We returned to Sagami Co. and looked for a place for them to sleep.
The guest room of the company was vacant, so we decided that they could live there until the matter was settled.
Right now, we were holding a welcome party.
"Welcome back Lili-san! Haku, Shirohime-san, Oli-san, welcome to our Sagami Co. Cheers!"
The cheerful members raised their mugs of chilled beer and proposed a toast.
"Cheers!"
And so began the big banquet.
However, Stella and Aria were currently living in the Class S dormitory, and Theo and Radol had declined to attend due to the current situation in the Empire. I was hoping that Jude, the vice president, would be able to attend, but he was currently on a business trip with Carla to acquire land for a recently-discovered oil field.
As for the festival-loving Leroy, he'd been holed up in his workshop, as if the magic weapon he was developing had tugged at his heartstrings.
"It's delicious, it's delicious!" a black-haired young girl, Dorahachi, was munching on beef steak.
"Hey, Dora, it's Haku’s share!" Haku complained, puffing out her cheeks.
However, Dorahachi just brushed it off with a, “Sorry,” without any sign of gratitude and continued munching on her steak.
"It's all right, Haku-chan, there is still a lot left," Sheena put the steak on the teary-eyed Haku's plate and offered it to her.
"Yes!"
Seeing this, Haku's tearful expression took a turn and with glittering eyes, she began to gnaw on her steak.
The children sure were doing well. Sheena and Dorahachi had been constantly together recently, almost like sisters. Sheena had also become much more energetic, it's really good to have friends.
"Thank you very much for inviting me," Shirohime bowed her head to me, almost touching her forehead to the table.
"Nevermind, just have fun. However, you are still in the recuperating period, so alcohol is banned. You can only eat what's prepared here."
Shirohime nodded and began to eat the food she was served.
“Who's this person?” Olivia asked, whispering in my ears.
Well, it was nothing to hide.
“She's a White Wolf, Shirohime.”
“White Wolf!!? Isn't it a legendary spirit clan!?”
All gazes concentrated on Olivia, who stood up and shouted.
Ah, right, she also had the blood of a spirit clan. In that case, her overreaction was understandable.
"You are being rude," I gave her a reproachful look.
"S-sorry," she sat down quietly as her face flushed bright red up to her ear. Oh, at least she can apologize, huh.
“Why is such a high ranking spirit in this place?”
“Well, who knows. Whether you're a spirit, a dragon, a commoner, or a member of the royal family, it doesn't matter at all in this place. Get used to it.”
"Let's hear the story in detail."
Gill cleared his throat, and with a determined look on his face, he began to explain.
"I see, so only those who have been sold to slavery due to debt will be hired after the interview and they will work at our company until they can repay their debt. After that, we will test those who want to become regular employees..."
So, in short, their debt would be transferred to us, and they would work for us until the debt was repaid.
The biggest shortcoming for our company was that we had a shortage of manpower. Although it was a lowly method to procure them through trading, it certainly solved the problem.
There was a risk of spies infiltrating, but if it was a simple job in a factory, there was no risk of leaking skills, and if it was a job as a waiter or waitress at [Silver Knife], the risk of imitating cooking skills was not that high. In any case, it wasn't the kind of sweet world where you could recreate something just by looking at it. Well, even if it were to leak, our greatest strength was in the seasonings and ingredients we use, so it wouldn't be much of a blow.
After the debt was repaid, when they became full-time employees, maybe I could have them study at the vocational training facility run by our business association.
"Is it useless?" Gill asked nervously.
"No. Rather, I think it's a good idea."
Approving their plan, I took around 200 million gold from [Universal Creation] and gave it to Gill and the others.
"For a while, until we have an official meeting, you can start from my pocket money."
"Yes!"
Anyway, I thought it was a good opportunity to break the foundation of [Laguna] with this.
"In addition to them, also aim for the prostitutes in the brothel."
"Prostitutes too?"
I lifted the corners of my mouth at Gill and the others, who looked at me suspiciously.
"Yeah. Brothel management is one of the main income sources of [Laguna]. We're going to destroy them all. Those that can come to an agreement with us will be assigned to work as merchandise salesmen or waitresses at [Silver Knife]."
"So, are you trying to cut down [Laguna]?"
"Yeah, they've been laying low lately. We need to smoke them out."
That's right. I would crush all of their principal income sources.
"It sounds like a great plan. We will hurriedly act upon it."
Gill was on his feet, clutching his cloth bag with care.
"Remember. The opponent is a giant organisation, so be careful. If you feel that you are in danger, abandon this mission at once. That's an order."
"Yes! Leave it to us!"
Gill and the others stood up, bowed to me, and left the dining room. I see. So Gill and the others joined this banquet to ask for my approval. They should at least enjoy themselves at times like this. What a clumsy bunch.
But if it was Gill and the others, they would be fine for sure.
"Well, I should also return to my room already."
There were a pile of problems I had to think about. I would leave this place to the people who were in high spirits.
I also stood up and went back to my room.