Item Synthesis 1-26 part 1

 

Chapter 1-26 : Shards of Departure [Side B] (part 1)

 

「Hmm… What should we do now…? I think it will take a while until this case is solved.」(Kako)

「You may be right-nya. I don’t think they can catch the culprit right away-nya. You better not walk around the town for a while-nya.」(Nyat)

「Ugh… But there are many things I want to try.」(Kako)

「You know it’s not safe-nya. You should stay in this inn for a while-nya.」(Nyat)

「Huu~… I would die of boredom, you know?」(Kako)

The captain said they would do as best as they could to solve this case, but since their higher-ups are protecting the culprit, the possibility for them to solve this case is very slim.

I don’t want to lock myself in my room for who knows how long.

「If I can’t stroll around this town because of those kidnappers, maybe I should just leave…」(Kako)

I looked down and muttered to myself.

Maybe I’m right. Perhaps I better leave this town.

I came to this town to earn money before deciding to open a store. Now I have a lot of money from selling herbs and a Lost Potion.

Besides, I don’t think I will be able to live in peace here as long as the owner of Keema Shop and his subordinates live here.

Moreover, the monsters in the forest surrounding this town are still a threat. I don’t know when they will come back to attack this town.

「Alright! I’ve decided! Nyat, let’s leave this town!」(Kako)

「I knew you would say that-nya. Of course, I’m going with you-nya.」(Nyat)

「Great! I might come back when the situation settles down. I still want to learn from Maitena-san after all. Anyway, let’s go buy some supplies!」(Kako)

「You stay close to me, you understand-nya?」(Nyat)

「Okay~」(Kako)

「Alright. Let’s stock up a lot of meat and spices-nya!」(Nyat)

「Nyaa!」(Kako)

We got up from our seats and left the inn to buy some supplies in the market.

 

◆◆◆

 

After buying supplies, we went to the merchant guild to withdraw some money and let the guild know that I would leave the town.

By the way, you need to report to the merchant guild before leaving the town so that you can withdraw your money at any merchant guild in other towns.

「Eh? You want to leave? I see… It’s a shame to lose a capable herb collector like you…」(receptionist lady)

The receptionist lady who usually helps me looked sad when I told her I would leave the town.

「Yeah. I’m sorry, but I got in trouble with the owner of Keema Shop, so I can’t stay any longer in this town.」(Kako)

「Umm… Do you mind if I ask what happened?」(receptionist lady)

I nodded at her and told her with a low voice so that no one else heard me.

「I don’t have any proof, but… he kidnapped me.」(Kako)

「Eh!?」(receptionist lady)

She was surprised but then she immediately covered her mouth and looked around with a panicked face as if saying, “Woops”.

「I see… I knew he wasn’t a good man!」(receptionist lady)

She then whispered to me. She made a scary face for some reason. It seems that she knows that man.

「Anyway, here’s your money. Please be safe, Miss Kako Mayaー No, Kako-san. I hope we will meet again someday.」(receptionist lady)

「Un! Thank you, Onee-san!」(Kako)

After I received the money, Nyat and I returned to the inn.

We left the town early the next day after resting overnight.

「Goodbye, Tranto Town. A lot happened but I had so much fun! Now, let’s go to the next town-nya!」(Kako)

While riding on Nyat’s back, I said my goodbye and raised my hand, facing to the next destination.

「I told you to stop mimicking me-nya!」(Nyat)

 

◆◆◆

 

ーA few days after Kako and Nyat left Tranto Townー

*Keema shop owner’s pov

「Dammit! What a mess! My plan is ruined!」(??)

I hit my desk with my hands.

Shit! It hurts!

I never thought that child would be able to escape from there.

Moreover, most of my subordinates were captured.

「If only that little bitch listened to me, I would have gotten myself a way to live luxuriously in the royal capital!」(??)

There’s no point in regretting it now…

The most important thing to do now is to keep making money from my ‘other business’.

Fortunately, those higher-ups in the army are easy to bribe, so I should be fine… For now, at least…

ーBAAM!!

Just when I thought that I would be fine, the door was suddenly slammed open and a large number of guards barged into my office.

「Wh, What the hell is happening!? You can’t enter someone’s property without permission like this!」(??)

「The owner of Keema Shop, Mr. Clive, you are under arrest.」(captain)

「H, Huuh!?」(Clive)

They came to arrest me!? But they don’t have any evidence that I kidnapped that girl!

「Captain, I told you this is just a misunderstanding! I didn’t kidnap a girl! The culprit used my name to tarnish my good name and destroy my shop! How many times should I tell you this!? You don’t even have evidence that can prove that I’m the kidnapper, do you?」(Clive)

「We indeed have no solid evidence for that and we can’t prove that you kidnapped that little lady.」(captain)

「S, See!? You don’t have proof! Now get out and leave me alone!」(Clive)

「Mr. Clive, we didn’t come to arrest you for kidnapping a girl, but for running an illegal business.」(captain)

「Wh… What the hell are you talking about!?」(Clive)

Dammit! How could they find out about that!?

「There’s no point in hiding it. We knew that you have been selling stolen goods, trading illegal herbs, and hoarding medical herbs to raise the price of potions and make tons of money from that.」(captain)

「Th, That’s… B-Bullshit! I’m an honest merchant!」(Clive)

「I’m afraid you can’t deny it. We have been provided reliable information from a certain person.」(captain)

「Certain person…?」(Clive)

Who is that!? Is it one of their higher-ups I bribed?

So someoneー No, They betrayed me!? But why!?

「We also have this.」(captain)

The captain took out a ledger I was familiar with and showed it to me.

「This is the ledger containing the information about your illegal business. It was hidden in a small barrier deployed by a magic item, but we were able to find it in your shop when we secretly searched your shop without your knowledge.」(captain)

「What!? How dare you search my shop with my permiー I mean, y-you’re misunderstanding things! I don’t know that ledger! It’s not mine!」(Clive)

「No, you can’t deny it. We have already confirmed that the handwriting in this book looks exactly the same as your handwriting.」(captain)

「Th… that’s…!」(Clive)

「Furthermore, we have finished investigating the building built without permission in the forest, and the illegal goods stored there are matched with the list of items in this ledger.」(captain)

「C, Captain, please. Like I said, it’s just a misunderstanding! Besides, your higher-ups should have told you to leave me alone!」(Clive)

「Ah, you mean the people you bribed? Those corrupt men are in jail now. Don’t worry, you will join them soon.」(captain)

「No way…」(Clive)

Seeing my shocked face, the captain gave the signal to his subordinates to restrain me with shackles.

Is this really happening…?

Am I really getting arrested…?

No… No!!

I must be having a nightmare right now!

「Mr. Clive, you shouldn’t have turned against the Marquis family. Only fools make them an enemy.」(captain)

「What do you… Wait… Don’t tell me…」(Clive)

If I remember correctly, one of the Wings of Steel members who was that little girl’s master was the daughter of the Marquis family.

I see… That’s why these lowly guards are able to arrest me. Dammit!

I never expected the Marquis family would move this quickly…

I’m done for…

I shouldn’t have messed with that little girl…

 

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