9 Chapter 9 - A Classic Romeo & Juliet Story

The city lord's face relaxed upon hearing Noctus' flatter.

"Hahaha, is that so? Yes, Riddle-san, I can see that you are a man who can do great things. If you run into any trouble while conducting business here, please let me know."

Noctus sneered in his heart hearing this but still maintained a gentle smile on his face.

Walking forward, Riddle slowly reached into his trench coat pocket and grasped his wand while speaking.

"Thank you, my lord. Although I don't plan to stay long, I thank you dearly for your great contribution to my cause."

"Contribution?" 

Before the city lord could ask further and the guards could react, Noctus raised his wand forth.

"Petrificus Totalus. Quietus."

The city lord and his guards were bound by the full body-binding curse. Additionally, Noctus cast a quietening charm to remove the sound of the guards falling on the ground.

"Now then, let's get to work, shall we?"

First, Noctus raised his wand toward the city lord.

"Imperio."

Using the Imperius curse, Noctus first brought the city lord fully under his control. With Noctus' current level of magical control and power, he can easily control a lesser wizard to do his bidding for several days, never mind a muggle civilian.

Then Noctus released the city lord from his binding curse.

"Finite."

"Master."

The city lord stood up and bowed toward Noctus, without any concern for what happened before.

"How long would it take for you to liquidate all your assets? Is this possible?"

The city lord thought for a moment before responding.

"Master if you want me to liquidate everything I have, it would take a long time. Many of my funds are tied up with nobles in the capital and black market gangs as well. Doing so covertly would be quite difficult."

Noctus nodded and then continued.

"No need to liquidate everything. I want you to focus on being covert. Obtain all the funds you can without attracting the attention of other people. How many days will this take?"

"I can have it done in a week, master."

"Very well, I'll be back in a week. Please put all of the funds in a sealing scroll for me."

"Yes, master."

Now that Noctus had secured his funds, he began to think about where to use them.

"If want to obtain my own mines and start a weapons trading business, where should I go?" Noctus asked.

"The mines are all owned by nobles from the capital, if Master wishes to obtain the rights to a mine, the best option would be Yamada Tomokazu in Firestone City. He is the only noble who owns a mine that doesn't live in the capital. I hear he is young and unmarried and many nobles inside and outside the capital have been trying to marry into his family in hopes for rights to his mine."

Noctus was curious about this noble and asked more.

"Tell me everything you know about him."

"Everything I know is mostly from rumors, I hear he once ran to Konoha to become a ninja in his youth but failed due to his inability to condense chakra. Disheartened, he did not return to the capital but stayed in Konoha for several years before finally moving to Firestone City to inherit his ailing father's property and mine last year."

"Curious, indeed."

Noctus' eyes shone with an enigmatic light, excited to meet this black sheep among nobles. After deciding, Noctus moved his attention back to the city lord and his two guards on the ground.

"I'll implant some false memories into your bodyguards' minds. Don't let anyone find out. For now, hand over all of the money you have on hand."

"Of course, master. I should have about 35 Million Ryo on hand for you."

Noctus' face twitched upon hearing the number.

'35 Million Ryo, just on hand? These nobles really live extravagantly. Just a casual wave of the head can afford the head of an Elite Jonin. I'm starting to look forward to how much money I can get in seven days.'

The city lord opened a safe stored with countless stacked bills of Ryo under his desk. He transferred them over into a suitcase for Noctus.

After Noctus obtained the funds, he stored the suitcase in his magician's bag.

Noctus then walked back to his previous position and pointed his wand at the two guards lying on the floor as the city lord reset back to his prior sitting position.

"Obliviate. Memorifabrica."

First Noctus removed their memories of what happened since Noctus entered the room, and then he fabricated a few false memories about a business deal between 'Tom Riddle' and the city lord. 

Finally, he levitated them back up to a standing position and removed their binding.

"Finite." Noctus cast his spell and then quickly stored his wand back in his pocket.

The guards shook slightly and then looked around confused before resuming their guard.

"Sir City Lord, it has been my great honor to have this opportunity to do business with you. Now, if you'll allow me, I will take my leave." Noctus said with a bow.

The controlled city lord did not show anything on his face and simply nodded with a satisfied huff.

"Yes, you may go."

After Noctus exited the room, the city lord wrote something on a piece of paper and then raised a finger to call over the guard behind him.

"Sir?"

"I want you to quietly go to these locations and retrieve my funds. Keep them stored in a sealing scroll. I want it done in a week, understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The guard took the instructions from the city lord and briefly read them before returning to his post, planning to start his work covertly tonight.

Noctus rejoined his party waiting outside the meeting room for him and signaled them with a nod.

After which, Noctus thanked the guards who led him in and left the mansion under their escort.

Noctus casually asked the guards for a recommended restaurant to eat lunch at and then left them another 'tip'. 

After traveling a short distance, Hachi couldn't help but come over and ask.

"Gaunt-sama, won't they find out that the money you gave them was fake?"

"Yes, but we'll be long gone by then, and any traces they might have will only lead to one 'Tom Riddle'. I plan to create a disguised identity for myself using this moniker to maneuver in the black market, and the traces I left here will become convenient at that time. 'Tom Riddle' will attract everyone's attention, and shield us and the funds we obtained from the city lord from prying eyes."

"I see…Amazing, Gaunt-sama! You really thought of everything!"

Hachi was ecstatic and amazed by Noctus' plan, while Haru and Hana nodded in syn in agreeance.

"Haha, come, let us enjoy the spoils and feast. Tomorrow we will set off for Firestone City. I heard an interesting tale about a noble living there." Noctus said mysteriously.

Uzumaki Hachi and his family nodded upon hearing this, curious as to what figure managed to attract the young lord's attention.

'A young, unmarried, affluent noble staying for years in Konoha for an undisclosed reason? A classic Romeo and Juliet story. Yamada Tomokazu, I'm really looking forward to meeting you more and more.'

Noctus smiled mischievously as he walked with his party toward a seafood restaurant recommended by the guard.