Chapter 8: Proposition

Glorious Ground. Mayor’s office building, seventy second floor.

The entire floor was a high class restaurant, even in Kingdom Earth’s standards. Nonetheless, for a place reserved only for those with significant capital, there were only a handful of empty tables.

“Our table is in the VIP area. It’s more private there.” Xinia smilingly told Zax.

“Miss”, a waiter in black and white uniform, who recognized Xinia upon her arrival with Zax, bowed his head and without saying another word turned to show the way.

Many pairs of eyes were attracted to the tall and beautiful Xinia, men and women alike were looking at her with an array of different expressions, most of which poorly concealed lust.

Zax noticed the piercing gazes at his direction, as well as Xinia poised yet contented sweet smile. It was not from a sense of superiority, he somewhat could tell by the air she exuded, something else.

It was the alluring countenance she put as the hostess of the Sensensar family. But to know that, Zax had to first get to know Xinia better.

“Who is he?”

“Mmm ... These are the common clothes in the villages outside the city.”

“A villager? What his cultivation level? He looks quite young.”

“I cannot get a read on his cultivation level, but if he is escorted by Miss Xinia, it most likely that...”

“But for a country bumpkin to be treated here, among the rest of us, is it not going overboard?”

“As the Sensensar family’s hostess, it is Miss Xinia’s duty to welcome all potential interest. For someone with no style or class, at least this once, an exception should have been made.”

“Enough, silent. Are you looking for troubles by meddling in the Sensensar family’s business?”

The guests at the restaurant gossiped among themselves, limiting the sound of their voices to the space encompassed by their tables. Although Zax could still hear them, he did not care. As a Mist Master, Xinia was also able to hear the surrounding talks, yet she, too, was apathetic toward them.

The VIP table was in a room of its own. Large enough to perfectly accommodate two and decorated more modestly in contrast to the rest of the restaurant. It even was absolved from the large windows that viewed the city and replaced them with a couple of modern art pictures.

The waiter closed the VIP room’s door as he exited. If he will be needed, there was a golden bell at the center of the table.

“Ms. Sensensar”, Zax sighed. “If all of this is for me to eventually be recruited to your family, then allow me to disappoint you in advance.” He did not need to be a genius to figure Xinia interest in him. It certainly was not sexual, in his opinion, nor was he looking forward for it to be.

Xinia still smiled. She was well versed in the many layers of refusal. If Zax will not join her family, it did not mean that he could not benefit it in some other ways.

“Mr. Walaow, since it is your first visit to Glorious Ground, let me ask you, not in a conceited manner, but with merely pure curiosity. Do you know who the Sensensar family is?”

Zax let rhe question to sink in a little before replying. “You have the registration officers in your pocket and even the people working in the mayor’s office building. If it is not one of the most influential families of the city, then it is the most influential family.”

“Hahaha, precisely. The Sensensar family is the one in control of the mayor’s office building and who also possess the Blessed Army’s Czar Seal of Glorious Ground.”

For a fleeting instant Zax puckered his brow. He could handle the attention of an ordinary high class family, but to right away be caught in the net of the top family in Glorious Ground ... How rotten his luck has to be?!

“Please, Mr. Walaow, don’t make this face. Unless you want me to, I won’t bite you.” Xinia sweetly laughed and opened the menu. “This supposed to be a meal in the top’s second best restaurant in the city on my expense. You should not be shy and order. For starter, I recommend the Gendar salad. It is very refreshing and will open your taste buds for all the following delicacies you may crave after. For wine, do you mind if I’ll pick for the both of us?”

“I don’t drink wine-”

“Then your first time will be with me.”

Zax was perplexed by Xinia’s attitude. On one hand, she led the conversation almost seductively, definitely not in a casual tone! On the other, her body language expressed a hard to get ambiance.

You can see, but you cannot touch.

At least until you will earn it.

And then there was the dubious feeling that she just puts on a show.

RING!

RING!

RING!

Before Zax uttered a single syllable, Xinia rang the bell for the waiter outside to enter.

“We will both start with the Gendar salad and a bottle of Roshfeletz’s Morning Dew wine. Adjust the rest of the course accordingly.”

“Yes.” The waiter respectfully nodded, took the two menus and exited the VIP room.

“Ms. Sensensar, I still don’t intend to join your family.” Zax was not feeling awkward by being blunt with his decision regardless of him being Xinia’s guest and how persistent she was, will be.

“Mr. Walaow, the Sensensar family doesn’t beg. If you are adamant with your choice, then so be it. I won’t try to sway you anymore. However, when we walked here, even if I did not show you off, your presence in Glorious Ground would have been uncovered by some of the snooping high ranked families of the city. Moreover, I can say with a ninety percent assuredness that you are not just a foreigner in Glorious Ground, you are a foreigner to the Blessed Army’s territory.” Seeing that Zax do not refute her statement, Xinia asked. “Do you want to know how I know this?”

Once more, Xinia caught Zax unprepared. Not that he planned to hide his status, but for others to determine it before he first does something extreme to divulge information about himself ... With the rural tunic he is still wearing, he should not look any different than a robust villager.

Xinia continued. “Be they humans or beasts, all who live in Selivereb are registered in the Blessed Army’s and Violet Scaled Troops’ data base. Usually it should not mean much to anyone, but in your case ... With cultivation like yours it is hard not to, eventually, get noticed. You can be certain that by registering here, in one of the Blessed Army’s cities, it’s only a matter of time now before your name will reach the high ranked echelon of this part of the continent, arousing various responses. And with affiliation to no one but yourself, well ... should I call you from now on ‘Hot Stuff’?”