Tsukimiyo was a typical perfectionist.
He not only demanded perfection from himself, but also from his future partners.
It was precisely because of this almost pathological self-discipline.
That Tsukimiyo was able to shine so brightly in the host world.
A headwind?
Tsukimiyo hadn't played with a disadvantage in a long time.
Ever since becoming a host, he felt the job was tailor-made for him. The perverse rich madams that other young hosts couldn't handle, he could easily make docile and obedient. They would follow his every whim, even spend fortunes on him. Even the young ladies from the great families in the Mobile City, Tsukimiyo handled them with ease. Over time, this ease caused him to gradually lose himself.
He once made a bold declaration.
In this world, there are only two types of men.
Me, and other men.
However, Tsukimiyo never expected to be humbled today.
Hmph!
Interesting.
A glint flashed in his eyes. His attention shifted from the girls to Lucas.
As the top Host, Tsukimiyo's ability to read people was naturally top-notch. He couldn't see through the eyes of the three silver-haired girls or the red-haired one, but he could easily read the girl with the bob cut and the high school girl. The high school girl liked this guy, which is why she was immune to his charms. The other four girls were probably the same.
He hadn't expected this.
That he would one day meet his match.
Wooing six girls at once, and all six of them seemed to really like him. They were even secretly jealous of each other, yet they could all stay together harmoniously, talking and laughing.
This man!!
Tsukimiyo looked at Lucas.
In his heart, he had already labeled Lucas as the "Ultimate Player."
In this regard, he seemed even stronger than himself.
After all, *he* had never tried to woo six girls at the same time, all gathered in one place. Openly wooing six, not secretly contacting six!
Very strong...
Tsukimiyo's competitive spirit was aroused.
He snapped his fingers. A nearby attendant understood immediately, jogging to the counter to retrieve an incredibly precious bottle of wine.
Tsukimiyo sat on the sofa opposite them and brought the wine over with a smile.
"This is a rare aged red, a 1046 Romanee-Conti from Victoria. There are only six hundred bottles of this vintage in the entire world. I was lucky enough to acquire one."
After Tsukimiyo finished his introduction.
The attendant tactfully brought over wine glasses for everyone.
Tsukimiyo wasn't short on money.
He had achieved financial freedom many years ago. He even owned a significant stake in this host club. Not just this club; he also owned several other bars inside and outside this Mobile City as the behind-the-scenes boss. Even if Tsukimiyo didn't accompany rich madams anymore, he still had an average annual net income in the tens of millions. So, money was just a string of numbers to him. Now, at his young age, he was already worth over a hundred million.
Accompanying rich madams was just a job.
His job was... to give women who lacked love the warmth of a home.
As a professional host, Tsukimiyo used different tricks to woo rich madams versus other girls. Rich madams weren't short on money, so you couldn't use money. But other girls were different, especially in this situation.
To some extent, financial power is like a "power level" in a confrontation. You don't have to show it, but you can't *not* have it. Plus, although the girls at this table were gorgeous, they had been seated for a long time without ordering anything. They'd been flipping through the menu for ages, not even ordering a glass of water. And their clothes were very ordinary.
So, Tsukimiyo was basically certain they were just a group of ordinary girls here to check the place out. And this guy probably didn't have much money either, otherwise he wouldn't just sit there without ordering a single bottle of wine.
At a time like this, financial power was especially important.
"Wow!! A 1046 wine? That must be expensive."
Laurentina showed some interest. Of course, this interest was purely feigned to save the guy from embarrassment.
To be honest.
Their whole group looked at Tsukimiyo like he was a clown.
The few of them were having a nice chat, and this stranger just had to come over and show off his wealth for no reason. But... everyone here, except Angelina, had seen the world. They were all staying at Jessica's house. What kind of money hadn't they seen?
So, in everyone's eyes.
The Tsukimiyo in front of them was even more of a clown than Magallan had been. Watching him show off his red wine was like watching a primary school student show off a 100-dollar toy. It was boring, but also kind of amusing.
"It's not that expensive. Only 230,000 Lungmen Dollars. For me, that's just half a day's income."
Tsukimiyo's lips curled up, and he prepared to personally demonstrate his elegant decanting technique.
Laurentina didn't say anything.
"That expensive!!!"
Angelina's eyes went wide. She genuinely thought it was expensive. After all, she used to work herself to the bone as a special messenger, and her annual income was only around one million. That meant her entire year of risking life and limb wasn't enough to buy five bottles of this wine.
"It's okay, I guess."
Magallan shook her head.
"I remember Jessica saying her family never drinks this stuff."
Angelina didn't know who Jessica was, but she had heard the name many times on the trip. She figured she must be a top-tier rich girl, and she was very close to Lucas. Maybe even his girlfriend!
Tsukimiyo also frowned slightly, listening carefully to what Magallan would say next.
"What kind of wine does a rich girl like Jessica drink? The kind that costs hundreds of thousands or millions?"
"Er..."
