After Xu Que followed the butler, Ruger Hans, into the villa, he was led to a medium-sized dining table.
Xu Que couldn't quite grasp the arrangement, but moments later, as Ruger Hans rang the dining bell, four young maids entered, gracefully pushing trolleys laden with dishes.
"Mr. Xu Que, these dishes have been specially prepared for you. I hope you find them to your liking," Ruger Hans said with a courteous bow and a warm smile.
"Are you planning to watch me eat?" Xu Que asked with a hint of curiosity.
"No, the master and young lady will join you shortly," Ruger Hans explained.
Xu Que nodded in understanding, though he had initially assumed they might enjoy observing others dine.
As the dishes were placed on the table, Xu Que's brows furrowed slightly. Was this a subtle slight? Or perhaps a display of the family's supposed grandeur?
To be frank, the mid-tier exotic meats served here might be hard to come by for lower-level ability users. But for someone like Xu Que? He could only deem it mediocre. After all, he had three hundred slots of Snow Bear meat in his inventory.
Just as the last dish was set, the door to the inner chamber slowly opened.
A stunning beauty with golden hair and striking blue eyes—an exquisite blend of Eastern and Western features—entered, supporting an elderly man wielding a cane.
"Welcome, Mr. Xu Que," the elder greeted with a polite smile. "I am Majello, the current head of the Chisfeld family, and this is my granddaughter, Lacey."
"Good day, Mr. Xu Que," Lacey added with a gentle smile.
"Good day, Mr. Majello. Miss Lacey," Xu Que responded, leaning forward slightly to shake hands with both, employing a traditional greeting for first meetings.
Majello's smile deepened as he nodded approvingly at Xu Que's etiquette. Initially, he hadn't thought much of the young man, but this display of manners left him pleasantly surprised.
Once the three of them were seated, Majello gestured for Ruger Hans, who promptly exited the room.
"Mr. Xu Que," Lacey asked with a pleasant smile, "would it be convenient for you to show us your expertise in forging?"
"Of course," Xu Que replied, handing over a pre-prepared list to Lacey.
As she perused the list of equipment and weapons Xu Que had outlined, her expression remained composed, though she subtly glanced at Majello.
Catching her gesture, Majello's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Mr. Xu Que," Majello began, "we can provide you with an ample supply of materials and ores. However, I would like to discuss a potential collaboration. Would you be interested?"
"Oh?" Xu Que feigned surprise, meeting Majello's gaze. "May I ask what kind of collaboration you have in mind?"
"It's simple," Majello said with a calm smile. "We are willing to offer you a generous deal to convince you to stay here in Country Y."
Majello's proposal was hardly unexpected for Xu Que. In fact, it aligned perfectly with his own plans, which required him to delve deeper into the Chisfeld family's inner workings.
Without responding immediately, Xu Que let his gaze linger on Lacey, the striking mixed-race beauty.
Internally, Majello and Lacey scoffed. They had heard of Xu Que's reputation from Bell and Ruan, and his apparent distraction didn't faze them—they believed they had him firmly in their grasp.
As the simple lunch concluded, Ruger Hans entered, holding a few sheets of paper. Xu Que immediately guessed these must be the terms Majello intended to propose.
"Mr. Xu Que, please review this. If it meets your satisfaction, I believe it demonstrates our sincerity in persuading you to stay," Majello said with a confident smile.
Xu Que nodded, accepting the documents from Ruger Hans.
As he read the terms, a subtle smile tugged at his lips, an expression that didn't escape Majello and Lacey's notice.
What they didn't realize, however, was that every movement and expression Xu Que displayed was meticulously calculated for their benefit.
"Excellent," Xu Que finally said. "These terms are quite satisfactory. However, before we proceed with material preparation, I'd like to take a look around. Surely, neither of you would object?" He smiled meaningfully.
"Not at all," Lacey replied, smiling. "I've already arranged for Bell to ensure you have the finest experience."
"Splendid," Xu Que said, feigning excitement as he rose from his seat. "Thank you, Miss Lacey."
"In the afternoon, I'll have someone deliver all the blueprints to you. Enjoy yourself," Lacey said, extending her hand.
Xu Que, pretending to be overly eager, quickly shook her hand.
---
By the afternoon, Xu Que had received over thirty blueprints. His heart soared with elation.
He never imagined that among them would be the coveted A-grade pendant blueprints, which his previous-life rival Sun Jeff had prided himself on.
"Wow, I was only aiming for a couple of B-grade dual-blade weapon blueprints, but here I am with an A-grade pendant and B-grade war hammer blueprint as well!"
As Xu Que reveled in his good fortune, a knock sounded on the door. He quickly absorbed all the blueprints into his memory before opening it.
"Xu Que, are you comfortable here?" Bell asked with a smile.
"Not too bad," Xu Que replied with a grin. "Are you here to take me sightseeing?"
"Yes, I've arranged something spectacular for you. I'm sure you'll enjoy it," Bell said, smiling slyly.
"Fantastic. Let's head out right away," Xu Que said, feigning excitement.
Standing on the balcony, Lacey watched as Bell and Xu Que drove away from the estate. A playful smirk appeared on her face.
"No matter where your loyalties lie, once you're on our ship, there's no getting off."
---
On Bodingman Street, at the Prestvale Hotel.
This was a secret haven coveted by the upper echelons of society, akin to Little Sister Island in Country M.
Just a glance at the grand lobby was enough for Xu Que to surmise the "depth" of its secrets.
Accompanying Bell, he took the elevator directly to the third floor.
Walking through the corridors, he noticed the layout resembled that of a typical hotel, but the rooms were much larger—just slightly smaller than presidential suites. The furnishings, however, stood out in intriguing ways.
As they passed an open room, Xu Que's attention was caught by an odd piece of furniture—something between a chair and a bed.
"What's this?" he muttered, stepping closer to inspect it. His mind immediately conjured scenes from certain R-country films.
"Well, foreigners sure know how to have fun…" he thought to himself, stifling a laugh.
"Want to give it a try?" Bell teased with a grin.
"Ah, no, just curious what it is," Xu Que replied hastily.
Bell chuckled. "It's custom-made from R-country. When Ruan hosted his partners here, some would select companions and give it a go. If you're interested, feel free!"
Xu Que inwardly marveled at the extravagance of the elite. These people certainly knew how to enjoy themselves.
Their journey continued, passing a large office before arriving at a grand hall.
Inside, only a middle-aged man was present, appearing scholarly yet speaking in a foreign tongue that Xu Que recognized from the livestreams he overheard.
As they drew closer, Xu Que saw that the man was watching a live broadcast of a battle against exotic creatures.
"Farnell, how have you been?" Bell greeted warmly.
The middle-aged man, Farnell, didn't look up. His eyes remained glued to the screen. "Since the Abyss emerged, nothing has gone well."
"Indeed, it's been disastrous. But I'm not here for small talk today—I've brought a guest."
Hearing this, Farnell finally looked up and noticed Xu Que.
"An Easterner?"
"Yes. Meet Xu Que, the Chisfeld family's chief forger," Bell announced proudly. "He's ranked first on the *Forging Heaven Rankings*."
Surprised, Farnell gave Xu Que a second, more scrutinizing glance. He admired those who earned a spot on the rankings but lacked the courage to pursue such greatness himself.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Xu Que," Farnell said, extending his hand with a polite smile.