The Red Flower Garden's Expansion Plan
In the martial arts novels I read back in my previous world, there was always an organization called the Hao Clan. A faction formed by the lowest rungs of society—thieves, pickpockets, gamblers, courtesans, and inn workers. Their eyes and ears reached into every back alley of the city, collecting and investigating vast amounts of information. I'd even heard that courtesans in brothels would report the careless words spilled by drunken officials. But how much useful information could they really gather that way? Modern movies often showed congressmen or corporate CEOs summoning women from bars. It all felt like a cliché method for gathering intelligence.
“I wonder if information gathered like that is really...”
At my words, Beatrice gave a wry smile.
We were in the top-floor office of the Red Flower Garden. Looking at it now, the structure seemed similar to the adventurer guild. The main difference was that the interior was far more luxurious and ornate. Whether it reflected Beatrice's taste or not, the spacious office decorated predominantly in red had me sitting in what appeared to be her usual seat as I received her report.
In the room stood Chloe beside me, Zeke, Beatrice with two women seated across from us, and Isabel in the corner, quietly sipping tea.
“Is it difficult after all?”
“Yes. Of course, it's not that such stories don't exist.”
This was the reaction I received after mentioning the Hao Clan system I'd seen in a book. They said merchants would overhear a few things during trade negotiations. The problem was that most of the information was already past its expiration date. Travel times between regions were long, and while messenger birds existed, they weren't something ordinary people could make practical use of.
“However, it's not as if we have no information at all.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
When Beatrice glanced at the woman behind her, one of the women standing in back retrieved several documents from a nearby desk. Chloe stepped forward and accepted them.
“...This is information regarding the Müller territory?”
At Chloe's words as she slowly examined the pages, I turned my gaze to Beatrice.
“To be honest, the reliability is rather low. Merchants aren't exactly known for speaking the truth. They often exaggerate, especially when drunk or when trying to close a deal.”
“Even considering that, the fact that you've prepared this much suggests it's plausible, doesn't it?”
“Yes. They've reported that prices for various materials have skyrocketed. When we sent people to verify, both the quantity and types of goods that merchant had prepared were different from normal.”
Chloe nodded and passed the documents to me. A quick scan confirmed the contents.
“The internal conflict is clear.”
“Yes.”
Father had mentioned it, so it wasn't baseless rumor, but the fact that even market prices were fluctuating this wildly meant the internal strife was on the verge of breaking into the open. Anyone with sharp instincts would already be noticing the signs.
After studying the documents for a while longer, I looked at Beatrice.
“When did you start preparing this?”
She couldn't have begun the moment I said I was coming for this information. Of course, even if she'd been informed in advance that I, the second son, would be taking over management, picking up on the subtle signs would have been difficult.
Beatrice maintained a polite, composed posture as she regarded me, then carefully spoke.
“As you said, we don't operate as a formal organization, but we do possess some know-how.”
“Know-how, huh.”
What she referred to was essentially statistics.
“Mainly the professions of customers who visit during this season. New shops aren't opening on this street, and there are few visitors without any particular reason. The number of adventurers increasing or decreasing. Information like that. We've gleaned several things from it.”
I looked at Beatrice with genuine interest. She spoke casually with a small smile, but the tension in her was visible. I nodded for her to continue.
“Are you not preparing for war?”
“War, you say.”
I glanced at Isabel, the guildmaster of the adventurer guild.
“Did you say anything?”
“No. I have not.”
Isabel's tone was firm and decisive. Well, she would have heard that I'd visited the adventurer guild, and there had been quite a few suspicious signs, so it wasn't strange that she'd noticed.
“That's correct. We are preparing for war with Müller.”
“As expected. Then the reason you've come to us is...”
“Well, there's no particular reason. I also thought it would be good to take a look at the Changgwan district, which I've come to manage as the person responsible for public security. And now you understand as well.”
“Yes. This must be regarding the venereal disease.”
Beatrice spoke with a serious expression.
“We are conducting regular examinations. So far, there have been no abnormalities.”
“Then shorten that interval slightly. Given the situation, rumors will likely begin to spread soon. It doesn't seem there would be any major issues even if they notice.”
A sudden shortening of the STD inspection cycle. Even such a minor change could become information.
“Understood.”
“I'll make considerations regarding the examination costs. Zeke.”
“Yes, understood.”
