IDMH - Chapter 138


It is true that Perdes had studied swordsmanship for a long time, but because he had no talent, his skills were stagnant.

Although it was a bit absurd to ask him to choose a sword for her, I didn't step forward.

It was because I didn't like the idea of ​​drawing a line and saying that I was asking the same man for a favor.

If you want Perdes' help even by saying such misleading things, you should let him accept it.

Well, there's no way he'd accept the request.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

...You accepted it?

Are you serious?

I thought he would naturally refuse, but I was surprised by the unexpected answer and looked back at Perdes.

After finishing off the rest of his beer, Perdes stood up.

“I also wanted to buy a sword, so I’ll go and do it.”

Mr. Perdes, do you know how to tell which sword is good?

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to swallow them.

Because it was a remark that ignored Perdes and cut into his pride.

It wasn't something I should talk about in front of other people.

“Have a nice trip.”

And while Perdes is away, he allowed me to explore the warehouse at my leisure... but I’m worried.

I was worried that trying to protect his pride might end up embarrassing him even more.

I also need to check out the warehouse, so I'll stay a bit longer and go to the weapons store where the two people are.

With that thought in mind, I put the sandwich in my mouth.

The sandwich, with its combination of fresh vegetables and salty meat, was quite tasty.

Come to think of it, all Perdes drank was beer. I wonder if that's okay.

Should I ask them to wrap up the leftover sandwich?

I thought it would be a good idea, so I called the waiter over and asked him to wrap up the remaining sandwiches.

And as I was trying to calculate the cost of food, I realized one thing.

The thing is, Perdes didn't have any money on hand.

Nicole Tesis could choose his sword in return for choosing one for her, but that would only be if she chose the right sword.

If he picked something weird and got a good sword in return, he would lose face.

I could have been cursed at for a long time later.

“Haa, I can’t help it.”

I was going to check out the warehouse, but I guess I'll just have to go and take a look now.

I quickly finished my calculations and headed towards where Perdes and Nicole Tesis had disappeared.

I didn't forget to take the sandwich the staff packed for me.

By the way, was there a weapons store nearby?

I don't think I saw it when I came.

I didn't even see a blacksmith shop, let alone a weapons shop.

Then where did Nicole Tesis take Perdes to buy a sword?

While I was looking for them, with my doubts in my mind, I saw two people walking and talking not too far away.

The expression on his face was very serious and earnest.

In particular, the sight of Nicole Tesis sticking close to Perdes and talking to him was unusual.

There must be something between those two that I don't know about.

With that confidence in hand, I followed them, making as few noises as possible.

***

As soon as Perdes reached a place beyond Adele's sight, he glared at Nicole Tesis fiercely.

“Didn’t I tell you not to pretend to know anything unless I say it’s okay?”

Nicole Tesis shrugged and said with a hint of regret.

“Hey. You’re so cold to me, Mr. Perdes, even though we’re business partners who work side by side.”

As Adele had expected, there was some kind of relationship between the two.

It turned out that the co-founder of the business that Perdes had started with the royal maintenance fee was Nicole Tesis.

While Perdes drew up business plans and provided the appropriate funding, Nicole Tesis was responsible for executing them.

That was the reason why their business was able to prosper in just two years.

However, externally, it was a business run solely by Nicole Tesis, and Perdes' existence was kept completely hidden.

Because there was nothing good to come from his presence being revealed.

For the same reason, he had kept his friendship with Nicole Tesis a secret, so when she suddenly pretended to know him, Perdes was very surprised.

It was also difficult.

He kept checking her reaction, worried that Adele might notice his relationship with Nicole.

Perdes wished that Nicole Tesis would disappear, but the person in question just smiled and made an absurd request as if she had no intention of doing so.

Asking him to choose a sword for her even though she knows he's not good at swordsmanship.

It was absurd.

Of course, being good at swordsmanship and knowing how to use a sword are two different things, but people who are good at using a sword usually also know how to use a sword.

And the important thing is that Perdes didn't know how to use a sword.

But the reason he accepted her ridiculous request was because he thought there was a reason why Nicole Tesis was acting like this.

He also wanted to get away from Adele's suspicious gaze as soon as possible.

