The Mikumo Trading Company was a mobile merchant association that utilized Teleportation Magic to ply its trade far and wide. Yet, despite its nomadic nature, it still maintained a physical base of operations.
The headquarters consisted of an office for filing paperwork and a warehouse for inventory management. In a sparse office furnished with only the bare essentials, the association’s chairman, Akane Mikumo, was poring over a letter with a grave expression.
"Chairman, why the long—excuse me, why the strange face?"
"Just finish what ya were sayin' about the long face! Why'd ya go and swap it for 'strange'?"
"It just slipped out. So, who is the letter from?"
After snapping back at her maid, Frau, Akane let out a small sigh and began to explain.
"Remember that woman we met when we went to Symphonia to stock up—Anima-san?"
"Ah, the investor who seemed to be Count-class."
"Yeah, her. Well, to put it simply, she sent a letter askin' if I’d be interested in hearin' a business proposal. It’s basically a feeler to check my availability before she makes a formal offer."
"I see. Will you accept?"
"That’s what’s got me stumped. We only met once, so it’s not like we’re friends… but the woman is a real pro, so I expect the deal itself is worth hearin'. Still, if she’s as sharp as I think, she must have plenty of other associations to choose from. I’ve been tryin' to figure out why she’d come to us specifically. There’s gotta be an angle."
The letter didn't specify the details of the trade; it merely stated that if it suited Akane, they should meet to talk. Drawing on years of experience, Akane knew it was some kind of business deal, but she couldn't yet gauge the other woman's true intentions.
"If she’s askin' us, does that mean the products need to be sold across different regions?"
"That’s the most likely scenario. Our biggest strength is our mobility. But if that’s the case, dependin' on the terms, there might be restrictions on where we can sell, which could be a real pain, don’t ya think?"
"Well, there is a chance the trade items might conflict with our own routes. However, we won't know for sure until we hear the pitch. Why not just give her a hearing?"
"Fair enough… but she really is a shark. If I go in with my guard down, she’ll have me signin' a contract before I can blink. I need to look into this from every angle."
From their previous meeting, Akane had formed an incredibly high opinion of Anima's business acumen. She believed that in a straight negotiation, they would be evenly matched in a battle of wits.
However, since the other party was the one initiating the talk, they naturally held the informational advantage. Akane was currently agonizing over the possibility of being outmaneuvered.
"Speaking of which, Chairman. You mentioned you were going to look into her. Did you find anything?"
"Hm? Oh, I tapped a few of my connections and found out pretty quick. Apparently, she’s a major name in the economic world—a rising star who appeared out of nowhere two years ago and clawed her way to the top in record time. I don’t know how much of it is true, but there’s even a rumor that she’s a disciple of the Underworld King."
"Heh, that is quite a pedigree."
"Yeah, but that’s not all… it seems she has a superior."
"A superior?"
Frau tilted her head in confusion. Akane’s expression grew even more serious as she continued.
"Word is, Anima-san has someone she refers to as 'Master' whom she follows with absolute devotion. I suspect that person is the real power behind the scenes."
"Wait… you mean both Anima-san, who is at least Count-class, and that beastman she was with, both serve this 'Master'? To command two individuals of that caliber… just who are they? They must be incredibly famous."
"That’s the thing—I have no idea. Truly, not a single scrap of information turned up. It’s almost as if the data is being intentionally erased. I tried every lead I had, and I couldn't even dig up a name."
"That… is a terrifying thought."
"Yeah, it’s spooky. To scrub information that thoroughly, you’d need massive authority and deep ties to both the public and the underworld. Honestly, you’d need the kind of power held by the king of a major nation to manage Information Manipulation on that scale."
The image of a shadowy fixer ruling the world from the darkness formed in both their minds. It was, of course, a Great Misunderstanding. While the information was indeed being manipulated by the Phantasm King, Alice, the "Master" in question—Kaito—was completely oblivious to any of it.
"I’m gonna hear her out, but I reckon I better be prepared for a fight."
"What are the chances this 'Master' will show up?"
"I can’t say for sure, but we’re talkin' about the person Anima-san swore loyalty to. They’ve gotta be a shark on a whole different level. If that person shows up, it’s probably checkmate for us. I might have to prepare myself for some unfavorable terms."
"But it’s also an opportunity."
"Exactly. I can’t let a chance to make a connection with a big shot like that pass me by. 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained,' after all. We’ll just have to see if it’s a demon or a snake waitin' for us at the table."
While picturing Anima's mysterious master with a mix of dread and anticipation, Akane picked up her pen and began to draft a reply.
Once again, it was all a Great Misunderstanding.
Machina: "Hmm, I wonder. I feel like it's a misunderstanding, but then again, it's a fact that My Beloved Child's connections are incredible. And since Alice is involved, if they actually got into a negotiation, My Beloved Child… or rather, Alice, would win by a landslide. So it's not entirely wrong. In short, My Beloved Child is simply supreme!!"