Chapter 160 Merger 2 [bonus ]

Once again, a set of additional chapters for donations. Thank you very much, swcowboy, for your continued support of the book! It seems I'll soon be able to save up for a proper PC so that I don't die of frustration every time my Word files take too long to open. Either way, enjoy your reading.

Additional Chapter.

1/3

Chapter 1 - Main Plot (current)

Chapter 2: Extra - Adam's Day from the First Person.

Chapter 3 - Main Plot

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Then she agreed, as the proposal didn't harm her in any way. Moreover, at that moment, her mind seemed to go blank, as if she had drunk too much. Marina suddenly felt suffocated. Turning her head toward Adam...

"!!!"

An expression of pure horror froze on her face as she suddenly noticed Adam's sclera darken. His eyes continuously watched every move of the traders, like a snake waiting for its prey. Marina wanted to scream in terror, but something prevented her, acting as a restraining force. She had been attracted to the man because of his wealth, looks, and intelligence.

"Well... is he trying to tell me that I shouldn't talk too much?" Marina thought, taking a deep breath. She took a moment to weigh everything and made her own decision: "Yes, I guess the merger will help me and bring benefits. After all, power isn't that important to me, considering my love for money."

From Marina's perspective, Sabrina also decided to agree to such a merger after ten minutes, weighing the pros and cons, thinking, "I need to take the risk."

At the same time, Ricky had entirely different thoughts. He only wanted to secure as much funding as possible to ensure continuous production of clothing and create new designs that required expensive materials. Adam was one of the biggest investors he had, and considering the financial assistance from Amarantha, who, upon seeing Adam's desire, offered to attract other investors, Nymph's Radiance gained good recognition.

"This deal won't harm me. I don't care if I lose power. What matters to me is getting funding for my projects," Ricky thought, smiling at Adam, whose eyes had returned to their normal state. Aloud, he said, "I agree, Sir Adam. As you already know, I deeply respect you for the ideas you've offered me. Thanks to you, I stand on the threshold of mastery as a fashion designer. So, I'd like to express my respect and ask you to take care of me." historical

"!!!" The traders were amazed.

There was a squeak as Avalonia tried to get more comfortable, but Ricky's words, in which he directly expressed his desire to join Adam's project, made the man slightly wary. After all, being the first to declare his intention to help Adam would earn Ricky a more friendly attitude from him. And that's exactly what happened.

"Ricky, your words undoubtedly please me, and I'm glad you agreed to help me and continue our journey to dominate the clothing and fashion business as a whole," said Adam, assuming a serious posture. He spread his arms in both directions, displaying an open posture and friendliness, speaking with a joyful tone, "I promise you that Nymph's Radiance will look even more perfect with your involvement, and I hope that together, we'll face all obstacles and overcome them."

"Thank you for your trust, Sir Adam," Ricky smiled flatteringly.

In the minds of the merchants, a siren rang, as if a fire had broken out. Each of them was displeased that Ricky had arrogantly volunteered to be the first to announce his desire to support Adam in this merger. As a result, the merchants lost the chance to gain the highest level of attachment and friendliness. This means that funding requests will be approved more quickly, and Ricky will gain more extensive rights and some autonomy in his actions.

Sc-r-r-r. The legs of the chair squeaked as they moved across the marble floor, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present. It was a beautiful woman, Marina. There was a barely visible panic on her face.

"S-s-sir Adam. I would like to respectfully agree with your proposal and offer an alliance. Please take care of me!" she said nervously.

Adam smiled and nodded at her. Just that nod was enough to make Marina light up with joy, and she sat back in her seat with a wide smile. Sabrina and Avalonia exchanged glances and almost shouted in unison.

"I agree too!" Sabrina said, with a serious expression. "Thank you for this magnificent offer and the chance you've given me, Sir Adam."

"Agree!" Avalonia said, his voice trembling slightly. "P-please take care of me."

Adam leaned back in his chair again, brightly smiling and looking at the merchants, who had officially become his direct subordinates. With a big smile on his face, he announced, "From this moment on, the brands Nymph's Radiance, Handsome's Kiss, Dragon's Hoard, Fizpizza, and Sedyon's newspapers are going through a mixed merger. The official name of the company will be 'Veridia,' and we'll discuss the positions later. Any questions?"

