The three of them went back to the plaza with heavy steps. Eugene was probably the most serious among them, as he was the one who had actual connections to the printing press at the moment. He was very capable of gathering information in the media.
When they finally went their separate ways with polite goodbyes, Lucian was left alone with the heavy cloud surrounding Eugene's head.
"Your workaholic aura is so strong, Eugene. Tone it down," Lucian whispered with a pat on the older man's shoulder.
Eugene's expression softened after hearing Lucian's low whisper. He had to thank Lucian for that. At this point, if Lucian wasn't there to remind him of things that he couldn't easily notice, then he would certainly not care about anything else!
He sincerely thanked the younger alpha before they went inside their apartment. Eugene was actually planning to do another scan of the files, but he had to give up his plan after noticing Lucian throwing daggers at him with his sharp, golden eyes.
"Sleep. There will always be tomorrow for you to work on that. There's no need for you to compromise your health on this one," Lucian uttered with crossed arms. He raised his chin at Eugene, causing the blonde man to simply drop the files and come with him to their bedroom.
"So strict, hmm?" Eugene murmured, snaking his arms over Lucian's waist as they plopped themselves on the bed.
Lucian smirked at him. "If I'm too gentle with you, I just know you'd take advantage of me and do things your own way. You need some leash, boy," he replied, wrapping his arm around Eugene's neck before nuzzling Eugene's fair and soft cheek. "You just recovered from a fever, and you're already like this. Relax, Eugene."
"Sorry. It's just that every time I see connections between the imaginary dots in my head, I unintentionally end up getting caught up with them," Eugene reasoned with a small pout. "I'll try my best to control it, though."
"Of course you would. I'm going to spank you if you don't."
"Ooh, I think I'd like that."
"Masochistic pervert!"
...
Eugene and Lucian stood in front of Papirus' building with a thoughtful gaze. The two were initially planning to have a small chat with Mr. Wright; however, something happened the moment they went out of the carriage.
It was unexpected for them to come and find Mr. Wright bawling his eyes out on the building's doorsteps. Eugene hastily went up to him and gave him his handkerchief as a form of consolation.
Peter did not hesitate in accepting it, even daring to clean his snot with it. No matter what, Eugene was not planning on having the handkerchief back.
"What happened, Mr. Wright?" Eugene asked the moment he noticed that Peter was finally done crying.
Lucian was right behind Eugene as they conversed. He was also shocked to see that the editor-in-chief was crying rivers the moment they arrived, but he wasn't good at coaxing acquaintances, so he could only stand up awkwardly behind the Marquis.
"I'm sorry for making you both see me so pathetic like this. It's just that..." Peter hiccuped. "... they were planning to replace Papirus with a new printing press."
"What?" Eugene exclaimed with wide eyes, his hand subconsciously clenched into a fist. "Why?" he asked, trying to calm down himself.
What great timing!
"I don't know either," Peter cried again, forcefully wiping his tearful eyes with the handkerchief. "They just came earlier this morning and then told me that the building was sold to someone else. All of my employees were soon hired by the same person, leaving me alone in this business." His sad narration evoked injustice in the alphas' hearts.
Lucian immediately came to a conclusion. 'A conspiracy,' he thought in disdain. Those who were behind this were probably cleaning up after the dead editor-in-chief and would not let a foreigner like Mr. Wright meddle in their old business. To think that they could exclude a person like this as if it were nothing, they're probably the scummiest people in the whole world.
His golden eyes glinted in anger, but he tried to tone it down by bowing his head and staring at the floor. If one looked closer at his beautiful face, they would definitely notice that his well-defined jaws were tightly clenched at the moment.
"Can't we have anything else to do to take it back?" Lucian asked in a serious tone, his voice low and firm. "I can probably buy it at a higher price," he added with the air of a tyrant.
Eugene couldn't help but stare at the bronze-skinned alpha. 'Damn, that was sexy.'
However, much to their dismay, Peter shook his head weakly. "I just know they won't let you get it. They would buy it at a higher price than you could, and then you'd end up bankrupt for the rest of your life," he muttered in a small voice.
Eugene squinted his eyes at Peter's submissive behavior towards 'those people'. Has he been coerced by the same buyers before?
"You're underestimating me, Mr. Wright. I know how to win games like this," Lucian said with a small grin on his gorgeous face.
Seriously, if not for Peter's presence, Eugene would've smothered Lucian's face with kisses. 'He's so handsome,' he thought with a smile on his lips.
Lucian's proud posture and remark sparked hope in Peter's dull eyes. He clasped Lucian's hand with sparkling eyes. "Then... Then I'll be counting on you, young sir!"
"Ah ha ha, yes. Just don't touch me without my consent."
"Oh, sorry!"
...
"What was all that 'win games like this', hmm?" Eugene immediately teased the younger noble once they arrived back in their apartment.
Lucian raised an eyebrow at him as he took off his long, brown coat. "Shut it, Eugene. It's rare that I get to step up like a hero," he replied with a grin. "Besides, what I said was not a joke. I'd really do that."
"Show me what you got, then."
For the next few days, Lucian busied himself with sending letters back to the duchy. One for greeting his family, and another one for the purpose of having his money sent to the border.
