Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

Although it took some time to find him, I was able to meet with him successfully. I first gave him a load of gold coins, making him give me a blank stare, but I ignored it.

“No need to thank me or pay me you know.”

“It would be easier for me to relax if you accept it. Feel free to spend it however you want.”

In the underworld, people value their friends because power and institutions could not protect them, and they would lend a helping hand to their friends without regard to profit or loss. In reverse, they would also antagonize the enemies of their friends without any profit or loss, or at the very least, not interfere or be a hindrance.

Therefore, it was important for me to meet people like them face to face and thank them personally.

Besides, they usually have their own intelligence network. And the kind of information network that they use to communicate with each other was something that could not be ignored from an information gathering sense.

However, I doubt that ordinary aristocrats would even think of such a thing, and I could only be thankful that I had knowledge of the mafia and yakuza from my previous life.

“I don’t think money can buy you. I know that money can’t solve your problems, so this is just my personal preference.”

“You have a troublesome personality.”

I had no intention of saying that I was doing this to “get along with the world”. I simply choose the best way to deal with people in a time and world like this. I also did not have any intention of asking them to commit crimes or get involved in any, so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting blackmailed later.

Even under the rule of the wisest and most famous of rulers, there would always be pseudo organizations within a country. These organizations were left to their own devices as long as they did not cross certain limits. However, if they did attempt to invade security, the country would use force to crush them.

“I may ask you to do a job for me at some point again, but for now, I’d appreciate it if you’d just think positively about this interaction.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He snickered at me, but he seemed to understand that I was not here to bribe him, so I was satisfied with that. I would never be able to live with the underworld even if I stopped being an aristocrat, but that didn’t mean I had to be hostile to the underworld.

With this, I have made some progress knowing that the old man’s group would not be aiming for me. I gave them some money to enjoy some drinks as well, so after the discussion, I made my way out and left Bert’s hideout. I tried my best to keep a poker face, but I still felt mentally exhausted. Phew.

I changed my shoes on the way and made a few stops in school uniform before heading to the orphanage. While doing so, I also checked on the progress of the capital’s beautification project.

Apparently, Father had given the orphanage a good teacher. I chuckled a bit when I saw that chart of ninety-nine in such a place.

Afterward, I changed into the knight’s uniform in the back of the room. I left a donation and also asked them to mindfully increase the number of math lessons. I should also have them teach the need for bookkeeping as well, I guess.

These children’s beautification projects had become well known, so they could now comfortably walk around the capital, and being children, most people wouldn’t be alarmed by them even if they asked some strange questions. These kids simply wrote daily reports on their surroundings events, unaware of the fact that they had become part of my information network.

These days, it seemed that the capital’s redevelopment efforts had been progressing faster than the children’s beautification project, so some adults have been giving allowance money to the kids who clean up their trash after work. I think it was a good thing for them to receive some allowance, but it would become a problem if they get used to it.

Although I had left the arrangements with the Adventurers’ Guild to Max, so I didn’t have to go there personally, walking all over the Royal Capital still took some time, and by the time I was done, it was not only past noon, it was almost evening. I lamented the lack of progress in my other investigations, but I figured it was getting late anyway, so I did some shopping and went to the Royal Palace.

When I entered the office, Lily was working on something along with Neurath and Schunzel, but they all stood up to greet me upon noticing my arrival. I would usually say, “You don’t have to stand up,” but there was another person in the office today. So I gave a quick bow to the man as well.

“I apologize for the trouble I have caused you, and please let Prime Minister Falkenstein know that I will be visiting him later.”

“Yes, of course. I shall take the message and leave, excuse me.”

I thanked the knight, or rather the watchdog, to whom I sent a message addressed to the Prime Minister late yesterday evening, and bid him farewell. I did apologize for being late, as I had to also ask Grand Duke Seyfart to be present in the meeting after this.

I caught my breath and looked at Neurath and the others.

“Good work. What’s up?”

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