Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: 6. Slaves Are an Excellent Source of Labor
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A day at the second branch of the orphanage passed quite peacefully.
With no goods in the shop, it was only natural. What would the owner do if there were no clothes in a clothing store or no groceries in a grocery shop? They'd just sweep and clean the place to pass the time.
But even that I didn't have to do myself.
"Celine, clean the windows today."
"Yes! Master!"
A few days after paying her wages, our slave had become incredibly motivated and was working diligently. She was doing a decent job, so the grocery shop must have been really awful for her. Or maybe it was because I only had her doing cleaning.
Kyle? A 3-Star Orphan has work befitting a 3-Star Orphan. I'd sent him out of the orphanage for the time being due to circumstances, so right now, it was just me and Celine in the second branch.
So what was I doing?
'This is nice.'
What else? Just relaxing.
This was exactly the retirement I'd always wanted. Once the orphanage business rakes in enough money, I could retire comfortably and live like this forever—playing around and eating my fill.
A life where I don't have to work, just spend money freely. How sweet is that? That's why I'm staking everything on the orphanage business.
The orphans sold off to various places do their jobs, rely on me just enough, and keep sending donations day after day.
'...Anyway, it's good for everyone.'
I nearly drifted into thought, but shook it off. This was still just a trial version of happy retirement, and I couldn't lounge around forever.
Thud! Thud!
"M-Master."
"It's fine, Celine. Keep cleaning."
If she stopped working for something like this, it'd be a waste of labor costs. With the slave auto-work system on, I greeted the guy roughly knocking on the door.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't some random thug but someone in the same line of business.
"Ahem! You're late. What were you doing?"
"Sorry. I was packing my things..."
"Things? What things?"
"You said a week last time. I've realized my place, so it's only natural."
"Well, yeah. Looks like you're not too slow on the uptake."
The plump man, another orphanage director like me, nodded. But separately from that, the way he'd pounded on the door earlier and his overall mood—he seemed pretty pissed off.
If I hadn't been preparing to vacate, he probably would've unloaded all that frustration and anger on me. But since I was playing along obediently, it must've improved his mood a bit.
And that gap was exactly what I was aiming for.
"By the way, has something been going on lately?"
"Why do you ask suddenly?"
"My apologies. You just seemed really upset, so I thought maybe I'd done something wrong..."
"You did wrong. By sticking your nose into this business without knowing anything. But... unlike commoners like you who listen when told, there are some really headache-inducing guys."
Headache-inducing guys.
"By any chance, is it because of the orphans?"
"You're quick for an orphanage director of your station. Those ingrates ran off en masse without even appreciating the food and shelter we gave them. I called the nannies to beat them right away, but... I need to refill them quickly."
"Aren't there always orphans overflowing in the streets? Anyone would come gratefully for a noble's grace."
"That much is true. But gratitude is the problem. Tsk, and at a time like this..."
Maybe because I'd followed orders so meekly amid his irritation, the plump man's mouth loosened up. He didn't see me as a competitor or threat from the start.
You think I'm upset? Quite the opposite. This position was perfect for me right now.
Diversion tactics work best when the weak play them—no one suspects a thing.
"I see. Well, Harvest said something similar."
"...Harvest? That guy came here?"
"Yes. Oh? Did you not know?"
"Keep talking."
"It wasn't much. He said if I had any land deeds or house documents, he'd pay good money for them. So I thought the deal was already done..."
"What?!"
This wasn't a lie. It was real. Harvest, the orphanage director noble we'd colluded with before, had indeed asked to buy the documents.
Their cartel was just to block new entrants into the orphanage business—land and buildings were separate. Circumstantially, this plump guy was likely set to take them. Harvest had tried to snag them first.
"Don't worry. I didn't sell. Of course I should hand them over to a noble like you."
"Ahem! Good job. That damned bastard, how dare he..."
Of course? This was my land and house. No intention of handing it over, but sweet talk like this? I could dish it out all day.
And lies work best when mixed with truth.
"But he said something a bit odd. That if I had orphans, I could hand them over all at once."
"Orphans too? What does that mean?"
"Right? He said something similar to you, sir. That orphans had run away and numbers were short..."
"Did he go through the same thing...?"
First, plant the seeds of doubt slowly.
"So I took the liberty of asking. With orphans short, what would he do with such a big building? Then Harvest snapped at me, asking what else you'd put in an orphanage if not orphans."
"...Orphanage? He'd use this building as an orphanage? Even with his own orphans short?"
"Yes. It did seem a bit suspicious."
Deepen it bit by bit.
"I don't know much, but it seems this gratitude inspection is pretty tough. Harvest seemed anxious the whole time."
"Since it's sent directly by His Majesty the Emperor, it's bound to be strict. But you don't need to know the details."
"Oh, of course not. It's just that Harvest looked so desperate."
