Chapter 52 – Lupin’s Right Hand (2)

“Nice to meet you. I am the always friendly Cromwell. The purchase and sale commission is ten percent. Alternatively, you can prepay a flat entry fee of ten gold, and separate charges apply for internal guidance and escort services.”

Friendly Cromwell.

Contrary to his impression, he was a truly friendly man.

In truth, his appearance was hideous.

There were deep scars scattered all over his cleanly shaved head, a threatening stab wound in his right eye, and one of his ears was the crushed shape typical of someone who had exercised for a long time.

Yet his smile was armed with a thorough service mindset.

[Wait, I thought it was a black market haha]

[Isn’t it too openly revealing? haha. Shouldn’t they at least do something like an identity check? haha]

The viewers posted chats as if they found it absurd.

It was a somewhat reasonable doubt.

Because if it was a black market, there was a strong image that it would be damp and hidden in a dark place.

But the reality was far from such an image.

“If I request the escort service, how long is it maintained?”

“It is maintained until 8:00 AM tomorrow.”

“What about their skill?”

“It corresponds to a 5-star knight.”

“How much is the cost?”

“It varies depending on the incidents that occur inside. If there was not the slightest threat, we only receive the guidance fee.”

“What is the guidance fee?”

“It is ten gold. You might feel it is a bit expensive, but if it is your first time here, I recommend using it.”

“Then we will take only the guidance without escorts, and for the entry fee, we will go with paying the commission.”

The moment he said so.

Henry did not miss a flash of disappointment that appeared and vanished on Cromwell’s face.

“……I see. I will attach a guide for you. Ken!”

“Yes, sir.”

A man popped out from inside the tavern where Cromwell was standing.

Even at a glance, he was a man who felt much lacking compared to this Cromwell.

“Are there no cases where you guide in person, Cromwell?”

“Of course there are. There are, but…”

He smiled as if he was in a difficult spot.

It was a face that said he did not handle customers who did not bring in money.

At a glance he seemed to be considerate, but it was practically an expression close to disregard.

“Then let’s do that. Shall we go with this person?”

“I hope you have a pleasant transaction.”

With an still friendly face, Cromwell bowed.

The man who was called Ken bowed and went ahead.

“This way. I shall guide you.”

The passage leading to the black market was inside the tavern.

It was somehow funny that there was a device called a secret passage despite having revealed it openly, but Henry followed quietly for now.

“It seems they are trying to keep up appearances. Because it is a black market in its own way. If it were openly revealed, even the Royal Family would find it hard to turn a blind eye.”

This was ultimately also for show.

This is a secret place, and one can only enter after going through demanding procedures.

Therefore, it is also inevitable that the guards cannot subjugate it.

It was a claim that would make anyone who knew the reality let out a dry laugh, but in fact, the guard captain of the capital made excuses in that way every time the black market was mentioned.

“Also, seeing Cromwell’s reaction just now, it seems not only valuable items are traded just because it’s a black market.”

Customers who chose the commission handled goods of 100 gold or less, and that was the reason Cromwell acted that way.

In fact, that was natural, but Henry’s case was different.

The reason Henry chose the commission was to hand Cromwell, who was related to the black market, even a few pennies more, and to build a relationship through that.

“But Cromwell kicked away that opportunity. I thought if he had rotted here for a few years, he would sniff out the scent of money wonderfully, but unfortunately my expectation was excessive.”

If he lacked even that much wit, there was no reason to get close in the first place.

Probably when he visited this place again his attitude would be different from now, but at that time, Henry would be the one declining.

[So, what did you come to sell, Sir Knight??]

[It will be either that pure steel from last time or elixirs haha]

[Are they again things you bought from the sponsorship shop?]

“That’s right, they are things purchased from the sponsorship shop. Fortunately, I could obtain them cheaply, but they are not so for other people.”

The amount Henry had to prepare was at least 10,000 gold.

On top of that, considering various situations, he had to secure about 12,000 gold.

[Can’t you just borrow from Austin?]

“He would probably lend it. But from that moment, it would be hard to expect a relationship like the current one. I judged Austin’s value to be greater than that.”

The fact that he was a member of a Duke’s family was not everything.

Austin was a unique figure, and at least for now, it was clear he would grant whatever Henry requested.

However, the more such a relationship was, the harder it was to restore once it went wrong even once.

“At least until a certain moment…”

“Now, we have arrived.”

At that time, Ken, who was going ahead, stopped his steps.

There was an iron door at the end of the path where torches were lit under the name of a secret passage.

*Clack.*

As Ken unlocked and pushed it, the appearance of the black market was finally revealed beyond the door.

“It is flashy. Rather than a black market, it seems like a place where a festival has broken out.”

Henry’s review was short, but the viewers’ impressions were even shorter.

[It’s openly a night market concept haha]

[In this kind of atmosphere, they definitely sell street food 100% haha]

[Why is the atmosphere so lively?]

“Since it’s my first time here too, it’s hard to assert, but it seems a black market is not a place that is strictly damp and gloomy. In fact, that would be so. Since there is no need to hide in a corner.”

In the first place, the business partner nobles also favored was none other than the black market.

They wouldn’t come in person, but in any case, they also wanted a clean transaction environment.

Because only then would the occurrence rate of “accidents” decrease.

“Rather than forcing it into a corner, it would be correct to say they embraced it to some extent. Of course, they will absolutely never acknowledge it officially. Anyway, I will start moving in earnest now. First…”

Henry, who was speaking, paused.

Because instead of going ahead, Ken stood tall and was looking only at Henry himself.

“Ken? Aren’t you going?”

“Yes? Where… Ah, I clean forgot. Take this.”

Ken handed over a wide piece of paper.

