Will I Ultimately Become a Capitalist Tycoon?

Raikou Ryoma's expression instantly grew colorful.

Back in the day, he'd only been forced to dance at gunpoint by an African uncle and attacked by monkeys on Mount Emei!!

How the hell did he end up with some bizarre setting like becoming Solomon II?!

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!"

Raikou Ryoma quickly denied it.

[Good, now he's just arguing he never did those weird things—looks like he believes you're a friend of Mei's]

A faint smile crept onto Russell's face.

"Since Uncle Raikou believes my words, how about giving a little support?"

Raikou Ryoma fell silent for a moment.

In his worldview, the unit of evil was Siegfried.

The guy in front of him looked way too smug—at least ten Siegfried Powers' worth.

But, from what he could see, this guy and Mei might actually have a decent relationship.

So—

"I'll arrange a plane for you."

Though he didn't know what Russell was up to, the guy's displayed intelligence-gathering and dream-invasion abilities were pretty formidable.

Heading to Vienna meant he was undoubtedly seeking out Schicksal.

He didn't know what Russell had that could guarantee Schicksal would be willing to interfere in Changkong City, but since he was doing it, there had to be a reason. As someone out of the loop, it was best not to meddle.

"Ah, who said anything about a plane?"

At that, Russell was taken aback. He asked as if he'd encountered something utterly bizarre.

Raikou Ryoma was stunned too.

Weren't you the one saying you wanted to go to Vienna? Now you don't need a plane?

The boy let out a light cough, and with an expression of near-shock from Raikou Ryoma, pulled a cargo list out of his pocket.

"Though it's not proper to be so distant between friends, This Humble One has been a bit short on cash lately."

The boy's expression was a mix of awkwardness and shyness, but the hand handing over the bill was as steady as a doctor from a top-tier hospital.

"Uncle Dragon Sniper, a little support?"

Chapter 21: Damn, Got Hit by the Herrscher of Color

Raikou Ryoma was a very wealthy man.

So wealthy it was almost absurd.

Russell looked at the supply list in his hand and felt that if his story were a novel, the rest would be predictable at a glance.

With Raikou Ryoma's funding, Russell would hang out in all sorts of clubs, one day exhaust himself, and close his eyes.

The end.

Scatter flowers.

[Scatter your big head!]

[Teacher Dake hasn't kicked the bucket yet—she hasn't, so Raikou Ryoma's nothing! You're still a broke dog who doesn't even qualify for a struggle session!]

The Prompt Device's voice forcefully stretched the story back out.

Broke dog.

Russell sighed. Everything he'd done so far was really just to shake off that title.

After all, as a noble and mine owner, getting recognition from an organization like the Reunion Movement...

That was nothing short of miserable.

Tch—

Russell let out an annoyed sound.

He prepared to find a spot to soul-project.

But before soul-projecting, he still needed to grab some food—his body would keep running while he was out.

Russell looked around.

Searching for a suitable restaurant. As luck would have it, right next to him was a pretty nice-looking cafe.

Eating a sandwich and drinking a coffee there would be just fine.

He found a secluded spot, sat down, and waited quietly.

Soon enough, a waiter came over.

"Sir, what would you like to drink?"

A rather elegant tone, with a hint of a London accent.

Wait?

A London accent?

Russell sensed something was off.

He lifted his head, and in his field of vision, a beautiful woman stood beside him.

Ash-gold short hair, wine-red eyes.

She wore a white long dress with a gray rose pattern and yellow decoration, a black apron with white trim, tied in a bow at her back.

The corners of her lips curled slightly, a hint of allure in her eyes.

[Holy crap, what kind of ridiculous luck is this]

Even the Prompt Device seemed startled by that woman.

Rita, one of Schicksal's three S-rank Valkyries, most often accompanied by the strongest Valkyrie, The Penguin.

Her hobby was being a maid.

Working part-time at a cafe in her spare time was probably a pleasure for her.

