Slime Girl

- Shari -

Our night training proceeds surprisingly well.
With the liberal utilization of linking, I'm able to convey most of the basics to Nia.
Given how I implemented the lessons into her core, she should now even be able to recall them as very profound instructions.

I didn't have the time to teach her everything I know about herbs and potions, but the ingredients and recipes that make up our basic stocks should be within her limits now.
Well, at least if I take the next night to reinforce what I want to have conveyed to her.

The rest, Tamarah may teach her about.

Now that most of my duties are settled, I can spend some time on journey preparations.
Foremost, I need some new powder.
While I still have a box remaining, that one is for Nia.
After all, she's definitely going to need it.
At this chance, maybe I could get an arrangement through to keep her supplied.
Or at least her own mask.
Because Liqu got super jealous after I spent so much time with Nia, effectively reminding me over and over about the linking I did with her, there's no way around taking her with me.

The first thing I notice on the streets is that things seem to have settled down.
At least in this district, the control point does not have as many personnel, and those that remain don't seem as on edge.
So I'd say the purge is about to be concluded, with the capture of some strongholds remaining in the eastern district, according to my knowledge.
Yet those are nothing the guard shouldn't be able to deal with, given time and preparation.

However, after travelling some further streets towards the city center, I notice something else that concerns me much more.
The people, who are now again able to go after their daily business, are whispering to each other.
About me!

"There."

"Is it true?"

"Don't know, but that get up."

"Could it be?"

I consider just walking up to one of the particular groups to get to know what's going on, but decide against it once I sense a shallow degree of apprehension the moment I take a single step towards them.
That being said, I fear I can guess what this is about.
Rumors are making their round, it seems.
Yes, approaching them is definitely not going to improve the situation.

The closer I get to the wealthy town center, the more problematic the response becomes.
Nobody dares to openly get in my way, given that I'm acquainted with the guards.
After yesterday, it seems like even Liqu got on good standing with a fair number of them.
After all, nobody can value it as much as soldiers if someone's doing the hard part on a mission.
As we both broke through the defense on that mansion and helped out during the following chase, this certainly made it easier to stay alive for a lot of them.
Not to forget about all the people we saved later on.
Yet as I said, as the rich weren't as affected, the response turns a little worse once I reach the particular area, shifting from curiosity to apprehension and even animosity.

"Can you believe it?"

"Outrageous, I tell you!"

"Who knows what they're up to?"

"Such... things!"

They don't even make an attempt to whisper anymore.

Now it gets progressively harder not to walk up to the particular groups to make a scene.
I mean, I could, right?
Not like I'd have to fear greater repercussions.
Though getting sidetracked doesn't bode well with the purpose of this stroll.

"Ehm, Shari." (Liqu)

"Yes?" (Shari)

"Those humans... Could it be... Do they know?" (Liqu)

Oh damn.
If Liqu gets upset at their attitude, this could end badly.

"Well, yes. At least they might guess at it. We acted rather openly before, so the story of us could've spread. Even if it's not ascertained yet." (Shari)

"They seem discontent with us." (Liqu)

"Well, that might be. It's to be expected if they fathom what we are." (Shari)

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"This is great, isn't it?!" (Liqu)

She's excited?

"Uh, that wouldn't have been my look on this." (Shari)

"Well, not the part that they don't like us, that's not nice. But we are here! Among them! Everyone knows, and nothing happens! You did it, Shari! You got us here, and they tolerate it without anyone attacking us! Isn't this incredible?!" (Liqu)

Damn, she's really good at seeing the positive in things.
Might be coming from the fact that her former life wasn't all that bright in this regard.
To Liqu, a bit of animosity is nothing compared to having to fight for her life.
To me, however, it's going to depend a lot on whether or not we can still make use of some essential facilities.

After a few more unpleasantly self-conscious steps, we make it to our destination.
The first person I meet is a certain shop clerk.
I memorized her name being Alina.

"Welcome dear customeeeehk!" (Alina)

Well, if this wasn't a voice derailing.

"Good day to you as well. I see, you probably already heard certain rumors?" (Shari)

I casually stroll closer while talking, but I wouldn't say that puts her at ease.

"A-a-aah, y-y-you... W-w-why?" (Alina)

"We would like to buy some more powder. Skin problems, you remember?" (Shari)

I guess just now something dawned on her something.

"I, I, I'm not sure..." (Alina)

"You're not going to say that you won't sell to us, right? That song starts to get old." (Shari)

"I, no, yes? I, I mean..." (Alina)

It might take a while till there's again anything coherent coming out of her mouth.

