Failing To Find…

  Fox's business ran as usual, but by now, the 9th Order Restaurant and the boutique had 'evolved', so to speak. He gained 13,119,690 credits from the boutique and single 9th Order. Now, his bank account had a ravishing 35,468,080 number in it, but still small compared to the debt he still owed the government for his ultra Mintip left arm.

  The boutique now had 11 floors, with the last 2 floors bought after the war, with their price more or less returning to normal. The 10th was costly, but the 11th not so much, since it was a dorm. With the previous 3 months’ net profit and the reserves, the boutique could afford them.

  The reserves increased to 8,434,730 credits, of which 60% were used for the 10th floor, and almost the rest for the 11th floor. The Blackflower Boutique had started their renovation for the boutique’s standard, which was a big thing this time. There was a problem, as the budget for the renovation hadn’t been paid, but Fabiola charged it to Fox after he knew about it. Right now, he was on his way to see that matter and pay for such with his money. After all, his money had been long returned with his profit from the boutique.

  As for the first 9th Order, it was doing well. After it began working, and the construction continued, closing in the last month last year for the renovations and expansion to the garage, it received an expected popular growth.

  At first, the ‘reviews’ of the 9th Order were mediocre, other than those that simply liked the food and drinks. The employees were well-mannered, too, but also trained to 1v1 any glib tongue chasing after them to embarrass them, or anything of such nature.

  That was curious, but not as important as the prizes and the offers for ‘first clients’ in the world. It was a bit too much, but it would work and make more sense after the entire food chain was opened. A good thing from this was the few small influencers who had a taste of the restaurant.

  The reason was simple. After the restaurant closed for renovating, which would be too smelly and noisy even with Courusel machinery, some people started missing the set orders in the menu and the specialties.

  One of the most influential things that kept everyone wanting the 9th Order to open again was the promise of the world-godly pizzeria’s addition, with a large installation in Sargonde, but their delicacy extended across the country. Who wouldn’t want that!?

  Still, other things making them think back to ‘that new restaurant from that crazy individual’, were the small but intricate manners their dishes were served, and the food tasted like a local restaurant. Also, Fox’s reputation as ex-CSS and Senior Minister.

  Leaving behind the eternal image of processed materials left and right, all added in one place, the 9th Order reminded them of a hand-made dish from raw to the finished product.

  Nevertheless, it did as good as it could, making a little bit of money for Fox. He hadn’t gone to the 9th Order, having just come out of the presidential precinct, but he already knew it was bustling since the New Sanctum day. Miros was busy attending it, with Colmillo spending time with him.

  Of course, she also didn’t want him to meet ‘that other girl’ Miros keeps having in his head. Although, with Miros’s genius, he would get away from Elega’s clutches sooner or later.

  It wasn’t known yet what the exact gross sales would look like in the first month, but the current profit in this half a month and a couple of days extra were already… double. Not only for the single 9th Order, but the Blackflower Boutique.

  What’s more, since the boutique was gaining so much, it only meant it had a lot more costs, especially with the prospect of an enterprise, and the Blackflower Boutique negotiating international deals. Fabiola was working hard, yet she still studied to her heart’s content. Fox was, as Luis had put it, incredibly lucky to find such an assistant employee.

  What’s more, what Fox had already in the making in Terka for himself was a big ‘bonus’, with news of the 9th Order and the best pizzeria in the world spreading in the renovated cities. This was along the numerous companies opening as many and necessary industries as possible.

  They were heavily regulated by the laws in Terka, which the new Senior Minister, who had 100+ million people watching his back’s every movement, wouldn’t dare change. Even as they were heavy, they allowed for practically anyone to come and settle their business. As long as Terka and its Ly people are heavily respected, that is.

  As for the other 9th Order restaurants in Lymoca, they were just as good as in Proteros, if not a bit less visited, from states far to the west or east. They were bound to make Fox filthy rich.

  … Fox walked to the Blackflower Boutique, much larger and crowded than ever before. Furthermore, the building had extra structures at the side, making it seem a little wider than it was. These were extra supports so that people wouldn’t feel uncomfortable walking up a tall rectangle perching into the sky.

  Immediately, one of the new additions to the boutique came for him, a young girl with gauntlets and a fully-covering yet anti-heat maid outfit. Fox smiled a bit, watching the dressing code for these attendants as the young girl motioned to grab his right wrist.