Russell's method of completing the task was to tattle to The Penguin.

The most time-consuming part of that was finding a certain Penguin somewhere in a place as big as Vienna.

And Russell had directly run into the Penguin's accessory!

[Going out for a meal, and you just bump into the big Penguin's sidekick? Damn, are you some kind of European Emperor?]

[Wait, if your luck is really this good, then three days should be more than enough... didn't Raikou Ryoma get beaten for nothing?]

Then, the Prompt Device seemed to realize another serious issue.

"Ah... let's not bring up things that harm group unity. How was I supposed to know I'd run into the Herrscher of Color the moment I hit Vienna?"

Russell communicated with the Prompt Device expressionlessly in his mind.

Then, he looked at the beautiful woman beside him, his gaze flickering slightly.

"Besides... this might not be a good thing either."

"Excuse me, what would you like to drink, sir?"

The maid, unaware of Russell's conversation with the Prompt Device, smiled faintly, but there was a hint of distress in her smile.

"If you just ignore me like that, it makes me sad."

"Beer, perhaps? Vienna's beer is world-famous."

Under the maid's gaze, Russell actually smiled back.

The beautiful maid blinked, as if she'd seen some kind of oddity, then let out a soft laugh.

"Sir, you should know that mentioning that madman in the German-speaking region is against the law."

"As I recall, German law only bans art students from drinking, not engineering students from having beer."

Russell blinked, fabricating a brand-new law for Germany.

"I studied law, so it's fine."

"Law isn't engineering."

The beautiful young woman laughed at that utterly absurd statement, her laugh lovely, like light rippling on water.

"Oh, is it not?"

A hint of helplessness crossed Russell's face.

"Beautiful miss, it seems you've discovered that my highest diploma is only elementary school."

That remark made the young woman across from him burst into laughter.

She pointed at Russell's jacket—clearly unsuited to Vienna's current climate—where the label inside read Russian.

"East Asian features, recently been to Russia, can understand German. I'd say the odds of your education level being very low are... not high."

"Unfortunately, I'm the one who slipped through the cracks of the Nine-Year Compulsory Education system."

Russell said solemnly.

"Congratulations, you've met one today."

"I am the once-in-a-lifetime, destined Chosen Illiterate!"

That line made even the waiter by the counter laugh.

"You're quite amusing."

"How about buying me a cup of coffee?"

The maid set down her tray and sat across from Russell, her wine-red eyes fixed on him with an ambiguous affection, like poisoned wine that made anyone who sipped it feel their heartbeat quicken.

"Ah, that's a real shame. I only brought money for beer."

Russell thought for a moment, then spoke seriously.

"If I treat you to coffee, I won't be able to afford beer later. How about you buy me a cup instead?"

"Ah, is that so?"

That maid seemed a bit troubled.

Then she quickly clapped her hands, and her beautiful eyes seemed to light up.

"Then, I'll treat you to a cup."

"You won't say no, will you?"

That maid smiled and asked.

"That depends on how skilled Miss is at brewing coffee."

Russell's reply was as tactless as ever.

"I do have a little bit of experience with coffee."

That beautiful woman smiled, then walked toward the back kitchen. Before long, she came back carrying a coffee cup.

Russell glanced at the cup. Inside was a standard Café au Lait.

Its preparation involved pouring one shot of espresso and a large cup of hot milk into the cup at the same time, then placing two spoonfuls of foamed cream on top of the liquid. Paired with a croissant, it made for a simple yet delightful breakfast or afternoon tea.

"Brother, Rita is a renowned beauty far and wide. You'd better drink it all."

"Otherwise, I might let it slip that Rita was kind to you and you turned your nose up at it... Then you'll find yourself cornered in an alley by Rita's suitors."

At the counter, a relatively ordinary-looking waiter teased Russell.

Russell took the coffee cup.

As the coffee appeared, the Prompt Device displayed new information.