"World" turned to look at Alice, his eyes questioning.
"The Rose School...?" Doubt flashed through Cattleya's eyes, but she did not press the matter. "Miss Fortune, having a demigod-level Beyonder Characteristic made into an item is expensive. And with the Rose School and the Prisoner Pathway involved, there would be further complications..."
In other words, she wanted a higher price.
"..." Alice leaned back a little and abandoned the idea she had just had. "Then you two can discuss it."
Her attitude was clear. It had been a passing whim, and she was not particularly set on it—which seemed only natural.
But Hanged Man Alger glanced at Alice, then at World, and suddenly noticed a problem.
Can't Miss Fortune contact Mr. Fool's Blessed? Or can she only contact World?
Is Miss Fortune's relationship with Mr. Fool not that close? No. For some reason, Mr. Fool is still wary of her...
...Because she said she was betting on both sides?
The thought made Hanged Man Alger glance at Alice again, and a terribly disrespectful question arose in his mind.
...Is Miss Fortune really clever enough for that?
Alice turned toward him in confusion. Their eyes met, startling him into lowering his head before he could think any further.
How strange... Alice looked away and went back to watching the exchange.
Twelve thousand pounds was not Klein's target price. He had quoted high, hoping for eleven thousand pounds. He could even accept ten thousand if he had to—but no less.
Hermit Cattleya, with her considerable resources, was clearly no Justice, who never haggled. Once Alice fell silent, Cattleya thought for a moment and asked:
"Could I substitute gold coins for part of the payment?"
At sea, gold was far easier to obtain than gold pounds.
Cattleya calculated briefly, then tried to bargain: