Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 84: Baron Charles Hummer

Back at The Respite, the evening debrief was more somber.

"Master Riku," Elder Borin reported, his face etched with worry, "We have to do something. The demand is... overwhelming." free𝑤ebnovel.com

"What happened, Elder Borin?" RIku asked, curious.

"Today, when Thrain and I visited the Weaver’s Quarter, we helped one family. Within minutes, their neighbors heard. Then their neighbors. We were surrounded. People were begging, offering their last coppers. It was... difficult to leave. We only had two talismans with us at that time."

Durnik nodded grimly. "Same in the Dock Ward. We had to almost fight our way out. They weren’t hostile, just... desperate. It felt like we were dangling a single drop of water before a parched crowd."

Elara, who had been out with one of the human volunteers, added, "They started following us, asking when we would return, if we could stay longer. It’s becoming hard to manage, and we’re attracting more attention than we intended."

Riku listened, his earlier satisfaction dimming. They were helping, yes. But their current method was becoming a victim of its own limited success. The door-to-door approach, meant for discretion, was now creating bottlenecks and drawing unwanted notice.

"You’re right," Riku said, sighing. "Our method is becoming too slow, too cumbersome. We’re barely scratching the surface, and in doing so, we’re creating scenes not unlike the ones outside the Church – queues of desperate people, limited resources. We need to scale up, but discreetly."

He looked at his goodwill points – just over a thousand. Enough for more spells, but still, it would take a lot of time if he were to go and heal everyone one by one.

"We need more gold," Riku stated, his mind already working. "More gold means more raw materials for Elder Thrain, more talismans. More talismans mean we can help more people, faster."

He paused, an idea forming. "The Church caters to the wealthy. But what about the wealthy who are also afflicted by the Creep, and perhaps disillusioned with the Church’s expensive, ineffective treatments? Or those who simply want faster, more private relief?"

"You mean... offer our services to the rich, Master Riku?" Borin asked, surprised.

"Precisely," Riku confirmed. "But not for a few coppers. For a substantial donation. Enough to fund the creation of dozens, perhaps hundreds, more talismans that we can then use to help those who cannot pay. We use their wealth to alleviate the suffering of the poor."

He looked at Borin. "Elder. I need you to discreetly find out which wealthy merchants, guild masters, or even minor nobles in Luxia are currently suffering from the Crimson Creep, or have family members who are. We need names and locations. People who are desperate enough for a private, effective solution that they’d be willing to pay generously for it."

Elder Borin nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "A bold plan, Master Riku. But perhaps a necessary one." He stood. "I will send out inquiries immediately. The Underbelly has ears in many places, even in the gilded cages of the wealthy. We will find these individuals for you."

He then instructed a few of the Dwarves and humans present to gather what information they could discreetly.

Within a few hours, one of the humans Borin had dispatched returned, a hastily scribbled list clutched in his hand.

"Elder Borin, Master Riku," the man said, slightly out of breath. "We have a few names. Mostly merchant families, a couple of guild officials. But one stands out."

Borin took the list, his eyes scanning it quickly. His breath caught. "Baron Charles Hummer," he read, his voice tinged with surprise and a deep sadness. "Old Lord Hummer, his father, is afflicted. Severely, by the sound of it."

"Baron Charles?" Elara asked. "Is he someone important to you?"

Borin looked up, his expression grave. "Important to us, young miss. Baron Charles... he was one of the few nobles who ever treated the Underbelly folk with fairness. In the leaner years, before the Creep, he still commissioned work from our smiths, bought our carved goods for fair prices when others turned their noses up. He even spoke out against some of the harsher city ordinances that targeted our people. A decent man. A rare thing in this city." He sighed.

"We haven’t had much contact since the Creep hit hard. Rumor was his household was also struggling, keeping to themselves."

Borin turned to Riku, his eyes pleading. "Master Riku, if there is anyone on this list who deserves your help, who might also be willing to help us in return... it is Baron Hummer. His father, Lord Gregor Hummer, was a good man too. Please, could we try approaching them first?"

Riku met the old Dwarf’s gaze. He saw the genuine concern and the flicker of loyalty. He then smiled at Elder Borin and held his slightly trembling hand.

"If he’s a friend to your people, Elder Borin, then he’s a friend of mine. We’ll go. Elara, are you up for a short trip to a noble’s residence?"

Elara nodded. "Why not? Let’s head out immediately."

They set out in their modest carriage, Riku once again in his healer disguise, with Elder Borin accompanying them.

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The Baron’s residence was in a quieter, more affluent part of the city, a stately stone manor surrounded by a high wall and a well-tended, albeit slightly neglected-looking, garden.

Two stern-faced guards in the Hummer family livery stood at the wrought-iron gates. They eyed the simple carriage with suspicion. "Halt! State your business!" one of them called out, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

Elder Borin stepped down from the carriage, his demeanor respectful but firm. "Greetings, guardsmen. I am Elder Borin of the Underbelly. I have come to see Baron Charles on an urgent matter."

The guards exchanged a look. "The Baron is not receiving visitors today, Dwarf," the first guard said, his tone dismissive. "Especially not from... your district."

"Please," Borin insisted. "It is a matter of great importance, concerning the health of his esteemed father, Lord Gregor."

"What? Great Lord Gregor?"