The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 25:  The Lion and the Wolf (5)

The first place I headed to after leaving the cathedral was the hotel.

The Erian Hotel, the only high-rise building towering in the center of Old Luton.

There, I confirmed that the purchase price of the hotel was only 1 billion gold.

However—

There was, of course, a reason it was so cheap.

‘The hotel’s maintenance cost is 100 million gold a year…!!’

It had been built by the Luton family, so the material costs were astronomical.

But I wasn’t bothered at all.

It was roughly the amount I had already expected.

Though the red carpet at the hotel entrance was now worn and shabby, it had once been a place of great ambition.

After all, it was designed by none other than the now-deceased wife of the Grand Duke of Luton.

Even if the city had fallen apart under the imperial family's pressure, this hotel remained a true masterpiece.

It was worth securing even if it meant taking out a loan.

“As soon as the loan is approved, I’ll sign the contract right away.”

I completed the preliminary agreement and left the hotel.

Then, I went straight to the post office and took out paper and a pen.

The recipient was the Mansachs clubroom.

I sent him a letter asking him to come here immediately.

“Transmission complete.”

The Empire’s post office could deliver letters to the recipient’s office through remote magic.

It cost much more than a carrier pigeon, but in high society, where information was as good as currency, it was an essential method.

[You’re buying buildings in Old Luton……?! Are you insane!!]

As expected of the son of a newspaper company, his reply was very quick.

Even though it was just a letter, I could clearly picture him flipping out.

[I’m not insane, just come here first.]

I wrote a reply to him and sent a letter to Schmidt’s workshop as well.

Then, I hailed a carriage and headed toward Old Luton.

The closer I got, the more the crowds thinned.

And then, when I finally arrived in the city—

A deserted ghost town stretched out before me, despite it being broad daylight.

‘The newspaper heir actually has a point.’

[Welcome to Old Luton.]

As if proudly boasting of its once-flourishing past, the number of buildings was considerable.

However, most of them were empty.

At the cold entrances of the buildings were only shabby signs that read “For Lease.”

“Still the same city.”

It wasn’t until five years later, after a resident uprising and protests, that redevelopment and city expansion were finally approved.

Until then, the area had given off this ghost-town atmosphere, with most of the population having left.

Building new towns nearby and surrounding them with satellite cities was far more profitable.

But that was only true for wealthy people who had the capital to buy land.

For latecomers like me, this neglected place was a treasure trove.

And the starting point of that grand plan was none other than—

[Mother’s Table.]

The only restaurant located in the city square.

This was the place.

“Welcome—.”

A girl wearing an apron approached briskly with a tray in hand.

Though the shop was completely empty, her expression was bright.

On her apron was a small name tag that read ‘Mina.’

“I’ll have the home-style meal.”

I placed my order leisurely, sitting by the open entrance.

Familiar with the menu, the girl nodded with a cheerful smile.

“Yes, understood. Um…?”

“Is something wrong?”

When I asked back casually, Mina looked at me with a slightly uncertain expression.

“Ah, no. It’s just… the home-style meal is something only regulars know about, so I was wondering how someone I’m seeing for the first time knew about it…”

It was a reaction only possible if she remembered every customer’s face.

I responded with a subtle smile.

“A friend recommended the place.”

“Ah—. I see. Understood. I’ll bring it right out.”

The girl, with her hair tied to one side, went into the kitchen alone.

Normally, if someone was just waiting tables, they would hand in the order slip, not go into the kitchen themselves.

That meant this place was being run by only about two people.

And yet, the interior was quite spacious.

‘They must’ve invested big early on, expecting the city to flourish.’

Never imagining the imperial family would place direct regulations on the area.

Because of that, the shop owners here must’ve suffered heavy losses.

The building that once cost 5 billion gold at its peak had plummeted to 550 million.

That was a drop of nearly 90%.

Around this time, there must’ve also been a fair number of people who were arrested while protesting in the capital.

