Hao Yu stood in front of the closed brothel, double-checking the name on the document to confirm it matched the name of the establishment. If he wasn't mistaken, this same brothel had a recent incident where a cultivator killed one of their escorts, as reported by the beggar.
It appeared that the situation was worse than he initially thought. However, as an administrator, he was tasked by the Magistrate to handle this problem, so he had no choice but to address it.
Taking precautions, Hao Yu alerted the nearby soldiers and instructed them to remain close to the brothel, using his authority to ensure their presence. Afterward, he opened the door to the brothel and entered, finding it different from any other brothel he had seen before.
While the interior was still grand like other brothels, the atmosphere was heavy and depressing. The women either secluded themselves inside their rooms or were sobbing in the main hall. There was no middle ground, and they appeared to be in distress.
Upon hearing someone enter the brothel, the women paused for a moment, glancing at the young man before returning to their sorrow. They assumed he was just a naive young man trying to experience adulthood.
However, Hao Yu identified himself by displaying his administrator badge and immediately asked, "Where is the manager?"
The women were startled to see an administrator's badge and didn't know whether it was real or fake. Nevertheless, they had to inform the manager. The woman closest to the manager's room rushed towards it and called for her.
Hao Yu had visited a brothel in Fengyun City before, but this time, he was faced with the task of fixing a crumbling establishment rather than indulging in pleasure.
It didn't take long for the brothel's manager, a woman in her early twenties, to come out and politely bow to Hao Yu, introducing herself as Zhao Ru.
Hao Yu got straight to the point, skipping the usual pleasantries. "The Magistrate has sent me to address the issues your brothel is facing. I can't guarantee anything, but for now, I'd like to hear the problem directly from you."
Zhao Ru understood the situation and responded, "I understand, Sir. Please come with me."
She led Hao Yu through the brothel, and he couldn't help but observe that it was a significant establishment, which raised questions about why it was facing such problems.
Meanwhile, the other women appeared to regain a bit of hope, thinking that an administrator might be able to do something.
From this reaction as well as the hall's size, Hao Yu actually noticed something. With a brothel this grand, it should be one of the best brothels in the Dragon City, but why would such a brothel go through this kind of situation?
He continued observing the brothel to see if there was any physical damage. Even the blood stain had been removed.
Upon reaching a room where the manager had stayed previously, Zhao Ru carefully closed the door before kneeling on the floor. "Please help us, Sir!"
"!!!" Hao Yu was taken aback by her emotional response but remained cautious. He didn't immediately offer assistance. Instead, he urged her to sit and share her story.
He clarified, "I'm here today to listen to your story. Whether I can help or not depends on the information you provide. So, sit down and tell me what happened."
The manager's body trembled, but not daring to sit. She just remained on the floor and recounted what happened in the past few weeks.
"We used to be the best brothel in the Dragon City, with numerous connections and a stellar reputation. Our service was unparalleled, and our reputation was spotless. However, everything has changed since that day."
Hao Yu's expression darkened as he listened to her account. It was clear that a significant problem had led to the brothel's downfall.
She continued, "There are two rival brothels that consider us a threat. During my father's time, they couldn't do anything because he always kept them in check. However, my father fell victim to their schemes and died. I inherited this brothel from him, but they took advantage of my father's absence to destroy us."
This revelation angered Hao Yu, not out of sympathy for the girl but because it meant the problem was beyond the government's ability to resolve. He spoke with a cold tone, "That's enough. If you're only discussing your business problems, then I'll leave. This is a matter of business rivalry, not something the government can intervene in."
"I…know they have the backing of an administrator. If this brothel can get it too, then…" Zhao Ru gritted her teeth and started reaching for the button of her clothes, thinking it might help her cause.
And this action was the trigger for Hao Yu's anger. "I've heard enough. I'm leaving!"
Zhao Ru, realizing her mistake, thought that she could gain Hao Yu's favor through a desperate act.
On the other hand, Hao Yu remembered his senior sister and couldn't help but think, 'Why are these women so easy in taking off their clothes? Is it desperation or something else? When my senior sister gets into trouble, she just gets even richer to the point that she bails her own out of that trouble. She always thinks that if money can't get you out of trouble, you simply don't have enough money. Is she just special?'
Hao Yu let out a long sigh before saying, "If you continue treating me as a corrupt official, then I will leave, even if it means failing to fulfill the Magistrate's request. I'll give you one more chance. I will act within the bounds of the law to resolve the issue. If you attempt anything else, I will leave."
Zhao Ru's body was clearly shaking. Even Hao Yu didn't know what she was thinking at this point. She might become even more desperate and try to do anything to complete her objective.
But she soon regained her composure and asked, "In that case, what will happen to the cultivators who help them?"