Spice & Wolf Omnibus

by Isuna Hasekura

  “We need but seduce her. You’re trying to fool this wisewolf, so it should be no trouble at all, nay?”

  Love affairs trumped proper business deals.

  This wolf already knew full well things that Lawrence had learned in his many years as a merchant.

  But Lawrence didn’t understand why she was speaking about it with such irritation.

  Setting aside whether or not it was a real possibility, as a potential means to an end it certainly existed.

  So long as they were only discussing it, there was no need for such ill temper.

  Lawrence flinched a bit at Holo’s smile, and Holo looked suddenly behind her.

  “Col, my lad, close your eyes and cover your ears.”

  “Wha–?”

  He hesitated for but a moment.

  By this time well trained by Holo, Col obeyed her with frightening speed.

  Holo gave a satisfied sigh and turned back to Lawrence. “Did you think I had not noticed?”

  Her smile disappeared, and she grabbed Lawrence’s ear and pulled him close.

  “Wh-what are you–”

  “Even you can tell what someone has eaten by what remains on their mouth. But I can tell by scent alone. Even the slightest morsel if I get that close.”

  Lawrence soon realized what Holo was referring to by “that close.”

  He had listened to Eve by the spring of gold, then had his pathetic worries soothed on the second floor of the tavern.

  But why was Holo angry about that now of all times? Lawrence wondered, then realized something strange – something immediately following his conversation with Eve, and now the possibility of seducing her.

  And this strange roundabout talk of being able to tell what someone had eaten by scent alone.

  “Ah–”

  Just as Lawrence realized, Holo drew so near that he could count her individual eyelashes.

  “All I can do is pray you stop being such a reckless male. I’d then spend less effort trying to teach you the difference betwixt courage and foolhardiness.”

  When they had spoken by the spring of gold, Eve had drunk the same ale that Lawrence had.

  Among merchants, cup sharing was not something worth worrying about.

  But while that might hold true for merchants, it was not necessarily so for Holo.

  “Look here, this is a misunderstanding.”

  Lawrence tried to defend himself from at least that count, whereupon Holo violently released his ear and spoke in a quiet voice.

  “I am perfectly aware of that. I told you, ’tis impossible to hide anything from me.”

  It had not particularly hurt, but Lawrence still rubbed his ear as he turned his gaze away tiredly.

  It would have been far more charming of her to simply admit her worry – and if he said so, he would get an ear bitten off.

  Also, this business with Eve was only a possibility, and the moment they would have to bet on that possibility was rapidly approaching.

  Or was it just the very fact of the prospect entering their field of view that upset Holo so?

  Lawrence wondered about it as Holo roused Col, who had obediently placed his head down on the table.

  He thought he understood, more or less.

  Holo was truly worried.

  As the tale of the wolf bones took on more plausibility, her worry was no doubt turning stronger.

  “In any case, what we should do now is–” Holo began with strange vigor, which snapped Lawrence out of his reverie.

  Col was cleaning up the table surface in Holo’s direction.

  Just as Lawrence was wondering what she was up to, Holo held Lawrence’s coin purse up, having loosened it from his waist at some point, and continued talking.

  “–We put an end to this stubbornness and ask young Col for his thoughts. Unless your heart’s set on seducing that vixen, that is.”

  Lawrence, of course, only slumped and sighed.

  Only the finest trading companies had glass windows.

  Normally they had either nothing at all or oil-soaked cloth at best.

  The inn where Lawrence and company were staying was no exception, and the opened outside windows freely let in both the clamor of the town and the frigid air.

  But for once, the cold wind had been forgotten.

  And it was not because they were doing something so hot it let them forget the cold.

  This was what it meant to be stunned into silence.

  “… It can’t be…” Lawrence finally murmured.

  He rubbed his eyes and looked again.

  That did not, of course, change the reality of what was on the table.

  “… Aye, common sense is a troublesome opponent… and yet… and yet…”

  Lawrence knew of many methods to cheat in business, and the more complicated they were, the more power they had.

  Moneychangers’ fraud happened in the exchange markets, with their hundreds of varieties of coins, old and new, from near and far, and fraud around the buying and selling of physical wares involved either complicated machinations or deals made on intricate timelines.

  Of course, there were more straightforward frauds, but in most cases, those relied on the skillful tongue of the swindler as opposed to the method itself.

  This was the first time Lawrence had been so surprised by both a trick’s nature and its source.

  “Er… I don’t remember the exact amount, but if they used this method and made a bit of an adjustment, they would go from fifty-seven boxes of copper coin to sixty… I think.”

  Lawrence and Holo’s shock made Col’s voice a little less certain.

  “No, I’m sure it would. Yes, I see. And no one would be the wiser.”

  “Doubtless not. And still… hnh,” Holo muttered in frustration, pinching Col’s cheek.

  Lawrence could not even manage that.

  Col had discovered a mystery: Fifty-seven boxes of imported copper coin had become sixty boxes when exported.

  The answer lay in the difference between packing coins in parallel stacks of similar height or alternating rows.

