Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 169: The Doll (2).

Ghost Flame Grenzo was spending his day leisurely sipping tea when he received an unexpected guest. It was the leader of a mercenary group affiliated with a Count from a city in the West.

Entering the parlor was a sturdy young man from the West.

“Nice to meet you, Group Leader. I am Luis Jolla, the leader of the Luis-Mercenary Group.”

“Nice to meet you, Group Leader Luis. Please, have a seat.”

The young Western leader, Luis, politely took the seat Grenzo offered.

“So, what brings you all the way here from the distant West?”

The young man sipped his tea and began to speak in a serious tone.

“By any chance, have you heard the rumors circulating in the West these days?”

Grenzo tilted his head in curiosity. He received so much information that it was hard to keep track.

“Well, I can’t say I have. There are so many rumors flooding in from all directions. I can’t remember them all in detail.”

“Ah. That… actually, it’s because of a doll possessed by an evil spirit.”

“A doll possessed by an evil spirit?”

Evil spirit. Ghost Flame thought he might have heard such a rumor somewhere.

“I think I’ve heard a similar rumor.”

“I believe it’s an item from the collapsed Magic Tower. Probably a looter recklessly took it out and sold it as stolen goods.”

“That’s quite a troublesome matter.”

Of course, Ghost Flame Grenzo muttered as if it had nothing to do with him.

However, Luis, in distress, was in a situation where he had to grasp at straws.

“But there’s no high-level mage in the West who can solve that now.”

“So you came to find me.”

“Yes, that’s correct. The only archmage I know is you, Group Leader. That’s why I came all the way here.”

“Hmm.”

Grenzo lightly stroked his chin with his hand, letting out a small sigh.

“I’m sorry, but it would be best to find someone else.”

Honestly, the stature of Ghost Flame Grenzo was too high to be moved by such a trivial matter. Moreover, there were plenty of urgent tasks at hand.

“If it’s about money, we could offer as much as possible…!”

“Do you really think I’m doing this for money?”

Of course, Luis knew that wasn’t the case. When you’re in the Top 10, you make a fortune anyway, so there is no need to be swayed by money.

“Find another excellent mage.”

“Then, could you at least tell me who I should approach? This is an extremely urgent matter…!”

Luis pleaded with a very desperate tone.

After pondering for a moment, Grenzo subtly mentioned a name.

“Then, try visiting the Allen-Mercenary Group in Vermandois. If it’s Elena, she should be able to solve this problem.”

“The Allen-Mercenary Group in Vermandois, you say?”

At the repeated mention of the name, Grenzo nodded.

“That’s right.”

“…Understood. I will definitely visit them.”

Honestly, for Luis, it was a name he wasn’t familiar with, but since it was recommended by Ghost Flame Grenzo, it surely couldn’t be someone insignificant.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Safe travels.”

With pressing matters, Group Leader Luis left the capital the next day, heading to Vermandois.

To meet the Allen-Mercenary Group.

Although there was a small commotion in the West, Allen wasn’t particularly concerned.

There were plenty of other people to deal with anyway, and there was no need or reason to go all the way to the far West himself. If he went all the way there and gained nothing, how much of a loss would that be?

Besides, if it was an evil spirit, it was probably that damn doll causing it. Since he had no desire to venture into the underground labyrinth of the Magic Tower to find its main body, Allen neatly forgot about it.

Now that I have some experience, I can’t just keep wasting my time…!

Of course, creating the trading company had nearly drained his funds, but that was a problem time would solve.

Enjoying the rare leisure, Allen sat in his office, occasionally reviewing the status windows of visiting mercenaries.

With more free time, opportunities for dinner with Group Leader Viola had also increased significantly.

Now in her mid-thirties, she seemed to be thinking more about marriage. Outwardly, she maintained a business-like relationship, but in her mind, she imagined having three or four kids. At a glance, she seemed like a woman who only knew work, but she had a more domestic side than expected. Unfortunately, Allen had no thoughts of marriage yet.

Ah, this wretched fate of mine…!

Good-looking, capable, well-endowed, and with a great personality, every woman he meets gets tangled up with him, truly making him a man burdened with many sins!

