Chapter 32: A Business Proposal Made by a Young Woman Who Was Far More Dangerous Than She Appeared

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: A Business Proposal Made by a Young Woman Who Was Far More Dangerous Than She Appeared

A soft knock came from the other side of the room.

"Lady Aurora, the guest has arrived."

"Send him in."

The door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing an expensive dark coat entered with his attendant, only to stop almost immediately when he saw the young woman sitting calmly on the other side of the room.

Aurora rested one arm against the chair, her posture relaxed and confident, while her long light-blue hair fell neatly over her shoulders.

I had expected an older merchant, perhaps one of Starlight’s senior executives, but instead i found himself standing before a young woman who looked far too young to be discussing the purchase of properties worth enormous sums of money.

"Are you... Lady Aurora?" he asked.

Aurora gave him a small, polite smile.

"You must be Mr. Renald. Please, take a seat. We have quite a few things to discuss."

The man slowly sat down, still unable to hide his curiosity.

So she’s really one of the people managing Starlight?

He had heard enough about the organization to know that it was no ordinary merchant company, and its rapid expansion throughout the kingdom had already attracted the attention of many influential families.

Aurora poured herself a cup of tea before calmly opening the documents placed on the table.

"I have reviewed the properties your company currently owns in Valeris, as well as several of your warehouses along the western trade route."

The man’s expression changed slightly.

"You’ve investigated that much already?"

"Of course."

Aurora turned one of the documents toward him.

"Starlight is preparing to establish a permanent commercial presence in Valeris, but we are not interested in opening a single shop and calling it a branch. We intend to establish a complete commercial district of our own, beginning with luxury goods, magical tools, monster materials, and high-class dining, followed by an auction hall and a private market for collectors."

She tapped several locations marked on the map.

"These properties are connected to the main road, these two are close to the noble district, and this warehouse here connects directly to the eastern trade route. We want all of them."

Mr. Renald stared at the map.

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"You understand that those properties are among my company’s most valuable assets?"

"Yes."

Aurora smiled as she closed the document.

"That is why I’m prepared to pay considerably more than their current market value."

The man blinked.

"How much more?"

"Twenty percent above the current valuation."

His eyebrows immediately rose.

Twenty percent?

That alone was already an enormous amount.

Aurora continued before he could respond.

"If you believe the valuation is still insufficient, we can increase the offer after an independent assessment. I have no interest in wasting weeks arguing over a price when Starlight has already decided that those properties are necessary for our expansion."

The man’s fingers slowly tapped against the armrest.

"So you aren’t here to negotiate whether Starlight will purchase them."

Aurora looked directly into his eyes.

"No."

Her smile became slightly wider.

"I’m here to determine how quickly we can complete the purchase."

The room fell silent.

The man couldn’t help but stare at her.

This girl...

She wasn’t speaking like someone hoping to make a deal.

She was speaking like someone who had already decided to buy the entire district and was merely giving him the opportunity to name his price.

"Lady Aurora, even if your company has the resources to make such an offer, purchasing that many properties at once could create considerable complications. Several noble families have interests in that district, and some of them may not appreciate Starlight expanding so aggressively."

Aurora calmly folded her hands.

"Then we’ll purchase the properties they are willing to sell and establish our businesses around the ones they refuse to part with."

She paused for a moment.

"And if someone attempts to interfere with our operations simply because they dislike our presence, we’ll deal with that when it happens."

Her tone remained perfectly polite.

That somehow made the words more unsettling.

The man forced a small laugh.

"You certainly seem confident in Starlight’s ability to handle opposition."

"Confidence has very little to do with it."

Aurora lifted her teacup.

"We simply prepare for every possibility before making a decision."

The man leaned back.

Then why does she look so calm?

She’s discussing enough money to make some noble families hesitate, yet she doesn’t seem even slightly concerned.

He glanced toward the documents again.

"And what exactly does Starlight intend to do with the district once you’ve acquired it?"

Aurora’s eyes brightened slightly.

"We intend to make Valeris one of the kingdom’s most important commercial cities."

She pointed toward another section of the map.

"A luxury market here, a high-class restaurant and hotel near the noble district, an auction hall for rare magical artifacts and monster materials, and a larger warehouse network connecting Valeris to the surrounding cities. We will also establish a private trading center for merchants who wish to purchase Starlight’s products in bulk."

She moved her finger across the map.

"The goal isn’t simply to sell goods. We want merchants to come to us because doing business through Starlight will be more profitable than doing it anywhere else."

The man listened carefully, his expression becoming more serious.

"That would change the entire commercial structure of Valeris."

"Exactly."

Aurora smiled.

"That is the point."

For a moment, the man said nothing.

Then a dangerous thought crossed his mind.

If Starlight is putting this much money into Valeris, perhaps I could demand an even higher price. They clearly need these properties, and if I delay the sale—

Aurora’s eyes shifted toward him.

"You were about to ask for more."

The man froze.

"I..."

"You’re free to."

Aurora calmly set down her cup.

"If you believe the properties are worth more, name your price. Starlight can afford it."

The man’s throat tightened.

"But understand something."

Her smile remained gentle.

"We are willing to pay more for something valuable. We are not willing to be treated as fools."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavier.

Aurora lifted one hand and casually flicked her fingers.

The door behind the man opened.

One young woman entered.

Then another.

Then another.

Six young women in elegant maid uniforms quietly stepped into the room, each carrying a weapon that looked completely inappropriate for a servant—a massive war hammer, a greatsword, a long spear, twin axes, a heavy chained weapon, and an enormous curved blade.

They positioned themselves behind Aurora without saying a word.

The man’s face stiffened.