"No, Sir Adam!" they unanimously replied.

"Excellent! Then, bartender, pour us something, and make it strong!"

***

Adam was in a luxurious room in a brothel. The walls were adorned with beautiful jade-colored wallpaper with patterns made of gold dust. The room had a Gothic style. There was a coffin-like silence, and only occasionally could the faint clinking of glass against glass be heard.

In the room, there were two people: Adam himself and Alexander, who appeared somewhat lost. It seemed that his thoughts were occupied by something distant.

"What are you thinking about?" Adam asked, melancholically twirling a glass of wine in his hand. The wine had a deep ruby-red color, and it was transparent and smelled of cherries. "You've been pensive since we finished our little party. Did something happen?"

At first... Alexander didn't answer. He just raised his head and looked at Adam, who was smiling with melancholy, turning the glass in his hand, thus moving the wine around the glass. This sight was exceptionally attractive and mysterious, creating an even greater impression of beauty and power. Alexander sighed, biting his lips.

"Ha-a-ah... I don't understand you, Adam. I don't understand you at all," he muttered wearily, slumping into the chair. "You're sometimes too mysterious to me. You seem kind, and at the same time, you appear sinister and cunning. What's real, and what are you showing outwardly?"

Adam raised an eyebrow, saying, "An unusual question." The man's facial expression was impassive, making it impossible to discern his thoughts, which made Alexander feel uncomfortable and inclined to sigh. He tiredly massaged his temple and sighed again.

"Many sighs you have. Do you care so much about what I truly am, Alexander?" Adam said with a look of pure misunderstanding on his face. "You pay a lot of attention to such pointless questions. Is it so important how I present myself? In my opinion, everyone in this world wears a mask very often. That's what it means to be a rational being in the context of society."

"Yes, but I meant something else, Adam. Sometimes, I feel like you deliberately avoid my questions. It's annoying, man," Alexander sighed again as he said these words. "The point of my question was that I can't understand your thought process, and I hoped you would explain the essence to me. You proposed the merger, but why?"

Now it was Adam's turn to look puzzled, as he showed on his face. For some reason, Alexander felt embarrassed, remembering that during the discussion, he remained silent as if he had nothing to say. This somewhat hurt his pride, as he appeared to be just a listener.

Adam settled comfortably in his chair and brought the wine to his lips. He took a sip that lasted for two seconds, and then swirled the liquid in his mouth, swallowing it gradually. He fully appreciated the spicy taste of the wine with hints of sweetness, and the aftertaste, with a touch of bitterness, created an unusual but pleasant combination.

Only after savoring the taste of the wine did Adam place the glass on the table.

"Alexander, you asked what I truly am?" Adam indifferently said, looking into the man's eyes. "It's simple. I've always been real."

"Real, you say," mumbled Alexander, raising an eyebrow. "You and your behavior change abruptly. Are you saying that you've always been yourself?"

"I often have mood swings. That's the kind of person... or rather, demon, I am," Adam replied with a smile.

Alexander sighed heavily. Once again, he felt that Adam was evading the answer, which greatly disappointed him.

"How you irritate me," he muttered.

***

Her Majesty Elizabeth's office was an embodiment of simplicity and comfort. One couldn't help but notice that she used minimal space to the maximum. The room was nothing exceptional, but it was practical.

Today, she received a guest in this room, Sir Galdius, the Prime Minister of Avalonia.

He was an elderly man with gray hair and a short beard. The Prime Minister was dressed in a black, sharply tailored tuxedo made from high-quality fabric. The shirt, bearing the initials "NYR," was elegantly white with a textured collar and cuffs. The tie, expertly matched the tuxedo's color, adding refinement and formality to his appearance.

"Your Majesty, I conducted a small investigation into the actions of Sir Advisor and found nothing suspicious. I'm afraid, Your Majesty, that you are worrying for nothing," Galdius reported, with an evident sense of bewilderment on his face. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, there have been no suspicious activities observed from Sir Adam aimed at harming our country. I'm sorry to be blunt, but I believe you're suspecting him unjustly."

Elizabeth waved her hand indifferently, leaving Galdius looking helpless on his face. He left, closing the door behind him. In the room, Elizabeth was left alone, staring at a document that contained a report.

["Investigation into the Activities of Adam Harris"]

To be continued...