Forge a path to success.

Chapter 42 Everyone has their own agenda
A cat's tail extended from a dark gray bodysuit, like a fluffy rope; a quick shake would cause the woman's buttocks beneath the bodysuit to sway seductively. The woman in the bodysuit actively swayed the cat's tail, her eyes filled with sweet longing. She straightened her posture, trying her best to accentuate the small "tube" beneath her bra.

"It's almost full!" the catwoman said seductively. "Maybe another 100 orbs will be enough. Would you like to give it a try?"

The tube was almost full of beads, and Catwoman had to try her best to straighten her chest, because the tube was tied with three gold threads, which hung on the neckline of her tight-fitting clothes and the three zippers on both sides. When the beads exceeded the limit, the tube would pull the zippers down, "stripping" Catwoman's top off with the weight of wealth.

This was a popular invention among gamblers at the club. Each tube had a different capacity, and people took turns throwing marbles into them, betting on who could undress the women. The lucky winner would then be allowed free entry through a pink-lit door to spend the night with the naked women.

Kanin glanced back at the catwoman who had seduced him and realized she wasn't as young as she appeared. She was over thirty, her glamorous makeup concealing fine wrinkles, and her waist, shaped like she'd had a child, wasn't as slender as it once was, requiring a tight-fitting garment to accentuate its shape. That little tube was indeed almost full; soon she'd be shirtless, arm in arm with a customer, walking through the crowds, trying her best to please the man of the night, and then perhaps forcing herself to go home and make breakfast for her child…

He pulled out a bead and placed it in the woman's hand, giving her that embarrassed, sucker-like smile: "Sorry, I'm not here to... relax. I'm a businessman, I think..."

"Oh! You want to see the magician?" Catwoman suddenly realized. She thought he was a novice and said gratefully in a low voice, "Then you'd better hurry to the ballroom! He always likes a glamorous appearance."

Kanin thanked him repeatedly and walked down the small staircase. Anyone who looked at him would think he was a young man who had just arrived. As he went down the stairs, he heard a vulgar cheer. The small tube finally fell down, and the catgirl was being embraced by a pot-bellied bald man, giggling under the gaze of many people.

“Absolutely stupid, Kanin,” he heard Bessen’s voice say. “Absolutely stupid.”

"I thought the devil didn't care about these things," Kanin thought to himself.

“I don’t eat this kind of disgusting emotion.” Bessen gagged. “This place is filled with the smell of moonlight, rotten, vulgar mud…”

"So I suggest you stay inside the puppet. Now go back, Maivia is coming."

Bessen left silently, like a transparent ghost, invisible to everyone. Kanin descended the stairs step by step to the rhythm of the music. A military-style drumbeat, initially just an embellishment, grew increasingly urgent and loud, becoming a jarring urgency. The dancers retreated to the beat, clearing a large space in the ballroom where people clapped along. Suddenly, the drumming stopped, and dozens of cannons fired simultaneously from somewhere. A huge, enormous black shadow fell from above, crashing into the center of the ballroom like a cannonball!

His arrival caused a genuine "earthquake," shaking the guests around the ballroom so much they could barely stand. The man let out a hearty laugh, took off his small round hat and tossed it high into the air, from which white doves flew out. Dozens, even hundreds, of doves flew out of that small hat, fluttering their wings and shaking off not feathers but fragrant rose petals.

The big man raised his hands above his head, clapping loudly amidst the rain of petals, and cheered, "Welcome everyone! Welcome to my club!"

"Mavisa! Mavisa!" People welcomed him enthusiastically, "Mavisa the Magician!"

Maivia bowed to everyone, radiating his enthusiasm and hospitality. He was a truly "big man," standing at least three meters tall, his excessively obese body tightly wrapped in a custom-made tuxedo, like a giant balloon about to burst into the sky. But his face was sharply defined, and his demeanor was confident and composed, making one realize that he was equally reliable in any situation outside of the party.

He bowed repeatedly to those around him, exchanging a glance with Kanin in the crowd. "Tonight is another full moon, such a fine occasion is worth celebrating!" He then led a lively dance, before calmly leaving the stage with a glass of white wine. Instantly, well-dressed members of high society surrounded Maivia, their eager faces concealing barely concealed anxiety.

Visab quietly approached and handed his father a small note. Maivia glanced at it and smiled, "Is everything alright, friends? Is there anything I can help you with?"

These words ignited the anxiety. A furniture merchant squeezed to the front and braced himself to be the first to speak: "Thanks to you, everything is fine, sir! It's just... a little worry... we heard that the workshops upstairs have started operating again."

