Previously in NWC-
Reno and Luna avoid an argument. Soon after they decide to call it a night, going to sleep. After they wake up, they return to the FTG to find guests waiting for them CeCe had come with Lyn, ready to begin discussing a plan. Lyn decided to mess with Reno and Luna, annoying Reno. Reno, in response, smugly tells her off...
Lyn's face drops with irritation, glaring at Reno. "Excuse me? What did you say to me? It sounded like you said something very bad to me!" Lyn becomes reasonably angry, taking a step towards Reno.
Reno waves his index finger in front of him, grinning. "Now that other people know about Medusa AND I'll be taking her out in public, you have no more blackmail on me!" Reno proudly proclaims his defense, thinking he'd won. "That means I don't have to sit here and take this!"
Lyn sighs, shaking her head. "Poor naïve boy." Lyn elegantly flips her hand, holding it up to her mouth. She opens it slightly and mist begins to spew out. She breaths in and slowly exhales, blowing freezing air towards Reno. The air is so cold that ice begins to form on the finger Reno had been waving. Before he's able to process it, his entire hand is coated in ice, rendered immobile. "Sure, I don't have blackmail. But that just means I'll have to resort to plan B."
"What the-" Reno's eyes widen as his hand becomes frozen. He's left speechless, completely unaware of Lyn's abilities.
"Let that be a lesson. I'm not quite fond of my business partners speaking to me in such a way." Lyn flips her hair as she turns around, walking back to CeCe.
CeCe sighs, shaking her head. "Lyn, please. Can we just get along?"
Lyn smiles, acting innocent. "Whatever do you mean? Reno and I are great business partners already." She pauses, slowly turning to Reno and glaring at him. "Right, Reno?"
Her tone was enough to make him shiver. He furiously nods his head in agreement. "I sure am lucky to have such a great and awesome person like Lyn as a business buddy! I look forward to spending a lot of my money at her shop!" Reno breaks out in a cold sweat, avoiding eye contact.
Luna watches, her eyes narrowing with worry. "(This will be quite the long journey I presume.)"
CeCe clears her throat, trying to move past what just happened. "Anyway! Reno, as you might know, Lyn is an excellent merchant who is also invested in the future of Bambadale."
Reno nods his head, crossing his arms. "Ahh!" He jumps slightly as he feels the chill form his frozen hand. He stuffs his hands in his pockets to avoid making the same mistake. "Okay, what about it?"
"Well, if we're going to even begin to attempt establishing trade routes to Bambadale then we're going to need someone with an aggressive business strategy."
Reno slowly pans over to Lyn who was smiling innocently, crossing her hands in front of her. "Oh she's aggressive alright."
Lyn chuckles, adjusting her glasses. "Oh, business buddy, you're too kind!" She claps her hands together and smiles sweetly.
"Not a compliment!" He raises his voice slightly at her comment, but quickly calms down.
"As I was saying, we need Lyn's help." CeCe smiles brightly, holding her hands out as if displaying Lyn. "Out of anyone I know, I trust Lyn the most, especially when it comes to things of this nature."
"You are too kind, CeCe!" Lyn playfully nudges CeCe, giggling.
Reno watches with annoyance. "(Look at her trying to act all innocent and cute. That girl is a monster!)"
CeCe smiles brightly, seemingly proud to talk about Lyn. "Lyn's actually the one who helped me get into trade! When I needed a way to make money she taught me the basics and it was all uphill from there!"
Reno tilts his head in confusion. "You're from the capitol, right, CeCe?"
CeCe nods her head. "That's right! I was born and raised there! Why do you ask?"
Reno shakes his head slightly. "Just curious about something. How'd you even end up out here in Bambadale? It seems like such a long distance to just randomly decide to want to check it out."
"Ahh! Well that's just it, actually! I needed to leave the capitol for a bit and I had heard rumors of a small town. I came, checked it out, and fell in love! Bambadale is my home away from home, and that's why I want it to prosper."
"Why'd you have to leave the capitol?"
Lyn shakes her head, seemingly annoyed. "Enough questions. We need to discuss how we're going to go about this. Understand, business buddy?" She gives him a cold smile, causing him to shiver.
