With the success of the defeat of the Yotel and the regaining of the Azzurri Chamber of Commerce, our business in the Cutori Tree had advanced to the second stage.
　The Malm Chamber of Commerce was now entirely responsible for wholesaling, leaving sales and transportation to Nerf to the Azzurri Chamber of Commerce.

That would reduce our gross profit margins, but it would also allow the Malm Chamber of Commerce (us) to reduce our labor costs or put our manpower to work on other projects,

　And Aria played the math for me.
　I was relieved and set about setting up our next venture on Nerf Island.

　In the dense forests of this island, there are many trees called gum trees, which cannot be found anywhere else, growing wild.
　They are difficult to use as wood because they bend easily and turn a dark color. However, the sap is strangely sticky and difficult to cut down, which has been a nuisance to the islanders for a long time.

　However, by refining and processing this "rubber sap," it is possible to create a new material called "rubber" in its entirety.
　I discovered that the recipe and useful characteristics were detailed in the strategy book.
　So I knew there was no way I could not make use of this information.
　Aria and I took turns suggesting to Mrs. Hanna that we could use this information to our advantage.

"I can teach you how to collect the sap. I can teach you how to make it. "I can teach you how to collect the sap," she said, "and how to make it, but I want you to help the Azzurri Chamber of Commerce set up a system that will eventually allow us to process it on this island.
...So you're saying that we can permanently recruit and manage the manpower for its collection and processing from the people of our island in our Azure, right?
'Yes, sir. Let's work together with our Marum on distribution and sales.
'I see..... To be honest, there are some things that don't ring a bell when you say unknown materials. However, Lord Magnus has helped me many times. If it is what you say, my Azzurri will cooperate with you with the whole company.
Thank you. I promise I'll make you a profit.

　How many times do I have to do this?　Thus, Aria and I shook hands with Lady Hanna.
　It would be some time before the rubber products would be available in the Kingdom of Laaxta and the Qaziou, but as soon as the preparations were complete, we could put our business on Nerf Island to rest.
　I'm not going to be able to get out of it, but I'm going to be able to get out of it.

　　　　◇◆◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇.

　The Azzurri Chamber of Commerce is indeed a part of the "League".
　The staff Aria had brought with her from Rakstad were also excellent.
The business of the Cutlery Tree and the Rubber Tree progressed too smoothly.

　On the other hand, trouble was bound to happen.
　An unexpected visitor arrived from Bagodad Island, one of the nine archipelagos in the Sea of Cassiu, a neighboring island to Nerf.
　She was a well-tanned woman in her mid-thirties. She was in her mid-thirties, well tanned, and the expression "manly" fitted her perfectly.

'Hey, you!　Is this yosomon called Magnus, or is it Teme?

　I was in a fight from the beginning.

　Madame Hanna is surprised by the swordsmanship, but introduces me, Aria and Chocolat to her.

"You are the red head of the League, the head of the Toneni Trading Company, Lady Anemone.
"The 'interim' party leader!　I may be a direct descendant of the Pirate King, but I'm not a boy!　Otherwise, I won't be recognized as the legitimate leader of the party, as decided by that annoying pirate king.

　Anemone cowers her shoulders and spits at me, calling it a ridiculous innuendo.
　And on the other hand, she pulls her right eye off, and then closes in on me.

"That's not important!　You're a shitty wizard!　How dare you ruin our business, Teme, you've ruined our business!

　She grabbed my chest and shook me with a rattling motion.
　She is a woman with too much authority.
　The Toneni Trading Company is a not-so-smart organization, with a good air of nobility and honor, but with a "don't be taken for a fool" spirit supporting its backbone.
　This is the kind of organization that exists for such a trade association.

Let go of Mr. Magnus, please!
"Master Magnus. "If you ask, Chocolat is always ready to see your master's enemies eliminated.
Well, wait, wait, wait.

　I quieted Aria, who was protesting for my safety, and Chocolat, who was rattling around and quieting me with one hand while I was shaking her with the other.
　Knowing that this Anemone was the (interim) head of the Toneni Chamber of Commerce, I was prepared to be accused. I was going to take a certain amount of blame for the blight.

　Aside from Aria, who understands the full extent of my business, I'm sure Chocolat doesn't get the point (and has no idea what he's capable of), so I'm going to rattle on.

Bagodad is an island that produces the Balai fruit. Bagodad is the island of the Balai," he said.　Exporting the Balai berries to Nerf was a major industry for the Toneni Corporation.

　But the Katri tree has driven the Balai out of the market. As a result, the Toneni Trading Company no longer has any hope of exporting.

　The principle of the market is to sell the better products and weed out the ones that don't - that's the principle of the market. That's the nature of business.
　It's easy to argue with that.
　But as a human being, I can understand why Anemone is annoyed.

　That's what Aria taught me before I started doing business in Kajiu.

　　　　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

　It was when Aria and I were spending a temporary "holiday" with her, as we were nearing the end of our exploration of the ruins in Alabana and with an eye on trading in Kajou soon.
　After enjoying her home-cooked meals at our new home, we were relaxing on the living room couch.

This is the 'strategy book'? Does it have a lot of great information in it?

　Aria looked impressed, sullenly gazing at the "strategy book" in her hands.
　On my lap.
　The warmth of her back as she leaned against me, the softness of her hips as she pressed them against my lap, was making me cringe inwardly, and yet

But I really don't know how to read this stuff.

