An Offer Too Rich to Refuse
The scenario Yohan had proposed was simple. Martin had squandered a fortune on gambling in his youth, only to turn his life around after meeting and marrying Dahlia. Through blood, sweat, and tears, he had successfully brewed high-quality High Potions and even penned a collection of fables that brought in a tidy sum—yet he remained plagued by astronomical debts. It was a simple setup, but that simplicity made it all the more believable.
Not long after they cast the bait, during a meeting with a publisher from the Corporate State regarding their contract, the target finally bit. Louis Dorleans had sent an invitation to dinner addressed to the "Martin" couple.
Inside the single-room pocket dimension beyond the dimensional portal. Four people sat gathered around a dining table that was significantly larger and sturdier than the one Billy had previously broken.
"So, what's the plan now?" Charles was the first to break the silence.
In the center of the table sat the invitation Louis Dorleans had sent to Martin and his wife. It bore the official seal of the Dorleans family, which Charles stared at with a deeply conflicted expression.
The text of the invitation itself was perfectly polite. It was filled with flattering remarks about how he simply had to dine with Master Martin, the renowned pharmacist and author from a far-off foreign land. Of course, that was just the surface; he undoubtedly had some underhanded scheme brewing underneath.
To Master Martin and his esteemed wife,
...In order to foster a desirable relationship as future partners...
"What do you mean, 'what's the plan'? Obviously, we go," Yohan replied to Charles, picking up the invitation.
"Look here. It says, 'In order to foster a desirable relationship as future partners...' and so on."
Though he hadn't spelled it out, "partners" in this context clearly meant business partners. In other words, Louis Dorleans was using the dinner invitation as a pretext to pitch a lucrative business proposal. And "Martin," desperate for money, would have absolutely no reason to refuse.
"Still, I didn't expect him to lay a trap so openly," Falco, who had been quiet until now, chimed in. Yohan and Charles nodded in unison.
"Well, if worst comes to worst, canst thou not simply draw thy Light Sword and slaughter them all? Just give them a proper thrashing," the Goddess offered with a nonchalant expression. It was a rather bloodthirsty joke, but none of the companions paid her any mind.
"I don't know if he's actually planning to kidnap me and throw me on some deep-sea fishing boat like the kid suggested, or if he's just going to lure me in with some 'amazing' overseas investment opportunity... but either way, we have to go."
"Yeah." Yohan and Falco exchanged nods. The invitation explicitly requested the presence of both Martin and Peony, not just Martin alone.
"Since things turned out this way, you should stay behind and rest at the lodging."
"But wouldn't it be better if I came along too?" Charles asked, but Yohan shook his head.
"Even if your brother has absolutely no clue you're still alive, if you keep hanging around him, suspicions are bound to arise."
"Ugh..."
"Besides, do you really want to keep running around with your skirt fluttering in the wind?"
"No. Absolutely not." Yohan had meant it half-jokingly, but Charles answered with deadpan seriousness. It seemed he was deeply dissatisfied with having to wear a frilly dress all the time.
But what could he do? As long as they were in the Corporate State, Charles had to play the role of Martin's only daughter. You chose this crossdressing life. Grit your teeth and bear it. Yohan offered silent encouragement to the dejected boy.
Calling it Charles's choice was a bit of a stretch, considering it was about eighty percent Yohan's coercion, but such trivial details didn't matter at this point.
"Everyone got it? Only three of us are going to the dinner: me, Falco, and the squirt."
"Yeah."
"Understood." Yohan patted Charles lightly on the shoulder as Falco and the Goddess nodded in response.
"If anyone has anything else to say, speak now." When Falco raised her hand at Yohan's words, he gave her a nod.
"Since the portal is open, I'm going to use the bathroom. The air in this city is so musty. The water feels sketchy too, like I'm just getting covered in dust."
"Hey, you don't need to ask permission for every little thing. There's still some body wash left, so go wild." Great. That was that. Yohan declared the brief meeting adjourned.
Three days had passed since the invitation was sent. According to his original schedule, Martin should have already returned to his home country, but he had eagerly snapped up the bait Louis had subtly hidden in the invitation.
In a room enveloped in silence, Louis sat alone, quietly gazing at the night view of the Capital through the glass window.
Tonight was the night. To welcome the Martin couple, he had rented out an entire famous restaurant in the Capital for the evening. He had even paid out cancellation fees to all the customers who had prior reservations, but the expense didn't bother him in the slightest.
Money was, after all, merely a tool to get what one wanted. If he could win over a woman more beautiful than any other, no amount of gold was too great.
Of course, this also meant that to achieve anything, one needed the proper foundation. And Louis possessed that very foundation: financial power.
Unlike that scrawny bastard drowning in gambling debts, he possessed the wealth to reserve an upscale restaurant that was easily one of the most expensive in the Capital. Louis was brimming with confidence.
Renting out a lavish restaurant for just two guests was a calculated move to flaunt the vast gulf between himself and Martin right in front of Dahlia.
