REVIEWS

Alexdel27: Quite! Jaune's biggest strength is that he is not a playboy to hit it and leave it, but he does care. He is genuine. And sure, Kyu is definitely desperate and frustrated to no end by that, but ultimately, it is what will bring him ultimate victory. But I do have to rebuke you. Lionel Arc is not by any means a weak Huntsman, but rather, back then, with Coral, he was taken by surprise. He was not armed or ready for a fight. He went in expecting no opposition, which goes to show how high-strung on his horses he can be. Alice is not exactly blind to anything, but rather, she may have just taken too much after her father to see that the way she is was wrong.

Phantom117a: A decent scenario, but no. I have my plans, trust me. Also, the name of the Team is not PRAN, but AVLN.

Xerzo LotCN: Ha! You have a point somewhere there, but I wouldn't go that far, buddy.

Discord: /FVXgdXtMUv

And remember that chapter 7 will be posted on Latreon (Replace the L with a P), so if you do not want to wait, head over there to read it. It does cost two bucks, though. Still, any support is well-appreciated. Do remember, in two weeks, chapter 7 becomes public! So, either pay to read early or wait until it becomes public. Latreon link at the end of this here chapter.

The following day, after waking up, Jaune made sure to prepare himself, getting his bed outfit for the coming event. From what he understood, Lillian's cousin, Ashley, or her modeling firm, was looking for an investor. He will go there and see about talking with them, then contact Aiko about setting up an investment in their firm if things go well enough.

But who was he kidding? "This seems wrong," Jaune said, then spat the toothpaste from his mouth and into the sink.

"What do you mean?" Kyu asked.

"We are going to meet with a Remant-wide model to invest in the modeling form she works for. Don't you think this is more like me using my money to get the girl?" Jaune asked.

"A bit, but then again, do you want to keep throwing money at them to KEEP the girl?" Kyu pointed out, which got him thinking. "There is no rule that says you cannot use your money as the gate, but if you want to use your money to keep things straight, then you, my friend, are what we call a boot-licker. A guy who spends money on his girl like there is no tomorrow is a prime target for Gold Diggers."

"I see. So, essentially, I have to continue onward without relying on my fortune?" Jaune asked, receiving a satisfied nod from Kyu. "Alright. Yeah, I can do that. I mean, it is what I've been doing with Aiko and Beli. Keep it casual; don't rush, push, or seem desperate."

"See? You are starting to get it! Now, get yourself dressed! You have a modeling firm to make rich!" Kyu encouraged him, and he called Nicky to pick him up. The taxi driver from yesterday was more than delighted to come pick him up and took him to the address Coral texted him. Apparently, the name of the firm was Black Dreams Modeling. They were one of the well-established modeling firms on Remnant, and while not the best there is, they still counted in the top five best modeling firms there are.

And Lillian's cousin worked for them. Made Jaune wonder what she looked like. Sure, Kyu saw her picture in that magazine once, but Jaune hadn't. So he was a bit curious. He was, however, hoping that she was not some stuck-up woman with her nose up in the air. But then again, they were looking for him for investments, and he is not exactly a long-time rich person.

But searching things up on the CCT helps clear things up. Black Dreams Modeling was recovering from a scandal. Its previous CEO had been caught engaging in an affair with one of the models, resulting in a very messy divorce. They had to essentially sell part of their company's assets to pay for the settlement, and now the entire company was hurting financially.

They maintained their standards, and the new CEO is struggling to get things back together but remains strong.

"Say, Nicky," Jaune called out to the driver.

"Anything the matter, kiddo?" Nicky asked.

"What is your take on me? I mean, I can clearly see the age difference between us, but I am rich, and you are…You know." Jaune asked, unsure of how to proceed.

"I'd say you were just luckier than I was. I was born in the slums of Vacuo and hitched a ride on a ship here to Bella Dia when I was 15! I was looking for a better life, but Bella Dia was not a kind mistress to me. It was rough. I then joined the taxi firm, and around 20 years later, here I am! Pay is decent, feeds my wife and child, and I get to move around. You? Now you got lucky; Bella Dia welcomed you with open arms and showered you with her affection! Not even a month on the island, and you are a bloody millionaire!"

"Doesn't it seem unfair to you? You worked your entire life and struggled, and I just got lucky."

"Hey, life ain't fair, kid. We hafta work with the hand life deals us, and a good number of those hands are not exactly what you take with you to poker night." Nicky added, and Jaune simply nodded his head.

"What if-"

"Don't," Nicky told him firmly. "I know what you might say. Others did so before you, all alright folk who got some luck. They want to share some of that luck's fruits with us, lesser folk. But let me tell ya this kid: Pride is something we lesser folk care about. We don't take pity. Keep your money, kiddo. And pay me only for the good service I provide ya."

"Alright." Jaune nodded his head respectfully. "You got yourself a deal, Nicky."

"Good. Now, care to explain to me what was all of that stuff with that bratty girl yesterday? You and her…If she wasn't your girlfriend or something, then who was her?" Nicky asked as he took a turn.

