“Well, well. Your Grace. You do us great honor with your presence.”
“Indeed. And things seem to be going well here.”
“Yes. It is all thanks to Mr. Takumi’s herbs. Have you heard about the Ramogi discounts?”
“Sebastian and Mr. Takumi have informed me.”
“I see. Thanks to that, the store is filled with customers every day, which keeps our staff very busy… But we can hardly complain about that.”
When we arrived at Mr. Kalis’s store, there was a line of customers waiting to get in.
It had definitely not been like this the last time we were here. Was this because of the Ramogi discount?
One of the clerks saw us, and went inside to call Mr. Kalis, who then came out to greet us.
“We cannot talk out here. Please come inside. Though, it is not a very large store.”
“Mmm.”
And so we followed Mr. Kalis into the store.
…Except for Leo. She waited outside.
As some of the customers brought their children, Leo could play with them.
And since the clerks had learned from the last time we were here, they were able to smoothly create a line for Leo as well.
“This way.”
Unlike last time we were here, Mr. Kalis guided us to the second floor of the building.
As there were too many customers on the first floor, he probably thought that we wouldn’t be able to relax.
Well, there wasn’t enough space to put out chairs.
The second floor looked like an office, and so everyone except the guards and Sebastian sat down at the table.
“Now, Mr. Takumi and I will go and pay the rival store a little visit.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Yes. Mr. Takumi. Once we arrive there…”
“Yes…”
Sebastian then told me about how things would play out once we were there.
And all I could do was nod in agreement.
It seemed like Sebastian could handle everything himself, but he said that he wanted me there, so that I could pretend to be a merchant who could appraise the medicine.
Sebastian was already known as the duke’s butler, and Ms. Claire and Phillip were also known as well. Besides, they didn’t look at all like merchants.
And Mr. Ekenhart’s guards had to stay with him, just in case something happened.
…Though, Leo would stay here. But I suppose it was their job, and could not be helped.
“Ah, it’s you! What brings you here today? Of course, I did hear that I didn’t need to go…”
“Hey, Nick.”
After Sebastian’s explanation was finished, and we were about to leave… Nick came up to the second floor.
Apparently, he had been dealing with customers, and had now come up to rest.
“Ah, so this is Nick…I’ve heard of him from Sebastian.”
“…Who is that old man?”
“Hey, stop that. This man is…”
“Hahaha! So that is your reaction upon seeing me… Well, it cannot be helped if you do not know. It has been a while, but I am amused!”
“Now he’s laughing…”
So Mr. Ekenhart had heard about it from Sebastian.
Well, he seemed to report everything to him…and this store was owned by the duke.