“It is true,” Maivia said.

"God, have mercy! They can't do this!" The furniture merchant cried, his face flushed. "Those monotonous, uncreative factories will destroy the industry of every honest craftsman! They will use hateful cheapness to entice honest people out of their pockets, and there will be no way to make a living by craftsmanship anymore!"

Another fruit merchant stepped forward, his formal attire putting every other fruit vendor to shame. "The fruit industry hasn't been doing well lately, sir. Since the departure of the esteemed High Wizard, the Swamp People have started to break the rules. They intend to bring their own goods to Midgard! You know how greedy and filthy those mud-covered people are; without our careful oversight, who knows how many people will fall ill from rotten fruit!"

Maivia listened attentively, nodding occasionally. Once the conversation started, people poured out their worries: about the new workshops, about the "rule-breaking" swamp, and, hidden beneath the surface, about the city lord's increasingly active presence. They were all monopolists, unscrupulous merchants, beneficiaries of the existing system. In the past, they had never had to worry about anything because everyone knew to "follow the rules," and thugs would take care of those who didn't.

But now things are changing. The city lord's mansion is reviving a new set of rules that people had long forgotten. They fear they will become "people who don't know the rules."

“I understand, friends, I understand.” Maivia spoke slowly but firmly. “First, I want to remind everyone that our city will not mistreat any citizen who earns money through their ability and conscience. We run legitimate businesses; who would be hostile to honest people with status and position?”

He glanced at the worried faces of the people and responded with a confident smile: "I have a deep partnership with the workshop, and I know perfectly well that it won't take over the market in the short term—the goods supplied to the City Lord's Mansion alone are enough to keep them extremely busy. As for the business in the Bize District, I will personally go and talk to them. We all understand the hard work of individual business owners. Now that we have a mature agency system, who would want to suffer the hardship of carrying goods themselves?"

"Finally, I want to remind everyone: never, ever be hostile to our City Lord's Mansion. No matter how the environment changes, only those who cooperate will have a future!"

The magician made a promise, which meant all problems would be perfectly resolved. The businessmen raised their glasses in celebration, relieved, and began to enjoy the feast at the table. Visab took his father's glass to take charge, while Maivia, after a round of toasts, noticed Kanin's absence and excused himself to watch the kitchen. He took the private elevator from backstage to a small VIP box on the top floor, where a man in a white tuxedo was waiting at the table. Maivia embraced him warmly and kissed him on both cheeks with the utmost courtesy.

“Kanin! Our most honored guest, our most intelligent workshop owner!” Maivia tugged at her evening gown. “Our clothes, our houses, the little toys people love, and those little gadgets that protect them—what more can I say? It’s all thanks to you, Kanin. Without your strong support, even the most beautiful magic tricks would be nothing more than fireworks that vanish in the blink of an eye.”

“I also thank the club for the blood and meat.” Kanin picked up his knife and fork, “and the delicious veal steak.”

"I guarantee it's slaughtered that day; it's the only one of its kind in the whole city, my friend," Maivia said proudly. "You won't find beef this good anywhere else!"

Maivia was right; the steak on the plate was cooked to perfection, with clearly defined marbling on the outer layer and a tender pinkish-red on the cut surface. A gentle press with the knife released the juices and aroma. The chef's skill was superb, and the ingredients were top-notch—it would be considered first-rate even on Earth. This meal was a major reason why Kanin was happy to attend; they were all people who had experienced hunger. They didn't get down to business until they had finished eating the meat juices and even dipped their bread in them.

“By your standards, it’s a bit rushed,” Kanin said. He was referring to tonight’s banquet, which Maivia usually sent out invitations days in advance, instead of being held so hastily as it was today.

“You’re still as perceptive as ever.” Maivia hesitated for a few seconds, then put down her knife and fork. “There’s nothing to hide… I made a decision this morning.”

Kanin listened intently.

“The Maivia family isn’t prosperous enough yet. We plan to conceive a new ‘daughter,’ and according to the rules of the moon, such an important event must be celebrated,” Maivia said seriously. “So, you understand, old friend. I want to give you a big order.”

Kanin nodded knowingly: "With pleasure. The relics related to the moon should be as complete as possible. Any other requirements?"

Maivia pondered for a moment: "Four children are enough for a father, aren't they?"

“I don’t know how to answer, after all, I’m a bachelor,” Kanin said. His quip drew a burst of laughter. “Come on! Plenty of women will throw themselves at you,” Maivia laughed, coughing. “I probably won’t be having any more children for the next few years, so I want this ceremony to be as beautiful as possible. As many belongings as possible, the more the better.”

