The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

Outside of the Windsor Palace.

Adonis and Fiona rode on the former's royal coach, as they headed back towards his mansion. Today's errand, being finalized.

"Ahh~ I didn't expect you could be so sly~" Fiona commented, a playful smile resting on her face.

"...I had no choice." Adonis sighed, avoiding to exchange eye contact with Fiona.

He had just made a deal that would sap out two hundred forty million gold from him. And yet, he was someone who lacked half a million gold, let alone that amount.

Luckily, they could pay eight million annually.

"At least we got off safe, didn't we?" Inquired Fiona, trying to cheer him up.

According to Damien, the Windsor Palace would soon be the center of Avarice. He did not tell them why, or how, but they chose to believe him.

That being the case, meant that the Windsor Palace wouldn't be dying down for the next decades. And yet they bought it off cheap. Yes, to them, it was cheap.

Even though William Windsor profited a lot from this, Adonis did not lose out much.

From William's perspective, he would receive eight million gold per year. Same as usual, but at the same time, not the same.

Usually, he paid tax, which was 12,5% for nobles. It was a lot, but he had no complaints. Then, maintaining the territory itself, wasted more of his earnings.

This includes the inns, the casinos, and other entertainment facilities within the west. Then the flower gardens, the fancy fountains, the shrub mazes, and other activities within the east. The makeshift forest, the animals replacing those hunted, the equipment used for hunting etc, of the north.

Just these alone would make him spend even more money. Plus, there was the fact he had to pay his thousands of workers.

Some being relatively understandable, at a few gold per year, while others, required tens of good coins due to the nature of their work. Overall... out of eight million, Williams would only keep 50% to himself.

In other words, if he were to work like this for thirty years, he would make 120 million which was his. And this was not factoring catering to his family's needs and territory.

...If factored, he might not enjoy 10% of that amount for himself.

But it would be different if he sold the Windsor Palace. Just obtaining 240 million gold upfront was a wild blessing.

No tax, no paying anyone, no maintaining anything, just pure gold. All his. Even if he used half for his family and territory, he still had more than enough to start up yet another business.

He truly did not lose out.

As a bonus, he now has the favor of two scions from two different Strongholds, and the mysterious Silver household. That in itself, was more worthwhile for a politician.

But as William struck big, so did Adonis.

"We will do a bit of renovation, but the Windsor Palace will remain the same. Of course, we will change its name too. By then, I'll establish the Void Gate there." Adonis said, Fiona listening with a smile.

The Windsor Palace was an attraction center by nature. If they expanded it by a bit, being able to accommodate those coming in from other Strongholds, they could make a lot of money.

Just charging them per entry, will be enough, but if they also supplied inns for resting, entertainment centres for enjoyment, gardens for sightseeing, etc, they could amass even more.

"I see. The Void Gate will attract costumers for the Windsor Palace?" Fiona smiled in realization at Adonis scheme.

He truly did not lose out as well.

Even if he charged everyone a silver per entry, he could still amass three million gold a day. Then including the facilities of the Windsor Palace, that will definitely force the new entrants to explore them, would increase that amount by more than ten times.

'I guess he could pay off this debt in under a month, then have some more money to spend.' Thought Fiona, as she renewed the image she had of Adonis.

"Yes. If we establish the same establishment within Romania, where the Void Gate will be created, we can amass even more wealth together." Adonis added, his eyes blazing with pure ambition.

Why stop at one establishment?

If he is planning on getting rich, he might as well as go all out. Any means possible, he would latch onto them. The Windsor Palace. The Silver Institution. He will latch into them!!

"Hmm~" Fiona hummed with vibrancy, as the idea itself was not bad. 'Together, he says...' She thought to himself.

"...So, Adonis, what will you rename the establishment? It must be flamboyant and attractive to all eyes, you know~" She chirped once more, her mood quite high.

And Adonis, attributing her mood with the fact they had a way to amass more funds, responded, "I was thinking... Red and Gold Enterprise... since it's more of a company owned by both states of Romania and Shade." He suggested.

Gold was the new royal color of Avarice city, while Red was the royal color of Romania. The name could also imply the joint collaboration between the two nations.

"It's not bad... but what if other nations fuse their domains with ours? What then~?" Fiona like the idea, but still pointed out an error to the naming system of the establishment.

If Norland joined their fray, would the name change to Red and Gold and Purple Enterprise? What if the other nine Strongholds did the same too? What then?

Would that even be possible?

"...I see. Valid point." Adonis paused, and thought about it more. Meanwhile, Fiona just quietly appreciated the natural charm exuded by the stern Adonis with a slight smile.

Oh, how I wish this could last longer. She thought.

Such peace... brought fulfillment to her life.

"How about... the Rainbow Establishment? No, that sounds... lacking." Adonis suggested, but felt embarrassed afterwards. "Maybe Rainbow Palace..? Perhaps Rainbow House... No way. I refuse that one."

"..."

The young man continued with his self suggestions, as Fiona also did nothing but watch. She truly loved such blissful moments.

But she had to help him.

No matter how cute he came off as, as his partner, she had to help him. She chuckled as she suggested, "How about the Rainbow Pavillion instead?"

"Huh?"

"Rainbow Pavillion. It sounds better, doesn't it?" She repeated, her smile growing in intensity. Unfortunately Adonis took no notice of it.

"You're right. It does sound better than my suggestions." Adonis smiled back at her as he nodded at her words.

"Hmph~ Who do you think I am? I am the beautiful, and creative Fiona~" She declared, raising her head high and again, flaunting like a baby peacock.

"...You truly are... Mhm, you are." Adonis, defeated, nodded in agreement with her words. He was used to this by now.

At this point in life, her narcissistic-like attitude came off as cute to him. Since he was sure she didn't think she was that high and mighty above everyone else.

~~~

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Evening of the day.

A young girl, who from height alone, seemed like someone who has yet to come of age, made her entrance towards one of the noble households nearby.

She was an extremely beautiful girl, with skin a bit paler than usual, and slimmer than average. Yet her figure was a notch above even top class models from earth.

Her hair was pure black, like a sea of the abyss tied into a ponytail. Her eyes as well, were like two black holes that sucked at everyone's attention around her.

"..."

She walked into the mansion of the 7th noble household of the day. The 15th considering that she went through eight households yesterday.

She was led around by a mature woman, who wore an outfit similar to hers, maid outfits... Yes, she made this errand still in her maid attire. She had grown comfortable within it.

The two casually made their way towards the lounge, where the master of the household will carter to her.

"Please stay here, madam. Master will shortly be on his way." The mature woman bowed down respectfully as she ushered Ninth towards the spacious lounge.

Quite a big room, five couches, a neat table at the center, a chimney up ahead, a desk on one side, a book shelf on the other, a small kitchen deck at the far back.

"..."

Ninth immediately scoured the room the moment she entered, making sure there was no presences hiding in the shadows. Or any existence of traps.

"...Thank you." She softly responded, sitting herself down on one of the couches. One that was obviously meant for the visitors.

"Master will shortly attend to you in a few minutes. Please forgive our rudeness for keeping you here." The mature woman, the headmaid of this household, lowered her head as she spoke.

"Mhm." Ninth nodded at that.

She gave at most two hours max to every household she visited. And she let them know beforehand, so that by a day, she could visit seven households at the least.

Maybe more, if she spends less time with every visit. Thus in scenarios like this, she would wait for thirty minutes, since her visit was sudden.

But afterwards, if nobody attended to her... she wouldn't mind causing a scene. If they dare look down on her, she wouldn't mind fixing their postures a bit.