Azure Jewelry Shop and Collecting Rent (Seeking Follow-up Reading)

Azure Jewelry Shop and Collecting Rent (Seeking Follow-up Reading)

"Young Master, the investigation has been completed. All internal personnel involved have been dealt with, and a letter has been sent to the lord as well."

Listening to William, Chen Mu lightly rubbed his brow.

"Have the overdue rents been collected?"

"Part of them has been collected. Several shops run by major noble families said they need more time."

"Mm, I understand."

Chen Mu quietly indicated that he understood.

It had to be said that the Golden Lion Market his father, Earl Arthur, had handed over to him was a complete mess.

On the surface, everything seemed fine, but that was far from the truth.

Those below who were greedy embezzled, while those who slacked off slacked off.

Quite a few shops in the market had even owed rent for a long time.

These great families clearly did not lack such a small amount of gold coins, yet they still delayed their rent payments, to the point that Chen Mu was growing impatient.

Chen Mu did not know whether the Golden Lion Earl was unaware of the situation here or deliberately testing him, but he had been busy without pause these past few days.

As for the embezzlement, Chen Mu had mostly dealt with it over the past few days as well.

Only after investigating did Chen Mu learn that the people below were so corrupt that Earl Arthur could not be entirely blamed, because Earl Arthur rarely checked the accounts.

After all, his father, Earl Arthur, was responsible for the entire Far East Territory, while Far East City was merely one part of it.

The Far East Territory contained more than a dozen cities.

Naturally, Earl Arthur could not look after all of them alone, which was why his father had promoted some of the territory's residents to help manage them.

Mu Si had always been responsible for the Golden Lion Market's accounts. If even Mu Si had been embezzling, the state of those beneath him was easy to imagine.

It was not that Earl Arthur lacked judgment. Mu Si had indeed been diligent and devoted in his early years.

But once a person reached a high position, it became natural for them to lose control of themselves. What was more, some of the major families in the market were involved in this matter as well.

"Can we be more direct and use force?"

Chen Mu deliberately asked William.

Hearing that, William grinned viciously. "Of course we can. Otherwise, they'll really think we're soft targets."

It was not that Chen Mu did not want to simply crush those shops outright, but their existence had its purpose.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mu said, "Using force alone won't do either. These shops are run by noble families, and their existence is necessary. If we sweep them all away, the Golden Lion Market will never be the same again.

"Of course, we can't refrain from using force entirely either. Otherwise, just as you said, they'll really take us for soft targets."

It was not impossible to use the family's armed forces to bulldoze them directly, but there was no need to go that far.

It was not worth falling out with those families over some rent. Chen Mu understood that perfectly well.

That was why his plan was to combine firmness with flexibility.

"Then we'll start here!"

Chen Mu pointed at a name on the paper before him.

Hearing Chen Mu's words, William looked where Chen Mu was pointing. Five words were written there—Azure Jewelry Shop.

By the time Chen Mu and William arrived inside Azure Jewelry Shop, there were already quite a few people there.

Most were noblewomen, dressed in luxurious robes and elaborate headpieces, wearing expensive jewelry and ornaments.

Young, handsome noble sons like Chen Mu were nowhere to be seen.

Azure Jewelry Shop was a store opened by the Blue Eagle Family in the Golden Lion Market.

It was managed by a jewelry merchant from the Blue Eagle Family.

This jewelry shop could be considered the largest jewelry store in the Golden Lion Market.

It sold jewelry, metal crafts, and valuable goods.

There was a large window inside the shop.

The counters faced outward, displaying their wares, most of which were finely crafted jewelry and expensive materials.

It was hard to imagine that such a large jewelry shop would default on such a tiny amount of rent.

"Call your manager over. Tell him someone from the Golden Lion Family is here to discuss something."

Chen Mu casually stopped an apprentice and spoke.

The apprentice Chen Mu had stopped showed no dissatisfaction. After glancing at Chen Mu and William behind him, he respectfully went to find the manager.

After a while, the apprentice brought a middle-aged man dressed in merchant's attire before Chen Mu.

"Shall we talk inside?"

Hearing Chen Mu's words, the merchant hurriedly nodded and led Chen Mu and William to the jewelry room.

Once they entered the jewelry room, Chen Mu instinctively surveyed the surroundings.

Though it was called a jewelry room, it was actually a place for appraising jewelry.

Several appraisal instruments were casually laid out on the table, some of which were unfamiliar even to Chen Mu.

"I won't beat around the bush. I don't care what the Golden Lion Market was like before. Now that I'm in charge here, things will naturally be done by my rules."

Without hesitation, Chen Mu got straight to the point. As he spoke, he handed a badge to the Blue Eagle Family representative before him.

The manager naturally did not dare be negligent. He quickly accepted it, examined the badge closely, then handed it back to Chen Mu.

The badge was actually a token used to verify one's identity, representing that Chen Mu was a member of the Golden Lion Family.

"Young Master, rest assured. We will certainly follow your rules."

The man in charge of the jewelry shop spoke in an agreeable tone.

So cooperative? Chen Mu was somewhat surprised.

"Good. Then pay the overdue rent first."

Chen Mu stared at the middle-aged man as he spoke.

"Young Master, rest assured, we will definitely pay. But the family's gold coins haven't arrived yet. Could you wait a few more months?"

The middle-aged man answered decisively, though anyone could hear the stalling in his tone.

Hearing this, William, who stood behind Chen Mu, immediately prepared to step forward, but Chen Mu lightly raised a hand to stop him.

If a matter could be resolved by talking, Chen Mu did not want to resort to violence.

"Pay now. We haven't failed to wait. We've already waited one year and two months."

Chen Mu spoke without anger in his voice, only calmness.

And it was indeed as Chen Mu said. This Azure Jewelry Shop had not paid rent for one year and two months.

Normally, the large shops in the Golden Lion Market paid their rent once a month.

"This..."

Hearing Chen Mu's words, the middle-aged man's expression turned somewhat ugly, but only for an instant before he quickly composed himself.

"Young Master, could you..."

"No. Pay now, or your jewelry shop can shut down."

Chen Mu interrupted him, then looked around at the room.

He refused to believe that such a large jewelry shop could not afford such a small amount of rent.

Naturally, the middle-aged man could hear the threat in Chen Mu's words.

His expression immediately stiffened, and even the smile he had kept on his face turned into a forced one.

It was not that the Blue Eagle Family did not wish to pay. It was simply that the mountains were high and the emperor far away.

The unpaid rent had ultimately all gone into his own pocket.

"William, smash it!"

Chen Mu's expression instantly turned impatient. He waved a hand as he spoke.

Damn it, you won't take the hint when I give you face!

"Wait, wait, wait! I'll pay, I'll pay!"

Seeing William behind Chen Mu actually lift his Knight Sword and prepare to act, the middle-aged man hurriedly forced out the words.

If the shop really got smashed, the family would skin him alive.

Seeking Follow-up Reading~ These chapters are a transition. The main storyline will begin soon. Everyone can guess when the protagonist will become a Wizard, hehe~