As we listened to Moulin-san promote them, we were able to narrow down the interviewees with Sophia’s insight, and Maribelle and Sebastian’s experience.
It was then that Moulin-san asked a fundamental question. Now that I think about it, we hadn’t told her.
「By the by, how many people were you thinking of?」
「For the time being, I believe we would like at least two people.」
I want at least one person to assist Sebastian in the Volton mansion. And the rest, I’d like at least one person who specializes in paperwork at the Sanctuary mansion.
As to why, it’s because we’ll have projects that were very likely to increase our paperwork.
Akane and Maria were probably going to expand their fashion-related business, and bowling somehow reached Papeck-san’s ears.
It may have been Akane or Maria, or maybe it was Sebastian.
Because of this, Volton and Wedgefort were now searching for a place to build a bowling alley.
Laeva ended up needing to make a large number of pins and balls.
There hasn’t been a word of complaint, but actually among my employees, some of those who were normally in the Volton mansion simply couldn’t access the bowling alley. I’m an employer who can read the situation. I couldn’t just give in to everyone’s silent pressure, after all.
And so, profits relating to bowling would also increase from here on.
Jeez, I have a feeling this is gonna turn into a vicious cycle of doing something and the mountain of documents increasing. It’s quite profitable, so I probably shouldn’t call it a “vicious” cycle though.
If anything, I should be glad I was fortunate enough to meet the people. I met Sophia and Maria, and then Laeva, and even Marnie[1 I feel really bad that Marnie is never mentioned in the story], and everyone who helped me, I’m so lucky to have met everyone. That’s why I don’t have any confidence in my ability to judge people. And that’s why I just tried asking Moulin-san if she had anyone to recommend.
「Moulin-san, do you have anyone you recommend?」
「A recommendation? Let’s see…… how about her? She has received rigorous training since childhood, and she is also good with etiquette.」
「T-this is……」
「「…………」」
We were surprised by the piece of paper that Moulin-san pulled from the file. Even Sebastian and Maribelle were speechless.
Written down on the singular piece of paper that Moulin-san picked was the detailed information of a former noble lady from a certain country.
「Moulin-san, this is……」
「A pitiful child who was a victim of family who lost a power struggle.」
「…… so she’s being treated as a criminal slave?」
Just as Sebastian said, that child was a criminal slave. Normally, we would never associate with a criminal slave.
「Yes. It was purely a coincidence that our store found her, though had it been any other slave store, she would have had a miserable end.」
I guess that’s how it is. The fate of a criminal slave was void of any happiness. Though, it was only those guys who committed murder, sexual assault, robbery and the like suffering the consequences of their own actions……
「Uwaa, isn’t this Valkyra Kingdom?」
「This happens everywhere, but we can’t ignore this.」
「……I wonder if we can ask His Majesty for pardon?」
The document says a certain country, but the name was completely a barony of Valkyra Kingdom.
It wasn’t uncommon for nobles factions to have antagonize each other to hinder them from success, but besides stripping of their peerage, it was rare for even the children to be sold as criminal slaves. Perhaps, there were some ulterior motive to it.
「This girl was sold domestically. If you think about it normally, they would be sold to a foreign country.」
「I can only say that it was a coincidence that I found her.」
From Moulin-san’s statement, I could tell that it was in no way a coincidence, and that she must have moved using the information she got early on. As to why Moulin-san would go that far, I don’t know.
「Her father collapsed and died from the shock of being stripped of their title. Her mother’s health was harmed from the shock and she collapsed, but she has returned to her viscount parents’ home.
「Why was only this girl sold?」
「It’s not that complicated.」
Moulin-san said that the Baron, whose rank had changed, had launched his own company to export the stocks of wine that he had purchased from the Sanctuary through the Papeck Company. I know the wine made from the Sanctuary flies off the shelves even at high prices, so retailers can still earn a profit. It’s not uncommon to blend the liquor to adjust its alcohol content and taste.