At the same time, he planned to pitch a highly speculative, gamble-like overseas investment to the man, ensuring Dahlia would watch her husband with growing disappointment. If Martin had mentioned his debts multiple times in front of his beloved wife, the sum had to be astronomical.
A debt so massive that even a master brewer of high-quality High Potions could not easily clear it. To such a desperate man, Louis would make an offer he couldn't refuse—an investment opportunity that was highly risky, but promised unimaginable returns upon success.
That wasn't all. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, he had stationed several operatives from his merchant group throughout the restaurant. Among them were not just simple thugs, but also a mage skilled in hypnosis magic.
If push came to shove, he would subdue the man by force or other underhanded means. Now that Martin had accepted the invitation, nothing but ruin awaited him. Louis rubbed his palms together, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.
Before long, word arrived that the two had pulled up. Louis took one last look in the mirror to adjust his attire.
Soon, the "Martin" couple stepped into the restaurant. Just as they had at the party, they carried themselves with the awkwardness typical of country bumpkins. Yet Louis welcomed them with an effortless, polite smile, and the two approached the table, looking around the interior with wide, curious eyes.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation. I wished to hear more about your fascinating experiences, Master Martin, so I arranged this quiet setting for us."
"My word... this is incredible. You rented out this entire place?" Martin replied, looking utterly astonished.
Louis sneered at Martin inwardly while shifting his gaze to Dahlia. The beautiful elf merely offered a mysterious smile, just as she had on the day they first met.
Yet even that simple gesture made Louis feel as though a blade had pierced his heart. His icy, calculating heart seemed to melt away in an instant.
At the same time, a burning malice flared up within him toward the scrawny weakling standing beside her. But he would never let it show. On the surface, he had to play the part of an avid fan who had been deeply moved by Martin's Fables, eagerly anticipating a conversation with the author.
"Thank you for having us. I'm sure this will be a wonderful experience," Martin said, extending his hand. Louis nodded and gave it a brief handshake.
Next, Louis gently kissed the back of Dahlia's hand. It was a mere brush of his lips, but the fresh, floral scent wafting from her fingertips made his head spin.
How could anyone smell so fresh and beautiful? It was like burying his face in a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. Get a grip. Showing too much eagerness will only ruin things. Louis struggled to maintain his composure.
Suddenly, he noticed that Martin's young daughter was not with them.
"Ah, I see your daughter is not with you tonight."
"Ah, she ran around so excitedly the past few days that she completely wore herself out. She's probably fast asleep in our room by now," Martin replied with a chuckle.
Beside him, Dahlia offered an embarrassed, sheepish smile. This was actually for the best. A young child would have only been a distraction tonight anyway.
"Please, have a seat. I have timed the courses to be served precisely upon your arrival." Soon, the multi-course meal began to arrive at the table.
"I have heard that the people of the forest cherish nature and do not care for the taking of life. I hope this suits your palate."
To cater to Dahlia's elven preferences, Louis had intentionally selected a menu focused on fruits and vegetables rather than meat. Of course, these were no ordinary vegetable dishes. Every ingredient was ultra-fresh, transported at high speeds from various regions across the continent using teleportation magic circles.
Sure enough, Dahlia's eyes widened as she looked down at the dishes. Her shoulders trembled slightly, seemingly touched by his thoughtful consideration. Beside her, Martin was equally unable to hide his astonishment.
"Thank you... truly."
"Think nothing of it. For the wife of the esteemed Master Martin, this is the least I could do."
A succession of dishes completely devoid of meat—which elves supposedly detested—continued to arrive. Louis engaged the couple in pleasant conversation, gradually building rapport. By the time they had emptied several glasses of high-proof white wine, a comfortable warmth of intoxication had settled over them.
"Master Martin, will you be returning to Westania immediately after this trip?" Louis asked casually, as if making idle small talk.
Martin nodded lightly. "Yes. Though my book brought me all the way to the Corporate State, my true calling is brewing medicine."
"I see. Indeed, the High Potions you produce are quite famous even here in our Corporate State."
"Hahaha..."
"I do not say this to flatter you, Master Martin. Even at the publishing celebration party, were there not countless individuals who approached you solely because of your pharmaceutical expertise?"
Martin looked sheepish at Louis's observation. It didn't seem to be merely because he was weak to flattery.
"Of course, I too am interested in more than just your book."
This was where the real business began. Upon hearing Louis's words, the eyes of the "Martin" couple turned solemn.
"Well..." Martin began, his voice trembling slightly. Dahlia, watching from his side, gently stroked the back of his hand.
After a brief moment, Martin seemed to steel his resolve, nodding with a look of firm determination.
"The matter mentioned in your invitation... could you tell me more about it in detail?"
I knew it. The fool had swallowed the bait hook, line, and sinker. Louis wanted nothing more than to leap from his seat and cheer, but he exercised immense self-control to suppress the urge.
"Of course," he replied, a smooth, gentle smile gracing his lips.