　And Aria's side of the conversation continued in a serious manner, without a care in the world.
　Does this count as one of the "buttocks"?　
　But if it feels this good, I'm not going to get my ass kicked - no, no, that was serious.

Because it's written in the language of God, the sacred carved script.
'But you have a lot of drawings too! I can understand this one too!

　Saying this, Aria looked at the maps of various places and the sketches in the 'List of Important People' with great interest.

'Huh?　Is this my father?
Yes. Lord Malm is an important man.
I see. Haha, as expected, I'm not on the list.

　I was tempted to do everything I could to get off topic.
　But that wouldn't happen. Warily, I confess the truth.

'Actually, it used to be on there.
'Oh, really?　What did it say about you?

　I think back on every word and answer them all with precision and honesty. Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm a confident person with a good memory.
'Surprisingly aggressive personality,' or 'I like pancakes,' or the direction of my other favorite accessories, or that I have a thing for shrimp and crabs. That's what it said.

' ... actually ... it was quite helpful to me on our first date.
Haha, I see. Magnus is not at all used to being a woman, but he seemed to have the perfect date course, which was a bit strange to me. It finally made sense to me.
You're not mad at me?
'Why are you angry?　You wanted to get to know me, and you did your best to research and plan a date course for me, didn't you?　I'm rather pleased.
Oh, really?
'Yes, that's right. 'I'd be angrier if someone said, 'I'm actually not that interested in it, I was just doing it for the sake of it. In fact, I'd cry.

　Aria grins and leans her weight on me.
　I should have repented sooner than this.......am I in too good of a shape to think that I'm in too good of a shape? I'm still inexperienced, too.

'But then, how come my item is missing?
This guide is updated every morning with the latest information. And the more important or important the information, the more detailed it is for the conquest of the Dark Lord. It's a rule.
Oh, so I'm not important anymore?
Not really. It's a little different.

　I hurriedly excused myself to Aria, who got a little teary-eyed.
　So I didn't have time to feel embarrassed.

'Because I'm far more familiar with Aria than what's glancingly written in one item in a book like this, and I know a lot more about her now. It's just that, in that sense, it's information I don't need anymore.
Uh-huh. That makes sense.

　When I explained desperately, Aria immediately smiled lustily.
　Then she closes the "strategy book" and places it on the low table, and while still on my lap, she twists her upper body and gently kisses me on the mouth.
　I respond with a giggle, still lousy at it.
　The kiss was longer and more intense than usual on this day.

　We continue until Aria is satisfied, and then we get back to the serious stuff.

With this 'strategy book' and the 'Town Gate', I'm sure that trading on Cassiu will be a success. It has everything you need to know about what kind of demand there is on which island.
'I agree. So I'll ask my father to get the goods ready for you now.
That's really helpful.
But I do have some concerns, you know.

　Aria looked thoughtful as she said this.

　I had already told her all the business plans I intended to carry out in Kajou.
　So, from Aria's point of view as a professional in that field, I wondered if there were any holes in the plan.

''No, no, if we do it according to Magnus-san's plan, I think we can make a rough deal. First of all, there is no doubt about it. It's just that this, roughing it up is the problem.
Hmm... what do you mean?

　I didn't know what was wrong with being profitable, so I begged for a lesson from a professional in the field.

'Magnus-san's business is to bring in innovative products that weren't available on the islands of Kajiu... but this approach will destroy many of the industries that are currently operating in Kajiu, from the ground up.
Oh....

　I snorted at Aria's point.
　Even though I was trying to defeat the Eight Demon Generals that were nesting in Kajuu, all I could think about was making money for myself. I had lost all other considerations.

Of course, business is essentially like that. Some people think it's only natural for the old guard to be weeded out. But there are too many people involved in a single industry. And those people could possibly end up on the street. Would you still be okay with that, Mr. Magnus?
No.....

　I nodded my head from side to side.

　I must not become a demon king myself in order to defeat the demon king.

　That's the commandment I've imposed on myself on this journey.

''There's also the idea of 'three sides of the same coin' in business.

　Aria tells us. In this case, the three parties are the "seller," the "buyer," and the "world. The idea is that a business that satisfies all three parties is a good business.

Let's think about a business that not only makes Magnus-san happy, but also makes the people of Kasiou happy.　I think I can do that much with this "strategy book". Of course, I'll come up with ideas too!
Thank you, Alia. Thank you so much.

　I told Aria my heartfelt thanks.
　And when I found myself holding her on my lap, I hugged her.

　　　　◇◆◇◆◇

　In other words, the business of bringing the Cuttree to Nerf Island was the business I had in mind from the beginning.
　The business of establishing a new industry on Nerf using the gum tree was a good business idea I had developed with Aria's advice.
　That's why I was so generous in teaching people how to use the rubber tree and the manufacturing process for the new material. It was not a monopoly in the Malm Chamber of Commerce.

　And, of course, I invented a three-way business on Bagodad Island.

'Listen to me, Lord Anemone!

　He grabbed my chest and wouldn't let go, saying to the female leader of the Toneni Chamber of Commerce.

'Huh?　If you're begging for your life...
No, it's not. It's a racket!　You and I are both making a lot of money!