Chapter 298- Spreading effective rumors

Spreading effective rumors

Amanda raised an eyebrow while scanned the deciphered message contained in the recent letter. Satisfied with her result, she then rose from the table and walked over to the large stone wall in the open hall. The crowd of chattering orphans circling Sakura standing beside it parted on her arrival. Amanda's amicable nature and beauty had already caused these once homeless children to view her with veneration.

The entire wall had been smoothened with mud and clay. On its surface, scribbles, and doodles of charcoal seemed to indicate the hall of this once deserted church now housed unruly children. The markings, however, would cause an experienced scout to faint in shock.

"Lye, forget about trying to fill in all the unknown places. The city is so huge, we would need to live for centuries before we can add all the streets and places on this rough map. Remember, leave the drawing to the members of your team who are working outside. They have a much better idea of where to add information day by day."

"Sister Sakura is right, Lye. This map makes it easy for us to know where our team is located in the city, and also how to move them around. I used the map with Jilly yesterday and cut her traveling time in half. We didn't know a butcher used the nearby lane every morning to deliver goods from the east gate. Since Carn added it in yesterday, she hops a ride on the wagon and doesn't have to walk across two districts."

"I see now. Thanks Ling. But you just said something very important. When Jaks returns with his morning report, I will let him tell the others to notice the streets which have regular tradesmen driving through. Since we monitor Hangmans Square far away near the south gate, we really could do with a lift. And don't call the Boss 'Sister Sakura'. Show some respect."

The twelve-year-old boy dropped a playful chop on the head of the smaller girl pointing at the wall. The girl held her head with both of her hands and then ran straight to Amanda. She wrapped her little arms around the approaching young lady and then stuck her tongue out at the boy. Embracing the pouting girl, Amanda laughed while looking to Sakura.

"Your new map is really taking shape. I do like, however, that idea little Lye just said. We should find out the routes of tradesmen who work all hours. Like the bakers delivering bread in the early mornings to the trash wagons working during the late hours at night. This way, the leads in the hall can find the quickest means to deliver messages."

She said while giving a thumbs up at the boy. Her actions caused a color change as the face of the boy turned pink. Smiling shyly, the boy then slowly departed for his desk. Sakura gave the older girl a wry smile.

"Agreed, Big Sis. I also have another idea to help us in passing messages quicker. I plan to use the merchants who currently work under our Bai Corporation. Most of them have tokens to use wagons and horses within the city. As long as we want an urgent message delivered, the teams can seek available transport at their homes or shops."

"Great idea. Chu would really like how our information network runs in the city. Haha, look how easy it was for us to spread the rumor that day. Within a night, the entire city knew the affairs of House Gofart. Wait until tonight when we spread the one about how their Patriarch fainted on receiving wagons of stones. I saw the way he looked at my mother during the banquet. I'm not finished with him yet."

Amanda said while clenching her fingers into a fist. Although her parents hid most of the past from her as a child, she now knew more about what occurred back then. Her nature might not be as cold-hearted as some of her companions but she still felt wronged and angry at the suffering they caused her parents.

A grumpy shout arrived from the desk at the center of the hall.

"Hey! Why are you all chatting and bothering the Boss Ladies? Didn't I warn you about that? If you have free time, get back to your tables and continue your lessons in reading and writing. Little Ling, stop trying to cuddle with Lady Amanda. You especially need to work on that fowl-foot writing of yours. I'm tired of Ben complaining to me about how he can't understand your writing when he takes over during the evening shift change."

Singh chastised while skimming across the morning reports. He cleared his throat as he pulled a hand-knitted scarf around his neck. Unconsciously, he raised an end to his nose while taking a gentle breath in the hopes of catching the fragrance of the hands who knitted it for him.

With his cold gone, he resumed his duties in managing the information network. With Doug literally gaining approval from the various churches to construct small orphanages, information streamed in from those smaller sub-networks. Sakura had initialed a grant from the merchants working under them to shed money into a fund.

The outcome led to a cleanup of streets within the slums to funding the orphanages. The churches readily agreed to the orphanages since they not only did not spend coins to run them but they provided a pool of future converts. This way served best for Singh since it allowed members of the Behemoth gang near free control to teach and train informants and future tradesmen.

Running his eyes across the stacks of paper, he paused before removing one from the heap.

"Lady Amanda, Lady Sakura, I just received a message from our spy in House Gofart. Remember the last letter the Boss sent before he left home? As he predicted, the old man really sank nearly all of the family fortune and then some into the venture. It seems they have decided to place all their hopes on competing for the title of an Ancient House. Half their guards have also left the city to search for their lost goods."