“Here’s some bread to start with.”

The girl neatly placed down freshly baked bread alongside a pat of butter.

A fragrant scent of milk tickled the tip of my nose.

“Are you running this place with your mother?”

Perhaps I was right—her round black eyes blinked for a moment.

“How did you know?”

“It’s rare for the server to also help in the kitchen. You must be going through a lot during a time when you should be studying.”

I quietly spread butter on the bread as I spoke.

The girl gave an awkward smile and replied softly.

“My father went to the capital to earn money. So it’s just me and my mother here.”

She avoided saying outright that her father had been arrested during the protests.

A child mature enough to choose her words carefully so the store wouldn't gain a bad reputation.

“It really is delicious.”

“Right? My mother and I bake it ourselves every morning.”

The reason I suggested meeting Mansachs here was also because of the ‘taste.’

This spot, once the rallying point for protests, would skyrocket in value the moment the population recovered.

“By the way… may I ask what brings you here…?”

Mina, with her hair tied to one side, cautiously asked me.

“There aren’t many visitors these days, since there are no longer any offices or workplaces around here…”

“I’m a businessman. I came to invest in this street.”

Even a girl no older than eighteen could understand how bleak things were here.

But when I said I came to revive the place, her eyebrows twitched with surprise.

“A b-businessman…? Then, are you saying you came to purchase this place…?”

“That’s right. Soon, these tables will be filled to the brim.”

The girl holding the tray immediately covered her mouth.

“P-please wait a moment…”

With her long, tail-like hair fluttering behind her, she dashed into the kitchen.

As if to deliver this joyful news to her mother inside.

Meanwhile, I tasted the bread alone and gazed at the wide-open entrance of the restaurant.

And then—

The sound of loud hoofbeats rang out from that direction.

――――――

A carriage, kicking up dust, pulled up in front of the restaurant.

A luxurious pigeon emblem stood in stark contrast to the rundown street.

The door flung open, and out jumped a furious Mansachs.

“Roger…!! After dropping a bomb like that, you can still sit there eating bread?”

He had returned with several reports tucked under his belt.

Perhaps from the heat, he shook off his school uniform shirt and slumped into the seat across from me.

“Welcome. If you haven’t eaten yet, join me.”

“Eat? Just stepping into a place like this kills my appetite.”

Mansachs, sharp in business sense, sighed deeply as he looked around the empty restaurant.

Then, he slapped down one of the reports he had brought from the office in front of my plate.

“Do you know the three conditions for a commercial district to thrive?”

He pointed firmly at three words with his finger.

“Foot traffic, commerce, and government institutions.”

As he made his point, he naturally grabbed a warm piece of bread.

Then, taking a big bite, he mumbled with his mouth full,

“Old Luton doesn’t meet even one of those three. It’s just a dead city!”

“I know. But there are tons of empty stores. Once the population recovers, it’ll grow like crazy.”

I shrugged as I took a sip of water.

Whether he was exasperated or choking on bread, the newspaper heir thumped his chest with his hand.

“Exactly. Because everyone already left the city!”

“Which is why we should buy cheap and try to revive it, no?”

At Mansachs’ loud voice, the girl came out from the kitchen again.

She placed a warm meal on the table—bacon, eggs, and braised potatoes.

“Looks like your companion’s arrived.”

“Yeah, he’s my partner in bringing this street back to life.”

At the mention of reviving the neighborhood together, the girl’s black eyes sparkled.

Flustered under her gaze, Mansachs quickly looked away.

“You already spread the word, didn’t you…!! Anyone watching would think we’re philanthropists.”

“Philanthropists? No, this is clearly a planned investment.”

I pulled the letter of recommendation, which had been sent through the post office, from the inner pocket of my suit.

Then I tossed it lightly onto the table and said,

“The cathedral even wrote me a recommendation.”

“What the hell… What did Her Holiness see in you to give you that?”

