Re:START/If {Book 1.0}
Chapter 53: Ordoxi Nigrum (Part 05)

“Ah, before we continue. Can you introduce yourself? I don't know your names yet ...”

For a moment they were silent and confused again, looking into their eyes doubtful and suspicious at the young man before him because his appearance was different from what they knew. None of them dared to introduce themselves first.

“My name is Sittara, Sister Witch!” said the little girl who held Odo. He looked up full of joy, then smiled widely as if he had been familiar with the son of the Luke family.

“Oooh, nice to know you, Dik Sittara.”

Odo only gave a small smile despite being slightly annoyed because the smell of furry Demi-humans like them was indeed a little unpleasant. Slightly turning away, the young man felt that he needed to make shampoo or fragrance for them later.

“I Totto, Mr. Witch,” said the eldest brother of the Demi-human family. He is a 25-year-old man with mature brown skin color that is slightly hairy, has a slightly muscular body and golden yellow cornea.

“My name is Ritta,” said the eldest sister. The single pigtails had the same hair color as the older brother next to them, a creamy color with a distinctive black pattern between the two ears of mice. It has pale skin that looks a little dry due to malnutrition. Ritta's cornea is the same as her youngest sister, which is blood red. Adrift quite far from her oldest sister, the woman was about 19 years old.

“I'm Mattari,” said the youngest sister. It has the same physical characteristics as Ritta, from hair to skin color. What distinguishes him from his brother, among others, the hair braided two to the back and his skin is bright white and looks healthier than his brother. The jam, Mattari eye color tends to be the same as Totto, which is golden yellow.

Nodding lightly at their names, Odo said, “I've remembered your names. Now, let's get into the first discussion. What wage do you usually get when you work?”

“Ka-We work alternately,” replied Mattari.

“Usually we can only one or two large bronze coins,” Ritta said.

“At most we can get one small silver coin a day. But that doesn't mean we can work every day .... We only work odd jobs,” Totto said.

“Hmm, 10 to 50 Rupls per day. Means at most 350 Rupls a week, huh?”

“““Eh?”””

The three Demi-humans looked puzzled even though it was just a simple calculation.

“Nothing ...”

Odo smiled stiffly looking at their confused expressions. Slightly glancing back and looking at Mavis sitting at one of the tables, the young man was relieved that none of the people in the room were aware that she was Mavis Luke.

Looking back at the three Demi-humans, the young man asked, “So, since you guys are going to work here, I want to give you a decent wage. How about the starting wage for the week is 100 Rupls per week?”

“100 Rupl?” Totto looks confused.

“One large silver coin .... Same with 10 big bronze coins.”

“It ...” The Demi-human man felt that the money was too small for the living expenses of four people, wanted to bid but felt bad because he had gotten many things from the person in front of him.

“That's for everyone,” said Odo with a small smile. “So your wages at the beginning of this week are 300 Rupls. It's already deducted the meal money and the cost of residence, what's the objection?”

“Wait!” The statue approached dissatisfiedly, holding Odo's shoulder and blinding him turned around. Disgruntled he asked, “Isn't that excessive? They have been given a place to live, is it not natural to work here?”

“What is this company?” Odo stared unhappily, then breathlessly said, “I don't want to just squeeze their energy for profit, well-being needs attention. After all, the wages are already small, loh.”

“300 Rupl is indeed small, but that if multiplied by four is equivalent to the price of tables and chairs here! One month they've—!”

“Relax Arca ...” Odo patted the eldest son of the Rien family's shoulder, then lightly said, The “Pah I gave will be equivalent to their contribution to this store, kok.”

“What can they provide? They're just bums with no skills!”

The words were clearly heard by everyone in the place and it was indisputable. It made Totto, Ritta, Mattari look grim and lost confidence, even Sittara who was holding Odo seemed to tremble at the loud voice of Arca.

Odo's expression instantly turned furious, yet in silence and just stared flatly. With a pressing tone he said, “Your words are very rude. Well, I can't deny it.But, that doesn't mean they don't have the potential to get expertise, does it?”

