City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

I looked out the window, and my thoughts were still occupied with the store I had just looked at.

It will be a very risky investment, given current geopolitical conditions, but could bring me a fortune if Master Silver were able to stop the undead.

Though many people have doubts about that.

I don’t know what I will do, but I will think deeply before making a decision.

“Stop here,” I said suddenly as I realized my favourite restaurant was across the street.

Velvet Garden serves the best food, but it doesn’t actually prepare all the food; this restaurant makes my favorite dish. Besides, I’m hungry; I ate only breakfast in the morning and skipped lunch for my meeting with Madis.

The driver took the turn and stopped at the restaurant.

I got out and walked into the restaurant. It is a small elvish cafe, run by the elf couple. Elves run a few eateries in the city, but this one is by the elves who came from Eastern Oksall.

The same part where I used to live, and has the same traditional dishes I grew up eating.

“Miss Eliyen, welcome,” greeted a teen elf girl with vibrant green hair. She appeared to be twelve to thirteen years old and was wearing a server’s apron.

“Karlyn,” I said to a young girl.

“Your usual table is open,” she said, and led me to the table by the window. It’s my favourite, from here I can see outside, but it also gives me a complete view of the inside.

Most of the patrons here are elves, half-elves, and a few orcs, who came here to eat the food that brings back memories of home.

“Thank you,” I said as I sat down before I ordered.

The young girl left, taking my order, while I looked around. A few people looked at me, some sneakily, but not in recognition.

It’s another thing I liked about this place—the anonymity.

I might be just a trainee, but people recognise me.

If I went to a high-end restaurant or party, they would easily recognise me. These people might have visited the legacy, but they had not likely come to the floors where I worked.

A minute later, I turned my eyes toward the window, watching the people.

Hun!

I was looking at them when I felt a presence beside me and saw a man appear by my table, then sit down in front of me.

He is a handsome man, who looks to be in his early thirties, tall with bright blue eyes, brown hair, and pale green skin. If I focused, I would see long canines.

He is of orc blood.

“If you please don’t mind, I’d like to be alone. I am sure there are other empty tables where you can sit,” I said to this pushy man.

I love my time here and the food, which reminded me of my home and grandmother.

“I have not come here to eat. I just want to talk to you, Miss Saelion,” he said, and immediately, my eyes sharpened, hearing my name.

He is not hitting on me. He came to me with a purpose.

“Who are you?” I asked, becoming cautious. “I am Harth Oakford. I am a recruiter for the Transcendent Pleasure.” He replied.

It was just two days ago that we were warned about it.

“I have no business with you, please leave,” I said curtly, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he smiled.

“I mean no harm to you, Miss Saelion. I just want you to listen to me, it won’t take long. After that, I will leave on my own,” he said, and I felt his skill. 

“Is everything all right, Miss Eliyen?” asked the proprietor, looking at the man in front of me. “Yes, Mr. Karysiv, everything is good,” I replied with a smile.

“If you need anything, call me,” he said and left after shooting a warning glance at the man in front of me.

“Speak,” I said to the man.

“Transcendent Pleasure wishes you to join us,” he stated, and I felt another skill. “Not going to happen,” I replied straight, activating the Sharp Mind.

He remained unperturbed by my rejection, like he had expected it.

“The Velvet Garden has no future.” He stated 

“According to our sources in the intelligence department, the undead are going to attack the moment the ceasefire is over, and it wouldn’t be just a measly half a million undead attacking this time, but far more.”

“Also, there is a very good chance that two Lv. 40 will lead the horde. Forget Silver, no other force in the region will be able to go against them, even if they combined all their forces together.”

“They will conquer, Greltheaven, and every other city in the region, and nobody will be able to stop them.”

As he spoke the words, I felt it was happening right before my eyes. I could see large undead crushing the army and flooding into the city, like it had happened when I was a child.

It shook me to my heart.