  Either way resulted in a perfectly packed box, such that if any coins were stolen, it would be immediately obvious.

  Moreover, even if there were verbal instructions to “pack coins tightly in boxes,” the discrepancy would not be noticed, and in any case, transporting perfectly packed boxes of fixed size reduced the time spent counting coins, also ensuring that if any coins were taken, they would be immediately noticed. So at a given time and place, the only person concerned with how many coins were packed in a box was the buyer receiving them.

  While in transit, nobody worried about how many coins were in a box.

  This was because taxes were levied by the box, as were transportation fees.

  “I wonder, though – has no one else noticed this?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’ll agree that Col is a bright lad, but there are many bright people in the world. If you did this for years, surely you would eventually meet someone else who knows the trick, would you not?”

  Ragusa, the boatman who carried the copper coins down the Roam River to the Jean Company, did the route several times a year and had been doing so for two years.

  And it was true that over two years, someone would have opened up one of the boxes and looked at its contents.

  But there was one important thing.

  “The Jean Company is probably cutting down on the taxes and transport costs they pay and turning profit on the excess, but there’s something very particular necessary for anyone to finally realize that they are making dishonest gains.”

  “Aye?”

  “… Ah! The manifest!” Col’s cheek was still being pinched by Holo, but with something to think about, he did not seem to notice or mind. He quickly gave the answer with a smile, coming back to himself and looking at Holo.

  Holo pinched harder on Col’s cheek, as that was indeed the correct answer.

  “Yes. Only after we know the det
ails of the export and import can we begin to suspect foul play. There is far too much volume of trade in the world to constantly suspect this kind of fraud. One can’t inspect everything.”

  Even if he wanted to live cautiously, there were many things that escaped the eye.

  Lawrence picked up one of the copper coins that was lined up on the table and sighed.

  “Still,” said Holo, having harassed Col for a while, “this means we’ve found a weapon to threaten that company, does it not?” she added, her eyes flashing.

  Lawrence debated whether to toss cold water on that, ultimately deciding that hiding it from her would only worsen things.

  Disappointment was always worse when it took longer to arrive.

  “Unfortunately,” Lawrence began, at which Holo’s smile instantly froze. “As a weapon, it’s rather meager.”

  “Why?” She was more frightening now than when she wore her half-hearted face of annoyance.

  But nothing would be solved by holding back his words. “He’s reducing the number of boxes shipped by three and profiting via the reduced taxes and transport costs. If this comes to light, the Jean Company will either have to pay penalties or lose their credibility as a trading company. But…”

  “But the difference between that penalty and the profit from the wolf bones is too great. ’Tis the same as when we bought these clothes, is it not?” suggested Holo, grabbing at her own garments.

  She had calmed her irritated face, perhaps because she had realized there was nothing to do but accept reality.

  “That’s right. It might’ve been just the right weapon to use if they were only chasing the wolf tale for fun.”

  Holo did seem aggrieved, but she was not dejected about having lost one of their leads.

  Col, who had solved the riddle of the copper coins in the first place, had gotten ahead of her on that count.

  He had surely been looking forward to his knowledge being useful.

  Up until a moment earlier, Holo had been pinching his cheek, but now she ruffled his hair in an elder sisterly way.

  “Aye, well, that just means the problem’s a large one. ’Tis better this than something solved with the trade of a single apple.”

  “Quite right. If one method won’t work, we’ll just move on to the next.”

  Talk was cheap, of course.

  They needed but to find something that Reynolds would weigh favorably against the wolf remains, but if such a thing were easily obtained, none of them would need to worry so.

  Or perhaps, as Reynolds had been gathering stories and thereby found some hint as to the bones’ location, Lawrence and company needed to follow that example and search out more information.

  If Reynolds, who did business in Kerube, had managed to find something, then perhaps Kieman had at least a crumb of knowledge.

  Lawrence did not know what Kieman was planning, but it surely involved Eve, and the guild would undoubtedly ask some favor of Lawrence on that count. So as compensation for that, perhaps he could ask for information.

  It seemed something was happening in the town, so it would not be possible for a little while, but if Kieman’s hand had to wait, Lawrence did not particularly mind.

  If there was a problem, it had to be–

  “If we’re thinking of our next move, our problem becomes this: When will Eve depart this town? Judging by what she said, it seems like she wants to free herself from the troublesome ties she has here. She likely plans to leave and not return for some time. And if Reynolds knows that–”

  “She’ll tell him what she knows, and soon.”

  Time, as ever, was the enemy.

  Lawrence muttered, and Holo continued speaking.

  “Which means there’s naught to do but seduce her.”

  Lawrence glared sharply at her – this after how angry she had been just a moment ago.

  But given the circumstances, even ridiculous possibilities had to be carefully considered.

  In reality, there were countless times when a missed chance would put something out of reach for all eternity.

  If the bones fell under Church authority, there was a very real possibility that they would vanish into darkness.

  Holo played with Col’s hair, and Lawrence stroked his beard as they both considered the possibilities.

  Col likewise was surely deep in thought, but three heads were not better than two.