Amidst such self-praise, the scent of women hadn’t left his body for weeks.

The trade caravan that had departed for the mid-city Malziel returned safely after a month and a half. Including the toll, grain purchase costs, operating expenses, and the cost of hiring the mercenary group, they spent roughly a thousand gold coins. It was certainly not a small amount, but the quantity of grain in hand was about half more than what could be purchased for the same price in Vermandois.

A business more profitable than expected. Surely, it was thanks to the benefit of half the toll.

Of course, it would be best if it continued to be profitable like this, but unfortunately, the quantity of grain was limited. Moreover, the price of grain fluctuates over time. In other words, it was a business that, at best, was profitable for only one season.

If he wanted to expand the grain trade significantly, he inevitably needed to connect with the southern cities, but Allen’s capabilities were still somewhat lacking for that. Of course, he could personally lead the mercenary group, but using his group merely as a merchant escort was too extravagant. Going back and forth to the South would take three to four months in a flash, and he couldn’t just waste nearly two thousand gold coins on escort fees.

Ultimately, the items worth consistently investing in were alcohol and jewelry. Of course, ores weren’t bad either, but trading them was notoriously difficult, and the barriers were too high for Allen to challenge just yet.

Should I give the North a try? Alcohol is incredibly popular there.

With the Northern Tiger, Group Leader Ingmar, already present, establishing a liquor trade wouldn’t be difficult. Allen decided that once he expanded the scale of the trading company here a bit more, he would have to visit the North at some point.

The next target after liquor would be jewelry.

When it came to jewelry, it was definitely the West of entertainment. However, since it wasn’t an immediate necessity for the inn business, he decided to put it on hold for now.

First and foremost was to steadily gather funds. After that, whether it was liquor or jewelry, taking action was the right order.

While Allen was concentrating on running the inn and gathering as much money as possible…

A mercenary group leader from the West, who introduced himself as Luis Jolla, visited Allen’s office. Naturally, with a guest visiting, it was only right to provide a fitting reception.

“What brings you here?”

However, the words that came out of the young Westerner’s mouth were unexpected, even for Allen.

“Group Leader Grenzo recommended you.”

“…That person? Me?”

We’re not close enough to recommend each other…

Still, Allen thought it was a good thing and smiled again.

“What did he recommend me for?”

The young man wetted his lips.

“It’s because of the matter in the West. Have you perhaps heard the rumors…?”

“Rumors…?”

The thought of ‘perhaps’ soon turned to ‘indeed.’

“It’s about the rumor of the possessed doll.”

Damn it.

Allen immediately cursed inwardly.

“Ah, yes.”

Then the young man mentioned that it seemed the doll came from the Magic Tower, and there wasn’t a high-level mage in the West capable of resolving it. So they initially went to Group Leader Grenzo, but the busy Grenzo recommended Group Leader Allen in his stead.

In a word, the Ghost Flame pushed it on Allen.

“Ah… I see…”

Still completely unaware of Allen’s true intentions, Luis clenched his fist and shouted.

“If it’s Mage Elena, she surely can resolve this situation. Please, help us.”

Allen had never imagined getting entangled in such a way, so he could only laugh awkwardly.

I never planned to get involved in that damn Western puppet event!

“Well. Perhaps Group Leader Grenzo overestimated us a bit…”

“No way. Do you know who he is?”

“Ah… yes…”

Allen wore a truly regretful expression.

“Regrettably, I don’t think we can take on this task.”

“What?!”

A sound like a bolt from the blue. Luis had a face that couldn’t believe he was being refused.

“Well, the price of my mercenary group isn’t exactly cheap. Going to the West, completing the mission, and returning will take at least over five months… It’s tough with just a few coins.”

Ah…

Luis was somewhat relieved, thinking it was just a money issue. Compared to the Grenzo-Mercenary Group, which couldn’t be moved even with money, this was a very simple problem.

He held up four fingers.

“Four thousand gold coins.”

Allen stared intensely at Luis with a very serious expression.

“Of course, that’s if the mission is completed. Four thousand gold coins, paid immediately.”

That much money…!

“………..perhaps, the food expenses………”

“Ah, we’ll cover that too…”

“Deal!”

For mere money, it was too much money.