Earth Needs Useless Things - 5
"Please explain it in words I can understand."
I gave a hollow smile as I looked at An Ria, who was trembling like a leaf.
"Well, it's... um..."
"Feel free to speak comfortably. It's not like you did anything majorly wrong."
"Ugh..."
She showed no sign of opening her mouth. I shook my head slowly.
"Let me say what I think happened. If anything I say is off, just let me know. You can do that much, right?"
"Yes..."
"First off, two days ago, you went to the party wearing that 'conqueror's uniform.' Right?"
"B-because you said it was okay, boss..."
"Yeah, sure, let's say that."
In truth, I hadn't even remembered stashing it in the break room. It was just something I'd gotten back from Shatinbelle Silkraise with the Heart of the Storm—hand it over nicely and call it done. That was all. Plus, I never imagined An Ria would have a use for it. Given her daily life, there'd be no need for such a flashy outfit.
"I admit it. That was my oversight. Just confirm it for me. Was that right?"
"Yes..."
"And you gave my contact info to your aunt."
"S-sorry! I just thought it might work out..."
"It's fine."
She was shaking like crazy, but I nodded nonchalantly.
"It was a bit sudden, that's all. You... did well. Thanks."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Trading with your aunt—Amelie Anne—isn't a loss for me."
Amelie Anne. Nowhere near Charlotte's level, but a quick search showed she ran a pretty well-known brand in the fashion world herself.
"Thanks to you, I got a good opportunity. Truly grateful."
"R-really? Did I actually help?"
"Of course."
Truth be told, I wasn't expecting much. Selling off the excess fabric would be nice, but realistically, there were too many hurdles.
The other side's too big. Someone like me can't be a proper business partner.
Even if we traded, the volume I could supply wasn't huge.
Moonlight vine makes high-end fabric... but that doesn't mean much here.
Earth was an abundant world.
In the 'colony,' moonlight fiber cloth was the only option for making clothes. But not here. Right now, somewhere on Earth, thousands of sheep were being sheared, and vast fields were growing cotton to produce thousands of tons of fiber.
To beat that, it has to become a luxury good. And luxury isn't just about being a bit better.
My Gremlin Pistol was the same. It was special, sure, but to make it luxury-adjacent, I needed variables like the 'expulsion exam' or Shin Yuha's help.
No matter how much I explained to buyers that 'moonlight fabric is unavailable on Earth, with these effects and...,' they wouldn't pay top dollar.
Production isn't high-volume or stable either.
Partnering with a corporation had way too many obstacles.
Well, since we've got excess fabric anyway, making some money off it wouldn't hurt.
My real 'business' plan was the Heart of the Storm anyway.
A fifth-year colony sending expeditions everywhere, handing me rare artifacts—that was success.
"You did great. Thanks for your hard work."
"Y-yes..."
Still, no need to crush An Ria's spirit now. Taking the outfit was mutual fault, and she'd genuinely tried to help my business.
Alright, time to prep for the meeting...
I let out a deep sigh and picked up my phone. Time to meet An Ria's aunt, Amelie.
Entering the upscale restaurant, I spotted a blonde woman waving at me.
"Nice to meet you. Ria told me about you. Doing such amazing things at your age."
Amelie. Sister to that 'Charlotte Anne,' aunt to An Roje and An Ria. There was a family resemblance, sure. But something felt... lacking.
"Thank you."
"I'd love to spend three hours praising you, but we don't have that kind of time, do we?"
"Haha..."
"I get it. I've built a company from the ground up myself."
She smiled softly. But I sensed sharp thorns hidden beneath.
Hard to trust this one.
Just a gut feeling, but not someone I wanted close. Still, I couldn't chase off a famous CEO based on instinct alone.
"Ria said the outfit she wore was borrowed from you... Is that right?"
"Yes."
"How much to buy it?"
"It's not for sale. I can't get another one."