"Yes ma'am." Reno shuts his mouth, avoiding eye contact.
CeCe lets out a sigh, smiling slightly. "Lyn is right, we've gotten off topic. Now, let's go over some basic information." CeCe sits on a log, beckoning the others to join her. After the rest have gathered around, she begins the first official meeting. "Let's go over who will be with who. We have Lyn, Reno, Luna, Medusa, and me. Lyn and I are the only two with any sort of trade experience."
Reno sighs, shaking his head. "Got it. I'm the hired muscle again, aren't I?"
CeCe smiles cutely, putting her hands under chin. "Thank you~!" Reno groans slightly before letting CeCe talk again. "Lyn and I will be together handling all of the paperwork and discussion. To be honest, there's not much you three are going to be able to do at first. For the first couple of days you three can explore the city and have fun! However, after we've planned a couple of meetings, things will start moving fast. After that, you'll be needed on standby should any of our discussions turn sour."
Reno squints his eyes and looks at CeCe with concern. "I knew business was brutal but what kind of market are we in that you're planning on being attacked?!"
"That's just business. There's a reason the Rosaire kingdom has been under a great deal of scrutiny. It wasn't like this a couple of years ago. But one day the king decided that whoever has more money could do whatever they want. He used to care so much, but one day he suddenly became greedy. The officials will even pardon murder for the right price."
"This place sounds like it's crawling with criminals! Are you sure this is the kind of place we want business with?"
CeCe shrugs her shoulders, shaking her head. "It's THE trade center of this entire continent, so unfortunately it's the best option. That and not everyone is bad! I'm certain the nobles will talk about moving out to the 'nice and quiet countryside', but the first time they make the trip they're never going to step foot out here again. It will suck for Bambadale at first, but in the long run we'll be unbothered. Besides, as long as people pay their taxes their property can't be taken. That's one law the king has upheld in his greed, so if Bambadale pays their taxes then they still own everything."
"Does the old man know about this? The part about it being bad at first?"
CeCe shakes her head, crossing her arms. "No. In fact, that's why I've avoided trying this in the past."
"So you think there's no hope?"
CeCe smiles with confidence, shaking her. She points at Reno and proudly proclaims, "No! That's where you come in!"
Reno's eyes widen and he points to himself. "Me?!"
CeCe nods her head, crossing her arms again. "That's right! The mayor is borderline obsessed with you."
Reno raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Really?"
"Eh, you didn't know? He's all you were talking about for days when I first came back. He'll never say it to your face because men are stubborn, but he sees you like an adopted son."
"But… we've only known each other for a little now. It just doesn't make sense."
"It makes sense to me. A sad old man living all alone when all of a sudden a boy who reminds him of his son shows up. It was going to happen one way or another."
Reno thinks for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "So, let me guess. You want me to try to convince the old man to accept the risks involved with trading with Rosaire?"
"Hit it right on the head! If anyone can do it, I know it's you! Do your best!" CeCe playfully pumps her fist in the air, cheering on Reno.
"Ugh, fine. How much time do I have to prepare?"
CeCe thinks for a moment, placing her index finger on her chin and rocking slightly. "As soon as possible would be nice. We are leaving in six days after all."
Suddenly, Lyn steps in. She smiles and speaks with an upbeat tone. "Right now, business buddy! There's no time like the present! Right?"
"What?! Right now is way too soon!"
"Are you telling me no, business buddy?" Lyn's voice is suddenly tinged with an undertone of danger, causing Reno's instincts to begin acting up.
"Right now. Got it." Reno nods his head, standing up. "I guess I'll be back then." He begins walking, too terrified to look behind him and risk making eye contact with Lyn.
Luna watches, thinking to herself. "(I need to teach him how to stand up for himself it would appear.)"
CeCe watches as Reno leaves. As soon as he's out of sight she begins whispering with excitement. "Now that it's just us girls, we can talk about the most important part of this trip!" Luna's curiosity is caught, her full attention on CeCe. "Lyn and I were planning… a girls' night!"
TO BE CONTINUED...