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"Master." Ayane got your attention. You suspected she wanted to distract herself while her parents were showing affection to each other. "Thank you for considering my family in this matter." While she warned that you might become the junior partner when dealing with the Mistubishi-Yasuda Trading Firm, she later mentioned how your actions have made the kitsune respect you enough to see you as an honorary member of their species. Unless you did something to purposefully harm them, there would likely be no attempt to limit your influence in any meaningful way. And with the Mistubishi-Yasuda clans steadily becoming a unified family, she said that this sentiment would quickly spread through the ranks, making it understood that you should be allowed to act freely.
You were getting ahead of yourself. if the aluminum ingots were verified using Appraisal by the kitsune next business meeting (if you decided to provide and pursue it), then things would begin to waterfall.
It seems like this was a sweet spot for revealing them about the aluminum, moreso with your party putting everyone in a good mood.
After that matter was settled you changed the subject by agreeing to let them take Aila back to Centria.
"Master!" Aila said to you, having heard pieces of the conversation. "Wha- why is everyone talking about aluminum?"
"Because it's gonna make me rich." You smiled at her.
"Oh." Aila blinks. A few moments pass before she realized the implications of what you just said. "Wait, so that alchemy discussion we had earlier came from how you had aluminum???" She had an incredulous expression on her face. "Master, why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked." You gave her a simple answer.
"That's-" Aila seemed like she wanted to press on with that, but then she thought about it. "Alright, that's fair."
Your decision to be open about aluminum production with the kitsune made it practically impossible to keep it from Aila, who was looking to socialize and make connections with them in case things went badly.
You'd decided to be honest with your Saintess about this matter if she asked about it, which gave you the opportunity to share things in your terms. Thankfully she didn't press it despite mentioning something about the diplomatic ramifications if this came to be widely known. Instead she promised that she wouldn't willingly tell anyone about it unless you gave her your express permission to do so.
Soon it was time for the kitsune to depart.
"Things sound like you'll be rather busy here with your business ventures and whatnot." Eisho said. "But it'll be a shame if you aren't there to celebrate the Winter Solstice or the Day of Artifice."
"Day of Artifice?" You repeated.
"Ah, right, you're not from the Continent." He smiled.
