City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 36: Favor

"You seemed uncomfortable?" asked Carla as I slowly sat down on my chair. The muscle-numbing cream had helped with the pain but not the damage.
 
It will take a few hours to heal through all the damage.
 
"The training had got a little hard today," I replied and opened the file; a minute later, a smile appeared on my face.
 
Yesterday, there was no increase; I was just happy there was no decrease due to the loss of two girls. Today, there was an increase, finally crossing the mark of four hundred and fifty thousand crowns.
 
If it keeps increasing in such a way, then there is a sure chance that the earnings will reach half a million a night by the end of the month.
 
After reading the report, I turned to the letters in front of me. The first one, I opened from my man in Redfawn, whom I had handed all the responsibility of the girls.
 
He had offered them freedom from their contract with severance pay, as I had told him to, and nine decided to leave while fifty-one were coming. They have already started the journey and will reach here in three or four days.
 
There is a list of names that are coming, along with their information; I begin to read it but am soon stopped by a familiar name.
 
I stared at it for a couple of seconds before resuming the reading and finishing it a minute late.
 
"Care to explain how Lola Monet ended up back in Redfawn?" I asked with an arched brow like she did when to want to ask about something silently.
 
Her expression became serious before a sigh came out of her mouth.
 
"I did not say or imply anything intentionally to give her the way to come back, but I accidentally wrote something that made her join the old brothel in the hopes of coming back," said Carla.
 
I did not say anything to that, as the thing is quite complex.
 
I had said that I would not take back any girl who left and would not, but now, I have brought this girl, which created a loophole.
 
It was a frustrating choice to make, especially given the risk or daring the girl had shown, going back to the old brothel in those horrendous conditions, at least compared to the establishment.
 
Most importantly, she had needed to sacrifice her freedom; as one could not enter the brothel without a long contract.
 
Not to mention ways, the ingenuity she would have needed to make my brother take her in, as he would have definitely thought she was a spy I sent to keep an eye on him.
 
"I hope you will be careful what you write in the future, Carla," I warned as I looked at her. 
 
"It was a mistake; it wouldn't happen again," she replied. I nodded and turned back to the other letters.
 
After finishing the letters, I read the papers, which as always filled with news of conflicts.
 
Empire had few skirmishes going on its border, nothing major like Mayhurst Island, where lich was causing the destruction; it had already swallowed one kingdom and moving to swallow all.
 
Looking at the progress it is making, the lich might be able to swallow the whole of Mayhurst Island, and that would be a bad thing.
 
It is in a strategic place; Empire, Merchant City-States, or any other coastal nation wouldn't want to see that and the papers said that they are preparing the big aids.
 
The Renwell region is much safer currently; the merchant city-states never expand beyond their borders, and Navr had been silent; there had been few skirmishes with Tabes forces, but Dustorn fortress had handled it.
 
After reading all the papers, I focused on the work; with expansion, there were many things to do and new ideas to search for before it was late.
 
I worked for some time before I got up to go to the guild; I had not gone to the Merchant Guild for two days, so there must be a lot of work for me waiting.
 
When I reached the hall, I began to hear all the sounds, not the sounds of music as I usually do, but other sounds. 
 
As I got out of the hall, I saw many unknown people around the mansion.
 
The people from the Nielson Guild are setting off their instruments, and some have already started doing the work.
 
Soon, I spotted the familiar old man and walked toward him.
 
"Mister Silver," he said as I appeared beside him. "Mr. Davidson, how is the progress?" I asked.
 
"By evening, everything will be clouded, people wouldn't be see anything, and we will be able to do our job in peace," he replied.
 
"I have no doubt you will," I said and talked to the old man for a couple of minutes before walking into my carriage. 
 
Knock Knock
 
Fifteen minutes later, my carriage pulled into the Merchant Guild, and I walked out. Soon, I entered the legal department on the first floor and walked into my office, and was about to call Kevin when the knock rang out.
 
"Come in," I said, and then opened, and mister Oakley walked in. "Mister Silver, the Guildmaster wants to see you at two," he informed.
 
"Did he tell you what it is about?" I asked, "No, but he sent a note asking me to tell you about the appointment if you arrive today," he replied.
 
"Thank you, mister Oakley," I said and the old man. 
 
"It's no bother," he said, "I will send you the contracts for you to review; there are quite a lot," he said and left before I could say anything, and a minute later, Kevin came, bringing twenty contracts.
 
