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Barbajou Street was the main road that stretched all the way from the eastern gate to the central castle.

As a result, traffic was high and a bustling thoroughfare awaited us.

In the market district portion of the street, I noticed something odd about the stores in this area.

「Yo Nago... what's with the overabundance of butcheries...」

「Hm? Whatever do you mean? This city's been specializing in meat since it was founded!」

「Has it..? That's news to me...」

I turned a blind eye to the fact that every single one of these meat shops had fallen into disrepair and took his word for it.

It was one explanation for Yarzon's appalling economy.

We then happened across a somewhat crowded establishment—an anomaly amongst the antiquated and failing businesses.

「We're here! Potternuggets is just inside!」

The Pottershack—it was large compared to the other market district buildings, taking up roughly a quarter of a block.

Melyn nearly dropped her loaves as she gandered at the three-story general store.

「Sheesh... bastard must've paid a pretty penny for the property. Was he well-off even before he opened the store?」

「Well... he is from outside Yarzon...」

I kept Nago's answer in mind and opened the doors.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

Once the entrance bell chimed, a furious Potternuggets came yelling at us.

「NO SHOES! NO SHIRT! NO SERVICE! GET OUT!」

He pointed at Nago who was petrified by the merchant's unprovoked persecution.

「W-w-w-what?! I have all of those on though!」

「Even so, your underwear is in plain view! I will not tolerate such public indecency on my premises!」

The man picked Nago up in his arms and tossed him out outside without trial.

Witnessing the whole thing unfold, I couldn't help but wonder if everyone in this world had collectively fallen on their heads as children.

With Nago out of the picture, Potternuggets pivoted to me and wrenched out a forced grin.

「Oho! Lorenzo! Didn't see you there! It's great that you came to visit!」

Was he always this scary? Or perhaps he's still mad about my cunning exploit yesterday? It is a fresh wound to his reputation...

He strolled to the back of the counter and beckoned to us. Melyn and I saw no alternative but to string along with him.

As the customers perused through the catalog of goods offered by the Pottershack, we followed its proprietor to a room behind the storefront.

Inside was a sizable kitchen and a dinette. The merchant invited us to sit at the dining table with him. We quietly complied.

An awkward silence filled the air until suddenly, he initiated negotiations with us.

「Let's cut to the chase.」

He reached into his pocket and pulled out five coins.

Gold.

「F-five hundred bucks..?」

I unintentionally blurted out.

「Bucks? You Merulean folk always use the strangest vernacular.」

Clink, clink, clink!

The melodious chinks were music to my ears. This man was certainly experienced in providing enticing offers.

「You're a bright fellow, Lorenzo. Such talent is wasted in the slums.—which is why I'm willing to pay for your services.」

「Services..?」

Melyn had activated her Hu breathing technique. She was wary of the man's overtures. To her, he was a suspicious figure.

Unfortunately for the thief girl, riches were a heady prospect to someone like me. In my avarice, I wholeheartedly listened to his request.

「Work for me as my assistant. Your street-smarts are a valuable asset to my business. In return, I can promise you a decent salary that'll get you out of your impoverished life.」

「F-for real?!」

I shivered at his insane proposition—it weighed heavily in my favor.

The question remained though.

「What's your game here..? You do know I'm the kid who turned your entire customer base against you right? Why throw money at someone who effectively ruined your business..?」

「Haha! I wouldn't say business is ruined. Sure, today's sales are lagging behind... but in contrast with the other stores, I still reign supreme!」

He was right. Something about the Pottershack set it apart from the businesses. Even Nago's general store got nowhere without my intervention.

What's his secret?

「And that's another merit of working under me—firsthand experience from yours truly! Your potential as a merchant is great, and I, the top businessman in Yarzon, nay, in all of Jazga, seek to hone your abilities. Think of it as more of an... apprenticeship than a job.」

「Apprenticeship eh? When you put it that way...」

「Interested in my offer?」

I had no reason to refuse him. This was my lucky break.

With his tutelage, I could hasten the progress in achieving my real goal in this world—reclaiming my position as the richest man in Velatya.

I made no attempt to hide my venal disposition. I nearly drooled at the thought of a chest full of platinum bars.

But as was anticipated, with talks of apprenticeships and whatnot, there was one person in the room who was raring to demur.

She whacked me on the head with her baguette and riveted her rose-colored eyes on him.

「Zozo respectfully declines. He's already the Ashen Thief's apprentice and doesn't need your guidance. Whatever you're planning, keep in mind that the Lakua District operates in Barbajou Street. Any attempts to corrupt our own will be met with appropriate retaliation.」

It was humiliating to have a bread-wielding brat speak for me. Her tone was akin to a mother's.

At least let me carve my own path, you nosy brat!

Now... how was Potternuggets going to respond to Melyn's objection? He stroked his goatee for a while before answering with his trademark gusto.

「Ohoh! Friends in high places! Who knew you were so closely tied to this city's legendary figure! I understand if you have reservations about establishing relations with an outsider such as myself...」

「Mr. Potternuggets, sir, she doesn't represent what I actually—」

「On that note, here you go!」

Skiiid!

He slid a gold coin to me and winked.

