Sebasta, Willik, and Gilbert were having a secret conversation in a room of an unpopular house.


    Negotiations between the "Golden Eagle" and the "Dragon''s Fires" seem to be having difficulty.


    I''d say we''ve had some success ...... so far.


    But negotiations have not yet broken down.


    Loran had sent out some letters. Probably a cash flow to counter the price we offered, I can see that."


    All right, then, let''s put the finishing touches on this.


    The three of us were again disguised as each other and headed for the "Dragon''s Fireside.


    Welcome, welcome. "Master Sebasta."


    Medes responded to Sebasta''s visit in a catlike voice, smiling and amiable.


    It was the complete opposite of his attitude toward Roland.


    He was very friendly and smiling. Thank you for welcoming me. So, is the procurement of the "ice rest" going to go well?


    Sebasta was extraordinarily arrogant.


    Of course, sir. Everything is going well.


    Mm-hmm. It is as if they are the largest alchemy guild on the island. You are quite efficient in your work.


    （I''m not a bad hand at all. You''re the reason we''re able to get the upper hand in our dealings with Roland.)


    Medes thought inwardly.


    （After I''ve raised the price with Roland, I''m going to raise it with him. We can still make money.)


    At this time, guild leaders," he said. I have overheard a rumor that is somewhat disturbing. ......"


    Well, what is it?


    I heard that a man bearing the emblem of the Golden Eagle has been visiting this workshop.


    Yes, that''s right. Our guild has decided to form a partnership with the Golden Eagle. We are looking to expand our operations and scale by partnering with a leading guild in the "City of Adventurers.


    The "Golden Eagle"!　A "golden hawk"?　Surely it is not a man named Roland with whom you are trying to form a business alliance?"


    Yes, it is. That''s exactly what we''re going to do. So what?"


    I''m sorry, but I''m going to have to ask you to pretend this never happened."


    Sebasta tossed the papers in his hand in a mess.


    What?"　Oh, no. What''s wrong with you all of a sudden?"


    There''s nothing wrong with that. If we were to do business with the guild that is working with Roland, our reputation would be destroyed. God of poverty.


    Hey, hey, Sebasta!


    Don''t follow me. You''re disgusting."


    Sebasta got up and left the room.


    Medes looked on with a pout.


    What the hell is that guy?　You offer me a deal, and then suddenly you throw a tantrum. I don''t understand him. You want to stop doing business with Roland because you have a business relationship with him? What the hell is this about Roland? But still, he looked so angry. That was unusual. Is there some kind of conflict between him and Roland? Either way, it''s not nice to bring personal feelings into the business."


    Medes said this, but for a while, the feeling of bewilderment in him did not dissipate.


    ''Hmmm. Well, okay. The man was helpful enough. Roland is willing to negotiate a higher price, and I''m done with him. You want me to pretend this never happened? I''m not kidding. We refuse to do it. We still have the "Glacier Hunter" and "Knight of Hail" cards. We don''t need to rely on Sebasta!


    Medes regained his composure and decided to have a business meeting with Wirik, the emissary from the "Glacier Hunter.


    However, Wirik, the next person to visit, began to have difficulty in making a deal as soon as Roland''s name was mentioned.


    The rumor is true, isn''t it? He said, "Hmmm.... I have a business relationship with Roland. That''s a problem, isn''t it?


    (As soon as I mentioned Roland''s name again, the ...... cloud became thicker. Did Roland have trouble with this guy too?)


    Mr. Medes, I''m sorry, but I''d like you to pretend this never happened."


    Please wait." Then I will not do business with Roland."


    No," he said. I got involved with Roland in some way. At that point, our guild cannot do business with you."


    (Also, Loran. How problematic is that guy? No matter how big a guild executive he is, this is too ......)


    You don''t seem to know," he said. You don''t know how evil Roland is."


    ''Evil?　Are you saying he''s a bad guy?"


    He is a well-known swindler on the northern continent. Claiming to be an executive of the Golden Eagle, he issues blank checks, swindles people out of their money and goods, and then disappears.


    Are you saying he''s using a false identity?　Nonsense. That''s impossible. Because he had a power of attorney from the guild and even the guild''s coat of arms ......"


    It''s just a letter and some clothes. If you have a little money, it doesn''t really matter.


    No, but ......


    Now let me ask you, Mr. Medes, how in the world does a mere appraiser get a position in a major guild like the Gilded Eagle, let alone an executive position?


    It''s ......."


    I am sure you would have to do something very bad to make it to the top of the Gilded Eagle. Don''t you think so?"


    (Ta, indeed. I''ve never heard of a connoisseur rising to the top in the Adventurers'' Guild.)


    Hm. You still don''t seem to believe it. Well then, Mr. Medes. Did you find anything suspicious in the specifications or blueprints given to you by Roland? Something different, something obviously out of the ordinary."


    Oh. Speaking of which, I found something called a ''dragon hammer'' in Roland''s order form.


    "Oh-ho? What kind of equipment is that?"


    No, it is something very ordinary people can''t handle. The weight is bullshit anyway. ...... No way!"


    Well, in all likelihood, Roland forged it at random.


    No way. ......


    (But ......, the "Breaking Dragon Hammer" is an S-class adventurer''s equipment, so it wouldn''t be surprising if the specs are a bit bullshit, would it? No, wait. What if it''s his, Roland''s, plan to make us think that?)


    ...... anyway." He, Roland, is a devilish person who thinks of others as nothing more than prey. No one has ever had the misfortune of associating with him. Please be careful, Mr. Medes. Don''t ever allow yourself to be taken in by him. Otherwise, you will be deprived of your property sooner or later. Good day to you.


    Medes could only watch in amazement as Willik walked away.


    Gilbert followed, asking the same question.


