Profitability?　All right, let's just hear it, shall we?

　While Anemone said that, she didn't let go of my chest with a skeptical look in her eyes.
　However, she did loosen her grip, so there was no harm in talking.

'I hear the islanders of Bagodad are awful heavy drinkers, aren't they?
'It's not just Bagodad, is it?　That's what being a citizen of the sea is all about.

　I mentioned the information I learned from the Strategy Book, but Anemone denied it.
　But...

It's just, well, our territory is full of deserts and really lacking in entertainment. So you may be a bit more of a drinker than those guys from the other territories.

　Eventually, Anemone affirms my words.
　I'm a little annoyed, but I try to keep my cool and continue.

I've also heard that tequila, a liquor made from agave orchids, is a favorite drink on Bagodad Island.
I'm not particularly fond of tequila, I love wine and rum. "I'm not a big fan of tequila," he said. But you can't even find grapes or sugar cane in the desert in Bagodad. There's an orchid that grows wild and is easy to grow. It's so easy to grow.

　Apparently, this woman doesn't feel good about herself unless she first starts with denial.
　Maybe she's what they call a "troublesome woman".

'Do you know the country of Alavana, Lord Anemone?　It's a land full of deserts even bigger than Bagodad.
Of course I know, right?　Toneni Trading Company isn't just doing business with Kajuu!
'Then you're talking fast. Even in Aravana, the agave orchid grows wild in large quantities. They grow in different climates and in different climates, the agave orchids grow in different ways. Tequila made from Aravana's agave orchids has a different flavor than that of Bagodad's.
Hmmm. Well, I don't think it's any better than the tequila they make in our territory!

　Anemone gulped and cleared her throat as she said this in words. Her body is an honest woman.

The Malm Chamber of Commerce is ready to distribute their Aravana tongues orchids to you and the Toneni Chamber of Commerce. We are ready to supply you and your company with tequila from Alavana.　Wouldn't the islanders' evening drinks be richer if they could compare drinks?

　Humans have even gone to war many times in their history because of preferences.
　Preferences are rooted in our fundamental desires.
　There's no reason why they can't be sold.

'No, no, no, no, no, no!'

　And yet, Anemone started in from denial again. He grabbed me and rattled my chest.

'Do you think that's a hard sell?'
No, you're selling like hotcakes!　We're going to make a lot of money for you guys too!
What's wrong with that!
'It's good to see us Toneni making money in our territory!　But if you guys get rich, you'll just take the money out of our territory. Now that you've destroyed the Balai Fruit business, we have no major means of earning foreign currency.　That's why we're here for tick-boxing!　But you're in the business of selling your new tequila, and you're not a viable alternative!

　Anemone rattled me and shook me and said whatever she wanted.
　But it was a good argument.
　I have to admit, I was in a cold sweat as he shook me.

　Because the only thing on my original plan was to sell the new tequila.
　And if I hadn't come to Kajiu as planned, Anemone would have denied me the opportunity to do business with the company.

　The fact that I'm not a merchant, but a wizard, made me keenly aware of the fact that I'm not a merchant, but a wizard.
I was reminded once again that no matter how much perfect information is contained in the guidebook, whether I make use of it or not is up to me. It's horrifying.

　But thankfully, I have Aria to thank for that.
She gave me some advice about "three sides of the equation.
　What a fruitful person I am!

　So, inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat, I answered Anemone proudly.

'Listen to the end of the story. There's one more thing I'm going to make. There's one more thing I've got to tell you," he said, "and that's that you're going to make a lot of foreign currency. And let me pay you back for the Balai Fruit.
'Huh?　All right, let's just hear it!

　Anemone said that, but with a skeptical look in her eyes, she didn't let go of my chest.

　　　　◇◆◆◆◆.

　The next day - we were people on board again.
　Captain Barbas was commanding the Maria of Hope, bound for Bagodad Island.
　Anemone, who had come aboard to keep an eye on me, was hating on me.

"You're a man of bad luck, Mr. Magnus," he said. It's not often that we get such a favorable wind. The passage from Nerf to Bagodad usually takes a longer route to catch the wind.

　Anemone, who seemed to be short-tempered, seemed exceptionally pleased to be able to return to Bagodad by the shortest possible route.

　In fact, we arrived in Bagodad without a hitch, and the Maria of Hope docked in the island's largest port.
　From there, we boarded the Narsai and headed for our destination.

Malum Bros. must be making a lot of money to have such a big, fast hovering carpet!
No, this is a gift from a friend of mine named Narsai.

　I replied earnestly to the sniffling and sarcastic Anemone. 'Of course, for the honor of my friend.

'Ha!　Who's your friend who's going to pop something so precious and expensive, or who's your friend who's going to give you something so precious and expensive?

　But the woman going in from this denial only made me look doubtful.

　I don't get mad at her. I just feel pity for her, that she probably doesn't have any friends that she can trust.

