The commotion in Hiroto's shop had barely started to die down. Akari had fled in utter disgrace, the half-naked adventurer had finally found a spare cloak, and Hiroto was this close to kicking everyone out so he could quietly die in peace.
Then the front door slammed open again with a *bara bam*.
The entire crowd fell dead silent as a mountain of a man stepped inside.
Hiroto's stomach dropped.
A tall, battle-scarred warrior with a stern face and an aura of absolute authority stood in the doorway, arms crossed. His black coat bore the emblem of the Adventurer's Guild, and his presence sucked the air out of the room.
It was Daigo Iwakura. The Guild Master. A man so powerful that even S-rank adventurers shut up when he walked into a room.
Hiroto went completely still.
Oh no.
Daigo stared directly at him. Then he strode forward, stopping at the counter. The crowd held their breath.
Finally, in a deep, gravelly voice, Daigo said:
"You. Are exactly the man I've been looking for."
Hiroto blinked.
Then he slowly turned to look behind him, just in case Daigo was talking to someone else.
There was nobody there.
"…Me?" Hiroto asked weakly.
"Yes," Daigo said. "Your potions. They are extraordinary."
Hiroto's brain *shiiin* struggled to process this sentence.
"Uh… they're really not."
Daigo ignored him.
"I have spoken with my men. The results are undeniable. Your products have strengthened our adventurers beyond expectations," Daigo continued. "Your stamina potion alone granted a mere D-rank rookie a skill that no one has seen in years."
Hiroto glared at Ren.
Ren grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
Hiroto wanted to die.
"Therefore," Daigo said, voice booming, "from this day forward, Arakawa Alchemy will be the official supplier of potions for the Adventurer's Guild."
The shop fell completely silent.
Hiroto stared at him.
His entire soul *zuzu* left his body.
"…I'm sorry, what?"
"You will supply our guild with potions," Daigo repeated. "In return, the guild will provide funding, materials, and full protection."
"Wait. Hold on. NO."
Daigo frowned. "You refuse?"
"OF COURSE I refuse!" Hiroto snapped. "I don't want a contract! I don't want funding! I don't even want customers!"
Daigo narrowed his eyes. "…You don't want money?"
Hiroto hesitated. "…Okay, I do want money."
"Then it's settled."
"It is absolutely not settled—!"
Before Hiroto could argue, Daigo reached into his coat—
And dropped a fat bag of gold onto the counter with a *don don*.
It hit the wood with a heavy thud.
Hiroto's brain *gura gura* short-circuited.
Daigo's stare was unbreakable. "Consider this an advance payment."
Hiroto's eye twitched violently. "I—YOU CAN'T JUST BRIBE ME INTO THIS."
Daigo placed a second bag of gold on the counter.
Hiroto's moral resistance started to collapse.
His hand subtly reached toward the money.
Daigo placed a third bag.
Hiroto immediately grabbed all three.
Ren clapped. "Wow. Strong convictions."
"SHUT UP," Hiroto hissed, shoving the gold into his drawer.
Daigo nodded approvingly. "Excellent. We will send adventurers to pick up regular shipments starting next week. I expect great things, Arakawa."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.
The entire crowd burst into cheers.
"THE LEGENDARY ALCHEMIST DID IT AGAIN!"
"NOW EVEN THE GUILD ACKNOWLEDGES HIM!"
"THIS SHOP IS OFFICIALLY BLESSED BY THE HEAVENS!" *kyaa*
Hiroto, still stuck in a trance, sat down behind the counter, gripping his bags of gold like a broken man.
His shop had just been forcibly nationalized.
He had no say in this.
And worst of all—
"…This means I actually have to make potions now."
END OF CHAPTER 1