Arthur's Point of View

The Rainy Helm

"Preposterous!" The Count slammed his fist on the table and pointed at Sherry. "She has somehow created several new cuisines and added them to her menu all in the time span of a few days. After investigating the finances of this place, it was obvious she did not have the funds for such an expenditure!"

Chuckling at that, I answered. "You're right. She doesn't." The Noble smirked as if he had won. "However, I did. I've entered into a contract with Sherry, and she agreed to a nondisclosure agreement. All those new menu items came from me, and the funds to expand also came from me. Due to the contract she is under, she isn't required to tell you, or even the priestesses, anything."

They obviously didn't like that. "You can't do that! The law-" The blonde began.

Digging into my pocket, I threw a piece of paper at his face as I quickly responded. "Any establishment, business, restaurant, shop, company, or otherwise, that donates over five percent of its earnings to the Town Guard in its designated rung is allowed to expand without limitations." I quoted immediately and pointed at the paper he held. "There is no law that prevents military personnel from aiding in that expansion or says that a Knight cannot enter into private business with any business owner."

The Elf glared at me, as did a few of the others. "Maybe not. However, there are certain standards-" He began, and I cut him off again.

"Let me explain something to you pointy-eared fucks." I began as I sat down and put my feet up on a chair before leaning back. "The Slums, as you call it, are no longer your concern. If I even get a hint of any of you sniffing around here, expect to run into me. You strike a deal; I'll know about it, and if you even think of sabotaging anything, you will be stripped of your titles if it's the last thing I do."

"The Priestesses-" Once again, the blonde opened his mouth.

"If they want to get involved in this, over you lot squabbling at the expansion of a business that is helping fund the Lestranian military, that is a conversation I would be glad to have with both of them." Then I pointed at them. "If they don't tell you to fuck off, then I'll tell them to fuck off before I tell you to do the same."

Elincia was here when I was going over things. She knew and already approved of this deal. The Priestess even went out of her way to inform me of a few loopholes, and I found a few others myself. Even found another way to make sure this place is protected for free.

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They all went silent. "Do not think we will forget this!"

Naturally, the group moved to leave, but I kicked the chair that my feet were resting. This sent it flying and slammed into the door before shattering. This startled all of them as Alwin merely put up a shield and watched quietly with his sister. Each of them turned to me in surprise as I stood up, no longer in the mood to play their game.

Walking over to them, they activated their magic, and I quickly released my killing intent on only them. Needless to say, all of them look as though they were about to pass out as they began to sweat and shake in fear.

"I'm going to let you all in on a little secret." Leaning forward with wide eyes as I stared them down, I continued. "Threatening me is one of the stupidest things you could do. Any of you ever threaten me again, and you won't need to worry about the status of The Slums again. I don't care that it's taking away from you profits in the upper rungs. If any of you cross me again, I will deal with you in any manner I see fit."

Patting their cheeks one by one in a very condescending manner, they looked horrified. "You wouldn't."

Tilting my head at the question, I smiled in return. "Wouldn't? Have you forgotten Duke Jhaane Syltar? Do not presume to know what I would and wouldn't do." Looking down at them, I continued. "Let me make this clear in case any of you seem to be under the delusion that I care about any of you. The Slums… Are mine." I stated blatantly. "And I plan to make them far superior than your upper rungs could ever hope to be."

"We will never let that happen!" One shouted rather weakly.

Stopping my killing intent, they fell to their knees. "Then you don't know me, but you will. Soon." Crouching down before them, I fiddled with my fingers in a bored gesture. "Eventually, all of you will be coming down here for those finer things in life, and I will never allow any of my recipes to be allowed in any place in the upper rungs." Standing up, I smirked. "That way, you can come down here and slum it up with the rest of us."

Looking back at Sherry, she responded unsurely. "What?"

I pointed at the Rainy Helm in general. "This is your business, correct?"

Sherry nodded slowly. "Yes?"

"Which means you can refuse service to anyone you want?" I asked further.

A smile came to her lips when she realized what I was doing. "Yes!" Sherry confirmed.

"Then, as a General of Lestrania, if any of you come to this place of business again, you will be arrested for trespassing." Then I smiled as I crossed my arms as I gestured to the door. "This is your first and only warning for you pointy-eared fucks to vacate the premises."

They promptly left with their tails between their legs as Alwin just sighed. "You know that you just threatened the nobility, right?" He stated as his shield went down.

I shrugged. "Fuck em."

Alwin shook his head. "And you technically assaulted them and-"

"Do we have an issue here? Everything I did was well within the confines of the law, or am I wrong?" I asked him.

"No. That does not mean they won't report this." Alwin stated.

"Let them. Who gives a shit?" Then I turned to Sherry. "Do you give a shit?"

She danced around happily. "Not one!" Sherry replied with an excited shout.

Then I pointed at Alwin. "Told you I knew the Lestranian law."

With that out of the way, there was nothing stopping me from reworking the entirety of The Slums in a manner that would reinforce it. A smirk came to my lips as the first step had finally been finished. Getting the Nobles out of the way of my affairs, if even for only a short period of time, would allow me to work without their interruptions and whining.

"That was amazing! You handled them like you knew everything that was going to happen!" Sherry said excitedly as she stood next to Alwin and Ayda. "How did you do that?"

"If I can deal with the Priestesses themselves, I can put a few rowdy Nobles in place." Was my simple retort before looking at Alwin and Ayda. "Thanks for the assist. I'll let you know if I need your help with anything else."

Alwin seemed impressed and irked at the same time. "Thank you." He gestured to the door for Ayda, and he followed her. "One more thing, Arthur."

"Mmh?"

"Typhon has been requesting to see you if you ever get a chance. As has Lady Lucia."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Alwin."

Now I just needed to get things ready for the dumbass Noble that was going to try me.