I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 180

Chapter 180: The Second Agent (1)

▶ Memorial has ended. ◀

▶ Choose your next destination.

[ 1. Brem’s House ]

[ 2. The second house on the right on Shatrain’s 7th Street ]

[ 3. Lusmire Territory ]

[ 4. Carsein’s House ]

[ 5. Field 16 ]

[ 6. Ferdi’s Secret Base ]

…

…

▶ Your next Agent will be determined based on your chosen destination. ◀

I needed a second Agent’s skill to proceed with my plan, to bring Shatrain’s problems to light.

And that Agent, according to the game, was Dyke, one of the guards.

But recruiting an Agent wasn’t easy.

Choosing the right Agent with the right skill was crucial, but unlike Trisha, who had been easy to recruit, Dyke was a different story.

He was notoriously difficult to persuade.

It usually took several visits, multiple conversations, and even the completion of a sub-episode or two, to raise his affinity level high enough to unlock the choice that allowed me to recruit him.

But…

I had just seen a Memorial.

And that Memorial, as the status window had indicated, revealed Guard Dyke’s past.

This information hadn’t been available in the game.

But now, I knew. I knew who Dyke was, what motivated him.

And if I used that information, that knowledge…

Could I recruit him faster?

“Brother? Why did you stop? You said we were going to recruit someone.”

“…”

I stopped and turned to Ferdi.

“Ferdi, how does the quality of Shatrain’s strawberries and grapes compare to the past?”

“Hmm… Well, Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes are considered specialty products, so they’re graded based on their quality. From A+ to E-. In the past, the grades from A+ to C- were the main products, but now, most of them are D or E. And even D grade is rare.”

“And the quantity? How much are they harvesting compared to before?”

“I’m not sure about the exact numbers, but, maybe around 20% of what they used to harvest.”

The quality had plummeted.

And so had the quantity.

Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes had become incredibly rare.

‘But there’s still a high demand for them, isn’t there?’

Then this Memorial was even more valuable than I had initially thought.

“Ferdi, do you know the current market price of Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes?”

***

“Hey, it’s time to get back to work!”

“I know, I know~. But can’t we stay a little longer?”

“Don’t be lazy! We have quotas to meet!”

“If we don’t work, we won’t eat!”

The villagers, their laughter echoing through the air, finished their break.

They all wore new clothes, identical in style and color.

“We can’t just relax after receiving such fine garments.”

“Indeed. And we’re saving money on medical expenses as well.”

“It’s amazing how much fewer injuries we’ve had since receiving these new clothes.”

“Don’t just praise the clothes! Praise the one who made them!”

They chatted amongst themselves as they returned to their work.

In the past, they had been constantly injured, their clothes torn and tattered. Their work was dangerous, and their old garments offered little protection. But now…

A simple change of clothes had made a world of difference.

“I’m so glad. We couldn’t reveal that they were made by the Plesia Trading Company, but… at least they’re being used, and they’re helping the villagers.”

Mina, watching the villagers, smiled at Harnie.

Harnie had taken a huge risk.

She had to achieve a higher score than Belian at the symposium, but with the Marquisate watching her every move, she couldn't use the Plesia Trading Company’s influence. It was a significant disadvantage.

But somehow, she had found a solution.

“At first, I didn’t understand your plan. Having the Plesia Trading Company supply Lusmire, and then having Lusmire sell the clothes to the villagers… It was brilliant! Lusmire is a major trade hub, so it’s difficult for the Marquisate to track the transactions!”

You’re a genius, My Lady!

Mina beamed at her, her praise overflowing.

But Harnie didn’t respond.

Mina, concerned by her silence, leaned closer, studying her mistress’s face.

Harnie was staring into space, her gaze unfocused, lost in thought.

‘She’s wearing that expression again.’

Lately, Harnie had been spending more and more time lost in thought.

While working, while eating, while reading reports…

She would just zone out, her mind elsewhere.

Mina, unable to bear it any longer, decided to intervene.

‘Hmm hmm! I am My Lady’s maid! It is my duty to solve her problems!’

That was Mina’s motto.

“My Lady.”

“Eek!”

Harnie jumped, startled by Mina’s touch on her shoulder.

“Y-You scared me… Don’t do that.”

…Was it really that surprising?

She hadn’t reacted at all when Mina had been talking to her earlier.

Mina sighed inwardly, wondering if she should scold her. But then, she noticed something…

‘She had the same expression when she returned from Lusmire.’

So, it was about him again.

“Is something wrong with Young Master Carsein?”

“W-What?! N-No!”

…Yes. This was it.

She was thinking about her fiancé.

It had to be something related to Carsein.

