After the confrontation with the spirits, Ai spent a couple of hours reading until Vivian, the overseeing servant, got distracted.
"The moment has come." Ai takes a blanket and covers her face and body. Then, she climbed down from her mansion's window and set off for the city.
— Sunset, city center.
With enhanced physical abilities, Ai arrived in a couple of minutes. The place was bustling, akin to a festival. The streets were filled with people, and music echoed throughout the fiefdom.
Hehh... I suppose at moments like this, Courtenay truly seems to be in good condition...
Ai starts to slip through the crowd.
For the business to start functioning, it needs someone to manage it. So, I need to hire someone who can handle it properly...
There aren't many people like that, so the most suitable option would be to educate a slave like Envy with knowledge of the future and leave them in charge...
Ai slips into something akin to an alley and amidst all the noise, she could hear shouts behind one of the food stalls.
Hm?
"My lord... I'm just telling you, if we don't reduce the amount of free products your children take, our accounts will turn negative and-"
"Shut up! I hired you to handle the accounts, it's none of your business if the business isn't doing well."
That's... an elf? The guy is right, it doesn't make sense to meddle, although she probably says it to keep her job.
"Please, sir... Excuse my insolence, but if we don't make cuts-"
The merchant interrupts the elf with a slap.
"All you do is complain! I'm fed up with you! You're fired, damn beast."
"But—!"
"Didn't you understand? Go!"
The elf stood silent for a few seconds as she understood and absorbed the situation.
"I understand." After saying that, she proceeded to take what seemed to be a coat and headed towards the alley where Ai was.
What a problem...
"That damn stupid fatso, his business won't last more than two months..." She would start to tear up.
This is bad... Being a beast, it's hard for me to find work, and the rent has gone up this month...
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"Hey."
The elf stops, turning around to find the little Ai with her face uncovered.
A kid?
"What happened? Are you lost?" Damn it, I'm not in the mood to deal with brats.
"Tell me, how much is ten plus ten?"
"Eh? It's twenty... Are you learning to count?"
"And ten multiplied by eighty-three?"
"Pardon?" I'm not in the mood to indulge a child's whims, but I'll tell her since it's easy, just add a zero.
"Ha... It's eight hundred thirty, little girl. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
"Why do you know so much? Most people would struggle with a simple addition."
"Eh? That's because they don't understand the logic behind mathematical operations. In the empire, they memorize the answers without understanding how it works..."
Right...
"Hey, do you want to work for me?" She smiles angelically.
"Haha, excuse me, but it's getting dark and things get dangerous here at night. You should go back to your mother." She turns around to continue her way.
"I'll give you two gold coins monthly."
What!? That's more than three times what I earned at my current job... Why a kid...?
"I'm starting a business in the city center, and I'm looking for someone to manage it. I'll pay you two gold coins monthly."
"It's certainly a good offer, but it would be better if you discussed it with your father."
"The business is mine... I'll give you the job as long as you meet two requirements."
"The first is that you never ask about my family situation and avoid asking about my private life as much as possible."
Is she hiring me for some kind of mafia job?
"The second is that you can handle the management of the new employees, the opening of new branches when needed, and product innovation. In short, you'll be in charge of everything, as if you were the owner."
"What kind of business is it?"
"Snacks targeted at nobles, wealthy merchants, and foreigners."
Hah... I knew it. This girl has just been taught how to cook. Surely her parents told her that her meals tasted good, and she got excited. Well, it doesn't really matter.
"As long as you pay me, I don't think I'll have a problem."
"Then, we have a deal. What's your name?"
"I'm Clara, it's a pleasure."
"The pleasure is mine, Clara. I'm Ai, now come with me." Ai takes her hand and heads towards her establishment.
"H-Hey... Wait!"
After a few minutes, Ai would arrive with Clara in front of the business.
Is this her... business?
The place was in shambles, there would be a beggar sitting outside, the windows were broken, except for one.
"The door needs oil, there's dust everywhere, and inside you'll see holes in the floor." They enter the premises, which was unlocked.
"The walls are cracked, and you have to be careful not to fall or hurt yourself. In the back, there's a room where you can live along with a bathroom."
"Ha... I'd prefer to stay in my current rent..."
"Clara, how can I earn your loyalty?"
Getting straight to the point, huh...
"There won't be a problem as long as I can get back at that damn fatso from my previous job, as well as the ones before... They all belittled me just because I'm a beast, and they took advantage of the fact that it's hard for me to find work to exploit me."
"Then it's perfect. Here, you'll have a position similar to that of a merchant and you'll deal with high-ranking nobles." Ai takes out ten gold coins from her pocket and hands them to Clara.
Eh!? She was serious...
"Your first task will be to hire the right staff to take care of the problems here, the ones I mentioned before. Make them tear down the window partition and make one that occupies the entire space."
"Also, take care of the counter and the room and bathroom at the back. In short, I need you to leave everything like new. I'll come later and bring you the products."
"Use the money you have left to buy yourself a set of noble dresses and then just stay here waiting for updates."
"In that case... Leave it to me! I'll have this place spotless in a week."
"Sounds good. Oh, one more thing..."
"It will be called... Aristocrat Heaven!"