Only When It's Beneficial
The past
Twenty-two years ago in the United Finland.
Gold mining was the business talked about the most throughout the United Finland. People were making fortunes out of it. The Vale family wanted to expand their jewelry business. Gold mining was tempting, and they thought it would work out well with their family Jewelry business. They consulted their business analyst just to ensure everything goes accordingly, and with his approval, they ventured into gold mining.
Just when they thought their business was going to be successful.
Everything crashed in a matter of months when gold became scarce. It was just their misfortune, and to make matters worse, they took out a loan. A loan they agreed to pay back in five months' time.
During the time that the business was no longer functional, the bank raided The Vale Jewelry company and seized their most valuable Jewelries. They took their valuable gems, their titanium, and other precious metals they used to create their famous jewelry pieces.
The Vale Family business was going bankrupt. They were helpless and didn't know how to save their family business that was at the brink of collapsing.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*Pacing up and down the sitting room in confusion* Javier, what are we going to do? Everything we've worked hard for is going to ruin if we don't do something quickly. Javier! I am going crazy here. Why are you sitting silently over there.
Shane stares at her husband with teary eyes. Her heart was beating erratically in fear. The thought of losing everything they worked for was devastating. Her husband was equally screaming for help in his mind, but he still tried to compose himself by putting up an unfazed facade.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
Darling! Calm down. Being all stressed up won't solve our situation. We need a clear mind to come up with a solution.
Javier lowers his head in contemplation. God knows there was nothing clear about his mind at that moment. He was going crazy imagining the worst-case scenarios.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
A clear mind! A clear mind in this chaos we are facing.... By tomorrow our company will be seized if we don't do something before the morning.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
*Sighs* I know, Darling, and that's why I called someone to help us out.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*Walks hurriedly to sit next to her husband on the couch* And who is that?
Javier Vale FMC's Father
Our business analyst Monroe Leon.
Shane glares at her husband and smacks her lips in annoyance. At that point, she couldn’t help the anger she had towards the analyst. If it wasn't for his bad advice, they wouldn't be in the situation they were facing.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
What can that man do? I spoke to him the moment our stocks started going down, and all he said was that we give our new venture time to grow. Look what giving time to the business has led us to.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*Shane slumps to the ground and closes her eyes as tears trail down her cheeks.* If we lose everything, how are we going to care for our daughter? Where are we going to live? How are we going to feed?
Javier held his wife tightly in his embrace and consoles her by gently patting her back. He was frustrated, but he needed to be strong for their family. He was holding back his emotions and the tears in his eyes when a familiar face barged into their sitting room like he was being chased.
Shane scoffs at the sight of the familiar face and shakes her head. Ever since everything went down, she couldn't help but suspect the man. It was as if he intentionally allowed their business to fail.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
My man! Monroe, what took you so long? I was almost giving up hope.
Monroe tries to catch his breath as he sits in the opposite chair in the sitting room.
Monroe Leon
I had to find a way for us to make amends before coming, right?
Javier Vale FMC's Father
Yeah! Were you able to find someone who is willing to help?
Monroe Leon
Yeah! It was hard, but I was able to find someone. The problem is, I don't know if you will be down with the person who is willing to render us help.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
Who is that person who is willing to help?
There was one man in the whole of the united Finland who is feared even in the Shadows. A man whom even the royals trembled at the mention of his name. A man whose name has echoed for centuries. A man whom many wonders if he was real or if he was just a relic of the past.
Ciel Crimson was a man of mysteries. A man of great power, who has won man battles and gained recognition far and wide around the world. He is a man of great fortune who hands out favors in return for people making deals with him. The problem is that he is a deathly man who can kill if a person doesn't fulfil their end of the bargain.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
Are you crazy? That man is deathly. Rumors have it that he is a ruthless tyrant who stores up the skull of people who fail to keep their end of the bargain in an underground basement. They say he is merciless even to little children. Do you understand what that means?
Javier stares at Monroe closely as he was trying to understand what was going through his mind for coming to such a conclusion. Monroe gulps nervously with his head lowered.
Monroe Leon
But that's only if you are unable to fulfil your end of the bargain.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*She sighs and shakes her head frantically* Tell us what does he want?
Monroe Leon
I don't know. All he said was that if you are ready to receive his favour, your Shane should meet him alone at the cathedral by 12 midnight.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
*Glares at Monroe angrily* Alone? what does he want with my wife?
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
* The place was silent for a while* I will go! I have to go no matter what. I will do anything for the sake of our daughter.
Javier Vale FMC's Father
*Pants restlessly as he grabs his wife's hand in panic* Shane! please don't go. We don't know what ridiculous thing he will request for.
The place went silent for a while. Javier and Shane were both lost in each other’s eyes. Shane could feel her husband's hands trembling while holding onto her hands tightly. She sighed as her eyes suddenly became teary.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
If I don't go... assuming I don't go, what will happen when tomorrow comes?
It was midnight. The place was freezing. The wind carried with it flakes of snow. Shane wrapped her arms around her body tightly to warm herself up while scanning the area for the person, she waiting for.
Her head was lowered, and thoughts of her daughter and husband clouded her mind. She was lost in her mind when a deep voice startled her,
？？？
Child! So, tell me, what is your greatest desire?
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*jolts* Master Ciel Crimsom?
？？？
*Smirks* What do you desire?
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*Strengthens her resolve by making a fist* I want to talk to Master Ciel Crimsom and no one else.
Before living the house, Monroe had warned her to make sure she talked to Master Ciel Crimsom and no one else. He warned that if she wasn't sure and talked to the wrong person, all her effort would have been in vein.
She was worried about not recognising him, so Monroe advised to do what he wanted first before telling him what she wanted herself.
？？？
How can you tell I am not him?
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*exhales* I can't tell in honesty, but it's not about what I want. It's about what I can do for him.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
So, if you are him, tell me, what do you want? How can I serve you?
The man vanishes, and a cackle carried by the cold wind echoes in Shane's ears. A sudden warmth enveloped her from the back, she swiftly turns to see who it was and to her shock it was a tall fair man with piercing red eyes.
Ciel Crimsom (Fl grandad)
That weasel did a good job prepping you, Mrs. Vale. I am impressed. you have a strong mind.
Ciel Crimsom (Fl grandad)
Most usually lose it after talking to my Shadow men. But you... your resolve is something else.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
*Trembles* What do you want?
Ciel Crimsom (Fl grandad)
*Smirks and inhales deeply* You smell like a lotus flower. Twenty-one years from now, I will come for what is mine. Do you agree?
Folds her lips nervously and stutters for a while. She stares at the man nervously and claws at her trembling chest.
Shane Vale FMC's Mother
Yes! Yes... Master Ciel Crimsom.
Ciel Crimsom (Fl grandad)
*Laughs heartily and patts her shoulder* Then, we have a deal.
Hands her a Crimson brooch with a smirk
Ciel Crimsom (Fl grandad)
In 21 years' time, this brooch might just be your saving grace if you still have it. If you dont, nothing can save you.
As for your business, it has been saved, and by tomorrow, it will only keep growing.
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