To Jin's question, Zion immediately answered.

"I want to save my sister. That is my true feeling.

"Yes, I see. Even if it means putting off ...... food aid?

Jin asked, wondering if the demon tribe valued their family more than the whole.

"Yes. We need food for sure, but it's not a problem that can be solved in a day or two. But your sister's situation is different. If we don't hurry, her life may be in danger.

"I see."

He seemed to have given it some thought.

"Okay. Then we'll leave tomorrow to rescue your sister. Take the rest of the day to recover. I'll take care of everything."

"...... Okay. I'll be counting on you.

Zion suppressed his impatience and agreed with Jin's words.

* * * * * *

"The Kingdom of Franz, or ......"

Jin (himself) was pondering on the island of Horai. Reiko had also returned.

"There is too little information about this country. ...... I should ask Reinhardt about it."

It was after 6:00 p.m. in Horaijima, but it was still just after noon in the Shoro Empire, around 12:30 at most. Jin moves to the Reinhardt residence, thinking that it is just time for a lunch break.

Reinhard had finished his lunch and was drinking tea with Bertsche.

"Hey Jin. What's up?"

"Yes, I came to ask Reinhardt something.

Please come this way, Jin-sama. I'll make you some tea.

Sipping the tea served by Neon, Bertsche's automata, Jin said he wanted to ask about the Kingdom of Franz.

At the same time, he remembered to tell them that Zion of <> and her sister were being held captive.

"Hmm, Franz Kingdom. Well, that's a country where the king's authority is very strong. Can you say that it is similar to an absolute monarchy ......?"

Searching for the right words from Jin's knowledge, Reinhard explained.

"I can't say that I have an accurate grasp of the current situation since I didn't visit the kingdoms of Klein and Franz in my last diplomatic mission, but those countries are like the vassal states of the Kingdom of Selroa."

"Yes, I've heard that."

"The king's name was ...... Oh, yes. Rijohn de Barkly, I think."

After explaining all this, Reinhardt said,

"I think you'll get more information from the princess of the Klein Kingdom, if you're Jin."

Jin shook his head.

"No, I don't want to tell the public about the demons ...... yet, or rather, about Zion and Lucas. I want to make a decision after rescuing Istaris, who is said to be Zion's sister."

Jin bowed his head and asked that Reinhardt and the others not report to the government yet.

"All right, I'll keep quiet until then. Ordinary people are prejudiced against demons. It's impossible for us to become friends right off the bat, but it would be nice to have a relationship with them so that we can trade with them.

As a diplomat, Reinhardt's opinion was reassuring to Jin.

"But you will have to report back to me eventually."

"Yes, of course. Yes, of course, but only after we have a clear picture of the situation.

"And don't let your guard down, Jin, even if the Franz Kingdom is a small group of countries, okay?"

"Yes, I know. I won't do anything rash.

Jin, I won't say anything if it's a sightseeing trip. I won't say anything if it's a sightseeing trip. But you're going to rescue captured demons, aren't you?"

"U......"

A good argument. Jin couldn't even breathe a word.

"Sightseeing, it's fine until we see them. But when it comes time to rescue them, Jin, you must stay out of it. If possible, I'm coming back to Bongnae Island.

The memory of the golem's blow to Reinhardt when he had rescued him from the Unification Party (Unifiler) was still fresh in his mind. Reinhardt was sincerely worried about Jin.

I understand. Thanks for the advice."

Jin thanked Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt and returned to Horai Island.

"Father, why don't we take Mr. Reinhardt's advice and ask Princess Rieschen?"

Reiko suggested. It was 7:00 p.m. on the island of Horai, about past 4:00 p.m. in Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein.

"Hmmm, I see. We can freely enter and leave the country now. ......"

There is another warp gate near Alban. Jin followed Reiko's recommendation and went through the Warp Gate to meet Princess Rieschen.

The warp gate is a gate that is used by the princess to meet with the princess.

"I think it's problematic to do this without prior notice, no matter how much it costs. ......

Jin muttered to himself as he walked through the streets of Alban under the still bright summer sky.

"Father, let's find out who he knows.

Gloria, Jessica, Pascoe, Heinz, and a few others. If they were from the knighthood, they might be on patrol, so there was a small chance that we could meet them.