"Desperate?"
"Yes, he kept mentioning something about 'Rene No. 1' or whatever... I have no idea what it means."
"...!!"
Finally, drive in the wedge. With a 'word I couldn't possibly know.'
The plump guy, who'd been wavering, twisted his face as if finally convinced. I immediately went into WWE mode.
"D-Did I do something wrong...?"
"No, no. Quite the opposite—you've done me a huge favor. Thanks to you."
"Pardon?"
"That damned Harvest. His own mismanagement let the orphans escape, and he dares, he dares...!!"
The rest was obvious. Harvest had poached orphans from the plump guy's orphanage to patch his own shortages. They called orphans by numbers there, and No. 1 was Rene.
Why did he want this land and building? To hide the swiped orphans. If he owned it, the plump guy couldn't just waltz in.
And so (mistakenly thinking he knew the full story), the plump guy flew into a rage and rushed off somewhere. I kept my head bowed until he was out of sight.
That way, he wouldn't see my smile.
'No way he'd suspect. Rene, No. 1—normal people like me couldn't know those words.'
They seem unrelated, but the parties involved would know. That's the key to a good diversion.
Even if he went straight to Harvest, no problem. Harvest did eye the building and land—fact—and while he didn't mention Rene or No. 1, the key is that he poached orphans—also fact. Whatever Harvest says, the victim plump guy won't buy it.
Obviously, the one who poached from the plump guy's orphanage wasn't Harvest. But orphans did vanish from Harvest's—fact. And he's desperate because of it—fact.
So who poached from both orphanages?
Me.
"Kyle, how are the kids?"
"They're holding up well, as you instructed. Better than expected."
"Tricksy and the others did great."
I nodded as Kyle quietly approached and reported. As a 3-Star Orphan with leadership talent, I'd put him in charge of calming and managing the orphans Tricksy and crew had extracted. He'd done it in the back alleys before, so he was very capable.
But the MVPs were, of course, the pro orphan spies Tricksy and the others. Tricksy especially—she'd been regularly swiping orphanage goods, including one named Rene.
'Taking too many at once would raise suspicion, so she's spacing them out... Great judgment.'
It was scary thinking I'd nearly fallen for the reverse, but a blade cuts if aimed at you—grab the handle, and it's reliable.
Luckily, Tricksy could distinguish owners and return home, so I could send her off worry-free.
Tricksy, your functions have definitely improved. On par with—or better than—a robot vacuum.
"Tell the kids to hold out just a few more days. It won't take long."
"Understood, Director."
Hiding the goods? Obviously not this building. More precisely, under it.
No idea why, but there was a basement space, making it possible. That middle-aged merchant—must've built it for a proper trading company building, right?
Anyway, as I told Kyle, it wouldn't take long. Cartels are fragile like that.
If they had strong bonds or trust, they wouldn't waver at a little diversion. But Harvest trying to snatch the land and building, and the plump guy instantly suspecting—didn't look like a great relationship.
Honestly, I'd feel the same. As luxury orphan brand rivals, once the cartel cracks, reforming it would take ages.
'No—before that, the inspection will blow it all up.'
As the plump guy said, orphanages get direct imperial subsidies. And in the capital—His Majesty's turf—no less, with orphans fleeing en masse?
True or not, it'd scream mismanagement. Low-tier court nobles like them reaching back into the business? Fat chance.
'They ran orphanages to catch the Emperor's eye from the start. That's why most directors are those hungry-for-attention court nobles.'
Real big shots don't need to, and wouldn't cartel if they did. How do I know? No investigation needed—they advertised themselves as orphanage directors everywhere, probably to draw His Majesty's gaze.
Anyway, with the inspection nearing, I could sneak back in post-chaos, snag a setup permit, and fill the display with poached orphans. Easy.
All I had to do was wait, so I checked Celine's auto-work system and lay back to rest.
Knock. Knock.
"Is anyone there?"
"...?"
Suddenly, a new knock. Not rough like the plump guy's—refined, polite.
Puzzled, I opened the door. A figure in a black robe stood outside. Suspicious as hell, but what really set me on edge wasn't the robe.
'The surroundings...'
Black robe, and multiple people encircling the orphanage. Each one strong enough to crush me—clearly escorts.
Meaning this robed figure warranted such high-level protection.
And upon entering, the black robe made no attempt to hide, doffing it immediately.
Beautiful golden blonde hair cascaded down.
"I'd heard the stories, but this is our first meeting."
"...May I have your name?"
"Ariel Hyzenberg. But this time, I'm here as the orphanage inspector."
Name didn't matter. What came after did.
In this empire, Hyzenberg meant one thing.
'Imperial family?'
Ruler of the empire, the heavens themselves—the Hyzenberg imperial house.
So... they sent a princess as inspector? For real?
'No fucking way.'
Are these guys insane?