I pretended not to know anything, opened my eyes wide, and grabbed Isaac's arm tightly. "What do you mean... Honey, I hope we can start negotiations soon!"
Isaac smiled at my words and nodded. "Let's get straight to the point."
Lennox, who was about to spread bad rumors about the Marquis of Kinnoa, coughed in embarrassment. He loosened his bow tie and opened his mouth.
"I want to buy magical tools made in the Magic Kingdom. It's not just about paying money... I plan to give you some precious treasures."
If they're precious treasures, they're probably stolen goods from the Mage Tower, right?
I frowned as I thought about it.
I handed over my stolen goods to the royal family of another country and interacted with the Demon Kingdom, which no one had ever interacted with. By now, you must be thinking that you can kill two birds with one stone.
I almost let my disgust show. I managed my expression and began to listen to Lennox's next words.
"I have prepared an ancient magical tool as a gift. Let's see." As expected, Lennox continued his explanation, picking up the magical tools he had placed on the table one by one.
I rested my chin on my hand with a blank expression and began to listen to his explanation. "This is a ruby necklace called the Heart of Mana. Isn't it beautiful?"
"It's a necklace I've seen often. The Heart of Mana is common in the kingdom." Isaac said with a cold smile for a moment.
I also pretended to yawn briefly and raised a hand to my mouth. Anyone could see that I was bored.
"Is this all there is? I heard that there was a very cool magical tool. This is in our kingdom." Our goal was to identify the very magical tool that Lennox had stolen from Isaac. I opened my eyes and whispered innocently with a face that was not malicious.
"I was expecting it, but I'm disappointed. At this level, it doesn't seem like there's any point in trading. Right, honey?"
Isaac whispered languidly, his chin clenched. "As you said, there doesn't seem to be any point in trade. I expected that new cultural relics would come into our territory through exchanges with other countries."
Lennox seemed impatient at what we said. His eyes narrowed as if he was thinking about something for a moment. "That's why... There are many other valuable things."
"Really? What kind of thing is it?" When I lowered my hand covering my mouth and my eyes sparkled, Lennox continued with a visibly relieved expression.
"I should give the distinguished guest even more precious gifts. I will order him to bring some more high-quality magical tools."
I was halfway in a trap. I shook my head and smiled brightly.
"No! Can't you let me look at all the magical tools and then choose a gift? Is there a villa here where magical tools are collected?"
He scratched his chin with a worried face. After all, couldn't it be done right away? Should I have pretended to sign a contract to make him more vigilant and then ask for the room to be opened?
When I gulped my saliva, Lennox nodded and said kindly. "Yes, I'll make it even." I smiled in conversion.
You've taken the bait perfectly!
...That's when I thought.
Lennox continued with an unexpected statement. "However, except for the magical tools I give as a gift, you must not speak about any other magical tools you saw in that room." I tried to nod my head, but I stopped at the words that came out of his mouth.
"I will write you a pledge of confidentiality."
When I heard that it was a confidentiality oath, I was seriously embarrassed inside.
The Oath of Secrecy is a vow that combines magic and divine power! No matter how much of an archmage Isaac is, he will never be able to disclose what he wrote in the contract to the outside world, right?
If you take a pledge of confidentiality, you can never reveal that secret. No matter how powerful the mage is, even the heroic sword, Dominic.
Oh... If you take a pledge of confidentiality, Nana and Isaac won't be able to reveal it later. Is there any way to visit the room without a pledge of confidentiality?
However, unlike me, who was seriously troubled, Isaac only answered Lennox bluntly without the slightest hesitation.
"I will, pledge to keep confidential."
Is there something he's hiding?
Lennox, whose face became more relaxed at Isaac's words, nodded. "I will bring you a pledge. As soon as you sign, I will show you a beautiful room."
I glanced to the side. Looking at Isaac's silent face, my uneasy and floating feelings calmed down. Finally, the opportunity to perfectly catch the thief, grasp his weaknesses, and lead him to ruin had arrived. I decided to focus only on that part.
"How much security magic is at stake?"
It took Lennox dozens of minutes to open the door to the huge treasure house. "Now that you've unlocked all the security magic, let's go inside."
We were guided by Lennox into the interior of the huge room.
