Should I raise you too?

“Elisa, you know so much!” Mabel looked at Elisa with admiration. “Eleanor said that every poor person can find a job to support themselves and their children, but she didn’t say that every child has parents!”

Alyssa felt a pang of guilt and waved her hand, "It's no secret."

Mabel then asked, "Why are they so dirty? Is there no water? Isn't the Sel River nearby?"

Elisa pondered, "Yes, the river is nearby, so why are they so dirty?"

She opened "Simon's Log".

Simon is spacing out.

Damn male servant! Is this the time to slack off? Answer my question now!

“Well…” she drawled, waiting for Simon to come to his senses.

The male servant did not disappoint her and gave an answer after Mabel pressed him for an answer.

Simon sighed. "On the banks of the Sel River, near the eastern district, there's a bustling pedestrian street. The city doesn't allow the poor to be there. They have to go to the waterways in the factory area to fetch water, which is a long way off."

Elisa read the text aloud and received a look of admiration from Mabel.

She felt even more guilty.

Fortunately, Mabel's attention was quickly diverted elsewhere. A young girl was sitting alone by the alley, unaware of their arrival.

Mabel walked quickly over and squatted down in front of the little girl, whose skirt trailed on the ground, covered in dust.

She took off the necklace from her neck and handed it to the little girl: "Here, take this. It should be enough for two or three proper meals."

It's not just two or three proper meals! Elisa glanced at the pearl necklace and quickly estimated its value.

It costs at least £10, and if you buy it, it might cost more than £12!

Previously, my own male servant's annual salary was only 16 pounds!

This aristocratic young lady has absolutely no social experience to give away such an expensive gift in the slums!

Elisa immediately stepped forward and stopped Mabel, making her take back the necklace.

"Elisa, how can you be so stingy!" Miss Mabel said, a little angry.

Elisa's lips twitched.

Is this a petty question on my part?

Although I feel sorry for her, how could this little girl possibly know how to sell a pearl necklace? She might be dismissed for just a few pence, or even not at all, and it might just be snatched away!

"I'll tell you later." Elisa took out her wallet, stuffed a handful of pennies into the little girl's hand, and then, with a discreet trick, slipped a handful of shillings into the girl's tattered skirt.

Simon noticed that one of the three children who had been following them at a distance quickly ran away.

Elisa didn't know much about the capital, but she knew a lot about the underworld. The three children were the underworld's informants, and when they saw the girls displaying money, they immediately went back to report.

She pulled Mabel up: "Let's go quickly."

Mabel was unaware of the situation, but seeing Elisa's serious expression, she did not resist.

"What's wrong? Will there be bandits like in novels?" Miss Mabel's only way of knowing about the outside world was through novels.

Elisa nodded and quickly identified the best evacuation route.

“But,” Mabel said, puzzled, “the newspapers say there were zero robberies in Barcelona last year!”

Barcelona is the name of the royal capital.

“The newspapers didn’t mention that the poor children are starving and they don’t even have access to water!” Elisa used a spell to sense the blood of the living people around her.

Five adult men approached rapidly, two of whom were already close to them.

"Then what do we do?" Mabel asked, her face pale. "Will they kidnap us, cut off our ears, put them in envelopes, and demand ransom?"

Simon gave Miss Mabel a thumbs up for her ingenious idea.

Elisa also wanted to give it a thumbs up. This Miss Mabel was overly optimistic before, and now she's overly pessimistic.

The gangs in the capital are not the pirates of the archipelago, and their methods of demanding ransom are not so bloody.

She wanted to comfort Miss Mabel, but the two gangsters had already appeared in front of them.

Two burly men, each wielding a dagger, approached them.

Elisa sighed.

Although I wanted to play the role of a delicate, wealthy young lady from the islands, there's no other way now. As a lady from the Chaotic Islands, it's reasonable for me to know a few martial arts techniques, right?

It's time for the hero to save the damsel in distress!

Increase Mabel's intimacy level!

Elisa stepped forward, ready to show off her skills.

“Elisa!” Mabel hugged her arm tightly.

Mabel was holding her too tightly, and Elisa couldn't break free for a moment. Just as she was about to ask Mabel to let go, a figure darted out from beside her.

The two gang thugs had no combat training whatsoever, only experience in street brawls, while Simon's "fighting" was already at the LV3 professional level, equivalent to a professional fighter who had trained hard since childhood.

After two screams, the two gang thugs fell to the ground. Simon bent down and picked up two daggers.

Simon bravely stepped forward and risked his life to protect Miss Elisa.

He judged that the wise and beautiful Miss Elisa would certainly reward him financially, at least one pound.

You think beautifully!

Elisa was in a daze.

Good news! The hero successfully rescued the damsel in distress.

Bad news, I'm not the hero.

My Mabel travel guide plan, my gratitude to Mabel...

You bastard!

Elisa gritted her teeth, remembering something.

This bastard's male servant's "fighting" skills are something I taught him these past few days!

Why would I do that?!

Chapter 17: He was castrated after all.

The remaining three gang thugs arrived, glanced at their two companions on the ground, and wisely turned and left.

Simon and his group made their way smoothly out of the East District.

Elisa walked behind, staring at the manservant's back and the back of the red-haired, flat-chested lady beside him.

The red-haired, flat-chested young lady chattered away:

Have you ever trained in boxing?

"I didn't even see how you knocked them down."

Are you injured? Let me check you.

Elisa was devastated. I should have been the one being pestered by Mabel!

After this attack, I should have been the one who became closer to Mabel!

And Mabel, have you forgotten that you said before that you didn't like male servants? You also disagreed with letting Simon come over!

Why did it turn out like this? It was my first time going shopping with a noble lady, my first opportunity to deepen our relationship. What should have been a close future for us was supposed to be!

Why did you, my male servant, jump out and steal my spotlight?!

Mabel, my Mabel...

With a deep sigh, Elisa composed herself.

It's actually a good thing the male servant intervened. My ultimate target isn't Mabel, but those executioners from fifteen years ago. I should try my best to hide myself and play the role of an ordinary wealthy island merchant's daughter.

While it's not unusual for a wealthy young lady to be skilled in martial arts, it would be too conspicuous in the capital.

Elisa weighed the pros and cons and calmed down.

What belongs to the male servant is what belongs to the master. In other words, I successfully completed my plan without revealing my trump card of "fighting," and I'm the one who profited!

Elisa smiled, ending her hesitation, and looked at "Simon's Log".

Simon and Miss Mabel had a very pleasant conversation. Miss Mabel inquired about Simon's annual salary, seemingly planning something. The probability of Simon changing jobs has increased.

The smile vanished, and Elisa glared fiercely at the manservant's retreating figure.

What are you trying to do?! I, the master, am still behind you!

Simon felt guilty, and his intimacy with Miss Elisa increased.

"Intimacy +2"

Don't increase intimacy level at this time!

It feels like a wife coming home late at night reeking of alcohol, kissing her husband on the cheek and saying "I love you"—that kind of love is too heavy!

The increase in "intimacy" should be a happy scene! Don't let it turn into a nightmare!