“Tell me what’s wrong. What happened?”

“N-Nothing happened! Honestly!”

“You’re lying, My Lady. I can see it in your eyes.”

“…”

Mina, her hands on her hips, pressed further, and Harnie, unable to meet her gaze, averted her eyes.

“My Lady? If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask Young Master Carsein myself.”

“Are you crazy?! Why would you do that?!”

“It’s the symposium. You two signed a collaboration agreement, didn't you? It wouldn’t be strange for us maids to exchange information.”

“Ugh…”

Harnie, her voice barely a whisper, confessed.

“It’s just… I feel like I’m taking advantage of him.”

“What?”

“…That plan, the one about having the Plesia Trading Company supply Lusmire and then having Lusmire sell the clothes to my territory… It was Carsein’s idea.”

Mina’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It wasn’t me. He’s the one managing my territory.”

That’s… That’s impossible! Mina was speechless.

If what Harnie said was true, Carsein was currently managing two territories simultaneously.

“So… I feel like I’m just… receiving, not giving… I want to repay him, somehow, but… I can’t…”

So that was it.

It made sense.

It was practically impossible for her to circumvent the Marquis’ surveillance. And for a noble lady with no resources or influence in this territory, it was equally difficult to offer any meaningful assistance.

The easiest solution was the collaboration agreement, but…

It was a one-sided deal, a burden on Carsein.

And he had accepted it without hesitation.

That’s why Harnie was so restless, so uneasy.

Mina, understanding her mistress’s predicament, smiled inwardly.

She had sensed it from the moment they met, but Carsein Bagrand was a truly kind and selfless man.

‘And it’s quite obvious, isn’t it?’

The slight flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes darted around nervously, the way she fiddled with her fingers…

Harnie had always disliked any kind of romantic entanglement, so Mina had dismissed the possibility. But now, seeing her mistress’s flustered demeanor, the evidence was undeniable.

Harnie, so innocent, so naive when it came to matters of the heart…

Her symptoms were so obvious, so pure. It was almost endearing.

Mina, unable to resist, decided to tease her.

“My Lady, remember when Young Master Carsein asked us to prepare flowerpots with Shatrain’s soil? For the strawberry plants?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. He did.”

“Well, why plant them here? Why not plant them in Shatrain?”

Mina smiled mischievously.

“You can simply transport the soil to Shatrain and plant them there. That way, you can observe his methods, and if anything goes wrong, you can easily fix it. Don’t you think?”

“…”

Harnie paused, lost in thought.

She was hesitating. If she hadn’t been interested, she would have simply dismissed the idea.

This reaction was all Mina needed. She could practically smell victory.

She just needed to give her a little push.

“Shatrain is in a difficult situation, My Lady. I’m sure there are many ways you can help. And remember, you said Young Master Carsein doesn’t sleep much.”

“Ah… right. I have to make sure he’s getting enough rest. I wonder if he’s sleeping properly…”

“Then why not have me act as your representative in Shatrain? You can simply give me instructions, and I’ll handle everything. You already have the collaboration agreement.”

“So… should I just take the soil to Shatrain?”

“Yes! And besides, My Lady, wouldn’t it be suspicious if you and your fiancé were constantly apart? It would only fuel the rumors.”

Harnie, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, smiled.

It was the most beautiful smile Mina had ever seen.

A young lady, realizing her own feelings, her heart aflutter… There was nothing more beautiful than that.

“Yes, you’re right, Mina.”

Mina, wiping the sweat from her brow, congratulated herself inwardly.

***

One of the guards walked towards them, his footsteps heavy.

He saw Dyke and bowed his head.

“…Again?”

“It seems so. Sigh.”

His colleague, Frikt, slumped down beside him.

“Damn it… Why can’t I buy them, even if I offer my entire salary? It doesn’t make sense…”

“…”

“Hey, Dyke. Say something. You’ve been here longer than me.”

“Ha… I’m just as frustrated as you are. What’s there to say?”

Dyke’s frustration mirrored Frikt’s.

“It’s unfair, but there’s nothing we can do. The harvest has been terrible. The price has skyrocketed, but the demand remains high. We’re the ones suffering.”

“…Sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re in the same boat.”

After the unprecedented blight, the price of Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes had skyrocketed.

The price increase had been astronomical, forcing Dyke to offer his entire salary, just to secure a few strawberries. He had hoped to be prioritized, to be given a chance to purchase the rare fruits.

But…

He hadn’t been able to obtain a single strawberry.

Just one strawberry.

But that one strawberry was everything.

Shatrain strawberries, once a symbol of abundance, had become a luxury item, a premium product reserved for the nobility.

Next Chapter

Index

Previous Chapter