Chapter 39
According to the novel’s description, Ralph Steiner was a merchant with excellent abilities, who understood loyalty, and would venture into risky endeavors if he saw potential for success.
He was the perfect candidate, exceeding the already strict criteria.
‘The problem is… the conditions aren’t only strict on our side, but on their side as well.’
The fact that he always succeeded despite repeatedly attempting what others saw as risky ventures meant that he had very meticulous standards.
Always, countless people would approach the Steiner Trading Company with hope, but only a select few were chosen. Yet, those who managed to break through those slim odds and form connections with the Steiner Trading Company achieved great success. That’s why everyone sought out the Steiner Trading Company, hoping to secure a deal.
‘Since everyone goes to them first, the Steiner Trading Company gets to cherry-pick the best opportunities. That’s probably the reason for their success.’
In any case, Ralph Steiner was extremely picky about his business partners, and he had the standing to be so picky.
‘Given that he has more influence in central politics than us, who are essentially just a mascot of the frontier with high rank but no political power…’
Even if Reinke’s side wanted to initiate a deal, if the other side wasn’t interested, they could easily slip away like a slippery eel.
However.
Ruan, as a transmigrator, held what Ralph Steiner needed most.
Something Ralph Steiner couldn’t possibly pass up.
If he could use that to recruit Ralph Steiner, entrust him with the monster product-related business, and maintain a favorable relationship afterwards…
‘The scope of what we can do to develop Reinke would be completely different.’
As Ruan was about to speak, envisioning a hopeful future…
Swish-
The tail that had been resting on Ruan’s wrist slid off.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
It began to beat against the floor.
‘…Why?’
The Grand Duke’s cat ears, which had been perked towards Ruan, were now flattened.
Ruan was bewildered by the Grand Duke, who was radiating displeasure along with his swishing tail fur.
‘What’s this? What suddenly made him so upset?’
Ruan tried to recall what he might have done wrong.
Since the tail had been wrapped around his wrist, he couldn’t have accidentally stepped on it. There had been no mention of other cats, and he hadn’t acted suspiciously.
No matter how much he thought about it, he hadn’t done anything to offend His Catness.
Then what remained was…
‘Does he… dislike the Steiner Trading Company?’
But… why?
Ruan frantically searched his memory for any connection between the Grand Duke and Steiner. But neither as ‘Ruan Daen’, a Reinke resident and the Grand Duke’s aide, nor as a reader of the novel, could he recall any relationship between the two.
‘If there had been any connection, I would have remembered it when I thought about contacting the Steiner Trading Company.’
Then, was there some problem with the Steiner Trading Company that wasn’t mentioned in the novel? And the Grand Duke knew about it?
While Ruan was pondering, the Grand Duke’s tail continued its assault on the carpet and fur dispersal without pause.
Feeling his nose begin to itch, Ruan gave up on figuring out why the Grand Duke was upset and asked,
“Your Grace, is there perhaps a problem with the Steiner Trading Company that I’m unaware of?”
If that was the case, if there really was a problem either with their relationship or with the Steiner Trading Company itself, he couldn’t insist on them.
There probably weren’t many companies of that caliber, but… they weren’t the only trading company.
‘If I look carefully, I’m sure I can find another company that meets the conditions and is suitable.’
Having reached this conclusion, Ruan spoke again.
“If there’s a problem, we could look for another trading company…”
“If there’s no problem,”
But before Ruan could finish, the Grand Duke spoke.
“Do you think Steiner is the best choice for what you’re trying to do?”
Ruan examined the Grand Duke, who was staring at him with narrowed pupils. The Grand Duke still couldn’t hide his disgruntled expression, his ears flattened back.
He clearly looked like there was some problem, but… Ruan answered the Grand Duke’s question anyway.
“…Yes. After all, there are few companies with that level of ability, scale, and reliability. And I thought that Ralph Steiner, who has made several adventurous attempts, would be able to sell our unproven product as I intended.”