Aurora glanced at them briefly before looking back at him.

"Starlight is a business, Mr. Renald. We prefer peaceful transactions."

The man gave an awkward laugh.

"Of course."

"But we are also careful about who we allow to conduct business with us."

His smile became increasingly forced.

"I assure you, Lady Aurora, there will be no misunderstanding."

"Good."

Aurora leaned back into her chair.

"Then we can continue."

The six women quietly remained where they were, while Mr. Renald sat a little straighter than before.

He had entered the room thinking he was meeting a young woman who represented a wealthy company.

Now he understood that he had underestimated her from the moment he walked through the door.

And judging from the map spread across the table, Starlight wasn’t planning to become another successful merchant organization.

They were planning to reshape the entire commercial landscape of Valeris.

The discussion had gone on for some time, but eventually, the final terms were settled.

Aurora placed the documents neatly on the table and gave them one last glance before looking back at the man sitting across from her.

"Then we have an agreement. Starlight will acquire the properties and establish our new branch in the eastern district, including the commercial buildings surrounding it. We will also cover the necessary renovations and development costs, so you will have no reason to worry about what happens after the sale."

The man nodded quickly, still somewhat overwhelmed by how easily everything had been decided.

"I understand. Considering the price you offered, I would be a fool to refuse."

"You would," Aurora replied with a faint smile. "And if the development proceeds as planned, the value of the surrounding district will increase considerably. That is why we are not merely purchasing a few buildings. We are investing in the entire area."

Her words were calm, but there was an unmistakable confidence behind them, as though she had already considered every possible outcome before the meeting had even begun.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Excuse me."

The door opened, and a young woman with long golden-white hair stepped inside. Her elegant appearance and composed expression immediately caught the man’s attention.

Aurora turned toward her.

"Samantha, you’re here."

"Yes."

Samantha approached the table and gave a polite bow.

"Is everything settled?"

"Yes," Aurora replied. "The properties have been secured, and the owner has agreed to our offer. From this point onward, I’ll leave the remaining arrangements to you."

Samantha glanced toward the documents, then toward the man.

"I see."

The man swallowed quietly.

Another one?

He had already spent the entire meeting trying to understand Aurora, yet now another young woman had entered as though managing a major business expansion across an entire district was nothing more than an ordinary task.

And judging by the way Aurora spoke to her, Samantha was not merely another employee.

"She will handle the contracts, construction arrangements, local suppliers, and the establishment of the new branch," Aurora continued. "She’ll also determine which businesses should be brought into the district and which should be removed if they interfere with our plans."

"I understand," Samantha said. "I’ll make sure everything proceeds without disrupting our existing operations."

The man forced a smile.

"Of course. I look forward to working with you."

Samantha smiled politely.

"Likewise. Since this is a rather large investment, I hope you’ll understand that we will be thorough with every part of the agreement."

"Naturally."

He hesitated for a moment before looking between the two women.

Just who exactly are these people?

The first one had negotiated the purchase of several properties without the slightest hesitation, while the second had casually accepted responsibility for developing an entire district.

Neither of them looked old enough to possess that kind of authority.

Yet the more he looked at them, the more he felt that asking unnecessary questions would be a very bad idea.

Aurora rose from her seat and gave him a graceful smile.

"Then I believe our business is finished."

"Yes."

He stood as well and bowed.

"Thank you for your time, Lady Aurora."

Aurora nodded.

"Take care on your way home."

As the man left the room, Samantha quietly watched the door close behind him.

"He seemed rather nervous."

"He’s probably still trying to understand what just happened," Aurora said, picking up her cup. "Let him. As long as he keeps his word, there won’t be any problems."

Samantha nodded.

"I’ll begin the preparations immediately."

"Good. I want the new branch operating as soon as possible."

"Understood."

The meeting had finally come to an end, and the last of the documents had been gathered from the table when Aurora rose from her seat, her expression remaining as composed as ever.

Several young women in maid uniforms were waiting near the doorway, each standing perfectly straight with their hands respectfully folded in front of them. They had been silent throughout the entire discussion, but their presence alone made it clear that they were not ordinary servants.

Aurora glanced toward them.

"That will be all for today. You may return to your duties."

"Yes, Lady Aurora."

Their response came almost simultaneously, followed by a respectful bow.

One of the maids hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Lady Aurora, if there is anything else you require, please allow us to assist you."

Aurora gave her a faint smile.

"There’s no need. The arrangements have already been decided."

"Understood, Lady Aurora."

The maid bowed again before stepping back with the others.

Aurora watched them leave, then returned her attention to the documents in her hand.

For the members of the Seekers Order, casual conversation with one of the Four Black Roses was never something they would take lightly. The hierarchy of the Eclipse Order was absolute, and the Four Black Roses stood directly beneath the highest authority. Their strength, influence, and responsibilities were far beyond those of ordinary members.

Even within Starlight, where they could appear as elegant young women managing businesses and servants, everyone beneath them understood exactly who they were.

Aurora glanced toward the closed door.

"They have become quite disciplined."

"Indeed, Lady Aurora."

The response came from another maid standing nearby.

"You may continue with your duties."

"Yes, Lady Aurora."

The maids bowed once more before leaving the room.

Aurora remained alone for a moment, looking through the documents regarding the new properties they had acquired.

A faint smile appeared on her lips as she thought of their Master and the Eclipse that had brought them all together.

"Everything is proceeding as Master intended."

There was a quiet admiration in her eyes, almost as though she were completely absorbed in the thought of him, before she finally closed the document and returned to her duties.

"Of course, we cannot disappoint Master."

With that, Aurora left the room, already thinking about what else she could accomplish for the Eclipse Order.