"Long story," Jaune replied.

"And the other one? Your sister, I recall you said she was. Why were you running and hiding from her?"

"Let's say my family and I are on strained terms right now," Jaune replied slightly. "It's a sore subject, so mind if we don't go there?"

"Ah, sorry, kid. Didn't mean to pry into hurtful stuff. Anyhow, we are almost at your destination! Cash or card?"

"Card," Jaune replied, getting his card ready. Not long after, they arrived, and Jaune paid Nicky his due before exiting the taxi and standing in front of his destination. Per Coral's words, he showed up at the Belleza Del Sol Hotel and walked inside. It was a 4-star hotel resort here on Bella Dia, offering all kinds of services. They had a pool, spa, restaurant, and even their cinema! Walking up the register, Jaune looked at the girl there, wearing what he could assume to be a dress that was part of the uniform. If this place enforced one, that is.

"Good day, Sir, and welcome to Belleza Del Sol Hotel! My name is Lailani Kealoha; what can I do for you today?" The girl before him was thin and petite with small breasts, dark-tanned skin with gold eyes, dark, long hair with a flower tucked behind her left ear, and golden eyeshadow. She wore a purple sarong wrap dress with zebra stripe decals.

"Now, she is a cutey!" Kyu commented.

"Hi, my name is Jaune Arc. I am supposed to be meeting with someone named Ashley Rosemary. I was told she is staying here at his hotel." Jaune replied.

"Ah, right, Miss Rosemary! She is currently staying in one of our VIP lounges on the top floor. Do you want me to give her a call?" Lailani asked.

"Sure! I will be waiting here." Jaune told her and watched as Lailani made to call Ashley's room.

"Yes, hello? Miss Rosemary, there is a man here by the name of Jaune Arc who says you are waiting for him." Lailani told and listened closely as she got her reply. "Alright, I will tell him." She hung up. "She says she is coming down right now, along with her boss and the others."

"Not an issue; I don't have anywhere to be right now." And that was a truth. He made sure to message Beli, apologizing for missing her class yesterday and today since he had to be here for this little meeting. "Though, I am a bit hungry. I don't suppose the hotel offers snacks, right?"

"No, unfortunately, we don't. The restaurant is also only for guests." Lailani replied slowly. "Ummm. Sir? I hope I am not speaking out of bounds, but are you the same Jaune Arc rumored to have won millions at the casino?"

"Word travels around the island, doesn't it?" Jaune asked, then replied with a smile. "That's me. Recently crowned millionaire."

"Oh! W-woah, I didn't- Excuse me, but my boss has been telling me to be on the lookout for potentially influential guests. I had to make sure." She replied. "They are a bit on edge, you see."

"How come? From what I saw so far, Bella Dia is a nice place." Jaune replied.

"It is, but the issue is that, well…Currently, three Huntsmen are staying at our hotel." Now, that seemed a bit odd for Jaune. One he could imagine was his sister, but what about the other two?

"One of them is named Coral Arc, right? She is my older sister."

"Oh! I see, that is good, but the issue persists." Lailani replied. "It isn't that my boss has something against Huntsmen; they are just wary due to an incident that took place a year or so ago. A Huntsman came in here and threw a bad tantrum, resulting in several injuries and severe damage to our furniture and facilities. We lost a star that day."

"Oh! Yeah, I guess anyone who had to go through that would be wary of Huntsmen. Still, why do they still accept them? I don't imagine the hotel doesn't have the power to at least make them leave their weapons at the door." Jaune asked.

"We actually ask them to sign a legal waiver through which they agree to pay for any damages they inflict in case they, well, go off. Non-negotiable. This way, we don't have to deal with the insurance firm." Lailani replied.

"I see, that seems more than fair, to be honest. What about people who have an aura in general?" He asked further.

"My boss is mostly wary of Huntsmen due to their training and weapons, making them hard to deal with by normal civilians and law enforcement; they are not as spooked by people with aura. Why do you ask?" Jaune showed her by flashing his aura. "Oh! I-I see. You have aura."

"Yeah, and I know Bella Dia has some laws regarding this. I just wanted to make sure there are no issues, and I was curious about how this place was run." The ding of the elevator came from the side, getting his attention. As the door opened, Jaune saw his sister and Lillian coming out, waving at him, but together with them were two other people. And it didn't take a genius to figure out which one Ashley was.

She was a slender girl with a pale, freckled complexion. Her hair was a black, short, side-swept bob with red highlights intermixed towards the front, and her eyes were a light grey-like color. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was Ruby's long-lost sister or something!

Her makeup consisted of light smokey eyeshadow with an indiscernible tattoo that can be seen just below her clavicle.

She wore a black, v-necked t-shirt that was tied open at the front, exposing a white, simple undertop that covered her - according to Kyu - C-cups. She had a black beanie on her head as well, with the words 'Stay Black' written in white. Lastly, she wore a pair of black booty shorts. Her accessories include a dog-tag-like necklace, a black bracelet on each wrist, black stud earrings, and squared-off glasses with a red frame.

