"Master! This is bad!"
A blue-robed clerk ran into Lord Kelton's office, causing the middle-aged man to look up.
"Someone stepped on Gilwert's toes!"
Kelton looked down at his papers, daily commerce raports from his shops and around.
He had no time for nonsense.
Something caused a massive wave in the city, as reported by nearly two thirds of his observation points spread throughout the whole port town.
Far off in a peasant's market, something caused a massive stir!
And he still had yet to receive a report of what was going on!
"Sir, they found the guy who caused it. And he already went ahead and bought that shop you were interested in before announcing his return after he procures more of his wares!"
The report was quick, sharp and concise. While not exactly short, it was packed with all the relevant and critical bits of information.
An art in the realm of not wasting your superior's time.
"That's quick," Kelton raised his eyes.
Even though thought this guy appeared out of nowhere and foiled some of Kelton's plans, there wasn't even a single drop of hostility in the man's eyes.
Such was life. And he could only fault himself for trying to drive that place's price even lower before getting it himself.
"And what was that about stepping of Gilwert's toes?"
Lord Kelton looked up to the blue-robbed messenger.
The young man gulped his saliva down.
Within their circle, Gilwert was quite know for his short fuse.
"That man was selling cheap soaps," the messenger reported in a grave voice. Then, his already defeated voice fell even harder. "Half a silver a piece."
"Hmm…" Kelton leaned over his table, his chin resting on his cupped hands. "I want to know more. And I want to know faster than Gilwert."
<<<>>>
I stood before the brightly lit front of an elegant building located in the convinenly remote, silent park.
This was where a certain sort of men spent their money on indolent leisure.
I, however, was here for a different purpose. And for that purpose, I pushed the doors of this classy brothel open before stepping inside.
"Welcome." A soft whisper welcomed me from a creatively hidden reception.
With a piece of cloth strained over the counter, I couldn't see the person on the other side, nor could they see me.
I nodded with approval for such clever design aimed to soothe customers into a sense of privacy.
"Hello," I nodded my head at the receptionist. "If you don't mind, do you maybe have some nice, elegant and well-spoken girls? Preferably," I smiled, "one pleasing to the eye."
I took a deep breath.
The cloth over the reception's desk flapped on the slight wind.
"Please, proceed down the second corridor on the left," the soft voice responded, filling my entire self with a soothing sense of relaxation.
I nodded my head before following the instructions.
Beyond the reception, in the building's main hall, I could see quite the number of stares turning towards me.
'Just like I thought.'
I silently chuckled.
If anything, the brothels would know about everything.
And, quite likely, would be the first to get the news about whatever was happening around.
Which worked perfectly to my advantage right now.
By the time I reached the end of the corridor, I found myself in a small room with nothing but two doors on the opposing walls and a small bench strewn across its length.
Having nothing better to do, I sat down and waited for a moment.
Then, the other doors opened up and a line of three nicely-looking women stepped inside.
They were dressed surprisingly modestly.
Either a trick of the receptionist trying to guess my tastes or a standard procedure of not flashing the goods before selling them.
I ran my eyes over the three of them as they turned to smile at me.
"Hello, ladies," I gave a professional smile. "Would you care to introduce yourselves to me?"
The girls looked at each other, then over the doors they came from, at an angle I couldn't really replicate myself.
"Nash, daughter of a fallen merchant, at your service, master," the first girl introduced herself.
"Shen," a silver-haired girl, no older than twenty-five, spoke in an angelic voice.
If the receptionist voice was soothing, then hers…
Her whole outfit was tailored to the color of her hair, making her appear like this pure angel… But one with just all the right curves.
"Former songstress. At your service."
I couldn't even hear the third girl's introduction.
There was no need to.
Thanks to learning about this place from my memories, I found just the person I was looking for, right in the place I expected to find one.
"I hope it's not rude to ask, but… How much would it cost to take you out for a whole day?"
The room's warm, coquetish atmosphere froze over.
Sure, the girls here were likely to know just how much I've earned.
But to hire a lady of this house for a day?
Even nobles would rarely afford such a folly.
Shen glanced over the doors, her eyes seeking approval.
Then, a second later…
"That would be two gold coins, respectable sir," she spoke, her voice even softer than before, her eyes fluttering at me like a bunch of butterfiles, her gaze deep, filled with longing.
She could somehow tell me with her entire body just how much she wanted to be taken for a day, brought out from this solemn place, allowed to experience simple, warm joys of the simpler life…
'Dang,' I gulped, 'she's good.'
I couldn't stop a huge smile from forming on my lips.
"Then, could I pay you…" my eyes veered off to the side from where I could sense a glance, "with this place's tacit approval," I nodded before turning my eyes back to Shen, "fifteen gold coins to have you work for me for a week?"
Hearing the sum, Shen broke her character, staring wide-eyed at my face.
This clearly wasn't prepared for what I suggested.
To hire her for a day would be a splurge, even for a lesser noble.
But to hire her for a week? And to make her work, to boot?!
"Just to make things clear, I would have you help me around the shop, to manage people and promote the business," I revealed with a relaxed smile on my face. "You know what, screw it," my smile only grew, "let's make it even twenty coins a week, for you to work with me. But," I calmed my face down and raised a finger. "For as long as I maintain the contract, for as long as I pay twenty gold coins a week, this place will have no claim whatsoever over you."
Twenty gold coins.
A week, to boot.
A fortune not even a popular escort like Shen could amass. And here, she stood to earn huge chunk of it… just by helping around?
"In other words, I want you to become my secretary."
I admit.
Once again, I allowed my instincts, my gut-feeling to guide me.
When I saw… no, heart Shen, I just knew she was the one.
She had this presence that commanded man's attention. And natural beauty to even make women honestly adore her charm.
And her voice…
It gripped at my heart and refused to let go.
I just knew that if I wanted to hire her normally, I would stand to gain a day and night so full of memories, I would be set to become addicted.
That's how dangerously high levels of sway Shen had over a man's soul with just this strange, innate gentleness and one hell of a talent for playing her role.
Wasting no time on hesitation, I reached out to my purse and pulled out twenty golden coins.
I wasn't trying to skew my reward by increasing the pay.
I was merely negotiating the rate that would make her stay with me, even after she sees how much sway she will get once she becomes a face associated with my shop.
And for someone of her skills, twenty gold coins a week?
It was a genuine steal for me!
With the money in my outstretched hand, I stared straight at Shen's angelic face.
Seeing how she started to break under my pressure, I couldn't help but smile a little.
I knew what her job was.
But why would I give a crap?
Where else would I find a master assistant and perfect marketer for so cheap?
And why bother with twenty coins, when I just felt my purse grow heavier with the deposit of five hundred gold coins of angel investment from the Corporate System Lending/Leasing Bank Inc…
Or whatever was its actual name.
"Phew," I breathed out, relishing in the moment Shen picked up the money, her face still slightly worried. "Okay, then, long day awaits," I clasped my hands. "Do you happen to know someone who could help me fix a shop? I'm willing to pay good money to have it properly remodeled."