Lord of The Red Planet

"Ayato-kun, over here," Arthur called out to Ayato Ritsuki, who was pacing back and forth in the alley like a dazed man.

Hearing the familiar voice, Ayato's face immediately filled with a happy expression. He ran toward the source of the voice. "Lord Arthur!"

"Alright. It seems you're right on time, just as I ordered." Arthur nodded, pleased.

"Of course! I wouldn't be a second late. I'd regret it if I lost this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ayato replied cheerfully.

"I see. Well then, let's get in the car. Before that… are you sure you don't want to change out of that school uniform?" Arthur looked at the uniform Ayato was wearing—a black blazer, an untucked white shirt, and black trousers.

"This… is fine," Ayato answered with an embarrassed expression.

"Alright." Arthur walked to a dark red 2020 Toyota Yaris.

This guy must have skipped school, Arthur thought, looking at Ayato who was now getting into the car.

As if I never skipped school myself.

After that thought, Arthur pressed the gas pedal and drove away from the front of the alley.

"We should probably talk at a café. Do you have any recommendations for a good one in Tokyo?" he asked while driving.

"We could go to Fuglen. It's a Scandinavian-style café, and their coffee is great. I've tried it," Ayato replied.

"Alright, let's go there then." Arthur immediately turned on the car's GPS.

Ayato Ritsuki. A high school student in Tokyo. A victim of a broken home, living in a cheap, government-subsidized apartment with his 8-year-old sister. Both his parents divorced and have remarried. His relationship with his friends is poor because he's poor and often bullied. To earn extra money, he often works part-time at a ramen restaurant and sometimes takes out illegal loans using a fake ID.

Arthur glanced at the report from Belial on Ayato's background, then put it back in the car door compartment.

This guy… is really pitiful. But for some reason, he can still act so cheerful.

He turned his attention back to the road. By the way, the interior of this Toyota Yaris felt very comfortable. The steering wheel, wrapped in smooth synthetic leather, felt just right in his grip, not like a cheap car. The dashboard also looked modern and minimalist, with a touchscreen in the center now displaying the GPS map to Fuglen. The air inside the car felt fresh, filled with the cool scent of a waterfall.

As the car merged onto the main highway, Arthur couldn't help but observe his surroundings. The roads in Tokyo… were incredibly smooth. The asphalt was a deep black, with perfectly precise white and yellow lines. There wasn't a single pothole or bumpy patch to disturb the car's ride.

This is so different from the roads in my old hometown, he thought, remembering the streets in his country. There, driving felt more like off-roading in the middle of the city. I always had to be on the lookout to avoid the pothole traps that would appear out of nowhere after the rainy season. There was even a pothole that hadn't been fixed for decades.

The traffic here also flowed smoothly, with almost no congestion. The other drivers seemed so orderly, maintaining their distance and changing lanes with clear signals. There was no deafening honking or motorcycles weaving in from all directions. It was a world away from the garbage traffic in his old country.

"One day, I will return to that country… and conquer it." Arthur gripped the steering wheel tightly. Unconsciously, his words were heard by Ayato.

Ayato just pretended not to hear the joke and went back to looking at the changing street view outside the window.

After about twenty minutes of driving, they finally arrived at the café Ayato had mentioned.

Arthur parked the car, then got out. He didn't forget to take some documents from the car before locking it with the remote.

"Alright, let's go in and see if the coffee here is as good as you say." Arthur smiled at Ayato.

Damn… now I really feel like a rich guy. Having a nice car and drinking coffee at a café. He had never experienced things like this in his previous life.

"Don't worry, Lord Arthur. Trust me, the coffee here is amazing. The best I've ever had, even," Ayato replied calmly, adjusting the bag on his shoulder.

"I'm counting on it," Arthur replied. The two of them then walked into the café.

TING!

"Welcome!"

A friendly voice greeted them as soon as the door opened. There, Arthur saw a young woman with black hair tied in a ponytail. She had typical Japanese features and fair skin, and looked at them with a happy expression. The woman wore a neat white and black uniform, typical of a café employee. Beside her stood a young man who, from his appearance, must have been a high school or college student working part-time. His slicked-back blond hair revealed a wide-open forehead.

