Infinite Reincarnation – Arthur Hurt - Chapter 86



Only Noblemtl

Infinite Reincarnation – Arthur Hurt Chapter 86

18-Celebrities of the Salon

Arthur felt a sense of responsibility for the girl. Yes, it cannot be said that he had no sympathy for bringing her. And Arthur also knew clearly that thoughtless sympathy did not always lead to good results.

No one could guarantee whether the small amount of charity given out of pity would give the beggar the strength to overcome difficult times or whether it would become poison that completely destroys his will to get back on his feet.

Besides, what Arthur did for Amelia was nothing more than throwing her a few coins.

If you were to provide this much help, you had to take responsibility for it. You had to be responsible even when taking in stray cats or abandoned dogs, so let alone people.

Arthur asked Cho-Reng.

“Could you please tell me how to read and write sheet music?”

“Are you interested in music?”

“Since the last time I sang the promotional song, there was a song that often came to my mind. I thought it would be a shame to just forget it.”

“okay?”

Cho-reng thought that Arthur’s words were true. The promotional song he composed(?) had unexpectedly become a success, but he dismissed it as just a coincidence.

“I have a textbook on music scores, so lend it to me.”

“Thank you, Cho-reng. Oh, and by the way.”

“What?”

“Can Amelia sing just by looking at the sheet music?”

This was a big question. Should I just write the music, or should I also practice the instrument and the song?

Cho-reng asked.

“Does that mean you can read music?”

“yes.”

“That much should be possible.”

Arthur nodded after confirming Amelia’s level of education.

With that as an opportunity, he began to select songs from his memories that would suit Amelia and transcribe them.

To be honest, it was more difficult to choose songs that would fit with the current musical trend than to copy them.

After I wrote down a few songs like that, I started to worry about how to convey them. I thought that if I just gave them to them, the sound would come out strange.

Well, it was fortunate that he was indifferent when I asked him if he had brought me this kind of song. If he kept bragging about how talented he was, it would have been a headache.

It’s already burdensome to be known as the exclusive craftsman of the Ridis Salon, so how much more bothersome would it be to be labeled a genius composer on top of that?

So, while he was wondering what to do, there was an incident that helped ease Arthur’s worries.

“Are you Arthur?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

A gentleman dressed in expensive clothes visited Arthur’s house. He introduced himself as follows:

“My name is Joran Haneson. I am entrusted with the task of collecting taxes by His Royal Highness the King.”

“Oh, yes. I see.”

Arthur blinked his eyes in admiration. Looking at him like that, Joran said with a slightly frustrated look.

“Don’t you know why I came?”

“well?”

Arthur, a member of the Craft Guild, paid his taxes through the guild. He didn’t evade taxes, but rather faithfully paid his taxes without any trouble. He had already paid his taxes in the first half of this year, so there was no reason for the tax collector to visit.

“You’re a craftsman?”

“yes.”

“For a construction company, you pay a lot of taxes.”

“I’m pretty good at it.”

“It seems like they are charging less for something so famous.”

“… … .”

What am I supposed to do, you son of a bitch?

The reason why I was about to curse was because the kid in front of me didn’t seem to be visiting with any kindness.

When Arthur didn’t speak, Joran gave Arthur a reassuring smile, a smile that seemed mean to him.

“I have considerable doubts about your income and expenditures.”

“I pay my taxes honestly.”

“That’s something that will come out if you investigate. That’s what I came here to say today.”

Joran left, saying, “That’s all for now.”

Arthur went straight to Samuel to consult him. Samuel, who was not surprised by this, immediately figured out Joran’s intentions.

“They are asking for a bribe.”

“A bribe?”

“It’s better to give than not to give. If there are all sorts of investigations, I won’t be able to do my job properly, and if I get caught up in something, it’ll be a headache.”

Samuel’s opinion was that the tax collectors were nothing more than punks.

But Arthur didn’t understand.

“Isn’t that something that happens to people like you or Samuel? I’m just a construction worker.”

So, isn’t it true that they put Madam in front and then fall behind no matter what happens?

Samuel looked disappointed at Arthur’s protest.

“You are famous.”

“You’re famous?”

“A subject that always comes up in salons where artists gather is the jewelry of the Ridis Salon. And your name is the one who designs and produces the jewelry.”

So it was quite possible that Arthur’s name would reach the ears of the tax collector, Joran.

He seems to be making a lot of money, and he’s a country bumpkin from Tsururaz, so he doesn’t seem like he’d have any supporters. He’s like the kind of prey that you can just take advantage of without any repercussions?

Arthur asked how.

“How do I solve this?”

“bribe.”

“How can it not be done in the name of Mato Trading Company?”

“We can solve it with bribes too.”

Since there were many places where tax avoidance was done here and there, the tax collectors were the type of people who had to be friendly and look good. So bribery was an excellent way to build rapport.

But Arthur frowned. Because Mato Trading Company was a group and Arthur was an individual.

Human greed has a tendency to adjust itself according to the other person’s power. I never thought that that little bastard named Joran would suck it up and then fall.