“There is also the thing about Velvet Garden swallowing Tranquill Bathhouse.”

“It won’t happen. Instead, it will be Tranquill Bathhouse that will swallow the Velvet Garden. They have the force of the whole kingdom with the prince representing it, along with the artifacts.”

The scenery changed, and a different one appeared where the power of the Velvet Garden suddenly disappears.

I could feel the shock and grief that the girls, including me, would feel at that moment.

“It won’t happen,” I was finally able to reply, but that only made the smile on his face widen.

“Let’s suppose, Velvet Garden was able to swallow Tranquill Bathhouse. Which will poison its vision and cut the path of future advancement,”

“The greed has truly made Silver lose his mind,” he said, shaking his head.

“Watch your mouth!” I warned, with anger flaring in my heart. For the first time, surprise flashed on his face, but he recovered quickly.

“My apologies, but it is the truth, Miss Saelion. I am sure you know how important the vision is for the legacies. Swallowing another fully is like eating a poisoned pill,”

“It is something only the legacies that are at the last legs do. Or those that are grade above, capable of taking what’s needed and what is not,” he stated, adding another skill.

I want to refute him, but it is the truth. It is why many girls are confused about Master Silver’s decision to swallow the Tranquill Bathhouse.

It is fine to do that with the dead legacy, but the core of the living legacy is an entirely different thing. Many legacies had been destroyed by it, leaving their bright future in tatters.

“Transcendent Pleasure, recognise your worth, Miss Saelion, and offer you the position of true Madam, not a trainee that you have now.”

“Your salary will be much greater than what you are being paid currently.”

“On top of that, you will get a signing bonus that will be big enough, for you will be able to buy the store you were looking at earlier, in Port Belnin.” He said, shocking me.

Port Belnin is one of the most prosperous cities on the continent and even the whole world. The prices of things there are significantly higher than those in Greltheaven.

“You are a wise woman, Miss Saelion, and money might not be enough for you. So think about the power that the position of Madam of Transcendent Pleasure will give you.”

“You will be a madam of a Throne, a Grade IV legacy with the greatest potential on the continent.”

“You will not only have influence in Transcendent Pleasure and hundreds of brothels it controls, but also in the city and merchant state of Belnin.”

“To be honest, I am jealous of the offer they are making you and would have taken it myself if I could,” he finished with a laugh.

His words overwhelmed me. I don’t know what to think about them. It’s too much at once, and it’s making me angry.

I should be rejecting the offer, throwing this man out, but I found myself thinking about it.

“This is the offer signed by the Lady Transcendent Pleasure, Ophelia Glynrieth.” He said and forwarded the folder to me.

I found myself taking the file and opening it before I started reading it.

As I did, I found myself getting surprised and shocked by the offer. It’s not a lie, I could feel the power of the legacy, which felt more powerful than the Velvet Garden.

“You have to decide quickly, Miss Saelion.”

“There are only limited spaces for it. If the others take them, then you will have to sign the one with the lesser benefits,” he advised, before he got up from the chair.

“Have a good day, Miss Saelion,” he wished and walked away, without looking back.

He was not lying when he said they were offering this to only a limited people. It is only for three people; after that, there are ten more with lower benefits.

Even those offer shocking benefits.

When he came and introduced himself, I was certain about rejecting it, but now I found myself rereading it.

“Are you alright, Miss Eliyen?” asked the teen, breaking me out of the hold of the offer. “Yes, I am dear,” I replied, putting a smile on my face.

She looked unsure, but she nodded and put my order in front of me.

“Enjoy your meal with Eliyen,” she said and walked away.

I looked at the offer in my hand and put it in my bag before turning to the man in front of me. I began to eat it, but didn’t enjoy it as I usually do.

All my thoughts are focused on the offer.

I tried to focus on the meal, but I could not. The only thing I could focus on was the text of the offer floating in front of me.

I somehow finished the meal and paid for it before walking away, thinking about what I would do with the offer.

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