  There were others, with the young boys dressed as butlers, similarly fitting like the maid outfits, and elegant. They met people who looked a little troubled to browse in the boutique, or were new.

  “Big boss, big good boss!” The young girl grabbed his wrist. Fox looked at her youthful face and suddenly fell to the charms of a baby girl. Maybe he was growing too old, considering his lifespan, but unnecessary, dumb thoughts entered his head. Because he let the girl guide him.

  He looked at the civil bions in her ear and rings-like around the base of some of her fingers. The young girl brought Fox to the stairs, which not many took, especially coming down, as the elevator, with more room in their compartments now, inside or out, being enough for many people at once. In fact, very rarely are they fully packed, mostly at half or less than half full.

  “I already notified the manager. She’s readying to see you. The Zyckevele delegation left like 20 minutes ago. Boss, the manager said we might open stores in other countries next year! Can you believe that!?” The young girl brought Fox to the vip elevator outside and pressed a button. Fox smiled a bit, looking down at her ear and the other bions.

  “I see some traditions stay the same even nowadays.” Fox commented. The young girl looked up at him, who was like a tower for her, and caressed her ear and ring bions. “Of course! The manager gives us all these little things to communicate better in the job, but we also have some for personal use.”

  She stuck her chest out, not forgetting to show a good image for Fabiola’s sake, and kiss up. “She treats us very well. All my co-workers are orphans or of very low-income. Ah! She gives us lots of food and some clothes from the boutique, too. I look so pretty in some. I like them a lot!”

  “Hmf,” Fox blew from his nostrils in a good mood. After the elevator stopped, the maid brought Fox to the 5th floor, where more than a hundred people were walking around and sitting, drinking some tea or soda, and eating a few snacks. Most of them were pastries, but some had pizza.

  The pastries were smooth and watery, giving a lot of energy and not being too heavy or sophisticated. Still, there was an elegance and touch of a unique mark that made the whole place, filled with white beige everywhere and starry green from the chairs and tables, decent.

  They walked through, with many realizing who he was, opening their eyes wide but not pointing with their fingers. Whether they were used to having a mass-killer such a high-end individual or not, he was to be respected. In Terka, they didn’t even care about that, for that matter.

  The young girl opened the door to the staff office, where only the manage was allowed inside alone. This was Fabiola’s office. As soon as it was opened, Fabiola looked up at the door and smiled. She was sitting on the edge of her desk facing the door.

  “Thank you, lass. You can go back down,” Fabiola smiled, wearing a full suit, yet not luxurious and rather ‘opaque’ looking. The maid nodded and bowed like this was AO before closing the door, looking at Fox’s back with big eyes.

  “You look different,” Fox gestured to Fabiola before walking ahead. Fabiola smiled big time, but she pressed her lips together. Looking at her boss move around, she sobered up and came off her table. “Big brother, what do you think of the place? And you haven’t even seen the last floors.”

  “It’s bigger and much more advanced than when I left.” Fox nodded, showing his contentment. Fabiola tilted her head a lot to the right, “You did most of the work. How can you get to use those words now? They are not fit of you, this legend.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Hmph,” Fox blew air out before leaning against the smaller side of her desk. Fabiola was a young woman now, barely younger than Fox. Her facial expressions were livid, even when they were small and unimportant. “You’re in a good mood.”

  Fabiola blushed, lowering her chin and picking her hair behind her ear. She looked at him with fidgety eyes, darting them between his face and the floor before speaking with a dumb mouth, pouting her lips as she spoke. “Is it obvious? It’s not like I want your approval, but… I met this dude, he is a bit of a sports star in the academy, and he’s so patient…”

  “Not patient anymore, I ‘see’.” Fox commented, looking down at her pants with a suggestive pair of eyes. Fabiola looked down and then up, further blushing. “A- anyway, I want you to meet him, and then, tell me what you think?”

  Fabiola twiddled her index fingertips when she proposed, wanting to hear Fox’s answer, waiting as long as it was needed. But she only had to wait a couple of seconds, because Fox looked at her with a little smile. “Alright then. You prepare a meeting, when you can. Now, about the payment of those 10th and 11th floors…”

  “Ah, right.” Fabiola walked to her chair and sat on it, moving behind her desk to grab 2 piles of documents, smashing them on the desk.

  Fox understood, tilting his head to read through the front pages, which were Fabiola’s resume of the entire thing. He looked at her sideways, saying, “This is no small fee for renovations.”