Maivia took out a beautiful crystal bottle, inside which black blood writhed like a living thing. He tossed the bottle to Kanin.

"In return, I will provide five bottles of 'parents' blood,' with the same purity as this deposit."

“Deal,” Kanin agreed immediately. “I will personally transport the goods.”

"You are always trustworthy."

Maivia beamed, relaxing after the deal was struck. He leaned back in his extra-large chair and lit a cigarette. "It's always so easy doing business with you, no need for so much talking. Look at those poor wretches in the dance hall, so easily alarmed by the slightest sound. That's not like a good boss, much less a good father."

Kanin seized the opportunity to state, "Their concerns are not unfounded."

Maivia caught the signal, sat up straight, and exhaled a puff of smoke: "Kanin?"

“I’m a little worried,” Kanin said. That’s a weighty statement; when a boss, a leader, says he’s “a little worried,” it means his anxiety is nearing its peak.

"Just because of that new detective?"

“Not only that, I think they’ve gained something in the swamp, something so important that the city lord’s mansion immediately began adjusting its strategy,” Kanin continued. “Everyone is aware of the current situation, and we need to take action.”

Mentioning the situation implies a matter of life and death. And taking action, the most serious of all, means skipping the "talks" and preparing to act. Maivia understood the unspoken meaning perfectly. He remained silent for a long, long time. During this time, a man in a suit and sunglasses came over to clear the plates from their table, and Kanin greeted him as well.

“Perhaps later, Kanin,” Maivia said heavily, “we have been at peace with the city lord’s mansion for a long time, and this is the eve of a newborn’s birth…we might as well talk more and then make a decision.”

“You see, that’s why I don’t get married. Family is too much of a burden,” Kanin said flippantly.

"That's right! Hahaha..."

They toasted each other, letting the matter drop, and the man in the suit then served refreshing drinks and small desserts. They chatted about old anecdotes and recent news, before Kanin finally got up to say goodbye.

"Oh, right." Before leaving, he paused as if he remembered something. "There's something I need to remind you of."

"What?" Maivia wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“Last month, Visab hired someone to assassinate Chu Hengkong.” Kanin put on his hat. “Check the accounts when you have time.”

Maivia's face turned a terrifying, ashen blue. His broad chest heaved violently, his breathing heavy and suffocating. Suddenly, his sleeve ripped open, revealing a swollen, foul-smelling arm. His already enormous body swelled with each breath, and Kanin felt as if he were watching a giant bomb, about to fill the room in fury and then destroy everything in a devastating explosion.

But his breathing gradually calmed down, and Maivia visibly shrank back to his 3-meter height. He took a deep breath.

"Fuck you, thank you so much," Maivia said in a low voice. "I didn't even know..."

“Don’t be too rough with the kids.” Kanin shrugged, walked out of the small restaurant, and unsurprisingly heard a loud crash as he closed the door. He went up the stairs to the garage alone, where Bessen was waiting for him in the truck.

"How to say?"

"Put the car at the intersection ahead."

The truck stopped, and Kanin looked in the rearview mirror. From this vantage point, he could see the windows of the club's upper floors. He waited a moment, then saw a black "fog" billowing from the upper floors, and a man with white eyebrows emerged from it, holding the hand of a young girl. That must be one of the candidates for "daughter"—Mavia hadn't lied to him.

“We can go now,” Kanin said cheerfully. “Let’s change our plans. We’ll work with the City Lord’s Mansion to destroy the club.”

Bessen drove the delivery truck quite a distance before turning around and asking, "...Huh?"

“The fact that Maivia knew about the assassination but didn’t ask me to stop means he has his own ‘grand plan’,” Kanin said. “We can’t count on him, so we’ll just have to use his corpse as food.”

"But why?" Bessen shook his head vigorously. "What reason would the City Lord's Mansion have to help you? You just went to the swamp. If I were someone from the City Lord's Mansion, I would definitely go and beat you up first."

Kanin took out the bottle of "parent's blood" and put it in the truck's storage compartment.

"Send an email to Ji Qiufeng the day after tomorrow."

"…………"

Bessen stopped at the traffic light and stared at Kanin for a while: "You humans are really scary. I always thought you and Maivia were friends."

"Can demons make friends?" Kanin asked rhetorically.

"No. Only food and mortal enemies."

"Now you've learned it, and so have humans."

(End of this chapter)