Talking Business – Two
「Well, then let me look at it a little.」
The shop a.s.sistant receives the clothes respectfully. As he used his skill, the atmosphere changed a little.
「Costumer….. This…. This is!?」
Unlike a gentleman, the shop a.s.sistant got fl.u.s.tered and the other shop a.s.sistants and guests were now looking at them. Because he didn’t want to get much attention, the shop a.s.sistant coughed like he was clearing his throat while correcting his collar and returned the clothes with a polite gesture.
「It looks like you recognized the worth of this item. Aside from that, things are just things. If possible, can we talk with an adequate person in a separate room? 」
「Y-Yes, sir。I’ll make them prepare it immediately.」
Even though the sales a.s.sistant is in a state of panic he run to the back like a drunk and disappeared in the depths behind it.
「…… Nii-san, I think we’ll be thrown into an uproar in the future.」
「Maybe. That’s why this is the last time I’ll imitate a human. In order to maintain our future population, the necessary funds are needed. I thought about the underground resources of the town, but they will become sooner or later necessary for the town. I can’t use them in for this.」
「….. Is that so? I see. If my nii-san is thinking about it properly, I’m relieved.」
George dream was it, that at some point his country would grow enough to be recognized as a country with a strong economic and military power to compete with the humans. No matter how long-lived Georg is, he will not live forever. One day he would need to part with it. By that time it is necessary that the civilization is developed to a certain level.
For a long, long time, at least several decades, it was necessary for him to act.
If George finishes all things by himself, the inhabitants cannot grow up. It is not possible to build a nation from zero by himself. If food, industry and commerce reach a certain level they will be able to tackle various problems by themselves and develop on their own.
At the time of his retirement, all beast people will live by their own ideas.
「Nii-san……?…… Are you smiling? 」
「Hmm? It’s your imagination.」
「Huh……? 」
His secret intentions seemed to have appeared on his expression.
「Customer, our preparations are complete. This way, please.」
The shop a.s.sistant with the appraisal skill from a while appears. The two went to another room inside the store with the help of the shop a.s.sistant.
「Welcome, we appreciate your coming. I am the president of this trading company, Eduard Goldberg. Please, if you would…….」
The elderly man who was waiting inside is offering his hand, while greeting with a smile.
「I’m sorry for troubling you. I’m Georg Stanford. This is my sister, Ferris Stanford. I expect, we’ll form a mutual agreement in today’s negotiation.」
He said and grasps the presented hand.
「Please. Call me Ed, if you don’t mind. Well, please. Sit down.」
「Yes, thank you. You may also call me by my name. It’ll be easier than call me by my surname.」
He sat down, after being encouraged to do so and the sales a.s.sistant, who guided them in, put something similar to black tea on the table for each person.
「Then Georg-sama, may we get down to business, if you don’t mind?」
「Well, I don’t like to beat around the bush. First of all, let’s say it frankly: I want to sell this to you.」
When the dragon skin clothes were put on the table, Ed jumped right at it.
「This is…… It’s made out of dragon material…… It sure feels different from hemp or silk…… the smoothness is the best…… and I feel magic. Where do you get this object? 」
「Let’s speak about that later. I can tell you, one doesn’t need to have a guilty conscience. Will you buy it? 」
「…… Right now, I can’t. Even though I would not have any trouble to find a buyer for this, there is no one at this place, who has enough cash to buy something like that.」
This answer was one of the things Georg expected. Thus, he prepared an answer for this too.
「I didn’t say you need to pay by cash immediately. You can buy this with cash or pay by installments.」
「Is this…… looted? 」
「First a question. Are there any demi-humans in this town? 」
「Demi-Humans?…… I don’t know the specifics, but probably 50 beast people, 3 or 4 elves, and 5 or 6 dwarves at the place of the blacksmith teacher, I think.」
「Can they all be bought?」
Ed opened his eyes widely at Georg words.
「To buy that many demi-humans, what the……」
「There is no need to answer that. Or is it not possible? 」
「……… It might be possible. If money is not an issue.」
「If that is the case, let’s buy them at a higher price, then the market price.」Even if it is 10 times the price, I don’t mind. Is the money from selling that enough? 」
「…… eeh, honestly, I don’t know if you can use it up like that.」
「Is that so? In this case, please provide 10 sets of clothes for each demi-human. Shabby clothes would not serve its purpose. As it suits the occasion. Then one month worth of food and blankets for them and livestock of cows, pigs, goats and sheeps…… I think 10 of each. I leave the male to female ratio to an expert. Is that enough?」
「Wait…… Wait a moment…… Well, it would be possible if I add another two or three rounds of the same things.」
「In that case, please arrange them outside the town the day after tomorrow at noon.」
「The day after tomorrow!? That’s unreasonable!!」
「If you are able to do it I’ll give you 10 percent of the remaining money.」
「……… 30 percent.」
「15 percent, but this is the limit. Having too much desire can ruin oneself.」
「………… I understand. I’ll somehow manage it the day after tomorrow.」
「Do we have a deal? 」
「…… I’m not an opponent for you. I understand. With the order received, I’ll arrange an income and expenditure report by the day after tomorrow. Shall I leave the remaining money here at this company? 」
「That’s right. I’ll come again, sooner or later. I would not let it go to waste.」
「Are you starting a huge farm somewhere? 」
「Something similar. I’ll get busy sometime soon, so I’ll take my leave. Ahem, ahead of that, can I have a bit of cash up front. Traveling expenses.」
「Certainly. I’ll let someone prepare a few gold coins for you. Thank you for your patronage.」
「Yes, I’m indebted to you. Till then.」
George said, and leave for the door with Ferris, while entrusting the clothes to Ed.
「Ahem, before that, we should know each other faces.」
In front of the door, George laughed, took of his hood and looked back.
「Wa, wa…… a…… aa!?」
「With this face is impossible to not remember me, isn’t it? In this case…」
They left after he put his hood back on. Ed who was left in the room, became senile for a while, but remembered Georg’s order and hurried to begin working.
On the afternoon of that day and the following day, the Goldberg Company was temporary closed.