"Agreed."
Hearing Charlie, Seth nodded and then looked at Dave. "From now on, we are partners."
As Charlie confirmed, Seth took out a pen and paper. Three minutes later, he drew a logo and showed it.
"This will be your new logo now."
Seth raised the drawing he was holding and showed it. The drawing featured a red eye in the shape of a dragon’s eye within a rectangle. The rest of the paper was painted white and yellow.
"This will be the new logo of your company. No more loan sharking." Listening to Seth, Dave helplessly nodded. Seth then smirked and continued. "No more brothels either."
"What?! That’s our biggest source of income!"
"Not my concern, it’s done." Seth gave him a stern look. After a brief staring contest, Dave backed down in defeat. "Whatever you say..."
Seth grinned triumphantly and then turned to Charlie. "If we want to gain a strong position against the Blood Sect, you must expand your influence. More power means more protection."
Charlie’s eyes lit up in understanding. After all, sometimes he did listen to his grandfather. His grandfather was a master at management and loan sharking.
"So, what will our new businesses be?"
Seth looked at Dave and grinned. "We’re going to start a fast food chain and sell cheap meals."
Dave immediately interjected. Though he didn’t know what fast food was, he knew that opening restaurants would ruin them. With concern, Dave said, "If we do that, we’re finished!"
Seth shook his head in disagreement. "Weren’t you already in real estate?"
Dave nodded. "But how is that different from starting a restaurant chain?"
Seth grinned even wider. "Let me explain a method used by a world-famous fast food chain. You’re going to be amazed."
Seth continued, "These people used a strategy: first, they would buy the land and property where the restaurant was located, then they would lease the rights to operate the restaurant to others. They would take a 4-5% royalty from their profits while also charging them rent. That’s how they became powerful and wealthy worldwide."
Seeing Dave’s still-confused expression, Seth felt the need to clarify further. "And since their food sales were popular, they received demands from many places without much effort. The food was both cheap and tasty, so it became beloved by the public."
Seth fell silent, giving Dave time to think. After three minutes of intense mental effort, Dave finally agreed. They could give this business model a try.
"What do you think, young master?"
"I’m fine with it." Charlie had no problem with it. After witnessing Seth’s power, Charlie had already started to think of Seth as a mysterious and powerful figure.
Seth smiled. "Good. The food we will sell will be burgers, pizza, and similar items. Along with that, we can offer cola and wine. As for the workforce, we can employ those who owe you debts, of course paying them a salary."
Dave felt his head ache as he thought of the expenses. Seth’s eyes turned to Charlie. "Can you give me a list of your properties and debtors?"
Charlie nodded and looked at Dave. "Dave, can you bring it?"
Dave nodded and turned, walking towards a cabinet. After rummaging through it for a bit, he pulled out a large list. He came over and handed the list to Seth. "Here, these are the people who owe us large sums of money, the women working in the brothels, and the property and landowners we’ve seized."
Seth took the list and examined it. Seeing the property owners and debtors, the idea of banks immediately came to mind. "Good. It would also be a good idea to establish a bank, and we’ll pay everyone’s salaries through this bank."
Dave nodded. Compared to the other ventures, starting a bank seemed cheap. "Alright, what do we do now?"
Seth nodded and pulled out three more sheets of paper. Then he began to draft another list. "The people on this list will be managers in our businesses if they have the necessary skills."
Seth appointed some of the landowners as managers for now. Then, he prepared another list. "Those who are in debt will work in our businesses, earning money and paying off their debts from their salaries. If they prove to be skilled and hardworking, we will consider debt forgiveness."
Dave approved this and mentally noted it. Seth then prepared the final list. "The women from the brothels will work as service staff in our businesses. Remember, they will only provide customer service, nothing sexual."
They could easily destroy a County.
Even though their ranks and powers were different, one thing remained the same: they no longer had their former strength. The threats of war, corruption, economic problems, and the Church’s increasing oppression of the public...
A revolution would happen sooner or later.
Seth’s thoughts were interrupted when Dave began to speak. "If we give enough money to the bishop, he will ignore us, but it’s still wise to be cautious."
Seth nodded. "After all, we don’t want any issues arising from a sermon..."
After everyone fell silent, an awkward quiet settled in, broken only by Seth’s bored voice. "Maybe you should put in some effort to clean up the bodies inside."
Dave’s eyes narrowed at Seth’s comment. "You killed them, didn’t you?"
Seth simply looked at him calmly in response. "Yes, I did. Is there a problem?"
For a moment, Dave and Seth stared at each other intensely while Charlie grew tense but managed to suppress his fear.
Fortunately, after a while, Dave relented and looked away. "Fine, they couldn’t even manage to protect Young Master."
Seth just smiled as Dave turned to leave, then pulled his cloak back over himself and hid his face. He looked at Charlie. "We will meet again soon. Take care, young man."
Charlie nodded and gave a serious salute, then Seth jumped out the window like a certain superhero and quickly disappeared from Charlie’s sight.
******
Meanwhile, in another place, two men were talking in a dark dungeon. The dungeon had a creepy feeling, strange vibrations, and the sound of rats, giving off a Hell-like feeling.
This was supposed to be Hell, but it wasn’t, it was the Church’s dungeon, or rather the dungeon of Saint Amarath Cathedral.
In each dungeon, there were people with their hands tied, and two-pronged forks stuck into their necks. Every time people bent someone over, the sharp ends of the forks would stab their chin.
This was the Church’s preferred interrogation method, and every time a person bent their neck, they would be in pain and agony.
Some women were made to sit on a chair and their breasts were cut off, and worse, many people were subjected to a horrific torture method called the Judas Cradle.
Some were alive inside the nailed coffins, crying out in pain, while the Runes carved into the coffins were constantly healing them.
This place was truly an extension of Hell on Earth.
Despite this, the two men who were still talking calmly to each other were people who scared every heathen. One was the High Priest Alaric himself, who had previously tried to imprison Morrigan, and the other was a young-looking man who was higher-ranking than Alaric.
The man had long white hair, gray eyes, and a delicate face, and despite his weak body for a man, he gave off a very threatening aura.
"The Witch will soon get what she deserves, Holiness Archbishop..."
The Archbishop simply turned his cold eyes and looked into Alaric’s old eyes. "I don’t want your word, Alaric. I want you to prove yourself to me and execute the Witch as soon as possible."
As Alaric lowered his head in fear, the Archbishop paused thoughtfully, then his eyes flashed with murderous intent for a moment. "Alaric, this is your last chance, don’t disappoint me. Otherwise I will have to change you like the others.
You know, I don’t like change at all; but I accept that change is inevitable. We are imperfect beings, and only imperfect beings can change, improve themselves, and evolve. The only thing that does not change is the eternal will of the Goddess."
Not understanding what the Archbishop meant, Alaric lowered his head in fear and did not speak. The Archbishop narrowed his eyes and his lips formed a thin smile of dissatisfaction. "In short, if you continue to show imperfections, I will choose someone less imperfect in your place, have I spoken clearly enough to you? Alaric."
Alaric nodded immediately and obeyed. "You will not be disappoint, Holiness Archbishop."
The Archbishop nodded, turned away to leave without looking at Alaric for the second time. "Good, your presence is no longer needed. You may go."
Then Alaric bowed and left the dungeon with quick steps so as not to stay there any longer.