The Black-Gold mber’s Demand
Out ca the wallet, tugged free by Julian D’Aurelius without fuss; he passed the credit card across just like that.
He looked up, voice steady. "Proceed," ca softly from his lips.
A beep ca from the device after she slid the plastic inside. The screen lit up, quiet for a mont, then flashed approval.
A quiet beep ca through once the system finished moving funds.
Her voice was calm when she spoke. That amount showed on the display. It ca to five hundred seventy thousand euros. She looked up after reading it
He gave a small nod, eyes fixed elsewhere, the figure unimportant.
What mattered little to others weighed nothing at all in his eyes.
A beep ca. Then out slipped a thin strip of paper.
With care, she passed it forward.
But just as Julian reached for the receipt—
The door of the lodic Sea Music Store suddenly opened.
A woman walked in.
She had dyed burgundy hair that cascaded over her shoulders and wore fashionable designer clothes. In one hand she carried a luxury handbag, swinging it casually as she walked.
Her figure was eye-catching.
Her chest swayed with each step, drawing the attention of several custors inside the shop.
Her makeup was bold, her expression arrogant.
The mont she entered, the atmosphere in the store subtly shifted.
The sales assistant imdiately straightened and hurried forward.
"Hello, ma’am. How may I assist you?"
The woman didn’t answer imdiately.
Instead, she slowly pulled out a black mbership card from her bag and flicked it lightly between her fingers before showing it.
"I’m a black-gold mber here."
Her tone carried an unmistakable arrogance.
"I heard your store has a Smoman guitar."
She lifted her chin slightly.
"Bring it to ."
The sales assistant looked at the card carefully.
It really was the store’s highest-tier black-gold mbership.
The na printed on the card read:
Marichi
Her expression instantly beca troubled.
"I’m sorry, Miss Marichi..."
She hesitated slightly.
"That Smoman guitar was just sold."
"Sold?"
Marichi’s expression darkened imdiately.
Her gaze shifted across the store and landed on Liza Voss, who was still holding the light yellow classical guitar.
Her eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation she pointed at Liza.
"Refund their money."
Then she said coldly,
"Give that guitar."
The tone sounded like an order rather than a request.
In fact, Marichi had already visited two other stores searching for a Smoman guitar.
She planned to use it in an upcoming livestream performance.
The sales assistant froze for a mont.
"Ma’am... I’m sorry, but that goes against our store policy—"
Before she could finish—
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed through the shop.
Marichi’s hand had already struck her across the face.
"You dare lecture about policy?"
Her voice rose with fury.
"I’m a black-gold mber!"
Her eyes were full of disdain.
"Do you know how much money I’ve spent in your stores?"
She stepped closer, glaring down at the trembling employee.
"More than you could earn in a lifeti."
She sneered.
"You poor thing."
The young sales assistant—Leah—staggered back from the force of the slap.
Her cheek instantly turned red and swollen.
She covered her face with trembling hands.
Her eyes filled with tears.
But she didn’t dare argue.
She could only bow her head and apologize quietly.
"I’m... I’m sorry, Miss Marichi..."
This music store was part of a nationwide chain.
To beco a black-gold mber, one needed to spend at least five million Euros.
Such custors were far beyond the reach of ordinary employees.
Julian watched everything silently.
His brows slowly furrowed.
Inside his mind, a familiar sense of déjà vu appeared.
( So the plot really is escalating... )
He rembered this woman.
Marichi.
She was the mistress of a villain character in the original storyline.
Originally, this was supposed to be the place where she offended Evan.
Then Evan, the so-called Obsidian King, would appear and slap her into submission.
After that, the conflict between Evan and the villain behind Marichi would begin.
The classic sequence—
Showing off.
Face-slapping.
Escalating hatred.
The standard webnovel formula.
Julian’s lips curved slightly.
( Interesting... )
( This is a perfect chance to set Evan up. )
( If I guide things a little... the story might get even more entertaining. )
He leaned casually against a nearby display stand and watched the situation unfold with quiet amusent.
Just then—
A hurried voice ca from behind.
"Excuse , excuse —what’s happening here?"
A middle-aged man in a suit rushed into the store.
He quickly approached the group.
"I’m the store manager—Celebrimbor."
He bowed slightly.
"What seems to be the problem?"
Marichi imdiately pointed toward Leah.
"How do you train your staff?"
Her voice dripped with anger.
"She’s lecturing about store policy."
Celebrimbor glanced at the black-gold mbership card in her hand.
His expression changed instantly.
Without hesitation he turned toward Leah.
"Leah!"
His tone turned harsh.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Who gave you permission to speak to a custor like that?"
He pointed at Marichi.
"Apologize to this lady imdiately!"
Leah trembled.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"But... these two custors already paid for the guitar..."
She gestured toward Julian and Liza.
"And Miss Marichi wants to refund them and sell it to her..."
Her voice broke as she tried to explain.
Before she could finish—
Celebrimbor waved his hand impatiently.
"Can’t you understand simple instructions?"
"Apologize right now!"
His expression hardened.
"Otherwise you’re fired."
At that mont—
A calm voice interrupted.
"If you make her apologize..."
"Then from today onward..."
"None of your stores will operate in Valemont."
Everyone froze.
The voice ca from Julian D’Aurelius.
Celebrimbor turned his head and looked at him.
For a mont he didn’t recognize him.
Then he sneered.
"Who do you think you are?"
His tone was filled with contempt.
"Saying our store can’t operate here?"
"Do you know who our boss is?"
Marichi also laughed mockingly.
Her eyes scanned Julian from head to toe.
"You?"
She snorted.
"You think you have a say here, you poor man?"
"Saying the store can’t operate?"
"Who do you think you are?"
Then she turned toward Liza.
Her gaze was filled with disdain.
"And you."
"Let go of my Smoman guitar."
She pointed at the instrunt in Liza’s arms.
"Dressed like a bumpkin..."
Her lips curled.
"Do you really think you can play sothing like that?"
"If you damage it and ruin my livestream..."
Her voice grew cold.
"I’ll expose you online and destroy your lives."
After finishing her tirade, she stepped forward and reached out to snatch the guitar from Liza’s arms.
At that mont—
Liza’s eyes turned icy.
The cheerful girl who had been smiling monts ago vanished.
In her place stood the cold assassin once again.
Just as Marichi’s hand was about to grab the guitar—
Julian suddenly stepped forward.
His expression was calm.
His movent was fast.
SLAP!
His palm struck Marichi’s face with a loud, crisp sound.
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