Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

"Ahem!"

Mimi choked on her milk and coughed repeatedly, puffing out her cheeks as she angrily shouted, "Why does Mimi have to be called a 'stupid'?!"

"Children shouldn't interrupt."

After saying that, Green threw a piece of wood cake into the air.

Mimi's eyes lit up, and she jumped up and caught it steadily in her mouth. "Woof! Mimi is really amazing!"

Anastasia sighed and rubbed her forehead, knowing her child's temperament all too well.

She picked up a piece of brown sugar and put it into the teacup, then picked up a silver spoon and stirred it slowly.

The sugar cubes slowly melted in the warm tea, creating a ring of light brown ripples.

"Mr. Green is unwilling to sell this batch of goods. Has he heard something about it?"

She looked up, her gaze falling on Green's face, her tone calm yet tinged with a hint of probing.

"Or rather, this was a trap you set beforehand, a way to use it as leverage to get a share of Crusch's plan?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Anastasia stared intently into Green's eyes.

Those eyes, which always held a smile, now held a sharp edge unique to businessmen.

Her business instincts told her that the man before her must possess more information than she did.

As the head of the Hexin Merchant Guild, Anastasia's intelligence network extends throughout the capital.

She already knew that Crusch had secretly mobilized a large amount of military supplies and gathered them at the Duke's mansion.

Anna's purpose in coming here was definitely not as simple as reselling the potions to make ten times the profit.

At this critical juncture, whoever controls the Soul-Soothing Grass holds Crusch's life in their hands.

The Duke of Karlsten is currently in dire need of a large quantity of high-grade healing potions in preparation for a major event.

Upon hearing this, Green slowly lowered his eyelids, his thick eyelashes concealing the expression in his eyes, revealing an inexplicable air of mystery.

"You guessed that; you truly deserve to be called the top merchant of Kararaki."

Hook my ass, I just wanted to put some coins in Otto so he could earn me some pocket money.

Who knows that this kid secretly opened a rat factory and stockpiled a bunch of tranquilizing herbs.

Anastasia wore an expression of knowing satisfaction, feeling even more that Green was somewhat unfathomable.

"In that case, I think we can achieve a closer cooperation."

"A closer relationship? Does Miss Anna intend to form a marriage alliance with our camp? But it seems you don't have any women of marriageable age on your side."

Green looked up, a half-smile playing on his lips.

It can't be the president himself who has to step in.

"Mimi is great! Mimi is a mature woman now!"

The cat-like orc dragged the stool closer to Green, captivated by the mysterious and powerful aura emanating from him.

Rem immediately became alert and stared at Mimi with hostility.

Green glanced at Mimi with disdain, then stepped on the crossbeam of Mimi's stool and pushed her far away with a creak.

"Sorry, we just happened to be on the same page."

Anastasia had dealt with countless people, but this was the first time she had encountered someone like Green who was completely out of her league.

"Mr. Green has misunderstood. The point is not about intimacy, but about cooperation."

"cooperate?"

Green chuckled scrutinizingly. "President Anna probably hasn't even figured out Crusch's purpose yet, and she's already looking for someone to cooperate with?"

Anastasia's expression faltered slightly, and her hand holding the spoon paused for a moment.

He then casually picked up the black tea on the table, took a small sip, and concealed the slight embarrassment in his eyes that he had been seen through.

"Oh? Is it that obvious?"

After setting down her teacup, this woman, who was extremely shrewd and calculating, had composed herself and said frankly:

"I only found out that she was buying up large quantities of ironware and dragon carriages. Just by looking at the scale, I knew it was no small matter."

This cunning fox, despite not being certain about anything, pretended to be completely confident.

That talk of cooperation was just a ploy to extract information from Green.

Green looked around and realized that almost everyone sitting in the cake shop was from the Hexin Chamber of Commerce, something he hadn't noticed when he came in.

Anna might have already bought the store.

Green crossed his fingers and teased, "You really are a gossip, going to such lengths for something unknown."

"After all, she's an open competitor, so finding out her intentions early on is beneficial to me."

Anastasia rested her elbows on the table, her palms supporting her chin, her eyes slightly upturned, and a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Well... actually, it wouldn't hurt to tell you, it's the same price, how about it?"

Green's fingertips slowly traced across the tabletop, finally tapping the spot where Anna had written "6000" with tea.

Anastasia shook her head calmly, lightly wiping the tabletop with her fingertip, erasing the last zero of "6000".

"Mr. Green's appetite is too big. With just one piece of information, this is all I can offer."

"make a deal."

Green blurted it out almost without thinking, afraid that Anastasia might change her mind.

"Huh?"

Anastasia's fingertips were still on the water stains on the table, and her eyebrows suddenly rose.

A flicker of surprise flashed across her eyes, quickly turning into a playful smile.

He pressed his hand against his chin with a slight force, making the curve of his cheeks appear even more cunning, and his soft, sweet accent in the Karalaki dialect carried a hint of mockery.

"Is Green short of money? If you can switch to my team, I can make up that zero for you."

"Great! Mimi is the strongest, and if Mimi and Green join forces, they're absolutely the strongest!"

Upon hearing this, Mimi immediately jumped up and loudly agreed, then used the stool as a scooter to slide all the way back.

Anastasia affectionately ruffled Mimi's hair, lightly flicked her forehead with her fingertips, then turned to look at Green, her smile deepening.

"It seems this child really likes you."

Green quickly moved his chair to create some distance between himself and Mimi.

"I'm sorry, I have no intention of switching sides."

Moreover, pedophilia is punishable by death. This brat must have something wrong with him, always sniffing at me.

"That's a real shame." Anastasia sighed softly and waved her hand toward the door.

Immediately, a servant dressed in the uniform of the Hexin Merchant Guild strode over, carrying a heavy bag of gold coins, and respectfully placed it in front of Green.

She pushed the purse towards Green, her tone calm: "Would you like me to check it?"

"There's no need for that," Green said, stuffing the money into Rem's arms.

Seeing this, Anastasia's eyes flashed with understanding, and she pressed on directly, "Now, can you tell me what Crusch is plotting?"

"Of course. To be honest, it's just a fish market business." Green picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

"Fish meat business?"

Anastasia's hand holding the teacup paused abruptly, her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, and her tone was full of doubt.

Green put down his teacup, stretched out his right hand, and gestured meaningfully towards the sky above his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips: "It's that one in the sky."

"I see... That's quite surprising."

Anastasia's gaze darkened, and her knuckles tightened slightly as she gripped the cup handle, already understanding the situation.

Six hundred gold coins—this deal isn't a loss.

Green was clearly prepared and intended to get involved in this matter, which is why he stockpiled Soul-Soothing Grass in advance.

However, these still-developing medical supplies are probably not enough to convince Kur to submit her as a ticket to the expedition.

What exactly is his trump card?

Could it be... that Green possesses information about the white whale?

Anastasia's gaze toward Green deepened; he was indeed a formidable man.

"Let's stop our tea here for today. If we keep chatting, my lovely Rem will get impatient."

Green stood up and took Rem's small hand in his.

I promised to go shopping with her, so I can't waste any more time here.

As he reached the door, Green turned back, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Anna, if you're interested too, you'd better act quickly, time is running out..."

The thought of continuing to date Rem filled Grimm with joy.

Anastasia watched Green leave, a slow smile spreading across her face.

"You call hunting beluga whales a fish meat business? I'm really curious what's hidden beneath that pretty face of yours."

Mimi raised her little hand high: "Miss, Mimi knows! It's a super powerful magical beast!"