RISE OF EROS

After Johan's men left, everyone presents returned to their duties. Andrew and Carolina returned to the office to continue their conversation about the improvements that needed to be made.

They talked for a long time and managed to create an action plan, however, it could only be applied after obtaining a considerable amount of money, which according to the calculations they made, they could collect in one or two months.

Although the necessary capital for the improvements would be raised in a month or two, that did not mean that they had to wait that long to start. What it meant was that at that time they would raise all the capital for all the repairs, but since they made daily profits, they would start the renovations immediately.

After having that defined, Carolina left the office and began to carry out the plan that had been discussed. On the other hand, Andrew was thinking of a risky move.

After the capture of Debos's henchman, Andrew found out who his attacker was, but before he could retaliate, that attacker had already died, freeing the Heavenly Palace from trouble.

Similarly, Andrew learned that there was a group of 5 men who are the leaders of the area in which the Heavenly Palace is located. They are like the tyrants of the place and Debos was part of them.

This was important information because he was sure that, in the future, a disagreement with them was inevitable and he had to prepare. He too learned that he was on the list of these thugs, but they withdrew for Candice's protection and only Debos who was stupid enough didn't grasp the severity of the threat.

Andrew wasn't stupid by any means and there was no way he couldn't see that Debos's death was related to Candice. Although he wasn't 100% sure that she was the one who killed Debos, Andrew preferred to assume that she was the perpetrator.

Certainly, Candice did not protect the Heavenly Palace because she liked the business, but because she was looking after her own interests, for that reason, Andrew was clear that this protection was not for an indefinite period and he did not like having to be protected by a person who did not even know.

Not knowing that woman, distrust of her was normal, but at the same time, he was not opposed to having a powerful ally that would provide him with some benefits, and thus the thought that now invaded him was born.

It wasn't really complicated at all, it couldn't even be called a "Plan", it was just sending a gift. After thinking about it for several minutes, he called Oliver into the office. In a few minutes, Oliver appeared in front of him and without wasting time, Andrew explained to him what he should do.

Oliver understood and received the small wooden box that Andrew gave him and after saying goodbye he left the office and the Heavenly Palace towards the shopping area.

Before long, Oliver arrived at a lively six-story building. People were constantly going in and out, but the most surprising thing was the number of carriages loaded with food and groceries that left the square that this building had.

This building is the main store of the company called Cherry Blossom whose owner is Candice. Andrew had explained to Oliver the little he knew of this woman, while it was true that Oliver was there when he questioned Debos's man, Oliver had no knowledge from other people, after all, he had been a locked-up slave until recently.

On the other hand, when Andrew found out about Candice, he wasted no time and asked Johan what he knew about her. He found out that this lady was very reserved and although her stores have a good reputation, that does not mean she was innocent.

In fact, Johan had told him that, although he doesn't know her personally, he had heard of her and that very few people dare to bother her. According to Johan's speculation, Candice must have a strong connection to some high-level nobles.

Although it was just speculation on Johan's part, Andrew preferred to believe that she was the real deal, as Johan seemed extremely serious when talking about it, so it seemed to him that this gift he had sent could be both good and bad.

If everything went well, Candice would accept it and it would improve the image of the Heavenly Palace, being able to establish a small friendship that can help him in the future.

On the other hand, if she doesn't accept it, nothing may happen, but she will let Andrew understand that Candice doesn't care about the Heavenly Palace as her ally, which also wouldn't rule out that they could be enemies and that was a problem.

If Candice was as powerful as the rumors said, the Heavenly Palace do not stand a chance, so Andrew wanted to make contact with Candice and try to forge a friendship or alliance.

Oliver entered the building and approached the reception where he was attended by a young woman with a cheerful but professional expression. "Good morning, how can I help the gentleman?", asked the girl.

"I would like to meet Mrs. Candice, is there any way to contact her?", Oliver replied. The young woman who attended to him was surprised by the visitor's question and it was normal, Candice despite being the owner and lady of this place was reserved, and only trusted employees in the highest positions could see her.

