"I'm sorry for our earlier intrusion, we just thought you needed the help is all." Stephen said, in a handshake with the man. "Do you mind if I ask of your name?"
"Cillian Appleton." The man let out a soft sigh. "And honestly? I'm thankful you stepped in. Been so damn busy, the day slipped my mind."
Then he added. "I'm sorry. You are?"
"Stephen Willows." He said, with a soft bow. His training in the kingdom certainly didn't go to waste. "And this here is my brother, Tello."
He gestured back.
"Nice to meet you," Cillian said, offering Tello a nod.
"In fact, he was the one that came up with the idea to read out the poem for your wife. I merely put it into motion."
"Well, thank you for that, young man." Cillian looked at him with a small smile. "Still, Willows. That's not a name I hear often around here."
Stephen hadn't either. That was why he chose it.
"We're from Rennes. Just two traveling merchants, trying to carve out a life in these times."
"Merchants, eh?" Cillian raised a brow. "Suppose it's fair of me to ask—what do you sell?"
"Oh, nothing at the moment," Stephen said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "We only just arrived in the city."
"I see. Well, you'll find your footing soon enough. This town eats the lazy, but it leaves room for the clever."
"That's what we're banking on..." Stephen said. Then he stood straighter. "But you seem like a man who's found his footing already. May I ask what's your business?"
"Nothing fancy. I own a few bars down by Seventeenth. The nightlife crowd, mostly. That's where the money is, if anywhere."
"Perfect!" Stephen clapped his hands.
"Hm?" Cillian tilted his head. "You into the nightlife too?"
"Yes. We actually came here to open a brothel."
Silence.
Then Tello glanced to Cillian, watching his eyes, his hands. His mouth.
And just like he had done during his own conversation with Stephen.
Cillian burst laughing, one hand waving in the air. "Lemme tell you boys. You'd be better off opening a bar or a pet store or something, Love Supreme has the brothel scene locked down. You'd be throwing your money away going down that road."
Tello glanced back to Stephen, who didn't miss a beat.
"Oh, we understand this." Stephen said easily. "That's why we even want to make the brothel to begin with."
"Wait, are you not listening to me?" Cillian said. "The brothel scene is locked down already, with four locks and two chains for good measure. You can't break in."
"You can't break in if you're doing the same thing everyone else is doing." Stephen smiled, and Tello swallowed.
Witnessing it in real time was almost magical. Seeing the exact moment he drew you in, with words that left so much room for interpretation, you couldn't help but be curious.
And Cillian took the bait.
"...What do you mean by that?" he asked, voice low, posture shifting as he leaned closer.
Stephen's voice dropped with him. Confiding, like he was offering a secret.
"Well, for starters... the whole brothel scene hasn't been touched since Verre came to town."
That was a fact, maybe one only he and a couple other extremely horny game players known. The main game featured about three brothels you could enter, and there were never any that had a list as significant as Love Supreme's.
They didn't offer refreshments, or massages, or allow threesomes. That was what made Love Supreme rise to the top. It was the first to do all three. It became a monolith. And once it did, no one dared challenge the format. Why would they? Everyone believed it had already been perfected.
"That may be true," Cillian said, "but what's a revamp on something already perfected? That's like saying you've made a better drink than red wine, or a liquor better than rum. It's impossible."
In normal situations it would've been.
But Stephen was armed with way more than current knowledge.
"That's where you're wrong. The floodgates have yet to be opened, far from it."
"What floodgates..."
Stephen coughed, in order to say what he was about to. He needed to drop his mask, he wasn't speaking as Willows anymore. But as Stephen Garnt, the trash dating sim gamer.
And he spoke. For a longer time than he'd expected.
But here were a couple of the things he mentioned... a couple of things that would be on the list of the brothel:
Full-Fantasy Rooms:—Roleplay? No. Full-body transformation. Using magic we can transform our girls into anything YOU desire!
Unlimited Finish:—One shot? No. You go until you can't. We'll hydrate you, supplement you, aid you with magic and clap you back to life.
Companion Roulette:—Want to be surprised? Spin the wheel. The house decides your pleasure. Might be twins. Might be triplets. Might be something... else.
No Shame Booths:—Windows open. Lights on. Let the others watch. Let them join. Your call!
