Businesses

After seeing off "Red Boots" Franca, Lumian returned to the Café with his two Subordinate Louis and Sakota, and sat down in the seat that Baron Brignais usually occupied.

René, the manager of the Breeze Ballroom, was already waiting there.

He was in his forties, with a thin face. Whether it was due to overwork or his natural features, his light yellow hairline had receded sharply, much like that of Loenian.

This was the operator directly appointed by Gardner Martin, the Savoie Gang Boss, but he still treated Lumian with considerable respect, offering a fawning smile as he said, "Mr. Charles, would you like to know about the Dance Hall?"

"Okay." Lumian reached out and took the stack of reports René handed over, and began to carefully look through them.

Louis and Sakota, standing behind him, once again felt as if they didn't recognize their leader.

He's a young guy from the countryside, yet he can understand such complex financial statements!

If it were the two of them, they would only feel dizzy and sleepy.

Is this someone who's both skilled in combat and cultured? Louis turned his gaze away from the stack of reports that seemed to have a "supernatural effect."

René took the opportunity to give a presentation to help the new "boss" better understand the operation of Breeze Ballroom:

"On weekdays, we earn between 1200 and 1800 Felkine per day. On weekends, this figure can reach up to 5000 Felkine, and normally it's around 4000..."

Last Year's total revenue was 645,425 Felkine 37 Kopek. This year, based on current trends, there has been some growth, but not much...

"This requires 12 Thug, 4 Bartender, 6 Waiter, 3 Cook, 6 Kitchen Assistant, 3 General Laborer, 3 Dishwasher, 4 Cleaner, 1 Head Waiter, 3 Finance Staff, 3 beverage and Ingredient buyers, 1 Coachman... Their average annual salary is 1,000 Felkine, and we also provide lunch and dinner for free, totaling 53,000 Felkine."

"As a manager, my annual salary plus year-end bonus is about 7,000 Felkine."

"According to our agreement with ' Red Boots,' each dancer will be provided with a base salary of 1 Felkine per day... After they complete a transaction with a customer, we will take 30%... Transactions usually take place in rooms on the two floors above the Dance Hall. If they want to leave, they need to pay the Thug at the door or the Head Waiter in advance..."

"The cost of alcoholic beverages such as wine, champagne, beer, Brandy, Sugar Wine, and Absinthe, as well as various flavored Soda, ice, and Ingredient, is approximately 120,000 Felkine per year..."

"We bought this house, so there's no need to pay any additional rent..."

"Including horse feed costs, venue maintenance costs, Gas fees, Tap Water fees, singer and band fees, and other expenses, our annual cost is approximately 230,000 Felkine..."

"Of the remaining 410,000 Felkine, the Boss will take 200,000 Felkine, and maintaining good relations with the officers at Police Headquarters will require another 100,000 Felkine. Mr. Charles, you will have approximately 110,000 Felkine at your disposal. This includes your personal expenses, replenishment of firearms and ammunition, rewards for your Subordinate, and compensation for the fallen and wounded..."

"Unfortunately, the people in the Market District don't earn very high incomes, otherwise we could have made more money from alcoholic beverages..."

As Lumian reviewed the reports and listened to René's account, a clearer picture of the Breeze Ballroom gradually formed in his mind.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

A Gang leader who controls a thriving business can make a lot of money!

According to the newspapers and magazines he had read, as well as the various materials collected by his Older Sister Aurora:

In the present-day Intis, a minister of the Republic earns only 100,000 Felkine a year. Although the government provides housing, household linens, silverware, and two private carriages free of charge, they are responsible for their own servants and banquet expenses.

Of course, Lumian also had to reward his Subordinate from time to time and set aside a sum of Compensation and arms expenses in case of potential conflicts, but he didn't need to live too well, hire servants, or hold banquets.

Rounding up, he's roughly equivalent to a minister.

The only problem is that ministers don't just have the official income.

A manual laborer earns about 700 Felkine a year, a maid who lives and eats at her employer's house earns about 480 Felkine, a Construction Worker earns only 1,000 a year, skilled workers earn only 2,500 Felkine a year, and a Senior Engineer earns between 10,000 and 20,000 Felkine a year. (And pictures)

Sure enough, the "shortcuts" to making money are all written in the Code... No wonder Brignais is reluctant to part with this Dance Hall... Lumian remembered something her Older Sister had said.

As long as he is frugal and takes good care of his Subordinate, preventing them from charging into battle, the money he saves each year is enough to buy Sequence 6 Potion Formula or even the corresponding Main Ingredient!

After René finished speaking, Lumian nodded and asked, "Why give the dancers a basic salary?"

He wasn't reluctant to part with the book; he was just curious.

"Our Savoie Gang's dancers are all under ' Red Boots ' control. She demands that we pay them a base salary and that we can't force them to take jobs. They can earn less if they want, or starve if they want," René explained. "Besides the dancers Subordinate ' Red Boots,' there are also girls controlled by people in the lending business. These used to be under Baron Brignais's control, and there was no conflict. How do we coordinate things now?"

Lumian's mind raced through a series of thoughts, and in the end, he found that "Red Boots" Franca and her Older Sister Aurora were somewhat similar in some ways.