However, the reality was that it would not work out that way, and even after an hour, I did not see any familiar faces.

"If we make a commotion in the castle, maybe someone will come out.

Reiko said, not knowing whether she was joking or not, and Jin started walking again. That's when Jin started to walk again.

"Oh, isn't that Jin-san?

Suddenly, I heard a voice from the crowd. I looked over and saw a familiar face.

"It's been a while. Is my son doing well?"

It was Eric's father, Roland, the peddler, or rather the managing director of the Raglan Trading Company.

"I've been meaning to come and say hello, but I've been a little busier than I thought I would be.

"Business is booming, isn't it?"

Jin and Reiko had come to the Raglan Trading Company's head office at Roland's request. They were shown into a luxurious reception room.

I am Raglan Eastwood, my father-in-law, Eric's grandfather, and the chairman of the firm.

I'm Jin. Nice to meet you. This is Reiko.

Jin-dono, I've heard a lot about you. I've always wanted to meet you.

His stout physique is full of strength, as if he were over sixty years old. On the other hand, his slightly thinning head of hair was a similar shade of brown to Eric's. "That handy thing called a pump," he said.

"I've been wanting to meet you ever since I saw that handy tool called a pump, and now I have!

The man who had established the Raglan Trading Company from scratch, and who had made it grow so large, even with the help of Jin's tools, was a different type of merchant from the Eckert I had met in the Kingdom of Selroa.

"Pumps, stoves, wheat, balls, pens and nibs...... Jin-dono is a great benefactor of the Chamber of Commerce!　We can't thank you enough!"

It was almost six o'clock. Raglan ordered his men to prepare the meal.

"By the way, what can I do for you in Alban?　Or are you going sightseeing?"

At this point, Jin had an idea. The royal family is not the only one who knows the kingdom of Franz well.

"Yes, well, I'm actually interested in learning more about the Kingdom of Franz..."

"Hmm, something to ......, uh, no, let's not pry. I guess, after all, Roland is the one who knows more about it.

Roland met Raglan's gaze and spoke up.

"The last time I visited the Kingdom of Franz was about three years ago, so I'm talking about that time. It was a country that had a form of government that could best be described as a dictatorship.

Jin nodded silently, saying that his information was also consistent with Reinhardt's.

"The gap between the rich and the poor is also quite wide. Some of the aristocrats are enjoying their luxury, but the general public can barely survive on their own. So it was not a very good market.

"......"

Jin frowned.

"At that time, we went to Bubulo, a town next to the capital city of San Gelton,...... but the nobles were reluctant to pay even though they had money, so we turned back because we saw that it was not good for business."

Roland then told Jin about a few other things he had noticed. These included the name of a relatively respectable nobleman.

In addition, he also gave him some precautions to take if he were to go to the Kingdom of Franz.

"Thank you very much. It will be very helpful."

"No, no, I can't repay you even a tenth of what you've given me so far," both Raglan and Roland said.

Raglan and Roland both laugh.

"Well, if you don't mind, could you show us the inside of your store?

He remembered that the last time he had visited Alban with Elsa and Hannah, he had missed visiting the merchant's house.

"Yes, please. Roland, show him around."

Raglan smiled and motioned to Roland.

"This way, Mr. Jin, please.

They left the reception room and entered the store.

The main store mainly deals in small articles.

First, stationery. Pens and nibs that Jin distributes are lined up. Other items include ink, leather paper, pen stands, and pen dishes.

Next are tableware and kitchenware. Deep plates, shallow plates, small bowls, bowls. Spoons, forks, knives. Knives, tongs, pots, pans.

We have stoves here.

There was a stove made of magi sand, which Jin had taught them how to make.

"I've trained a craftsman, and we've managed to produce it ourselves.

Jin checked the stove and found it to be in good condition.

"Here are the daily necessities.

A magic lamp, a bell to ward off beasts, and a hand mirror. The rubber balls were arranged in this corner.

"Eric is doing a great job of keeping the numbers together," he said.

Eric orders the required number of balls each month, so when Jin and Erza go to the village of Kaina, the balls are made in batches.

This is why the supply is stable.

"Oh?"

In a corner of the store, there was something that caught Jin's eye.