The guy who accompanied her, however, was a bit shorter than her, with a pretty pale complexion, wearing an expensive-looking white tuxedo and sunglasses. He had a white hat with a black bandana strapped to it, and Jaune didn't see any hair on his head, indicating baldness. White gloves covered his hands, and he seemed almost to exhume an air of confidence. Still, something felt off about them.

"Jaune!" Coral greeted him, going straight to him. "Glad you could make it."

"At least this shows he didn't get lost," Lillian commented.

"Here, let me introduce you," Coral said, turning to the others while ignoring Lillian's comment. "This is Ashley Rosemary, and this gentleman here is Mark Blank. He is Ashley's boss, the current CEO of Black Dreams Modeling."

"The CEO?" Jaune echoed in surprise. "I didn't expect to meet you."

"I can assure you, Mister Arc, that I am here strictly on business, not pleasure. When the rumors reached us about a millionaire on the island of Bella Dia, we had to take our chances, especially with the current state of our company." Mark stated.

"Oh, lighten up, would you? So, you are Coral's little brother, huh? I must say, you look quite well. You work out?" Ashley asked.

"For a matter of fact, I do. I have a membership at Sun Rock Gym. It is a good place, and they even offer Yoga classes!" He stated, with the last part catching Ashley's attention.

"Yoga? You don't say! I've been meaning to get into it, as I heard it can help with one's figure."

"I might be able to help you with that; I know the instructor there. I am sure I can easily introduce you, and if need be, I will try to see if things can be kept discreet. I don't imagine you want fans preventing you from working out." Jaune replied.

"No, I don't. I like you; you are pretty keen." Ashley replied. "Coral here was over the moon last night when she got back! She kept pacing back and forth, unable to believe she had found you! I heard from her a little about what had happened. You had a rough patch, buddy, but at least you are back and better than ever!"

"Thanks," Jaune replied, trying to let the issue of Coral telling about his situation - who knows how much - to a stranger. "Now then, I suppose we should find a place for us to talk?"

"Yes, indeed! I'd invite you to one of our rooms, Mister Arc, but I think a more proper setting would be preferred. How about we enjoy the restaurant here? My treat." Mark said, and Jaune agreed, resulting in the group going over to the restaurant to talk further. Once there, and after everyone placed their orders, they began talking until their food was due to arrive. "I will get straight to the point, Mister Arc. Our company is in dire need of investors. Our recent scandal has unfortunately taken a toll on our reputation, and some of our backers have cut ties with us. Our clients, thank the Gods, didn't cancel their contracts with us outright, but unless we can prove to them that we can achieve and maintain stability, we are at serious risk here."

"Essentially, we need money to help fill the void left by the investors that split." Ashley summarized. "We came here upon hearing about a young new millionaire, and my boss thought you might be able to help. We had no idea you were related to our hired security here or that, well, you're my cousin's age. So…Will you help us?"

"With an investment? I mean, I already deal in that type of business. I have an associate who handles it for me, for the most part, a person I can trust. I could call them and see about your company's stock and-"

"20%." The CEO said, cutting Jaune off. "In order for us to achieve stability, we require someone to invest and buy 20% of the company."

"That's-" Jaune recoiled back a bit. Now, he might not understand business that well, but 20% of a major company like theirs was not a small deal. Or a cheap one. "That's a lot."

"The estimated value is around 200 Million Lien," Mark added. "The estimated revenue, however, if we can get back on our feet, should see that amount paid back in less than one year."

"That is if things go well," Jaune added, which was a bit pessimistic of him but also realistic. If this investment went south, he could lose a lot. He'd have to contact Aiko and see about the current state of his finances, but even then, the sum they asked of him was a quarter of his current fortune.

"I…I can see you are having doubts." Mark remarked, looking increasingly nervous.

"You are asking for a lot. Couldn't you find multiple investors? Don't get me wrong, I wish to help, but answer my question first."

"You are the first one who has agreed to talk with us!" Mark pointed out. "Truth be told, most of the others whom we reached out to refused, not wanting to be tied to our scandal in any shape or form, and those who said they would invest made…difficult demands the likes of which I cannot speak about in a public place."

"They wanted to turn the company into an escort business!" Ashley said aloud.

Jaune nearly choked on air hearing that. "Right," Mark said slowly. "As you can imagine, Mister Arc, there is no way I'd have accepted that. Which brings us here."

Jaune mulled over the information for a bit, nodding his head softly. "Alright. But I need to know if I will be involved with the company in any shape or form."

"Seeing how you'd be owning a fifth of it, you'd naturally hold a heavy vote in any future major decision, but if you do not wish to involve yourself personally with our company, then that is more than fine with us," Mark added. "Additionally, there is another request I wish to make." He adjusted his glasses. "But I will wait for your answer on the issue of your financial aid first."

Jaune smiled softly. "You don't need to wait long. I understand that you are desperate. I mean, you are offering me a big slice of pie here! Would I be able to sell the 20% of the company you gave me later?"

