Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C024 A House To Call Their Own - Jiyu Residence

"HAHAHAHA... you finally came!" Hiko-sama mentioned in his loud voice. I take it a cue that he would be joining me in this battle, when suddenly a voice sounded amidst the masked men, "Harune-kun, it is us. I'm Miroku!" as the armoured man behind the mask suddenly raised his hand to his face and revealed his face and smiled.

"OMAGAI.....!!! It is you guys!!! When I realised its Hiko-sama's Comrades, I quickly flicked the Kamehameha and bowed to them. "Hahahaha... I finally saw how and what you did to my forearm gauntlet, Harune-kun." and one by one removed their mask and Hiko-sama came forward and tapped everyone on their shoulders.

I finally relaxed and asked everyone how they are and Kami-sama introduced the new team member, whose name is Neko-sama. Yes, he is named after a cat. When he removed his mask, I knew why he was called Neko because he has whiskers on his upper lips just like a cat!

"We have been gone for like 10 days and now your plot of land looked like this? Are you running for Mayor now or are you now already a Mayor? What's going on and what's the deal with the medallion on both of your necks?"

Seeing that we have surprise guests coming over, I went to the house and carried the jars of sake and 5 cups while I took the one mine and the pig had drunk from and placed it over in the kitchenette to be washed later.

Hide was holding the medallion on Hiko-sama neck and discovered that it was not a medallion that they thought but it was a pocket watch he had worn around the neck.

"Wah Hiko, how much did you spend on this? You splurge your retirement gold coins on this the new house and what's that behind the house? A barn? You keeping horses or farm animals now?"

All 6 of them sat at the garden area and listened to what Hiko-sama was telling them from start to midway about what I had done for their houses, and what he does with the scrap metal to produce [Refined Iron] and how just a meeting with a Blacksmith within one hour or so earned me 200 gold coins just for my presence. And he kept the secret of the Realm of Mind from them.

They saw the blueprint and also taken a look at my sketchpad and Hiko-sama told them about retirement and joining him in the business as partners.

Everyone showed interest except for Cat Man especially when he had just recently joined the shogunate a few months earlier and just had his second expedition. I guess the moment he opened up his mask, everyone gave him tidbits to eat instead.

"So kid, Hiko was telling us that you are a Blacksmith and had surpassed the forge master level and you had forged yourself your own Odachi? Come, let me see it."

Toshi whose father was also a Blacksmith had taught him a thing or two on how to appreciate fine weapons.

I went on and showed him the Odachi that I had forged and I said Hiko-sama was the one that had asked the Blacksmith to make the sheath for me secretly and that's how it started when I received 200 gold coins just to appear at the shop.

Toshi removed the Odachi and was immediately dazzled with its sheen. He held the weapon and felt it was perfectly balanced and from the sheen itself everyone was awed, even Cat Man.

Get me a scrap metal and I see what Hiko said earlier was true. I then went to the handcart and choose a heavy halberd that had a broken tip but a full-size axe in the centre.

"Held it up for me, and as I raised the broken handle higher, Toshi brought the blade down and strike the axe part and it sliced through like a knife through hot butter. He used just a bit of strength and the blade's weight and it just sliced through like it was made of paper!

"This is a very high-quality blade that you forged, it's made of iron but had the strength and hardness like steel. People would easily want to own this Odachi for 80-120 good coins. You forged this at the Blacksmith?"

Toshi asked while he sheathed the Odachi and gave it back to me.

"Yes, Toshi-sama. It was made in the Blacksmith and was offered 100 gold when Hiko-sama brought it there to make the sheath."

I lied of course, and I had the best poker face in town and no one could tell whether I'm telling the truth or a lie.

"Then why the need for this house? Who would be staying here?

Miroku asked me when he looked at the splendour of the house and its furnishings. He saw three rooms and the furnishings looked brand new and was wondering how much the house and everything was worth for.

"This house was our idea, Miroku. It was to shelter 6 girls who had escaped from the slave traders when the latter was attacked by bandits and were killed. Thus they ran away and ended here in this village and their lives were rather being ill-treated and we decided to provide shelter and work here in this house."

"Girls? This is the first time I heard you are helping girls. You are not running a chicken farm do you, and Live off their earning?"

Kami asked while he eyed Hiko-sama from head to toe and was trying to figure out if he had been influenced and blinded by greed or had been influenced by the kid he saved.

"Don't worry, the answers you may be seeking for would arrive shortly before dinner as they would be here and then most probably they would be staying here from this day onwards."