"Oh my God..." The world in the room was brilliant. I was so blinded that I had no choice but to hold my breath. It looked like a crow's nest with all the shiny things gathered. I turned my gaze here and there. Huge shelves were placed side by side on both sides of the hallway, and they were full of treasures that could only come out of legends.
Didn't you steal it all from somewhere?
But I quickly managed my facial expressions. Now was the time to put aside the disgust. I pretended to look around with twinkling eyes.
"There are so many great treasures, right, honey?"
"Yes."
After a short answer, Isaac walked slowly and reached for the shelf. Then, Isaac's fingertips began to touch the magical tools one by one. I blinked as I watched him move as we had discussed in advance.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
Lennox looked at Isaac for a moment.
You wouldn't suspect that I was touching a magical tool carelessly, would you?
I spoke to Lennox in a cheerful and bright manner to distract him. "Where did you collect all these magical tools?"
"...I received a donation from a wizard."
"I guess I stole it from a wizard."
Instead of correcting him, Lennox and I exchanged a few words from time to time. Meanwhile, Isaac was looking at various objects.
It's going well as planned.
As I snatched Lennox's attention and spoke to him, Isaac, who had reached the very end of the room, looked at me and said in a declared voice. "I would like to receive this necklace as a gift."
"What kind of necklace is it?" Lennox glanced at me and strode toward Isaac.
I think I have found the stolen item.
I approached him with a smile. Finally, all three of them gathered near the shelf at the far end of the room. Lennox, who had even confirmed that I was approaching, looked at the object Isaac pointed to and whispered in admiration.
"It's a precious lapis lazuli necklace. After all, he has a good eye."
"In this necklace... I can feel the energy of water." With a low half-mouthedness, Lennox glanced at Isaac's eyes and lifted the lapis lazuli necklace. "Yes, it was created by a wizard with water attributes and left in the family. The nobles of the Magic Kingdom know that." Somehow, his voice looked anxious.
Looking at Lennox, I turned my gaze to Isaac. However, Isaac's attitude was very strange. He was holding a lapis lazuli necklace tightly in his hand, and the back of his hand was particularly prominent. It was not the attitude that Isaac, who had always been relaxed and carefree, would show.
Is there a problem?
I stared at Isaac. Fortunately, he softened his expression again and whispered low to me. "I'm going to wear this necklace. What about you, wife?"
"Well, I..." I blurred the end of my words, and suddenly my eyes were fixed on the small tiara next to the lapis lazuli necklace.
That tiara looks like I've seen it a lot somewhere.
I was full of curiosity, so I let go of my luck. "What is this tiara?"
"Oh, that's the Marquis of Kinnoa. There are many more precious things than that, so why don't you look at other things?"
I thought it was familiar, but it seems that it was originally meant to be mine. Seeing Lennox's stern expression, I replied firmly.
"No." I shook my head and opened my mouth again. "I'll do it with this tiara."
Lennox, who was staring at me, slowly opened his mouth and whispered lowly. "That's right. I think it would go well with my wife."
I nodded and raised my eyebrows. He held a lapis lazuli necklace and tiara and whispered, "Shall we leave, now?"
We passed through the door of a huge room and exited into the hallway. But it was just then that we were walking down the hall and having some nutritious conversations. A knight standing in the corner of the hallway hurriedly prostrated himself in front of Lennox.
Lennox asked, frowning. "What's going on?"
"That..."
"If it's not the highest security, say it now and go."
"There was a fire for a while in 'there', sir."
"Fire?" At the servant's words, Lennox narrowed his eyebrows.
"Yes, we have entered a lull. It's common for magic fires to start. Nothing is lost. However, even if it is a trivial matter, he ordered me to report it immediately..."
I smiled in conversion.
It's going according to plan.
But I pretended not to know anything, opened my eyes, put one hand to my mouth, and asked with a surprised face. "Is there a problem? Can I sign a contract with a place like this..."
"No." Lennox, who answered my question, neatly summed up his frown. "...There are valuable customers. We'll talk about it later."
"Yes, I understand."
Lennox reached out to us. "Would you like to go write the contract now?"
Isaac and I exchanged glances with each other. Isaac spoke first. "Yes."
The door to the negotiation venue slammed shut.
Finally, it was time to write the contract.