    I heard that Roland has been in and out of this workshop (atelier). Is it true that you have a business relationship with Roland?


    ''Do you know, Mr. Medes? The story of Roland, the swindler who played all the major guilds on the "Northern Continent".


    What?　Yeah. Well. I''ve heard rumors.


    No, our guild had some trouble with Roland before. We''re a bit tense about it now. If Mr. Medes is in close contact with Roland, well, I''m sorry, but I don''t think I can advise our boss about a tie-up with your guild. ......


    I''m not going to let it ruin me. There is no such fact that we have any relationship with Roland or anything like that. We have certainly been approached about it. A man named Roland, who claims to be an executive of the Golden Eagle, wants to establish a business relationship with our guild. However, I recall overhearing this somewhere. Someone posing as an executive of the Golden Eagle is running a scam on the northern continent. So I was on the lookout for them. Of course, if the Roland who came to our house is the same Roland, we have no intention of doing business with him. Yes, of course not.


    What, I didn''t know that."


    Gilbert''s face lit up.


    I''m so relieved to hear that," he said. If that is the case, I can confidently report it to my superiors. Dragon''s Fires is a conscientious and trustworthy guild. I have no problem doing business with them.


    Medes was relieved.


    (Dangerous. Dangerous. He was about to miss out on another big deal. The deal with the Knight of Hail is more prestigious than the other two," Medes said. I have to keep this deal ......, I have to keep this deal at all costs!)


    No, I am glad that Mr. Medes is not in deep with Roland. However, as I mentioned, my guild is a little nervous about Roland right now. There are already rumors circulating that "Dragon''s Fires" is going to form a business alliance with Roland. As the person in charge, I would like to dispel any concerns as soon as possible.


    That''s for sure. You are absolutely right.


    Oh, you understand. Then, let''s talk quickly. I will ask you to make arrangements so that Roland will not be able to come in and out of this workshop (atelier). Is that correct?"


    Medes immediately called a meeting on the matter.


    He asked the guild leaders present for their opinions.


    Raul made the following statement.


    I heard from Jamil of the White Wolf that Roland''s status is C to D class at best. He said that Roland''s status is C to D class at best, and that he would hardly be considered an executive of a major adventurers'' guild."


    Medes looked around the table to see if anyone else had an opinion.


    When he saw no one defending Roland, he sent a notice to Roland''s inn informing him that the negotiations were over.


    Medes, what does this mean?"


    Roland turned over the notice of termination of negotiations to Medes.


    Medes said, "Yes, that''s right. This is not good enough!


    Dylan, too, said angrily.


    Roland went to the guild and came up with four times as much money as he had originally planned.　And yet you unilaterally end negotiations like this."


    What do you mean?　Too much?"


    Medes, too, is angry at Medes, and he glares at them.


    I''m the one who wants to tell you that," Medes said. We''ve lost two big clients because of you!"


    Missed clients because of us?"


    "......?　What?"


    Two guilds have told us they will stop doing business with us as soon as they find out we''re negotiating with you!"


    What did you say?


    Why on earth?


    I don''t know!　That''s two big deals. Two. Two big deals, two big money deals, all because of you. How is this possible?　It''s all your fault, Roland. How are you going to take responsibility for this, huh?


    Medes took off his mask of a good-natured old man and came at us with a voice that had the dagger of a yakuza.


    Responsibility? I don''t care what you have to tell me about your dealings with ......."


    That''s right, Mr. Medes. It''s wrong to blame us just because your deal didn''t go well. Was it Roland''s fault?　It can''t be. There must be some mistake!


    The "then, you are not to blame. "So you are saying that you are not to blame?


    Of course. There is no such thing as a deal being stopped because of him. ...... Everyone in the "City of Adventurers" knows that. Everyone in the "Adventurer''s Town" knows that Roland is an S-class appraiser who has produced many A-class adventurers. If there are any unsavory rumors about him, they are the slander of those who are trying to discredit him. That must be it!


    S-class appraiser, huh?


    Medes stares at Roland with a scornful glare.


    ''That''s the thing, Mr. Roland. That''s what we have a problem with. We have a problem with you being an appraiser. That is the crux of the matter.


    What do you mean by ......?"


    How on earth did you, a mere appraiser, get to where you are today? That''s what everyone is interested in. Let me ask you a trivial question. How in the world does an appraiser train adventurers?


    I can''t say for sure, but with my skill assessment, I can find skill growth and hidden talents, or what I call unique skills. With status appraisal, I can determine the growth potential of status and formulate an appropriate training plan. And with item appraisal, I can select the right equipment for them."


    I see. So you know the growth potential of your adventurers. But will they follow your guidance?　Even the most egocentric adventurers will be attracted to you, a man of no skill or status whatsoever. I highly doubt it.


    You are right to question it. These appraisal skills are only prerequisites. What I feel is most important. It is the formation of relationships through nurturing.


    Relationships?


    Of course, I have made many youthful mistakes. But each time I have been helped by the relationships nurtured through nurturing.


    Medes looked at Roland with an increasingly stinky look.


    (I see. (I see...so you have been cheating on the "northern continent" and in the "adventurers'' town" by using this kind of neat tricks, huh? But your misdeeds end here. I will not be deceived.)


    I''ll tell you what. Mr. Roland. I have been in this business for many years. The last thing I can rely on is my own armchair. That''s all."


    Medes raises his elbow toward Roland, makes a forceful fist, and claps it with his other hand.


    I''ll give you a piece of advice from an old woman," he said. You seem to think that what you have built so far is your own strength, but in my opinion, it is not. You have just been lucky. Your fraudulent way of doing things will not work forever. You will eventually be hurt.


    ......"


    Anyway, our guild cannot do business with you. This conversation never happened. Will you please withdraw?"


    <>