“I think it will get torn off periodically.”

Samuel nodded, saying that it made sense. Honestly, he thought that the tax collector Joran’s attitude toward Arthur was like that of a beekeeper who had just discovered a honey pot full of honey.

“How is the guild you belong to?”

“I don’t think that will be of much help.”

It seemed unlikely that Holden would be able to exert much influence as he was just starting out. It couldn’t be the same situation as Tsuraz, who had been in a honeymoon relationship with the tax collector for many years.

Samuel also nodded to Arthur’s opinion. After all, he couldn’t help but be concerned that Arthur’s guild had set up an office in the capital, so he was observing.

Soon he came up with another plan.

“Ask Countess Tzak, that would be a surefire way.”

“There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

Samuel nodded in agreement at those words.

“You will be recognized as a vassal or guest of Count Tzak.”

“You’ve already received investment money from that family, right?”

In other words, the question was whether Arthur was already recognized as belonging to the Count Tzaq family.

Even if you don’t know about the Ridis Salon, you can find out that Count Tzak’s money was invested in the Ridis Club if you just investigate. But didn’t Joran really know that?

Samuel replied.

“It’s not unusual for nobles to invest in the capital. It’s natural to invest when you have money. But influencing public power is a completely different matter.”

It was an act of relying on the power of that noble family. And there was no noble who would lend his power as if it were a good deed.

There had to be a price, and it wasn’t something that could be exchanged for a small amount of money. Unless it was a very large sum of money that could restore the power that had been consumed, something else had to be paid.

If Arthur were to ask Countess Tzak to do something about that corrupt tax collector, and she were to accept his request, it would mean that she would accept Arthur as her guest, her family member, and so on. Arthur would not have the means to exchange that for money.

And in that case, Arthur also had to shoulder the rights and obligations of a head of a family.

Arthur thought for a moment. Considering Countess Tzaq’s personality, it might not be so bad.

But the decision had to be made carefully, so he asked Samuel for details.

“What kind of place is Count Tzak’s house?”

Samuel could not have failed to read the implications of those words. The point of Arthur’s question was to ask for information on whether it would be okay for him to become a member of the Count Tzak family.

“Just wait a minute.”

Samuel left for a moment and then came back with an envelope. Inside was a folder about the thickness of a finger joint.

“Look here and go.”

The contents of the file were the results of an investigation into Count Tzak. Naturally, it was confidential.

Arthur glanced at Samuel’s face and saw him frown and make an excuse.

“You can’t get investment money from a risky place, right?”

This is what Arthur carefully and carefully researched after receiving the investment. Samuel is improving day by day. He seems to be on the verge of becoming a successful merchant.

The document contained general information about the Count Tzaq family. Among them, what caught Arthur’s attention was the content regarding the relationship between Count Tzaq and the Countess.

The two were a typical show window couple, the result of a political marriage, and each had a lover.

The Count had several lovers, and it was possible to identify them, but it was not yet certain who the Countess’s lover was.

The most likely candidate for the Countess’s lover was… …the King.

Arthur couldn’t help but wonder.

“Was it the King’s intention for Countess Tzaq to support the Lydis Salon?”

Samuel shrugged at the mumbled question.

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain.”

“What is it?”

“The Count Tzak family is a pro-royal force.”

“Are there any nobles who aren’t nobles?”

As far as Arthur knew, everyone was busy trying to please the royal family because of the powerful royal authority. But Samuel pointed out one thing.

“But do all the nobles truly support the royal family? How many nobles change their faces when the situation changes? You said so. This war won’t end easily.”

“There is a slight difference in meaning. Can you point it out?”

“What is it?”

“It’s not that it doesn’t end easily, it’s just that it’s difficult to achieve the initially intended results.”

“That’s it. And if that happens, won’t the royal authority be shaken?”

If the authority of the royal family is shaken, the suppressed desire for power will be stimulated. Then, will the potential anti-royalists attack the king right away? That is not possible. They will try to gradually eliminate the pro-royal forces, the hands and feet of the king.

So asking Countess Tzaq for help now would mean getting involved in a mess that had a high probability of happening. But was it worth the gamble?

Arthur looked at Samuel with a new expression at that sharp insight. Samuel frowned.

“What’s with that expression?”

“No. I think Mr. Samuel is growing up too.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“That’s a compliment.”

Arthur returned to the main topic as Samuel frowned and scratched his head, thinking that it didn’t seem right.

“So, in the end, do I have no choice but to periodically bribe that tax collector named Jorun?”

“well.”

“Not all famous people get ripped off by that guy, right?”

“You’re a celebrity, but what should I say? A weak celebrity that doesn’t live up to its name? Celebrities usually have a wide network of connections and are influential in their speech, but you’re not like that.”

“So if you become famous enough that the tax collector has a hard time messing with you, you can get away with it cleanly?”

“I guess so? That guy named Jo-Ran is known to be incredibly good at avoiding things he needs to avoid.”

It was necessary to understand the tax collector’s tendencies in order for commercial activities to proceed smoothly.