56. New Slave and Accommodations
56. New Slave and Accommodations
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The whole court suddenly became deathly silent. Even the king had his mouth open wide.
Armond - Wha.. what nonsense ! You can't ask for my wife ! You heretic !
Hikaru - See your highness even though he is accused of the crime, he does the same crime in front of your majesty. Challenging your authority.
I could see my every word weighing tons oh Armond, his wife lady white was also looking at me with her eyes wide open and one hand on her mouth in disbelief. I just smiled at her and turned towards the king for his judgement.
The king - A person cannot be given as compensation, Commoner Hikaru ask for something reasonable...
Hikaru - Your highness I understand that such a demand is unprecedented but if one can ask for life to be taken as compensation why not a life as one's possession ? I will abide by your decision but how about we once ask Lady white herself what she prefers her captivity or her husband's life?
I grinned as I looked at the couple. The king frowned but asked the Lady white to speak anyway, thinking about how he had just refused everything Hikaru had asked till now and made a pretty bad impression on the creator of new powerful weapons.
I looked at her and smiled, she knew I would definitely ask for her husband's life if she refused. Since I had already given her a warning once.
Lady white - I... I accept the conditions of Commaner Hikaru with a demand that I be made a high value slave with mana contract protecting my rights to not being harmed and tortured.
The king nodded and looked back at me.
Hikaru - Of course, I had no such intentions but if it eases her mind then a contract of no violence of any kind against the slave can be arranged.
It was a well known contract for minor nobles where with a first act of violence against the slave the owner would die instantly. It was a notch above what she requested, she finally had a bit of relief in her face and looked at her husband with pity and disappointment.
She must have warned him against doing this, well as I had said fools will always be fools unless you give them a lesson in consequences they will keep repeating their actions thinking themselves to be above everything.
And so I left the palace with 100 gold coins light and a beautiful slave. I gave her a day to say her farewell and stuff and ordered her to come to my shop the next day.
Normally such a thing was beyond impossible, a commoner owning a high nobility slave. But after showing my weapons value in front of all those aristocratic jerks, I don't think anyone will have any problem with that. And if they did they knew what would be the outcome.
Shop was busy as usual and everyone did their best in their assigned roles.
Now that this issue was resolved I realised a crucial part about my shop and it was,
Hikaru - It's too crowded.
Not the customers, they were less then average but the employees. For me it's normal to use my shop as my home but my employees have family and stuff with more growth in business I will have to hire even more people. So considering that I thought about renting a building for my employees to live in where everyone can have their own personal rooms.
It was afternoon and we just had lunch, usually I would laze around sleeping or watching movies and stuff but today I went out to find such building. I found the guy who fixed me up with this shop, he was a man of a bit questionable character but he did the job so he was the guy.
We talked and visited many buildings which were available for rent as whole.
After 3-4 hours I finally decided on a old villa that was a home of a minor noble who was quite in debt right now. It wasn't grand or anything but it was a big building and with two floors at that.
Each floor had six rooms and a huge living room and all the necessary facilities even a bath which was moldy and looked creepy as hell but it was a luxury thing that normally a commoner would never be able to afford.
I signed the contract for 40 gold coins a month and paid for one year in advance. Since I had enough money I didn't do much negotiation, I liked the place and was too lazy to look at other properties in this heat.
After returning to my shop I rested a bit and looked for things and items online that I could use in this era. Then I fell asleep and woke up at dinner time.
On the dinner table when I entered Mimi, Ava and June-her daughter were the only ones present. I sat down at my seat and started annoying June which was one of my favourite past time activity. I actually spent more time with her than I did with others.
When I was awake and alone upstairs after checking on the shop things I would play video games in my PS5 in the living room, and many times when Ava was too busy I would offer to take June with me so she won't disturb people downstairs when customers were around.
So we played video games together, she was still too young to properly understand the purpose of remote control but I was training her well I think. I would miss her if Ava decides to leave.
We started eating after everyone gathered even Rachel came who still looked like she crawled out of bed with her unkempt hair and frilly clothes.
Hikaru - Oh yes, I rented a place for you guys to live in the outer noble district. I can show it to you tomorrow morning, of course you can decide to stay here too but in the villa you will get your own personal rooms so it might be more comfortable for everyone.
Everyone stopped eating and stared at me as if I just revealed state secrets to them.
Jace - You did what?
Hikaru - Rented a building for my employees to live in. Did i never told you guys that I had always planned to do it? I thought I mentioned it in the contract.
Ava - You mean something about the accomodations clause..?
Hikaru - Yes, that.
Ava - In nobles district? Us?
Hikaru - Well I couldn't find a big enough building in common district.
Jace - Who owns it?
Hikaru - Someone called Brainer or Braiser Nohalm.
Jace had her eyes wide open.
Jace - Bersier Nohalm ? You rented The old Nohalm estate ? The one with a garden and all ? At the outskirts of noble district ?
Hikaru - Yes, that one. You have seen it? Nice ! Now I won't have to come with you tomorrow. You can take them..
I nodded.
Jace - it's three times bigger than our own estate !!
Mimi - I can't even rent a room at inn, how much did a noble villa costs to rent !?
Hikaru - It wasn't much, just 40 golds a month. I already paid for a year so don't worry about it. The shop will bear the expanse, it's a job benefit for all regular employees.
Chloe - We can live there alone..? Just like that ?
Hikaru - Yes it has 12 rooms. And you can live with your family if you want. As long as you work here it's your room to do with it as you please.
Rachel - You gave them a villa !? This exquisite food, the amazing cold air thingy and such cushiony jobs... In what world does a business owner looks after so much for it's workers ?
The cold air thingy was air-conditioners that I had bought and installed in the shop and upper floor.
Hikaru - I look after them and they help me that's all the transaction is. You wanna work for me ?
Rachel - No, I need to go back.
Hikaru - Your home ?
Rachel - Yes, the reason for leaving is gone so it just doesn't make sense to stay anymore.
Hikaru - Going home and marry a man your family chooses ?
She glared at me. But I continued.
Hikaru - Fine. Good luck then. I wished you could see what your real worth was but seeing that you are ready to sell yourself off, I may have made a mistake in judgement.
Rachel - You don't know anything about me !
Hikaru - No, I don't. But I know that when this crush of yours wears off, you will be begging to return to this old life of freedom and endless possibilities.
She stormed off which made the atmosphere on the dining table a bit stale, so everyone just ate silently, lost in their own thoughts.