「Take it. As a token of my respect. Or perhaps you could treat it as collateral if you change your mind?」

「T-this is one gold coin... are you sure..?」

「No, no, Lorenzo. When someone gives you gold for free, you quickly pocket it without hesitation. That is the mark of a true businessman!」

「I don't owe you or anything right..? Collateral is a pretty strong term...」

「You don't owe me anything if you don't feel like you owe me anything. Just stop by when you're in the area. And if you're looking for some extra pocket money, the position's open for you anytime! Capable assistants are a rarity these days, especially around here! Hahahaha!」

It was a matter of course that I would eventually frequent his place in the near future. I was even intent on pronouncing his name right.

Our exchange was brief, but with this new source of income within reach, my future was a little less tentative now.

As Potternuggets saw us off, I also caught a glimpse of the worker manning the register in his absence as I stepped out of the room.

A bespectacled girl, around Melyn's age. Her violet bobbed hair was reminiscent of the goateed merchant—her topaz eyes were fixed on a book in her hands.

Woah... her rack is huge... at least compared to Melyn's. Although... our resident thief girl isn't the best baseline for chest sizes...

Staggeringly, the number of shoppers did not decrease while were at the back. In fact, the store had appeared more lively than ever once lunch hour was over.

I was stumped.

Being a trader in Battleshift was nothing like being a merchant in the real world. That being said, I couldn't wait to see Potternuggets again and learn his likely surreptitious ways.

Speaking of waiting...

Melyn and I stepped out with our unpaid groceries in hand. Squatting by the entrance with a ridiculous getup, was none other than our neighborhood information broker.

A depiction of unadulterated poignancy.

「Lorenzo, you're back!」

Like a puppy whose owner had returned, his ears perked up once he realized we were out.

「Uh... Nago... were you waiting for us this entire time?」

「Yeah..?」

I wasn't going to comment.

「Everything with Potternuggets is sorted. You can now leisurely spend the rest of your unscheduled holiday in peace.」

「Aaaah.... that's a relief... Thanks for talking to him...」

His gratitude was gravely misplaced. I did just make bank for nothing. Potternuggets' agenda was still unclear to me though. One more thing to fret about.

Actually... while the information broker is here, I might as well quell some of that bottled-up perturbation.

「Oh yeah... Nago... I'd like to inquire you about something.」

「Going business-mode already? You ought to relax every once in a while Lorenzo. Kids should be living out their childhoods to the fullest...」

「We're slum dwellers you know... I can't be playing around while people are starving...」

Nago's ignorance was unsurprising—his hometown was full of hipsters with too much time and money on their hands after all.

I brushed off his thoughtless advice and proceeded with my questioning. The Church would probably love to have me as an inquisitor.

「Your information yesterday... did it come from a source?」

「Uh... yes. Why do you ask?」

「Is it always the same guy or..?」

「Well... they change every time. I buy information from people, take on the risk and distribute them at a higher price. Give and take, as they say.」

Just as I'd suspected.

It'd be easy for any Church agent to slip malicious information into the grapevine.

「Any chance you could clue me in on the informant's identity?」

「Nope. My lips are sealed.」

He held crossed fingers up to his lips.

「There's an unspoken rule amongst us information brokers. Client confidentiality. I can't tell you anything about the person who tipped me off.」

「So much for finding use out of you... thanks anyways...」

「I-Isn't that rude..?」

The lead I thought I had disappeared like the morning mist. I was so close to uncovering the Church's objective, yet so far.

I was prepared to head back home with Melyn. That is before Nago decided to speak up.

「If it's any consolation... I can tell you that the information I sold to you yesterday came from two completely different sources...」

「Wait... two separate people sold Church information to you?!」

「Sssshhh! We're in public remember?」

「Oh right.」

The thief girl frowned and turned her back on us with half-lidded eyes. She didn't want to associate herself with a pair of trouble-mongers.

Plus... her baguette no longer had that fresh homemade aroma...

Nago leaned in closer to me and lowered his voice. To be honest, it wasn't as covert as I hoped, what with the looks from random pedestrians on the street beside us.

「I received information regarding the Nixie exchange from a new source about a week ago. Meanwhile, leaks about corrupt Church members have been circulating for about a month. The informant who shared the list of implicated people with me is a reliable source, so I accepted it without question.」

「And the Nixie dust informant wasn't? You sold us unverified information from someone you'd just met? What if it was a scam you dolt..?」

「I know, I know... but there was something about them that felt... reassuring. Like the break of dawn after a long voyage in treacherous waters...」

「Spare me your poetry, underwear-flasher.」

Learning that two people were involved was the key to some of the doubts I possessed.

If a single informant was responsible for the Church leaks and the drug peddler leaks, I'd be lost in a maze of questions. Conflicting motives were the harbingers of headache.

Nago's small tidbits provided a sliver of insight to this complex case I was unraveling. Who knew this dowdy closeted pervert harbored some meaningful information?

「That's a load off my chest. Thanks for breaking your information broker code or whatever and assisting me...」

「You're welcome... and... w-wait did I spill something I shouldn't've?!」

I laughed and reached into the paper bag.

「Here Nago, catch!」

I tossed him an apple core, which clumsily found its way into his palms, and strolled off with Melyn.

「Throw that off somewhere, will you? And verify your rumors next time!」

He quietly eyed the eaten piece of fruit as I disappeared into the crowd.

That's what you get for the lack of quality assurance on your rumors, you polka-dotted maniac!

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