It was a map filled with complex drawings.

“Since this is the map of this place, refer to it, and be careful not to lose your way. Even if it looks bright, it is definitely a dark place.”

“……Pardon?”

Henry tilted his head at Ken’s sudden announcement.

He had definitely requested the guidance service.

Yet to be told to be careful not to lose his way?

“Didn’t you request the entrance guidance service? That’s what I heard?”

“Isn’t the interior included?”

“Oh, no way. I don’t even know how long you will be here, so how can I show you everything? Even if I show you, ten gold is far from enough. You don’t know how dangerous it is in there.”

Ken smiled slyly.

Yet he did not leave, and his face did not waver even under Henry’s dumbfounded gaze.

Henry understood the situation.

[He’s asking for a tip haha]

[From what I see, it seems Cromwell eats all the guidance fee and commission]

[It was set from the start haha]

“Ken.”

“Yes, guest. Do you perhaps need anything additionally?”

“Is this custom? Is it originally like this?”

“By originally like this, you mean…”

“How much should I give you?”

A straightforward question.

Ken smirked as if relieved.

“I’m glad you seem to be someone reasonable. Yes, it is custom, and you only need to give me one gold.”

“The commission is taken by Cromwell, right?”

“Yes.”

“What happens if I pay ten gold to Cromwell?”

“It would still be the same. You only need to give me one gold. Anyway, Lupin’s Right Hand is an area overseen by brother Cromwell…”

“Let’s do this.”

Austin watched from a step back, looking intrigued.

Ken, shining his eyes wondering what he was suddenly going to say.

And even the viewers immersed in Henry’s appearance.

Under numerous gazes, Henry suggested a new direction.

“Take this and give it to Cromwell. Also, to you, Ken, I will give one gold, and separately ten percent of the sales as a service fee.”

Ten gold coins flashed in Henry’s right hand.

For a moment Ken, who did not understand the situation, narrowed his eyes, but fortunately, he was quick-witted.

“Yes, I will go and return faster than anyone!”

Ken dashed back along the path he had come.

A movement resembling a flying squirrel.

This time, Austin struck up a conversation with a smirk.

“What are you thinking?”

“Because when I come next time, I don’t want to experience the same discomfort as today.”

“Was it uncomfortable? I only found it interesting though?”

“A first experience is always interesting. But it won’t be from next time, you know?”

“Hmm, that’s correct. Since interest is bound to cool down starting from the second time for anything. So, what is the result you are expecting now, Henry?”

“Cromwell running over, or Ken running over. It doesn’t matter which of the two comes, but if the one running over is Cromwell, I won’t leave the guidance to him.”

Nod, nod.

Austin reacted as if he roughly understood, and returned to the position of a bystander again.

Because to him, every single action of Henry came across as fresh.

Originating from a Duke’s family.

Years of academy life.

The two conditions greatly limited Austin’s experience.

Of course, he could experience various things, but those were mostly experiences for the upper class.

The situation like now was unfamiliar to the utmost to Austin.

And such a reaction was.

[What kind of game is this realistic haha… quite interesting…]

The same for the magicians worn out by life in the magic tower.

***

“Brother Cromwell asked if you could spare some time for a moment?”

“I cannot.”

“I figured you would say so, so I conveyed it in advance.”

“Well done.”

Ken was really quick-witted.

Because he knew why Henry was bestowing such favor, and he also knew what he wanted.

“Probably today is the last time I will serve you, guest? Although it is only a single day, I will do my best. Even if I look like this, I have penetrated all structures of the black market.”

“All structures?”

“The market price, the market price. I spoke words that might cause misunderstanding… anyway, among the items traded here, there is none whose value I do not know. Of course, regrettably I cannot know the transaction details. That is the personal information of our precious guests.”

Ken emphasized that he would absolutely never lose out in transactions.

Adding words that rather, he would be able to profit.

The more Henry earned, the more commission Ken would take, and such a condition was an environment that let anyone display their best capability.

“So, what is it that you will sell, guest?”

“Do you really know everything? Just by looking?”

“I can tell if I only know what kind of object it is. The wording is a bit strange, but for example, if it is an object like a magic-infused artifact, I wouldn’t be able to tell, right?”

“It is this.”

“Wow.”

Ken’s eyes widened.

Henry took out two metal ingots, and the mark written on them was impossible not to recognize.

“It’s Osland pure steel. And two ingots of it! Brother Cromwell will be very disappointed.”

“What is the market price?”

“You can receive a hundred gold per ingot and have plenty left over. I will take charge and handle the part I said was left over. So even if you give me a commission, you won’t lose out.”

Sneakily.

Henry glanced sideways at Austin.

An absurd smile was hung on his face.

Henry said to Ken with a small sigh.

“Letting it slide is only once. Receive the commission from only one side.”

“Yes, no matter when you sell it, 300 gold will easily come out. In seasons when items are rare, it even soars up to 500 gold, but right now it should be around the middle.”

“And if your capability is added to that?”

“As an apology, I will pull out up to 430 gold per ingot!”

“Make it up to 440, and take forty gold per ingot.”

“But guest, no matter how much it is me, like that… actually, even 430 gold has a bit of an unreasonable feeling.”

This time it was sincere.

Austin’s reaction was calm, and in fact, it was details that could be known even if it wasn’t Austin.

‘Certainly, there is little movement when it is not a lie. Austin must be watching this too, right?’

Henry was also in a position to see the flow of mana.

Referring to Austin’s reaction just now, he verified the mana change when telling a “lie.”

If all people were like this, it meant Henry had now obtained eyes that could penetrate falsehood.

“It would be so if it were two ingots, but what if it is in bulk?”

BJ Swordmaster