Me, a priest? How could that be!

Chapter 25: Taxes are paid 100 years in advance.

To take something, you must first give something.

As the saying goes, you have to give something in return for something you want to gain something, and it's best if it's something the other person wants to gain.

Although Charlotte is capable of swindling and cheating, he doesn't want to take advantage of the beautiful and kind-hearted Wiz. Otherwise, he would have to do it at least 10 times and then thank him afterwards.

What are you thanking me for?

I advise you not to ask.

After buying paper and pens from the shop and working tirelessly through the night, he finally devised a marketing strategy suitable for Wiz. The folded document in his hand was the proposal for the upcoming interview.

"Is this the place?"

Wiz's magic item shop is located in a remote corner of town. It occupies a small area of ​​about 30 square meters and has a sign with the name of the magic item hanging on it. There is also a similar sign at the entrance of the shop.

Although it looks a bit old, it's not dirty at all. The doors and windows are very clean and tidy, which shows that the shop owner takes good care of it.

Despite its remote location, almost every adventurer knew of it after a few inquiries. When Charlotte said he was going there, many adventurers gave him knowing looks and chuckled.

Are you attracted to it too?

"...What?"

"Don't play dumb. Wiz is a great beauty and very popular in the guild. Many people go to her shop and sit there when they have nothing to do, just to see her."

"Hey buddy, why don't you guys buy something? Just sitting in the store is just a nuisance, isn't it?"

"No way! That shop sells really weird stuff, and it's completely useless for novice adventurers. It'll just be a waste of money!"

"Then don't go and interfere with their business."

These guys probably don't think I'm there to admire a beautiful woman like them, do they? ...It's undeniable that Wiz is a great beauty, but he has a more important purpose.

Ring ring—

Charlotte entered the magic item shop, and the bell on the door rang with a clear sound. A gentle and pleasant greeting came from inside the shop.

"—Welcome."

Whose goddess has descended to the mortal realm?

Wiz, standing at the counter, looked at him with a radiant smile. The sunlight streaming through the window made her glow, and her gentle aura emanated from her, leaving Charlotte momentarily stunned.

"Mr. Charlotte? Mr. Charlotte!"

"...Sorry, I was daydreaming."

"It's alright. Please have a seat, I'll prepare some tea and snacks."

Wiz walked toward the back room.

He had threatened her so harshly last night, yet she still treated him so gently. The shame in his heart instantly reached its peak, and he knew he had to make amends.

"Please use it."

"Thanks."

The only thing served was ordinary tea and snacks, but after tasting them, I felt warm and touched, and I could feel the owner's care.

After waiting for a moment.

"Miss Wiz, I..."

"Please don't tell anyone about my situation. I'll do anything!"

oops.

It seems we're about to enter a strange route.

It has to be said that the pleading, weak-willed lich girl really knows how to arouse the strange desires in other people's hearts. Charlotte also had to struggle to resist the temptation to barely keep herself awake.

"No, you've misunderstood Wiz. I'm not trying to blackmail you with this; I'm here to discuss cooperation."

"...Shall we discuss cooperation?"

"That's right. It can turn your magic item shop from losing money to profitable."

"What are you talking about? My magic item shop is currently making a profit!"

Are you serious?!

Like I said, it's one thing to fool outsiders with this kind of thing, but it's not good to fool yourself. You're already picking up rotten vegetable scraps at the market, why be so stubborn?

Seeing Wiz's defiant expression, Charlotte said, "Then Wiz, could you bring me the shop's ledgers so I can take a look?"

"Uh, well..."

"You dare not?"

"...I understand, please wait a moment."

Wiz ran to the counter and searched for a long time. Just when Charlotte thought she was pretending not to be able to find it, she unexpectedly came back with the account book.

Surprisingly, the ledger actually showed a slight profit!

No, no.

It's not actually making a profit.

I wonder if any of you have ever had that experience where you suddenly realize you're spending money like water, and in order to control your spending and know where your money is going, you decide to keep track of your expenses. But as you write down each and every penny, you also feel the pain of having to falsify your accounts to make the books look better.

That's exactly what Wiz did.

If this ledger were shown to other shareholders, Charlotte could understand her actions, but if the magic item shop is only privately owned, isn't she just deceiving herself? It's completely meaningless.

and--

"Wiz, won't you be paying a lot of taxes doing this? You're already spending more than you earn."

"No need."

"Um?"

"Because taxes will be paid 100 years from now."

"……ah!?"

Charlotte then learned that when Wiz came to Axel to open his magic item shop, the evil lord Eldap had come knocking on his door.

He stated that he could pay a fixed amount of taxes for 100 years in a lump sum, and he would not ask for more money regardless of how much Wiz earned during that period.

This tactic was also depicted in a film that could be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Eldap's idea was simple yet insidious: the previous lord's business was his own, and once he stopped managing Axel, he could pretend to be ignorant.

Therefore, whether he is promoted or dies, the next lord can demand money again without any scruples.

This is a common trick used by nobles.

Originally, it should have been a typical story of Wiz showing off and getting revenge, but unfortunately, this lich girl with an incredibly bizarre talent for running a shop couldn't make any money at all. In fact, with her turnover, she didn't even need to pay taxes.

"Wiz, doesn't that make you a complete sucker?"

"Ugh!!"

Wiz immediately sobbed, covering her face with her hands, and then choked out, "I work really hard! But I don't know why the more I work, the more I lose. Even so, I still try my best every day...!"

"Feel sorry."

Charlotte didn't know how to comfort her.

If there were a billionaire in Xihong City who needed to lose money, he would be overjoyed to see Wiz and give her the nickname "Little Tiger." Moreover, Wiz could guarantee that she would never make any money.

But that was for comedic effect.

The reality is that if Wiz continues to open shops like this, he will only follow the original trajectory, sticking to the magic item shop until Banir, who is also a member of the Demon King's army, arrives.

Even so, things did not improve, and the other party was even plunged into dire straits.

but!

No need to worry now!

Because Charlotte, this "gentleman of clear soup," has arrived, and he's here to help Wiz turn his losses into profits!

"Please look at this."

"...What is this?"

"My plan is the perfect solution for you right now, a secret weapon that can revive your shop!" Charlotte slammed the proposal she had prepared earlier onto the table and shouted in a high-spirited tone:

"I call it... a lucky bag!"

"Lucky bag?"

Wiz tilted his head, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, and repeated it again in a very cute way.