CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 16 ALLIES

"No, wait, we can still discuss the division," Ireya exclaimed, startled.

"It’s not about the division. It’s too dangerous. I had not considered it thoroughly before," Li Yu said.

"There is some risk... This money could make many people jealous. That’s why I asked for fifty percent. But we could try to contact some major trading guilds. With some sacrifices, they could help transport the money back. Once it’s back in Green Field, the Arias family will have the final say."

"It’s not just about the money. It’s also about the technology."

"Hmm?"

"New, surpassing even the Dwarf jewelry masters’ gem-processing skills, this kind of thing would make those nobles even more interested."

"Hmm... now that you mention it, it does seem so. Whichever family gets hold of this technology could instantly monopolize the entire jewelry processing market, not just in Bratis, but also those overseas city-states. It would leave all those Dwarf jewelry craftsmen without jobs, and the skills could be passed down generation after generation, becoming a real treasure trove."

"That’s why these rubies cannot be sold," Li Yu said.

Miss Rabbit struggled, understanding the reasoning, but the chance to escape poverty and become wealthy was out there, yet ungraspable. This was truly unbearable.

"Can’t we discuss it a bit more? Think of some way to minimize the risk. You’re so clever, surely you know how. Or we can do as you initially said, take some losses in the Western regions, sell them secretly, keep it hidden. I have connections..."

"No matter how small the risk might be, it is still a risk. If you can make a steady profit selling pepper, why take the risk?" Li Yu interrupted, leaving her speechless.

If it weren’t for the rubies, Miss Rabbit would have been more than content helping Li Yu sell peppers for a clean thirty percent profit.

But upon seeing the more lucrative rubies, her perspective became skewed, and the modest earnings from selling pepper seemed insignificant.

This, too, is human nature.

It’s like stock traders who don’t sell at the peak, and then don’t want to sell at all, even if they still stand to make a profit. However, they keep longing for the peak view, and end up holding until it becomes a penny stock.

Ireya, who cared more about money than her own life, exemplified this.

If things got started, and she ended up empty-handed, this child might just go mad.

So, Li Yu took another ruby from his bag and tossed it to Ireya across. "This is for you."

Miss Rabbit was initially stunned, then overjoyed. But before she could say anything, she heard Li Yu add, "You can’t sell it. Keep it as a family heirloom."

"Hmm???"

"As long as you keep this ruby, I will give you another next year, and the year after that as well... As long as you live, I will give you as many as you live to see. But if I find out any ruby is missing, then no more."

!!!

Miss Rabbit’s ears perked up again.

"Also, you should probably start working, fulfilling your duty as a lord. Staying cooped up inside all day, you’re almost starting to stink."

"What? What did you say, stink? What stink? I’m not stinking! How could I possibly stink!" Ireya protested loudly and incoherently, as if her tail had been stepped on.

Li Yu didn’t respond, but continued speaking, "I also plan to hire some people."

"Who do you need? I’m short on people too. We still haven’t decided on a successor for Fosto."

"Don’t worry, I don’t need nobles, just commoners will do. Not too old, not too young, let’s say between ten to fourteen. I’d like four of them. Those who have experience in farming at home would be the best."

"This is indeed easy to find, but ten is far too young. There’s limited work they can do. What use do you have hiring them?"

"After all, I only come here once every three days, so I definitely need someone to help me with tasks here."

Miss Rabbit hesitated, perhaps feeling a bit guilty about taking a ruby from Li Yu, and said softly, "Are you planning to turn them into followers of ’Saturday’? As long as you don’t do it too openly, I can pretend I don’t know."

Li Yu glanced at Ireya, doubting for the first time whether he had chosen the wrong partner.

This woman, if she sold herself to Satan for money one day, Li Yu wouldn’t be too surprised.

Once Li Yu had left, Miss Rabbit quickly bowed her head, sniffed her clothes, and muttered,

"There’s really no smell. That guy was just trying to scare me."

However, despite saying this, Ireya still called for the maid to prepare a wooden tub and bathing water. She took a hot bath, scrubbing her skin red before stepping out of the tub.

She felt refreshed and finally cleared away the state of haziness she had accumulated from worshiping the ancestor’s spirit over the past few days.

After getting dressed and gripping the priceless ruby tightly in her hand, Miss Rabbit hummed a tune and went to find Fosto to handle several days’ worth of backlogged administrative work.

It must be said, Ireya was quite efficient when busy. Regardless of other matters, right after lunch Li Yu had managed to secure the manpower he wanted.

In total, there were four, three boys and one girl, the oldest thirteen and the youngest ten.

The chief steward specifically asked Li Yu if it was okay to hire a girl, and upon receiving a reply that anyone willing to endure hardships was suitable, he recommended a niece from a friend’s family.

Li Yu brought everyone together and addressed salary and treatment issues primarily. According to Fosto, as long as Li Yu covered meals, the children’s parents would be quite happy.

However, Li Yu still decided to pay each one a silver coin per month and also announced that they would have two days off every five days.

Although the organization wasn’t established yet, some basic systems could already be implemented.

The four children exchanged glances after hearing this, their faces filled with surprise. Although they didn’t yet know the name of the ’Saturday’ god, they probably already felt its appeal.

Fosto, who was listening nearby, was also a bit surprised; working five days and resting two, and even counting those two days as workdays, was unheard of.

After hesitating, the old man pulled Li Yu aside, "I know you’re doing this for their good, seeing them so young and fearing they might get too tired, but this might make them lazy. Gradually, they’ll come to see working five days and resting two as normal."

"That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. I hope that one day, everyone in this world will take working five days and resting two as natural, and they will pass this on to their descendants, generation after generation, until it becomes an iron law of this world," Li Yu said.

Upon hearing this, Fosto gave a wry smile, "That would turn the world upside down. Never mind the world, you’re setting a bad example even within the castle. Fortunately, it’s only four children now, so the impact isn’t too significant."

Li Yu just smiled and didn’t argue with the chief steward.

This was also why he had told Ireya that he wanted to hire children, because a new world should be built by new people.

Fosto paused, then seriously said, "No matter what, I must thank you on behalf of the Arias family. If it weren’t for you, Miss Ireya might still be stubbornly doing whatever she wants. I’ve heard many people say you can perform miracles. I was somewhat skeptical when I first heard it, but now I find that there truly is a miraculous power in you.

"It’s evident that Miss Ireya also relies on and trusts you greatly. Although you’ve not known each other for long, her trust in you may already exceed that of all her blood relatives, probably second only to her Guardian Knight Alfred, and even Alfred is getting old."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Frankly, I don’t know whether this trust is a blessing or a curse for the Arias family. I’ve seen too many people in my life. Forgive my bluntness, but a person like you will never truly serve Miss Ireya," the chief steward said with intense eyes.

Across from him, Li Yu’s expression remained calm, "I don’t believe that relationships between people are only about using or being used. Miss Ireya and I are more like allies. Together, we will welcome the arrival of a new era."