24/7 "Wet Nurses":—Lactation play, nurturing kinks, and maternal warmth, play out that scenario you've always wanted!
Pet Play:—Collars, cat-ears, leashes, whips and more!
Sensory Denial and Overload Packages:—Want to lose yourself, using magic we can block out all your senses, or heighten every single one making you a live nerve wire!
Aftercare Emporium:—Blankets. Hugs. Hot cocoa. Deep talks. A therapist, if you need one. All part of the package.
"And the best part," Stephen continued, "unlike most brothels that shame women for entering, this one would welcome both genders, creating a more diverse and inclusive environment."
Then, silence.
He exhaled deeply, trying to reaffix the polite mask to his face, though it was hard to after everything he'd just said.
"That was..." Cillian muttered, looking down at the ground. "That was something."
Tello swallowed. To him, that pitch was more than enough. It was innovative, bold, and even progressive. Far better than anything Love Supreme or anyone currently offered. But Cillian didn't seem fully convinced. Or maybe...
"That was..." Cillian repeated, his hands slowly clenching at his sides. "If done right... that idea might change everything. But there's one issue."
Stephen didn't move. "There is?"
"You just handed me a damn good idea," Cillian said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why are you so sure I won't just take it and run?"
'That's why he helped him back there.' Stephen thought.
In this city, barons and nobles could be ruthless in business, but personal debts? That was a different game. To the man that helped him honor his anniversary, in front of his wife and peers. He felt indebted. And that was enough leverage.
"Maybe it's because Verre's grip on the scene is so tight, no one wants their name on the front line. Or maybe..." Stephen said, relaxing into his words, "I believe you're a better man than that."
Cillian nodded softly. "Well, you're right about one of those."
He reached into his coat.
"So, when do you plan to debut this idea?"
"As soon as possible. While the nightlife still has heat."
"Do you already have the finances?"
"Not yet. We're still looking for investors."
Cillian fished a cigarette out of his pocket. "Alright, let's make a deal then."
Stephen tilted his head. "I'm listening."
"In this brothel of yours... can I smoke to my heart's content? My wife's always hated the smell."
"It's encouraged."
A soft chuckle, then Cillian brought the cigarette to his lips. With a flick of his fingers, mana rose through the air, then a small flame burst to life on his thumb. He lit it, and inhaled deep.
"Good. I'd like to be one of your first investors."
"I assure you, you won't be disappointed."
"Oh, I know I won't. It's clear as day this idea would flourish."
He took another drag. The flame at his fingertips died out. The mana vanishing just as quickly.
"So," he said, voice trailing smoke, "let's talk numbers. How much are you looking at for the entire project?"
Stephen turned to Tello.
The architect of the plan.
And for a moment, it genuinely irritated him just how far ahead Stephen had thought.
"The Love Supreme has around twenty rooms, so if we want to build a brothel that surpasses it, we'll need more, ideally almost double. That means forty rooms, covering close to 30,000 square feet." Tello said.
Then he added, "Given the cost of materials, interior renovations, staff, and permits... we're probably looking at just over fifty thousand gold."
Cillian let out a sharp whistle through his teeth, then exhaled. "Quite the pricey joint. How sure are you to recoup that, while still paying off your investors?"
Stephen hesitated. Negotiation wasn't his strong suit. And even though this was all a con, he couldn't afford to oversell. Still, he had to sound confident... just not too confident.
"Relatively sure. Taking a lower net profit in exchange for good investor relations seems like a fair trade."
"Fair enough." Cillian flicked the ash from his cigarette, then dropped it to the ground and stomped it out. "I'll put you in touch with a few nobles in the area, people who wouldn't mind turning a profit on something like this."
Stephen's hands clenched at his sides.
"I'd say go for about four more investors," Cillian continued. "As for me, I'm willing to pitch in five thousand gold... for a twenty percent stake."
There it was.
It's actually working.
Stephen forced himself to stay calm, to keep the excitement off his face. "That sounds reasonable."
"Glad we agree." Cillian turned toward the carriage still waiting by the curb. "Actually..."
He paused, thinking to himself. Then turned back to them.
"To make things easier, you'll pitch this same idea to my colleagues, fellow nobles at a party tomorrow night. At the Cascade Isle, banquet hall. I'll be there. You'll get my funds there too. Sound good?"
