“Tetsuya, are you okay!?”

“Thank you, Lange. The fight hasn't started yet. Thanks to you, we made it just in time!”

Outside the store, there are a lot of people from the Adventurers' Guild that Lange called for. That was a close call. If Lange had been a little late in bringing them, a fight would have certainly broken out.

We had already decided on a response in case troublesome nobles showed up. Basically, we wouldn’t strike first, and Lange was supposed to contact the Adventurers' Guild and ask for Rizac to come.

Although I feel bad for the customers who contacted the Adventurers' Guild and the guards for the sake of the store, I had told them to immediately contact us if any nobles or their messengers appeared in the store as customers.

“I am Rizac, the Adventurers' Guild Master. I heard there was about to be a fight in the town, so I came to see what’s going on here. Can someone explain?”

“I-I’m just a servant of Baron Clemance Rigeem, here to speak with the owner of this so-called ‘Outdoor Shop’ that has been causing quite a stir lately. When I attempted to meet with the owner, I was met with disrespect toward the Baron, and I only tried to discipline him a little.”

The man tries to explain himself, trembling under Rizac's glare. His story doesn’t make much sense, though.

“No, what happened is that I was offered a deal to buy the management rights to this store and the methods for producing and sourcing the products sold here. When I refused to sell, they tried to force me into a carriage, and I was only defending myself.”

“...I see. It seems like we’re hearing different stories from each side.”

“Hmph, obviously the commoner is lying. Seize him immediately!”

This guy is saying some outrageous things... well, considering the level of nobility in this civilization, maybe it's not too surprising. But he’s just a messenger, not even a noble himself. Does he think wearing fine clothes and serving a noble gives him some kind of superiority?

“Huff... huff... I finally caught up...”

Patrice-san, the Deputy Guild Master of the Adventurers’ Guild, arrives, panting heavily as if he’s been rushing. He looks exhausted.

“...Who are you?”

“Huff... Huff... Apologies for my disheveled appearance. I am Patrice, the Deputy Guild Master of the Adventurers' Guild. From the carriage outside, I take it you're one of Baron Rigeem's messengers?”

“Indeed, I am one of Baron Clemance Rigeem’s messengers. You seem to be more reasonable than that big man over there.”

“Huh?”

“Eek!?”

Rizac seems annoyed when referred to as the "big man." I feel bad for him, but I kind of agree... just a little.

“Thank you. Now, I’ve heard that the people at this store have been disrespectful to Baron Rigeem’s messenger?”

“Indeed, they insulted my master, Baron Rigeem. Seize them immediately!”

Now that Patrice-san is here, the messenger points at me with even more exaggerated gestures than before.

“...I see, I understand the situation. But I would like to confirm something first. Should I understand that this visit is by the direct order of Baron Rigeem himself?”

“Of course! I am an official messenger of Baron Rigeem!”

“I see. Then, allow me to lodge a formal protest with Baron Rigeem himself.”

“.........Huh?”

“I’m sure you are aware, being Baron Rigeem’s messenger, that the Adventurers’ Guild recently issued a formal notice regarding this Outdoor Shop to all the nobles and businesses in town.”

Yes, considering that maps and catalogs would soon be published, it was anticipated that nobles and large stores would start meddling. So, I had already discussed and set up a strategy with Rizac and Patrice-san.

“This Outdoor Shop is a cooperating store with the Adventurers' Guild. Any negotiations with this store must go through the Guild, as stipulated in the official notice.”

“...........What!?”

The simple solution was to have the Adventurers' Guild protect this Outdoor Shop. By having any negotiations go through the Guild, any unreasonable demands from others would be prevented. After all, no one would dare to make unreasonable demands when facing the Guild.

Of course, there is a possibility that the Adventurers’ Guild could make unreasonable requests as well, but I decided to trust Rizac and Patrice-san on that.

In the worst case, if things went south, we could always shut down the store and open a new one in a different town. Patrice-san is smart enough not to go that far. If that happened, the Adventurers’ Guild would certainly face heavy criticism from the adventurers.

“Y-You’re lying! I never heard of such a thing!”

“Whether you heard of it or not doesn’t matter. The fact is that the moment you sent a messenger here, the problem lies with you, not with us. Before even insulting the Baron, you caused a problem by coming here as a messenger.”

“That’s how it is. I’d like to hear more about this, so I’ll have to ask you to come with me to the Adventurers' Guild.”

“Eek!?”

The messenger shudders when Rizac pats his shoulder. I can understand why he’s scared.

The men in armor were surrounded by the Adventurers' Guild staff and were taken to the Guild without further resistance.