  As precious time slipped away, Holo seemed to grow frustrated with thinking and moved away from Col and toward the bed, sitting down and fidgeting her tail out.

  Lawrence watched this and looked at Col, who likewise looked back at him.

  The two exchanged a sad smile, as though agreeing a short break was in order, when–

  “Hmph.” Holo looked up, her ears turning toward the hallway.

  And this was Holo, after all, who would listen for footsteps in the hall just to tease Lawrence.

  The keenness of her hearing was soon demonstrated again.

  “Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Kraft Lawrence.” His name was called just as there was a knock at the door.

  It was the innkeeper’s voice, but why would he bother coming all the way up to a guest’s room?

  Without so much as needing to exchange winks, Col immediately stood and made for the door.

  They had paid for their room in advance, and Lawrence had no memory of cracking any of the cups and bowls they had borrowed.

  As he was thinking about it, through the opened door appeared the innkeeper, hunched over and looking furtively around. “Ah, you’re still here.”

  “Quite. Is something the matter?”

  “Yes, I was asked to give this to you.”

  “To me?”

  Just as Lawrence was wondering what the innkeeper could possibly have for him, the man produced a sealed letter from his breast pocket.

  Lawrence took it and opened it; upon the message was neat handwriting.

  “Come to the Lydon Inn… Want to discuss statues. For details, talk to the… innkeeper?” Lawrence murmured as he read the letter’s contents. When he looked up, he saw the innkeeper’s gaze still upon the note.

  The moment his eyes met Lawrence’s, he nodded decisively.

  “Aha, I see. Very good, sir. Will you be traveling alone?”

  Lawrence had no idea what he was talking about, but looked back down at the letter.

  The last line said, “Come alone.”

  “Very good, sir. I’ll prepare a fast carriage. Please wait just a moment.”

  “Er… yes,” Lawrence replied stupidly, at which the innkeeper bowed politely and trotted off.

  “What was that all about?”

  “I’m not really sure… oh, of course. This is an inn Eve recommended to me.”

  Lawrence returned to the table and set the letter on it.

  Holo seemed to have been sure he was going to bring it to her and got off the bed looking irritated.

  “Something urgent must have come up. She’s going to quite a bit of trouble.”

  “Will you be all right alone?”

  Holo picked up the letter between two fingers, sniffing suspiciously at it by way of appraisal.

  Given the way she wrinkled her nose at it, the letter had to be from Eve.

  “I’ll make sure to seduce her well.”

  “Fool,” spat Holo before repeating herself. “Will you be safe alone?”

  This time Lawrence was not teasing. “If she wanted to put me in danger, there are many other ways to do it. She must have some reason for this.”

  “…”

  Holo closed her mouth, aggrieved, her tail flicking.

  She was either worried he was going to fall into yet another trap or possibly just thought he was helpless.

  Either way, the letter asked him to come alone, and he planned to go alone.

  If he did not trust Eve, that would only give her cause to be mistrustful of him.

  But having explained as much to Holo, he got the feeling she was still displeased.
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br />   Lawrence was at a loss for what to say, but then his savior appeared.

  “It’s all right, Miss Holo. I’ll be here with you while Mr. Lawrence is out.”

  No one could fail to laugh upon hearing Col’s desperate joke.

  Holo closed her eyes and burst out laughing.

  If Col, who was even younger than Lawrence, could manage to be so considerate, then Holo the Wisewolf could hardly fail to do likewise.

  At length her laughter subsided, and she sighed, putting her hands on her hips. “So there it is, then. Seems young Col will be watching over me while you’re away.”

  Lawrence gave Col a wink.

  He could only be thankful for the smile he got in reply.

  “Well, I’ll be off, then. If anyone suspicious comes by, don’t open the door for them. You never know – it might be a wolf.”

  Holo snorted at the joke. “Without good news, I don’t know that I’ll be able to stay in my human form.”

  It was nothing to joke about, but Lawrence decided to put off that conversation until later, as whatever debt the innkeeper owed Eve, it was enough for him to prepare a fast horse-drawn carriage in a manner entirely befitting of the word haste, and he called for Lawrence.

  “I’ll give you more details in the carriage, sir.”

  This made it doubtful whether the Lydon Inn was actually an inn. It was more likely a house somewhere that they were merely calling an inn.

  Lawrence nodded and followed the innkeeper’s lead.

  It had been the right decision to bring Col along on this journey, Lawrence thought to himself as he pictured the boy’s face when he uttered that desperate joke.

  When he emerged from the back of the inn, there waited for him no jet-black coach but rather a normal carriage. The innkeeper gave Lawrence a cloak, which he pulled low over his head.

  It was obvious that Eve wanted to meet Lawrence in secret, but what he did not know was how she had such influence over the innkeeper.

  Even if he did owe her some debt, there was something strange about it.

  That sense of apprehension only grew as they approached the building known as the Lydon Inn.

  The building was down a narrow street where careless driving blocked the way in a district where cobblers and coopers worked tirelessly under the eaves, despite the chill. Like the hideout Eve had led him to before, the building was darkened with age and seemed to have seen the passing of many seasons.