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Chapter 111: Four pieces of Information || Harem in a Labyrinth
🕑 Added 2025-05-13 17:54:40 +0000 UTC"Well, Mina, you certainly look and sound like a professional Information Broker," I said with a smile—though, in truth, I'd never met one b
"Well, Mina, you certainly look and sound like a professional Information Broker," I said with a smile—though, in truth, I'd never met one before, so I had no idea how they were supposed to sound like.
"Hehe, thank you, Michio... So, what kind of topic would you like me to dig into?" she asked, her brown eyes lighting up with eagerness. "Since you gave me 2,000 nars extra, I can take that as advance payment for four pieces of information."
"Hmm… four pieces of information, huh?" I muttered, rubbing my chin. Normally, I would discuss this with Sherry, Anastasia, or Roxanne first. But I already knew what they would say—find a more experienced broker, not some rookie girl who has never even taken on a commission.
"Mina… are these kinds of deals confidential?" I asked, my tone more serious now. "What happens if someone pays you to find out what I asked you to investigate?"
Her answer will determine what kind of information I should ask about.
"I won't tell them," she replied immediately, her voice steady and sincere. "All brokers—especially information brokers—never sell out their clients. If word ever got out that we did, our credibility would be gone."
"Oh? And what if a Noble orders you to tell them?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly.
"Uhm… I'm a registered member of the Merchants Guild," she said, eyes going wide. "So even a noble can't just order me around. The Guild would interfere if they tried."
That sounded... incredibly naive. Even without a deep understanding of this world's politics, I doubted the Guild would go out of its way to protect a rookie like her. But maybe that's just my cynicism talking. I will let it slide—for now.
"Then what if that noble—or some other rich person—offered you one gold coin? No, ten gold coins to find out what I asked you to investigate?" I asked, curiosity lacing my voice.
"No! I still wouldn't," she said, shaking her head firmly—making her big breasts jiggle along with the motion. "I have principles too."
"What if someone offered you fifty gold coins?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Or better yet, what if they pulled out a platinum coin—right now, in the palm of their hand," I said, forming a closed fist in front of her face, "and said it's yours… if you just sell me out?"
Mina stared at the mock fist, her eyes wide as she audibly gulped. "N-no, I-I wouldn't… You're my f-first customer… I couldn't—not even for a p-platinum coin," she said, shaking her head, though her eyes lingered on my fist as if trying to resist temptation.
"Haha, you're so cute, Mina," I said with a laugh, opening my hand to show it was empty. I gently traced her soft cheek with my fingers.
"Huh?" she blinked, looking at the empty hand, then at me, confused and flustered.
"For the future," I added with a wink, "if someone does offer you that much—fifty gold coins or even a platinum coin—go ahead and take it. Just make sure I get half."
"Michio… you're just making fun of me," she said, her brown eyes turning to me in annoyance. "I was being serious."
"I was serious too, Mina," I replied with a smirk. "But let's get back to the topic. I don't mind using your brokerage—so long as you don't actively spread around what I'm looking into. Unless, of course, someone makes a very generous offer… and in that case, I expect my cut."
"O-okay…?" she said uncertainly, looking up at me with a bit of doubt. "D-do you want to go someplace… more private to give the order?" Her eyes darted around, clearly aware of the public space we were still standing in.
"No, here is fine. I'll just whisper it to you," I said with a smirk as I stepped closer and leaned down beside her fair cheek, letting my breath brush against her delicate ear. "Now listen closely—the first piece of news I want to know about…"
Her face flushed a deep red, her ear twitching adorably as she gripped the table for support, eyes shut tight in nervous anticipation.
"The first thing I want to know," I whispered softly, "is the reason behind the recent unrest in the Noble faction of the Imperial Capital."
I wanted to uncover the truth behind what Luke knew but didn't share with me.
"Specifically, the rumors surrounding it. I'm hoping your sources are credible," I added, my voice more serious now. "A lot of Noble families seem to be involved… so there should be plenty of gossip to sort through."
"Hmm…" She opened her brown eyes and looked up at me, nodding in understanding.
"The second," I continued, "is about the Nakiri family—the poison incident they were involved in, and any other general information surrounding it."
I was sure Erina would eventually tell me once I bought her, but since the incident was already circulating among merchants, it should be easy enough to dig up. Besides, when poison is involved—especially in a culinary family—it's quite a serious accusation, so it won't hurt to have a second perspective just to be safe.
"Ah, yes… that," she said, nodding again, as if she was already familiar with the incident.
"For the third," I said, my tone more measured now, "I want information on the Alfa Merchant Group. Specifically, the three brothers—what they have been up to in the last three months."
She tilted her head slightly and gave a thoughtful nod.
"Hmm, okay. Got it."
"And lastly, I want anything you can find on the Baradam family. What they have been up to in the past six months," I said, narrowing my eyes. That was Roxanne's original family—the ones who sold her. I knew she didn't want anything to do with them, but that didn't mean I shared her sentiment.
"That family's been getting quite the notoriety lately," Mina murmured with a wry smile.
"And also finally," I said gently, lifting her chin with my finger, "don't push yourself or put yourself in danger for any of this. Your well-being comes first. I would be genuinely upset if something happened to you because of my requests."
"Y-yes… I-I will," she whispered shyly, her face flushed and eyes turning hazy as she gazed up at me.
"Good girl," I said with a smile, gently tracing her face one last time before stepping back. "So, how long do you think it will take?" I asked curiously.
"Ah—y-yes, how long…" she mumbled, flustered, trying to regain her composure as she adjusted her tunic—her breasts shifting in a way that could distract even a monk. "I honestly didn't think I would actually get a commission, so I-I'm not sure," she said, glancing at me shyly.
