Mark continued, "Unlike marriage, engagement doesn't have any vows to be fulfilled and can be annulled at any time prior to marriage. So, this solution I'm providing is an engagement with benefits where we will only act like a couple in the outside world.
But, when we were at home, just like before, you will stay in your room and I will stay in mine. Neither of us will take advantage of the fact that we will be half-married at any given point in time. So, it will be like you are a tenant who will be living in my house except that you don't need to pay me any rent.
And of course, I don't want you to think that you are a burden on me. That's why I want you to work with me, taking up the position of the store's manager. Chang Bo is only an employee but I'm still paying him 120 gold coins per month.
As the post of a manager is the highest position in the store, I will pay you higher. But, I will also keep in mind that you are the heiress of a major noble clan. That's why I don't offer a fixed salary and undermine you. So, let's work on profit-sharing.
Not many people know that for every weapon I sell, I get to keep 20% of the income as my share and the remaining goes to my manufacturer.
Of that 10% is your share. That means 2% of the overall revenue generated by every weapon that we managed to sell to the customers at the store you are in charge of. Just so you know that my store had hundreds of thousands of gold coins worth transactions until now and it will only increase in the future. So, that 2% isn't by means any small amount, well, atleast for me.
This is the only solution that I can provide to solve all the problems that you are worried about. If you have any other way, please don't hesitate to voice it out. We have enough time."
Mark actually didn't prepare this proposal beforehand and just spoke whatever came to his mind. It was only after he finished the explanation that he wondered whether he offered a bit too much money to her. If he can really get 100k gold coins worth of order, he will have to give her 2000 gold coins as a share when she wasn't investing a dime in the store.
Should he have offered 1% instead? Anyway, the words were already out and he cannot take back his promise.
Meanwhile, Song Yue went into a daze for a while. She really felt like Mark is a good man and she has nothing but admiration for him. Eventually, her eyes were filled with tears once again as she bowed, "Thank you."
Soon, the attack helicopter was seen flying back to the Imperial City. Previously, Mark was careful enough not to let anyone know what Song Yue was with him but now, he no longer bothered to hide her. In fact, before getting back home, he told Allen to go to Song Yun's guest house where he was currently waiting for the Elder to return and give him the news of his daughter's death.
But, to his surprise, instead of the elder, a familiar-looking helicopter landed on the ground. Because it is midnight, the sound of the helicopter is naturally loud enough to draw the attention of everyone including the neighbors.
Song Yun came out of his residence with a serious expression on his face. All the guards were on high alert, wondering whether the demolition will repeat once again.
Thankfully, for them, Mark didn't have such intentions. He let Song Yue sit inside while he got down from the aerial vehicle.
Allen also got down but he only stood before the door to guard Song Yue and also lend a hand to his master if he gets in trouble.
Mark looked around for a couple of seconds before spotting Song Yun. He immediately opened the Familiars' inventory and summoned Baltrow, the beast king of the 8-circle realm.
Song Yun and the guards who were above the 5-circle instantly noticed how strong it is. Their legs couldn't help but shiver, feeling as if their death was decided by this walking time bomb.
On the other hand, Song Yun rooted in the spot without showing any fear. Mark then stopped a few meters away from him and opened the inventory, throwing out three dead bodies on the ground.
In an instant, Song Yun realized what happened without even Mark giving any explanation.
As Song Yun stared at the bodies in silence, Mark then opened his mouth, "Today, you attempted to commit a crime that is a black mark on every parent. I wanted to eradicate the Song Clan from its roots but your daughter is still kind enough to not only forgave you but even requested me to not punish you.
Anyway, I'm here to inform you that Song Yue and I decided to get engaged. It was mutual consent from both of us and also she will be staying with me from now onwards. It goes without saying that she will be under my protection.
In a couple of days, I will surely send you a formal invitation. If you are interested, come as the parent of Song Yue and be sure to bring your wife. After all, she will be my future mother-in-law. The Patriarch of Song Clan or its elders isn't welcome.
I was willing to forget the enmity with the Song Clan for her sake but if you want to continue the enmity, I will welcome that too, although your clan members might not be able to face the consequences.
The rest depends on your choice."
After saying what he came for, Mark turned around to walk away. Song Yun flashed angrily but because of the beast king, he barely managed to control himself in launching an attack.
His original plan was to make everyone believe that his daughter was abducted and postpone the marriage. But, the Emperor had found out that he was lying. So, he admitted that she ran away and pleaded mercy to escape the wrath of Shang Fu because lying to the Emperor is one of the greatest crimes.
The relationship between Bai Xun and Song Yun had saved him from Shang Fu and he was forgiven.
While he was suffering from that embarrassing moment, his grandfather made a visit to the clan and put a hold on the marriage before canceling it indefinitely once Song Yue returned home.
And once Song Yun learned that Song Yue was with his enemy of all the people, he snapped. Overwhelmed by hatred, Song Yun decided to use his daughter's death to frame Mark with an accusation of defiling her, which lead to her suicide.
Considering how Song Yue stayed at the Genesis store for a week, he was confident that Mark couldn't escape from capital punishment.
Now, all of his plans were crushed by Mark and he found himself cornered by all the sides. The only option left for him is to compromise.
Contrary to his thoughts, the guards were actually happier that their heiress is going to marry the Cerberus Slayer. Most of them were also unaware of what happened but judging by Mark's words and the three corpses, most of them speculated that Song Yun might have tried to send away his daughter to Western Yan at midnight and forcefully marry her to Ji Mingyu in secret.
Their speculation might be far away from the truth but it can't change the present anyway. And now, they were hoping for the clan head to be replaced by someone else so that Mark can stand on their side.
Meanwhile, the helicopter landed at the training ground and the three of them walked toward the store.
Once Song Yue stepped inside, Mark finally got the notification about the Quest completion along with the rewards.
<strong>*Ding! You completed the Quest. Song Yue's affinity with the store is increased by 3 levels.</strong>
<strong>*Ding! Song Yue's affinity with the store reached level 5.</strong>
<strong>*Ding! You unlocked a level-4 exclusive weapon, Medium Tank: Sd.kfz. 161 (Panzerkampfwagen IV).</strong>
<strong>*Ding! 75mm caliber ammo has been unlocked.</strong>
,m <strong>*Ding! You unlocked a level-5 exclusive weapon, Light Artillery Rocket System (LARS)</strong>
<strong>*Ding! 110mm rocket has been unlocked.</strong>
"Panzer-IV and LARS? Now, this is good stuff." Mark was very much satisfied with the rewards.
Mark felt like on cloud nine but he controlled his excitement and proceeded to walk toward the staircase.
Meanwhile, Alina teleported downstairs as soon as she sensed her master's presence only to lose her smile in an instant she saw Song Yue.