Chapter 7 - Business

- 'Meet me in Heavenly Delicacies in one hour.'

Glottis gazed at the text he received from his brother and pondered on whether he should bail on the meeting he agreed to attend. After all, the circumstances changed and-

- 'You already agreed to come, so you better be here. If I lose face because my little brother didn't show up after I said he would, you'd be in for a long spar with me.'

"Ah, screw you! You are a cultivator, have some shame!" Glottis cursed at his phone and made up his mind to go. Leo would find him at home and see those bruises anyway, so avoiding him now was pointless.

"Here," Glottis said lazily and tossed a bill at the stripper who performed for him. He had nothing to do, so after Donny left to make the necessary arrangements, Glottis remained behind to enjoy the performance.

"Thank you, Young Master." The dancer smiled but did not stop moving around the pole until he closed the door behind him. No words, she was professional and cared about her job.

'Huh, wasn't she Zoey from the other class?' Glottis realized where he recognized her from. 'Maybe I can use it next time I try to get laid at school.' He did like what he saw there, but he soon forgot all about the dancer.

He entered his Lumina Z-Ray 3500 and hit the road, making it to the designated meeting spot with his brother. The Heavenly Delicacies restaurant was a fancy place made entirely of carefully carved wood.

The restaurant is a breathtaking structure from the outside, rising majestically with its five distinct levels. Each floor features a cascading, curved roof, richly adorned with gleaming golden trim and delicate wooden carvings that play with the light.

The building, crafted from deep, polished wood, is accented with vibrant red panels and ornate windows, making each tier unique in its allure. A pair of grand, red doors marks the entrance, flanked by imposing stone statues, while verdant flowers add a touch of nature's calm to the grandiose façade.

"Hello, Sir, do you have a reservation?" The hostess in tight red cheongsam welcomed him as he stepped inside.

"I do, and it's extended beyond your shift, so why don't you join me when you're done?" Glottis moved his eyes in a long gaze from head to toe.

"Haha, Young Master is jesting," she giggled artificially, waiting for a serious response.

"I'm not, but I will spend the day with my big brother, Leo Sonora, until you are free," the young man stood close enough for them to smell each other's perfumes.

"He is at the top floor, follow me," her eyes briefly halted upon the sight of his bruises before she turned around and led him into the restaurant.

Glottis followed the hostess through the ground floor, a spot open to anyone who'd made a reservation. He noticed how the lanterns cast a cozy, inviting light around, playing off the murals that lined the walls.

Moving up, he could feel the atmosphere shift to something more exclusive. Rich tapestries, elegant sculptures, and pieces of antique furniture filled the private dining areas, each level more upscale than the last.

The air was rich with the aroma of exotic spices and the promise of culinary delights. Finally, at the top floor, Glottis stepped into what felt like a sanctuary for the elite, where minimalist design met luxurious comfort.

Huge windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and everything about the place, from the service to the food, screamed top-notch. This was clearly the playground of the rich and famous.

'Hm, this place is not bad,' was all the credit Glottis gave the luxury. As a certified playboy and pleasure-seeker, he indulged himself in most of the affluent restaurants of the city.

"Young Master Sonora, your big brother sits here with his guests," the hostess beckoned at a door and proceeded to knock for permission to open it. On this floor, the diners sat in private rooms.

"Come in," Leo's voice came. "Oh, this is my little brother, Glottis, whom I told you about. Glottis, this is Richard Nockman and Shumar Mink. They are entrepreneurs who develop shoes that absorb Qi from the air. According to their claims, any cultivator of the first stage can use it to walk in the sky."

"Pleasure to meet you, Young Master Glottis, but I must add – flying is only one gain; the shoes are also fashionable and comfy," Richard came forth with a wide smile and shook Glottis' hand.

"It sounds like it has a lot of potential," Glottis said with clear disinterest while reviewing the room with his eyes, trying to find the secretary. He firmly believed that one could judge the businessmen's value by the hotness of their secretaries.

"It does, and an interesting problem we have is testers who tried to use it to levitate above open hot springs at night," Shumar shook Glottis' hand next and spoke with hearty laughter.

"Even better. Are you two here all by yourselves?" He eventually asked when he was convinced there was nobody else hiding in the room.

"Yes, Young Master, is there a problem?" Shumar asked awkwardly, unsure of who Glottis was expecting to see.

"Glottis, I'm glad you are here, come sit by my side. I'm still trying to find a time window for the sparring session you asked for," Leo said with a dashing smile, and his little brother was the only one to pick up the hidden threat.

"Ha ha ha… I'm coming. Please, don't let me interrupt your business meeting," Glottis cut the bullshit and sat down obediently. He got enough beating for today.

"How much investment do you expect from my Sonora family?" Leo asked after the four of them enjoyed a delicious meal. They talked pleasantries for long enough, it was time to do business.

"Since you asked, we will be straightforward with our answer. We came here today hoping for an investment of twenty million dollars. In exchange, we will hand over one percent of our stocks." Richard pushed a folder with the data on their product.

"Glottis, what do you think?" Leo turned to his little brother after the two inspected the papers, expecting to hear his opinion. It was not because he needed advice; he merely wanted to see if his brother had a business-oriented mind.

"Sure, why not?" Glottis shrugged, making Leo sigh and the other two look at him in hope.

"No, when there's a deal, you first enter negotiations. Never accept the first offer. I apologize, gentlemen, my little brother is still young and needs mentorship," Leo smiled amiably at the two.

"It's alright, we are delighted to be his first, and it's good he can experience negotiations with someone sincere at the start," Richard hurried to refuse the apology.

"Old man, I will have you know that I had my first when I was 15, and she was way hotter than you, hehe."

"Ah… don't mind him," Leo sighed once more in exasperation. "I lost the mood for negotiations; you can have 50 million for three percent. It's my limit, take it or leave it."

The two only exchanged one glance.

"We will take it. Thank you, Young Master."