「Noble factions seem to have snuck in and were exporting adulterated and diluted wine. They’re also keeping the “Made in the Sanctuary” label.」
「Well, I’m not really rejecting the blends themselves, but dilutions are bad.」
「Yes. It was done without the Baron’s knowledge, but it had been exposed by a power noble from the noble faction, and he was denounced of his title.」
「So it was a match pump [I assume it’s about causing a fire to be able to act like the hero and save the situation].」
「Yes. There was no evidence of it after the person who actually diluted it had disappeared.」
The girl, who should have been banished from their territory and stripped of her title, seemed to have been falsely accused of hiding secret ledgers to conceal the profits by means of diluting the wine and became a slave as a result. It seemed as though they had purposely prepared secret ledgers that mimicked her handwriting.
No matter how clever or excellent she was, it was still impossible for the young girl to win by appealing her innocence in front of experienced adults.
「The case had gone even further because the investigator had been the son of a noble on the noble faction’s side.」
「So the criminal slave……」
Originally, the girl was made into a criminal slave through official procedure on surface, but she supposed to be sold to a foreign country where it was difficult to be traced, just in case. However, Moulin-san’s quick senses had allowed her to buy the girl from behind the scenes,
「You did well with Sophia, and now this child too, Moulin-san, you’re quite the soft hearted person, I see. Well, because of that, Sophia and I met each other.」
「Fufu, I am also a business woman, so if you can buy her then she’s yours.」
It feels like they were expecting me from the beginning, I’m wrong, aren’t I?
According to Moulin-san, the trapped and crushed Baron was on the Royal Faction, and the Noble Faction, who were opposed to the country’s prosperity these recent years, were getting impatient. As the balance of power among the factions was tilting in favor of the Royal Faction, they connived to falsely accuse a noble from that faction.
「The location of the Baron’s fief wasn’t great. They must have abhorred the fact that it was booming because it a good transit point. The nobles in the Noble Faction seem to have planned to split it equally amongst themselves.」
「Which means, it didn’t happen.」
「Yes. When Lord Portfort questioned the revocation of peerage, and when the intelligence unit investigated it and found out that it was a false charge, it was already too late, everything was over.」
The person who connived against the baron was an Earl of the noble faction, and the troublesome part was that he was a relative to the Duke, His Majesty’s uncle.
The Baron himself had died from the despair, and the Baroness returned home. By that point, the daughter had already been purchased by Moulin-san as a criminal slave. Lord Simon seemed to want the revival of the house from its direct lineage, with the barony under the direct control of the Royal Family. At present, it was difficult to do since the baron’s only daughter had already fallen as a criminal slave.
「But how could they not realize this before they rescinded the title?」
「I can’t say for sure, but I believe it was difficult for the prime minister of the entire country to check the reason for a lowly barony’s demise.」
「The noble faction has plenty of civil servants. The fact that Lord Portfort even realized it after everything was over makes him an excellent prime minister.」
According to Sebastian, Lord Simon realized because it was him.
「They know about the false accusation, right? Then can’t the girl be released?」
「You can’t destroy something and then say it was all a mistake. That would be foolish.」
「Moreover, Iruma-sama, unlike debt slaves, criminal slaves basically can’t be released. The only way would be to be pardoned by His Majesty as a special case.」
For them to not be able to simply say they were wrong once a person becomes a criminal slave is……
「That’s why, Iruma-dono.」
「……I see, it wouldn’t be impossible for Master to ask His Majesty for pardon.」
「I-is that so?」
Moulin-san, Sebastian, and Maribelle nodded silently. Hold up, wasn’t buying the girl still up for decision?
「Then let’s decide on the second person?」
「Indeed. There will be plenty of paperwork from here on, so we wanted two.」
「How about this child?」
Leaving me confuse, Sebastian and Maribelle began looking for other interviewees.