"Absolutely! You can sell your share while maintaining your investment. Currently, as I said, our shares are worth about 10 million Lien for one full percent of the company. A number, I am afraid, is declining right now, but with your aid, we promise to bring it back up!" Mark promised him.

"If so…" He looked around the table a bit, seeing everyone's eyes on him for his call. "I'll be looking forward to doing business with you, Mister Blank." The CEO's face brightened as Jaune said those words, shaking the man's hand over the table. Ashley was likewise happy to hear her workplace was saved, and Coral was looking forward to that bonus. Only Lillian seemed uninterested in this development.

"Great! A pleasure to know you have our back, Mister Arc!"

"Now, what was it you also wanted to ask me?" Jaune asked.

"Oh! You see, I was curious if you'd be interested in starring with Ashley for a photo session with our next client! They've been bugging me about a double session between a man and woman for several combinations of outfits."

"Hold on, when was this decided?" Ashley intervened. "I didn't know about this!"

"I was planning to bring it up later, but seeing Mister Arc here…He really isn't hard on the eye at all! A bit of make-up, and I think he'd do nicely!"

"Wait, wait, wait! Let me see if I get this straight." Jaune said quickly. "You want me to be a model? And do a session with Ashley here?"

"Yes! Our client for this one is Crimson Dust Magazine, which is owned by Woven Seasons! They are a very popular brand among couples, renowned for their top quality!" Mark stated.

"So the fashion firm also owns the magazine advertising them? Isn't that illegal?" Jaune asked.

"If they monopolized, then yes, but although Woven Seasons owns Crimson Dust Magazine, they actually allow other fashion firms to make use of it to advertise their works! A brilliant move made by their CEO, if you ask me." Mark replied. "They are not breaking any laws and ensure a relatively lower advertisement price!"

"Ok…Well, back to the other subject. You want me to model." Jaune repeated.

"Yes! That is, if you agree, Mister Arc. I've no power to force you into doing this." Mark replied.

"Are you ok with this, Ashley?" Jaune asked the woman whom he'd likely partner with.

"I mean, kinda? You are not exactly a pro, and although I have done those kinds of shoots before, I still prefer doing solo ones." She replied. "But, I do have to agree with Mark. You could work."

"Excuse me?" Coral said, eyes somewhat stretched wide at this. "Wait a minute. Do you mean to tell me you are going to be making my brother a model?"

"Well, things have escalated," Kyu remarked. "First a millionaire, now a model? What is next, king of Bella Dia?"

"Pretty much. It really doesn't take as much as people think to be one. Good self-care, exercise, and so on can make any person attractive. It is even harder to find a naturally beautiful person, seeing how a lot of people get jobs done on them." Mark remarked. "But you? You have a good constitution and good bone structure, and above all, the blonde hair and blue eyes tend to be a killer combination among young women across Remnant!"

"To translate his words here, he says you are naturally handsome," Kyu stated.

"You do seem to lack some confidence, however. I can tell."

"Damn, this guy is sharp as a knife," Kyu added further to Mark's remark.

"Ok, how about we take a step back on this? The food is arriving now." Jaune stated, and sure enough, their food had arrived, allowing the group to dig in. Granted, all this bought Jaune some time to think about what he was going to do regarding Mark's offer. Becoming a model, even if for one shoot, was something. However, he had to weigh things.

If he became a model, it might attract negative attention. His past at Beacon might attract another scandal to Black Dreams Modeling. That is the one thing they didn't need right now. "So, Mister Arc. Do you have an answer for me?" Mark asked as they all finished eating, and Jaune, to his disappointment, had his answer.

"I do. I apologize, Sir, but I must decline the invitation." Jaune said, causing Coral to tense up. "It isn't that I am insecure or anything, but there are some things related to my circumstances that might attract bad attention to your company. I simply do not wish to cause you any more trouble."

"I see. Very considerate, and I won't pry further into your personal life than I have to, but that doesn't change the fact we need to do a shoot with a partner here for Ashley."

"Do you have to do the shoot soon?" Coral asked. "Jaune might change his mind."

"Getting desperate?" Lillian asked Coral. "Chill out, would you? I can practically see you are losing your cool over this."

"Miss Arc, please, that kind of decision falls solely on your brother," Mark told Coral. "But the shoot doesn't have to be soon. It doesn't even have to be now, if I am honest. Although we do have the clothing all prepared, we have no deadline. Our client has been very understanding of our situation and has given us all the time we might need to do this."

"I see…" Jaune said slowly.

"Dude, what the heck are you doing? This is the perfect chance to get all handy with her without being a creep! Like, the PERFECT chance to get a solid IN with this chick! A model! Models don't just grow in trees, and you are legit throwing it away?!" Kyu complained to him, but Jaune knew what he was doing. Hopefully.

"Well, I guess this means I will enjoy this island for a while, then!" Ashley stated, which caught Jaune's attention. "I got nothing else planned for a few good months, right?"

