Chapter 48

"Recovery ointment would be good. I like making medicine," Leonora volunteers when I’m hesitating.

"Leonora, that’s fine, but we should prioritize the requests. The Wednesday stone is urgent, followed by the warehouse repairs that need to be discussed. The recovery ointment and Tuesday stone have lower priority," Adele says.

"Ah, I see," Leonora and Erica say in unison.

"Um..."

Adele looks at me with a troubled expression.

"To be honest, we haven’t had requests that required prioritizing until now," I say.

"Yes, but it also means we’re getting more requests," Adele adds.

That’s true.

"With more people, it’s a good change... Adele, do you want to make the Wednesday stone?"

"I do. I came to this town to work as an alchemist."

That’s right...

"Then, let’s take all of them," I say.

"Let’s do that," Adele agrees.

"Sure, why not?"

"Even though it seems like a tough start, let’s do our best."

They seem motivated.

To be honest, I wanted to decline the warehouse repairs.

"Got it. Erica, call Lutz. Leonora, call Rübele and get the specific deadline for the Wednesday stone and the details of the warehouse repairs."

"Okay," they both respond and stand up. Erica goes to the phone, and Leonora heads downstairs.

"Mr. Sieg, are you sure you can handle all the requests?"

Adele, who is still at the desk, asks.

"I think so. If it gets too bad, I’ll step in. We can earn some overtime pay."

When I say this, Adele looks at me silently.

"What? I’m not going to back down now."

"No... I just think I understand why the director sent you here."

You don’t have to understand.

"Rather than that, Adele, didn’t you stay at the Side Hotel when you visited Leonora?"

"Yes, it was a good hotel."

I agree.

Helen looked cute lying on the bed.

"What about the top-floor restaurant?"

"I didn’t go there. I thought about it, but the weather was bad, so Leonora and I ate at the restaurant on the first floor. It was fun, though."

So, Leonora hasn’t been to the top floor either.

"I see... Helen, Helen, how should I invite her?"

"Um... why don’t you just ask? If you’re interested, you can go together."

I’m not interested, but it’s just a polite suggestion...

"Adele, I actually stayed at the same hotel, but I didn’t go to the top-floor restaurant. Would you like to go with me?"

"Thank you for the invitation. I would be delighted to accept."

Adele straightens up and bows politely.

That’s a bit exaggerated...

"When are you free?"

"I’m free anytime. I just got here, so I don’t have any plans."

"Then, let’s go this weekend."

Since Adele drinks, it’s better if the next day is a day off.

"Sure."

"Wait a moment. We should make a reservation."

"That’s a good idea. Anytime is fine, so just let me know when it’s available."

I’ll borrow the phone from Leonora tonight.

"Got it. Hold on a moment."

"Sure, I’ll wait."

But what should we talk about...

Ah, but Erica said it’s better not to prepare a conversation...

"Mr. Sieg, I told Lutz we’ll take the request."

While I’m thinking, Erica finishes her call and reports.

"What about the magic herbs?"

"He says he’ll bring them regularly."

So, we need to dry them regularly.

"Got it. What about Leonora... Oh, you’re back."

As Erica says, Leonora returns.

"Sorry for the wait."

"How did it go?"

I ask as Leonora sits down.

"They want the Wednesday stone in a week or two. Of course, the sooner, the better, with a bonus. The basic deadline is three weeks for 1 million El. For each day earlier, it’s an additional 100,000 El."

That’s reasonable.

With a bonus, the priority has increased.

"What about the warehouse?"

"They want us to attend a meeting with the warehouse owner the day after tomorrow."

This is what I wanted to decline...

There will definitely be a meeting with the client.

"Will we decide the specifics there?"

"Yes."

"I don’t want to go. I don’t want to talk to idiots."

That’s the worst.

"They might not be idiots."

"They might not be, but it will definitely be a hassle. They want it as cheap as possible, but they also want it done quickly and well. The negotiations are a nightmare."

"Yeah, that’s true."

It definitely will be.

"By the way, Mr. Sieg, didn’t you join the association because you hate dealing with such things?"

As Erica says, I didn’t join a private company or open my own store because I didn’t want to deal with stupid clients.

If it was just about money, I would have definitely made more by starting my own business or opening a store.

"Then, should we go to the meeting?"

Letting them handle it...

They’re inexperienced, and with two noble ladies and the overly kind Erica, it’s worrying.

"I’ll go. But, someone should come with me... Hmm, Leonora will do."

I look at the three and decide on Leonora.

"Me? Why?"

"If there’s a noble, they might be intimidated. Also, you’re small, so they might be more lenient."

Adele would be fine, but it’s not good to give her a bad job right away.

"So, it’s a strategic decision. Got it. Then, let’s go together the day after tomorrow. It’s in the afternoon."

In the afternoon.

A 11:00 AM meeting would be better because it would end in an hour, but...

"Sure. Then, let’s start work. We’ll finish the bricks and ingots today."

"Brick making!"

"Let’s do that. I’ll make ingots. Adele, help me."

"Ingots... It’s been years."

The three start their respective tasks.

"I’m going shopping to buy materials."

"I’ll come with you."

I leave the branch with Helen and head to the store that sells minerals and other items.

Thank you for reading.

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