Chapter 29: Luxury

Zaos drummed his fingers on the elegant wood desk. After some thought, he rose from his seat and headed downstairs.

"Lord," the maids immediately greeted. They had been informed of the situation by the guards. Although they were surprised, as individuals who worked for the former crime boss, they could adapt quickly.

"Get one of the guards in here," Zaos nodded before commanding a maid.

"Yes, m'lord." The maid with long black hair quickly dashed out of the house.

Zaos took a seat on a wooden chair in the room. By now, the maids had already taken care of the mess that had been made by Zaos.

"May I get you something to drink or eat, lord?" A maid walked up to Zaos and asked.

Zaos shifted his attention to the maid. Just like her companions, she was dressed in a Victorian-style maid outfit. She had her long green hair tied into a bud, and she wore a charming smile as she spoke to Zaos.

[Bootlicking already?] Zaos snorted in disdain.

"Get me some wine," He answered plainly.

"Yes, my lord." The green-haired maid swiftly left the room.

"The rest of you can leave," Zaos dismissed the other maids from the dining room.

"Yes, my lord." They bowed and took their leave.

A few seconds later, the dark-haired maid returned with the burly earth elf from the group of three who had gathered in the dining room earlier.

"Leader," the burly earth elf greeted. He was one of the individuals who had been moved by Zaos' earlier speech and was willing to prove himself.

"I want you and some people to head to the Kikimill settlement and fetch me the Paxis family," Zaos instructed as he leaned against the chair.

"You can count on me boss! I'll get it done before nightfall tomorrow!" The burly earth elf pounded his chest as he spoke.

Zaos nodded and dismissed him with a wave. The earth elf bowed and swiftly exited the room with a grin on his face.

[I can gather information from Marvid's family members when they arrive… ] Zaos rested his head on his hand.

[Oh! I should probably get my stuff from Ronik's place…] Zaos still donned his assassin outfit. It was only the night of his would-have-been first day as a mercenary.

[I can also train in this mansion from now on,] Zaos smiled. Being wealthy had its perks. Since this was now his residence, he didn't have to worry about any inconveniences.

[I'll retrieve my stuff tomorrow… ] He lightly stretched his body.

The wind elf maid from earlier arrived with a bottle and glass of red wine in her hands.

"Here's your wine, my lord." She respectfully handed Zaos the wine.

Zaos received the glass, he silently activated his elemental weave to negate any poison the wine might contain.

[You can never be too cautious… ] He took a sip of the wine and savored its sweet and fruity taste.

"Good wine," he praised. Since Zaos arrived on Krulon, he hadn't tasted any luxurious cuisines the world had to offer.

[But for some reason, I feel like blood tastes better… ]

"It is the best wine in the settlement, it's called the carvanet." The wind elf maid introduced. She stood on the side with the shorter dark elf maid.

Zaos nodded slightly at her words, however, he continued comparing the tastes of wine and blood in his head.

After a few seconds, the maid who had been cleaning the master bedroom returned to the lower floor.

[Might as well go get some sleep,] Zaos stood up from his chair.

"Take the rest of the wine back. Don't disturb me in the morning, I will come down when I wish to be served a meal." Zaos spoke to the maid beside him.

"Yes, my lord." They bowed and swiftly carried out Zaos' order.

Zaos headed upstairs, he went directly to the master's bedroom and locked the door behind him. He stripped down to his underwear and got on the king-size bed in the room.

[I can train a bit in the morning before increasing my authority over the gang… ] With those thoughts, Zaos fell asleep.

He wasn't worried someone would directly attack him in his sleep. He had silently killed the former boss right under the nose of all his guards and subordinates. His actions had already planted a seed of fear into the minds of these individuals.

He reckoned that they would not directly attack him, poisoning him was a different thing though, as it was more discreet.

***

The radiance of the stars resided, and the pitch-black sky returned. The loud cries of some of the awakened forest creatures resounded through the area around the manor.

Zaos awoke after a refreshing night's rest. He felt the most relaxed he had been since arriving on Krulon.

[*Sigh* I missed this luxury.] Zaos sighed. Although the bed in Ronik's house was comfortable, it could not compare to the luxury bed owned by a crime boss.

Zaos stretched for a bit before training his mana control and combat techniques. He swung his dagger made from mana as he twisted and turned his body at unbelievable angles.

After a while of vigorous exercise, Zaos finally stopped. He took his sweat-drenched body and went to the bathroom on the upper floor.

Outside the bathroom stood the maid with green hair tied to a bun from yesterday.

"Good morning My lord. The bath has been prepared. Do you require my services?" The maid asked with an enchanting smile.

"Not necessary," Zaos answered in a neutral tone. He walked past the slightly disappointed maid and entered the bathroom.

The bathroom was spacious, with a large metal bathtub stationed in the middle of the room.

Zaos took off his underwear and got into the bath for a soak. After a few minutes, he got out of the bath and dried his body with a towel placed on the side for him.

He wrapped himself with the towel and with his underwear in hand, he left the bathroom.

"My lord, Rendov has returned." Immediately Zaos stepped out of the bathroom, the wind elf maid who was waiting outside informed him.

"... Who is that?" Zaos asked in confusion.

"The earth elf surbornate you sent to fetch the Paxis family." The wind elf reported.

[Oh! That was fast… ] Zaos nodded in understanding.

"Inform him that I'll be with him in a few minutes," He instructed as he made his way to the master's bedroom.

"Yes, my lord." The maid bowed before making her way to the lower floor where Rendov awaited.