...Perdes realized belatedly that doing this would make him more suspicious, but it was already too late.

There was no turning back now.

Perdes asked himself later, thinking about how he would explain himself when Adele asked him what his relationship was with Nicole Tesis.

“So why are you talking to me?”

“I have something to ask you, Perdes.”

“You just wanted to ask me something?”

“Just a little? This is a very important matter to me.”

When Nicole Tesis grumbled as if she was really upset, Perdes waved his hand.

“Yes, yes. Yes, just tell me what’s going on.”

“My father entrusted me with the logistics warehouse in the capital.”

Nicole Tesis had no interest in titles or family business, but her older brother and eldest son of the Tesis family, Lucol Tesis, did not think so.

He was always on edge, fearing that a more capable younger sister might take his place at any moment.

Count Tesis also took into consideration his eldest son's feelings and tried his best not to involve Nicole Tesis in family affairs.

Nicole Tesis also did not care about the family business and joined hands with Perdes to start a separate business.

But she was shocked when her father suddenly told her that she was entrusted with the logistics warehouse.

No matter how Nicole thought about it, it didn't seem like good intentions.

“Could it be that your brother had some influence on this matter?”

Nicole Tesis nodded with a bitter smile mixed with a sigh.

“Yes, I think so.”

“What on earth did that guy say that made Count Tesis entrust the warehouse to you all of a sudden?”

Nicole Tesis hesitated for a moment, pursed her lips, then bowed her head and answered.

“There is... nothing in that warehouse.”

"What?"

Could it be that they gave her a warehouse with nothing in it? ...

“Are you asking me to fill that warehouse?”

"...Yes."

"Ha."

What kind of nonsense is this?

Perdes laughed and shook his head.

Filling the warehouse didn't just mean buying and storing goods, it also meant opening up new business opportunities.

Moreover, giving them a warehouse with nothing in it was like asking them to fill it with items that the Tesis family had not previously handled.

The Tesis family was the largest transportation family not only in the Empire but also on the Continent.

It would be no exaggeration to say that all goods except those transported by train passed through the Tesis family.

But, do you want to fill the warehouse with items that the Tesis family doesn't handle?

“He gave me two months.”

Moreover, the period was absurdly short.

“It seems like you did something wrong to your brother. Or maybe you did something to upset him.”

If not for that, there was no way that the quiet Lucol Tesis would suddenly do something like this.

"There must be something," said Nicole Tesis, her expression darkening even more.

“My brother found out that I was running my own business.”

"So?"

What does that mean?

When Perdes asked in that sense, Nicole Tesis stammered and continued.

“The reason I started my own business was because it was a rebellion against being prevented from participating in the family business and a challenge to myself...”

Huh. How on earth can you interpret it like that?

Perdes was so shocked that he clicked his tongue inwardly.

Moreover, it was the opposite of what R
Lucol Tesis thought.

Nicole Tesis started her own business to make it clear that she had no interest in the family business.

“...So, I’m going to take this opportunity to make it clear to everyone that I have no talent for business...”

“This is a difficult task even for someone with great business skills.”

Perdes thought about it for a brief moment, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't think of anything that could fill the warehouse within that period.

“I think it would be better to just give up and say I can’t do this. My pride would be hurt a little, but I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

It was better than holding out for no reason to save up her pride and then getting beat up by a bigger dog later.

“And if you give up this time, your brother will become quiet again, so I think it’s better to do so.”

“I want to do that too... but the situation doesn’t allow me to do that.”

“Why?”

“My father said that if I failed this time, he would put me in a monastery.”

"...What?"

Entering a monastery meant cutting ties with the secular world and becoming a servant of God for the rest of one's life.

That means he can no longer do business with Nicole Tesis.

Then, regardless of her circumstances, Perdes was also in trouble.

“What if it succeeds?”

“Then he said he would acknowledge my abilities and pass on the family line and business to me.”

...Count Tesis, you have made your last gamble.

Then, it is somewhat understandable why such a difficult problem was raised.

“This is driving me crazy.”

At that moment, Perdes, who was faced with a situation where he had to solve this problem somehow, was muttering curses while racking his brain.

“Can I help you?”

A warm spring breeze blew gently through the cold winter wind.


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