On that day, Wanri visited the headquarters of Crown to purchase consumables for the Fox Inn.
Her contact was Schmidt, the head of the Merchant Division.
“Welcome.”
“It’s been a while, Mr. Schmidt.”
They had known each other since Wanri was young, fostering a comfortable atmosphere between them.
While Schmidt had never been formally introduced to Wanri’s true nature, he had an inkling of who she was from the rumors circulating.
However, as he hadn’t been told by Kōsuke, he continued their usual interactions without prying.
Their meetings had become more frequent since the Fox Inn opened.
Typically, it wasn’t Wanri herself who visited, but rather another fox in human form.
When Wanri did come, it was usually because there was an issue with the items she was stocking.
It was for this reason that Schmidt’s brow furrowed slightly upon seeing Wanri.
“…Did something happen again?”
“Ah, no. I apologize. It’s not like that. I happened to be in the area, so I thought I’d stop by… Was it an inconvenience?”
“Not at all! If that’s the case, you’re more than welcome.”
Schmidt replied with a smile to Wanri, who looked slightly apologetic.
In fact, Schmidt looked forward to these occasional meetings with Wanri.
Perhaps due to their long acquaintance, he felt like a grandfather watching his grandchild grow.
In a world where it wasn’t unusual for someone of Schmidt’s age to have grandchildren as old as Wanri, they might even be mistaken for a grandfather and grandchild if seen walking together in town.
Though, if asked if they resembled each other, most would likely say no.
As Wanri and Schmidt were having a brief chat, there was a knock on the door.
“Pardon my interruption, Director. We have a guest.”
“Ah, you may enter,” Schmidt replied, as they hadn’t been discussing anything important. The door opened, and a man entered from outside the room.
“I heard you wanted to speak with me…?” the man asked Schmidt, looking slightly puzzled.
Wanri had noticed the man glance at her just before he spoke those words.
Nevertheless, Wanri pretended not to notice and took a sip of the juice she had been given.
Noticing Wanri’s subtle demeanor, Schmidt casually turned to the man and said, “Since this is an opportunity, I thought I’d introduce you to this person as well.”
As Schmidt said this, Wanri finally stood up and bowed.
“It’s nice to meet you. I am Wanri.”
“Ah, yes. It’s nice to meet you. I am Doris. I assist Mr. Schmidt.”
Doris said this while giving a slightly bewildered look towards Schmidt.
Schmidt, who noticed subtle changes that most would overlook, had indeed picked up on it.
However, feigning understanding of the meaning behind that expression, Schmidt deliberately did not answer Doris’s unspoken question.
“Wanri is one of my most important clients, so I really wanted to introduce you.”
“I see.”
Doris, met with Schmidt’s smile, offered a smile that looked like a textbook example of a professional one as he bowed his head to Wanri.
In return, Wanri returned a gentle smile.
Looking at Doris, Schmidt continued, “This time, it was simply to have you two meet, so this is enough.”
“Huh? That’s all?”
“Yes. …Ah, you don’t need to prepare any specific goods. We already have everything we need prepared.”
“I see.”
Doris replied curtly, maintaining his perpetual professional smile.
However, Wanri heard him thinking, *”Is this all for calling me here?”* Of course, this was just her own internal interpretation.
Nodding to Schmidt, who told him it was fine, Doris left the room.
Once Wanri heard that he had gone far enough, she looked at Schmidt and said, “Mr. Schmidt, did you test him?”
“Oh my. To see through that, you still have a ways to go.”
“Rather than seeing through it… it felt quite obvious?”
Schmidt returned a wry smile to Wanri, who tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
Schmidt quickly wiped away his wry smile and replied, shaking his head, “Even so, he’s considered competent enough by many to be my successor.”
Hearing this, Wanri’s expression became genuinely surprised.
She couldn’t understand how anyone could look at Doris and think he would be Schmidt’s successor.
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. He is simply one of the potential successors; nothing has been decided yet.”
“I see.”
Wanri nodded with evident relief at Schmidt’s words.
To be honest, upon hearing that Doris was an important client and seeing how he treated Wanri, she found it hard to believe he could be a successor.
While she herself might be able to handle it, dealing with the members of that management layer continuously would be impossible, in Wanri’s opinion.
As if sensing Wanri’s thoughts, Schmidt again offered a wry smile and said, “Even so, he’s truly capable. When faced with someone who exceeds his own imagination, or rather, his common sense, he just… falters.”
Schmidt continued, “From now on, that won’t do,” to which Wanri replied with a sigh,
“You have my sympathy.”
She didn’t know how many potential successors were being considered, but Schmidt would have to spend many years nurturing someone truly capable.
Thinking that Doris was one of them, she felt he would truly have his work cut out for him.
Receiving such words from Wanri, Schmidt’s expression became indescribable.
“Honestly, I envy Gazeran.”
Hearing this rare display of vulnerability from Schmidt, Wanri’s eyes widened, and she asked,
“The Adventurer Division? They have capable people?”
“Yes. They have members of the Flame Wolf there.”
“Ah, I see.”
Wanri nodded in understanding at what Schmidt said.
If one of Riku’s companions became the head of the Adventurer Division, communication would likely go smoothly from the start.
Furthermore, Schmidt estimated that there would be several graduates from the academy, making the selection process easier.
Returning a wry smile, the first of many that day, Schmidt said to Wanri, who looked at him with sympathy,
“Well, there should still be time, so I’ll focus on training him properly from now on.”
“That seems like the best course of action.”
As Wanri said this, she pictured the members of the management layer in her mind.
Just thinking about needing to at least not be overwhelmed by them felt like climbing an impossibly high mountain for Wanri.
