Dessert

When the first pale ray of daylight pierced the gap in the heavy silk curtains and cast its light into the room, Boer opened his eyes.

He lay within the former Marquis Kent, that loser who had been swept into the dustbin of history.

On the luxurious, king-sized bed capable of accommodating five or six people, icy, smooth silk sheets lay beneath him, and the tip of his nose was surrounded by the lingering expensive incense belonging to the old master, along with a faint, elusive fragrance belonging to the two "gifts" of the previous night.

A strip of undisguised sneer could not help but show on his face; this smile was cold, carrying contempt for all this scheming.

Yesterday's noon banquet, after finalizing the framework of the Steel Heavy Industry Consortium, did not end immediately, but instead smoothly unfolded the "appetizer" of carving up the Kent Family's heritage.

When Boer publicly announced that he would take out half of the captured port cargo, merchant fleet, multiple properties, and several cash-cow casinos belonging to the former Marquis Kent—enormous assets with an estimated value exceeding two billion Beli—to serve as the first startup capital and source of dividends after the establishment of the consortium, the atmosphere in the entire banquet hall reached a new climax.

The eyes of those nobles who still harbored a last trace of wariness and distance toward Boer instantly turned incomparably burning, and their attitudes grew increasingly humble, even reaching the point of adulation.

Boer even unusually adopted a tone carrying a bit of black humor, pointing to the magnificent marquis's mansion beneath his feet and saying, "I suppose this mansion itself probably cannot be cut in half to share among you. After all, I assume none of you wish to be whispering sweet nothings to some lady at night, only to find a 'white monster' like myself living right next door?"

This self-deprecating remark elicited tacit, thunderous laughter and echoings from the entire audience, carrying a hint of ingratiating flavor.

They needed this kind of "down-to-earth" hint to relieve their fear of absolute power and to confirm through the shared division of interests that they were people "in the same boat."

In fact, Boer knew very well that relying solely on Roland, who had just defected, or Thatch, who was loyal but better at solving problems by force, they simply lacked the strength to fully digest the Kent Family's intricate and colossal industries in a short time.

Doing so by force would only trigger greater chaos and potential backlash. Since that was the case, it was better to proactively throw out this portion of interests that he could not yet fully control for the time being. This could win hearts and minds, securely bind more noble forces to his war chariot, and also leverage the strength of these local serpents to root out the Kent Family's remaining forces faster and more thoroughly.

The Kent Family has indeed deeply cultivated this land for decades, and its roots are deep. Boer watched the greedy light flashing in the eyes of those nobles with a cold eye at the time, sneering in his heart, But other nobles who have also survived on this land for decades, for a hundred years, knowing each other inside and out, will, for the sake of interests, dig out every single Beli the Kent Family has hidden for me like the most professional hounds!

As for the legitimate institution of the "Steel Heavy Industry Consortium," it could logically incorporate those properties and shops that were difficult to directly control or prone to disputes into its management scope, subsuming them into his control in disguise.

Hmph, even if I don't actively divide it out, wouldn't this group of "gentlemen" secretly meddle and nibble away at it bit by bit? Boer had no doubt about this, Facing immense interests, they will definitely take risks.

I reckon many people will still hold onto wishful thinking-'It's no big deal if discovered; at most, apologize and return the things.' Could I really slaughter every single one of them sitting here for this little "trifle"? Even if I slaughtered them, who can guarantee that the newly replaced faces won't do the same thing?

This was the filth and realistic helplessness of noble politics. Rather than spending huge amounts of energy to guard against the omnipresent bugs, it was better to turn them into an interest community, using a larger cake and clear rules to guide their greed for his own use.

What made him slightly surprised was that the operational efficiency of these nobles was shockingly high. Just one afternoon, when he finished his cultivation in the metal study, this marquis's mansion, originally filled with the imprints of the Kent Family, had already taken on a completely new look.

All decorations, tapestries, silverware, and even emblems on the door handles bearing the Kent Family crest had vanished without a trace, as if that family had never existed.

Replacing them were the glittering pentagram symbols forged from precious metals that appeared in key positions.

"The actions are quite fast, and quite attentive." Boer looked around this bedroom where even the curtain hooks had changed styles, giving an ambiguous evaluation.

Dressed neatly under the service of the personal maid, Boer walked out of the bedroom and came to the welcoming atrium.

