After leaving the bath, Alear dressed in clean, comfortable, yet formal clothes: a black suit without a tie, with a white shirt underneath. He then headed to the mansion's main kitchen.
Lotte was supervising a few maids who were preparing the ingredients for lunch. Upon seeing him enter, she gave a polite bow.
"Alear-sama."
"Prepare something suitable for receiving guests later…" he said in a calm tone. "The Phenex family should arrive by late afternoon. Nothing excessively formal, but of good quality. They should have no reason to complain about the hospitality."
"Understood. I will make the preparations immediately…" Lotte replied efficiently. "Do you desire anything specific for the menu?"
"Surprise me. Just maintain a level appropriate for high-ranking nobles."
"Yes, Alear-sama."
Satisfied, Alear turned around and returned to the office.
The room was quiet now. Maria and Mio were no longer there; they had likely returned to their room after the lively conversation (and teasing) from earlier. The office was empty, illuminated only by the soft light coming through the windows.
Alear sat down once again in the main chair, leaning back with a low sigh.
His thoughts inevitably returned to the conversation he had with Venelana the day before, right after their intimate moment. She had laid out her entire plan on how she intended to use the meeting with the Phenex family to create an advantageous situation, one capable of annulling Rias's engagement without causing major political damage to either the Gremory or her own family. In the end, she had looked directly at him with a gentle smile laden with ulterior intentions, implying how grateful—and even pleased—she would be if he helped her get out of that marriage, promising to "reward" him appropriately for it.
Well, at that moment, she was still recovering from the small "lesson" he had given her. Because of that, he was not surprised by the heavy flirting nor the almost palpable desire she displayed while implying she would offer her own body as a form of reward. In his view, it was something predictable; after all, he doubted that, after that experience, she would be capable of feeling the same way about any other man.
He had even noticed that her emotional fluctuations resembled a mixture of fascination, attachment, and a distorted form of love—something that felt strangely familiar. It reminded him of Medb in his previous life. After the Fifth Singularity, when she was summoned by him, her nature had not changed: she was still driven by the desire to conquer strong warriors. However, after being "defeated" and "subjugated" in bed by him, her obsession had turned entirely toward him, losing interest in any other man.
Yesterday, while observing Venelana, he recognized similar signs. It was as if he were witnessing the same process repeat itself, and by all indications, she would hardly be able to look at her own husband—or any other man—in the same way again…
She had probably become addicted to him…
Which was quite ironic, since she truly believed she could manipulate him simply by offering her own body.
It was almost adorable how much she overestimated herself.
"Women…" he murmured quietly, with a hint of amusement. "They always think their bodies are the best bargaining chip…"
He lightly shook his head, dismissing those thoughts. There was still some time before the Phenex family's arrival, and he decided to use it to activate his unique ability.
With a simple mental command, he summoned the [Fate Gacha] interface.
The familiar screen appeared before his eyes, emitting its characteristic glow.
"Let's see what we have today…"
Without hesitation, he activated the roll.
The interface spun in a golden vortex for a few seconds before stabilizing. Then, an intense glow—much stronger than usual—burst from the screen.
He slightly raised his eyebrows, surprised by the result.
He had obtained [Golden Rule], an ability that originally belonged to Gilgamesh!
A kind of near-absolute authority over wealth and fortune. According to legend, Gilgamesh claimed all the treasures of the world as his own, possessing infinite riches in his Golden Capital, where the prototypes of numerous Noble Phantasms were stored.
Although, at first glance, it was not a combat-oriented ability, its value was undeniable. In the current world, it had been slightly adapted: no matter how much he spent—whether on mansions, armies, artifacts, political bribes, or extravagant luxuries—the money would always find a way back to him, often in unexpected and extremely advantageous ways.
Alear let out a low chuckle, still somewhat incredulous at having obtained such an ability. While it wasn't geared toward combat, its value was unquestionable: it was an absolute trump card in the political and strategic field. With it, financial limitations practically ceased to exist. He could invest far more freely, act without the constant concern of losses, and, in practice, would never risk bankruptcy.
In essence, he now possessed the ability to sustain the lifestyle of an eccentric billionaire indefinitely, without ever worrying about resources.