  “You will be glad it was only that when you go up and see for yourself.” Fabiola smiled, her eyes brightened in pride. Since this was her expression, Fox knew it had to be good. He abstained from looking at it online, and Fabiola adhered to his orders to not show him. Now, it was time.

  They exited her office with the piles of documents in his hands. They didn’t go out again but used the vip elevators inside. There were cameras, with the security room also in the 5th floor, as they went to the 11th floor.

  “The 10th floor’s owner has already left everything in my hands, trusting such a known ‘government official’ wouldn’t stupidly deceive people after corruption has been taken down by himself. But the 11th’s owner…” Fabiola put on a complicated expression and looked upturned.

  “He’s been there since the second week started, saying he won’t leave until his payment is delivered to his own hands.” Fabiola looked at Fox, who looked at her with a casual, blank expression. Fabiola blinked, wondering what her big brother would do this time.

  The elevator doors opened, revealing Fox and Fabiola, who walked forth. Right away, Fox saw a tall and skinny middle-aged man sitting against a wall. When they showed up, his face moved to them, eyes widening as he stood up with apprehension.

  Fox took a glance around. It was elegantly bright, with this floor looking more like a small hallway in a mini-mall of niche products for the rich. There were dresses and suits of the highest visual quality one could think of, as well as those made from ‘humble’ materials, unlike in the market. A new addition with the last 2 floors were security guards, not just vigilance.

  Furthermore, there was some ‘decent’ lingerie for women, taking up ? of the floor, which was quite a bit full, with more than a third of the customers represented by males. Anyone coming out of there had smiling, bashful, or concentrated faces like they were going to war.

  Fox grinned a bit before walking to the ex-owner. Fabiola felt gladdened after seeing Fox’s reaction, but her face changed and fell a bit when seeing the bothersome sight again.

  “Good morning, eh…” The man stood up and shook hands with Fox’s left hand, since he had the documents in his right hand. Fox looked directly at the fella before saying, “Why did I come a month and a half earlier? Yes, many wonder that, too. I’m just good at my job.”

  “Take your phone out, I’ll carry the payment out.” Fox said, still looking straight at the man, who showed his phone. Fox had his out before the man noticed. The owner gulped, sweating as he became more apprehensive, “This is my account, and numbers…”

  “There,” Fox quickly completed the payment, and 7.1 million credits left his bank account. He looked at the man with the same expression, saying, “Why do this?”

  “…” The man had absolutely nothing to say. Fox’s mere image was enough to advert any situation, let alone drama. Fox uttered, remaining on the spot. “You’ve been paid, leave.”

  The man nodded and walked out, touring around Fox before walking to the exit, not even bothering with the elevator, feeling restless. He looked back twice, nearly tripping with a person who was standing outside in plain sight.

  Fabiola heaved a sigh of relief, rubbing her forehead a bit with an upwards swiping motion before facing Fox, “Thanks. That went much better than I thought it would. Although I wouldn’t have minded seeing him want to jump just to get out of the building as soon as possible.”

  “You’ve become bad,” Fox lifted his eyebrows, smirking. Fabiola shrugged, looking at him with curved eyes. Fox spoke in a simple manner, “Is that my fault?”

  “Anyhow,” Fox and Fabiola smiled before he turned to the outside with his arm around her shoulders. Fabiola leaned her head on his shoulder after giving him a look to see if he was fine with touch. Fox went, “I’m going to the 9th Order, Miros told me to go and check it. You’ve done something to be proud of. Don’t look that for me, just look around.”

  They stood in the open, watching part of Proteros City. Looking down was the people entering and exiting the boutique. This place had completely changed in more than a year and a half. Fox could believe it, but Fabiola had to see it as her success, too. She did so much for this.

  “But yes,” Fox voiced, turning to Fabiola, who perked her head and looked at his face with twinkling eyes. Fox pinched her chin before placing his hand on her left shoulder, “I am proud of you, Fabiola.”

  “See? It is free to praise someone when they deserve it.” Fabiola smiled from ear to ear, showing her beauty and those rows of teeth. Fox shook his head, before she asked with a pink blush on her cheeks, “Can I… hug you?”

  “… Come here,” Fox tilted his head to the right, letting it hang, before articulating. Fabiola softly formed a thin smile and stepped forth thrice, lifting her shoulders to bury her right profile face into his torso, holding him tight. Fox placed his hands on her shoulder blades after a bit.

