After a quick headcount, he found more than fifty people, and this was only the first floor, so with a quick estimate, Minos guessed there were at least two hundred people calling this place home, if not more.
It looked like dealing with this place would be a bigger problem than first expected, requiring a change in his plans.
Originally Minos was just going to rely on some Automated-Puppets to get the work done for him, but as he experienced this community and the people within it, he had a change of mind.
Why not give these people hope, and a chance to make a better future for themselves? While it would cost a lot more in the long run, Minos was more than happy to help those who were willing to help themselves.
Thinking rapidly, Minos quickly drew up a plan in his mind before calling out to the boy, deciding to get started right away.
"I have yet to ask what your name is."
"Name? My name is Jal, Sir." Jal quickly answered.
"Stop calling me Sir, just call me Minos. Anyways Jal, do you know any hard workers, those who aren't addicted to drugs?"
"Hard workers? They exist but they're uncommon, and this place doesn't have much work besides making and slinging drugs."
"If you're asking for hard workers who aren't involved in the drug industry, then that's an even smaller list, but I know a few people."
"Good, then go and find me those people, tell them I'll pay them a daily wage, that should be enough to get their interest. Also, how would you like working for me, be my errand boy."
"Errand boy? How much will you pay me?" Jal asked, not against the idea.
"How much do you earn now?"
"If I'm lucky, maybe a Nux Stone a month." Jal said after some thought.
"Then I'll give you 10, how's that sound?"
"Really! No lies?"
"Do I look like the type to lie?" Minos said with a smile.
"No Si- I mean no Boss!"
"Then get to work. I want those people as soon as possible."
"Right away!" Jal said happily, before immediately running off to tell the news to the people he knew.
Watching the boy run off, Minos continued his sweep of the building, wanting to get a full understanding of this place before setting anything in motion.
While doing his best to deal with the stench, he slowly made his way up floor by floor, not forgetting to count every person he found on the way up.
Finally arriving at the roof, Minos slowly walked to the ledge, looking out onto the streets as he finalized the number in his head.
'312 people… How exactly to deal with them…' Minos thought while leaning back against the railing, his mind constantly coming up with plans.
While he could just force them out, that would leave them with no place to find warmth, and having to sleep outside in the cold would be a death sentence for the weaker ones.
But he also couldn't just leave them be, so how exactly to get rid of them without harming them was the real question.
'Since I can't just leave them out in the cold, why not give them another place to stay? A better one!' Minos thought, standing back up from the railing with determination.
Heading back downstairs, Minos left a note by the gate for Jal before running back to the real estate agency at full speed.
With incredible speed, Minos soon arrived back at the agency, the young lady from before still sitting at her desk as she waited for customers.
Seeing Minos popped back in, she couldn't help but stand up with surprise, quickly heading over to him before speaking.
"Sir, what are you doing back here? Is there something wrong with the building?" She asked.
"The building is fine, in fact I want another one closeby, it doesn't have to be that big, just affordable." Minos explained.
"Huh? Well okay, let me look through my books."
After some short browsing, she showed Minos a few more buildings, and after bringing the manager back into the equation, Minos finally got one right next to his original building for 10,000 Nux Stones.
While it was only half as big, it was more than enough to hold 300 people, and could easily maintain a couple thousand at least.
Of course that would mean each room would be quite small, but I doubt anyone would complain about a free room.
After once again making the payment and signing the forms, Minos headed back off with the key in hand, but he didn't go directly to the Abandoned District, instead looking around for a bit before finding a large furniture store.
"How may I help you, Sir." A short chubby man said as Minos entered, seemingly already ready with his sales speech.
"I need a lot of beds, around 500. Can you do it for me?" Minos said right away, not wanting to waste his time.
"5-500! Are you serious?"
"I don't play games."
"Well, uh, ahem, 500 is a lot, but we can manage. Though the real question is what kind of beds are you looking for?"
"The cheap and affordable kind."
"Well, our cheapest unit goes for 5 Nux Stone, meaning 500 would cost you 2500, but considering you're doing a bulk purchase, we can knock off 10% for you." The chubby man said after some consideration.
"Not enough, I want 30% off." Minos replied immediately.
"30%! That's way too much, Sir! I'm afraid 10 is the best I can do."
"Then I'll do my business elsewhere." Minos said, walking off without even looking back.
"Wait! How about 15%? 20%? Fine fine fine! We can do 30%, but if you want them delivered, you'll have to pay us an additional fee depending on the distance." Shouted the chubby man, finally giving in.
"That's fine, I want them sent here, just let me know what the price will look like." Minos said, handing the address to him.
"The Abandoned District? You aren't trying to start a business there are you? Much less an apartment? You must be stu- I mean, what a good idea." The chubby man said, suddenly realizing that if Minos knew the truth, he may not buy the beds.
Seeing through the man's thoughts, Minos couldn't help but smile as he slightly shook his head, not bothered by what the man thought.
"Well back to the delivery cost, considering it's so far away, plus we'll have to ship 500 beds, how's 300 Nux Stones sound."
"100's the best I'll do, otherwise I'll deliver it myself." Minos said as he shook his head.
Realizing that Minos wasn't the type to play around, the chubby man didn't bother to haggle, just thinking for a moment before agreeing.
They only paid their delivering drivers a couple Nux Stones anyways, and besides, with spatial rings, they only needed a couple people for the job, so they'd still be making a good profit.
"When can I expect the delivery?" Minos asked after the two were finished signing the deal.
"When do you want them?"
"Bring them by in three days. I still have a few things to deal with." Minos said after some thought.
"Good, then until then."
After a firm handshake, Minos walked to a fabric store before reaching a deal for 500 blankets, which cost him significantly less, only 100 Nux Stones.
With business done, Minos headed back to the Abandoned District, just in time to find Jal and a few middle-aged men standing by his side.
"Boss! I found the people you're looking for." Jal said, before introducing them one by one.
Giving them each a handshake, Minos thanked them for coming before getting to his main point.
"I gathered you all here for a simple purpose, I have work, and you all need work, so let's cut things short and get straight to the point, how much do you want?"
Minos's straightforwardness caught the men slightly off guard, but after a second of recoiling, they quickly gathered, whispering to each other as they came up with a price.
Eventually, after some chit chat, the largest man from among them stepped up, clearing his throat before making his demands.
"Sir, you said you're willing to pay daily, so we want 10 Nux Crystals a day." He said, though his voice was a little shaky, clearly worried Minos would reject.
After all, in his mind, 10 Nux Crystals a day would still come up to 3 Nux Stones a month, which in this community, would already make one middle-class.
"10 Nux Crystals? That's it? Too low, it isn't worth your value. Tell you what, I'll give 30 Nux Crystals a day, but I expect hard and honest work, as long as you can promise me that, then we'll have no problems."
"3-30 Nux Crystals!" The man said with some shock, the others also looking towards Minos like he was a madman.