The two of them greeted them with friendly smiles. Arthur and Ayato nodded in return, then chose a table near the window. From here, they could see people passing by on the sidewalk.

Arthur picked up the menu from the table and saw there were several options for drinks and desserts.

The prices… were very expensive.

Damn. If this were the old me, I probably would never have bought drinks and food this expensive. A thousand yen for a regular coffee? I'd rather buy nasi padang, I could get ten packs and be full too. He complained.

Arthur observed the interior of Fuglen Café. His first impression was that this café immediately gave off a calming vibe to its customers.

The walls were a clean white, paired with light oak wood panels that provided warmth. The furniture was minimalist yet functional, with sleekly designed wooden chairs and small, neatly arranged tables.

Large, floor-to-ceiling windows let the Tokyo morning light flood the room, while a few green plants in the corners provided a refreshing natural touch.

At the far end of the room, a long, polished concrete counter was the center of attention, where a barista was seriously preparing coffee using glass equipment that looked like laboratory instruments. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, making him relax a little.

The young woman who had greeted them earlier approached the table with a tablet in her hand.

"So, what can I get for you?" she asked with a friendly smile.

Arthur picked up the menu from the table.

Under the Coffee category were various brewing methods like V60 Pour-over and Aeropress, with choices of single-origin beans from Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, described as having 'floral and citrus notes,' to beans from Colombia with 'chocolate and nutty flavors.'

In the Tea and Matcha section, there were options like Earl Grey Lavender, Oolong from high mountains, and Ceremonial Grade Matcha served in a traditional chawan.

There was even an Artisan Boba category with choices like 'Organic Brown Sugar Fresh Milk' and 'Jasmine Tea with Lychee Boba.'

For Desserts, the options were Kanelbulle (Swedish Cinnamon Buns), Kladdkaka (Sticky Chocolate Cake), and Basque Burnt Cheesecake with a yuzu sauce.

Before Arthur could answer, Ayato spoke confidently to the waitress. "We'll have two of the best coffees here. Pour-over with the Ethiopian beans," he said, as if he were a regular.

The waitress smiled and jotted down the order on her tablet. "Alright. Under what name?"

Ayato straightened his back slightly, full of pride. "Under… Arthur Leonhart."

The waitress nodded, then returned to the counter.

Arthur looked at Ayato with a faint smile, but made no comment. He took several documents out of his bag—a map of Tokyo's political districts, the assets of the Red Lotus organization, and a power of attorney signed by Yamada—and placed them neatly on the table.

A few minutes later, the waitress returned with a wooden tray. On it were two sets of coffee equipment: a glass server containing steaming coffee and an empty white ceramic cup for each of them.

Arthur observed the clear, reddish-brown liquid in his cup, more like tea than the dark black coffee he was used to seeing. He lifted the cup, feeling its warmth in his palm, then took a slow sip.

Instantly, his eyes widened slightly.

There was no burning bitterness. Just a clean, light taste. The first wave brought a sweetness like berries, which was then followed by a refreshing hint of citrusy acidity at the end. After swallowing, the aftertaste was so clean, leaving a trace of floral fragrance on the roof of his mouth.

This… is a little different from what I imagined. In Avanheim, since there was no coffee, he had never been able to taste it.

His mind unconsciously drifted back to his past. Coffee for him back then was a cheap instant packet bought at a small stall. A thick black liquid with coarse grounds that settled at the bottom of the glass, a burnt, bitter taste covered by a sharp, artificial sweetness. Coffee was fuel to stay awake, not something to be enjoyed.

He often drank it when pulling all-nighters for dungeon raids or adventuring alone in Avalon.

He looked at the cup in his hand, then took another sip.

So… this is what real coffee tastes like.

He placed his cup back on the table with a slow motion. A small, almost imperceptible nod was the only sign of his approval.

However, for Ayato, who had been watching him intently, that nod was more than enough.

"Here. Sign here." Arthur pushed the document toward Ayato.

"This is…?" Ayato asked curiously, although he could guess what it was.

