Shop 13.2

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Chapter 13.2. Glasses Guy In The Wilderness

It was a magnificent harbor beyond imagination.

First to catch the eye is a colossal sailing ship.

Next, there is heavy machinery for unloading cargo.

The machinery is wooden and operated manually, but it's an elaborate system combining the principles of levers and pulleys. Sunburned men with bare upper bodies move it in unison, their voices synchronized.

Large wooden boxes and barrels are being unloaded, and sturdy men with spears stand guard over the cargo.

On the side, men in ethnic costumes, probably merchants, are writing something on what looks like a chalkboard. They point incessantly at the goods.

It exuded a liveliness not present on the main street. This atmosphere isn't bad.

The trading company stood in a prime location with a panoramic view. Carriages continuously transport cargo from the unloading area.

But upon closer inspection, the hustle is limited to that corner, while other adjacent trading companies seem deserted, with roofs resembling lonely perches for forgotten birds.

Veliero Trading Company.

It was heavily in Japanese.

The sign featured a hawk emblem, with the characters seeming like an afterthought.

No matter how many times you look, katakana and kanji are clearly written.

It's about time they explain why everyone is speaking Japanese.

Will they respond to that mysterious inorganic voice?

It seems not.

The door to the trading company is wide open, revealing a counter inside. Several people in travel attire seem to be negotiating at the counter.

On the other hand, I'm wearing a tie and a suit in the shadows.

It may seem foolish in this heat, but this is my battle attire. No matter how many times I suffered from heatstroke in the Heat Islands, it's been my constant companion.

I'll endure this with sheer determination!

Resolved, I slowly pass through the entrance of the trading company.

Inside the building was cooler than expected. Perhaps it's due to the slightly higher ceiling and the sea breeze entering through the windows.

Indeed, the world's treasure, air conditioning, seems to be nonexistent. Is there no electricity in this world...? Switching gears, I address the man at the counter with a sales smile.

"Hello, it's hot again today."

The man's skin is brown, close to black. Walking through the city, where bipedal non-human creatures casually wear clothes and shop, I thought the trading company would be full of non-humans, but most are, in fact, humans like me. It's a bit surprising, considering there were many black-brown people in the original world. By the way, the attire of the brown man in front of me is light and casual, with a thin brown short-sleeved shirt. It looks cool.

"... A tax accountant?"

He mutters softly.

"Huh?"

Why would he suddenly bring up a tax accountant?

"That's glasses? Few people wear such precious items."

Ah, he reacted to the glasses. Scarce here, I guess. He's a glasses guy.

"No, I'm a traveling merchant. I have something I'd like you to buy today, so I stopped by."

The brown man gave me a puzzled look but said, "Understood. Wait a moment," and withdrew into the back.

The inside of the trading company building is much larger than I felt from the outside. It seemed small from the outside, but perhaps the perspective was distorted by the sight of large sailing ships and machinery.

There are about four square tables, and negotiations seem to be taking place at two of them. The man in travel attire seen from outside is also sitting at one of the tables.

There are potted plants, giving it a somewhat modern office vibe between the tables.

"We appreciate your patience. We heard you have some goods to bring in?"

As I turn around, a red woman is standing there.

This was the encounter with Cherina Veliero, the <Red Chain>.