Both of Arca's eyes opened wide, raising her hand from the young man's shoulder and asking, “What ... do you intend to teach them?”

“Hmm, of course.” The young man looked back at the Demi-human family, then pointed at Totto he said, “You used to carry heavy things, right?”

“I-Yes, I often become a hauler.”

Odo stopped pointing, observing the man's posture which was indeed his stocky body gained from frequently lifting heavy items. The rough hands and short fingers, slightly blackened and dull face and unkempt hair, explained to Odo the condition of the man. Smiling stiffly, the young man with black hair decided, “Then I'll assign you something like that. Unloading cooking ingredients, arranging warehouses, and such.”

“There are other items to come?” ask Totto.

“Hmm, it will also be busy. Take it easy, Totto.” Moving towards Ritta, Odo Luke again asked, “If you? What usually works?”

“Sa-I ...” The woman with the pale face hesitated to answer, from her skin came cold sweat and her eyes were reluctant to look at Odo. In a soft and trembling voice, the lethargic woman said, “Sa-When the weekend usually I go to the district near the port.”

“Hah!” Arca pointed at Hina Ritta, then in a loud voice said, “It turns out there are also those who sell body— Ugh!”

“Be quiet ..!” Odo nudged Arca hard and made her quiet. The eldest son of the Rien family was in pain holding onto his waist, then walked towards the chair and sat down lowered his face.

Sighing and staring at Ritta, Odo understood why her skin and body looked the most unhealthy compared to her brothers and sisters. Pale skin is most likely caused by powder containing mercury commonly used by the lower classes, slightly yellowed eyes and thin body can be clearly seen due to disease.

“Did he have a venereal disease? If infected with HIV can be severe, in the previous world even the cure for the virus does not exist. All that can be done is rehabilitation to slow it down,” Odo's mind with a look of pity.

Breathing heavily, Odo removed such a taste quickly and focused on his analysis. Work in a brothel district is mostly about service, though it includes prostitution and differs fundamentally from waitress work in a restaurant or shop. Holding his chin and considering a few things, the young man was momentarily confused.

“Service realm, yes. Then, later you will work as a waiter.” Staring at Elulu, who was standing next to the Demi-human family, Odo asked, “Can you teach her how to be a servant? At least so that he can deliver the customer's order correctly .... ”

“Eng ...” The woman with brown-brown hair who was wearing the maid uniform looked confused. After remembering something he asked, “Didn't you give me a kitchen task?”

“Since when did you order that to him, Odo?” ask Arca. The young man who was sitting holding his waist was staring flatly, looking a little resigned to the circumstances.

Looking towards him, Odo casually replied, “Of course use his strength, all of you keep an eye on you.”

“Ap—!” The statue gaped, turned its face in fret and began to frown. The young man really felt that his existence was not very important in the space.

“Already ...” Odo moved to look at Mattari, then asked again, “If you? Do you have any advantages and usually do what job?”

“I .. just like big brother, become a laborer. But, more or less I can do a simple calculation. My late father once taught count and subtraction.”

“Hmm, means you learn fast.”

At first glance Odo observed Mattari. Although the woman said to be a laborer, but in posture he was not as vigorous as Totto and it was less convincing. Considering his small skill in addition and subtraction, Odo decided.

“Alright, you'll be the cashier at the counter.” table Odo pointed at the straight female braid of the two, then firmly said, “Counting and subtraction in that section I don't think it's too difficult. As long as you learn it can be mastered.”

“Cashier?” tanya confused Mattari.

“Receive order, accept payment and put it in the money drawer.”

“Wait, Odo!” sela Arca's. Disagreeing the young man of the Rein family asked, “A part as important as it was handed over to him? Isn't it better Logi or Ligh did it?”

“Res again?” Odo looked and stared at the crowd. Sighing lightly and scratching the back of the head, the young man replied, “They will take care of the archives with Nanra. They know how to compile letters and documents, don't they?”

“Yes, it can!” Sculpture got up from the seat, then while still holding back the pain on the waist walked towards Odo and asked, “But for the reception part of the money is not a danger? He could have put his money in his pocket!”