  “Mmn,” Fabiola’s voice vibrated on his clothes and a bit on his skin. “Showing you some affection is also free of charge. Should do it more often, don’t you think?”

  “See? You’re already spoiled. I should’ve just thrown you off the building.” Fox responded in kind. Fabiola widened her eyes before looking at the city, reprimanding him. “How can you think of such things!? Now I’m scared to be here! Oh no! I have to call someone to come for me. Look at what you have done. Sigh, I guess I can afford a little break. You can leave, smelly bro.”

  … Fox went to the 9th Order restaurant, which was bigger than when he last saw the place, with a better and larger kitchen, and a wider storage. He was walked inside by an employee wearing a smile, expecting him.

  “Over here, boss. A good spot was reserved for your visit,” the employee brought him to a place where lights were a little dimmed on purpose. It was a bit comical, but it did feel better for him to stay at a place like this to eat.

  Fox didn’t mind and behaved like a usual customer, asking for a small pizza and cold water. The taste was exactly as it was in the pizzeria he worked as a bodyguard once upon a time. It made him remind those days, especially with some couples, and some families having fun in warmth.

  After having his meal, with several people attracted to his presence in the pizzeria, Fox went to check the establishment and saw how everyone worked. There was nothing excellent or strange going on, just some people who worked hard in the pizzeria of ‘that scary young man’.

  It might be a little scary to them, but while the pay was nothing irregular, the treatment was just right. All in all, they worked neatly and ordered, something to be expected of Miros.

  After coming out of the restaurant, Fox received a call from one of PSD White Bloods close to the representative captain, Lian. He frowned at first, before replying, “If they are wiling, bring them to a place for me to meet them. I’ll be there in an hour.”

  Fox hung and then entered a vehicle with another White Blood driving it. This time, he headed to one of the public centers supporting a specific part of the population who didn’t have the means. This one center in specific treated those from Preut.

  It wasn’t that Fox wanted help, or ask it, but that there was just at least one little person he found after a mere hour of letting the PSD work its ‘magic’. All this time, he has just been thinking about it, and after receiving some confirmation of which people were found, he decided.

  … 10 minutes of driving later. Fox stopped a couple of blocks from the center, walking to there thereon. When he arrived, there was quite the crowd of people outside, mostly wearing overused clothes and shoes, waiting in line to enter the aid center.

  Some people looked at him when he walked by the line and ignored them like he owned the place. But after Fox was recognized, they fell silent. To him, they had nothing to say.

  Fox didn’t pay them attention and went inside, the doors opened by the guard, which was just a door holder, an obese middle-aged woman who didn’t know what else to do. Fox nodded a bit and stepped in, immediately facing the situation inside.

  There were dozens of people in the same clothing, although some were better dressed, walking around with a hot drink in their hands, and some sharing a medium-long plate of… snacks. Fox felt a strange remembrance to the public markets in Prona and Prequa, stopping for a few moments, watching everything.

  “What are you looking for, sir?” An old lady walked before him and asked with her hands clasped together. Fox looked at her and felt she was from Preut, too. For a moment, he was paralyzed. He came and walked in here just to look for a person, but he found ‘that person’ in everyone.

  “Hah,” Fox blew some air from his mouth. “I’m looking for a person named Melissa. She is one of the founders of places like these. I want to see her.”

  “Oh…” The old lady’s face changed, but she didn’t refuse. Saying nothing, she brought Fox across the reception, which was a large, widespread ‘V’ with the center attending dozens of newcomers entering the aid center.

  Passing through some double doors, Fox was guided into an isolated room with a single door. The old lady went in, with Fox opening the door to see a wide space where a middle-aged woman carried a young child with her other arm holding a clipboard, reading it with a frown.

  The old lady looked at her, holding her fingers before turning to the exit, with Fox already slowly walking in. Fox looked at the woman, whose child was sound asleep with the head on her shoulder. With the light directly from above, it didn’t seem like a place where a mother and her child should to be.

  “Melissa.” Fox voiced, not even doubting the woman’s identity. The woman turned, staring at him in the way one would when being bothered but still paying attention.

  Clap- clic cluc!

  Melissa’s eyes grew shocked. The grip of her arms weakened a bit, nearly dropping her clipboard and child, letting go of the clipboard to grab her child. Then, she looked at Fox as her child woke up and looked at her, confused.

  …