At the headquarters of the Mikumo Trading Company, Anima and Akane sat facing each other. Since it was Anima who had initiated the business proposal, she had made the journey to meet with Akane in person.
In a clean, tastefully decorated reception room, the two began with light small talk before gradually shifting toward the main subject: the transaction.
"…And those are the items in question," Anima concluded.
"…I, uh… My apologies. Please give me a moment to process this," Akane stammered.
"Of course. I do not mind."
Akane’s face had gone slightly pale. After receiving Anima's permission, she stood from the sofa and walked a short distance away to consult with her secretary and assistant, Frau.
"…Frau, what do you reckon? Do you recognize that thing?"
"M-My deepest apologies. Determining the authenticity of a Dragon King's scale is simply beyond me…"
"Yeah, I’m in the same boat. This is bad… Even before we talk about the trade terms, we don't even know if the goods are the real deal."
"There is no doubt that they are accessories of the highest quality, however," Frau noted. "If the base material truly is a scale, the way it has been polished and shaped to resemble a gemstone is nothing short of masterful. The designs are exquisite as well."
Frau possessed an exceptional Appraisal Eye and was Akane’s constant source of reliability, but even she seemed to be at a complete loss. Her expression was clouded with a rare, visible bewilderment.
Akane was in the same state. Her heart was racing, and she struggled to maintain her composure as she tried to organize her thoughts.
"There’s the risk that they’re fakes," Akane whispered. "But if they’re real, this is a game-changer. They’d sell like wildfire no matter the price point. Depending on the conditions, the profit could be astronomical."
"However, a Dragon King's scale is not something one simply finds. To use such a thing for accessories… it defies all common sense."
"…I’m stumped. Right, let me try probing a bit more."
Though she was still far from a conclusion, Akane decided she couldn't keep Anima waiting any longer. She left Frau's side and returned to the sofa.
"Forgive the interruption… Regarding the products you’ve brought, Anima-san. Anyone can see at a glance that they are magnificent. However, unfortunately, we have no way of verifying if these are truly crafted from a Dragon King's scale. I hope you’ll forgive my skepticism, but… do you have anything that might prove their value?"
"…Are you familiar with the institutions that conduct quality inspections and issue appraisal certificates?" Anima asked calmly.
"W-Well, yes, of course I am. But I didn't think it was possible to issue an appraisal certificate for something as rare as a Dragon King's scale…"
The institution Anima referred to was one established by the Phantasm King's subordinates. They inspected the quality of items and issued certificates marked with stars to denote their value. While their services were quite expensive, they were highly respected and possessed an impeccable track record, making them a staple for high-level merchants.
Akane had used their services many times for quality verification, but she assumed that even they would find it impossible to appraise something as exceedingly rare as a Dragon King's scale.
However, as if to mock Akane’s assumptions, Anima pulled an envelope from her Magic Box and placed a single sheet of paper on the table.
"——!?"
"This is the appraisal certificate."
"…Who… just… who on earth are you…?" Akane muttered, her polite facade crumbling as she stared in horror.
"…M-My apologies. Just one more moment."
Again, she excused herself and rushed back to Frau. Her assistant was looking just as shell-shocked.
"…This is insane. This is way too much."
"…A-A 10-star Appraisal Certificate… They actually exist? Is… is it possible it’s a forgery?"
"Not a chance! A 10-star certificate is something only the Phantasm King herself can handle. If you tried to forge one of those, you’d have every single one of the Phantasm King's subordinates hunting you down. If this were a fake, she would have been dealt with long before she ever set foot in this building."
"Which means it’s real… Just who is she? This means she has a direct line to the Phantasm King, doesn't it?"
"I don't know. Is this 'Master' of hers actually the Phantasm King? Or maybe one of the other Six Kings? No, if that were the case, there’d be no reason to bring the business to us. They’d just sell it within their own territory… What is going on? This is terrifying."
The situation had spiraled far beyond Akane’s wildest imagination. She racked her brain, but the deal itself was phenomenal, and the terms were more than fair. In fact, the conditions were so favorable to the Mikumo Trading Company that she was almost suspicious. There was no rational reason to refuse.
"…I-I understand the situation. However, since this is a matter of great importance for our company, I would appreciate a few days' grace period to provide a formal response."
"Certainly. Please contact me here once you have reached a decision."
Anima readily agreed to Akane's request for time and handed over a slip of paper with an address for correspondence. Once she saw that Akane had accepted it, she spoke again.
"Now then, since that concludes our business discussion, may I speak with you on a more personal matter?"
"Eh? Yes, of course. What is it?"
"…My Master has expressed a strong desire to meet you. If it is acceptable, he would like to invite you to his home. Would you be willing to visit?"
"—!?"
At those words, both Akane and Frau felt the air leave their lungs.
Serious-senpai: "From Akane and Frau's point of view, it must feel like they've just received a summons from some unknowable mastermind..."
???: "Well, yes. Though in reality, Kaito just sent a casual message through Anima along the lines of, 'Hey, isn't that company run by the former Hero-role otherworlder Alice mentioned? I’d like to meet her if I can.'"