Here, a batch of new attendants and maids, a row of men and women respectively, wearing unified, fine-textured new uniforms, stood with their heads lowered and solemn, waiting for the review of the new master.

Locke Hall had been waiting there for a long time. He had changed into a more casual yet still luxurious casual wear, and greeted him with a smile blending respect and a tacit understanding between men.

"Lord Boer, did you rest well?" He exchanged pleasantries, then turned sideways, pointing to the slim female head housekeeper in a well-tailored maid uniform at the very front of the attendant procession.

Her neckline formed a deep V-shape, just right to outline her mature and alluring curves.

Lowering his voice, he spoke in a teasing tone bordering on "buddy," "This is a small token of affection from the 'brothers.' Starting today, everyone up and down this mansion is yours."

He winked meaningfully and added, "Doing... anything is fine."

Immediately afterward, his tone shifted, carrying a trace of imperceptible grimness, "Of course, if you accidentally break her, or find her inconvenient to use, just throw her away. We will select a more suitable 'supplement' for you at any time." Finally, he pointed in the direction of the master bedroom,

"As for the other two 'gifts,' they are already placed in your room, waiting for your 'inspection'." After speaking, he gently stroked his right chest with his right hand, performed a brief farewell salute, and left the marquis's mansion with his attendants.

Boer's gaze fell upon the female head housekeeper. She kept her head lowered all along, but Boer keenly perceived that her lowered eyes were glancing out of the corner, quickly and carefully sizing up this new master of hers.

Tall, upright, with smooth muscle lines containing explosive power, coupled with this conspicuous white short hair and a still somewhat youthful, delicate face, he has a strange charm.

But combined with the rumors of him annihilating the Kent Family in a single day, this charm added another layer of heart-pounding danger... The female head housekeeper's thoughts spun rapidly in her heart, I hope... he won't too cruel of a master...

Not knowing what possible scenes she thought of, a trace of imperceptible blush quietly swept across her lowered face, but it was immediately suppressed by her forcibly, restoring professional calmness.

"Lord Earl," she stepped forward, curtsied slightly, and spoke in a mature yet crisp voice with the unique magnetism of an older sister,

"The dining room has already set up a cold buffet for you. Would you like to go over and have some now? In addition, the hot water in the bathroom has also been prepared, in case you need to bathe first."

As she spoke, she naturally reached out, wanting to take off the trench coat Boer had just draped over himself.

This female head housekeeper Elena was about one meter seven tall, considered tall among women, but standing beside Boer, who was close to one meter nine, she appeared much more petite, more like a child needing protection.

Boer did not refuse her, letting her help him take off the trench coat. But when she finished the action and prepared to step back, he suddenly reached out, his slender and powerful fingers gently lifting her smooth, white chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.

This was a rather exquisite face, with appropriate makeup, and her specific age could not be seen, but the charm between her brows showed that she was no longer young.

Her skin was extremely well maintained, her facial features bright, and a pair of brown eyes flashed a trace of panic due to the sudden contact, but it was quickly covered up by well-trained calmness.

Boer's gaze, like the most precise scanner, swept from her smooth forehead, to the pair of eyes trying to maintain composure yet leaking a trace of unease, to her straight bridge of the nose, and finally landed on her slightly pursed lips coated with light-colored lipstick.

She, or they, Boer thought indifferently in his heart, whose eyes sent by which family, or families again? Roland? Some viscount eager to show loyalty? Or even... Hall arranged on behalf of the royal family?

He did not care about the existence of these informants, and even found it interesting. In this game of power, monitoring and being monitored were always the norm.

Amidst the female head housekeeper's increasingly obvious tension and unease, he released his hand, turned around, and left only a bland sentence: "Bath first."

"Yes, my lord." The female head housekeeper breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, immediately responding respectfully, and then signaled behind her.

Two petite and exquisite-looking maidens, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, immediately trotted out from the procession of maids, lowering their heads to guide Boer toward the bathroom.

When Boer was at the door of the bedroom, having his soft indoor shoes taken off by the kneeling maid, and pushed open the bedroom door inlaid with gems, the scene that met his eyes caused even his mindset to change slightly.

On the exaggeratedly wide huge couch covered with snow-white velvet bedsheets, two slender figures were quietly leaning.

One was a rich shade of purple. That was a woman looking to be around twenty-five or six, dressed in a semi-transparent purple light gauze long dress. The material of the gauze dress was extremely thin, except for the most crucial private parts which were barely covered by same-colored but thicker satin.

