Chapter 608 - 42: A Sword in Return

Chapter 608: Chapter 42: A Sword in Return

Murphy knew full well that Cheris was hard to read.

Her agreements weren’t necessarily genuine, nor were her disagreements.

She, like so many women, had that trait of saying one thing and meaning another.

She acted as if she was letting him call all the shots, but in reality, every word was a test. If he went against her wishes, she might very well turn on him.

But he had no intention of dancing completely to her tune.

Since she had said he was in charge, he was going to act like it.

"No," Murphy said calmly. "I’m not leaving."

Cheris’s emerald eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of amusement coloring her otherwise sweet smile.

"My dear, what are you planning?" her voice remained soft and sweet. "The auction is about to start, you know. This Alternate Plane development permit is rather important—it’s a little trinket I’m determined to get."

Hearing this, Pittman’s eyes lit up.

He saw that Lady Douglas seemed to have been swayed, and he quickly seized the opportunity, his fawning expression growing even more intense.

"Right, right, right! Mr. Melfield, you see, even Lady Douglas says so! The auction is about to start—this is a big deal! You and Lady Douglas should hurry upstairs. Don’t let such a small thing delay what’s really important!"

As he spoke, he wiped his sweat with his sleeve, a smile practically overflowing from his face.

Murphy’s gaze shifted from Alonso to Pittman’s sycophantic face.

"You’re Pittman?"

Pittman froze for a second before nodding vigorously. "Yes, yes, that’s me, Mr. Melfield. I’m Pittman, the hospitality supervisor for the Silver Tower’s first-floor lobby."

Murphy nodded.

"Can you waive the fee for the Alternate Plane development permit, then?"

The smile on Pittman’s face froze.

"Well... Mr. Melfield, you must be joking. I... I don’t have that kind of authority..."

His voice trailed off, and fresh beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Murphy looked at him, his voice level.

"You have no authority. So why are you talking?"

Pittman’s face flushed bright red, then turned deathly pale. He stood there like a chicken with its neck being wrung.

But he was, after all, a wily veteran. His eyes darted about, and he quickly forced another smile.

He glanced at the cheerfully smiling Cheris beside them, as if clutching at his last straw.

"Mr. Melfield, please, don’t be rash! While I can’t waive the fee, I can still offer you and Lady Douglas some small favors within my authority! For example, the VIP lounge service today—I’ll arrange the very best for you! The parking fee, I’ll waive it for you! For example..."

He paused, his smile growing even more sycophantic as his words became increasingly outrageous.

"For example, I could also arrange some... ’special’ services? Your satisfaction guaranteed!"

"Besides, Lady Douglas has spoken. See? She wants you to go upstairs now, too. And for a man, sometimes listening to his woman is part of the fun, isn’t it?"

He added with what he clearly thought was a humorous chuckle.

Murphy ignored him.

He simply turned his head to look at Cheris.

His pitch-black eyes were as calm as a deep pool.

"Is that what you really want?"

Cheris tilted her head, her long, flaxen hair slipping from her shoulder.

She raised a slender index finger, its nail painted a glossy black, and twirled a lock of her hair. Her emerald eyes curved into crescents.

"That all depends on your attitude, my dear."

Her voice was cloyingly sweet, making it impossible to tell if she was being serious or just playing around.

Murphy watched her, silent for a second.

Then, he nodded.

"Alright."

Then, he turned to Pittman.

"Since you have no bearing on us obtaining the Alternate Plane development permit, it makes no difference whether we go up now or not."

"So there’s no need to hurry."

At his words, the color drained completely from Pittman’s face.

He went from deathly pale to ashen, and from ashen to a ghastly gray.

He looked at Murphy, then at Cheris, his lips trembling. He wanted to say something but didn’t dare utter a single word.

’It’s over.’

He knew he was finished.

Cheris was all smiles.

A strange, unreadable light glinted in her emerald eyes.

She looked at Murphy as if he were a toy that was becoming more and more interesting.

She wasn’t angry, or disappointed, or even the least bit displeased.

On the contrary... she seemed even more pleased.

Alonso stood rooted to the spot, watching everything unfold.

He watched Murphy casually dismiss Cheris’s suggestion and saw the ghastly pallor of Pittman’s face.

But he didn’t interject.

He hadn’t said a single word from beginning to end.

Because he knew he had already shown his value.

He came from the Old Realm; he and this Mr. Melfield shared the same origins.

He had talent; he just needed one opportunity to soar.

That information was enough.

The rest was up to this important man’s judgment.

If he started chattering incessantly like Pittman, saying and doing unnecessary things, he might just end up antagonizing Mr. Melfield.

It might backfire.

So he just stood there quietly, awaiting the verdict of his fate.

Murphy’s gaze left Cheris and fell once more upon Alonso.

"Alonso."

Alonso tensed. "Yes, sir."

Murphy looked at him and said calmly,

"How do you want to handle Pittman?"

Alonso was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Murphy to ask such a question.

’Skipping all the steps and giving me the authority to deal with him?’

’Isn’t this a bit too fast?’

But then, on second thought, Alonso suddenly understood.