With a casual gesture, he closed the interface and leaned back in his chair. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips as a faint excitement—closer to anticipation than anything else—ran through his body. Unable to ignore that feeling, he decided to test the newly acquired ability after fully assimilating it.
"Let's test it, then…"
Using his phone, he accessed both the human market—through offshore accounts he already possessed—and Devilnet, the Underworld's network. Within minutes, he made a series of aggressive investments: shares in major human companies in the technology and energy sectors, as well as significant capital injections into demonic companies involved in trade between the two worlds, such as magical crystal mining, artifact production, and transportation.
Practically all the remaining liquid fortune of the Häagenti and Gäap Houses was mobilized. An amount that, for most nobles, would be considered absurd to move in a single day.
After finalizing the transactions, Alear leaned back in his chair and waited.
It didn't even take ten minutes for the first returns to appear.
Stocks in the human world began to rise at an abnormally rapid pace. Some of the companies he had invested in announced unexpected partnerships and technological advancements that boosted their value. In the Underworld, through Devilnet, newly signed contracts were already generating expressive profits, suppliers sent notifications informing improved conditions and extra bonuses thanks to advance payments.
Alear watched the numbers rising on his phone screen with apparent calm, though his eyes showed growing interest.
He invested again. This time, an even larger amount. He acquired land, minority stakes in mid-sized companies in the Underworld, and even made strategic political donations to smaller houses that could become valuable allies in the future.
The result repeated itself.
Money didn't just return—it multiplied. Each investment seemed to attract new opportunities, as if the very concept of "wealth" bent itself to flow back to him. It was almost as if the entire universe were in debt, with interest compounding every second, eager to repay it as quickly as possible.
He completely lost track of time making those investments. The more he spent, the more wealth flowed back, often through unexpected channels: extra dividends, sudden partnerships, accelerated asset appreciation, even political donations that generated favors and lucrative contracts in return—in essence, he had infinite money…
It was at that moment that a light knock sounded on the door.
"Alear-sama…" Lotte entered with a respectful bow. "The Phenex family has just arrived. They are waiting in the main reception room."
Alear calmly put his phone away and stood up.
"Tell them to come in."
A few minutes later, the office's double doors opened.
Two guests entered.
The first was Lord Phenex, a man of imposing and elegant appearance, with well-groomed blond hair, almost golden, and piercing blue eyes. His face had aristocratic features, a defined jawline, and a naturally proud posture. He wore a dark red suit with golden details, conveying wealth and authority.
Beside him was Lady Phenex, his wife. She was a woman in the prime of maturity, extremely beautiful and voluptuous. Her long golden-blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail with a red ribbon, with a few loose strands delicately framing her face. Her large, expressive eyes were a vibrant blue, conveying a serene and confident calm. Her face was delicate, with refined features and a subtle, gentle smile on her lips.
She wore a long, form-fitting dress in deep red with golden details. The moderate neckline generously revealed the cleavage between her large, well-shaped breasts, while the flowing fabric hugged her slim waist and wide hips, descending in elegant layers to the floor. A golden necklace with green stones and a red pendant adorned her neck, matching her refined earrings. Her hands were elegantly clasped in front of her body, conveying a composed and graceful posture.
The two greeted Alear with impeccable politeness.
"Archduke Häagenti…" said Lord Phenex in a firm and respectful voice, slightly bowing his head. "It is an honor to be received in your residence."
Lady Phenex gave an elegant bow, the gentle smile remaining on her lips.
"We thank you for your hospitality."
Alear nodded courteously and gestured toward the set of sofas at the side of the office.
"Please, have a seat."
The three of them sat down. Alear took the main sofa, facing the Phenex couple. He glanced at Lotte, who was discreetly waiting near the door.
"Lotte, bring drinks and something light to eat…"
"Immediately, Alear-sama."
Lotte bowed and left silently.
Alear turned his attention back to the two guests, his gaze calm and direct.
"So… may I know the reason why the Phenex family wished to meet with me?"
Lord Phenex exchanged a brief glance with his wife before answering, his expression serious:
"Yes. As you may already imagine, we came to discuss the old promise between our families…"
___________________
(A/N: Want to get ahead?
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