Ryoma and the Crime Prevention Drill

***Ryoma and the Crime Prevention Drill*** is the fourteenth episode of the By the Grace of the Gods (anime).

## Summary

Ryoma learns that people are targeting his shop because he has associated himself with the head of the Tamer Guild, Taylor. To combat this, Ryoma has new positive rumors spread about his shop and deals with any assailant who tries and attack him. Ryoma also learns that he's gained enough finances to open up a second shop in a different city.

## Plot

After Ryoma meets with the head of the Tamer Guild Taylor Smit, he deals with an unruly customer who tries to extort money from the store for ripping his shirt. However, after Ryoma examines the shirt, he realizes the rips were fabricated with a knife. To prove his point, Ryoma has a couple of Cleaner Slimes show how they clean laundry and not tear them. Upset by the revelation, the customer tries to attack Ryoma, who easily kos him and later has him escorted by the authorities. Carla notes her concern about the motive behind the appearances of unruly customers and promises to have Callum look into it.

While walking home down the streets of Gimul, Ryoma runs into Asagi, and after noticing Asagi's new sword, he asks where Asagi purchased it. Asagi answers that swords like his are sold at the royal capital, but dissuades buying one as they become dull over time and are pretty expensive. Furthermore, Asagi gets his swords sent to him from his hometown. So later, in the mines, Ryoma creates the necessary ingredients to make a katana; however, he lacks the technique to forge one. Ryoma then decides to practice with the Fire Spear he received after beating a bandit in the forest.

The following day, Carla gives Callum's report to Ryoma, revealing the recent unruly customer incidents are related to a factional dispute. Apparently, Taylor's ideological influence isn't recognized in the mainstream, and with Ryoma aligning himself with Taylor, he's sequentially become a target. Hence, Ryoma suggests a new rumor be spread about him taming six Limour Birds, which are known to be very difficult to tame.

Afterward, Ryoma meets with Tony, Caulkin, and Lobelia and learns from them about the cruel working conditions they experienced in the past as Slime Researchers. Because they could not produce any results in their research, they were all fired and forced to live in the slums. Curiously, Ryoma asks what they feed their Slimes during those times, and they reveal mere animal scraps. Surprised by their answer, Ryoma informs them that a Slime evolves based on what it eats. The revelation astonishes the three, and they become eager to learn more about the secrets of Slimes.

That night while Ryoma walks home, he's ambushed by three assailants who are quickly dealt with thanks to his paralyzing needles and two of his Limour Birds. After the assailants are dealt with, Worgan arrives accompanied by some guards and asks that he talk with Ryoma the day after.

The next day, Ryoma informs the store employees about what occurred last night and warns them to be alert. He later attends a meeting with Taylor, Worgan, and Glissela, who all suggest that Ryoma lay low for a while after learning the assailants who attacked him were hired to do so. The three guild masters promise to deal with the mastermind behind the attacks, and Glissa suggests he spread a new rumor. The rumor was that Ryoma would hurt the people who attacked him and heal them at a high cost, and it was displayed that night when more assailants attacked him.

The following day, Ryoma, with Fina, Maria, and Jane, all practice how to handle an unruly customer with the store's new bodyguard Dolce. Callum and Chelma then arrive with lunch, and they all take a break to enjoy it.

Eventually, Carla gives Ryoma a report about the store's increase in finances and how their managers' in-training skills involving Slimes have all improved. Impressed with these results, Ryoma says it's time to start taking steps to open a second store. Ryoma would later visit Glissela about possible locations and is shown three possible properties for sale.

While walking home, Ryoma receives a letter from Eliaria, who writes how she will start school in the Royal Capital soon. She also states how she's been improving her magical capabilities and hopes that Ryoma takes a break whenever possible. However, Ryoma has no plans to take a rest as he's off to a new city to open a new store branch.

## Characters

* Ryoma Takebayashi
* Fei
* Li Ling
* Jane
* Maria
* Fina
* Callum
* Taylor Smit
* Carla Norad
* Asagi
* Tony
* Caulkin
* Lobelia
* Jeff Grange (Mentioned)
* Chelma
* Worgan
* Glissela
* Dolce
* Eliaria Jamil
* Sebas
* Camil
* Elise Jamil

## Trivia

* The Tamers Guild is full of idiots who can't stand Ryoma is making a good living off slimes.
	+ It's omitted about how only Taylor's faction and the long lived elves are following Shiho Jamil's original ideal of befriending animals.
	+ The aggressors are of the opinion only strong Beasts should qualify membership.
* Ryoma learns how other slime tamers have kept screwing up with studying slime evolution.
	+ Thankfully they skip the Meat Slime in the explanation to him about their failures. Those *ain't* pretty.