"Absolutely," Stephen said quickly.
Cillian reached into his pocket, pulled out a finely designed card, and handed it to Tello. "This is my tailor. Tell him I sent you. You'll want to look the part to sell it."
"Your generosity won't be forgotten," Stephen said with a slight bow.
"It better not." Cillian turned away. "Plus. It's about time someone put that bitch in her place."
As he walked off, Mrs. Appleton peeked her head from the carriage door, clearly tired of waiting.
"The banquet's tomorrow eve, don't be late!" Cillian shouted back as Stephen waved to her.
"Honey, we have to get back! 'The real housewives of Orgsoth' is starting soon!" She waved back.
"Oh, right, right." Cillian climbed in, and the door shut behind him.
The carriage rattled off into the night, taking the Appletons back to their lavish estate.
The first investor had been secured. And with him, a golden opportunity to secure more. It was, frankly, an incredible stroke of luck.
"I think that went pretty well, no?" Stephen turned to Tello, who stood frozen, fists clenched at his sides. "Hm?"
"Have you lost your mind?!" Tello snapped, pacing in agitation. "You just gave him twenty percent for five thousand gold!"
"...Is that bad?"
"It's a disaster!" Tello shouted. "He should've paid double that! If we bring in four more investors at this rate, we'll be twenty five thousand under our goal!"
"That's... not good," Stephen admitted, scratching his head. "Okay, so what do we do now?"
"Huh... you're asking me?"
"You're in this with me now, aren't you?" Stephen said. "So I'm asking you, what's the move? Also, this wouldn't have happened if you spoke up when he made the offer."
"I didn't want to barge in!" Tello said, then shook his head. "But you were right... I should've."
"Good." Stephen said, blowing hot air into his palms. "Accountability will take you far in this world."
"I want a chunk of the profits then," Tello said, staring him down. "Fifty percent."
Stephen raised an eyebrow.
"You don't plan to repay the investors, right? But you do still want to build the brothel. In that case," Tello continued, "I'll take half."
Stephen tilted his head. "Your role in this is sizable, I won't deny that. But what exactly do you think entitles you to fifty percent?"
"I'm in this," Tello said plainly. "That's a fact I've accepted. Even if the building goes up under someone else's name, to keep things quiet. I'll still be the one who draws up the plans and creates it all."
He took a breath, then added quietly, "And I'm the only one who knows your true intentions. That this is all a lie."
Stephen nodded. "True. Your role is grand indeed."
He stepped forward suddenly, placing a hand lightly on Tello's neck. Not a choke, but still enough to hurt. Stephen wasn't yet where he wanted to be in strength, but here in this city, very few could match him.
"What if I kill you right now?" Stephen said. "Find another architect?"
Tello gulped. "I... didn't really account for that."
"Huh?" Stephen uttered.
"Huh?" So did Tello.
Stephen laughed and stepped back, hands now on his hips. "You're stupid. But alright, 'partner in crime' I'll give you thirty percent."
"Forty-five!"
"Maybe I will kill you."
"Thirty's fine." Tello backed away slightly. "I see no issue with thirty."
"Good. But of course, that thirty percent doesn't come just from keeping your mouth shut," Stephen said. "I still need something else from you."
"What?"
"You'll negotiate in my place at the banquet. You know the numbers better than I do." Stephen said, and it was the truth, negotiating wasn't one of his skills. Or maybe he was just bad at math.
"I'm not great with people," Tello protested. "You're better at that than I am."
"Maybe. But life's a learning experience," Stephen said, walking ahead. "And the best way to learn is to watch. So unless your eyes were shut this whole time, you'll do just fine."
"Putting it all on me so soon... you're crazy."
Tello glanced down at his hand. It still shook.
But it wasn't fear.
If anything, it was excitement. For tomorrow. For the chaos to come. For whatever Stephen got him into next.
He exhaled, then hurried to catch up. "Where are you even going?"
"To your place," Stephen said without looking back.
"I live the opposite way," Tello said, then watched Stephen turn. "Wait... wait, what do you mean my place?!"
"You're such a good brother." Stephen said cheerfully, "letting me stay over at your place. Such maternal love."
"I did not agree to that! I never agreed to that!" Tello shouted, chasing after him down the street.
Maybe he should've thought this through a bit more.