That was one of the reasons she wanted to spend more time getting to know them.

Besides, living in the slums did not necessarily mean a person lacked education or ability. For all she knew, they might possess degrees, skills, or talents that circumstances had simply never allowed them to utilize.

After all, a pearl could remain hidden among pebbles for years.

What mattered was whether someone had the eye to recognize its value.

That was why Ashley genuinely hoped to recruit them if the opportunity arose.

"It’s alright," she said with a reassuring smile. "I’m not looking for someone to take me to luxury districts or exclusive venues. I simply want to explore the downtown area and evaluate a few potential business locations."

She continued patiently,

"I’m looking for places with high foot traffic, good accessibility, and strong commercial potential. Some of them might be in wealthy commercial district, while others might not. Either way, locals like you would know the area far better than I do. You’d know which streets are busy year-round, which locations seem promising but are actually poor choices, and what pitfalls I should avoid."

As she explained her intentions, a look of understanding gradually appeared on the man’s face.

His eyes brightened almost immediately.

If that was all she needed, then he actually could help.

After all, he worked as a delivery driver and spent most of his days traveling throughout the city. Over the years, he had become intimately familiar with the downtown area. He knew which streets were constantly crowded, which businesses changed owners every few months, where traffic bottlenecks occurred, and which locations attracted the most customers.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he knew many of the downtown area’s nooks and crannies better than some of the people who worked there.

Realizing this, the man’s confidence noticeably increased.

"If that’s the case," he said after a moment of thought, "then I might actually be able to help."

"By the way, I should properly introduce myself," the man said apologetically. "My name is Roman. This is my wife, Aliana, and our son, Roderick."

After introducing his family, Roman continued,

"I work as a delivery driver around downtown, so I’m quite familiar with the area. However, if you truly intend to hire me as your guide, I don’t think I can handle the job alone."

His expression grew serious.

"There are plenty of lawless troublemakers in this city, and with your status and appearance, Miss, you’re bound to attract a lot of unwanted attention. If possible, I’d like to bring my younger brother along. The two of us can look after your group while showing you around."

Even as he spoke, Roman felt somewhat embarrassed.

Strictly speaking, Ashley was already doing him a favor by offering him work. Yet here he was, trying to bring another person into the arrangement.

It sounded shameless.

But he had little choice.

His brother was currently in a difficult situation and desperately needed money. Roman wanted nothing more than to help him, yet he also knew his brother’s pride. If he simply handed over the opportunity, the man would most likely refuse.

At the same time, Roman wasn’t foolish enough to believe Ashley had offered him the position solely because of his abilities. He knew that much of her goodwill stemmed from what Roderick had done and the character their family had demonstrated.

That was why he hesitated.

If he suddenly tried to pass the opportunity to someone Ashley had never met, she might misunderstand his intentions. After all, she knew nothing about his brother. She had no way of knowing whether he was trustworthy, hardworking, or even suitable for the job.

Roman’s desire to help his brother could easily backfire and create the wrong impression.

Still, after a brief struggle, he decided it was worth asking.

If nothing else, he wanted to try.

The worst she could do was refuse.

"Alright, let’s go with that plan," Ashley agreed with a smile.

"By the way, my name is Ashley. The man with the blue eyes behind me is Gideon, the one beside him is my brother, Gage, and the gentleman farther back is Roger, Gideon’s assistant. As for the others, they’re bodyguards who were kind enough to escort us back."

After making the introductions, she continued,

"And regarding your brother, since you’re the local here and know the city far better than we do, we’ll leave the arrangements to you. Thank you in advance."

Roman visibly relaxed after hearing her answer.

Meanwhile, Ashley quietly observed him.

The more she interacted with the man, the more favorable her impression became. Roman wasn’t just decisive; he was also quick-witted. The fact that he had immediately thought of including his brother in the opportunity showed that he valued family and loyalty.

Many people, when presented with a chance to improve their circumstances, would focus solely on themselves. Roman, however, was already thinking about how to pull his brother up alongside him.

Ashley found that admirable.

Besides, she wasn’t so petty as to refuse such a small request.

In fact, from her perspective, there was very little downside.

If Roman possessed such good character, there was a reasonable chance that his brother had been raised with similar values. If that turned out to be true, then she would gain two trustworthy local contacts instead of one.

To Ashley, that sounded like a bargain.

After all, Maple Leaf City was a place where her brother intended to establish a branch in the future. The more reliable local talent they could identify early on, the better.

And even if Roman’s brother ultimately proved unsuitable, she could simply evaluate him accordingly and cut ties later.

There was no need to reject the opportunity before even giving it a chance.

Sometimes, discovering hidden talent was a matter of being willing to take a small risk.

And Ashley had always believed that a capable person could be found in the most unexpected places.

Hearing Ashley agree so readily to include his brother, Roman’s eyes immediately lit up.

A broad grin spread across his face, and without hesitation, he bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much, Miss Ashley!"

His gratitude was genuine.

To Ashley, it might have seemed like a small favor, but to Roman, it meant far more than that. Her agreement had helped solve one of the problems weighing heavily on his mind.

Although he had no idea how much Ashley intended to pay them as guides, he wasn’t particularly worried about it. From the moment he met her, it was obvious that she and her entourage came from wealthy backgrounds. Moreover, based on everything she had said, she wasn’t merely visiting Maple Leaf City for sightseeing; she was here to establish a business.

That meant this opportunity might be more than just a temporary job.

If Ashley truly opened a branch in the city, she would inevitably need employees and local manpower. By working with her now, he and his brother would have a chance to prove themselves before any positions even became available.

And if the conditions were right, perhaps the two of them could apply for permanent jobs in the future.

For men like them, stable employment was far more valuable than a few days’ wages.