TLN – Thank you very much for all your support this year! I wish you all a happy new year! Prosperity and health in the coming year~
As we listened to Moulin-san promote them, we were able to narrow down the interviewees with Sophia’s insight, and Maribelle and Sebastian’s experience.
It was then that Moulin-san asked a fundamental question. Now that I think about it, we hadn’t told her.
「By the by, how many people were you thinking of?」
「For the time being, I believe we would like at least two people.」
I want at least one person to assist Sebastian in the Volton mansion. And the rest, I’d like at least one person who specializes in paperwork at the Sanctuary mansion.
As to why, it’s because we’ll have projects that were very likely to increase our paperwork.
Akane and Maria were probably going to expand their fashion-related business, and bowling somehow reached Papeck-san’s ears.
It may have been Akane or Maria, or maybe it was Sebastian.
Because of this, Volton and Wedgefort were now searching for a place to build a bowling alley.
Laeva ended up needing to make a large number of pins and balls.
There hasn’t been a word of complaint, but actually among my employees, some of those who were normally in the Volton mansion simply couldn’t access the bowling alley. I’m an employer who can read the situation. I couldn’t just give in to everyone’s silent pressure, after all.
And so, profits relating to bowling would also increase from here on.
Jeez, I have a feeling this is gonna turn into a vicious cycle of doing something and the mountain of documents increasing. It’s quite profitable, so I probably shouldn’t call it a “vicious” cycle though.
If anything, I should be glad I was fortunate enough to meet the people. I met Sophia and Maria, and then Laeva, and even Marnie[1 I feel really bad that Marnie is never mentioned in the story], and everyone who helped me, I’m so lucky to have met everyone. That’s why I don’t have any confidence in my ability to judge people. And that’s why I just tried asking Moulin-san if she had anyone to recommend.
「Moulin-san, do you have anyone you recommend?」
「A recommendation? Let’s see…… how about her? She has received rigorous training since childhood, and she is also good with etiquette.」
「T-this is……」
「「…………」」
We were surprised by the piece of paper that Moulin-san pulled from the file. Even Sebastian and Maribelle were speechless.
Written down on the singular piece of paper that Moulin-san picked was the detailed information of a former noble lady from a certain country.
「Moulin-san, this is……」
「A pitiful child who was a victim of family who lost a power struggle.」
「…… so she’s being treated as a criminal slave?」
Just as Sebastian said, that child was a criminal slave. Normally, we would never associate with a criminal slave.
「Yes. It was purely a coincidence that our store found her, though had it been any other slave store, she would have had a miserable end.」
I guess that’s how it is. The fate of a criminal slave was void of any happiness. Though, it was only those guys who committed murder, sexual assault, robbery and the like suffering the consequences of their own actions……
「Uwaa, isn’t this Valkyra Kingdom?」
「This happens everywhere, but we can’t ignore this.」
「……I wonder if we can ask His Majesty for pardon?」
The document says a certain country, but the name was completely a barony of Valkyra Kingdom.
It wasn’t uncommon for nobles factions to have antagonize each other to hinder them from success, but besides stripping of their peerage, it was rare for even the children to be sold as criminal slaves. Perhaps, there were some ulterior motive to it.
「This girl was sold domestically. If you think about it normally, they would be sold to a foreign country.」
「I can only say that it was a coincidence that I found her.」
From Moulin-san’s statement, I could tell that it was in no way a coincidence, and that she must have moved using the information she got early on. As to why Moulin-san would go that far, I don’t know.
「Her father collapsed and died from the shock of being stripped of their title. Her mother’s health was harmed from the shock and she collapsed, but she has returned to her viscount parents’ home.
「Why was only this girl sold?」
「It’s not that complicated.」
Moulin-san said that the Baron, whose rank had changed, had launched his own company to export the stocks of wine that he had purchased from the Sanctuary through the Papeck Company. I know the wine made from the Sanctuary flies off the shelves even at high prices, so retailers can still earn a profit. It’s not uncommon to blend the liquor to adjust its alcohol content and taste.
