correct. The truth is, when dealing with countries, a bidding war is difficult. After all, every country is using taxpayer money. Their budgets are fixed."

I see. Normally, people get heated and spend more than their budget, but that's not allowed with taxpayer money.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. What do you think, Satsuki-san?"

"I think that's for the best. The amounts are what they are."

That makes sense too...

"Then, that's fine with me."

To be honest, I don't really get it. If Satsuki-san says it's fine, then it's probably fine.

"Good. And the payment will be in gold, correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"In that case, I believe it will have to be in installments. Is that acceptable?"

"Installments? Why? I want it right away."

Don't be stingy!

"Eleanor, it's not money, so it's not as simple as making a bank transfer. How do you plan on receiving a massive amount of gold?"

Satsuki-san explained with an exasperated look.

"I see. It would be a problem even if I received it..."

I don't know how much it will be, but if they handed me 100 tons of gold, even putting it in an item bag would be a huge pain.

"That is why it will be in installments. We cannot decide on the number of installments now. We will decide after the auction, once we see the amount of gold. The Guild promises to take responsibility for that."

"Will a country not default on the payment?"

"In that event, the Guild will withdraw from that country. In which case, the gate in that country will be gone."

"Is that so?"

"We, the Guild, have such a treaty with Frontier. We have the discretion to decide on the removal of a gate."

The Guild is amazing.

"Is that right?"

I looked at Arc, who was sitting next to me.

"It's like a commission. People from Frontier aren't over here, so they don't know what's going on. That's why they had an organization unrelated to any country created and entrusted a certain amount of control to them."

I see, I see. If Arc says so, then it must be so.

"I get it. So there won't be any defaults."

I shifted my gaze from Arc and confirmed with the director.

"That is correct. If they were to default, the Emeraldas Mountains would be returned to you."

I don't want it, so I'll just have them hold another auction.

"I understand. I will leave that matter to the Guild. When will the auction be held?"

"As originally planned, in one month. We will announce the auction format, the fact that the transaction will be in gold, and other details in a few days."

"A few days? That's fast."

Aren't you going to compile today's information first?

"If we do not move that quickly, we will not make it in one month."

The sooner the better, but it doesn't have to be in exactly one month... Oh well!

"I understand. I'll be counting on you."

I pressed down on Arc's head and we bowed together.

"If anything comes up, or if we receive inquiries from countries, I would like to contact someone. Is Sakurai acceptable?"

"Yes, please do that. Satsuki-san, I'm counting on you."

"Got it."

Satsuki-san nodded.

"Then, let us conclude this meeting here. I must give out instructions right away and return to my country."

The director said this and stood up.

"Should I just wait until the auction is over?"

Is there nothing for me to do?

"Yes. If possible, please refrain from going outside as much as you can."

"I'll do that."

It would definitely cause a commotion, and I might even be assassinated.

"Also, after the auction, we must sign a contract, so please be prepared for that."

"Is here fine?"

"Yes. We will coordinate the schedule, including that. Well, after the auction is over."

That makes sense. We have to finish the auction first.

"I understand. Thank you for today."

"No, no, this is my job. Well then."

The director left, so we also disbanded on the spot, and Arc and I decided to go home using teleportation magic. When we got home, we found Kaede-chan, Nanapon, Yoshino-san, and Lydia-chan happily eating snacks from Earth and Frontier that were scattered all over the table.

This is irrelevant, but is it just my imagination, or does it feel like not just Arc, but Lydia-chan as well is starting to make herself at home here?