“If he did that stay I fired, all my family I kicked out of this place, why confused?”

“““!!!”””

The Demi-human family gasped at hearing that, the people who heard it fell silent without being able to refute. Those firm and simple words were so reasonable, so obvious and felt cruel to the person who gave them so much tolerance to those fringes.

“I-It ...” Arca was still dissatisfied, but she did not know what else to say.

“Not ...”

The Demi-human family-related talks are over. Taking a deep breath, Odo briefly turned his gaze to a corner of space and performed Perception Speculation to draw some conclusions for his next subject.

“Hmm ...” Staring at Matthew and Isla, the young man in black hair asked, “For your wages, is it okay to be likened to them? 100 Rupl per week.”

“I don't mind,” replied the red and blue-eyed blonde Heterochromia man. With a sense of loyalty he added, “We owe you a lot.”

That answer at a glance made Odo squint because it could be dangerous to use the word ‘We’ in the present situation. At first glance a small glance towards Mavis who was sitting on a chair not far from the entrance, the young man took a breath and tried not to bring it up.

“I ... also, Sir,” replied Isla in a soft and limp voice.

“Hmm, thankfully.” Odo held his chin, stared flat at the two of them and ordered, “Then, Matthew, you will serve as security in this place. If there's any trouble or commotion, you're in charge of stopping it. You're pretty strong, aren't you?”

“Hmm, I can do it.” The man felt no problem about the task. But because he no longer had the confidence as when he was still the Bandit Leader, Tox Tenebris, he finally asked, “But if that makes a fuss stronger than me, what should I do?”

“Call me, with your strength.”

“Ready!” answer the man firmly.

“For you ...” Odo looked towards Isla, then hesitantly said, “Help Elulu in the kitchen. You can cook, right?”

“Iya ..” The loris-type Demi-human woman stared with her distinctive sluggish expression, then in a soft tone replied, “I'm not familiar with the kitchen.”

Odo stood up straight and looked at the two people who were going to work as cooks, Elulu and Isla. Considering some kitchen-related things they were going to use, the young man rubbed Sittara who was still holding her and said, “Can you let me go first, Dik?”

“Hmm~!” The little girl nodded cheerfully and let go of her embrace.

Immediately walking towards the kitchen, the young man with black hair reigned, “Elulu, Isla, you two come with me! I'll show you the kitchen tools!”

“Eh?” Elulu was shocked confused, then wonderfully asked, “Not that I was told to train Ritta?”

The words brought Odo to a standstill, turned to face him and thought again. Looking towards Ritta and Mattari, the young man felt that something needed to be directed again. Sighing and a little lazy as there was still a lot to do, Odo changed his course and walked towards the sack of fresh bread on the table in the corner of the room.

Odo took one of the loaves with his right hand, the young man used Aitisal Almaelumat to implant a packet of information on the object. At first glance, a flash of electricity spread on the bread, then the sweat on the palm of his hand began to seep into the oblong bread with the dry surface and embed packets of information into it.

Turning around and looking at Elulu, the young man with black hair replied, “Train him later tonight ... We're gonna stay up today. You guys were sleeping last night, weren't you?”

“I-Iya ..” Elulu looks a little hesitant.

“Then, no problem!” Odo immediately walked to the front of Mattari, then with a light tone asked, “You were quite able to math, ‘kan?”

“Sa-I can only simple summation and confinement,” replied Mattari a little nervously got the sharp gaze of the young man.

“Did all your brothers learn also from your father?”

“I-Iya ..” Staring at Odo nervously, the braided woman replied stiffly, “Kak Totto and Ritta have also been taught, b-but they are not very good at it said our late father ...”

“That's right, Mr.” Totto goes into the conversation, then adds a little, “Mattari the smartest of us all, he also takes care of finances so that we are not cheated when getting paid.”

“Hmm, then no problem.” Odo handed the loaf of bread he held to the braided woman, then said, “Save this and eat when going to bed later tonight.”

“Eh? This ... bread crisp?”

“I put a little trick in it, after this meal you will probably be a little smarter and can easily do the calculation up to seven digits.”