I activated my skill and began, and immediately I got impressed by the shocking speed, not only of reading but also understanding what was written.
 
Intelligence increase the thought speed, which is acting fuel to power up the Contract and Fast Reading Skills, which also aid me in quickly understanding the things I read.
 
I begin to flip one page after another while taking notes on the note-pad. I quickly read through the second contract and began on the third before starting on the third and the fourth.
 
By the time it was ten minutes to two, I was able to finish with more than ten contracts.
 
I locked the contracts and notes in my desk before getting up and walking out of my office. 
 
I have an appointment with the Guildmaster, I don't know what it is about, but it must be important if he is calling me into his office instead of sending me a note.
 
"Remus Silver, I have an appointment with the guild master at two," I said to the assistant. "I will inform Guildmaster about your arrival," she said and tapped on the runes of the plate in front of her.
 
"He is waiting for you," she said as she looked up, and the door of the Guildmaster's office began to open up.
 
I walked toward the office, and soon, I entered inside, and for the first time, I saw Damon Hardt alone.
 
"Guildmaster, you have called for me?" I asked as I stopped. "Yes, take a seat, Remus." He said.
 
"Thank you," I said as I sat.
 
"I have called you here because I want you to go with the delegation leaving for Namdar in six days," he said, surprising me.
 
Namdar is an island and also the name of the city; it is a very strategic place for the Empire and one of the most prosperous cities of the Empire.
 
Making connections to it will help the Greltheaven tremendously, considering there is a waterway route to it from Greltheaven.
 
"My apologies, guild master, but it is not possible for me." "I have just begun the expansion of my business, and I want to be present," I said, declining the offer directly; he seemed a little surprised by that but quickly controlled his expression.
 
"It won't take much; you will be able to return in less than ten days," he said, but I shook my head.
 
If it is reviewing the contracts, I will do it, even if I have to stay an hour more, but I will not leave the city. My business is most important, this job I took because it will benefit my business.
 
"Consider this as a favor to me," he said, and I immediately stopped my open mouth from uttering the word.
 
"Namdar is too important; I want every contract we sign with them to be perfect. There will be some negotiations; I want you to be part of them, too," he added, and I wanted to decline it, but the words stopped in my mouth.
 
Favor.
 
This word made me hesitate. 
 
One does not use this word carelessly, and if he says he will owe me a favor, then he will, and a favor from the guild-master of the merchant guild is very valuable.
 
"Since you asked it, Guild-master, I will do it; I just hope it will not take more than ten days," I said finally with a sigh.
 
"Good, start making the preparations; you will leave in six days," he said; I nodded and walked out of the office.
 
Soon, I was back in my office and closed my eyes. 
 
I really didn't want to go, but there was no choice; the favor would help me a lot, and I could not let it go. I should be able to return within ten days, and Carla is more than capable of handling everything in my absence.
 
I opened my eyes and took out the contract, and began reviewing them; by the time I finished, it was already four.
 
It took me another half an hour to arrange my notes and type them and stamp them. I called Kevin and handed over the contract, and got out.
 
I have stayed more than I usually do but was able to do a work of two days; the skills make everything easy and efficient.
 
Soon, my carriage was out of the merchant guild and, fifteen minutes late, reached the establishment, which had changed thoroughly in the few hours, I had been out.
 
Aside from the walkway and the mansion, everything is covered in a silvery pink mist. The garden, the back of the mansion, everything is covered in mist.
 
It gave the establishment quite a mysterious look; I had worried about the looks of the establishment, as it was what attracted the patrons first, but now looking at it, I am no longer worried.
 
Without special visual skills, nobody would be able to see what is inside the mist.
 
As I entered inside and walked through the mist, I saw lots of people and cargo carriages coming from the back entrance and unloading the stuff.
 
They have started working; I could see a lot of workers have already begun digging, with the geomancers handling the delicate stuff.
 
They will create an underground and build the building covering, and the two will become one in the last days. I will need to close the establishment for the last part, but it won't be for more than a week.
 
"How you liking the progress, Mister Silver?” asked Architect Lloyd as he approached me.
 
“It is happening quite fast,” I said as I looked around. 
 
“Your work is a priority.” “The head wants to finish it within one and a half months, so we need to work fast,” he said and began to tour me the progress they had made in a few hours.
 
Looking at it, I don’t have a doubt about them finishing the work on time.

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