The room was filled with heavy silence.
"What the heck……?"
Violetta's voice trembled as if she could not believe what Rudger said and the rest had a similar reaction. In the case of Pinion, his lips were twitching and he wanted to start spewing insults.
'Brother, what are we going to do now?'
Hans, who was standing behind me, signaled me urgently and asked. He also seemed a bit embarrassed by what I said.
Did you think that I was here to have a peaceful discussion? If so, it's time to correct that misunderstanding.
"I think you didn't understand, so let me tell you one more time. Everyone will come under me."
At his arrogant words Violetta showed her objection.
"Disgusting."
She didn't hide her feelings.
"I thought you would be different because you got rid of the Red Society and still decided to have a conversation with us but you and the Red Society are the same."
"Same?"
"Aren't you forcing us to work for you?"
"Did it look like that?"
"I beg your pardon?"
I know what they're worried about. Of course, I am not demanding unconditional submission from them.
"You can keep your business."
As an organization, money is essential, and of course, they must earn money in the best possible way. However, the biggest source of money was held tightly by the Red Society.
"Don't you want to make big money?"
I made them an offer that they couldn't refuse.
"Big money?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Naturally, the responses that come back are full of questions so I decided to kindly explain.
"I got rid of the Red Society and took possession of the various business sites they occupied, but to be honest, we don't have enough people to operate all of them."
When I spoke openly about our weaknesses, Hans was astonished. He must have been desperately hiding this fact from other organizations but in this case, it is convenient to just let it out in the open.
"Our organization is not yet large. As a result, inevitably, there will be fields that have not been covered yet so I will hand over the business to you."
Mastella asked suspiciously.
"What do you mean?"
I shrugged.
"Didn't I say? You come under me."
"You mean you're letting us take over part of your business instead of going under you?"
"If you don't want to come under me, you don't have to but I will give you a part of the business that I don't need anyway. How you use it is entirely up to you."
"……I do not understand. What do you want?"
At this point, they will have no choice but to feel something beyond their doubts.
"As you know, I am in a difficult position to be active right now."
If I try to act as James Moriarty, the Imperial Security Agency will probably move in and try to catch me as was the case with that detective kid.
What I want is to build my own firm power. However, I didn't want to make pointless enemies.
"I don't want useless disputes."
"Huh. Is the person responsible for eradicating the Red Society saying that?"
"It was necessary to get rid of them. Had they been left, they would have caused problems in some way."
"Says the one who started a war in Delica Kingdom."
Violetta said sarcastically while I shrugged lightly.
"If you don't want to believe, you don't have to. However, I would like to hear your answer here. Will you join hands with me or not? Of course, I'm not going to force you."
Even if they don't hold hands with me, they will get a part of the business. For them, there is nothing to lose.
The chiefs exchanged glances with each other and weighed whether what I'm saying is true and whether it's really good to hold hands with me.
"Hmmm. Can I know exactly what that business is?"
Pinion coughed and asked.
"Pinion, what are you doing?"
"Don't meddle, Violetta. At first, our Circus said that it was short on supplies. If we can make money, we will do anything."
"This snob……!"
"Let's talk straight. In the end, this is what matters in this world."
Pinion made a money shape with his hand and shook it left and right.
"After all, without money, we are nothing. Doesn't it mean that people who are despised need money to live like human beings in this world? I don't understand the way you live your life."
"You……."
"When it comes to business that makes money, we welcome it with open arms."
Pinion said that, but he didn't fully believe me.
"Of course, I want to hear in advance what that business is. Well, no matter how dangerous it is, isn't our life like that? Don't feel bad."
"I understand."
I nodded.
Pinion's attitude is understandable. He has a disability called dwarfism and the organization he leads is similar to a circus troupe of people with disabilities.
There is a thing called a freak show, a show that gathers deformed people and turns them into spectacles and makes money through the circus. In the 18th century, when human rights did not really exist in Europe, this freak show was popular. This Circus run by Pinion is also based on this freak show.
'However, the general difference is that the manager himself has a disability.'
Pinion is not simply trying to take advantage of people with disabilities in similar circumstances. They made this choice only because they could not survive without doing a freak show.
"I promise. I will never do anything that puts you in danger."
Pinion's eyes widened at my words.
"So, what kind of business it is, can we hear a little bit about it?"
"Of course. Pinion, do you know what kind of entertainment the nobles enjoy?"
"Well, that's……they enjoy opera and music."
What is often called opera is the main culture of the nobility of this era. Not only the aristocrats but also the wealthy enjoy this. It's a majestic tale of gods and heroes with boring and old-fashioned stories from the tragedy of the ancient kingdom.
"But why are you asking that? Surely our Circus can't do that?"
"No way. Isn't it too old-fashioned for nobles to enjoy now?"
"What I recommend is higher than that."
"More than that?"
"Not more flashy, more fun."
Pinion didn't seem to understand what I was saying.
That's natural, for people of this day and age, what I am going to introduce is a very unfamiliar word.
"Do you know what a musical is?"
"Musi……cal?"
A splendid performance that combines singing, dancing and theater. It's lighter, more bouncy, and freer than opera, so it's the best way for them.
"It's about telling a story with the right mix of play and song, and joyfully expressing it with colorful stage lighting and dancing."
"How is that different from what the nobles enjoy?"
"It's freer. You don't necessarily have to just sing. What is important is harmony and you can dance."
"……Is that what we do?"
"Yes."
I remember the first time I came to Leathervelk and wandered around the city, people singing and dancing on the street. There is music and dance in this world so I seriously considered the existence of musicals.
"Do you think it will work?"
"Yes."
And I'm sure of this because history tells me. Looking at the development of the culture of this era, the appearance of musicals will happen someday anyway. Not now, but it is highly likely that it will appear in at least 10 years.
"Are you interested?"
"Hmm. I don't know yet."
"Don't worry about that. Let me show you the materials I have prepared."
Obviously, there will be some backlash at first. There will be people who look down on them, saying it's a low-key thing. However, just like the flow of history, the emergence of popular culture is not something that a few incumbents can prevent.
I took out the script book I had prepared in advance and handed it to Pinion.
Pinion took it coldly and scanned the contents quickly. The sound of turning the pages ended and Pinion said.
"It seems certain that you have a clear vision. Let's do well."
Those words were, in effect, the same as declaring that he would hold my hand.
"It's surprising."
The heads of Old Kids, Mastella and Deon, looked at me with slight disbelief. Did they think I would use my strength to suppress them?
"What the hell do you want here, Moriarty?"
"Change."
I answered without hesitation.
Most of the people in the industrial area and Forges Street were not well-recognized. The only place to go for those living here is the soot-filled factories in the industrial complex. Over 18 hours of hard work a day, a dull gray world with no pleasure whatsoever that leads to a dark future.
I want to change that.
"I want change."
If I do that, this Forges Street where ordinary people live will become the Broadway of Leathervelk. And, of course, that will start with the people gathered here.
The first work…yes. I like Leathervelk's West Side Story.
"There are no more back alleys of the past. Now this place will change to a place where people can live, not a dark, damp, stinky place."
It is not possible to separate levels and divide classes forever. What they need to see is not a sludge of dirty, rotting water but to look at the sky and live.
I decided to give them hope and that will look like the sweetest fruit to those gathered here.
"Of course, I can advise other organizations besides Circus on business ideas that are suitable for them."
Violetta and Mastella's gaze contained a strange aspiration.
"Are you serious about listening to me now?"