Fruitless Inquiry

"Miss Juliana, hello. I've come to inquire about something," Yuga said.

"Inquire about what?" Juliana asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Yuga nodded.

With that, Yuga took out a box, revealing a jade-green bracelet, and gently pushed it toward Juliana.

"Do you have any impression of this bracelet, Miss Juliana? It's said to have been sold here."

Looking at the bracelet in front of her, Juliana furrowed her brow. She couldn't recall anything specific. They had sold so many pieces of jewelry here, and she couldn't possibly remember each one.

After a moment of thought, Juliana apologized to Yuga, saying, "I'm sorry, but I can't recall it."

"Please, take your time to think. It's essential to me," Yuga requested.

Seeing Yuga's serious expression, Juliana thought for a while and said, "Please wait."

Yuga nodded.

Juliana rose from her seat in the reception room and returned with a large ledger.

"This is our recent sales record of jewelry. If this bracelet indeed came from here, there should be a record of it," Juliana explained.

Yuga acknowledged with a nod.

After Juliana sat back down, she inquired about the date of the bracelet's sale. Yuga didn't have the exact time, as he hadn't purchased it himself. However, from Miss Fiona's conversation, he could estimate a rough timeframe.

Listening to Yuga's description, Juliana carefully examined the sales records.

After about fifteen minutes, Juliana closed the ledger and asked Yuga, "May I know, sir, why you're so interested in this bracelet? If there's an issue with it, we'll take responsibility."

Yuga shook his head and said, "There's no issue with the bracelet. I simply want to know who sold this bracelet to Luminescent Jewelry Shop."

Hearing this, Juliana furrowed her brow and replied, "This bracelet is indeed from our shop, but according to our records, it was purchased by a lady."

Yuga nodded and explained, "That's correct. However, the lady has transferred it to me."

Juliana said, "Regardless of who currently possesses the bracelet, once it leaves our shop, we have no control over it. But since the bracelet itself has no issues, I can't answer your question."

"Please, you must tell me. It's crucial to me," Yuga insisted.

Juliana apologized, "No matter how you request it, I'm sorry, but I can't disclose any information about any customer. It's a matter of our principle."

As expected, things weren't going as smoothly as Fiona had suggested.

"I wonder what price I have to pay to learn more about this bracelet," Yuga wondered aloud.

Juliana asked curiously, "May I ask why you're so persistent about this bracelet, sir?"

"I have my reasons that I must know," Yuga replied. He didn't want to reveal his parents' situation, and he doubted that Juliana would divulge details just out of sympathy for him.

Seeing that Yuga didn't want to share further, Juliana didn't press and simply said, "You don't need to pay any price because we won't disclose any information. It's a matter of our principles."

The negotiation between Yuga and Juliana continued for a long time, but Juliana remained adamant about not revealing any information.

"If you have no other matters, please leave. I have other things to attend to," Juliana eventually said, showing Yuga the door.

After Juliana left the reception room, Yuga, realizing that his inquiry had hit a dead end, sighed and exited Luminescent Jewelry Shop.

Stepping out of the grand entrance of Luminescent Jewelry Shop, Yuga turned to look at the imposing building, unsure of how to obtain the information he sought.

Just then, a car pulled up in front of Yuga, and the window rolled down.

"Mr. Shimizu!"

Seeing the person in the car, Yuga exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Fiona! You're back from Verdant Shade Town?"

Fiona smiled and replied, "Yes, just returned! So, you've come to Lavender City. Is it related to Luminescent Jewelry Shop?"

Yuga nodded.

Observing Yuga's troubled expression, Fiona commented, "It seems things aren't going well."

Yuga nodded again, saying, "Indeed, they're unwilling to reveal any information."

"Oh, I haven't introduced you yet. This is my husband, Michael."

Fiona gestured, and Yuga, through the car window, saw a man sitting beside her.

"Hello, Mr. Shimizu!"

Michael leaned over to greet Yuga.

"Do you know me?" Yuga asked in surprise.

"Fiona mentioned you to me," Michael explained with a smile.

"In that case, let's find a place to sit and talk more comfortably!"

Fiona suggested.

Yuga and Michael both agreed.

So, the three of them found a nearby restaurant and took their seats.

After ordering some food, Yuga asked, "Miss Fiona, are you also going to Luminescent Jewelry Shop?"

Fiona took a sip of her coffee and smiled, saying, "Yes, indeed! After you bought that bracelet, I thought of getting another one. Today, both Michael and I had some free time, so we came to have a look."

Yuga nodded.

"Mr. Shimizu, did you come to Lavender City specifically for this bracelet?" Michael inquired. He knew a bit about Yuga's situation, as Fiona had informed him upon her return.

Yuga nodded and explained, "Yes, but please don't call me Mr. Shimizu. It sounds awkward. Just call me Yuga."

Both of them were more than a decade older than him, and being addressed with formal titles and honorifics made Yuga uncomfortable. Although he understood it might be related to their upbringing, it still felt awkward.

"Very well!" they agreed.

"Do you happen to know if there's any way to make Luminescent Jewelry Shop divulge information?" Yuga asked. He didn't have much knowledge about Lavender City or Luminescent Jewelry Shop, so he hoped that these locals, especially Fiona and Michael, might have some insights.

Michael stroked his chin, furrowing his brow. "It won't be that easy. The owner of Luminescent Jewelry Shop isn't an ordinary person. He's maintained strict principles in his business for years, and even close acquaintances find it hard to sway him. That's one of the reasons his business has thrived."

Fiona chimed in, "Exactly. What you're trying to find out involves revealing the information of their customers, which goes against their business principles. Getting them to open up won't be easy."