The girl was hesitating to answer Oliver and when she was going to reject him, someone put a hand on her shoulder. The girl turned her head to see who was and she could see a rather chubby man, but for some reason, he wasn't ugly or unsightly.

This man was the floor manager and was one of the subordinate members of the top executive of the Cherry Blossom store. The man asked the girl to leave and with a professional smile asked, "May I know why you want to see Mrs. Candice?"

Oliver didn't answer immediately, first sizing up the man in front of him. He wasn't strong and his smile seemed genuine, but thanks to Oliver's blessing, he knew that this fatty was not simple, but a very cunning person. Even so, he didn't care, he hadn't come to cause trouble and Andrew had more or less explained how to proceed.

"My name is Oliver. I have come from the young master of the Heavenly Palace with a thank-you gift for Madam Candice," Oliver replied in a polite tone, as Andrew had instructed.

The floor manager of the store, despite being a trusted executive of Candice, was not aware of all the activities that his boss did, much less the small ones like the death of Debos, which for them was like killing a fly.

Despite not knowing anything about the matter, he continued talking politely and said, "My name is Gogh, nice to meet you, Mr. Oliver, however, I am not aware of the situation, so I will ask you to wait a moment to confirm."

Oliver nodded showing that he understood the situation and walked to a nearby set of furniture and made himself comfortable, while Gogh entered the interior of the building to make inquiries of him.

Gogh wasted no time in going straight to the source. In a short time, he reached the top floor and knocked on the double doors of Candice's office, and in a few seconds, she allowed him to enter.

Upon entering he could see Candice sitting at the desk reviewing several books and next to her a young man stood erect as a butler. Gogh walked up to the desk and bowed slightly, but he didn't speak.

He, like all of Candice's close followers, followed this protocol. They always waited for her to start the conversation, even when they had something to report.

Candice continued going through the books and writing a few things and after five minutes of waiting, Candice looked up and asked, "What's wrong Gogh?" The plump man looked at the lady who was synonymous with perfect mature beauty and replied, "At the reception, there is a slave who claims to have come from the Heavenly Palace's young master with a thank-you gift."

Although Gogh didn't notice it, Candice was surprised by what she had eared. Being a woman of great experience, she seldom lets her emotions out and that is why no one noticed her surprise, but even so, she could not believe what she had heard and after a few seconds she said to Gogh, "Let it pass".

The floor manager just nodded and bowed, then went off to find Oliver. While he was doing that, Candice asked, "Are there any rats?" but the butler standing next to her denied in a soft and even a little cold voice, "No."

Hearing the answer, Candice believed it too. She had done a cleaning of her house a short time ago and she didn't think there was any rat to be saved, so she, like her butler, ruled out that possibility.

However, that left her pensive. She knew that none of her employees would tell that she killed Debos and although that action helped the Heavenly Palace, the truth was that she had not done it specifically to help the Heavenly Palace.

The five thugs had hurt her business and that's why she gave them a warning, but Debos didn't take her seriously and that's why she ordered his assassination. Although she involuntarily helped the Heavenly Palace, it was only secondary, even so, she was curious to know, how Andrew had found out that she was the perpetrator of the death of his enemy, which aroused her curiosity and interest in him.

In a few minutes, Gogh had returned and was accompanied by Oliver. As the two men entered the office the first thing that happened was that Candice's butler and Oliver looked directly at each other and their expressions changed.

They both understood the strength of the other and that's why he was alert. Candice and Gogh were not stupid, although they were not warriors, they noticed the changes in the butler and were surprised by his seriousness and alertness because that meant that the man in front of them was dangerous.

Gogh had a stern expression, but Candice was even more curious. If her curiosity had been piqued by knowing that the young master of the Heavenly Palace found out that she assassinated Debos, now that she saw that he had a slave who could make her butler nervous, she was really wanting to meet that boy.

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