Mansachs grabbed the letter, his face full of disbelief.

He gripped it so tightly it nearly crumpled, so I gently took it back from him.

“She must’ve seen potential. The ‘value’ worth investing in.”

“……”

Looking uneasy, Mansachs pulled a matchbox from inside his jacket.

He signaled the coachman to bring him a thick cigar.

“Fine… let’s say there is value.”

Now that I saw him like this, he definitely looked the part of a young heir from a prestigious family—affluent and composed.

“Then what’s your plan to realize that value? Let’s hear it.”

I placed an ashtray in front of him.

Then, tapping my fork lightly on the plate, I asked,

“How’s the food here?”

“What’s with the food talk all of a sudden?”

He scoffed, clearly uninterested.

At that moment, I snatched the cigar from his hand and crushed it into the ashtray.

Faced with my serious gaze, Mansachs cleared his throat awkwardly.

Then, after composing himself, he answered honestly,

“The food was good. But why?”

“The seasoning here is mild—just right. It’s perfect for people who need a reliable meal every day. Ideal for office workers.”

I glanced toward the kitchen, where Mina was peeking out and watching us.

Still soft with baby fuzz, she was at an age where she should be out playing.

“Mina.”

“Y-yes…!”

I smiled gently at the spirited girl.

“Would it be possible to open this place in the evening as well?”

“Ah, it’s possible. We’ve just been closing early because there aren’t any people around at night…”

I narrowed my eyes slightly as I looked at the girl, who seemed suddenly a bit timid.

With my eyes lengthening like a fox’s, Mina swallowed hard, seemingly tense.

“Then you must sell beer, too.”

Resting my sharp chin on my hand, I fell into deep thought.

Seeing me like that, both Mina and even Mansachs across the table wore puzzled expressions.

Then, the moment I finished calculating everything and opened my mouth—

The two of them both dropped their jaws wide open.

“Can you prepare 30 glasses of beer right now?”

Beer. Thirty glasses. In broad daylight.

The sudden number made Mansachs’ eyebrows twitch sharply.

“What the hell are you talking about…? Why are you asking for alcohol?”

“She’s right—30 glasses is doable, but what do you need them for…?”

I didn’t answer either of their questions.

I simply added more to the order.

“In the evening, make it 100 glasses. It’d be good to have about five whole roasted pigs as side dishes too.”

As the scale grew larger and larger, Mansachs shot to his feet.

“What exactly are you trying to pull?!”

Only then did I look up at my partner with satisfaction.

Then I pointed at the restaurant’s front entrance with my finger.

“You said earlier that one of the three essentials for a commercial district is commerce, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. But I also said there isn’t any here.”

From afar, the sound of countless footsteps started to grow louder.

“Do you know what part of commerce gathers the most people?”

Mansachs furrowed his brows and looked momentarily dumbfounded.

That moment—

“It’s the industrial complex.”

A swarm of massive men began pouring into the empty restaurant.

Among them was Schmidt, the master artisan and senior craftsman of the workshop.

“Roger, you said you found a good place for the company dinner—?”

“Come in, Master. And thank you to all the apprentices for coming such a long way.”

Hearing the place bustling for the first time in years, Mina’s mother came out from the kitchen.

The gaunt, middle-aged woman’s lips parted wide in astonishment at the noisy half-dwarves and workshop workers filling the room.

“Eh—. It only takes twenty minutes to get here from the workshop, no big deal. You’re treating us for real tonight, right?”

I stood from my seat and respectfully guided them to their tables.

Then, turning to the speechless Mansachs, I smiled faintly.

“Of course. From now on, I’ll take care of all the workshop’s meal expenses.”

In a ruined city, suddenly the workers from a prestigious family’s workshop flood in.

Buildings and land that wouldn’t sell even at bargain prices are suddenly being bought up like crazy by one individual.

When this information leaks, who do you think will hear it first?

‘Old Luton will instantly become the center of attention.’