Ch 197 : Handling fee
"Speaking of handling fees, I have a bad memory about that..."
Paimon looked at Aether and said:
"Back when we first arrived in Inazuma and were applying for residency, we were told the handling fee was 1 million Mora per person..."
"If it weren't for Thoma, who helped us bargain it down to 200,000 Mora per person, and then to 600 Mora per person, we probably would've gone bankrupt on the spot!"
"That much Mora... just think how much delicious food it could buy..."
"Haha, in fact, the actual handling fee charged by the International Trade Association was always just 500 Mora," Beidou laughed heartily.
"But at that time, your friend Thoma was already doing pretty well getting it down to 600 Mora!"
"If it's 500 Mora per person, let me count..."
As Paimon spoke, she held up her little fingers and began counting:
"The Traveler, Su Yuan, Beidou, Lyney, Lynette, Freminet, and then me..."
"That makes seven people, so 3,500 Mora in total!"
"Nice math, little Paimon!" Lyney said with a smile.
"Hehe, Lyney, don't underestimate me! I can totally handle simple math like this! Otherwise, how could I avoid being scammed out of Mora by shady food vendors out there?" Paimon giggled.
"Oh? You're still talking about Mora?"
Leading the group toward the International Trade Association, the official from the Kanjou Commission named Nakano spoke up:
"Although the Kanjou Commission still charges a handling fee, we no longer accept Mora..."
"No Mora? Then what do you take as the fee?" Su Yuan asked with a puzzled look, though a sense of foreboding was already creeping into his heart…
"An eye," Nakano said flatly.
"One eye per person. Otherwise, you're not allowed to operate within Inazuma."
Everyone drew in a sharp breath at those words...
Has the situation in Inazuma really gotten this bad?
"Oh? Then what if we decide to leave Inazuma right now?" Beidou asked.
"Since you've already set foot on Inazuma's port, it means you've already entered Inazuma's territory..."
Nakano continued slowly:
"To leave Inazuma, you also need to submit a departure handling fee to the International Trade Association — one eye as well."
"And don't even think about trying to pass off some common fish eyes or chicken and duck eyes. It has to be the eye of a rare species..."
"If you really don't have one, then leaving one of your own eyes behind is acceptable too…"
"Don't you think this is wrong?" Paimon asked, struggling to understand.
"Casually and cruelly taking people's eyes like this—doesn't that seem way too bizarre?"
"Whether these orders are right or wrong means nothing to us. As long as they come from Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, we accept and obey them unconditionally!"
"So, from the way you're speaking… it sounds like you don't intend to hand over your eyes?"
"Nakano" tilted his head—and then it spun a full 180 degrees to face the group behind him.
The sunglasses on his face twisted with his now deformed, crimson expression…
"In that case, I'll just have to personally take your eyes… and offer them to Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho…"
Everyone watched the scene unfold with serious expressions.
Had they really run into someone already corrupted by the Eerie powers as soon as they arrived in Inazuma?
But still, this "Nakano" was just an ordinary person who had been Eerified—his combat ability shouldn't be too strong.
With a bit of strategy, they should be able to defeat him even without relying on Lyney's Eerie form...
"Haha, I thought we'd have to hand over something truly valuable as the handling fee. But eyes? That's easy. I've got plenty right here—I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied!"
Just then, Lyney stepped forward with a grin.
"We're almost at the International Trade Association. I hope you haven't been lying to me..."
"Nakano" turned his head back to the front, momentarily regaining his normal appearance, and continued leading the group forward.
Before long, they arrived at the International Trade Association, where a woman named Yuriha received them.
Aether and Paimon both recognized her immediately—she was the same Yuriha who had tried to swindle them out of two million Mora during their first visit to Inazuma!
Yuriha clearly recognized them too.
She gave a slight smile and greeted them:
"Oh? Isn't this the Traveler and Paimon? Long time no see!"
"Since you've made it here, that means you've already prepared the handling fee, yes?"
"There are seven of you, so we'll need at least seven eyes..."
"And I'm sure Nakano already explained—ordinary eyes won't cut it. They must be rare ones. Or, of course, your own eyes are acceptable as payment too…"
"Don't worry, don't worry—it's all minor stuff." As Lyney spoke, he removed his magician's hat and began pulling out eyeballs from inside it, one after another...
These eyes varied greatly in shape and color—they clearly weren't ordinary eyes...
"So? Pretty impressive, right?" Lyney said with a grin.
"They are indeed. Many of these are species I've never seen before..." Yuriha nodded in satisfaction as she examined the eyes Lyney had brought.
"To offer these to Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho... She'll definitely be pleased."
As she spoke, Yuriha handed several stamped documents to the group.
"Alright, you're free to leave. With these documents, you may move freely within Inazuma."
"However, before your departure date arrives, make sure you return to Ritou and report to the International Trade Association to pay the exit handling fee..."
"Whatever you do—do not try to leave Inazuma without permission…"
"This is my warning and advice to you."
After that, the group left the International Trade Association.
"Lyney... those strange and unusual eyes—don't tell me they were all real?" Paimon asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Of course not," Lyney laughed.
"Those eyeballs were all just props made by Lynette…"
"Lynette really is the best magician's assistant in the world—her props are so realistic, they can easily fool anyone!"
"It's good that we managed to get through for now," Aether said.
"Even if it's just a few ordinary people affected by the Eerie powers, they're not too difficult to handle…"
Kazuha spoke up as well:
"But since we've just arrived in Inazuma, it's best not to cause too much of a stir."
"I wonder what the current situation is with the Kamisato Clan. Earlier, I heard from Su Yuan that the head of the Kamisato family, Kamisato Ayato, may have already fallen to the Eerie corruption…"
"But no matter what, let's head to Inazuma City first and find Kujou Sara at the Tenryou Commission."
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