Zeke nodded at my words. Originally the costs were covered by Changgwan, but the territory would provide appropriate reductions. Of course, personal examinations remained the individual's responsibility.
At my words, Beatrice bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
“Then shall we move on to the main topic?”
“Yes.”
I had spoken first, but Beatrice had clearly prepared this information in advance. The fact that she'd noticed the signs and prepared ahead meant she wanted something.
“What do you want?”
Beatrice hesitated briefly at my question before speaking.
“As you know, the Changgwan district is maintained quite stably.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Currently there are no particular problems.”
At Zeke's words, Beatrice nodded.
“Yes. There are shops failing and new ones opening, but the organization managing them remains largely stable.”
“Isn't that a good thing?”
Beatrice acknowledged that my words weren't wrong.
“It is a good thing, but in other words, the situation has reached saturation.”
“Saturation, huh.”
Peace is maintained and the population grows. I understood the reason, but Franz's lands were vast. Development was still ongoing, and there was more than enough room for the planned urban projects.
“There shouldn't be any shortage like that.”
“That's correct. Looking at the entire back-alley network, it's not yet at that level. But when the back alleys become overcrowded, conflicts arise. Peace is maintained for now, but it won't be long before disputes break out again. Organizations will rise and fall in cycles.”
“And?”
From what I'd heard, it didn't seem particularly unusual. Even if conflicts occurred, they were merely matters of the back alleys. As long as they didn't spread to the surface, we had no reason to intervene.
“We are the problem.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
Beatrice began explaining about her organization. It was the largest in the back alleys of this area, including the Changgwan district. The fact that she was meeting me now as the representative of the street's organizations proved her status.
Beatrice gave a bitter smile.
“Among the organizations operating in Changgwan, our influence is somewhat large.”
“It certainly appears that way.”
The investigation materials had also contained detailed information about this Changgwan.
“Those wishing to become courtesans are flocking to our organization.”
“Hmm.”
At Beatrice's words I glanced at Zeke, but he shook his head as well. It seemed even they hadn't grasped the situation to that extent. But was that really a problem?
“When the number of people increases and the organization grows, we must split off independent branches.”
“Couldn't you simply grow the organization further?”
“We are already the largest organization in this area. If we were purely a back-alley organization, perhaps, but expanding one that began in Changgwan any further would burden us as well. The reason we can act as representatives of the back alleys is because we maintain this position and simultaneously serve as mediators. If we violate that balance, the surrounding organizations won't view it favorably.”
Hmm. So that's how it was. Even if they wouldn't look upon it favorably, it seemed manageable.
“You appear to have sufficient power.”
They were officially employing magic wielders as staff. It seemed they could handle themselves even if war broke out.
“We have our pride as well. An organization born in Changgwan. We find fulfillment in focusing on Changgwan and providing customers with higher quality service.”
I could sense genuine sincerity in Beatrice's serious expression. Professional pride, I suppose. Then what exactly did she want?
Beatrice swallowed once. I heard the soft gulp from her throat.
“We wish to advance into the Müller territory. No—we wish to become independent from Müller.”
“From Müller? You mean to open a branch there?”
At my words, Beatrice glanced to the side. The two women standing behind her stepped forward.
“Sasha. Ninya. Introduce yourselves.”
“I am Sasha.”
“I'm Ninya.”
Both sisters possessed golden hair and crimson eyes, clearly resembling Beatrice, yet each had distinct features. Ninya, with her short bob haircut and droopy eyes, offered a gentle smile as she greeted me. Sasha, whose long hair fell past her shoulders, stood with sharp, upturned eyes and a coldly frozen expression.
“They are my biological daughters.”
“Hmm. I see. I did think they resembled you.”
Beatrice looked at the pair as she continued.
“Though they are my daughters, they are intelligent and have understood the ways of the back alleys since childhood. After you achieve victory in the war, they will help organize the chaotic back alleys by opening new establishments.”
“I understand now.”
So she planned to reduce the size of her saturated organization by making it independent in Müller. Even after becoming independent, the distance meant it would essentially function as a completely separate organization. They would maintain their existing connections in Franz's back alleys while having her daughters operate in Müller.
I understood what she was trying to say. I understood, but...
At that moment, Chloe, who had been listening beside me, stepped forward.
“So the reason you're telling us this now isn't because you need Franz's help, is it?”
Chloe glared sharply at Beatrice as she spoke.
How scary.