"Oh, is that from the guy called Ursus or something? I remember Green talking about how he used that double turning plan to create a loyal spy. I met his wife and son at the church where Daisy started teaching the children to read. They seem like nice folks, very kind and friendly, once they open up, of course. Don't worry, Singh, I wore my hood and disguise."

Amanda said while rolling her eyes at the last sentence on spotting the raised brow from the young man.

"Good, but I don't want you to wander around unless you inform Chong. Although we control the slums, who knows what these people might do if they saw your appearance. Some fellows will not hesitate to risk their lives just to spend one night with you. "

"Oh, are you saying I am so beautiful they might want to harm me, Singh? I wonder what Daisy will think when I tell her you said I am so alluring."

Singh's ears turned beet red as he fingered the ends of his scarf. He quickly steered the conversation on seeing the blinking eyes and perked ears of the curious children. Raising the parchment in his hand he pointed to it with a finger from the other.

"Yes, but what about this?"

"Send a message to everyone under the Bai Corporation. Halt any trade with House Gofart and collect any outstanding debts. Have the more well-known merchants influence the Guild to press further for their money."

Sakura firmly replied. Chu always said to her that a good businessman could never own a kind heart. They must always stand ready to tear their competitors apart. If not possible, then increasing the obstacles in their way was all well and good. She walked to Singh and held the paper closer to the lamp to read the contents of the report.

Amanda raised her hand before Singh initiated the order from the young brunette.

"Before we do this, however, let's circulate another rumor. Have the smaller merchants in the marketplace and gossipers in the tavern say that House Gofart have lost all their wealth and are preparing to flee the city. This way every money-lender they owe will be breathing down their necks."

Sakura nodded after listening. The effectiveness of the different rumors over the past two days shocked her completely. Over a year ago, Chu explained to her the importance of something called public relations. A merchant could earn bags of gold or become poorer than a beggar, all under the effect of public relations. By manipulating the face of business through word of mouth, one could make or break them.

"Great idea. Ok, Singh, let us do the rumor Big Sis suggested and then squeeze them dryer than a rock bread. I heard Fole saying a few members of the gang were complaining about the lack of excitement. Give a green light for them to rob the homes and shops belonging to House Gofart. No confrontation or fighting, let them practice their thieving skills. With half the guards gone, the security around their shops would become lax."

She tapped on the desk with her fingers in a manner similar to her business teacher.

"Place another team to monitor the activity at their mansion. With the amount of debt they owe, I don't think even the Wang Clan will be able to release that amount of gold. At the most, they might influence the Guild and money-lenders to wait a little longer for their payment. Before they offer any help, however, and when House Gofart stands on the cliff for that short length of time, we must strike."

"Why do I think you are sounding like Chu right now?"

Amanda mumbled.

Sakura smiled a wolf-like grin.

"Singh, call Doug to prepare a contract and call for the gang's best money-lender. At the right moment, he will swoop in to offer his services to the ailing house. All we ask, should they not be able to repay us will be their mansion, villa, and anything that might add up to the sum needed. I suspect they want to use the title of an Ancient Clan to defer their payments. Two Sersens huh? Set the collection date for just after the competition. Let's see how they will gain that title when Chu arrives..."

From what Mrs. Thomas explained, the competition among the Ancient Clans dated back centuries and focused on allowing uprising clans to vie for ownership of the ancient mansions located in the heart of the noble quarters. Frost City contained many Ancient Clans who had lost their family home during the competition. For this reason, true Ancient Clans were considered as the ones who protected their inheritance and home.

Because even Sersens in the service of large clans usually avoided death matches between each other, guards from the clans mostly participated. Unless a House or Clan seriously decided to compete for a mansion, the Sersens rarely participated. Loyalty played an important part in these events since a fight for a mansion always ended in a bloodbath.

A less bloody event was the one where the Ancient Clans competed against each other to determine their ranks. This occurred after all challenges by outside houses and clans were completed. The elite guards and even Sersens from the various Clans would simply visit their rivals and issue a challenge at their door. The winner would receive a token and any reimbursement from bets decided before the matches.

The most powerful Ancient Clan would be the one with the most tokens. In battles like these, it was not uncommon to see clans ganging up against each other so as to tire and wear down their opponents with daily challenges. The key aspect of owning the title and mansion of an Ancient Clan elevated your status as being among the highest ranks of nobles.

Holding the title of true Ancient Clan allowed one the perks of being invited to banquets and meetings held by the Emperor himself.

Sakura smiled at Amanda.

"House Gofart is a merchant House and has not earned the qualifications of a longstanding noble house or clan to participate in the competition. It seems like they will throw in their lot under the Wung Clan. I wonder if things will go as planned this year..."

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