Chapter 54: Investment
Having dismissed Fino and Sana, Leonardo donned his mask once more. Not long after, the girl who'd served him earlier came in with a man. Fidgeting under his scrutiny, they both seem uncertain. Leonardo assessed them briefly and marveled at how much they grew. The duo were among the first urchins to join, and by now were both young adults.
"Sit." Leonardo gestured with a hidden smile, "You needn't be so fearful. Speak freely."
"Thank you, Lord," came their sighs of relief, though their comfort didn't seem to last long. Steeling his courage, the man finally spoke their intentions, "You said we could leave when we wanted, right?"
Smirking at their uncertainty and apprehension, Leonardo rasped the table as he indulged in the chilly atmosphere for perhaps a moment too long.
"I did say that," he released the pressure at last, "Though… what is it you intend to do, and where will you go? With a pregnant woman no less…"
"Huh!?"
They both exclaimed as surprise dawned on them after momentary confusion. The man shot her an uncertain gaze, while the woman rubbed her belly with just as much doubt.
"Six weeks, I think. Too soon for signs to show," Leo reassured them, "So? What are your plans?"
"We… I—, I don't know," the man admitted sullenly. It seemed as though the baby ruined whatever base plans they might have had earlier. "We originally wanted to join the noble's estate. Mira can cook really well, and I can do gardening or something..."
'Mira, huh?' he recalled. He frankly didn't bother with their names, and was too embarrassed to ask after several years.
"Well, if that salad is to be judged… she can indeed cook," he smiled as he nudged the emptied plate, "Very well, you can both leave as per my earlier promise. The guild will not pursue you so long as you don't expose us. Just submit your request to the quartermaster and exchange your last points."
"Thank you, Lord!"
The man showed respect by clawing the air with a sigh of relief. He'd frankly been quite terrified, and even entertained the idea that Prometheus might penalize them for their betrayal. Clearly, just as Leo didn't know them — they knew very little of him as well.
"Before you go," warping over a huge pouch, he tossed it on the table. The clinks of many dinars resounded within, "I have an offer for you."
"Take it as a congratulatory offer on account of the new life you created." Exposing the bag's contents, he ignored their gasps and widened eyes, "I want you to open an inn by the docks. I will invest 90,000 tari, but you will nominally own the business. You are to serve food and housing for travelers, as well as provide potential work for the guild members."
"Your main purpose will be to draw clients and leech information, with whatever profits you make being split 80 - 20. I will take the greater share until you can redeem the restaurant with your own money. Until then, you will remain as nominal guild members."
Pushing the bag of gold over, he observed their expressions calmly and waited even as the couple exchanged hushed whispers. He didn't bother to listen in, because the conclusion was foregone already.
"I don't see it necessary to draft a contract, but note down what I said for the record and bring it Marred Fingers. He'll help you find a good building and settle the documents."
Passing by the couple, he gave the man a firm pat on the shoulder before leaving them in the room with the gold.
"Being a father is a great responsibility. As parents, you must do your best to give your child a life you yourselves envied."
- — ☯ — -
It was already past midnight by the time Leo returned to the monastery. It took him a bit of time to undo his transformation spells, and by the time he bathed and retired to his quarters, he was too tired to care for anything.
He woke up only in the afternoon, somewhat surprised that no one bothered to wake him for breakfast. As he took to exercise and make up for his missed routine, he couldn't help but detect an eerie aura pervade the entire orphanage.
Startled while still in his handstand posture, he honed his senses and almost fell flat on his face. Breaking his fall, he didn't bother with the pain in his shoulder and shot at full speed to the adjacent rooms, pausing only when he reached Yukiko's door.
A soft, weak cough broke through from the other side, and he impatiently pushed the door open.
"Yuki? What happened? You seem very weak…"
Despite his urging voice, no answer came to him even as he sat by her bedside and held her.
He didn't need his Life Sense to recognize the signs of an infection. Her forehead was practically steaming with sweat as she lay still, only occasionally fidgeting in pain under the sheets.
Cupping her cheeks with a hand, he drew a sign in the air with the other to vent the room and adjust the temperature for more comfort.
"Leo! Thank god you're back!" a startling voice came from behind him as Anabella waltzed in with urgency and hugged his arm, "I-.. I don't know what to do, Leo. You have to do something… You have to—, "
Before she could completely voice her request, the caretaker broke down into tears. Through her incoherent sobbing, he figured out a few bleak facts.
Two children died from the fever. The entire orphanage succumbed to an illness.
Other than Bruno who staved off the fever and could somewhat function, and Anabella who seemed wholly immune, the others were bed-ridden for days.
Despite prayers to both God and the local nobles, no response was given. If anything, it's a miracle they didn't burn down the monastery to stave the 'plague'.
It wrung Anabella dry to care for so many children, and she herself was on the brink of mental and physical collapse.
"Take some rest, sis Bella. I'll take a look for sure," giving a fake reassuring smile, Leonardo helped the nun back to her room.
As soon as he exited, his smile faltered and he grimaced. Frankly, he had no way of saving them through mundane means. From what he observed with Yuki's symptoms, the infection was too far gone.
Their lungs suffered from seemingly irreversible damage, and no amount of medicine or herbs would do much other than alleviate those symptoms.
Fortunately, he had magic even if science was found lacking.
Weekly Power Status
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