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Let’s rewind a little.
While Veit was investigating the abandoned mine in Klauchen, Mao was locked in a standoff with Kait at the inn.

“Hey, I don’t see your men around. Where are they, and what are they doing?”

Kait, the Senate investigator, was looking at me with a suspicious gaze.
When there’s no need to hide anything, be honest with everyone.
That’s my rule.

“I sent my guild’s people south right after you guys arrived. This place isn’t safe anymore, and I don’t have the power to protect my subordinates.”

Now that the werewolf commander is in this city here, trouble is bound to happen.

Kait then looked puzzled.

“You mean you evacuated them? That’s surprising.”
“What’s so surprising about that?”
“No, I just thought that, knowing you, you’d have no qualms about abandoning your subordinates…”

How rude.

“I detest people who do that the most.”
“That really is surprising…”

Even more rude.

Since it’s inconvenient to be misunderstood by an ally—and an official of the Senate, no less—I suppose I should explain a little.

“Back when I was a greenhorn just starting out, I was discarded as well.”
“You were?”

Don’t accuse me in my younger years.
It’s not like I was a crafty merchant from the very beginning.

“…Didn’t you think my name was strange?”
“Hm? Oh, it’s not a name you see in Lüenheit. Are you from Schaldir?”

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

“No, I’m not from Miraldia. I’m a foreigner. I was from a country far to the east of the Wind-Wrought Desert.”

At that, Kait’s gaze turned into that of an investigator.

“Did you do something wrong and run all the way out here?”
“Well, yes. Without realizing it, I’d been roped into smuggling banned drugs. Since it was a capital offense if I’d been caught, I kept running until I settled in Lüenheit.”

Since then, I’ve taken the utmost care in managing my merchandise.
Not all the white powder in a salt jar is always salt, even if it was a jar arranged by one’s employer.
It was a valuable lesson.
Though the tuition fee was a bit steep.

“The wealthy merchant who hired me had amassed a fortune through smuggling banned drugs. See, he was known as the ally of the common people in the public’s eye, revered as the God of Commerce. People like me are just disposable to him.”
“Disposable… huh.”

Kait’s mutter carried a heavy weight.
I’ve heard he’s in a similar situation. Given the corruption of the Senate, it’s no wonder someone so straightlaced would be ostracized.

“That’s why I’ve made it a rule never to treat my subordinates as disposable. For truly dangerous jobs like this one, I handle them myself.”
“You’re a crooked merchant, why do you care so much about that?”
“Even a crooked merchant has his own pride.”

Yes, this is the one thing I won’t compromise on.
If I give in on this, I’ll end up becoming the same kind of scoundrel as the people I despise.

Kait nodded in admiration and added,

“Then why don’t you just do business fairly and squarely, without resorting to bribes?”

I sighed.

“That’s exactly why you’re such a naive, soft-hearted fool.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I was just starting to think a little more highly of you.”
“You’re impossible to reason with.”

I knew it, my ideal business partner is someone like that werewolf commander.
He possesses immense military strength and power, combining caution with boldness, yet at the same time, he’s incredibly good-natured.
That balance is quite exquisite.

“Fufu…”
“Hey, why did you suddenly start laughing now?”
“It’s nothing. Well then, shall we start getting ready to leave?”

As I began packing my things, Kait tilted his head.

“Mr. Veit and Mr. Jerich aren’t back yet, though?”

He really doesn’t get it at all.
I sighed once more.

“Now that he’s here, there’s no way this will end peacefully. You won’t survive if you keep being so carefree.”
“I-is that how it is?.”
“That is how it is.”

That werewolf is a complete madman.
Whether it’s the Senate, the Governor, or the Hero, he doesn’t give a damn about any of it and just tramples everything in his path.
As someone in business, it’s a huge nuisance, but I can’t help wanting to see more of his recklessness.

“He is the Lord Black Wolf of Lüenheit, proxy of His Majesty the Demon Lord, after all. Honestly, he’s quite a problem.”
“So why are you grinning like that?”
“I’m not. Look, you’ll freeze to death dressed like that. I’ve prepared a Rock Rabbit coat, so please put it on. It’s warm, and it should blend well into the darkness.”
“Oh, right. Sorry about that.”

Seeing Kait holding the high-quality fur coat favored by nobles, I felt a bit of a mischievous urge.

“That’ll be one hundred and seventy silver coins.”
“Wha—one hundred and seventy!? Wait, you’re charging me?! We’re allies, aren’t we?!”
“I don’t recall ever teaming up with a damn bureaucrat, but if you’d like to join me, I’ll give it to you for free.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Well then, I’m already looking forward to seeing what kind of crazy antics he’ll pull this time.