Breaktime, Student Disciplinary Committee Office.
"You want to take over the Golden City, Sroln!?" Morwenne almost spilled her tea when she heard Arnold's proposal to the Rynalds and National Treasury.
Rachel was sitting next to her cousin, her head down and fidgeting.
"That's right. I'll buy out the debts the Rynalds owe to the National Treasury and their private creditors." He answered calmly, "In return, I want the stewardship rights — full administrative control over the city and the surrounding lands. The Rynald family keeps what little honor they have left, and the city gets a future."
Morwenne blinked, stunned. "You're talking about taking over a noble dominion that was once a pillar for mining gold and imperial currency. That's no simple trade! The Empire would need to step in as well since it's technically our land."
"I'll handle that from my side somehow. Not like I said it was easy." he shrugged.
It might take a year at least or several years if the scummy bastards intend on making him wait for whatever reason. His crystals alone should give him an advantage over competitors and he also doesn't need to worry about being ignored since this benefits the National Treasury as well. They will think they'll get a slice of the pie once his crystals make it onto the trading market.
But with what he's done so far, no one would dare try to walk over him.
He doesn't know how the entire process works but he knows it's possible. Vetis or Lunaria will probably be able to help so he'll leave it in their capable hands.
If the deal is done, he'll have Rachel's father continue ruling the city while he finishes his education. It will be like buying a farm but letting the original owner continue managing the farm while paying off the debts he owes.
'I'll pay a visit to Selia after I finish my business in the city with Tyran and Hessinia.'
"And why are you going this far for her, Arnold?" Morwenne asked in suspicion of his motives.
Yes, Rachel confessed to Morwenne about her plans for the future. Naturally, she was upset but Arnold offered a better solution, one that would benefit him in the future even if it's just helping her family out.
"She's in the crossfire of a political war."
"That doesn't answer my question. You're just stating the obvious."
"…"
It would be hard to explain why he's doing this. While he's not the kind of person to care about others, Rachel is one of the few people who deserves a helping hand.
Her inflated pride got her here but her dad's more to blame than anyone.
"…Buying the Golden City helps me. That's all. The fact it happens to help Rachel too? Just a coincidence." He made it sound like he wasn't buying the city for her. Sroln is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, or was, so he had every incentive to make it his.
Think of it like a wealthy merchant buying out a craftsman's shop on the verge of closing. The craftsman still works, but it's the merchant's coin keeping the doors open.
He doesn't need the city since his magic crystals will make him incredibly wealthy but there's no downsides to taking it over.
Morwenne's creased eyebrows loosened as she sighed, "Sorry. I'm grateful but just a little shocked..." she then harrumphed, "Leave it to Arnold von Berkley to think of himself. What will it take for you to do something out of kindness?"
She was obviously jesting but he didn't reply.
She then looked at Rachel, "What do you think?"
"I-I don't know…"
"Rachel, you have two choices," To make sure she understands her position, Arnold spoke, "Go back to seeking independence as a junkie after your father ruined your life. Or you can return back to your old life and seek therapy for your addiction, a first step to being cured. The former might end with you becoming famous as a prostitute but you will never experience true happiness. Depression will hit you the hardest every time you're done serving a client and can finally breathe and take your drugs. You might be able to break free but you can't blame the industry that employed you or the pimps you chose to listen to."
Morwenne nodded along, like a concerned mother listening to the father scolding their child.
"Think of Grace. She wanted to help but you and your father's pride saw it as pity handouts and felt insulted. In 20 or so years, you will feel regret but won't be strong enough to accept that you were the one to blame the most."
"Arnold, I think she understands…"
"She needs to realize that she's not some poor commoner girl without people around her to help. She's a noble with connections. She could've become some family friend's son's wife or asked them to employ her or sponsor her. But she only realized this when it was too late."
Morwenne squeezed Rachel's hand.
"Whether you choose to continue with that life or not, I will make it this year's goal to dismantle the prostitution ring and drug operation set up in this academy so that you can't funnel clients here anymore."
It's his job as a committee member either way so her choice won't affect it. But her life will be impacted by it regardless.
"That reminds me, we will need the names of all your 'employers' or 'pimps' as they're called so that they can be investigated by the academy."
If there is someone arranging clients and controlling revenue, there must be higher ups calling the shots. Maybe inside or outside the academy. Regardless, it needs to be stopped since this will impact the academy's reputation.
Odd how this hasn't been uncovered before. Should he assume some of the board members are involved?
"…Uhm, what about the girls working for them? Will we get in trouble?" timidly fidgeting, she asked in a small voice.
Arnold looked at Morwenne who had a better understanding of the rules.
"Prostitution will tank the academy's reputation, especially since it's happening on the school premises under their noses. The school has a strict policy that prevents it from spying on students, something certain people can exploit to make money. As such, I believe you will get suspended. But this will most likely be a week at most. The real backlash isn't their wrath but the shame it will bring on your reputation and our entire family, Rachel."
