Meanwhile, in the imperial capital.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital.

Two small-to-medium-sized merchant companies had disappeared. The Empire had plenty of merchant houses, so this had little impact on the average person. Most of the shops and businesses had been bought up by other companies, meaning regulars only noticed a change in ownership.

However, there was one thing. Just one thing that had completely disappeared from the market.

"What? You don't have 'Oni's Horn'?"

"My deepest apologies, sir. This medicine has been discontinued…"

At the pharmacy counter, a nobleman who had secretly come to buy aphrodisiacs clicked his tongue in displeasure. He was an old man past middle age, the kind who even had grandchildren.

He had been a regular user of the aphrodisiac 'Oni's Horn.'

"How about a different medicine? For example, this 'Inn Runner' here. Just one sip will make any woman act like a cat beastkin in heat! She'll be running to the nearest inn in no time, guaranteed. It even has contraceptive effects—"

"… I want a male stamina enhancer."

"Then might I suggest 'Curved Thick Blade'? By increasing mana concentration, it promotes improved blood flow and fatigue recovery, thereby enhancing male function. Our advertising slogan is that it'll curve like a sword—"

"I've already tried that one! At best, I only got to about half!"

BANG! The nobleman slammed the counter. The shop had few customers, but the loud noise drew attention, and the elderly noble awkwardly pulled his robe deeper over his face.

"… The strongest one was 'Oni's Horn,' wasn't it!? Don't you have any in stock!?"

"I'm terribly sorry, but our stock is completely gone… As soon as sales ended, someone bought up every last dose we had remaining."

"Who is this insolent wretch!?"

"My deepest apologies, but customer information is strictly confidential…"

The elderly noble ground his teeth. Still, he forced himself to appear calm.

"I have no intention of robbing them. I simply wish to negotiate and have them share some with me. Tell me."

"Well… but still…"

"Oh my, was this gold coin yours? You must have dropped it."

"… Let us simply say it was a certain exalted personage."

The elderly noble clicked his tongue yet again at the information he'd obtained by pressing a single gold coin into the clerk's palm.

If they called the buyer an 'exalted personage' even when speaking to a fellow noble, it had to be someone from the imperial family. Negotiating with someone like that would be difficult.

"Kuhh… What about the factory!? The people who were making this medicine!?"

"The ranch the former company head owned apparently vanished, so reproducing the medicine is hopeless."

"I'll pay any amount of money! Where did the company head go!?"

"He went bankrupt and is currently toiling as a menial laborer at another company…"

"I shall provide the funds! All he needs to do is build a new ranch, yes!?"

And so, the merchant was forcibly set back on his feet by nobles who needed their 'Oni's Horn,' and he set about gathering the oni slaves he had previously sold off.

Then, at the precise moment every last slave had been collected, he vanished with all the money.

The following day, the oni slaves who should have been left behind also disappeared like smoke. The merchant wound up internationally wanted as an investment fraud artist.

But that is a story for another time.