The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 157 - 156. Kidnap

Chapter 157: 156. Kidnap

The bustling streets of the capital were filled with merchants peddling their goods, children playing, and nobles strolling as if they owned the world. Tyler led the group to a large restaurant, one that stood out with its grand entrance and the delicious aroma wafting from within. It was the perfect place to gather information discreetly.

Once inside, they found a table near the back, away from prying eyes. The interior was just as grand as the exterior, with high ceilings adorned with chandeliers and walls lined with tapestries depicting the history of the kingdom. The restaurant was busy, filled with the chatter of diners and the clinking of utensils. They ordered their food, and it wasn’t long before plates of steaming peri-peri chicken were set before them.

"Aren’t we going to rescue that Half-Angel?" Isadora asked as she eyed Tyler and Lily, who were already digging into their meals with enthusiasm.

"This chicken tastes amazing," Lily said, ignoring Isadora’s question as she took another bite. "What did you say it was called?"

"Peri-peri chicken," Tyler replied, savouring the spicy, tangy flavours. "They say it’s from an island in this country that’s full of farmland and poultry. They even have arrays that speed up the growth process."

"Both of you are impossible," Isadora sighed. She finally gave in, picking up a piece of chicken herself. The moment the flavours hit her tongue, she couldn’t help but let out a small sound of appreciation. "This is... really good," she admitted, her annoyance momentarily forgotten.

Tyler and Lily exchanged knowing looks, smug smiles tugging at their lips as they watched her enjoy the food.

"But," Lily said, leaning back in her chair, "restaurants and bars are the best places to gather information."

With a subtle motion, she placed a few Lydia notes in the hand of the waiter who had come to refill their water. The waiter’s smile widened, and he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"What can I do for you, ma’am?" he asked politely.

"We’re new to the city," Tyler said, his tone casual but curious. "What’s been happening in the capital lately?"

The waiter glanced around, ensuring no one was listening too closely. "There’s quite a bit of turmoil brewing, sir. The King’s fallen ill, and it’s got everyone on edge. The Crown Princess has returned, but there’s talk that she’s going to marry the Prime Minister’s son."

"That doesn’t sound too bad," Lily remarked, though her tone suggested she was fishing for more.

The waiter’s expression turned puzzled. "That’s the strange part. The Prime Minister’s son is... well, he’s not exactly a model citizen. Spends most of his time in brothels. No one understands why the Princess would choose him."

"Interesting," Tyler said, exchanging a glance with Lily. "Anything else we should know?"

The waiter continued, sharing various bits of gossip and rumours that painted a picture of a kingdom in chaos. The Prime Minister had announced the wedding with alarming urgency, and it was set to take place within the week. Some said the Princess was being forced into it, while others believed she had her own reasons.

After the waiter left, the three of them sat in silence for a moment, processing the information.

"So, what’s the plan?" Isadora asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp. "Are we going to kidnap the bride? She’s probably locked up in some golden cage by now."

Tyler shook his head. "No, kidnapping the Princess would draw too much attention. We’re going to stop the wedding, but we’ll do it in a way that no one sees coming."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Lily inquired, raising an eyebrow.

A sly smile crept across Tyler’s face as he leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "We are not going to kidnap the bride, we are going to..."

That night, under the cover of darkness, a ripple of unease spread through the Prime Minister’s estate. The Prime Minister’s son disappeared.

The next morning, Tyler, Lily, and Isadora gathered in a hidden room of their temporary hideout. Before them lay a figure, unconscious and bound, his rotund form slumped against the floor. Even in his inert state, the sheer weight of him caused the wooden floor to creak ominously.

"This fatty is the Prime Minister’s son?" Tyler asked, his voice laced with disbelief. He circled the man, inspecting him from different angles, as if hoping a different perspective would yield a more plausible answer.

"Hard to believe, right?" Lily commented, nudging the man lightly with her boot. The floor groaned in protest.

"How did he even enjoy girls in brothels? Won’t they break?" Lily asked.

