"A deal, you say? All of a sudden...?"

"It’s not sudden. You must’ve had some inkling—that’s why you came all the way here, isn’t it?"

Kishiar’s voice was leisurely as ever, but the expressions on the merchants’ faces were not.

‘Just as expected. Their expressions are shifting.’

Amid the confusion was the unmistakable flicker of being caught off guard. It was exactly as he and Kishiar had predicted before meeting them.

"We may be meeting for the first time today, but we actually have deeper ties than it seems. You remember those Imperial folks you helped in the southern desert while searching for information not long ago? They were members of my Cavalry, and the one leading them was none other than my adjutant."

"...We remember. Our caravan was in trouble during a transport run, and they helped us out."

Gohum replied in a calmer voice, having collected himself somewhat.

"Right. I heard you exchanged contact methods after that mutual assistance. My subordinates were deeply grateful. And it turns out, you’ve also had longstanding ties with Mick of the Shuden Company. Could there be a more trustworthy partner? I’m sure that after all those events, you came here having made your own judgment about me, about Peleta, and about the Cavalry."

At the time of the encounter in the desert, Nathan Zuckerman and Kanna hadn’t disclosed their exact identities. But by offering contact info when parting, they’d effectively allowed the Southern merchants to trace their affiliation.

‘They must’ve figured out the Cavalry connection, and even so, continued dealings with Mick and came here. That means they made a conscious choice, knowing everything.’

Gohum and Aym exchanged glances, then turned back toward Kishiar. The wariness in their eyes had faded, replaced by a kind of pure admiration.

"To speak frankly... yes. If we hadn’t guessed that the people we met in the desert, and our ties to Mick, all connected back to Your Grace, the Duke of Peleta—we wouldn’t have come. It would’ve been too dangerous."

"Of course."

"Then... what exactly does Your Grace want to trade with us?"

"Currently, Shuden Company holds exclusive rights to trade Peleta’s specialty products. But with new items on the horizon, they’re a bit short-handed to handle them all."

A soft, conspiratorial smile tugged at Kishiar’s lips.

"So, what do you think I need?"

Gohum answered with a cautious glint in his eye.

"You intend to entrust us with those new items as additional trade agents."

"Correct. I want you to take charge of these goods and sell them in the South. Shuden Company has opened a branch down there, but it's not enough—not yet. You’re the perfect fit. The only ones who can move freely between the Empire and the Southern Nation."

"......"

"This deal will be very beneficial to you, I promise. The goods I’m preparing will, within a few years, become indispensable across the continent. Mark my words: those who seize this opportunity will hold the future."

He wasn’t being fully specific—but instead of sounding like a con artist, Kishiar’s vague words somehow came across as incredibly convincing. Maybe it was the force in his voice that allowed no doubt, or the respectful tone that conveyed confidence... or perhaps it was his dazzling red eyes that gleamed with unwavering conviction and drew others in.

"So? Will you take the deal?"

The merchants, usually unfazed by any silver-tongued diplomat, stared blankly for a moment, then startled as if waking from a spell.

"Ah, um... may we ask what the goods are? Knowing that would help us consider the offer properly..."

"They’re currently being developed within the Cavalry. Once the production method is finalized, we’ll begin large-scale manufacturing here in Peleta. They’re targeted at Awakeners. Only one prototype exists so far, but we plan to expand."

At the mention of the unexpected target group, the merchants’ eyes widened.

"Items for Awakeners...?"

"What kind of items, exactly...?"

"It’d spoil the fun if I told you."

Kishiar shook his head, crossing his legs with graceful ease. The slight upward curve of his lips was both infuriating and breathtakingly beautiful.

"Since the items are top secret, I’m afraid I can’t share more details until the deal is finalized. But if you’re clever, you can guess how competitive these products will be."

"......"

Items for Awakeners, developed by the Cavalry—the first organized force of Awakeners in the world. They’d likely created them out of genuine need. And the number of Awakeners would only continue to grow. Whatever the items were, they’d surely be in high demand.

The merchants glanced at Mick. He was smiling as if he already knew all of this.

"Haha. It’s a real shame our Shuden Company is too small. If that weren’t the case, we’d have swept up all the profits from the South too... But sometimes, overreaching does more harm than good, eh?"

“-Despite the act, they know full well Shuden Company isn’t trying to force growth. The one who proposed this arrangement and recommended you... wasn’t me. It was Mick."

"Ah..."

Gohum and Aym turned to look at Mick. Scratching his head, Mick gave a bashful grin.

"Aw, don’t make me blush. I just thought it was a good fit. The Donavi Manaik folks helped us a lot when we were building our Southern branch."

The merchants couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at his words. They quickly suppressed it, trying to act as if nothing had happened—but it was too late. The sound had already escaped.

‘Kishiar and Mick have them in the palm of their hands.’

What moved people more than anything else was sincerity. Even if this was staged, there was a clear truth at its core: they genuinely believed in these merchants, and were confident they wouldn’t be harmed by this deal.

Sensing that truth, the expressions on the Donavi Manaik merchants’ faces gradually grew more serious.

"Your Grace... may I ask one question?"

"Ask ten, if you wish."

"If we refuse, what will you do?"

"Then I’ll expand Shuden’s manpower over the next few years and handle it that way. Like Mick said, pushing too hard rarely ends well."

Gohum and Aym nodded slowly.

"So... you’re saying you wouldn’t offer this deal to anyone else if we declined."

"This is a first-of-its-kind product. And in distribution, trust is everything. The safety of the Awakeners who will use it must be the top priority."

Of course money mattered. But above all, what mattered most was ensuring these items could be sold widely and safely.

Kishiar’s stance was unwavering. Gohum and Aym exchanged one last look.

"Then... may we have a moment to discuss privately?"

"Take your time."

They didn’t speak aloud. Just blinking, shaking their heads, nodding slightly, and subtly moving their fingers—they communicated silently.

Kishiar sat comfortably, waiting for them to reach a conclusion. After a short while, Gohum turned back.

"We accept Your Grace’s offer."

"A wise choice. From now on, we’re in the same boat. I won’t let you regret it."

Kishiar held out his hand. Gohum blinked in surprise, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly extended his hand to shake Kishiar’s.

Yuder watched their handshake quietly. Maybe it was because this was a scene he’d never witnessed /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ in his previous life, but despite expecting this outcome, something stirred strangely in his chest.

"Before we begin formal negotiations about the deal... there’s something I’d like to say."

After the handshake, the first thing Gohum said wasn’t about the product they’d be selling.

He unfastened the heavy cloak hiding his face and draped it over his shoulders. What emerged was a Southern woman with sharp, catlike eyes and a lively expression.

"When we came here, we honestly expected that Your Grace would demand information about the South from us. To be more precise... we thought you'd try to buy our intelligence. And if you had, we were ready to comply. Because the current situation in the Southern Nation is nothing like what we hoped for."

Now that the deal was made, what they truly wanted to say began flowing naturally.

Yuder, gazing into Gohum’s steeled eyes, could tell—there wasn’t a single lie in her words.