Then the Grand Duke, who had been flicking his tail, said:
“If that’s what you think, then do so.”
It was an unexpected response.
‘What? Wasn’t he against it?’
Seeing the Grand Duke expressing his displeasure with his whole body, Ruan asked again.
“But don’t you have a reason for being wary of the Steiner Trading Company, Your Grace?”
To this, the Grand Duke swung his tail down to the floor and said in a nonchalant voice:
“It’s just my personal dislike, there’s no particular problem. If you need them, do as you wish.”
After saying this, the Grand Duke shifted his gaze back to the documents in front of him.
Looking at the Grand Duke, Ruan calmly processed what he had just heard.
So… now… this cat…
Is he saying that even though he doesn’t like it, he’s tolerating it because I want to do it?
A cat is tolerating something it doesn’t want to do?
For my sake?
How can such a cat exist in this world?
“Is he an angel cat?”
Ruan realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud only when he met the Grand Duke’s eyes.
“Ah. It was just sort of an exclamation.”
The Grand Duke looked at his aide as if he was hopeless for a moment, then shifted his gaze without saying anything.
He seemed unsurprised, having seen Ruan not only shower him with all sorts of affection but even hum bizarre songs praising his cuteness and generosity when he was in cat form.
‘But regardless of whether our cat is an angel or not.’
Doesn’t a cat have a reason for disliking something it dislikes?
Ruan hurriedly spoke up.
“Your Grace, if you could tell me the reason why you’re wary…”
However, the Grand Duke just flicked his tail without even glancing at Ruan.
It was an expression that meant not to press the issue further.
Ruan could only return to his place after expressing his gratitude.
‘But why does he dislike the Steiner Trading Company so much?’
He wanted to ask right away, but…
Ruan glanced at the Grand Duke, who was keeping his eyes fixed on the documents.
It didn’t seem like the Grand Duke would answer even if he asked now.
In the end, Ruan decided to be satisfied with being able to bring in the Steiner Trading Company thanks to the Grand Duke’s consideration.
‘Well… I’ll find out when I meet them in person.’
* * *
Not long after, the agreement between Reinke and the dwarves was concluded. It was a natural progression as most of the negotiations had already been completed.
Having completed their mission, the dwarf delegation bid farewell and returned to their lands. It was a short goodbye as most of them would return to Reinke in the near future.
Even so, this was the delegation’s last official schedule. The people of Reinke’s inner castle had another busy day seeing off the delegation.
Because of this, Ruan could only check the item Ulrik had handed him just before leaving after finishing his daily tasks…
‘What… is this exactly?’
Ruan, looking at the object with a dumbfounded expression, recalled the moment he received it.
It was when the dwarves were about to leave, pulling a cart full of various monster by-products in addition to the gifts Reinke had prepared. He had thought it strange that Ulrik was nowhere to be seen, but soon enough, he saw him running up in a hurry.
Gone was his previous neat appearance; like the other dwarves, he now had a bushy beard and a face worn with fatigue.
‘I’m sorry. I was trying to finish it before departure… It’s an item made based on ogre shin bone. I hope you’ll accept it.’
Saying this, Ulrik suddenly thrust a box into Ruan’s arms and then dashed back to join his companions amidst scolding from the senior dwarves.
It had been such a hectic moment that Ruan couldn’t check it right away and just assumed it was a prototype of a monster by-product…
‘What… exactly is this?’
Ruan looked down at the object Ulrik had left as a gift.
The dwarf’s gift had a form extremely familiar to Ruan.
Of course, it closely resembled the object he had been trying so hard to create recently.
A roll of paper coated with adhesive. And a body part to easily roll it.
No matter how he looked at it, these were the components of the cleaning tool Ruan had been trying to make, designed to easily remove small impurities that are difficult to pick up by hand.
In simple terms, this object had all the components of a lint roller and, presumably, could function like one.
But Ruan couldn’t possibly call this object a ‘lint roller’.
The object in front of him now… looked like it should be displayed in the Louvre rather than used to clean up cat hair.
