Chapter 17

■■■ <Red Lock> Chelina Veriello ■■■

In the early hours, when it was uncertain whether it was early morning or still late at night, the ship entered the harbor.

Normally, ships are not brought into the port during hours without sunlight, but this was the Western Midar Sea. Staying at sea also carried the same level of risk. Moreover, the Veriello Trading Company was well-accustomed to such conditions, and as soon as the company's largest sailing ship came into view, they lit a large number of bonfires at the port.

The sailing ship, which had been navigating the Liberi Bay by the dim light of the lighthouse, quickly changed course.

The large Liberi Bay protected ships from the high waves of the open sea but offered no protection from the mysterious currents within the bay. Indeed, there were no calm waters in the Western Midar Sea.

A large number of small boats provided support, and by the time the sky began to brighten, the giant ship was moored at the pier.

"Welcome back, brother. Was the sea rough?"

She greeted her brother, Paros Veriello, after he had given all the necessary instructions.

"The sea is as capricious as ever. Once you leave the bay, it's just a bunch of small islands, so the currents are unpredictable."

Her brother shrugged. He was formidable on the ship, but once he stepped off, he became less than an ordinary person.

"Will the route be the same as usual?"

"Yeah, I think if we can reach the base of the Southern Midar Mountains, we'll find some rare items."

"If we can get that far, we can establish a southern route to Dwaril and Atlantis."

"No way. The sea south of the Southern Midar Mountains has more islands than the Western Midar Sea. I've only heard about it, but it's called the Devil's Sea. And apparently, there are terrifying insects on those islands, which are truly feared."

The thought of an island infested with insects is chilling. It would be best to stop at the base of the Southern Midar Mountains. Even that won't be an easy voyage.

"That's good. You tend to take unnecessary risks, so it's a relief when you show some judgment."

"I'm not reckless, but I do want to explore distant seas."

"Please be more cautious."

"......Chelina, you haven't changed. Well, I'm hungry. Want to go get something to eat?"

"Let's go inspect the town's cafeteria."

"......You really haven't changed."

Thus, the two of them went to the town's cafeteria.

There were several types of cafeterias: some focused on alcohol, others on food. Some had a second floor for resting, where people could bring women they had met downstairs.

I went to the most common type, where the balance between food and alcohol was good. I rarely visited this place, but what made it good was that the owner didn't fawn over me. Moreover, the menu featured the latest and most prosperous dishes in the town, making it ideal for research.

I had finished my morning work at the trading company, including giving instructions for unloading the cargo, so I was a bit late. Thanks to this, we avoided the morning rush.

Some people eat a hearty breakfast, while others consider it a luxury.

Sailors eat three meals a day, plus two snacks. Of course, this doesn't apply when they are shipwrecked.

Influenced by this, I usually eat three meals a day and have tea time, but I keep breakfast light.

---

As soon as we entered the restaurant, my eyes were drawn to a man.

He wore a pure white cotton shirt and, presumably, well-sewn black cotton pants. He had black hair, a smooth face with few features, and an ageless appearance. He was slender, with no visible muscles.

He was struggling to bite into a piece of bread that seemed to be of poor quality.

In any country, bread is not taxed. In some cases, subsidies are provided to maintain its price.

This is because if the price of bread is not kept low, people will move to other countries.

Without bread, people cannot survive. Therefore, this is a line that must be maintained.

The quality of bread has been deteriorating over the years.

This country has no future.

I can say that with certainty.

So...

I shook my head, temporarily discarding my thoughts and placing an order.

The potato soup that came out was terrible.

It was mostly made of potato scraps, and the potatoes were almost rotten, even though they were a food that should last.

I cursed the owner for serving me this menu, but I was also grateful.

I vented my usual complaints to my brother, clearing some of my frustration. The world is full of things that cannot be controlled.

With a sigh, I returned to the trading company.

The busy time had passed, and it was just the right moment for a break. An employee from the reception came to ask for someone to handle a walk-in negotiation, but it wasn't for me; it was for one of my subordinates who was checking inventory.

I don't handle walk-in negotiations.

However, the receptionist's next words piqued my interest.

"The man who came in is wearing unfamiliar long sleeves despite the scorching heat and has a valuable pair of glasses. He's a suspicious character."

It was probably the stranger I had seen in the tavern. I peeked into the lobby from a hidden hole in the wall, and indeed, it was him.

"I'll go."

"Wh-What? Miss?"

The subordinate who was preparing to handle the negotiation was surprised.

"It sounds interesting."

"......Miss, you have a fondness for rare items, but please don't start swinging that Red Lock like you used to if you don't like the person."

"Hey! I don't do that anymore! If the person is rude, I'll leave it to you."

Because he has known me since I was a child, he is aware of my dark history. I must have raised my voice, and my face must have turned red.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you."

He sat back down and returned to checking the inventory.

"Let's go."

---

The man was dressed in unfamiliar clothing.

The tailoring was unusually sturdy, yet there was no decoration, making it a simple and mysterious outfit.

The dark blue jacket, almost black, was spotless, as if it were new.

The pants were slightly dirty at the hem, and he was wearing sandals that he had probably just bought in this area, but his exposed feet were as smooth as a newborn's.

Commoners often walk barefoot, so their feet are usually thick and cracked.

He must be a noble, or at least a man of some standing.

The conversation started with light banter.

There was none of the usual aggressive sales pitch typical of walk-in negotiations. It felt more like a tea party conversation, which was refreshing for someone like me who usually deals with seasoned merchants.

Well, the fun time is over.

The man took out a strange bottle. It was more transparent than glass but as soft as tree bark, yet it didn't let water through.

However, what caught my attention the most was the cap.

The cap on the spout was not made of cork or wood but a mysterious white material with a unique texture. When twisted, it sealed the bottle tightly, preventing leaks. The weakness of leather canteens is that the spout can easily come off, and people often tie it with a leather cord as a precaution, which is cumbersome.

Does he realize it?

The potential for a fortune with just this twist-cap design?

He continued with even more shocking news.

"There are 30 bottles in total. I'm thinking of 7,000 yen per bottle."

This is seven silver coins per bottle?

Even if sold to a noble collector at the asking price without much thought, it would be worth at least ten gold coins. Nobles are conservative but love new things. Selling them as canteens for military officers or as vases for flowers could also be interesting.

The only weakness is the lack of decoration. Such a valuable item would be even more cherished if it had carvings of goddess statues or great trees.

Then I realized.

This soft bottle, the PET bottle, was designed purely for practicality.

Light, unbreakable, leak-proof, easy to drink from, easy to seal, and transparent to see the contents.

At that moment, I shuddered.

This is undoubtedly a practical item.

A simple consumable for handling beverages.

Honestly, I have a strong intuition that most of the story he told about himself was a lie.

However, these lies didn't seem to be intended to deceive. Rather, they felt like lies told out of necessity due to complicated circumstances that were difficult to explain. This is why I found the conversation enjoyable.

But if he is a merchant connected to a country where PET bottles are commonly consumed and I don't know about it...

"Understood. I will purchase all 30 bottles."

I answered immediately.

I cannot let him go. At least not until I extract information about his country.

After the negotiation, he disappeared.

"......Have him followed."

My subordinate moved at my command. We will keep an eye on him for a while.

Akira.

That is the name of the man with the mysterious smile.