The World Is Mine For The Taking

While I moved through the long, decorated halls, my eyes couldn't help but wander. Every corner, every corridor, I kept scanning for even the slightest hint that there might have been elven slaves here.

Cross was infamous for his collection of sex slaves. It wouldn't shock me at all if he had kept one or two elves tucked away somewhere, hidden like trophies. That man had the kind of reputation that made even the worst rumors sound believable. As I walked, it became more and more obvious just how many slaves there were in this estate. Everywhere I looked, I saw them—servants carrying trays, cleaners kneeling on the floors, attendants moving like shadows. It was endless. As expected from a noble, everything here was powered by slaves. From the smallest tasks to the larger roles, every little thing in this mansion reeked of servitude.

And how did I know for sure they were slaves? It was the brand. The unmistakable mark burned into the nape of their necks. That scar told the whole story, like the ownership, humiliation, and the weight of chains they couldn't escape. The Empire had long enforced this practice, branding them like cattle, so that no one could mistake who was free and who wasn't.

One out of every four people in this empire was a slave. Just think about that for a second. Out of a population of eighty-eight million, that meant millions upon millions of people branded, controlled, and owned. The sheer scale of it was staggering and almost sickening.

That was why the dream of freeing them all… it was nothing more than a dream. An impossibility. There was simply no way anyone could save that many lives, not all at once.

But the maid behind us—that was different. She wasn't a slave. At least, not from what I could tell. I had already caught a glimpse of her nape earlier, and there was no brand there. Which could only mean one thing and that she wasn't what she appeared to be. My instincts screamed assassin. And knowing Cross, it wasn't far-fetched. He never did anything without layers of caution, and a woman like that at his back wasn't for pouring tea.

I still didn't know exactly what Cross wanted from this meeting, but I had my guesses. He was the kind of man who only moved when he smelled profit. Opportunistic to the bone. He'd probably try to muscle into my territory, push me to hand over my businesses, maybe even take it further and demand something personal. My wife (Aegis), perhaps. Men like him always had the same disgusting patterns, and I'd seen it play out before.

"Firstly, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet you like this," Cross said, his lips curling into a practiced smile. His voice carried a smoothness that reeked of rehearsed politeness. "You must be very busy yourself."

"I have some time," I answered, keeping my tone calm. "And I'm planning to expand my business venture, which is why I came here. Just like you, Lord Cross, I'm not someone who wants to miss an opportunity. Strike the iron while it's hot, as they say."

"Ah, yes. Of course. A man of such high capability in business—it's only natural you'd act whenever an opportunity presents itself," he said with a laugh that was just a little too loud, a little too fake.

At least it was starting on a good note. From where I stood, it looked like he was still probing me, testing the waters, trying to figure out just how much I'd reveal. I suppose I was still an enigma to him, and I preferred to keep it that way.

"Well then, why don't we get right to it?" he said, straightening himself.

"Alright," I replied, folding my arms. "What exactly do you want to discuss?"

"I think it would be best to talk about our partnership from now on, Sir Faust. You've been dominating the business and market world for two years straight, and already you're dubbed the richest man alive. Truly, I don't think anyone could rival your wealth—not even the royalties themselves."

"You're exaggerating," I told him with a faint smirk.

But deep down, I knew there was truth in his words. I had so much money piled up I couldn't even count where it all went anymore. Half the time, I didn't know what to do with it, which was why I funneled so much into orphanages, the needy, and making sure the financial cycle didn't collapse from imbalance. It wasn't fully kindness, not fully—it was necessity.

"It's not exaggeration," he pressed on smoothly. "Which is why I want to expand our friendship. I want you to see me as a partner, someone reliable, and someone you can trust to watch your back."

"A friendship, huh?" I said, raising a brow. "That does sound enticing, honestly. I wouldn't mind a partnership with you, especially with your company. After all, you specialize in breeding and distributing horses across the world, don't you?"

That was his crown jewel. Carriages, horse breeding, horse selling. He had it all. And not just for show—his horses were bred and trained for war, which made them invaluable. Because the Empire hadn't modernized, horses remained the lifeblood of travel, warfare, and trade. His empire within the Empire boomed because of it. He was clever, monopolizing horse sales across the country until every single horse business bent under his thumb. And it didn't stop there. He had multiple ventures, far beyond horses, and it all tied back to him being the official Minister of Finance. The man had his hand in everything, controlling the Empire's finances like a puppeteer with strings.

And yet, beneath all that polish, I was certain he was the most corrupt out of them all.

"Well then, why don't we make it official? Put it in bind, so it's legal?" he suggested, his voice slick with confidence.

"Well, I'm definitely interested," I admitted, leaning back slightly. "But I don't see how this benefits me in the long run. It sounds tempting, sure, but tell me—what are you really offering me to make this deal worth binding? You don't expect me to just sign blind, do you, Lord Cross?"

He studied me carefully, his smile never faltering, eyes sharp as knives. "Of course not. How about this? I'll give you access to several of my ranches, along with sub-ownership of every business I own. That alone should be enticing enough for you, isn't it?"

That did sound enticing. Sub-ownership was no small offer—it basically meant being the second owner, one rank beneath him. It was as close as anyone could get to standing beside him in power. It was tempting, no doubt.

But I wasn't the type to jump at the first bait dangled in front of me.

I tapped my finger on the armrest and leaned forward slightly. "Hm. And what else?"