“Ba-Well ...” Although still confused and unable to understand what Odo meant, the woman accepted her loaf of bread and nodded lightly.

Taking a deep breath and nodding, the young man in black hair walked back to the kitchen and said, “You two quickly follow me...”

“Wait, Odo!” call Arca.

“Hmm?” The young man's footsteps came back to a halt, then with a restless expression turned towards Arca and asked, “What?”

“Our task?”

The question at a glance made Odo's forehead shrivel annoyed, feeling that the statue was indeed not too useful for business as it is now. The young man is good at organizing and influencing others, but the issue of innovation and improvisation is very lacking.

“You're the manager, loh. Why ask?”

“Akh ..” The stare back sculpture got such a word. He walked toward Odo and stared intently, then loudly said, “You know! I've never been a manager before!”

“True also ...” Odo looked away and tried to understand this. Looking back lightly at the young man from the Rein family, Odo lifted his index finger forward and said, “Yes, how about this? Go to the dock and secure at least four to five maid group contracts!”

“Contract?” Arca looks confused to hear the task that seems very sudden.

“You see the condition there, ‘kan?” Stop brandishing his fingers, the black-haired youth took out the parchment from the storage dimension on the robe and handed an agenda to Arca. Accepting that and reading it, the brown-haired youth slightly frowned because the arrangement of his plan was too detailed and it made it seem as if it was being controlled by Odo.

Disregarding the expression, Odo again said, “Many imperial people are acting as if they are the biggest capital holders in this city! Make them self-conscious! Press them and seize the wealth of this city! Make it ours!”

“Easy talk ...” Arca took a deep breath, then reluctantly said, “You know, they do have a big capital. The conglomerates have indeed invested heavily in this city ...”

“Then, take this ...” Odo took the two best quality crystals from the storage dimension on the robe, then raised his right hand and placed them on his palm.

“I-This ..!” The young man trembled, looking at the radiance and the shape of the blood-red perfect crystal.

Putting on a thin smile with a relaxed face, Odo ordered, “Go to the Lorian Trade Union, exchange it for his funds.”

The statue fell silent, unable to say anything and only gave a flat look at what he could. He knew that the best quality crystal he was holding right now was very expensive, it could even reach half of the construction capital of the store he was in now. Thinking of various things in the head, the young man from the Rien family still could not understand why Odo gave it to him.

Despite understanding Arca's expression and knowing what she was thinking, Odo kept asking, “You can do it, right? It should have been the equivalent of 10,000 Rupls. Almost equivalent to this building.”

“Bu-Not excessive?!” The statue looked anxious, then trembledly asked, “And also, where did you get this from?! Does it matter if you spend this much capital?!”

“Let's just relax, I got it from the Astral World. A kindly Great Spirit gave it to me.”

“Roh ... Agung?”

“Already, focus on the talk. Can you do it with that much capital? Or not?”

The statue was cravings, full of doubt and tightly grasped the two crystals that filled his palm. Feeling that it was something he could do now, the brunette youth replied, “Akan! But, why the Lorian Trade Union? Wouldn't it be more natural to trade it in the Guild?”

Odo slightly sighed, then fretfully replied, “I tried to exchange it earlier, but their appraiser of magic crystals was lower.”

“So, yes ...”

“Oh, yes ...” When he was about to turn around and go to the kitchen, Odo remembered something and added a little, “After getting the funds, if you can take Pak Aprilo so that he is on your side.”

“A—!?” Arca was surprised to hear that, looked annoyed and rudely said, “Damn, you know that my relationship with him is very bad, ‘kan?! He definitely doesn't want to!”

“Eng ...” Odo turned his gaze a little indifferently, then lightly said, “Try to fix, that will be a new thing for you. Just use my name, or if you can use the name Nigrum. The identity is easier to use for traders and the like than the name Odo.”

“Nigrum?” The statue looks confused.

“Yes, an identity I've been using a lot lately. For today, at least try lobbying with Trade Unions and exchange those crystals for capital. Remember, for capital. Traders have a tendency to put aside the feeling if it is related to a business that makes a lot of money.”

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