Jin first stated his business to the receptionist.
"I'd like to purchase a large quantity of takemodoki water pipes."
"Understood. I will call the sales manager. Um, may I ask the names of you three?"
"Ah, pardon me. I am called Jin Nidou. This child is Reiko. And this is Hope."
Jin introduced Reiko and Hope as well. Reinhard then gave his own name.
"I am Reinhard."
However, upon hearing those names, the receptionist tilted her head slightly.
"Jin-sama... Jin Nidou-sama... Does that mean you are the current Magi Craft Meister?!"
She had managed to guess Jin's true identity.
And then—
"P-Please wait a moment... No, just a second, please!"
Leaving those words behind, she dashed off into the back.
"It looks like you've become quite famous after all, Jin."
Watching her reaction, Reinhard chuckled.
Returning about a minute later, the receptionist was out of breath as she said,
"T-The company president will speak with you personally, so please come this way."
She politely guided Jin and his companions inside.
They were shown into a luxurious reception room.
There, a solidly built, middle-aged man welcomed Jin and his group.
"Welcome, Lord Magi Craft Meister. I am the company president of this firm, Jude Aida."
"I am Jin Nidou. I bear the same name as the Second Generation."
"I'm Reinhard."
After they exchanged introductions, Jin introduced Reiko and Hope as well.
"This is Reiko. And this is Hope."
"Oh, the legendary Lady Reiko! It is an honor to meet you! Would you do me the favor of shaking my hand?!"
Jude Aida seemed to know about Reiko, who had served the Second Generation Magi Craft Meister, and was overjoyed.
Noticing Reiko's brief glance to check his intentions, Jin gave a nod.
Reiko extended her hand, and Jude Aida gently took it, sharing a quiet handshake with her.
"Ah, I am truly thrilled!...Now then, I hear you are here today to discuss business regarding takemodoki....Ah, forgive my manners. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
Now that they could finally begin their business discussion, Jin and Reinhard took seats on the sofa. Reiko and Hope stood behind them.
"First, let me briefly explain the background. We have an upcoming construction project planned in cooperation with Avalon..."
Jin explained that they needed takemodoki pipes to lay down water supply lines, obscuring only the specific location.
"I see. So you require a large quantity of inexpensive pipes. And what sort of volume are we looking at?"
"Five thousand pipes with an inner diameter of 12 centimeters and a length of 4 meters. And the same number of joints as well."
What Jin had in mind was a construction project spanning roughly 10 kilometers toward the inland region.
He planned to lay two parallel water supply pipelines along that stretch.
"Five thousand, you say... Our current stock is just under 6,000 pipes. We can deliver them immediately."
"Oh."
As expected of the largest supplier. Jin had wondered whether immediate delivery would even be possible, so this was a welcome surprise.
"Is cash acceptable for the payment?"
"Yes, of course."
At 40 Toll (approx. 400 yen) per pipe, that came to 200,000 Toll.
At 25 Toll (approx. 250 yen) per joint, that came to 125,000 Toll.
The total was 325,000 Toll, but...
"I will discount it to 300,000 Toll."
He offered a favorable price due to the bulk purchase.
"Thank you very much. And where are the goods located?"
"Yes, the actual items are stored in a suburban storehouse. When would you like to come pick them up?"
"Even today would be fine."
Jude Aida was momentarily taken aback by that answer, but quickly composed himself.
"A-As expected of the Magi Craft Meister!"
Jin asked Reiko to produce the money they had prepared.
"Reiko, please handle the payment."
"Yes, Father."
Reiko took out thirty gold coins worth 10,000 Toll each from her apron pocket.
"Yes, the amount is correct."
Jude Aida counted them and then signed the receipt.
"Now then, regarding the handover... Would you mind giving me just a little bit of your time first?"
Jude Aida bowed his head and asked Jin.
"Sure, I don't mind."
It wasn't a matter where every single minute counted, so Jin could afford some flexibility.
"Thank you very much. In that case, would you care to join me for lunch?"
And so, it was decided.
"I wonder if this will suit your tastes."
Though Jude Aida spoke modestly, the meal was surprisingly delicious.
Shouro Empire-style barley porridge. Since it was prepared with miso, it was more like an ojiya stew than plain porridge, but the broth was well-made and deeply flavorful.
Grilled river fish. It was salt-grilled trout (a river fish resembling the Biwa trout), and the salt used appeared to be rock salt, possessing a distinct umami different from the salt Jin usually ate on Hourai Island.
And to top it off, a cactus salad. Jin felt its slimy texture was quite reminiscent of mekabu seaweed.
"This is quite delicious. What kind of cactus is this?"
Since it was Jin's first time eating it, he couldn't help asking.
"This uses what is called 'prickly pear cactus,' native to Mitsuho."
The one who answered was the receptionist from earlier, who was now serving them.
"Removing the thorns must be quite an ordeal."
Jin had pricked his fingers several times in the past on the thorns of prickly pear cacti in a neighbor's garden back home.
Prickly pear cacti grew both long and short thorns; the long ones were noticeable, but the short ones were hard to see, often leading to accidental pricks.
Jin didn't know whether the prickly pear cactus here on Planet Ars was the exact same species, but he figured that as long as it was a cactus, it was bound to have thorns.
"Yes, it is difficult. That is why we have golems handle it."
"Ah, I see."
The cactus thorns wouldn't pierce a golem's metal hands. Jin nodded in understanding.
While sipping his post-meal green tea, Jude Aida shared a bit of the past with Jin.
"I was told by the elders that my hometown, as well as this entire region, owes a great deal to the Predecessor."
The deep-well pumps, the discovery of mineral deposits, and the industrialization of takemodoki this time around—all of those were things the Jin of the past had accomplished.
"Where is your hometown, Aida-san...?"
"A town called Magiroots. I hear it was merely a village back then....They say it flourished after the Predecessor discovered a copper deposit for us."
"Is that so?"
Ever since then, the residents of Magiroots had continued to hold gratitude toward the Second Generation Magi Craft Meister.
"It is truly an honor to meet Jin-dono, his Successor."
"The pleasure is mine, thank you. By the way, regarding this cactus, where is it cultivated?"
Feeling thoroughly embarrassed by all the praise about his past achievements, Jin decided to change the subject.