"As much as it pains me to say it, that is true, Miss Rosemary," Mark confirmed. "Due to the scandal, not a lot of our clients are looking for immediate work, but at the same time, that has been hurting our finances. Unfortunately, I doubt we could afford to use company money to pay for this hotel for long."

"What about a cheaper one?" Ashley asked, but Coral seemed to beam up almost with an idea.

"How about a free one?" She suggested, making Mark laugh.

"Maybe Huntsmen get free rooms at inns in certain settlements, but I doubt there is one such service here on Bella Dia. Even then, you are the only Huntress here, Miss Arc!" Mark pointed out.

"But my brother here does own a large house, so he might have a room or two to spare." Coral threw Jaune's name out there, which, unfortunately, started a chain.

"Oh, yeah! That is true; his house is pretty large. Would be surprised if it doesn't have more rooms." Lillian stated.

Jaune sighed. "I cannot deny that. My house actually has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Got it at a killer price, too, before I became a millionaire, using the money I got from the lottery."

"I think I even saw a pool," Lillian added.

"Ok, sold!" Ashley said, bringing yet another vote against him.

"Ladies, please! Have some respect for Mister Arc! You haven't even asked him if he'd be willing to take you in!"

"Thank you, Mark," Jaune replied, but he couldn't deny it. Plus, Kyu was actively screaming in his ear by this point to take this chance. No better way to get close to a woman than living with them, and he had such an experience already anyway, so…He lost. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt to have company. Just be aware that I am around, and all should be good."

"Whatever," Lillian replied.

"Oh, come on, Lil'! This means we get to stay on the island! Isn't that a good thing? I mean, think of all the things we can do while staying here! Besides! Jaune here is practically going to be paying my salary in a few weeks."

"Very likely, I will need to contact my investing agent, though. May I take a few to contact her?" Jaune asked, excusing himself from the table. He went outside and dialed Aiko's number.

"Jaune! Hi! I was actually planning on calling you later today. What's up?" She picked up rather quickly.

"I got a big opportunity that just showed itself to me, Aiko. What do you think about an investment of 200 Million Lien?"

"200 Million?! Jaune, for the love of the Gods, just what kind of investment is this?! Are you buying a piece of the SDC?"

"No! It is actually for a fifth of Black Dreams Modeling."

"Oh my Dust, I know that one! Their models are some of the most well-known on Remnant! How come you got such an opportunity presented to you, and…Wait, actually, HOW did you get this opportunity? 20% of a company ain't no small amount."

"Long story, but I met the CEO himself, Mark Blank. I don't know if you heard, but Black Dreams Modeling recently went through a scandal, and they are in a desperate pitch right now."

"Wait a minute, I am looking them up- Ah! Here we go. Yikes. One of their models? No wonder they are in the red; their stocks are dropping as well. You know, if you waited, you could buy them for half that amount." Aiko told him, and Jaune had to admit the prospect of saving money was tempting, but he knew that was not what they should be doing right now.

The reason they came to him was because THEY were the desperate ones. Currently, Jaune is gaining money from his investments. Is this one going through? He'd wake up a bloody billionaire! Damn…When you're poor, it is hard to gain money, but when you're rich, it becomes hard to stop earning them. Some paradox.

Still, he was not going to wait just because he wanted a better price at the cost of their company. He won't hurt them like that. "No, we will do the current price of 200 Million. If they recover, how much can we expect back?"

"A lot. A fucking shit ton." Aiko clarified, and Jaune nodded his head. This was not about the money in the end, but rather, it was just him being himself. Helping those that want his aid. That is what he always wanted, even if, currently, he was just throwing money. He always believed fighting was the only way to show he was good for something. Now?

Now, he was going to be good for multiple things.

"I will talk with Mark later about the details. But tell me, Aiko, do you think this is wise?" He asked.

"Honestly? You're set for life if this pulls through. Heck, your great-grandchildren would be living like kings with your money alone today!" She replied, putting a light smile on Jaune's lips.

"Thank you, Aiko. But do tell me, you said you wanted to call me, meaning you had something to tell me, right? What is it?"

"Oh! Right. I decided to take you up on your offer! I will quit my job at the university and become your full-time investment agent!"

"Great! Don't worry, Aiko, I will ensure you are well taken care of; I don't want to lead you down and all, so-"

"Well, that is something I wanted to ask you about, actually. You see, my current apartment is actually owned by the university I work for. They have a program where teachers can live in apartments in the city if they have no official residence on the island. If I quit, I will have to move. So, do you have a room for me to occupy?"

"Shit." Kyu knew what this meant. "The house only has two extra rooms."

"Crap…" Jaune swore aloud, confusing and worrying Aiko.

"I take it that's a no?"

"I do have rooms, but things are a bit more complicated, Aiko. You see, I have to host over Ashley and her cousin, and-"

"Wait! Ashley? From Black Dreams Modeling? Ashley Rosemary?! She is going to be staying over at YOUR house?!" Aiko then let out a high-pitched scream, making Jaune lean away from his scroll. "I can't believe this! I am a fan of hers! She is just so confident in all her shoots; I can't help but admire her! And she is staying over at your place with her cousin, you say?"

