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The old man knew of the trader Roland's arrival from the information he had received from the surveillance system.

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With these orders, Rand S. escorted Roland secretly to the Erme River. Of course, Roland S. has no idea that this is happening.

"Ah!　Here comes the shopkeeper's uncle!"

Roland sees a girl waving at him from a bridge over the Erme River, and he waves back.

"That's Hannah, isn't it? You're always so cheerful.

And the carriage is approaching the bridge.

"Well, it used to be made of wood, but now it's made of stone. It looks sturdy.

Roland walked his horse while talking to himself. Hannah went to inform the village that Roland had arrived.

"What's that?"

Roland looked where Bote, the newcomer, was pointing. Then he rolled his eyes.

"What the hell is that?"

It was Jin's castle.

* * * *

Roland arrived late in the afternoon, so he decided to do business the next day and stayed at the house of the chief of the village, Giebeck, as usual.

"Oh, Eric didn't come?

Barbara was visibly disappointed when she heard such a voice.

"I'm sorry, he's a very busy technical director. Please understand."

"I ...... might leave for Alban, but I don't want to leave this village ......."

Barbara mumbles, and Giebeck chides her.

"Hey, hey, now is not the time to be thinking about that, okay?"

Giebeck then resumes his conversation with Roland. He is now talking about Jin's decision to lease this village.

"Yes, Jin-san has this village ......."

"Yes, he's the owner for the next 50 years."

Giebeck summarizes Jin's achievements.

"I didn't know that was possible ...... even though I was in the capital.

Since the events took place inside the castle, it was understandable that the general merchants did not hear about them.

"So, the building you asked about earlier, that is Jin's castle, so to speak.

"A castle......... That's just like Jin-san, isn't it?

If you want to stay here, I'll talk to my butler A.

No, no, thank you. No, no, thank you. I'm used to staying here.

Roland said hurriedly.

After this conversation, Roland said he had a problem, something that had been bothering him.

"Well, actually, there is one thing that is troubling me," he said.

"Oh?"

Roland then told them that the salt had been stolen and he could no longer sell it.

"You don't have any salt? We are running low on salt at home too. I'm sure it's the same in other houses.

"I am very sorry. As soon as I get back to the store, I will deliver the salt, even if I have to use a horse.

Roland kept his head bowed, as if to say, "I'm sorry.

* * * * * *

Roland C., who had intercepted the conversation through the window of the Gibeck house, reported to the old man.

"Yes, as far as I can tell from the conversation..."

After he hangs up the phone, the old man thinks.

Then Laojun gave instructions to his mobile terminal, Laozi.

Laozi went to the warehouse in Horai Island. There is literally enough salt to sell. Or rather, he has already sold some.

"Algal salt is not good, is it? Ordinary salt will do.

The salt made from the seawater of Tatsumi Bay had now accumulated to about 100 tons.

To protect it from moisture, it is stored in 24-karat gold containers, each weighing 100 kilograms. 24-karat gold is a useful material because it does not rust under normal use. 24-karat gold is a very useful material because it does not rust under normal use.

One of the containers was taken out.

He puts the container in a bag made of hexenbiest's leather and carries it on his shoulder.

Lao Tzu went straight to the warp gate. Of course, the destination was the village of Kaina.

Because she had timed her arrival, it was just after midnight in the village of Kaina. Everyone was asleep and there was no one awake.

"We've been waiting for you."

Lao Tzu comes out of the basement of Jin's house and workshop, and is greeted by Butler A. Both Lao Tzu and Butler A have activated stealth. Both Lao Tzu and Butler A have activated their stealth.

"The plan is as I explained earlier. And Mr. Roland's wagon?

Yes, this way.

Butler A led Lao Tzu ahead of the others.

The horses were tied to the stables in the backyard of the residence of the mayor of the village, Guy Beck, and the wagon was placed next to the stables.

The wagon was left next to the horses, with their baggage still on it. It is not as if they were careless.

Gon, the guardian of the village of Kaina whom Jin had set up, was standing watch by his side.

However, he would not say anything to Lao Tzu and Battler A, who were the terminals of the old lord.

"Please open the package gently."

Lao Tzu ordered Butler A to open the wagon's top, and then he continued his instructions.

There should be some empty salt pots.

"Yes, there are."

Butler A followed the instructions and searched the luggage for about a minute and found four salt jars.

"Enough. Now transfer this salt to ......."

Lao Tzu transfers the salt from the container to the salt pots. Butler A is helping him.

Gong, the guardian, was watching to see if anyone was coming.

In about three minutes, the salt is transferred into the four salt jars. The work was completed by sealing them tightly with leather paper.

The remaining 20 kg of salt was to be taken to Jin's castle.

"That should do it. Now please put this salt jar in the deepest part of your luggage.

Butler A pushes the salt jar to the back of the luggage. He arranges the other items in the same way as they were originally placed, taking care not to leave any signs that they have been tampered with.

"That's enough. It's a horse-drawn carriage, so it's normal for there to be a little bit of misalignment. Come on, let's get out of here.

It was still midnight. With the moon shining past the midnight sun, Laozi went back to Horai Island and Butler A went back to Jin's house.

* * * *

"...... is so heavy..."

The plaza by the village headman Guibeck's house will be the store this time.

"Mr. Director, we have to sell other goods anyway. ......!

Roland looked at him suspiciously and saw Bote standing there holding a salt jar with a paper lid.

"What's the matter, Bote?"

"Yes, sir!　This salt jar has salt in it!

What?

"What?" "That's not all!　There are three more jars of salt, too, judging by their weight.

"............"

Roland had no idea what was going on.

Of the 50 jars of salt he had brought with him, 23 were sold in Charles, 17 in Gohoho, and 5 in Toka. Of the 50 salt jars, 23 were sold in Charles, 17 in Gohoho, and 5 in Toka.

The account is clearly recorded in the ledger. One of them was stolen the night before last.

"...... where did it come from?"

"That's great, Mr. Executive Director!　Now I can be more reasonable to the people of this village!"

The brainy Bote's line. He has a point, but as a merchant, it bothers me tremendously when we don't make ends meet.

"Mr. Director, it's business anyway..."

Bote's voice urged. And the villagers are gathering here and there.

Roland forced himself to put his worries behind him and turn his mind to business, and began to prepare his products.