"This is a power of attorney stating that Yamada is surrendering the Red Lotus Organization that he leads and half of his assets to you," Arthur said with a serious expression. "You can sign here. By doing so, the ownership in this document becomes yours… in quotation marks, of course."

"I understand." Ayato tried to nod in understanding.

"No. You don't understand, and you don't even know who you're trying to fool." Arthur laced his fingers on the table, forming a triangle. "You must be thinking, 'after I sign this document, I can ignore Arthur Leonhart's orders and he won't be able to control me anymore'. That's what you're thinking, isn't it?"

Ayato's face instantly went pale, cold sweat beading on his temples. That's right… that was my plan. How could he know?

Arthur smiled coldly. He spread his hands, then snapped his fingers.

TING!

"You have no idea what kind of entity you're trying to deceive. Look around you."

Hearing that, Ayato immediately looked around. The world around him had turned black and white, as if it had lost its color. Only the two of them still had color.

He stood up in a panic. "What's happening?! Why has everyone stopped moving?!"

He looked at the scene outside the window. "What is actually happening?! Even the birds flying high in the sky have stopped moving in mid-air?! This… this is impossible!"

Ayato's face was covered in cold sweat. He then looked at Arthur with fear and moved slightly away from him.

"Did… you do this?"

"That's right. I did," Arthur answered casually.

"Who… are you? Are you a god?" Ayato asked repeatedly.

"Am I in a position to answer your questions?" Arthur looked at him coldly.

Instantly, Ayato's body went rigid. He sat back down. The moment he sat, the world returned to normal. The colors returned, people started moving again. Seeing that, Ayato felt his head spin even more.

Am I dreaming? No… this isn't a dream!Ayato pinched his hand and felt the pain.

"Alright! I'll follow your orders!" Ayato sighed, admitting defeat.

"Good. In that case, sign this paper, and you are officially the leader of the Red Lotus Organization!" Arthur pushed the document toward Ayato. Actually, he could have just used a curse spell or a Magic Law Agreement, but he didn't. He felt that someone forced to work would produce much worse results than someone willing to work for their own sake. This was also the reason why slavery was abolished in the world. Do you think it was because of humanitarian efforts? No. Because slaves are not suitable for factory work. Compare them to workers; the boss just gives a salary, and they won't be lazy for fear of being replaced.

"My subordinate named Betta will help you control the members of the Red Lotus, so don't worry," Arthur said with a smile.

"I want to ask something."

"Go ahead."

"What is my first task?" Ayato asked carefully.

Arthur thought for a moment. "First of all, you need to learn the capabilities of the Red Lotus Organization. Then, your first task is to summon the council member named Tanaka to meet with me. Besides that, I want you to develop businesses, especially in the entertainment and electronics sectors. Focus on that for now."

"I will also help you from time to time, so don't worry." Especially electronics. This will help Avanheim advance its technology. If this company gets big, I can build a company that focuses on the development of Magi-Tech. The creation of the spaceship has already proven that magic and technology can be combined.

"In that case, what is the name of this company?" Ayato asked, now with an interested expression. Maybe… being a subordinate to this man named Arthur isn't so bad. He has supernatural abilities that can stop the world. Following him will surely bring wealth and prosperity, and I can make Haruna happy!

"Just call it… Leonhart," Arthur said casually.

"A good name," Ayato praised. He handed over the signed agreement.

"Alright, I'll keep this. Congratulations, Ayato Ritsuki." Arthur stood up and shook his hand. "In that case, this conversation is over. Starting tomorrow, you can get to work."

"I'm looking forward to it, Boss!" Ayato responded with great enthusiasm.

Arthur took out 50,000 yen and placed it on the table. The two of them left the café and stood in front of the door.

"Do you need me to take you home?" Arthur asked.

"No, thank you for the offer. I want to pick up my sister after this." Ayato shook his head, then bowed. "Thank you for the opportunity you've given me, Lord Arthur. I will definitely not waste it."

Seeing that, the flat expression on Arthur's face slowly faded, replaced by a gentle smile. "I look forward to it, Ayato."

After saying that, Arthur walked to his car and got in.