「Noble factions seem to have snuck in and were exporting adulterated and diluted wine. They’re also keeping the “Made in the Sanctuary” label.」
「Well, I’m not really rejecting the blends themselves, but dilutions are bad.」
「Yes. It was done without the Baron’s knowledge, but it had been exposed by a power noble from the noble faction, and he was denounced of his title.」
「So it was a match pump [I assume it’s about causing a fire to be able to act like the hero and save the situation].」
「Yes. There was no evidence of it after the person who actually diluted it had disappeared.」
The girl, who should have been banished from their territory and stripped of her title, seemed to have been falsely accused of hiding secret ledgers to conceal the profits by means of diluting the wine and became a slave as a result. It seemed as though they had purposely prepared secret ledgers that mimicked her handwriting.
No matter how clever or excellent she was, it was still impossible for the young girl to win by appealing her innocence in front of experienced adults.
「The case had gone even further because the investigator had been the son of a noble on the noble faction’s side.」
「So the criminal slave……」
Originally, the girl was made into a criminal slave through official procedure on surface, but she supposed to be sold to a foreign country where it was difficult to be traced, just in case. However, Moulin-san’s quick senses had allowed her to buy the girl from behind the scenes,
「You did well with Sophia, and now this child too, Moulin-san, you’re quite the soft hearted person, I see. Well, because of that, Sophia and I met each other.」
「Fufu, I am also a business woman, so if you can buy her then she’s yours.」
It feels like they were expecting me from the beginning, I’m wrong, aren’t I?
According to Moulin-san, the trapped and crushed Baron was on the Royal Faction, and the Noble Faction, who were opposed to the country’s prosperity these recent years, were getting impatient. As the balance of power among the factions was tilting in favor of the Royal Faction, they connived to falsely accuse a noble from that faction.
「The location of the Baron’s fief wasn’t great. They must have abhorred the fact that it was booming because it a good transit point. The nobles in the Noble Faction seem to have planned to split it equally amongst themselves.」
「Which means, it didn’t happen.」
「Yes. When Lord Portfort questioned the revocation of peerage, and when the intelligence unit investigated it and found out that it was a false charge, it was already too late, everything was over.」
The person who connived against the baron was an Earl of the noble faction, and the troublesome part was that he was a relative to the Duke, His Majesty’s uncle.
The Baron himself had died from the despair, and the Baroness returned home. By that point, the daughter had already been purchased by Moulin-san as a criminal slave. Lord Simon seemed to want the revival of the house from its direct lineage, with the barony under the direct control of the Royal Family. At present, it was difficult to do since the baron’s only daughter had already fallen as a criminal slave.
「But how could they not realize this before they rescinded the title?」
「I can’t say for sure, but I believe it was difficult for the prime minister of the entire country to check the reason for a lowly barony’s demise.」
「The noble faction has plenty of civil servants. The fact that Lord Portfort even realized it after everything was over makes him an excellent prime minister.」
According to Sebastian, Lord Simon realized because it was him.
「They know about the false accusation, right? Then can’t the girl be released?」
「You can’t destroy something and then say it was all a mistake. That would be foolish.」
「Moreover, Iruma-sama, unlike debt slaves, criminal slaves basically can’t be released. The only way would be to be pardoned by His Majesty as a special case.」
For them to not be able to simply say they were wrong once a person becomes a criminal slave is……
「That’s why, Iruma-dono.」
「……I see, it wouldn’t be impossible for Master to ask His Majesty for pardon.」
「I-is that so?」
Moulin-san, Sebastian, and Maribelle nodded silently. Hold up, wasn’t buying the girl still up for decision?
「Then let’s decide on the second person?」
「Indeed. There will be plenty of paperwork from here on, so we wanted two.」
「How about this child?」
Leaving me confuse, Sebastian and Maribelle began looking for other interviewees.
TLN – Thank you very much for all your support this year! I wish you all a happy new year! Prosperity and health in the coming year~
