Chapter 226

“So first, I want to hear about what kind of company the Coconut Company is. I don’t know anything about it except that it’s a company run by Goblins from the western continent.”

In response to my question, Tirmel smirked as if he had been asked something good.

“Kukuku… That’s not hard.”

Seeing his sinister smile, Mina, perhaps feeling nervous, cautiously asked.

Gulp.

“Then, first of all, where did the Coconut Company come from?”

“Our Coconut Company started in the Sprite Republic, located to the west of Yustia.”

“…A republic? What’s that?”

“Ah, a republic is our country’s political system. Every citizen has the right to participate in the nation’s governance, and they elect representatives to act on their behalf. These representatives then participate in governing the country.”

A republic?

The explanation from Tirmel was a word I thought I’d never hear again.

A republic…

“…If representatives run the government, then what do nobles or kings do in this republic?”

“There are no nobles or kings.”

“…So, there’s no leader of the country?”

“A leader… Well, each representative elected by the citizens could be considered a leader. We call them representatives. And if you’re thinking of a concept similar to a king or emperor in a typical kingdom or empire, then there’s a leader elected by the representatives through another vote. We refer to that person as the Prime Minister.”

Yuri and Mina, hearing Tirmel’s explanation, were shocked by the idea of a republic, something they had never imagined before.

“I, I can’t believe it! No king or nobles…!”

“Can you even call a country without a king or nobles a country? Electing a leader like some village head…! Can such a country even function properly?”

“Hmm… Of course, the republican system is still in its infancy, so there are many internal and external noises. But still, we strive every day to build a better republic…”

“That’s exactly it! Citizens who haven’t even gone through proper education or historical training meddling in politics is like a clueless villager running a major company!”

“Not only that. If all citizens gathered to participate in politics, even a minor state affair would take all day. No, is it even possible for the entire population to gather and run a country?”

Mina and Yuri seemed unable to properly imagine the political system of a republic, twisting Tirmel’s explanation into something bizarre.

They acted as if they had encountered something indescribably terrifying.

“I can’t believe such a country exists in this world!!”

“No king, no nobles, and citizens running the country! This is against the natural order! It’s defying the will of heaven! Kyahhh!”

…Well, in a world where kingdoms and empires are the norm, the concept of a republic is quite hard to accept.

And Tirmel, realizing the two didn’t understand the concept of a republic, awkwardly smiled and changed the subject.

“…Actually, the political decision-making process doesn’t work like that. This is hard to explain. Let’s talk more about our Coconut Company instead.”

“Ahem! Y-yes. The company’s matters come first.”

“Right. So, I’d like to hear about the main products of the Coconut Company…”

And so, the conversation returned to its original point, and soon Tirmel and Mina began discussing the Coconut Company.

…

…

…

After persistently questioning the operations of the Coconut Company like a detective interrogating a suspect, Mina muttered in a bewildered voice.

“…It seems to be running better than I thought.”

“Truly so.”

No. You didn’t understand anything.

From the middle, you just stared blankly, not even understanding what they were talking about.

Anyway, after calmly discussing, Mina seemed to realize that Tirmel was running the company more diligently than she had thought.

Right.

Even if you have prejudices about a certain race, when you actually interact with them, those prejudices might not hold up.

I wanted to convey that, and it seems they realized it through their conversation with Tirmel, which is fortunate.

Suddenly, Tirmel checked the time and made a startled expression.

“Oh my. I got so absorbed in the conversation that time flew by. Still, it was enjoyable to have a fruitful discussion.”

“…No, I also found it beneficial to hear about the Coconut Company.”

With that, Mina, though disappointed she couldn’t find fault with the Coconut Company, also seemed to think, ‘Maybe the Coconut Company is actually a decent company?’

“It was beneficial!”

And Yuri, who from the middle couldn’t keep up with the conversation due to lack of knowledge, just repeated Mina’s words like a parrot.

“Then, I have some pending work, so I’ll take my leave now. Feel free to look around the Coconut Company’s interior. Of course, except for the restricted areas.”

With that, Tirmel skillfully concluded the conversation and stood up, leaving just the three of us in the reception room.

“How was the conversation?”

“…Definitely, after talking, it seems the company wasn’t just established as a front. The way the company is run is too solid for it to be a disguise.”

“Solid.”

“So, are the suspicions cleared?”

“…No, not yet. It’s clear that the Coconut Company isn’t a suspicious organization disguised as a company, but whether it’s a company aiming to make money for wholesome purposes is a separate issue.”

“Right. A separate issue.”

The suspicions about the Goblins aren’t completely cleared yet.

After all, once prejudices are built, they’re like snow falling on a cold day—easy to pile up without resistance, but hard to break once frozen.

But still, it’s an improvement that they now call it the Coconut Company instead of the Goblin Company.

“So, what’s next?”

“…Stalking!”

“Right! Stalking… Huh?”

…

…

…

And so, the stalking led by Mina began.

Come to think of it, she had stalked someone before coming to the Adventurer Guild.

This Mina girl. She might look timid, but her personality is incredibly bold, isn’t it?

“In front of us, he acted like a decent merchant running the Coconut Company, but there’s no guarantee that’s his true self. Maybe the merchant persona is just a mask, and he actually harbors sinister intentions.”

“Mina, is this right?”

“Senpai, just trust me.”

“U, uh…”

With that, Mina immediately followed Tirmel as he left the office.

When we followed him, he was already back to work, receiving some report from a female Goblin who seemed to be his secretary.

“What? Is that true!?”

It didn’t seem like good news, as Tirmel, who had appeared as an ambitious businessman in front of us, now showed a violent expression, unable to hide his anger.

“See! That ferocious look…! The previous demeanor was definitely a mask, and that’s his true nature!”

Meanwhile, the Goblin who delivered the report kept bowing apologetically, and Tirmel was furiously scolding the secretary Goblin.

“I’m sorry!”

“I asked if that was true! Are you really pregnant!!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice any signs until we arrived in Astram…!”

“Don’t you know how much effort we’re putting into establishing a new branch of the Coconut Company in Astram? All employees are parts to move the Coconut Company! And you are a part carefully selected to establish the Astram branch! Don’t you have any awareness that you are a part of the Coconut Company!”

“I’m really sorry!”

From eavesdropping, it seemed he was angry because one of his subordinates was pregnant.

“Getting so angry just because a subordinate is pregnant… He’s definitely a villain.”

“Right. How can he so easily call employees parts like that…”

Seeing this, Yuri and Mina looked at Tirmel with angry expressions, convinced their thoughts weren’t wrong.

While they were discussing, Tirmel couldn’t calm his anger, and the secretary Goblin was tearfully pleading with him.

“I’m sorry. Even though I’m pregnant, I’ll work hard day and night to keep up with the other Goblins, so please don’t fire me…!”

“Fire? Did you just say fire? Ha! That’s really unbelievable!”

“If I get fired in a foreign place like this, I won’t be able to find another job. Branch Manager, please…”

“Didn’t I just say? You are a part to move the Coconut Company! A part prepared to operate the Coconut Company!”

“Sob… Sob… Branch Manager…”

Despite his subordinate’s tearful pleas, Tirmel continued like a cold-blooded person who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.