Is it because they all belong to that Concealment organization? But if it were Aurora, she certainly wouldn't have handled it this way. She would have organized those dancers to rebel, she would have tried to establish underground schools to teach them knowledge, and find new ways out for them... If it were me, what would I do...? After pondering for a moment, Lumian raised her head and said to René, Louis, and the others, "Let's leave it at that for now, without making any Change."

"René, in the meantime, you help me deal with the officers. Once I'm familiar with the location, I'll have a proper talk with them."

After changing the combination locks on both Mechanical Safe and informing the manager René, of one of them as previously agreed, Lumian returned to the "Golden Rooster Inn" before lunch.

He went straight up to the fifth floor and knocked on Charlie's door.

Charlie had just taken a bite of a Bread with some light beer when he saw Charles appear in the doorway.

He asked excitedly, "Where have you been these past two days? You haven't been to any Bar."

Lumian didn't answer but asked a question in return:

"There's a job opportunity available. Would you like to consider it?"

"What kind of job?" Charlie was worried because his meager savings were dwindling and he saw no hope for a new job.

Lumian laughed and said, "How about working as Waiter at the Breeze Ballroom? You don't need to Savoie Gang, and you should get 70 Felkine a month. Tips are yours, but you should also know that these people in the Market District will never give tips unless you become a woman and are willing to sleep with them."

"Yes, some female customers do 'that' things with the Waiter. You have experience in this area, so I don't need to elaborate."

"Breeze Ballroom?" Charlie's eyes widened. "You've already gained Baron Brignais's trust?"

They can arrange for people to work as Waiter at the Breeze Ballroom, and you don't even need to Savoie Gang!

Lumian smiled:

"Without Baron Brignais's consent, Breeze Ballroom is now mine."

"Huh?" Charlie doubted his own hearing.

Lumian smiled and explained, "I took down ' Hammer ' Ait, and the Boss of the Savoie Gang handed over the Breeze Ballroom to me."

"Oh, I see." Charlie first realized, then blurted out in astonishment, "You killed ' Hammer ' Ait too?"

Lumian nodded:

"Don't tell anyone about this, I'm afraid the Police will cause trouble."

Charlie was speechless for a moment.

After a few seconds, he muttered, "Shouldn't those Stinger Gang guys go to the nearby Church and pray for a change of fortune? Ever since you came to the Market District, their leaders have been dying one after another. I can't even imagine how they feel right now."

"Good idea," Lumian praised.

If the Stinger Gang leaders actually dared to pray at the Church of the "Eternal Blazing Sun" or the "God of Steam and Machinery," then this Gang would cease to exist.

Of course, Lumian did not want them to do such a foolish thing before Louis Lund's next visit.

Charlie for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go to Breeze Ballroom this afternoon. Who should I look for?"

"Haha, I rarely went to the Dance Hall because I didn't have the money, but now I can go every day."

"Find the manager René, and tell him you're a tenant of the ' Golden Rooster Inn '," Lumian replied simply, glancing to the side.

There were two cleaning ladies cleaning there. One of them looked to be in her early fifties, but upon closer inspection, she looked to be only in her forties. She originally had Linen-Colored hair, but she wore a bright Golden wig and applied eyeshadow and powder, which covered her fine wrinkles but could not change her haggard appearance.

"What is this?" Lumian asked Charlie.

Charlie clicked his tongue and explained:

"Don't you know? Our stingy Landlord has changed his Personality. He no longer hires someone to clean only once a week, but instead chooses to hire two cleaning ladies to work every morning."

"Tell me, tell me, isn't this an incredible Miracle? It's only slightly less miraculous than my last time when my luck turned around!"

Having just finished reviewing the financial statements of Breeze Ballroom, Lumian's mind was instantly filled with the image of a cleaning lady's salary:

70 to 80 Felkine per month.

But that's from morning till night; those who only work half a day Felkine.

"Two cleaning ladies who only work half a day can earn no more than 100 Felkine a month. They hire someone to do a thorough cleaning once a week for 18 Felkine each time. Mr. Eve promised me that he would increase it to twice a week, which means it would cost about 150 Felkine a month."

"This isn't being generous; it's being shrewd!" Lumian scoffed.

He suspected that without a cleaning lady, it would have been impossible to clean the entire hotel in just half a day; no one would take on such a job, and Mr. Eve certainly wouldn't have hired two.

"Really?" Charlie scratched his hair.

His calculation ability was completely outmatched by Lumian's words.

After the two cleaning ladies went into the empty room and started swatting at the Bedbug, Lumian gestured in that direction with his chin:

Why is there someone wearing a wig and eyeshadow?

What kind of cleaning lady looks like this?

Charlie lowered his voice and said, "I asked her. Her name is Elodie. She said she used to be a Stage Actor and she's used to dressing like this, and she still does."

"Nobody knows if what she said is true. When I Waiter at the White Swan Hotel, I heard the Kitchen Assistant say that many prostitutes, after getting older and being rejected, could only do jobs like Dishwasher and cleaners..."

Lumian recalled Elodie's appearance and felt that she must have been quite pretty when she was young. As for whether she was Stage Actor or Streetwalker, it had nothing to do with her identity as a cleaning lady.

After saying goodbye to Charlie, Lumian grabbed a quick bite at the Restaurant on the first floor, then took Public Carriage to the Boulevard District.

He's going to tell Mr. K that the task you gave him has been completed!