Emma had come for a business meeting, so I first treated her to lunch. I wanted to thank her for coming all the way from a faraway place.
“I’ve heard rumors about this place even in Belucca. They all said that you guys served an incredibly delicious dinner. The details are not known, but they say the food is more than just delicious.”
I’m sure Paul-oniisan’s friends promoted it.
“It just so happened that I got some good ingredients, so we used it to entertain my brother and his friends.”
“Oh, so that’s what it was. But it doesn’t seem like you’re planning on making a profit from it.”
Emma looked around. Many of the customers who are eating at this time are merchants going on the highway and sailors who have finished fishing or work. This is because the price is reasonable at lunchtime.
During the day, it’s a fun restaurant that everyone can easily use, but at night, I want to serve a little elaborate food. That’s why I talked to Lynn and tried to divide the time and price ranges.
“It’s nice to have fancy food, but this pasta set is also good, and at this price, it even came with dessert. It’s no surprise that sailors come here by boat.”
At lunchtime, it gets so busy that it’s almost overwhelming. Even though she is a guest, Mio-san, who can’t stand seeing us so busy, helps out with serving the dishes.
I told her I can’t make her do that, but Mio-san is a very friendly person and she is also quick on her feet.
“Can I get hired here when I’m done with my current job?”
She even says things like that.
However, even if Mio-san expresses her desire to move here, my status board does not change. If she is going to live here, I think there should be some kind of change.
Emma, who drank the coffee after the meal, looked a little serious. Finally, the business negotiation is about to start. However, we are not completely strangers. We trusted each other, so it didn’t feel so formal.
“So, Cedie, can you show me the new product that you talked about?”
Today, we had Emma come to see the new preserved food made at the food processing plant.
I signaled to Cawsill, Dawsill, who were waiting in the corner of the room. Both of them are stiff with tension. It took a lot of trial and error to make it, so I wish they had more confidence.
Pushing the cart loaded with several kinds of bottles, two people with nervous faces came in. It’s a business meeting, so I want them to smile more.
“Excuse me, I’m Dawsill, the person in charge of the food processing plant!”
“I’m Cawsill!”
Uh-, don’t introduce yourselves like Char.
It is not very cute when the two of them imitate Char….
“I’m Emma Rondo. Pleasure to meet you guys.”
Emma shook hands with both of them with grace, but the tension between Dawsill and Cawsill increased even more.
In the future, I will have them get used to this kind of meeting.
“Let’s have Emma take a look at the products. Dawsill, open the sardines in oil first.”
I asked for a smaller amount of pasta for her so that she could try tasting them all. I put a lot of effort into making a lot of things this time, so I’ll make sure she eats a lot.
“This is sardines.”
“They’re marinated in sunflower oil from Gandalcia. They taste good too.”
“Mm, yes, it’s delicious.”
Emma took a bite then her face flushed.
“The advantage of this is that I can keep the price low, and it’s a lot cheaper than the duck confit I gave you before.”
“You can eat it as it is, or you can use it for cooking.”
The gluttonous Cawsill steps forward.
“It’s delicious even if you just soak the bread in the oil.”
“Sounds delicious, I think I’ll give it a try.”
Impressed by Emma’s response, Cawsill suggests ways to eat one after another.
“You can also put a clove of garlic and a piece of umeboshi into a jar and heat it in hot water. The meat will become soft when it’s warm, and the garlic and umeboshi will add flavor. However, you must remove the lid from the jar before heating it in hot water, otherwise it will explode.”
“This guy has made the kitchen greasy.”
Emma was laughing at the exchange between Cawsill and Dawsill.
She praised what they had made, and the tension between the two seemed to be completely relieved.
Next, I had her eat pickled vegetables.
Cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, and celery are all vegetables that Char and I have painstakingly grown in our vegetable garden. It tastes good and is rich in vitamins, so it will help prevent scurvy among sailors.
Emma seemed satisfied.
Pineapple pickled in syrup and peaches pickled in syrup were also well received.
“They’re all great. How much do you have in stock?”
“There are 300 oil sardines and fruit in syrup, and about 200 large bottles of pickles.”
“I’ll buy them all. But there’s more than I thought huh.”
“It’s all thanks to the food processing plant. It is also because of the hard work of Dawsill and Cawsill.”
Emma then called out to Dawsill, who was puffing his chest out.
“Factory manager, would you like to give me a tour of the food processing plant?”
“…..Factory manager?”
“She’s talking about you, big brother!”
“Oh! O-Of course! I’ll show you around at any time.”
Dawsill and Cawsillstraightened their backs and walked forward.
✲✲✲
After reading the report from Mio, Earl Dantès nodded slightly.
“I see, although it was small, Gandalcia Island seemed to have commercial value.”
He also found out why he couldn’t sell his preserved food to the Navy.
Cedie was making preserved food, and it was what they chose. There is also an excellent fishing ground in the area and it seems that rare plants grow on the island.
Sebastian, the housekeeper who knew the contents of the report, bowed his head, fearing that Alexei would explode in anger.
Alexei, however, ordered Sebastian in a calm voice.
“Tomorrow we are going to Gandalcia, get ready.”
“Yes. But, why though?”
“An elder brother is just going to see his younger brother, isn’t that strange?”
“T-that’s true, but….…”
Sebastian is unsure of Alexei’s intentions.
“It looks like a good island, and I’m going to buy it.”
“Ah? The Gandalcia Island?”
“What else is there? I can give him 10 million crown coins.”
“What will happen to Cedie-sama then?”
Alexei’s reply is perfunctory.
“If he has 10 million, he can get into a decent school, and after graduation, he can become a notary public or a lawyer. He can also talk to me if he wants to.”
Alexei was more concerned with the profits from Gandalcia than with the future of Cedie.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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