"Yeah. Although there is a basement in my place, I've yet to explore it. Just been busy, so I guess I could check that place out and see if I can turn it into a room." Jaune replied. "So, until then, I suggest you not give your resignation letter yet. Let me sort things out first, alright?"

"No problem! It is exciting to know I'd eventually share a roof with Ashley Rosemary herself! Give me a call when everything is set. I will try to see about that investment in Black Dreams Modeling as well."

"Alright." And so, he hung the scroll, returning to the table. "Alright, I talked with my agent. Everything is good to go, although I might need to hire a renovation and construction company to expand my home later." His words seemed to confuse the others a bit, but no one lingered on that. Instead, Mark nodded his head and smiled.

"In that case, how about we all go on our way? I reckon we all have a full day ahead of us, me especially. Can you give me the number of your agent, Jaune, so that I can arrange everything with her?" Jaune nodded his head, giving Mark Aiko's contact information to set up the investment. "Wonderful! With this, our meeting has come to an end. A resounding success! Have fun, Ashley; I will arrange for your luggage to be taken to Mister Arc's address."

"Here." Jaune wrote down his address and handed it to Mark. "You almost forgot to ask."

"Right! Sorry, my mind is not what it used to be." Mark apologized, taking the address. "Now then, good day." He left the table, taking out his scroll and likely starting the arrangements. And as such, JAune was left with the girls at the table.

"So, who wants to go check out the house?" Jaune suggested. "Lillian and Coral here had already seen it, but I reckon you'd want to check it out as well, right, Ashley?"

"Sure! If you have a pool, I have to see it to convince myself this is worth it." Ashley replied, then turned to her cousin. "By the way, does he live far, by chance?"

"I'd say on the outskirts of town, but his place is pretty nice," Lillian admitted. "Like, be real now, why did you get a place so far out of town? Surely, at your current money, you could easily afford a better one."

"At the time, the price was a real steal, plus the additional deals," Jaune replied with a shrug. "I will call us a taxi. They should take us there in ten minutes."

"No need!" Coral suddenly piped up."I say we walk there. It should be a nice walk."

"Ugh. I'd rather take a taxi. It's too hot to be walking outside in this heat, and my feet would end up killing me by the time we arrive." Lillian complained, making Ashley roll her eyes.

"Then switch to some sneakers or slippers; no need to walk in those gloomy heels all the way there." She pointed out.

"Those are the only shoes that I brought with me. As in, the only kind. I have no sneakers or slippers." And that explained it, making Ashley sigh to herself in defeat. "So, can you please call the taxi?"

"Should I?" Jaune asked, facing the others.

"Do it, Jaune. There is no convincing her, and she does make a fair point, as unfair as it actually is." Coral replied. "Who packs only heels to a tropical paradise?"

"Someone who didn't intend to stay long, that's who. Me." Lillian replied, then faced Jaune. "Hurry up and call us a taxi. I'd rather have the chance to choose my room than let it be up to chance."

"Alright." And so Jaune dialed up the taxi company's number, making sure to ask for Nicky. It didn't take long for the man himself to show up and for everyone to get into his car, with Jaune riding up front with him as the others took the backseat. Ashley had to keep her head down, not to be recognized and make things awkward, but apart from that, it was a pretty good trip.

"This place is awesome!" Ashley said aloud, rushing back and seeing the pool. Her eyes widened and sparkled seeing it. "And this pool is great as well! Man, this place is a hidden gem!"

"It was night when I arrived last time, not to mention I was…busy, but this is really a nice house!" Coral remarked as well, with Lillian simply looking at her scroll.

"Signal here is decent, I guess, but what about other commodities? Food, privacy, and so on?" She asked, facing Jaune.

"There are two bathrooms in the entire house, both equipped with showers. There is one upstairs, and I am pretty sure there is one downstairs here as well. I haven't really used the latter since I always used the one upstairs, but I am sure it is still in good condition. I did have the place cleaned and slightly renovated." Jaune stated.

"Wait a minute…" Coral said slowly as if she was noticing something. "Jaune? This house wouldn't have happened to have been a crime scene once, right?"

"What?" Lillian perked up hearing that detail.

"Ummm. No?"

"Jaune…" Coral pressed on.

"Ok, fine! That is why the place was so cheap as well! It was the scene of a murder, happy? I won't give further details, just to let you know the reason it was cheap! I had it cleaned and renovated, as I said, so there should be nothing morbid hiding under the floorboards!" Jaune admitted, which seemed to make Coral a bit uncomfortable, but Lillian seemed a bit different.

"Ok, this has officially gotten better." She remarked. "Staying in a house that was once the scene of a crime? Now, that is what makes things interesting. Do you happen to know where the bodies were discovered?"

"I am not saying, Lillian, I don't want to disturb the others currently-"

"Guys!" Ashley barged back into the living room. "Guys, we need to try the pool!" She began to undo her top.