"Hmm, then how about you let me know after the auction finishes? Do you think you will have a better idea by then?" I offered with a reassuring smile. I could tell this was totally new territory for her.
"Y-yes! I should definitely have a general time by then," she said, nodding with growing confidence.
"If not, you know where I live—you can send a letter to summon me. Or," I added with a teasing smile, "you could always come visit me yourself."
"O-okay," she nodded again, eyes dropping bashfully.
She was clearly overloaded by everything—my teasing, the comission offer, the proximity. I could even see the stares and hear the whispers from a few people seated nearby, no doubt gossiping about the little scene we had just played out.
"Well, the auction might be starting already, so I will take my leave. See you soon, Mina," I said with a wave.
"Ah… already? I-I mean… see you soon too… Michio," she whispered with a soft smile, waving back.
I stole one last glance at her fair cleavage—because why not—and turned, heading toward Anastasia.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Were you bored?" I asked apologetically.
"No, Master," she replied with a sly grin. "I could overhear a few things from your conversation, so I wasn't bored at all."
I raised an eyebrow at that. Ever since I promised to buy her original servants, she had been unusually cheerful.
"That's good then. Let's go," I said, still feeling Mina's gaze lingering on my back.
Anastasia nodded and followed me back into the hallway.
Once we were inside the crowd again, I let out a small sigh of relief.
"So, Master is interested in that merchant girl?" Anastasia asked curiously. "I can definitely see why," she added with a wry smile. "Sherry-san was right," she muttered under her breath, nodding to herself.
I rolled my eyes. It wasn't just the breasts—her smile was cute too… especially when paired with that cleavage.
"I didn't go to her because I was interested in her," I said, clearing my throat. "I went there for these." I held up the papyrus slips.
"The 1,000 Nar participation slips?" she asked, eyeing them with confusion.
I smiled and began explaining—again—but this time in detail, how my Discount ability worked specifically, through our party link, and how having these slips would save me a ton of money.
'Woah, Master is a genius,' Anastasia said through the party chat, her eyes going wide with realization.
'Well, this time I won't mind taking the credit,' I replied cheekily.
'But I'm pretty sure that wasn't the only reason you were standing so close and whispering to her for so long,' she added with a knowing grin.
…Was she jealous?
Wow. I was genuinely flattered—but this wasn't the time to be basking in it.
'No, that was because she wants to become an Information Merchant. I was just helping her get started,' I replied, pulling out my backup explanation and mentioning the four pieces of commissioned intel.
'Hmm… well, we won't know how good she is until she finishes the commission. But I am not holding out much hope for someone who has never done it before,' Anastasia replied through the party chat, sounding skeptical.
Honestly, I knew all the girls would question me spending money like this. Even I wasn't fully confident in her results. That's why, even though I had a lot of questions on my mind, I only gave her these four—ones that were general and relatively easy to dig up.
If she did well, great—I had found myself a new news source. If not, then it was still worth the 20 silver. She did help me save a massive amount of money on the auction after all.
…Though I had to admit—if she were a guy or an ugly girl, I probably would have just used my 40% discount skill while buying the slips.
But with Mina? I had been honest. I didn't want to rip such a cute girl off. So, during our talks, I had deactivated my Discount skill—just for her.
'Master, I just realised, this means that your skill works in auctions too!! We can make so much money... so much profit—we will be swimming in gold! Master will become the greatest Merchant of them all!' Anastasia started babbling excitedly through the party chat, her eyes practically sparkling as she looked at me.
I gave her a wry smile and let her be in her dreamland. If it keeps her distracted, it will give me more time to think quietly to myself.
Truthfully, running into Mina again was a coincidence. I had only gone there to test out my idea. If she hadn't been around, I would have made the deal with any merchant willing to sell those slips.
Still… I am glad it turned out to be her—a cute, busty girl like that? Total bonus.
Now that I think about it… was that really me back there?
I was way too smooth, wasn't I? I remember back in college, I once stuttered like an idiot just because I ended up in an elevator alone with the hottest girl on campus. And yet just now, I was teasing Mina, reacting on the spot, reading her expressions and playing off them effortlessly. Like it was second nature.
It's hard to believe I actually pulled that off.
Have I really changed this much?
Where the hell did all this confidence come from? Is it a skill? A hidden bonus from a job? Or maybe it's just because I am not a virgin anymore, so rejection doesn't scare me like it used to? Or…
…Has killing people changed something fundamental inside me?
Or maybe… deep down, I still see this world as fictional—like a game, a story—and most of the people here feel more like NPCs than real humans. Maybe I have got some kind of twisted Main Character Syndrome going on, thinking I am the center of it all.
I honestly don't know. But I do know that in just these past six or seven days, I have definitely changed. A lot.
As I was sinking into that realization, Anastasia's voice snapped me back to the present.
"Master, it looks like the Auction's about to begin. Look—people are already heading up the stairs," Anastasia said, pointing towards the growing crowd.
"Alright, let's join them," I said with a nod, slipping the papyrus slips securely into my pocket.
Comments
Orvious
Thanks for the chapter.
Avirat Dulera
In my headcanon Roxanne and her aunt and uncle have been part of the wolfkin baradam family, but like not main or even side members just some menial workers that's why that woman could easily make it so the uncle and aunt can't pay taxes. And that is also why her fiance would have seen Roxanne. The specifics you are saying are a bit different in the webnovel but it's fine.
Vanthebeard
Some clarification, you made it sound like Roxanne is from the Baradam family. She isn't, a girl from the Baradam family blames Roxanne for her fiance breaking the engagement. When all she did was pass by and get her boobs ogled. After failing to embarrass Roxanne in multiple ways she eventually made it so that Roxanne's aunt and uncle couldn't afford their taxes.