"The sketchpad here, have so many tasks and some of them had been strike off. What corporate account of the business trade name and beneficiaries? You want to explain more of this or had been bewitched by this kid?"

Hide asked in concern because the moment Hiko left the shogunate and retired, they were somewhat afraid that Hiko was bewitched and be taken advantage.

"Wait a while, I show you proof. This boy didn't cheat me of my money at all."

Hiko went up to get his savings account book and showed his account to them. Then he showed the corporate account name of Fasuto Japan KabushikiGaisha and the beneficiaries were both Hiko-sama and my name while the former was the top while mine is at the bottom.

He even showed the corporation name and the statuses of the Director and Vice Director. By this time, all the men believed and were astounded and when they heard the lovely chatter and shrieks of joys of some girls heading this way, the guys were filled with more surprise when what they saw were true and 6 girls were sauntering towards the house and were heading this way.

Seeing Hiko-sama had some guests, they behaved themselves immediately and went forward and bowed deeply to us and then to the 5 other guests. Seeing men in full armour and weapons, they thought that Hiko-sama or I had run into some trouble. They looked down at their feet and never said anything.

Looking at the way the girls dressed, acted and even in their poor clothing conditions, the 5 men knew they both Hiko-sama and I have good intentions. Hiko-sama introduced the girls to the 5 men and everyone greeted the men individually.

"Izumi, do you remember what we had discussed the 1st time you are here about the rules of the 2 houses?"

"Yes, Senpai. No males are to enter this house without supervision, and we are not allowed to enter your domain AT ALL TIMES."

"Girls, your house is ready and you may enter and make this house as your home, and name it as "Jiyu" Residence or Freedom from now on."

"You may take up residence by today, live and work here as one big family. If you have any possessions that you need to take or salary you need to clear from your employers, please do so. Go on, go ahead and take a look at your new domain."

"Thank you, Sensei and Senpai. Please allow us to take a look at our new home that you had called "Jiyu Residence"." Hanna said and lead the rest of the girls.

The moment they reached the door, screams of delight were heard as they take turns and shouted

"Tadaima" and "Okaeri" jokingly and soon the girls were inspecting the rooms, their furnishings and setup and couldn't believe their eyes on the turn of events that would change their lives forever.

The 5 men were silent for a while as they too were struck by the girls' emotions and the 6 girls ran outside and bowed deeply to us and cried tears of joy and appreciation as they thanked us and promised to work hard and never disappoint us and that we had finally released them of their unknown fate and pave their future with us as guides.

They explained that they had no worldly possessions and what's on their backs are what they own right now. They were denied their salaries and had been denied any food since the employers knew that the girls would be off somewhere better and decided to deal cruelty to them one last time.

I took my coin pouch and took 2 gold coins each and pressed into their hands and tell them to take care of dinner and supper today by themselves as they had guests today to entertain.

Kami saw me generously took gold coins and handed to the girls without even batting an eyelid and was really taken aback because a week ago, I was looking for help to earn silvers for my own needs and now, they saw it is my turn to return the favour to others.

"You've got a heart of gold, boy," Kami spoke up and wiped a tear that had somehow jerked at the corner of his eye.

The girls looked at their hands and realised that this is the first time they held a gold coin for themselves, and a slight drizzle seemed to fall within Jiyu Residence as the girls grouped up and hugged each other.

The 5 men including Cat Man were also overwhelmed by emotions and now fully understand the changes of humanity that had transformed Hiko as well as the great plans for the community for the less fortunate.

They fully understood the motto on the sketchpad that I had written,

"NEVER Leave A Stone Unturned" and "Don't WAIT For Things To Happen, Go MAKE it Happen!"

=*=

"About your proposal for us to leave the shogunate, we had already decided when you left the expedition group on the last one and retiring despite at a young age. We were your seniors but you made a decision solely based on a leap of faith and we can see what a leap you had taken and it took barely 2 weeks and we could all see the changes you had made around us."

Miroku was impressed with the changes and he was pleased to announce that he and the original 3 of them had already left the shogunate because he felt without the leadership of Hiko, they were an incompetent bunch of wandering fools.

"We didn't expect that even you had reached this magnitude of wealth and comfort but you seemed to put others before you and still be humble behind those fine clothes that you wore. You and the young man had not forgotten where you had come from and decided to politely steal from the rich and arrogant and give it to the poor in terms of welfare benefits."

Hide voiced his opinions on Hiko-sama and me after realising what it takes to return back to the society in terms of not based on monetary but with the joint efforts of both empathy and welfare of those around Hiko-sama and I. He too voiced his sentiments of joining Hiko.