The remaining parts-her plump, snow-white body, slender legs, and delicate waist-were faintly visible under the hazy purple gauze, outlining breathtaking curves.

She possessed a gorgeous and delicate face, with the unique charm of a mature woman between her brows and a hint of elusive melancholy, like a rose blooming to the extreme. She was none other than Chloe Kent, a famous branch beauty of the current generation of the Kent Family, once hailed as the "Family Rose."

She had originally been married off to another powerful baron as a bargaining chip for a family marriage to consolidate the alliance. But with the Kent Family's overnight collapse and the huge deterrence of the "Steel Heavy Industry Consortium," that baron unhesitatingly treated her as "unwelcome cargo," hastily packing her back along with the divorce agreement, using this as a token of surrender and goodwill offered to the new ruler.

When Boer walked in, this gorgeous "widow" stood up lightly from the bed, with bare white feet, treading cat-like alluring steps, and gently closed the bedroom door.

Then, she turned around, knelt at Boer's feet covered by the thick carpet, and took the initiative to extend her soft hands, holding Boer's knuckled hands containing power, gently pressing them against her warm and smooth cheeks.

She lifted her head, her eyes rippling with water, carrying a complex emotion mixed with submission, ingratiating, and a trace of reluctance, rubbing against the back of Boer's hand with her cheek, her soft breath tickling his skin like a feather.

Immediately afterward, she even stuck out her small, playful tip of the tongue, meticulously licking Boer's fingers like the most docile pet.

The struggles of the nobles are always so cruel, Chloe's heart was ice-cold and sober, I prospered together with the family, enjoying glory. Now that the family has fallen, I naturally cannot escape the fate of being randomly gifted like an object to please the victor.

However, deep within her gaze burned an unyielding ambition, But as long as I can grasp the heart of the man before me, as the bedmate of the strongest Boer-even if only one of them-I and the remaining family force behind me will not necessarily lack the opportunity to rise again!

Power was so intoxicating, yet so corrupting.

Boer felt the warm and slippery sensation coming from the back of his hand, looking at the mature body before him-almost fully exposed under the purple gauze, letting him do whatever he pleased-with no romantic feelings in his heart, but instead raising a trace of realization:

An alluring body is nothing but an appendage and embellishment of power. And power itself is the poison that truly intoxicates people.

Noticing that Boer did not seem to reject it, and even a trace of playfulness and pleasure toward the "display of power" itself leaked from his gaze, Chloe's heart settled slightly.

She smiled charmingly, stood up, and began to strip off Boer's robe, revealing his strong upper body. She pressed her warm and fragrant chest tightly against Boer's broad and solid back, speaking like an orchid exhaling near his ear as she introduced the other person on the bed: "My lord, she is Ellie-son Kent, the true pearl of our Kent Family's current generation, the old marquis's own niece..."

Boer's gaze turned to the other white figure on the bed. In stark contrast to Chloe's near-naked temptation, this young girl named Allison wore a relatively conservative white gauze dress. Although the material was similarly thin, the critical parts were well covered.

Yet those faintly visible curves added an even more innocent temptation. She looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, her face still carrying undissipated childishness. Her golden hair scattered like a waterfall on the snow-white bedsheets, and her face, wearing a white transparent eye veil, was currently filled with panic and helplessness.

Her body trembled slightly, her hands unconsciously hugging her chest tightly as if she wanted to hide herself. Her gaze darted around and her lips moved, yet she did not know what to say or what to do at this moment.

Acting like the most competent salesperson, Chloe gently pushed Boer toward the magnificent large bed, whispering in a tone mixed with adulation and sympathy: "Allison is still a... virgin. Her temperament is a bit timid, and I hope my lord... can show some pity."

Inside the bedchamber, the candlelight was ambiguous and the fragrance intoxicating. One was a beauty well-versed in worldly affairs, deeply familiar with romance, trying to use her body to find a glimmer of hope for her family; the other was a pure maiden about to bud, forced into sacrifice, symbolizing the old nobility's complete submission.

Together, they lay on this huge couch that once belonged to Marquis Kent, waiting for the "inspection" of the new master. Behind this colorful picture lay naked power transfers, the price losers must pay, and proof of victors wantonly enjoying spoils of war.

Boer stood by the bed, looking down at these two beautiful "tributes," the trace of mocking smile at the corner of his mouth seeming to deepen.