"Woah! Ashley, not in front of Jaune! Go to your room and change." Coral shouted, reminding the model where she was.

"Oh! Sorry, I got a bit too excited. Come on, Lillian! The pool is waiting!" Ashley rushed upstairs to get changed, leaving the others downstairs to keep talking.

"Sorry about her. She has a short attention span." Coral explained, and Jaune merely shrugged.

"It's alright. I am used to it, remember? The number of times I walked in on your girls changing cannot even be counted with the toes on my feet together with the fingers on my hands." Jaune replied. "Anyhow, you guys go on ahead and make yourselves at home. I have a little something to do downstairs; see if the basement can be remodeled as well."

"Want some help?" Coral offered, but Jaune shook his head.

"Whatever I find there, I will deal with myself. Not like there is a beowolf in my basement." Jaune joked lightly, then went to the door for the basement, twisting the knob. This was the only place he hadn't been in, mostly out of fear, seeing how he didn't know if the killer hid something there. He gulped, then twisted the handle, being met with only darkness downstairs.

"Sheesh, did you really have to come down here? It's so dark, I cannot see shit!" Kyu whined, but Jaune advanced further, slowly walking down the metallic stairs until he reached the floor once again. The stairs were not short, and the ceiling was quite high, interestingly enough. "Dude, find the light switch already!"

"Trying…" Jaue replied, trying not to raise his voice and disturb the others. He walked along the wall, trying to feel for anything in particular, until, finally, he found something. "Aha!" He flipped the switch, letting the lights come back to life. "Now, let's see what we arrrrrreeeeeee - what the heck is this?!"

The basement was no basement at all. It was a fucking underground hideout or something! The cellar, if Jaune was to call it still that, was richly decorated, with a main area he just entered with a big, relatively old, flat-screen television, along with a large, black sofa and more. The floor was covered in a fluffy black carpet, and the walls were painted a faded red. Spider webs and dust covered everything, but looking to his left, he was met with another impressive sight.

A mini-bar stocked full of alcohol, and to his right was another hallway. It was illuminated, and going to it, he saw it extend for a pretty decent distance, with numerous doors left and right. He had no idea what this place was, but Kyu had a good answer. "Dude, this is an underground strip club!" She flew further down, and Jaune followed, eventually reaching a larger room. Another bar stood there, stocked with drinks, but this time, there was a stage with a vertical pole installed. The room was also outfitted with lights, but years of neglect saw them out of order. "Look at this place! It's awesome! Could use some cleaning and fixing, though."

"How come the guys from the cleaning and renovation companies I hired didn't find this place? No, scratch that, how come this wasn't known?!" Jaune asked, feeling confused.

"The previous owners must have known how to hide the place or something. Look!" Kyu rushed to the stage, seeing something that caught her fancy. And Jaune sighed, seeing what it was. "Damn, look at this bra! It's huge! The chick who danced here must have strapped a pair of E's on herself or something!"

"What am I to do with this place even?" Jaune asked, looking around. There had to be at least a dozen or so rooms in the hallway leading up to here, and Jaune, wishing to check one out, found them to be…Well-furbished. There was a bed in every room, along with attached small bathrooms, a toilet, and a shower for the most part, along with a sink with a mirror. "Oh Gods…These were rooms for private sessions, weren't they?"

"Huh? This place must have doubled as a brothel, then. Strip clubs usually don't offer such services." Kyu stated. "But dude, don't you see? This is awesome! It solves our issue with space; we just need to renovate this place a bit, and we're golden! Plus, think of all the fun you will have if one of your chicks agrees to dance on the pole for you."

"Gods, Kyu…" Jaune groaned. "F-first, let me go back and talk with the others, warn them I will be bringing a renovation crew here, then…I guess I will call Aiko and tell her I found her a place in my house. I swear, this place hides some fucked-up secrets."

Following his discovery, Jaune went back upstairs to talk with the girls, telling them about what he had discovered. "An underground former strip club?" Lillian gasped. "No way."

"I didn't know it was there either!" Jaune added. "I just went and poked my nose inside, and, well…Here it is."

"What do you plan to do with it, though?" Ashley asked, and Jaune couldn't help but notice her swimsuit. Lillian and Coral didn't get into one, meaning they ultimately refused to go into the pool. Ashley was a bit too eager to get wet, which resulted in her changing into her swimsuit. Now that he thinks about it, she has brought a small handbag with her. It must have been where she put it.

And what a swimsuit. A bright red swimsuit, with the top looking like it was ripped open, with strings connecting the two pieces at the front, going over her belly. Jaune had to avoid his gaze for a moment as he caught sight of her cleavage. He cleared his throat, then replied. "I will renovate and turn the rooms down there into extra rooms. My investment agent said she could use a place to live, seeing how her current one has some issues."

"Wait, she?" Coral caught on to the detail. "You mean to tell me this agent of yours is a woman?"

