Chapter 296

Conniette Galette’s Appearance
The arrangements for the rapid freezer progressed smoothly.
The issue between Marquis Vardmoi and Count Galette, which I thought might be the biggest obstacle, was dismissed as minor.
They reasoned that a single merchant, even if employed by the Marquis, taking an interest in fruit from another domain wasn’t a significant issue.

With this, my plan to acquire Connies moved one step forward.

The remaining hurdle was whether Count Galette’s domain would accept my investment.
Unexpectedly, this matter advanced in a surprising direction.

On the return messenger bird, Coniette herself came directly.
What decisiveness!

Upon arriving in Vardmoi, Young lady Coniette immediately arranged lodging, freshened up, and requested a meeting with me.
She didn’t need to rush; I wouldn’t have minded if she rested for a day.
I’m a merchant with plenty of time to spare, so I’m quick to respond to summons.

“Thank you for waiting, Young lady Coniette. I’m Lily, a silver-ranked merchant.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Lily. I am Coniette, second daughter of the Count Galette. I look forward to working with you today.”

Coniette, at just 11 years old, was still very much a young girl.
However, despite her age, she took her responsibilities to her domain seriously and acted on them.
I needed to stay sharp.

“Straight to the point, Lady Lily. It seems you’ve taken a liking to our Connies, but may I ask why? Transporting it to Vardmoi would diminish its freshness, even if it doesn’t spoil entirely.”

Wow, this girl was straight to the heart of the matter with a calm demeanor.
I needed to respond in kind.

“Yes, I come from a distant land and have eaten Connies there. It was called lychee in my homeland.”

“I see. And compared to lychee, how would you say Connies measures up?”

“Well, it’s hard to say. As you pointed out, the Connie I tried here was not as fresh.”

“So, if you were to taste a fresh Connie, you could judge its quality?”

Her sharp gaze made it clear she was testing me.
I confidently answered that I could tell the difference, as I’d had lychee many times before.
One of her attendants promptly brought out a vibrant Connie.
So, they came prepared with a fresh sample.

I couldn’t back out now, so I immediately took a bite.
Sweet and tangy juices filled my mouth—it was incredibly delicious!
Still, compared to lychee, it had a slightly wilder taste.

When I pointed this out, Coniette lowered her gaze in thought.

“As I suspected, you noticed. Our domain’s Connies are cultivated from wild Connies transplanted from the mountains. As a crop, it still needs refinement. Even so, would you be willing to invest?”

Ah, so that’s her concern. It’s not a problem for me at all!

“I don’t mind. The flavor is already more than satisfactory. Although freezing will slightly reduce its quality, the fruit can be preserved for up to a year if kept frozen. You can have more confidence in your product.”

“Thank you! Then, we will gladly accept your investment!”

Yes! Connies secured!
My dining table will be so much brighter now.
I should also ask if there are any other delicious fruits in Count Galette’s domain.

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