How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 107

118. Falzente Duchy (4)

After that, we were able to continue sailing without any trouble.

Having overcome the attack, the waves became surprisingly calm, and as a result, we arrived right on schedule.

We safely entered the port of the Falzente Duchy.

We finally arrived.

I’m finally going to live!

I was sincerely relieved.

Feeling a bit better, I went out on deck, humming and looking out at the approaching port.

I took in the scene and muttered, “…Hmm, the atmosphere is quite intense.”

Even just looking at the port’s exterior, I could sense the tension in the air.

It was a rather grim scene.

“The people waiting at the port are all soldiers. Are there no other merchant ships besides ours?”

Fully armed soldiers guarded the port, watching us intently.

“Well, it’s understandable since we’re in the middle of a war. And there’s that rumor, too.”

Mr. Malo answered, swallowing hard as he looked at the soldiers’ sharp spears.

“That’s true, but they wouldn’t point those at us, would they?”

“Hahahaha. That’s unlikely.”

I dismissed the possibility as absurd.

“…Well, maybe?”

You never know.

“Before that, even though we’re in the middle of a war, I’m a little concerned that our ship is the only one trying to enter the port.”

“Now that you mention it… no matter how I look at it, there are no other merchant ships.”

As Mr. Malo said, there were no other merchant ships in the port.

This meant that foreign merchants weren’t coming here now.

It was a little strange.

Even in a turbulent territory, some would still see it as a business opportunity.

But this place was empty.

‘Is it as the rumors say…’

“It’s as the rumors say,” Mr. Malo muttered, echoing my thoughts.

Before we departed, I’d heard some rumors about this place, and it seemed there was a problem.

It was somewhat related to the duchy’s current troubles.

Currently, many merchants were reluctant to trade with the Falzente Duchy.

“As expected, the other merchants are scared.”

“Well, I understand the feeling of being cautious.”

There was a rumor among merchants that they were reluctant to trade with the Falzente Duchy after the Felpuk attack [a devastating event that occurred in the duchy].

Well, many people died.

It took months to clean up.

And there was suspicion that it might have been the empire’s doing.

Their cruelty must be quite famous.

So much so that they are wary just from rumors.

‘Is it because the cover-up wasn’t complete?’

Originally, the merchants who were investigating them should have been on the list of targets to be eliminated.

But because I interfered, the cover-up wasn’t complete.

That’s why the information leaked out subtly.

And I also have a feeling that someone deliberately spread the rumor.

That’s an element that wasn’t mentioned in the original work.

‘…Could it be that because of that difference, it’s more difficult to buy food and supplies than in the original work, and the war situation has changed? It’s not just a coincidence, is it?’

It’s unsettling.

There are quite a few things that bother me enough to say it’s purely coincidental.

Anyway, the truth will be revealed when we go there.

* * *

The entry procedure didn’t take as long as I thought.

Perhaps because the negotiator had skillfully told the story, the soldiers easily let us through.

Of course, there was a simple internal inspection and a few questions and answers, but it wasn’t too difficult.

They seemed to be showing some consideration.

Soldiers are assigned to the ship for surveillance, and Mr. Malo’s movements are also being checked, but it’s exceptional considering we are in the middle of a war.

Originally, they could have locked us up somewhere or prevented us from leaving the ship, and we wouldn’t have been able to complain.

‘Are we being trusted? Or was there some kind of deal?’

I’m curious about what kind of negotiations Lowell had.

I made a request to the person in charge of the entry procedure.

“Excuse me? Would it be possible to take a walk around the port for a while? I miss the land so much after the long sea voyage.”

Tap tap.

I tapped the deck floor with my toes and asked appropriately.

Half of it is true, and half of it is an excuse.

The person in charge hesitated for a moment and then gave permission.

“Then I will only allow some of you. However, you must be accompanied by soldiers. And I would like you to refrain from going outside the port.”

“Thank you~.”

I don’t intend to do anything I’m told not to do, at least not now.

I don’t care who follows me.

I’m just going to take a walk anyway.

I’m just going to look around.

That alone is enough to know what I want to know.

* * *

After taking a leisurely stroll around the port, it seems that the procedures have been sorted out to some extent.

The sailors and merchants who had finished most of the work were resting on the ship.

But they still can’t get off.

They can’t unload their luggage either.

Because the deal hasn’t been finalized.

We are like outsiders who don’t know when we will be kicked out.

‘It’s not time to play yet.’

I have to do what I have to do first.

What else, business.

‘If I can’t sell the goods, it’s over.’

I haven’t received a definite answer on the deal yet.

It was only thanks to Lowell’s personal connections that I was barely connected with the negotiator here.

The rest depends on how I seduce the negotiator.

‘First of all, let’s put aside the main character or whatever and just think about this.’

Don’t forget what my primary purpose is.

It’s to make money here.

The rest are things that can be looked at slowly after making money.

And if I don’t get the contract, I have to leave.

They wouldn’t allow foreigners to stay when they’re in the middle of a mess.

“So that’s how it is. Let’s hurry and meet the negotiator and get the contract.”

I immediately moved to meet the person Lowell was connected to, as planned.

To meet him, I have to move to the central city, which is the center of the duchy.

It will take some time to move, so I have to hurry.

When we arrived in the central city,

The negotiator seemed to have heard that we had arrived and was waiting at the meeting place.

He wanted to meet right away.

The guide told me so.

That’s what I wanted.

“I’ll see you right away.”

I readily expressed my intention.

