Raven's mind was still confused. She had been targeted as a criminal for some time now, but she got an earful from Fuwa, it was her idea to clean her name like this, she had suggested something foolish and extreme like going back to the place she had come and asking to the king who summoned to clean her stat, but obviously Raven told her she was an idiot and to keep calm, then Fuwa suggested to ask to the merchant for it. Of course, her hands were tainted with blood, but that didn't change, a stupid paper wouldn't change her actions at all, but it seemed like it was important for normal people. For Maxwell, it was a pain, he relaxed and looked at the girls in front of him, Fuwa was happy cheerfully congratulating her companion.
'So that elusive bunny was just a mischievous cat in disguise' He reflected, he needed a good story to tell the others "We gotta keep this between ourselves" He finally said, Raven nodded, Fuwa seemed confused but she just nodded because Raven agreed to it.
"We can say that the saintess had to travel north on some mission or something" Suggested Raven "That way curious people will just forget about her overtime"
"That could work" Said the man rubbing his chin "That would actually be an excellent idea" He said "That would send those bastards following after a fleeting shadow that doesn't exist"
Raven closed her eyes, she didn't need to hear the rest to understand who he was talking about. Fuwa on the other hand looked confused.
"Who?"
"The masked people that have taken root on this city" Fuwa then understood and looked at the cat girl, who looked back at her annoyed "It seems like they are trying to pretend to be an old group that used to cause problems around here, they took some of my people prisoners" He looked very angry for a moment then masked it with a polite smile "But you girls don't worry about it"
Fuwa, sensing the gravity of the situation, looked between Maxwell and Raven, her brow furrowed "I remember you told us that... what are they trying to do?"
Maxwell sighed, his gaze darkening "They're trying to reclaim power... causing chaos to undermine the stability of the city. It seems we were targeted just because we were on their way, but now we are openly opposing them. They think they can intimidate us into submission" He glanced at Raven as if gauging her reaction "But that's not going to happen"
Raven had kept silent. She didn't want to get dragged into a fight with things she didn't understand. But then sighed "They say they are the hollow brotherhood, don't they?" The mention of the group's name surprised the merchant "They have been lurking in the slums for some time now, under your noses, they have been spreading drugs and kidnapping people for some time"
The merchant nodded, he looked troubled, maybe they didn't knew this or were just trying to pretend it wasn't like this.
"We can't face them alone, soon an audience will be held to talk about this trouble between the powerhouses of the city" He then smiled "But you two don't get involved with them, they are too dangerous"
Raven nodded, Fuwa seemed like she wanted to protest but then Raven placed a hand on her shoulder applying some pressure, it didn't hurt her, but it served as a reminder to not get involved in this. Raven had been in many nasty situations across her life, she had been in extreme danger like when she was in front of Undine, or when they fled the Black Port, she had been defeated by a hero, she survived across other situations... but this gave her the chills, something about those guys was terrible.
"But... I would like to talk about another topic if that is okay with you" Said Raven changing the subject of the conversation.
Maxwell who was deep in thought raised his eyes and met the ex-criminal eyes. His sharp senses as a merchant were tingling.
"It's about my companion here..." Said Raven, the merchant's eyes followed her analyzing in detail Fuwa who looked back at Raven in panic, this wasn't part of the plan "She had a strange dream, and from it an idea that would be interesting for you..."
"I'm listening" He said, in war or not against criminals, a merchant is a merchant.
"It's about something she named as MacDunaldo"
Fuwa was starting to panic. She could feel lawyers across the universe breathing furiously and typing very fast while breathing heavily, as they were ready to fall upon they.
Raven looked happy, devilish with a shark green on her face as she explained about the things Fuwa had told her, obviously not mentioning that it was from the other world, she explained about the meat in bread with cheese and lettuce and other things, she was exaggerating, but the businessman looked impressed, each passing moment, Fuwa felt like if she was trapped in a cage alongside two hungry wolves... both had very different things in mind.
'If he baits then I won't have to worry about feeding this expensive princess anymore!' Crossed Raven's mind.
'If I could sell fast and cheap meals to travelers, mercenaries, workers, and adventurers alike it is bound to be a success...' He looked at Raven, he knew she wanted to fulfill something coming with this idea, but he wasn't sure what she wanted 'If I don't take it, she could easily go to another big merchant and then I will lose the race'
Fuwa felt her heartbeat quicken, caught between Raven's shark-like grin and Maxwell's calculating gaze. She could practically feel the weight of the idea Raven had spun out of her dream pressing down on her. The world around her felt like it was spinning, the air thick with tension, as if this simple idea had suddenly become the most dangerous game of all.
"I... I didn't mean for it to get this far" Fuwa muttered under her breath, feeling the walls close in. But Raven was already deep into her pitch, painting an almost irresistible vision of what MacDunaldo could become. If it had been a success back on Fuwa's planet, then why not here? After all, people have to eat, in this world or in the other.
Maxwell sat down and leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of his face as he watched Raven, then Fuwa. His mind was already working through logistics... suppliers, locations, labor costs. There was a gleam in his eye that told Fuwa he was hooked, even if he hadn't fully admitted it yet.
"And what exactly do you want out of this?" Maxwell asked, his voice smooth, but with a hint of suspicion "I can see you're not just doing this out of the goodness of your heart or gratitude for cleansing your name, after all, that was just a debt being repaid"
Raven shrugged, pretending to be casual, though Fuwa knew better. "Simple" she said "I want a cut... too many mouths to feed after all"
Maxwell considered her words for a moment longer, then finally gave a slow nod "I'll invest" he said, sealing the deal "We will talk later about your share in this, but first we gotta check how it goes"
Raven stood up, stretching lazily, as if this entire conversation hadn't put her friend through an emotional wringer "Then we have a deal"
Maxwell nodded "We do"
Both of them had this stare, that startled Fuwa, they were talking about major business here. Soon the conversation turned about explanations about the menu, and for the first time in her life, the isekaied hero thought how stressful was to talk about fast food. In normal conditions, it would be impossible to replicate it, but with the fortune of a merchant like Maxwell... and also, unknown to both of them, this was something the man was looking for, after losing many inversions at the Black Port fiasco... but now... it seemed like the goddess of fortune was smiling to him again.