"Didn't I mention it before?" Jaune questioned. "Her name is Aiko. She is from Anima, like us, and I met her not long after arriving on the island. She has been a great aid so far, and it is thanks to her that I also have an income right now."

"You mean to tell me you talked with women before we arrived?" Coral asked, making Ashley snort from the line and Lillian to roll her eyes.

"Dude, tell her you got a blowjob," Kyu suggested to him.

"What? Why would I do that?"

"You need to strike back somehow! Come on, just because she's your sister doesn't mean she can put you down like that; it hurts your image! And you NEED a good one."

"Wouldn't it hurt my image? You know, making it seem like I turned into some playboy?"

"Jaune…"

"Right. Inevitable fate. Helping you get mana. Right." He inhaled deeply, then replied casually. "I don't know; some of the women I talked with since I arrived were a bit busy with their mouths to talk." Coral seemed to have understood what he meant as her face grew pale like a sheet of paper. All the while, Lillian gave him a curious look, and Ashley said her piece with laughter.

"Damn, dude! Way to mortify your sister here! So, how many were there? And did you only get blowjobs, or did you also-"

"STOP!" Coral shouted. "NO! I don't want to hear ANYTHING about that!" She sighed. "Damn it, Jaune…Why?"

Jaune shrugged. "I got lucky."

Ashley laughed further at that line, unable to contain herself. "Oh, Gods, oh! Lucky, indeed! Say, Coral, is your brother packing heat or-"

"STOP! Please, for the love of the Gods, don't ask me anymore!" Coral pleaded to them, hiding her face in her palms. "Just…Let's all enjoy the pool, alright?"

"Already ahead of you all!" Ashley said before returning to the pool. Lillian, however, just sighed.

"Well, at least this house is not boring anymore. If anyone needs me, I will be in my room, contemplating whether or not I should slit my wrists to escape this sunny hell." Lillian then left, going to her room to…Hopefully, she will not do what she just said she was going to do.

Coral, however, simply looked at him awkwardly. "So, you had some fun with women, huh?"

"I didn't go all the way with anyone yet, Coral," Jaune confirmed to her, which seemed to relax her a bit. "I just had a lucky time once, and that was that."

"R-right…" Coral said slowly. "You know, I-...I have to leave tomorrow. My contract is up."

"I thought you'd stay around to keep guard of Ashley."

"The one I was actually employed to look after was their CEO." Coral clarified. "They are just additions. Jaune, I don't know if you noticed, but Mark Blank is not a healthy man. He wore make-up."

"He did look sickly pale," Jaune remarked. "You mean to tell me that was all make-up?"

"Every single pore. He has a skin disease from exposure to chemicals used at his first workplace. He used to work at a Dust refinery, and from what I know, there had been a spill." Coral explained. "It's affecting his skin even now, causing it to be terribly scarred. That is why he wears heavy make-up."

"Shit. You know, in another world, they had a disease called cancer. In several worlds, in fact. This guy sounds like he got skin cancer or something." Kyu explained. "Ask if he has growths popping up on his skin or something."

"No, I won't pry about his disease more," Jaune replied to Kyu, who gave up easily on the line of questioning. But curiosity did beckon Jaune. "And why are you telling me this, Coral? Surely, you are bound by contract to keep such a secret, given how sharing it with the wrong person he is sick might cause trouble."

"Trust me, I am. But I also know you wouldn't do anything malicious." Coral added. "Mark doesn't want Black Dreams Modeling to go under, and he is putting his health in peril to keep it going. You buying a fifth of the company is like his safety policy. He is looking for someone to take over after him even now."

"Be honest with me, Coral. How many people there wish to buy Black Dreams Modeling?"

"Apparently, even Jacques Schnee wants a piece," Coral answered, and that told Jaune plenty. The Schnee Family wanted the modeling agency, and he could piece together why. Sexy models to advertise their products further. But there was more. They mentioned it before.

"Other rich guys likely wanting to get frisky with the models, either willingly or…" Kyu trailed off, shaking her head. "Fuck no! I don't approve of shit like this! Dude, don't you dare sell out any of your stocks! Keep them until they are each worth one billion individually, and still keep them! We must avoid this scenario at all costs! Can you imagine that Ashley chick under some fat, money-filled pig? My skin crawls just thinking about it!"

"And tell me, Coral, how important is it for Ashley that Black Dreams Modeling keeps going?"

"Don't know. I haven't known her for enough to get a good read on her, and I don't know if this is her dream gig or just some side hustle. I know her cousin could care less about that company, but I think deep down she does care about Ashley enough not to see her hurt." Coral explained, but then she switched the subject. "Anyway, Jaune, I just want to say that…I'm glad that you are safe. And rich, I guess, since you are able to provide for yourself just fine. Just promise me you'll stay in Bella Dia, alright?"

"Don't worry, Coral. I know better. Dad won't get me if I remain on the island, and so long as I keep that detail in mind, then everything will be fine. Plus, we'll talk more through the CCT. Tell Saphron I am especially waiting for a call from Adrian."

"I'll tell her."

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