After recording the crimes those guys confessed to, I immediately released the people inside the building and summoned soldiers.
Fortunately, besides the tavern, the building only had rooms for prostitution, and there weren't many people. The tavern staff were only women involved in loan sharking.
It seems this tavern also operates by exploiting women who borrow money at exorbitant interest rates… These beasts.
They even run their tavern business using such methods… Anyway, after reporting to the lord's city, a few days later, the lord, who seemed even more haggard than before, greeted me with excessive enthusiasm and sighed deeply.
"It's really… no amount of thanks is enough for you and the Holy Maiden. Alas…"
He clearly suffered quite a fright. He looked utterly disheveled.
"I never imagined Baron Brandy would be involved… If we're not careful, the entire noble class of Ladia could be accused of harboring a criminal. Thank you so much."
"Haha. I've been harmed by those guys before. It's alright." Even though he said it was alright, the lord kept bowing, indicating that this was indeed a very dangerous situation for him.
"Baron Brandy has been immediately arrested and sent to the capital along with his family and accomplices… Ha. Even if they say he's unfit to be a lord, they have nothing to say. They didn't even notice something like this…"
"…I heard Baron Brandy controls Ladia's entertainment industry. Is it impossible for Your Excellency to intervene?"
"Hmm? Ah. You don't understand. The nobles in each city have licenses for their respective businesses and can collect a portion of the business tax. In Baron Brandy's case, he gets 15% of the revenue from the entertainment industry licenses and taxes."
Wow. He can collect 15% of the tax revenue just by lying down? And the business license was issued by a nobleman? No wonder he's a nobleman. This structure is practically tailor-made for embezzlement.
"Although the lord governs the city, his interference in the city nobles' business spheres is limited. While he has the power to adjust proportions, maintain order, and investigate crimes, in cases like this one where criminals are secretly harbored, unless he's caught red-handed, the lord has no way of knowing."
The lord sighed again.
"Recently, there have been frequent incidents involving monsters or dungeons around the city, and I've been busy dealing with those matters... I never expected something like this to happen... Sigh... I have no face to see His Majesty the King..."
As if to calm himself, the lord took a sip of tea, closed his eyes for a moment... then quickly composed himself and said to me.
"The nobles of Radhia are preparing to take this opportunity to thoroughly investigate whether there are any similar cases to Baron Brandy. Please convey my apologies to the Saintess for causing her trouble."
"Understood." The Saintess's influence is indeed not to be underestimated. Even the lord has to be mindful of her feelings.
I was considering bringing it, but then I heard I needed to appease the shopkeeper, so I gave up on the idea. Now, I wonder if I should?
"...I should also express my gratitude to you...hmm..." The lord, who had been pondering for a long time, suddenly became conflicted.
Alright, alright. That's why I came today.
Come on. Throw over some decent reward.
"...You said you wanted to be an adventurer with the Holy Maiden, right?"
"Yes. But..."
"You were appointed the Holy Maiden's Guardian by the Holy Maiden?"
"Yes. But..."
"You also founded and run your own guild...and received a bounty from His Majesty the King in the capital...hmm, hmm..." After a brief moment of thought, the lord hummed in agreement and then offered me not a reward, but a suggestion.
"Perhaps, would you be interested in trying to run a business?"
"...A business, you mean?"
"If you are interested, I would like to transfer the buildings and management rights confiscated from the criminals to you."
Buildings!
Management rights!
Could it be...that I'm going to become the owner of the buildings?
But the surrounding environment isn't great either, hardly an attractive offer…
"Actually, the southern region of Ladia, where criminals are entrenched, is quite a headache for the lord."
As if reading my expression, the lord spoke slowly.
"Ladia is, after all, a large city, and the wealth gap among its citizens is something even a lord can't control. The poorer population of Ladia gathers around there—though not to the extent of the worst situation near the southern city walls."
Indeed. That gloomy atmosphere is indeed there.
"We've tried various methods to improve the situation there, but with little effect…it's truly regrettable."
After all…I've heard Ladia has a population of hundreds of thousands; how could such a situation be easily improved?
"If you want to expand your guild, you'll need a base, right? A stable source of income is also necessary."
Hmm…putting everything else aside, a stable source of income is quite appealing…
"That's why I said…how about you take over that building and tavern and manage it directly?…If it's feasible, also keep an eye on the surrounding security and hiring issues."
I felt a glint of expectation in the lord's eyes as he spoke. "Hey... the lord's more reliable than I thought. He pretends to offer payment but actually just wants me to do the work."
"Yeah. But the conditions are pretty good, so I agreed." The top floor of the vacant building, the 8th floor. Looking around the spacious room, Lisbeth and Claire nodded with satisfaction.
I was worried they'd complain about the location, but it seems they both like it, which is great.
"Good choice. Even though the lord said that, compared to other places, this is just a slightly worse location, not as bad as I imagined." Claire said this while checking the walls, adding as if to reassure me.
Well, indeed. Although the concentration of entertainment venues makes the atmosphere a bit awkward, this is, after all, within Ladia, so it won't cause any major trouble.
At most, there might be some drunkards wandering around at night... a place even Leona can come to buy adult products by herself.
In fact, looking around during the day, this area doesn't seem much different from the inn district where adventurers gather.
So, isn't this basically getting a building for free?
*Hehehe.*
Oh my god, I've become the owner of a building!
Even though it's a tavern and an adult store, I'm still the owner!
"Hehe. I thought so too, so I accepted it. After all, getting a building and operating rights isn't a common thing, even if it's just a tavern and an adult store."
Hmm. Considering the location, this level of development will probably cost over 1000 gold coins.
Wow… even more expensive than I expected. Over 1000 gold coins?
But considering it's an eight-story building plus operating rights, the price is reasonable… It's not bad to use this floor as a residence. We can decorate it however we like, right?
It would be best to knock down the walls and use the whole floor.
Luckily, the building itself is very sturdy. As long as we demolish this side and this side… wow.
Although it's not particularly tall, it's the top floor after all. If we decorate it well, calling it a penthouse wouldn't be an exaggeration, right?
Suddenly, my dream of living in a big house has come true.
I've really struck gold.
"But... what about the shop assistants, Master?"
"Ah, all the shop assistants' illegal debts have been cleared. After deducting all the interest those bastards demanded, there wasn't much principal left. I settled it on my way to the lord's city."
I thought it would simply disappear, but it seems that because the loans were registered, the debts don't just vanish into thin air.
Fortunately, after those outrageous interest rates were cancelled, only the principal remained... all the shop assistants' total principal was just over 10 gold coins, so I paid them off for them.
Those lunatics, using such methods... they're scumbags. They deserved a few more punches.
"Since it's come to this, why not continue employing those people? Of course, exclude sex work and violent labor, and pay them normal wages."
They said that although the interest doesn't increase, they only receive enough to barely survive here, slowly paying off their debts.
Even if the debts are paid off, living like this will still be difficult. It's better to maintain the employment relationship by paying them proper wages. After all, they still have experience running this place.
"Perfect timing. They're all ready."
"Huh? Ready? What?"
"Hehe…♡Let's go downstairs, Master♡" Lisbeth and Claire smiled mysteriously, linking their arms with mine and leading me forward.
The two led me to the second-floor tavern… where a jaw-dropping scene awaited.