Fonte was sitting in the room, thinking about the young man named Donning. This young man had a mind as sharp as his own. Fortunately, while investigating Donning's background, Fonte had casually planted a weakness, easy to exploit—Taylor Swift. When the time came to defeat Alkmaar, Fonte could easily get rid of this equally clever competitor. What a perfect plan, with almost no flaws at all.
He got up, leaned over the desk, and picked up a pen and paper to write a letter: "Dear Father, things have finally progressed. Alkmaar has finally started to use me. He is so conceited that he thinks everything is under his control. Before long, you will hear my good news. By then, your wealth will increase rapidly, and we, father and son, can celebrate wildly."
After finishing the letter, he released the carrier pigeon. Fonte closed the window just as someone knocked on the door. He opened it to see a familiar figure. Fonte stepped aside. "We have to pretend not to know each other. Alkmaar is a cautious man."
"Cautious and conceited," Donning replied as he entered the room as if it were his own apartment. Casually, he opened a bottle of whiskey and poured two glasses. "He thinks he has the two of us under his thumb and won't send anyone to keep an eye on you or me."
This bold strategist had no fear. Fonte shrugged, unfazed by Donning's casualness. He picked up a glass, and the two clinked their drinks together, like old friends who had known each other for years.
"Alright, I think you've received the invitation. But before that, you need to tell me everything about Lucas—his preferences and his role in the Alkmaar family," Donning stated.
"Lucas Alkmaar, a small figure in the Alkmaar family, is Alkmaar's nephew. He's idle and enjoys violent things, like watching half-orcs fight to the death in the arena or hunting in the mountains outside Brot City."
"Oh, and he has a beautiful sister, known as the pearl of the Alkmaar family, the most beautiful woman in Brot City," Fonte added.
"Is the key point this 'most beautiful woman' in Brot City?" Donning asked, probing.
A strange smile appeared on Fonte's face. "You're quick. This pearl is in charge of the Alkmaar family's spice business. She's young, promising, and has a good business mind. She's also a philanthropist. But don't get any ideas about using your charm to woo her—she has no interest in men."
"But she has one weakness—her brother. The sister is incredibly protective of him. Despite Lucas being a playboy, it doesn't affect his standing in her heart."
If Donning wanted to climb higher and get closer to the core of the Alkmaar family, this was an avenue worth exploring. But how was Alkmaar planning his next move?
Donning left Fonte's residence and visited the largest blacksmith shop in Brot City. The empire allowed its citizens to carry weapons, given its open atmosphere.
"Honorable guest, what are you looking for?" asked the enthusiastic clerk at the weapon shop.
"Which is the best bow in the store?" Donning wanted to find something suitable to gift Lucas Alkmaar.
"This bow is exceptional. In every way, it's the finest bow in Brot City. Many nobles use it for hunting," the clerk explained.
"Perfect, I'll take it," Donning replied, purchasing the bow.
Back at his apartment, before he could rest, there was a noise outside the door. Who would be visiting him at this hour? He opened the door to find a familiar face.
Taylor Swift stood there. "You don't like me working at the casino, so I've resigned. From now on, I'm loyal to you. Believe me, I'll never betray you. I'm already yours."
Donning couldn't understand this bold girl who pursued him so openly. He didn't want to hurt her brave and kind heart. "Miss Taylor, I think what we had was merely a business transaction. I'm not interested in you. Please leave."
"You're lying. You obviously like me. No one would chat frequently with a girl they didn't like," Taylor stubbornly stood her ground, refusing to leave.
"Alright, what do you want?" Donning could have cursed at her to make her leave, but that would make Fonte suspicious. He had orchestrated this scenario to remove his only weakness. Working with someone without weaknesses was a nightmare. To continue gaining insider information from Fonte, he had to let Taylor stay.
"I don't have too many demands. Don't worry. I just want to take care of you. If after half a year you still don't have feelings for me, I'll leave forever," Taylor proposed, determined to win Donning's heart within six months.
"You'll be disappointed, but fine. Come in," Donning conceded, letting her stay.
