"Father, is it really true that Grandol wants to hand over management rights to all the businesses he's seized so far? And for free?!"
Maylen, the blonde drill-curled young lady, had come to press her father for the truth.
Her father was honest but too soft-hearted. If she didn't keep a firm hand, things would go sideways.
"Yeah, I was just as surprised by the sudden offer. Grandol was like a completely different person."
"Can you seriously trust that? This is Grandol we're talking about—he's the very embodiment of arrogance, practically swimming in dark rumors."
If people could really change that easily, nobody would have to work so hard.
"He wasn't asking for money, but he had one condition—he bowed his head all the way to the ground and begged, 'Please, at least ensure the continued employment of the existing staff.' I've already agreed to it."
That made it even harder to believe!
That Grandol, lowering his head for someone else's sake instead of for money?!
"Ugh, you went and decided on your own again! What if it's one of Grandol's traps?!"
"You'd understand if you met him in person. The malice was completely gone from his face. The light in his eyes was gone too, which concerns me, but he says he wants to start over from scratch. Let's respect his resolve."
Way too far-fetched!
What kind of wind could have possibly blown him in this direction?
Maylen never even considered the possibility that Alan had placed a Transparent Slave Collar on Grandol.
And Alan certainly wouldn't go around bragging about it.
No matter how hard she thought, she couldn't figure it out—so Maylen eventually just… stopped trying.
◇◇◇
"Shaal, I'd like to borrow some people for a little while."
"Huh? What's this about?"
"The Ganbard Trading Company is going to be busy from here on, so I need bodies. Ideally, I'd like anyone from your crew who isn't particularly useful."
"What kind of logic is that? Sending useless people in would just get in the way of the trading company."
"Just do it, just do it. Bring them over quick."
◇◇◇
And so, a few hours later, interviews suddenly began at the rundown café that Shaal ran as his front business.
These three were people Shaal had been trying to educate within the Information Guild but was on the verge of expelling, since nothing they did ever seemed to improve.
"Boss, why were we called here…?"
One of them asked Shaal nervously.
"Never mind that. Just answer the questions you're about to be asked," Shaal ordered.
For now, he'd just throw some casual questions their way.
"What are your hobbies?"
"BSS, NTR, TS."
…That was weird. He'd meant to ask something completely inoffensive.
Well, hobbies were personal, so whatever.
Actually—were those even hobbies?
Especially the last one. Did that mean they could change their gender as a hobby?
Setting that aside, while they answered, he secretly used [Reverse] to flip their business talent!
"I see. Understood. Shaal, leave these three to me."
"Hold on—what did you learn from that?! Are you sure about this lot?! Whatever happens, don't come crying to me!"
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Scorching Magic][Frozen Ice Magic][Clear Storm Magic][Rock Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Dark Magic][Spacetime Magic][Thunder God Sword][Gentleman Thief][Ninja Master][Seeker of Truth][Otherworldly Might][Swift Runner][Pain Dampening][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Dark Spirit's Protection][Super Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Contractee of the Abyss][Magic Hand][Treasure Search][Temptation][Incitement][Eloquence][Strong Luck][Growth Speed ×10][Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum