Chapter 69

After Yuriana left, Erika and I continued making Wednesday stones. By mid-morning, Adelheid and Leonora came out of their room.

"We made a D-rank stone."

"I'm glad it didn't fail."

The two of them held Wednesday stones, which indeed looked like D-rank.

"Good job. We now have 20."

"Shall we have lunch a bit early?"

Erika suggested.

"If we start making more now, it'll be an awkward time, so let's do that."

We decided to take an early lunch break and started eating the bento Erika made. While eating, I explained Yuriana's visit to the two of them.

"Hmm... There was even an attempted arson?"

"That's serious... Arson is a major crime?"

Would it be hanging?

"What do you two think about it?"

Erika asked them.

"The culprit is that merchant, Adolf, right?"

"The actual perpetrator might be different, but the one who gave the order is probably him."

They nodded and answered matter-of-factly.

"You two think so too..."

"Considering the motive... It was probably planned from the beginning. I don't want to get involved, but the politician backing him is also suspicious. In fact, he might be the mastermind?"

As expected of nobles...

They are well-versed in such matters.

"Politician... Yuriana must be having a tough time."

"Do local politicians have that much power?"

Just a local politician, right?

"Local politicians often come from influential landowners. They don't have much power on a national scale, but they are strong in their regions. Even noble lords can't treat them lightly."

"They have connections and networks everywhere, which makes them troublesome."

That's why Adolf was so arrogant.

"Well, the rest is up to the military and the government. That guy from the government is here."

Everyone looked towards the branch office, where Rübert was standing.

"Hello, everyone. Sorry to interrupt your meal."

Rübert raised his hand and walked over.

"It's fine. We just started a bit early."

"I'm jealous. If I did that, I'd get complaints from the citizens."

That's the government for you...

I'm glad I didn't become a bureaucrat.

"Good luck. Is there something you need? The phone... no one was there."

The branch office is empty without the branch chief.

"Of course, I know about the fire."

It's about that, as expected.

"I heard from Yuriana in the military. It was arson."

"Right. We need the Wednesday stones urgently. Of course, we'll pay extra."

"We have 20 here, so you can take these for now. We'll make the rest this week."

I pointed to the wooden box on the ground.

"Wow! As expected, the genius alchemists of the capital!"

He must have read the newspaper.

"Mostly made by the three girls. For 10th and 9th rank, they are quite good."

"Wow, great progress. Anyway, I'll take them. Sorry for the trouble."

Rübert sat down and started putting the Wednesday stones from the box into his bag.

"Any new requests for the burned warehouse?"

"No. The merchant guild is taking action instead of the merchant."

Merchants aren't stupid.

They must have sensed something.

"This is going to be complicated."

"It already is. To be honest, the merchant guild, the politician, and the military are all involved. I'm in the middle of it."

I'm really glad I didn't join the government.

"Should I get you some tranquilizers?"

"Not yet, but I might come for them... Okay, I confirm there are 20. The quality is fine."

Rübert put all the Wednesday stones in his bag and stood up.

"Good luck."

"Right... I'm not in a hurry, but you should hurry with the bricks. You don't want to get involved, right?"

That sounds like a good idea.

"Understood. I'll deliver the bricks this week. What about the Tuesday stones?"

"Take your time with those. You have other requests, right? I'll be back this evening."

Rübert said and went back to the government office.

"Rübert must be having a tough time..."

Adelheid muttered.

"The best we can do is deliver the items quickly."

Yeah, that's right.

"Keep making the Wednesday stones. I'll work on the bricks. Let's finish by the weekend."

"Got it."

"Okay."

"Let's do it."

After finishing our lunch, we ended our early break and resumed our work. For the rest of the day and the next, we quietly made Wednesday stones and bricks. The next day, while we were doing alchemy, Helen, who had been curled up on the table, suddenly woke up.

"What's wrong? Do you want to go for a walk?"

"No, someone is coming. I recognize this smell."

Huh?

"Rübert, Lutz, or Yuriana?"

"No, not from this town, but someone I met in the capital."

The capital?

"Who could it be?"

I looked towards the branch office. Then, a blonde man appeared.

"Hmm? Isn't that Chris?"

It looks like Christoph, my fellow disciple.

"Right... It's Chris."

What is he doing here?

As I tilted my head, Chris came over.

"Hey, Sieg, it's been a while."

Chris greeted me with a bright smile.

"What are you doing here? Did you get demoted?"

"That's a harsh greeting... I'm not like some master who would say, 'Can't even do this?' and demote me."

"Hmm... You're good at sucking up, aren't you?"

Being incompetent is tough.

"Ha... I saw the newspaper. You should have said something like that."

Why do I have to explain myself to you?

There's no benefit in it.

Thank you for reading.

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