Disciple of Immortal
Act 5: Chapter 9: Wontz

Act 5: Chapter 9: Wontz

「How's your store, Mel-chan?」

「E-Ehehehehe… The truth is, thanks to you… Today become a bit better, so…!」

Mel averted her gaze as she replied to Wontz.

「Spare me the unnecessary part. Sorry, but I already know that the 《Fairy's Wings》 will go under. It pains me even though I've been inviting you but, the policy has to be shared with another famous store and some of your goods have to be taken down due to dispute over their right.」

「D-Don't worry, I can still do it, Wontz-san! I-I'm just getting started! I'll be racking in money in no time! That's why, please give me a bit more time…!」

Mel was bowing desperately to Wontz.

… Though he had been called Wontz a trashy swindler scumbag until just a while ago, it seems to be a bluff.

She couldn't even raise her head before the real thing.

「What is this "Trouble over the right" you're talking about? This is the first time I have heard about this.」

I asked Rosemonde.

「Concession about the system of commodity and structure in this city. The pride and joy of Greed company, laws to protect the major company with laws. In short, making a similar product without permission will result in Greed company charging you and having your profit siphoned by them.」

I guess it was something like a patent right on Earth.

Mel seems to have gone through a hard experience but, she might be able to do much better if she had taken care of the product right properly.

Meaning that her rights would be protected if she made innovative products.

「Naturally, Mel is careful not to fall into such a plot but, the major company still blames her and even threatens her with a lawsuit. Once Mel got involved with this matter, the fame of her store fell to the bottom immediately. On top of being unable to hire an employee, she has to close her store to attend the court. To begin with, since the judge is the top brass of the Greed company, I don't think they'll give a fair trial for Mel. Mel ended up being forgiven as long as she took down some of the goods from her store.」

So in order to stop the momentum of Mel's store, Wontz used the law of this city to force Mel to take down the signature product of her store, making things difficult for her to do business.

The darkness of this city was more than I imagined…

I mean, did we really have the chance to win in a frontal confrontation?

「You seem to aware of the detailed situation, Rosemonde-san.」

Even though Rosemonde wasn't a merchant of this city or someone who was born in this city, she was really knowledgeable about the rules of this city.

Though I could understand this rule since there was a similar rule on earth, Pomera who listens from the side looks really confused albeit seemingly understanding the gist of the situation.

「Manarak also had few similar laws since it's a city famous for its' alchemy. I also took several commissions to escort merchants and commissions that involved power struggles, that's why I more or less understand the situation… And I did some study about this city law to force Mel to be aware of her real situation. Since something about it bugged my mind, I did a bit of investigation and found out a lot of unfair contracts and shady systems.」

She might be able to roughly understand the law in Polorock since some of them resembled the rule in Mnarak but, Rosemonde was really too saintly to go as far as learning the details of the laws in this city to persuade Mel.

「Mel-chan, someone actually wants to open a branch of their store in this place. Currently, that person is willing to pay a good amount of money to be able to open their store as fast as possible. They might even be willing to take some of your debt. I also help a bit to give you an even better condition. What do you think?」

Wontzz spoke to Mel with a fake smile on his face.

「『Currently』…  and 『Maybe』… Is it? Lines of empty words. Though I already know from the story, that Wontz is really your typical swindler. Oi Mel, don't listen to him」

「If it's now, they're willing to take some of my debt huh…! I-In that case, I don't have to end up as a dried-up corpse in the Dark Ward!」

Mel had almost agreed to Wontz with a bright smile on her face.

Rosemonde heaved a sigh of exhaustion.

「Dried up… Corpse? You have to pay the penalty to the company for breaking up the contract, and if you're in debt, you have to work in a place provided by the company but… If you don't like it, I can make some arrangements and do my best to assist you, Mel-chan.」

「Thank you very much Wontz-san! I… I really think that I'm hitting the dead end!」

「Well, I'm the one who invites you, after all, Mel-chan. Though you're unlucky, I still feel some sense of duty to help you to the best of my ability. Now then Mel-chan, you just need to sign in this blank form and I'll take care of the rest of the procedure…」

Rosemonde quickly got in between both of them and took the paper from Wontz.

「What are you…」

Rosemonde tore the paper and threw it into the air.

「W-W-W-WAAAAAAAAAA! W-W-What are you doing Rosemonde-san!? That's my… Lifeline! I'm going to be sent to the dark ward without that!」

Mel gathered the torn paper in a hurry.

「You mean a one-way ticket to hell. How many times you almost fell into the same trick? If Wontz really wants to help you, he can come up with any number of plans when you have a problem with the right of your goods since he's the top brass of Greed company.」

Rosemonde scorned upon hearing Mel's remark and then glared at Wontz.

The bodyguard behind Wontz then stepped forward.

「Don't speak nonsense about Wontz-sama, woman.」

「… That's enough, Jude. I'm not coming to make a scene.」

Wontz raised his hand to stop the man… Jude.

「So you're the one called Rosemonde-san. Wandering adventurer is it? There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding but, aren't you quite rude here? Starting a fight even if you have some doubt isn't a wise decision you see. I don't know which barbaric city you're coming from but… This Polorock definitely won't be left behind in terms of military force.」

Wontz spoke to Rosemonde with rather provocative tone.

From his attitude, he seems to be quite confident in his own power.

He bluffed his way without breaking a sweat even before Rosemonde.

Wontz seems to be convinced that he would come out victorious no matter what.

「Humph, I know right away after hearing about him from Mel that I cannot get along with this guy. But he turned out to be more annoying in reality.」

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