"Sigh. Why don't we keep this simple, and you just go fetch your boss? Would that be something?" (Shari)

I can't say I like this Olivier guy better than the clerk, but as far as I remember, he's a money grabber.
Therefore, it might improve my chances of successfully getting a deal if I negotiate with him.
On the other side, I could've simply intimidated Alina into selling me her stuff.
But now it's too late.

It doesn't take long till the man literally comes running.
While he looks startled and chokes a bit upon gaining sight of us, I need to give him credit for how fast he settles his demeanor and starts addressing us in perfect customer speech.

"Oh, dear customer. Such a surprise. I didn't expect you to return so soon. Your visit comes rather surprisingly." (Olivier)

Would it be normal for customers to make an appointment?
Don't think so.

"I only want to buy some more of the powder. I'm rather fond of it, as it serves its purpose well." (Shari)

"The powder... Yes, yes... I'm deeply sorry, but I'm not sure. Is it true? Are you...?" (Olivier)

"Listen, I don't wanna make a scene. So let's just assume that what you heard might be true. Yet I don't see how this would be relevant for any given transaction." (Shari)

"I'm sorry, but it may. My shop has a reputation to uphold. If I sell to, uh, questionable individuals, this might thwart my public relations." (Olivier)

So in other words, he won't sell to us because we're slimes.

With this pretext in mind, I pull out the badge that identifies us as the queen's agents.

"I wouldn't see any harm in selling to royal agents. This part still stands true. You can ask every soldier or guard in this town. In addition, I say it would be a very founded reason to state that you had to sell to us, because anything else would not only mean a disrespect to someone acting under the queen's wing, it could also be considered as disrupting official state affairs to make things difficult for us." (Shari)

This was half threat, half a way out for him.

"Well, if you say it like this..." (Olivier)

"And selling to us may even boost your reputation. No matter what, you can at least confidently say that your products are so good that they managed to conceal even a slime well enough to make them presentable at the royal court." (Shari)

"I may... I may! You're right, my merchandise is just so fabulous that everyone, everything, wishes to make use of it!" (Olivier)

Seems like he just convinced himself of that deal.
A true merchant at heart.

"I'm glad we could come to an understanding. As we had such a good business relationship going, I wish to continue it. In this sense, I hope there won't be an issue with repeat purchases. I may even set it up so there are more in the future. For this reason, I really hope that you won't just change the conditions. In addition, I'm fairly sure we negotiated last time the price for the requested item, so let's not turn this into something unpleasant." (Shari)

"As you wish. A pleasure doing business with you." (Olivier)

So after some haggling, we are owners of a new powder box and two silver poorer.
Yet while the price was high, I would still see this as a small victory in general.

Yet now we need to move to my more important business contact.
My supplier, who literally decides my livelihood.
The butcher.

Fortunately, this trip leads us a bit out of the fancy district.
On the other hand, this doesn't help with the attitude of most people.
If anything, the rumor mill turns ever wilder.
However, we can still walk unbothered and reach the respective shop.

Now I need to be very diplomatic.
If anything is certain, then it's that shopkeepers are the first to be informed about news.

"Uh, hello." (Shari)

"Ah, you two." (butcher)

His look is scrutinizing, but not outright hostile.

"Well, I guess by now you've heard some rumors about us." (Shari)

"Not really interested in those. I sell meat, you're a customer. A good one at that." (butcher)

"Really!? Uh, well, not like I'm complaining, but usually the response is a bit... more." (Shari)

"I guess I raised an eye at first. Stuff makes more sense like this. Though even if there's something to it, one would think it's better that you buy your meat as regular customers than resort to any of the alternatives in the city. If you were to stop buying from me, having found another source, then I'd be worried. Don't see any issues with how things currently stand. Your money is as good as everyone else's." (butcher)

"See? I like him!" (Liqu)

I'm pretty sure that has to do with him providing meat to you, Liqu.

"Well, in that case, our usual order, please." (Shari)

"I'd ask if you're fine with carrying it, but I guess you have your ways." (butcher)

"To be honest, in that regard, you kinda had a point." (Shari)

For demonstrative purposes, I hold out my arm and let the part that would be the lower arm dangle down from where the elbow would be.
That should give an idea of how stable we are as carriers.

"If I needed any confirmation... Well, let me pack it up. That will be one silver. Supply got difficult with all that chaos." (butcher)

"I understand. Thank you for being open-minded." (Shari)

"Would be a bad businessman if I were not." (butcher)

I know someone who could learn a thing or two from this man.