Chapter 58

We watched Adolf leave hurriedly and exchanged glances.

"Zig, since that's how it turned out, I'll ask the Alchemists' Guild to file the application."

Ruebert smiled wryly.

"Got it. What about the pickup?"

"We'll leave it at the office, so please come and get it again."

"I'll come and get it as soon as the application is processed. So, this request is just for delivering the bricks, right?"

"That's how it turned out. But, it would help if you could prioritize the Wednesday Stone."

"Sure, I understand."

Well, that makes sense.

"Got it. I have a request from the military, but it seems to have more leeway, so I'll prioritize this one."

"Thanks. Oh, and the bricks and ingots from earlier were fine. I'll transfer the commission fee later."

"Thanks. We'll be on our way. Leonora, let's go."

With that, Leonora stood up as well.

"Okay. See you later, Ruebert."

We left the office and started walking back to the branch.

"It didn't get as messy as I thought. He was yelling at first, though."

"It's a negotiation technique."

"Probably. He seemed to realize it wouldn't work on us or the office, so he stopped."

We're not a for-profit organization, so no matter how much he negotiates, it won't change anything.

"Do you understand why I didn't choose the private sector?"

"You wouldn't be able to do it. You can't lower your head and do sales."

"The guild has its own issues, but it's still better."

"I think you'd have a richer life if you stayed in a small town like this instead of aiming higher in the capital."

I'm starting to think so too.

There's no August here, and the only nobles are Leonora, Adele, and the branch chief.

"Leonora, what did you think of Adolf earlier?"

"I thought his goal from the start was to buy us out. The machines are quite old, and the compensation from the office seemed like a good deal, didn't it?"

Yeah, that's about right.

"He's not someone we should get involved with."

"You seemed to be picking a fight with him."

"I wasn't. I was just being my usual self."

"That's your usual self, huh..."

I just responded to his attitude.

"Sure. Anyway, it's better to cut ties early, so I'll finish the brick request quickly. I'll have to work overtime for a few days, but I'll finish it this week."

"Overtime is fine, but not on the weekend. You have dinner with Adele, right?"

Oh, right...

"That's true."

"Your weekend is for dates."

It's a fishing trip for Helen.

"I won't work on weekends anyway. Maybe next week is fine."

"There's no need to rush. It's just a request, even if it's a troublesome one."

"Alright."

As we talked, we arrived at the branch and stopped.

"Then, we'll work on the Wednesday Stone."

"Right, meet up with the other two in the back and start working. I'll call headquarters and arrange the pickup."

"Got it. I'll wait in the back."

Leonora went towards the apartment, so I entered the branch and called headquarters.

"Hello, this is the Alchemists' Guild headquarters."

A receptionist's voice came from the receiver, not Adele's.

"This is Siegfried from the Riet branch. I need to request the pickup of two extraction machines and one disassembly machine. Can you handle the procedures?"

"Understood. I'll send someone over. Let me see... it will be next week. Is that okay?"

"That's fine. Please appraise and negotiate with the office on your own."

It's no longer our job.

"Alright... Siegfried, can you hold on a moment?"

"Huh? What... on hold?"

I could hear the hold music.

They put me on hold before I could answer.

I thought about hanging up, but I had a bad feeling, so I waited. The hold music stopped.

"Hey! Siegfried, how are you?"

It's the chief of headquarters. And he's in a great mood.

"I'm doing well. But, I didn't say I had something to talk about with the chief."

"I told the receptionist to connect any calls from you."

"Oh... do you need something?"

I haven't done anything.

"Did you hear about the fire in Riet?"

How did he know?

"Yes, this call is related to that. I'm filing a request for the pickup of two extraction machines and one disassembly machine that were damaged in the fire."

"Is that so? I heard you put out the fire. Is that true?"

"Yes, I did. The military requested it."

"Is that so, is that so. For you to take on that request... ha ha ha!"

He's in a great mood...

"Riet's branch wasn't doing well and had a bad reputation, but Helen said it would be good to take the request."

"Hmm... even the crybaby cat says good things."

He's not a crybaby.

"Listening to Helen and my colleagues is often the right choice."

"Hmm... you mean Adele?"

"Yes, Adele too. They're such good people that my bad character stands out."

I didn't realize how bad I was until I talked to them. Before, everyone around me was ambitious and dirty, so my bad character wasn't as noticeable. Now, it's like the world is white, and my black character stands out.

"I see. I think that's a good thing. Keep it up."

"If I work hard, can I return to the capital?"

"Do you want to return?"

Huh?

What do I think...?

If I fix my bad character and return to the capital, I might be able to advance. But, what would that mean?

Hmm...

"I think you'd have a richer life if you stayed in a small town like this instead of aiming higher in the capital."

Leonora's words from earlier are echoing in my head.

"No, that's not what I should be thinking about now. I'll work hard until the Riet branch is in order."

"Right, right. You can use the extraction and disassembly machines."

"Really?"

"You don't have any of those machines, do you? Use them. But, don't fix them until the appraiser arrives."

The appraisal might go up.

"Got it. Thanks."

"No problem. Good luck."

The chief hung up.

"I got something... I'm glad he was in a good mood."

Did something good happen?

"Maybe your master and mother are happy that their disciple and child have grown and helped others."

"Me?"

"Yes, who else?"

Hmm... just putting out a fire made them that happy?

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