"Seize the guy, boys! Take him to my office for some punishment!" Brian barked with a grin. "This girl is my date now!"
I saw him lick his lips as his eyes crawled over Alice. My anger boiled. I shoved my chair back and stood.
"Come any closer and you'll regret it. All of you."
I was just about to upgrade my strength with the three remaining CP I had when David—the entrance guard—stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Brian.
"With all due respect, young master," David said firmly, "these customers paid for their food. As per our restaurant's pledge, we strive to give our guests the best experience, and this… this is not it."
"So," Brian said slowly, "you're the one who let these cockroaches in?"
"Yes, young master." David bowed his head.
Slap!
The sound cracked through the room.
Brian's palm slammed into David's bald forehead with brutal force, snapping his head to the side.
"You're fired," Brian roared.
"Sir—"
"With immediate effect." His voice left no room for argument.
The other customers watched in silence, eyes averted, clearly unwilling to interfere with Brian's tantrum.
I noticed one of the waitresses hurriedly making a call. The police, maybe?
Brian's guards surged forward all at once.
I swung first, my fist flying into one of them in a clean uppercut. The man went sprawling backward, crashing into empty tables and splintering furniture.
But there were too many.
I didn't see the one who grabbed me from behind, his arms locking around my waist as he lifted me clean off the floor. I kicked and struggled, but it was useless. Others quickly seized my arms, pinning me so tightly I couldn't move.
"Mark!" Alice cried out, her voice trembling. Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please… don't hurt him!"
They did the opposite.
One of them slammed a punch into my face, and Brian giggled in delight.
"That's payback, brat," he sneered. "Nobody messes with me and walks away."
He leaned in close, breath hot against my ear. "And the best part? You can't do a damn thing about it. I own the police. I own this city."
His laughter scraped against my nerves.
So, l spat straight into his face.
The guards immediately tightened their grip, and Brian, furious, slapped me hard across the cheek. Honestly, it felt like being hit by a little girl.
"You miserable wretch!" he screamed. "You've sealed your fate. Pray you even make it out alive!"
Alice was sobbing openly now. The entire restaurant was in turmoil. David stood frozen, fired and powerless, unable to do anything.
The guards began dragging me away as I kicked helplessly at the air. The waitresses lined the sides, watching as I was hauled off.
It felt like no one could stand in Brian's way.
Or so I thought.
A sleek red Ferrari pulled up outside.
The sharp click of stilettos against tile silenced the room. Even the guards paused mid-step.
"Oh, it's Lady Clarice." "Finally, maybe we can eat in peace."
Murmurs began spreading from the few remaining customers. Others had already fled when the chaos started.
I turned toward the sound and froze.
A woman in her thirties strode in, exuding authority. A dim jade two-piece hugged her figure; tailored trousers, short jacket left casually open over a white blouse that did nothing to hide her generous cleavage.
She didn't need an introduction. Power rolled off her in waves.
She removed her sunglasses, flicking her red hair aside as the staff bowed deeply.
"What's going on here?" Her voice was calm, but commanding.
"Mom!" Brian brightened instantly, rushing toward her.
She ignored him completely.
Instead, she walked straight to Alice, who was shaking and crying.
"What happened, girl?"
Alice pointed toward me, unable to speak through her sobs.
Lady Clarice turned, eyes narrowing. "Put him down."
"No, Mom!" Brian protested. "That brat hit me this morning! And now he came here destroying our restaurant, throwing chairs around and driving customers away!"
"You fucking liar!" I snapped.
Lady Clarice glanced at me, then back at her son.
"I think he's a spy from our enemies," Brian added quickly. "Trying to bring our company down! Look—most of our customers ran away because of him!"
When his mother didn't seem convinced, Brian turned and pointed at a waitress who appeared to be the head server.
"Right, Amina? Tell Mom what these parasites did! How they destroyed the tables and plates!"
Amina lowered her gaze and stayed silent, fear written all over her face.
Luckily, David, the now fired guard stepped forward and told Lady Clarice everything.
Brian immediately began arguing back, spewing lies, his voice obnoxiously loud as if volume alone would make them believable.
In anger, he made a fatal mistake of shoving Alice and called her a bitch who came to seduce customers.
I broke free from the guards, sprinted forward, vaulted over a table, and launched myself into the air.
My fist slammed into Brian's face in a perfect Superman punch.
He hit the floor hard.
The waitresses gasped. The restaurant erupted into chaos again.
I didn't even look at him.
I went straight to Alice, pulling her into my arms as she clung to me, sobbing against my chest.
Lady Clarice pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is a disaster."
She glanced at Amina. "Thank you for calling me before this got worse."
"Yes, ma'am," Amina bowed.
Then Clarice faced me.
"I apologize for my son's behavior," she said evenly. "As compensation, we're prepared to offer you anything within our power. Anything."
At least the mother had sense, unlike her son.
"Well then." I grinned. "Let me buy this restaurant—for her."
I patted Alice's head.
She stared at me, stunned.
Everyone else, customers, guards, waitresses, even Lady Clarice—gaped in disbelief.
Then someone in the back scoffed,
"They hit the kid too hard. Now he's talking nonsense."
Laughter followed.
I ignored them, locking eyes with Lady Clarice.
[Level 2 Charm Skill activated on Lady Clarice.]
[Target shows notable interest.]
Her lips curved slightly.
"Do you know how much a restaurant like this costs?" she asked.
"No," I replied calmly. "But I don't care. After how we were treated, this place would be better under someone like Alice. Name your price."
She gestured around.
"This is a Michelin-star restaurant. Nine hundred square meters. About fifty staff members who cost more per month than most people earn in a year."
Her smile sharpened.
"Sixty-five million dollars. Can you afford that?"
Othe people in the background began whispering.
"Sixty-five million?!" "She's mocking him." "No way some nobody can afford that."
I slid my hand into my pocket and summoned the black card.
"Cool," I said. "Bring the machine."
Alice stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "Mark! What are you doing?!"
"Buying you a restaurant." I smiled softly.
"It costs millions!"
"So?" I shrugged. "You're priceless, remember."
Clarice snapped her fingers, amused, and a waitress brought the machine.
I took it, turned my back for privacy, and entered 70,000,000.
Ding.
Payment successful.
I handed it back.
"It's done. The restaurant's hers."
Clarice looked at the balance in stunned silence.
She had demanded 65 million dollars, but to crash all their ego, and for another reason, l sent 70 million dollars.
The room lost its mind.
The guards and waitresses bowed deeply in front of us.
I felt like a king and was enjoying the moment, but then l stepped aside, giving Alice all the spotlight while l clapped my hands.
"Congratulations, Alice. You're now the owner of EagleCrest Dining Restaurant."
She was completely speechless.
TBC