Chapter 346

To head towards the Edina Archipelago, one needs Lucynil. Although it wasn't urgent, I left a letter for Count Argon Fonteuse with the Rotary Club. I didn't want to risk going to his mansion myself, even if I wore Sarkagar's ring. I headed to the designated meeting spot outside of the Rotary Club headquarters and waited until nightfall. The meeting spot was in a sparsely populated area near the Irine River, and it was a place where one could wait if they had the time, but it was not ideal if one was in a hurry. Currently, I am staying at Count Argon Fonteuse's mansion, but I need to find a more convenient way to contact Lucynil. Suddenly, an ethereal girl appeared and introduced herself as Lucynil, possessing the ability to transform into mist. She agreed to accompany me to the Edina Archipelago. The Edina Archipelago is located at the southernmost point of the empire and is quite far from the mainland, even beyond the jurisdiction of the large warp gates. Although there are warp gates installed between the islands, they are not connected to the mainland. Lucynil teleports several times and they arrive at the port city of Lajak on the Edina Archipelago. The protagonist needs to meet someone who runs a bar, but Lucynil questions the relevance of this person to their mission. The protagonist asks Lucynil not to call him "Ark Demon" anymore to avoid strange looks. They continue their journey with the protagonist disguised as someone else. Entered Lajak and asked around for Airi's bar. I didn't even know the name of the place, just that it was a bar with a lot of women around. However, a passerby told us that the bar had been closed for a while. We asked more people and heard rumors about something happening to Airi and the succubi. Some speculated that they were hurt or even dead. Others mentioned financial troubles and unhappy customers. We saw a large stone building in the distance that was pointed out as the former location of the bar. "Wealthy people who have already made their money don't bother with business, and instead engage in loan sharking with traders and nobles. It seems like a lucrative business. Since they've closed down the bar they used to run, it must mean they've already transitioned to the loan sharking business. I wonder how much money they've made. The building that the passerby pointed out to us was a stone structure that was so large it could have been a financial institution. As the size of loan sharking businesses grows, one might wonder how they differ from financial institutions. I expected to see a bustling bar even at midnight, but when was this building even constructed? 'Angel Capital.' The name of the company was even engraved on the entrance of the tall building. 'I don't know much about finance, but I don't think angels and loan sharking go well together,' I said. 'I agree,' Lucinil muttered in disbelief. Even at midnight, bright light was flowing out from inside. And there was a commotion at the entrance. A young woman in a black suit and a middle-aged man with a protruding belly were arguing. Although it wasn't Airi, I had a feeling that one of the succubi I rescued was there. 'Come on, just let it go this once. The money is tied up, so what can I do?' 'Captain, I've told you several times. Please make sure to pay the interest on time. We're also running low on money, so if the due date isn't met, it won't just be a small problem for us. I've told you several times to be careful about the penalty for not meeting the due date.' 'Yeah, I know. Of course I know. But who knew things would turn out like this? If you just wait a week, I'll pay double, no, triple the interest I owe. I don't know what happened, but suddenly the funds are all tied up. If this hadn't happened, we wouldn't be in this situation.'" "I'm Captain Ai, and I would love to help you since we have a connection, but this is not a problem that I can decide on my own... I have to follow the guidelines strictly. It's not about the amount of interest right now. We had a big business fail because we extended the deadline on our own and our funds were blocked. I'm really sorry, Captain."

"Yuria... please, I'm begging you. Am I someone who is stingy about a few pennies of interest? I'm the captain of the Lenos trading ship. You know I'm not someone who complains about such a small amount of interest, right? Have you ever heard me complain about something like this in my life? Look at my face, please. Huh? How can it not work? Do you think it makes sense to go bankrupt for this amount? Me? If you just give me a chance, I will definitely repay you later."

Watching the argument, the protagonist's head began to ache.

What the hell is going on there?

The succubus named Yuria sighed heavily at the persistent pleading of the middle-aged man.

"I can't help it. I don't have a connection with you, Captain, even for a day or two. But you have to understand that this is the only time we can do this. If the deadline is delayed again next time, it's not just a problem for the captain, but my head will also be on the line. Got it? As much as you value it."

"Then! When have I ever broken a promise with you? Huh?! Except for this time! Haha!"

"Then I'll extend the deadline for a week, so you have to be prepared next time. Do you know that it will be difficult even with my authority next time?"

"Then! After a week, I won't be able to pay back the principal as well as the interest!"

The middle-aged man laughed heartily after hearing the declaration that the interest deadline would be extended.

The employee of Angel Capital, who is presumed to be a succubus named Yuria, looked at us blankly after the man left, standing near the entrance of Angel Capital.

"Are you visitors?"

"If you put it that way..."

At my words, Yuria scratched her cheek as if she was sorry.

"I'm sorry. Angel Capital only provides financial services to selected VIP customers, and we do not accept new customers unless they have a recommendation letter from existing members. It's difficult to use if you don't have a recommendation letter."

Loan sharking.

But it's not loan sharking targeting ordinary citizens.

I don't know how I ended up here from the bar, but the scale of this business was undoubtedly huge.

I'm not Bali or Reinhardt right now, so they won't recognize me.

"Tell the boss that 'the last remaining family' has come. Then they'll understand."

"…!"

There are many ways to summon Airi.

Although I'm not of royal blood, I'm the last remaining family besides Airi.

If Yuria is a succubus, she would have to understand.