Taylor entered the room. "Sometimes I'll stay here with you. After all, we aren't married yet, so I don't want people thinking I'm an unchaste woman."
Donning could only listen as she laid out her rules. He lay on the sofa, closing his eyes, pondering the plans his opponents might be making.
The banquet hosted by Lucas Alkmaar was not particularly large, just a gathering of figures from a small circle. The venue was Lucas's banquet hall, a home space that could accommodate nearly five hundred people. The floor was decorated with red agate, and the Roman-style windows were adorned with artwork from famous artists.
Lucas himself was a sturdy young man, tall and broad with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a rough demeanor. According to Fonte, Lucas was indeed a boorish man who did little more than eat, drink, and indulge in entertainment.
"Mr. Fonte, we didn't get to talk much last time. I didn't expect to see you again so soon," Barak approached Fonte at the reception, holding a glass of wine, while a shy Hannah stood beside him. "Allow me to introduce my daughter, Hannah. You've met her before, haven't you?"
Fonte glanced at Hannah and gave a gentlemanly nod. Dressed in a black tuxedo, his handsome face stood out even more. "I'm sorry, Mr. Barak, but my last interview wasn't published. The editor-in-chief didn't think it had much appeal. I fought for it, believe me. I felt worse about it than you did."
Of course, Barak wouldn't expose his ally. He smiled. "Mr. Fonte, let's forget the unpleasantness. Since you met last time, my daughter has been hoping for dinner with you. I hope you'll accept, for my sake."
Fonte looked at the shy Hannah. He wanted to refuse, but Hannah summoned her courage. "Mr. Fonte, please don't say no. I admire your talents."
At that moment, someone interrupted the conversation. "What are you all chatting about?" Donning appeared, pretending to know nothing of the situation.
Barak bowed respectfully. "Mr. Donning, Hannah wishes to go on a date with this gentleman."
Hannah, still somewhat afraid of Donning, huddled behind Barak, looking at Fonte nervously, hoping he would agree.
"Mr. Fonte, turning down a lady isn't very gentlemanly," Donning said on Hannah's behalf.
Fonte realized this was part of Donning's plan to create a weakness for him. What a worthy adversary. Not wanting their cooperation to be affected, Fonte smiled and raised his glass. "It would be an honor to date such a beautiful lady."
The atmosphere at the banquet was warm. All present were businessmen, and this small gathering had not drawn the attention of government officials. Though Lucas was idle, he was skilled at hosting such events.
As the banquet reached its peak, Lucas raised his voice and invited everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me. The real entertainment is about to begin."
Curiosity filled the room as guests followed Lucas through several corridors, finally arriving at a huge domed building. Inside, they found a sunken arena with circular seating above and a fully enclosed gladiatorial area below.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for a spectacular performance. If you wish, you can place small bets to add to the excitement," Lucas urged the guests as he nodded to an attendant by his side.
The attendant left quickly, and the doors on either side of the arena opened. Two half-orcs, chained with heavy iron, were shoved into the pit. They stood only five meters apart, with thick chains around their necks and legs, their arms shackled.
Half-orcs were from a continent thousands of miles away, rarely seen in Brot City. Many in the audience were witnessing them for the first time. These creatures had green skin, were twice the size of humans, and sported two tusks at the corners of their mouths. Half-orcs were naturally aggressive and lacked intelligence.
Human traffickers often ventured to this dangerous continent to capture half-orcs, bringing them back to sell to the wealthy or for arena combat shows at a high price.
Hannah, frightened, huddled behind her father. "I don't like these monsters," she muttered.
While Hannah recoiled in fear, other guests, seeing half-orcs for the first time, were thrilled. The orcs were numbered, and attendants soon distributed betting slips to the guests.
Donning received one and casually bet a thousand Caesars on the first half-orc. It was just a game, after all.
Once all bets were placed, several armored individuals entered the arena and removed the orcs' shackles, though the chains on their necks and legs remained to prevent them from attacking the guests, despite the protective measures.As soon as the shackles were off, the two half-orcs lunged at each other