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Gin-san\'s expression didn\'t change a bit as he nodded along. However, the two standing behind him, Shuri-san and Ousa-san, grimaced.

With how messy the situation was with the nobles, it was a common reaction.

Gin-san stared at me with his clear eyes, and answered me clearly.

"Alright, I’ll be frank with you. Our Dragon-Crane Union was created to protect the weak, and this has been our motto ever since. We\'re here to protect the explorers at the bottom of the hierarchy, the simple working class people, from authority and violence. The same is true for the companies under us. We take action if someone attempts to hinder their work and tries to use force unprovoked. That\'s all there is to it. We’ve never had any intention to jump into the strife between nobles. I just want to make sure you\'re okay with that."

Mimosa and I nodded promptly at his straightforward gaze.

"But Boss... are you sure? Didn\'t you hate that Academy......"

Ousa-san perhaps hadn\'t expected Gin-san to take on our request as she questioned him with a perplexed expression. Gin-san smiled wryly.

"Like and hate aren\'t that straightforward. Besides, there\'s no reason for the Dragon-Crane Union to get involved with the crystal surface of a stream. Mimosa is serious about her business, and that\'s clearly reflected in the details. Most of all, she has gone through proper procedure in contacting us, and explaining the undercurrents that she could have kept secret otherwise.

We wouldn\'t accept them if they\'re just a company in name and are trying to find a meat shield to bear the brunt of the nobles, however we may respond to their request if they mean serious business. Otherwise, it would sully our reputation showing that we got cold feet in front of authority."

......I doubt that was all he considered in reaching such a conclusion.

We bowed in gratitude as Gin-san chuckled.

"Well, to be honest, I indeed have no love for the Academy as Ousa said. It\'s not hate, but more like disinterest you can say. But then again, maybe a new era is coming if that Academy is producing young men with caliber, and, more importantly, character like you, kid... or maybe not, Allen. I\'m glad we had this meeting today."

Shuri-san and Ousa-san could only look at each other in confusion at Gin-san\'s words.

It’s the natural reaction, I’d say. They didn\'t know that it wasn’t our first meeting, nor did they know that I was explorer Ren. Of course, they would have had a different impression of me if they knew that. I also felt a sense of closeness with him as a fellow bath lover.

"You really are the man I expected to be, Gin Grauster. I had thought that bringing \'Allen Rovenne\' with me might backfire after going through all the prior information, but... you\'re not half bad if you can recognize the changes in the times just by glancing at Allen."

Mimosa quipped with an off-hand comment talking like she was some sort of big boss, which got a glare from Shuri-san.

"Fufu. Please pardon me, this has been my inherent nature since birth… But those were, in fact, my appreciative words for you. I’ve realized that the world is so wide. The hinterland where I\'m from has no one of your caliber, after all. I guess that’s why this place is called the Royal Capital, eh? Now I’m even more excited to see what it has in store for me."

Shuri could only press her forehead and sigh as Mimosa made an excuse with a nonchalant expression.

"Haha. It just means that Allen didn\'t choose you out of mere coincidence even though you\'re from the countryside. You have quite the accurate gaze yourself, Mimosa. Our policy is that we don\'t interfere in the company\'s workings, so how far you can go would all depend on you. I’m looking forward to seeing your achievements. Let\'s have a happy cooperation."

Gin-san then offered his hand.

◆◆◆

For a while afterward, we talked about the concrete details of the agreement. Just as we stood up from our seats to go back, Gin-san further added.

"Ah, right. It seems that you’ve researched quite intensively about the underworld side of the Royal Capital, right? Have you heard about the Mad Hound that has been recently increasing their influence? It seems like they have a bone to pick with us. What do you think about those kids, Allen

?"

Having been singled out, my answer was a straight \'I don\'t know anything about them’.

I wonder why? I felt that I couldn’t put up any excuse here as I looked at his crystal clear grey eyes. Somehow, he gave off the same vibe as that of a king.

"......I frankly have no idea what the Mad Hounds are doing. I barely know anything about their leader...... that fatty. But he\'s a straightforward person with enough seriousness, from what I know. That\'s all I know."

\'Well, he\'s definitely not a cultured person though,\' I added at the end.

Hearing my words, Gin-san chuckled, and his eyes narrowed as he smiled.

"Oh, I see. They might be dealing with Rose, but it\'s hard to see if they have enough strength for us to take them seriously. If anything, they appear no different from the other explorers who need protection, so we\'ve been thinking about how to deal with them. Thanks, I’ll keep your words in mind."

After Gin-san said that, I left the place with Mimosa.

◆◆◆

When Allen and Mimosa left—

"......What was that last question for, Boss? I don\'t think it\'s to get close to \'Allen Rovenne\'... If you wanted to gather information about the Mad Hounds, we could have ascertained their strength as well. You told us that those in power shouldn\'t carelessly speak, and we’ve listened to you enough times for our ears to get calluses."

As Ousa left to see the two guests out, Shuri saw no one else around, so she questioned Gin.

Gin had a wry smile.

"It’s good to see that you haven\'t forgotten them. But, rest assured, that kid wouldn\'t divulge today\'s meeting to anyone. He\'s not that kind of whimsical person, you see. You, too, keep the fact that he visited us a secret, alright? Well, for your question, I had no reason to ask it, indeed. However, I wanted to see what his answer would be."

This time, it was Shuri who had a wry expression at Gin\'s humorous reply.

"I doubt anyone would ask \'What do you think of Mad Hound?\' from a student of that exalted Academy, much less from Allen Rovenne, just to measure their caliber. Those prodigal kids just live in a different world from us. It was obvious when he called that notorious fella a straightforward person instead of saying \'I don\'t know’. Then again, he\'s just a 12-year-old kid, right?"

Gin shook his head with a chuckle.

"I was unsure so far, but that kid vouched for them. It would be best if we changed the way we look at them. For the time being, just consider them playing around, and avoid a frontal clash. I have a feeling we may be in for a surprise if we raise them up."

Shuri was perplexed.

"What? I mean, I had heard that Allen Rovenne has a keen eye for people, but that\'s still just a kid\'s word, Boss. The Academy has always been a treasure box of talents, so it wouldn\'t be surprised if it held true for the people around them, but evaluating some kids from slum orphanages just sounds so bogus coming from him—"

However, Shuri couldn\'t complete her words as she was cut off. The glint in Gin\'s eyes was unexpectedly sharp.

"......Understood. But, if you really want to raise them, we won’t cut corners like right now. Are you fine with that?"

Gin smiled and nodded.

"Yes, you can do it in your own way. It\'s already laborious for you as it is."

Confirming Gin\'s upbeat mood, Shuri concluded that he must have some concrete information about Allen Rovenne that she didn\'t know. He had been evaluating him highly since a while ago, and after their exchange today, it seemed like he had confirmed that his belief wasn’t misplaced.

Of course, she didn\'t think that they might have exchanged words already, but as someone who was privy to various parts of the Royal Capital and the different structures within, he must have some exclusive information other than what was out in public.

Just what kind of information did he have?......

Shuri was curious, but she wouldn\'t ask such a question.

If Gin had decided it would be best for her to not know about something, when he would usually make sure to impart crucial information to us, then that was the end of the matter.

She was sure Gin trusted her, and she believed that sharing everything and anything with trusted individuals made one an incompetent leader.

When required, he would inform them himself. That would assure both his and the other person\'s safety.

"......He had already dropped a hint. It would be a pity to not make use of it."

Sure enough, Gin\'s gaze had a cheerful look as he commented so.