He was on the move for the said 'game'.
"How much was it?" Eugene suddenly wrapped his arms around Lucian's waist from behind. He lovingly pulled their bodies closer while planting a small kiss on Lucian's hair and nape.
Lucian leaned his back on the older man's sturdy chest. "Three thousand pounds."
"I'm just realizing this now, but I think I bagged a rich husband big time," Eugene joked as he rested his chin on Lucian's broad shoulder. "Am I going to get pampered like a wife when we're married?"
Lucian's cheeks heated up at Eugene's nonchalant mutters. The way Eugene called him 'husband' tingled a part of his lovesick heart. It even ignited into flames after Eugene added his thoughts about their marriage. He had to bite his lower lip to stop himself from giggling like an eager omega. "Stop!"
Eugene only chuckled before pulling him in for a slow kiss. Of course, Lucian enjoyed it. Almost forgetting about his business matters like a CEO being seduced by a beautiful actress in those romance novels he has read before.
Lucian was truly thankful that Eugene was so supportive of him. He never doubted Lucian's capabilities as well. He would only watch Lucian's transactions from the sidelines before peppering him with praise and kisses.
For Lucian, it was like being a salaryman and coming home with your wife's opened arms to welcome you back. He was seriously considering Eugene's suggestion of just being a pampered wife in the future.
"Mr. Logan, we're selling this to you for a thousand pounds. Are you up for it?" the slightly obese man asked Lucian with a hint of challenge and mockery in his voice. After all, a thousand pounds is no easy feat. It's like acquiring a million dollars on modern Earth.
Lucian politely smiled at the man, despite the subtle jeers. "I am willing to buy it at the price you mentioned, sir. How about we sign the contract right away—?"
"Two thousand pounds! I'm going to raise it up to twice the price!"
Seeing the man sweating in panic after Lucian's easy agreement satisfied the bronze-skinned tyrant. To agitate this man was the real plan. However, Lucian was not the type to hold back either.
"I am willing to pay two thousand pounds, sir."
"Three thousand!"
"I am willing."
"Four thousand!"
Lucian's eyes narrowed at the panicked exclamation. He purposefully pursed his lips to show his skepticism. "Sir, I don't think we're rightfully negotiating here. You're unrighteously raising the price without any good reason for doing so. What I'm doing is not bidding but buying. Nonchalantly raising the price is an insult to me," he said in a calm but firm voice. It left no room for the other man's refusal.
With a flushed face out of embarrassment, the man took out a contract and wrote the price of two thousand pounds in exchange for the building's ownership.
Lucian signed without any hint of nervousness or uncertainty. The firm press of the pen was enough for the man to sweat even more. He couldn't help but wonder what Lucian saw in their business that made him buy it with such a huge amount of wealth.
Once the ownership was officially transferred to Lucian, together with the witnesses, the two went to a security agency to hire guards. Instead of staying at the apartment, they paid for a week's stay in a hotel.
When Peter Wright heard of Lucian's succession, he was so overjoyed that he visited their hotel and brought two bottles of wine to celebrate. Lucian and Eugene did not refuse his gratitude and even indulged in a good night with him.
Alas, not even three days passed before the same obese man came to their hotel with a reason to take back the building's ownership.
"Mr. Logan, I'm going to buy the building from you for three thousand pounds," he hurriedly muttered while wiping the sweat off his forehead. He must've been so stressed these past few days, based on the black marks under his eyes and his decreasing hairline. He was noticeably thinner than before as well.
Lucian nodded at him and took out the contract he had prepared beforehand. "Well then, let's sign this."
The man thought everything would be fine by then. However, to his surprise, it was Lucian again who came knocking at their door.
"I am willing to buy this building again for four thousand pounds."
And the rest became a ridiculous exchange of buying and selling until the building's value turned into ten thousand pounds.
When the man thought that Lucian was going to raise the price again, Lucian finally forfeited and sold him the building for ten thousand pounds.
Lucian then went back to the hotel while humming a joyful tune. He even went so far as to volunteer to prepare Eugene's usual tea. Eugene couldn't help but look at Lucian with a 'weirded out' gaze.
"Aren't you the one at-loss in this game, Lucian?" Eugene asked with a frown. "Why are you still giggling as if you won it?"
Lucian smirked at Eugene. "I am the winner."
"How so?"
"Technically, I only spent six thousand pounds for it and had his four thousand pounds as a bonus. If I take the six thousand pounds back to my own treasury, we still have the four thousand pounds from them."
Eugene nodded his head to show that he was following what Lucian was saying.
This prompted Lucian to continue: "With this money, isn't this enough to build a new printing press that would rival them? If we can find an establishment that could be bought at one thousand pounds, then we have the remaining three thousand for our personal use," Lucian explained patiently with a satisfied look on his face. "We're rich now, aren't we, wife?"
Eugene's eyes brightened with understanding. He couldn't help but stand up from his single chair and wrap his arms around Lucian with a soft chuckle. "Ah, my husband is so amazing. So cunning!"
"Of course, I have a wife to pamper in the future, yes?"
Eugene's eyes curled into crescents. "Hmm, you better do me right."