"Lending such a precious item to Ria... I wonder what my sister would think?"
"Haha..."
There was a misunderstanding. Denying it now wouldn't change much.
"Too bad. Well, two things I want to ask."
"Go ahead."
"First, the designer of that piece. Who?"
"Don't know."
Shatinbelle's mother, if you had to pin it, but not 100% sure.
"Shame. Thought we were getting friendly. Should've picked a nicer restaurant?"
"This is plenty."
"Fine... Next question. Where's that fabric from?"
"That's a secret."
"You know, but it's secret? Interesting."
"Because I do know."
"From Earth?"
Her smile hid a ruthless interrogation.
"Figured you'd guessed as much."
"...I see."
She let out a light laugh.
"Fascinating. If it's really 'mana-infused' fabric, no individual could obtain it... But still, gate-sourced. How many gatherers did you mobilize to harvest it?"
"Haha..."
Gatherer. I'd done it briefly myself. You couldn't just take anyone—you needed retired hunters or non-combat ones. Naturally, labor costs skyrocketed.
"Alright. So, you can't tell me the designer or the fabric source."
"Pretty much."
"Interesting. Remind me, which fixed gate does Mukseong Guild manage...?"
"You've done your homework."
"Can't slack on prep for a new supplier."
She was off-base. But I couldn't call her foolish for it.
Me frequenting Mukseong wasn't a big secret. They were under pressure from other guilds, short on gates relative to their achievements and size. So, imagining them squeezing limited resources to harvest 'uneconomical-for-hunters' fabric from gates? Plausible.
The more I think, the more convincing it sounds.
Her confidence had backing.
"Unfortunately, I don't have much more to say. Want to buy the fabric?"
Silence fell.
The talk wasn't going her way.
"Just trading feels like a missed opportunity, don't you think? We could collaborate for bigger gains... We could provide manpower."
"Sorry. Too many people involved—I can't decide alone."
"Lots of people involved... Got it."
I'd meant folks in Frozenstorm Colony, but she was spinning her own tale.
"Shall we talk real business then?"
From there, things got constructive. I shared my supply volume. Not huge right now.
What I can get is just leftovers after the colony uses and enjoys what they need...
"Volume's disappointing. But the timeline's faster than I thought. I figured months at least."
"Don't worry about that."
"Can I see a sample?"
"Yes. Brought one."
No full production yet. Just a year over there, no 'blessed' increased yield from moonlight vines.
Still, a decent sample size worked.
"Smooth. The fiber fineness... unreal."
"Glad you like it."
"What animal? Sheep? Goat?"
"Plant-based fabric."
"Doesn't sound like a lie. Amazing."
"What's your offer?"
"$5,000 per meter. I don't haggle, so take it."
Way higher than expected. She saw it as luxury the moment she touched it.
"You said it's unavailable on Earth. Have to treat it accordingly."
She recognized 'moonlight fabric' as rarer and pricier than any Earth textile.
"Good."
"But this is just the first deal. Prices can change. If it's not that rare... no need to pay this much."
Great deal. Better than imagined.
"Then—"
Something felt off. Her initial offer might be 'fair.'
If gatherers harvested raw materials from gates, labor costs would be insane. $5,000/meter was huge, but for unobtainable top-tier fabric? Reasonable if it created more value.
Still, weird.
I'm just one guy. No reason for a corporation to give an individual a 'fair' deal upfront.
I'd sold Gremlin Pistols expensively and Lumikite ore fairly—both had reasons. Pistols to desperate individuals for the expulsion exam. Lee Seoyeonn was kind, plus Shin Yuha ties.
No such reason for a businesswoman to play fair from the start.
I pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Looking forward to working with you."
No need to overthink. Even if it's a trap, even if I scrap the fabric biz, no big loss.
I'd already learned moonlight fiber was more valuable than thought. That was enough.
"Likewise, young boss."
Amelie smiled faintly.