“He’s already waiting, so you can talk to him right away.”

The guide said that and took the lead.

‘Huh? Now that I think about it, who was the negotiator again?’

I was so busy preparing that I heard something but didn’t pay much attention to it.

Well, if the negotiator that Lowell introduced is, he wouldn’t be a strange person.

‘For now, I just need to be careful about the name and role.’

I only know a few people here from the original work.

Even those with importance, excluding minor roles, are people I can’t easily meet.

I won’t easily mess things up.

‘Of course, there are people I need to be careful of. I hope I don’t meet them right away here.’

But let’s keep it in mind just in case.

I walked and reorganized my plan in my head.

And finally arrived at the place where the negotiator was waiting.

I went into the building and was guided to a room.

“…A guest from Fileros Merchant Company has arrived.”

When the guide quietly knocked on the door and announced, a voice from inside said, “Come in.”

It sounded like a man in his early 50s.

Hmm? But somehow the voice sounds familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before.

Before I could even tilt my head at the strange sense of déjà vu, the door opened.

I put aside other thoughts and went inside.

It’s a negotiation, so there’s no point in showing foolish behavior.

As smart and knowledgeable as possible.

‘Yes, smart. Smart….’

Aiming for a smart Ailean, I composed my expression and inadvertently gave my gaze forward, forgetting to speak blankly.

The face of the person waiting inside is familiar.

I wondered where I had seen him.

“Oh! You! You’re that potion peddler boy!”

Hey, what’s with the potion peddler boy again.

I firmly closed my mouth as I looked at him, who was laughing loudly out of the blue.

I’ve seen the name and face before.

And if I didn’t remember from the point of saying potion peddler, it would be strange.

He’s quite memorable compared to other guests.

In a nuisance way.

‘That incredibly noisy guy from back then.’

When I was temporarily selling potions in Felpuk to deliberately make my presence known and check on the situation, there was an old man who made a fuss while looking at the potions.

He greeted me.

‘Does that mean that person is the negotiator?’

Thinking about it, there’s nothing strange about it.

That old man bought my potion, and then the Fileros Merchant Company contacted me.

Considering the order, it wouldn’t be strange if he was related to the duchy.

And now I remember. That old man definitely appeared in volume 4.

However, his appearance was so short that I couldn’t even recognize him.

In the original work, his lines are less than a page, but he’s a minor role? What are the criteria for determining that? I sometimes wonder about that.

Anyway, I didn’t expect him to come out for the negotiation himself.

‘Indeed… was there a reason to accept it because of this?’

If it’s a familiar face, there’s no reason to be dissatisfied.

It’s even better.

But I can’t take frivolous actions for no reason.

Unlike him, who was making a fuss, I greeted him seriously.

“I didn’t expect to see you again here. I’m late for the introduction, but my name is Ailean.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was on the street back then, so it’s the first time to introduce ourselves properly, right?”

“That’s right.”

I answered politely.

“By the way, I didn’t expect you to join the Fileros Merchant Company. Was it after that deal? Or was it from the beginning?”

“This time, it’s only Lowell who helped me with my personal, independent intentions.”

“Lowell? Huh? That guy? Hmm. Well, it was that guy who sent me a letter.”

The way he calls Lowell doesn’t seem like he’s just treating a merchant from a business partner.

It feels like he’s treating something closer?

But I’m reluctant to ask suddenly.

Instead, when I kept silent and stared blankly, he seemed to notice and willingly told me.

“Hahahaha. It’s nothing. Lowell is a distant relative.”

“…Yes? A relative… are you?”

“Didn’t you know?”

I didn’t know.

‘Ah, so that’s why he’s connected to this side.’

Is blood ties stronger than school ties and regional ties?

More than that, was that guy from here?

Well, it’s someone else’s situation, and I don’t need to say anything.

I pretended to understand appropriately and brushed it off.

He seemed to know that I wanted to talk about the main point right away, so he offered me a seat and turned the topic first.

“So, what kind of deal do you want to make that you asked Lowell to do? Is it another new potion?”

But unfortunately, it’s not a potion.

I could do it if I wanted to, but it’s not necessary right now.

“More than anything, I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Huh… I don’t know about that.”

He mumbled, but when he mentioned the potion, he didn’t seem to want it.

Above all, I can recognize lies to some extent.

When he spoke, I used my ability and saw a change in the color faintly surrounding his face.

‘As expected, the potion is a dud.’

It doesn’t matter because I’m not going to sell potions anyway.

“First of all, I’ll tell you right away. Most of the things on our merchant ship are food.”

“…Food, huh? That’s surprising.”

He stroked his chin and muttered.

But when I said food, there was a greater reaction of emotion than when I said potion.

He’s trying to hide it, but it’s definitely there!

“It’s not just simple food. It mainly consists of flour with good storage properties and special food that has been processed into a form that can be eaten right away.”

“Hmm.”

The hand stroking his chin stopped for a moment.

“I heard that it’s military supplies for the front line? You want to trade that? Why at this time?”

It’s understandable that he’s wondering.

I responded calmly.

“There is no one who doesn’t know about the rumors about the war situation even in other countries. I don’t think it’s strange that I’m trying to trade at this time.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The fact that Delesros slurred his words a little is probably evidence that the war situation is not very good.

However, even if I ask in detail here, he won’t answer honestly, and it will only provoke anger.

That’s why I quickly brushed it off.

“Anyway, I think food is a suitable item for trade at this time.”

“…Uhhhhhhhh.”