"That’s your problem?" Isadora’s mouth twitched.

"Probably, Cowgirl position." Tyler replied.

"Don’t answer her." Isadora shouted.

"But the Prime Minister doesn’t seem to be taking any action," Tyler remarked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "It’s like he doesn’t care that his only son has gone missing."

"Are we sure this is actually his son?" Isadora questioned, her own confusion evident. She recalled the events of the previous night, when she had infiltrated the brothel where the Prime Minister’s son was known to frequent. Disguised as one of the working girls, she had effortlessly hypnotised him and led him away, ensuring multiple times that he was indeed the right target.

She’d even gone so far as to ask the man himself, in his hypnotised state, "Are you the Prime Minister’s only son?"

His answer, slurred and lethargic, had been affirmative, yet here they were, doubting it all.

"Well... let’s wait and see," Tyler said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Does the Prime Minister have any other sons?"

Lily shook her head. "No, just this one. He has two daughters, but no other sons."

"Hmm," Tyler sighed, the mystery deepening. "Strange."

Isadora picked up a newspaper that had been left on the table. Her eyes scanned the headlines before landing on something that caught her interest.

"Looks like the White Merchant Group has created a new shopping mall in the port city," Isadora said, raising an eyebrow as she glanced up from the paper.

Tyler’s expression shifted from puzzlement to mild amusement. "Oh, those guys? They’re swimming in money. I’ve dealt with them before—they’re always generous with their payments."

Lily glanced at him, "Uh... Their Vice Captain is also beautiful."

"Tsk... Why are you guys praising them so much." Isadora sighed. She has no idea how these two are the most terrifying pirates.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

The old castle, once a symbol of ancient grandeur, had undergone a remarkable transformation. Now fully renovated, its stone walls and towering spires still held a sense of history, but the interior was a bustling hive of modern commerce. The grand halls and chambers that had once housed nobility were now divided into over 1,500 individual rooms, each meticulously designed to serve as rentable shops.

Each square foot of space within the castle came with a hefty price tag—5,000 Lydia per year. Given the castle’s prime location and the sheer number of people wanting in, this price was no deterrent. In fact, it only added to the allure. The stores varied in size, with the rent calculated accordingly, making some of the larger shops worth a small fortune.

Among the tenants were two of the most prestigious businesses: White Auction Hall and Immortal Bytes. These entities, closely tied to the mall’s operations, had naturally secured prime locations within the castle, their presence lending an air of exclusivity and prestige to the entire complex.

Mana and Mathilda had outdone themselves with the creation of the White Crown Galleria. The transformation of the old castle into a bustling commercial hub was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only had they meticulously planned the layout of the mall, but they had also ensured its security and functionality by inviting a host of renowned array masters to infuse the castle with powerful arrays. These included Monitoring Arrays for surveillance, Defence Arrays for protection, and Binding Arrays to enforce order within the premises. The result was a fortress-like shopping mall, impenetrable to threats and perfectly suited to its new purpose.

The grand opening of the White Crown Galleria took place just two days later, an event so significant that the Governor himself attended, cutting the ribbon in a ceremony that drew the attention of the entire kingdom. The opening attracted not just local merchants and townsfolk, but also pirates and adventurers from across the seas. The allure of the Galleria was so strong that even the prestigious Bank of Atlantis decided to relocate one of its branches to the city, choosing the White Crown Galleria as its new home.

As the buzz of the grand opening began to settle, Mana was busy sorting through a stack of invitations and documents that had arrived in the wake of their success. She paused, her eyes catching on an ornate card at the bottom of the pile.

"Wow... Mana Thinks Tyler might want this," Mana said, holding up the invitation card for Mathilda to see.

Mathilda leaned over to take a look, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "An invitation to the Princess’s marriage? So, this was part of his plan all along..." she mused aloud, understanding the implications. "He’s not just building a business empire; he’s also using it as a means to gain influence and get closer to Astrid."

Mana nodded, a sly smile forming on her lips. "It seems Tyler always thinks several steps ahead."

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