Morwenne's right. The humiliation alone will be enough punishment for a girl raised in an aristocratic lifestyle. This will affect how society treats her after all. And unlike peasants, society's eyes are always looking for reasons to judge a noble.
"Can't we leave now before the academy investigates? I-It will be impossible to get a job with that stain on our reputation…"
"Rachel, I care deeply for you but we can't excuse that what you did was wrong. You had my parents keeping you in school and even renovating a guest room just for you, expecting you to stay with us for years. Yet never once did you tell us what you were doing. There were rumors but… I just didn't want to believe them, thinking you were the same innocent cousin I grew up with."
"What makes matters worse is that you did this for drugs, so desperation isn't a valid excuse." Arnold added.
She bit her lips and lowered her head, her hands trembling.
Arnold wondered what kind of drug made her so addicted that she would allow it to impact her future.
"You can leave now since we're done." she quickly got up after he told her to leave and grabbed her books.
"Before you go, where is your bag?" Morwenne asked with a frown, her gaze resting on the books her cousin was carrying.
"I-I lost it…"
"What? Why didn't you tell me this morning at the house? I have spares at home."
"T-That's okay. I think I know where I lost it!" she was about to leave.
"Wait." Arnold stood up and approached her.
Seeing his eye turn from blue to red made her jump a little. Holding her chin in one hand and using the other to hold the door closed, he looked into her eyes with his bloody red eye.
Her eyes spiraled into the same pattern and color.
It seems even with one eye open, he can still use its abilities. Her memories then flooded his mind and he was able to see certain scenes related to Rachel's recent activities. In one of the visions, he saw her inject herself with something then lean against the couch she was sitting on with a smile on her face and dazed eyes.
It then cut to another vision, showing her handing her bag over to one of the delinquent boys in her class. He gave it to one of his lackeys, who filled it with clean needles and several plastic bags filled with purple liquid.
'Why couldn't they just use another bag?' he thought but then he realized that she's just a loyal dog to them since they manage her clients and supply her with the "stuff". This is most likely a way to establish control.
'Purple liquid radiating a black glow. Must be Demon Punch.'
It's an illegal drug that uses demon energy-rich substances to get humans to a high they've never experienced before.
If she did inject herself with Demon Punch, the addiction to the drug would be much worse than anything else. It can even change people.
Inject too much into yourself or breathing it in and you mutate into a demonic form. There's no specific description of what this looks like but it's known to rob everyone of their humanity and sanity.
After an uncomfortable silence, Rachel backed against the door, trembling.
"It looks like acquaintances of hers have her bag."
"Did they steal it from you?"
She shook her head.
"I don't think that's the most important matter at hand. Her acquaintances are selling Demon Punch to academy students."
"T-The drug that's made from ogre and other demon parts!? Rachel, what were you thinking getting involved with those people!"
"…" she lowered her head.
"A girl with no life experience has a high chance of getting involved with these kinds of people when seeking independence. To people like them, she's easy prey."
He was thinking of Melina when saying that. It's how she met her end, after all… And where was he to protect her during that time? Well, he was still on his path to becoming a warlord.
"How can you defend her like that, Arnold!? She's already an adult and should know what's right and wrong!"
"Clearly her parents were incapable of teaching her right and wrong and were too busy throwing money in her face."
"…"
Even though she had a huge family, no one really paid attention to her. As such, she surrounded herself with as many friends as possible, creating a fake persona to appear like an outgoing person who everyone wanted to befriend.
Tears began to fall out of Rachel's eyes and she just stood there whimpering.
Morwenne silently hugged her and rubbed her arm.
"We should find the bag before bringing this up to anyone else. If they get spooked, they might stop all operations until things die down."
"But how are we going to find the bag? Since they know Rachel is here, they must've assumed we found out already. They'll just swap bags or just transfer the drugs before break's over."
"I have that sorted out." He pointed at his eye, "Demon energy will emit a glow when I look at it with my eye."
"…How convenient for a legendary eye to be here when we need it…"
It isn't an exaggeration when it's said that these eyes can "see everything". However, it can't see through lies and deception but it is able to detect unnatural phenomena in the world, even see ghosts and spirits.
In order to see who is carrying the drugs, he will need to keep the eye active for extended periods. This will naturally drain his Aether.
"Since that's sorted out, I'll take my leave." Arnold stood up, "Since I used up half the break to come here, I'm off the hook for today, right?"
"Yes. Thank you for bringing this to my attention." Morwenne answered curtly, "You don't have to start with the investigation right away but since you are sure it's the Demon Punch drug, I would like to have your findings by the end of the week. I'll send Maylim to help you inspect the bags if necessary."
"Alright."
"And you, Young Miss, you stay right in this office for the rest of the day."
"O-Okay…" Rachel answered in a small voice.