'This is my first time traveling in the desert, and it's as hot as it gets. Are you thirsty, Mr. Magnus?
'I have plenty of cold tea in my canteen for you. I'll keep it warm for you in my pocket.
You can't keep it warm, Chocolat!
''It's the temperature of a pretty girl's maid's human skin, so I'm sure it's going to be delicious.
''Ufufu, Ancient Alavana's magical creatures are surprisingly fragile! Their heads.
Excuse me, Lady Aria!

　And thanks to the presence of Aria and Chocolat, I didn't have time to be bored to my destination.
　If I had been alone with Anemone, though, it would have been a very rough road trip.

　Then we arrived at a vast lake in the middle of the sandy, vague, and true land.
　Of course, it couldn't be just any lake.
　It is a lake of death, filled with mucus, black and slimy instead of water.

"The striped ones are so scared that no one will come near them. That's why they ain't got a name for it.
I know.

　If it weren't for the information in the guide book, I wouldn't go near this creepy lake.
　I plunge the stick I brought with me from the edge of the lake and observe the mucus on the object I'm seeing for the first time.

'What the hell is that black goo?'
Natural asphalt.

　I tried to pass off the "strategy book" information as if it were my own.
　...I had no choice in the matter. You can only tell people you trust about the attack book to people you can trust.

''So, Malm Chamber of Commerce, you seriously want to import this gooey stuff to Rakstad?　Are you serious?
I'm serious. This is going to be a great new material, just like rubber.
Han, I don't know what the hell you're doing with that thing.
I'll tell you what it's for. We'll tell you how to use it and how to process it. We'll teach you how to process it, and eventually the Toneni company will treat it not only as an export product, but also as a new material. We will share the resources in this vast lake with the Malm Chamber of Commerce.
..........

　The woman who entered from denial was silent.
　For the first time, she didn't go in from denial.
　However, as I said, it was still the same until she looked at me with suspicion.

You can't be so paranoid," she said, "...why are you being so parental?　Why don't you just shut up? We don't know the value of this gooey stuff. We don't know the value of this sticky stuff, so why don't we just buy it for two or three bucks? Even so, we have no choice but to ask you to buy us out to earn foreign currency. That's what business is all about, isn't it?

　He scowled at me with his eyes and questioned me.

　But I wasn't intimidated.
　All I had to do was answer truthfully and honestly.
　It was simple.

"My ultimate goal is not to rake in the profits. "My ultimate goal is not to rake in the profits, but to defeat the Demon King. I need the Sword of the Sea to do it. I just need a lot of money for that.
Wha...?

　Anemone was immensely disappointed.
　I didn't think it was possible, he said.
　He must have thought I was a seething, stinking, stranger invader.

"....It's not....a lie....is it?
Suspend all you want. Watch me all the time. I'm not a liar and I'm not a shadow of a man.
.....................
Just don't rattle me, all right?

　I closed one eye and joked.
　It was a sign that I didn't want to stay on the fence forever, if at all possible.

　Anemone gave a disgusted grin.
　Then she looked embarrassed, and then muttered something else.

I've never regretted being born a woman as much as I do now. If I had been a direct descendant of the pirate king, I could have had a shot at becoming his successor with you.......

　She looks refreshed as she gives a sigh that squeezes out all the contents of her lungs.
　Then she bows her head deeply to me.

"I don't doubt it," she said, "and I don't know what to say. ) "Ma-ga-na-na-su-sama.
Did you know...?

　I'm surprised by the sudden auspiciousness of his attitude and his dialogue.
　Anemone's head is still bowed, only her tone is back to normal.

Yeah. I told you we're not just doing business in Kajuu.　I've been keeping a close eye on Alavana, especially since we're from the same resource-poor desert region. So I've heard of your name and your accomplishments.

　Still, it's only rumor.
　Anemone couldn't help but be suspicious of me.

I'm the sole woman at the helm of Toneni's business," she said, "and I must not make any mistakes or be cheated. I can't afford to make any mistakes or be cheated. That's why I'm always suspicious of everything. So I'm sure Master Magnus is uncomfortable with the way things are going. I hope you can forgive me. Well, here it is!

　Even a troublesome woman had her reasons.
　She had a strong core of integrity.

　I couldn't not forgive her after being told of this, much less apologized to her.
　If he was still holding on to this, he would be a "troublesome man".

'Raise your head, Lord Anemone.
You'll forgive me?
'Can't we get even on the fact that we've interrupted one of Toneni's businesses?　If we can then let each other bygones be bygones and build a constructive relationship with each other, I think it would be great.
I'm in!

　Anemone bounced her head up and grabbed my hand and shook it, refusing to let go.
　It made me chuckle that it was over-action, but it was still reliable.
"I'm honestly grateful that we've been able to work with the Azzurri Chamber of Commerce of the Federation, followed by the Toneni Chamber of Commerce.