Lucas said, "Actually, Jessica doesn't like to drink. To her, this kind of wine is just a tool for ordinary people with a little bit of money to show off. After all, with Jessica's capital, buying all of these wineries would be easy. For her, so-called luxury goods are meaningless. She doesn't need luxury items to give her 'face'. For Jessica, she just drinks whatever tastes good."
"Usually, Jessica likes to drink fruit-flavored sparkling wine that costs a few dozen bucks a bottle."
Angelina nodded, only half-understanding. She was just a girl from an ordinary family and couldn't quite grasp how people at that level lived.
But Tsukimiyo, sitting opposite them, now had huge question marks popping up over his head.
"????"
What do you mean... "ordinary people with a little bit of money"?
???
Tsukimiyo's first reaction was that he was posturing.
Who is this Jessica?
He'd never heard of her. A tycoon who could buy all the wineries would be a big name on Terra. When it comes to capital, the most famous is the chairman of Raythean Industries.
Even the Raythean chairman doesn't boast like that. Who are you trying to kid?
At this moment.
Tsukimiyo basically understood.
This man was just like his former self: a big-time smooth-talker. After all, Tsukimiyo's own start-up capital had come from swindling rich madams.
And not just an ordinary one.
He was an *ultimate* smooth-talker.
Creating a persona of a world-class elite... Tsukimiyo understood this move all too well!
Moreover.
This man's looks were also outstanding. Handsome, youthful, energetic—the "sunny younger brother" type that many rich madams loved. But his charisma was exceptionally deep. It was the first time Tsukimiyo had met someone whose charisma surpassed his own.
This man....
He was a professional host born for the job. He might even be able to threaten his own title as the number one Host. A rival.
Tsukimiyo started to get excited.
In his eyes, the other six girls had faded into the background. It seemed Lucas was his real target.
Hmph!
However, this kind of swindling trick is ultimately fake. It's easily poked through.
Tsukimiyo gave a roguish smile.
"Sir, since you know a tycoon of that level, I imagine you must be a big shot yourself."
Lucas shook his head. "I'm just an ordinary person."
"I only know these details because that tycoon and I are very close. After all, I've been living at her house."
"?"
Tsukimiyo had a revelation.
F*ck!
I've run into a colleague.
He's a kept man, too!
Still, with his looks and charisma, it wouldn't be hard to land a rich madam.
As a man who demanded perfection from himself, Tsukimiyo's competitive drive instantly flared up. He had even forgotten his original purpose for coming over was to hit on these pretty girls. Now, Tsukimiyo only had eyes for Lucas.
Since we're colleagues.
Let's have a proper duel.
"Women are soft, fragile, and emotional. They are more easily hurt, more easily wounded by love. As men, we must naturally find ways to ease their burdens."
After speaking.
Tsukimiyo "unconsciously" adjusted his cuff, revealing the million-dollar watch on his wrist.
Lucas frowned.
You're...
This is too absurd, isn't it?
You really think I'm your colleague, don't you?
How can you call what I do "being a kept man"?
"That's not something you need to worry about." Lucas looked up at him, pouring himself a glass of the decanted red wine.
As for the other six girls, they were now purely watching the drama unfold.
Watching Lucas compete with a Host? This was more interesting than any movie.
"You underestimate women! Mr. Tsukimiyo."
"Women are often stronger, more powerful, and braver than you imagine. The girls I know from Yan dare to face the deepest fears in their hearts. They can overcome them and dare to resist. This is something I admire greatly."
"?"
Nian froze. She didn't expect the drama she was watching to suddenly involve her. A rare trace of crimson appeared on her bright face, then quickly vanished.
"As for Jessica, whom I mentioned before, she is also brave. As an outsider, you wouldn't know how shy she used to be. Forget standing on her own, even talking to acquaintances was a problem. But she bravely overcame her past shortcomings. Today, she can stand on her own."
"And my two friends from the deep sea are the same. One carries a blood feud for her family, and the other, in pursuit of her ideals, faces the most terrifying enemies in this world."
"There's also someone who lost her memories and wanders the dangerous lands of Terra to find her former self."
"Another explorer friend braves peaks and risks her life in dangerous lands for her own reasons. There's a young child who fights against numerous dark forces all alone for her mother's sake. There are those who become mercenaries, risking death for their homeland, or those who, having contracted a terminal illness, leave their parents and normal life to bear it all alone."
"There are those who fight against an entire empire for the sake of their compatriots."
"And you dare to use your own clumsy opinions to look down on women's courage? You actually think your stick-thin arms can be their support? You are very boring, Mr. Tsukimiyo."
Lucas said a lot, his gaze cool and deep. Not just the surrounding customers, but even Tsukimiyo himself was staring wide-eyed, too shocked to speak.
As for the six girls, they were all blushing.
Laurentina: "Mr. Deity, you really know how to talk. I just love you to death."
Surtr, blushing slightly, didn't say anything, but quietly tugged on the hem of Lucas's clothes.
Skadi was sputtering, steam practically coming out of her head.
Magallan and Angelina, meanwhile, immediately covered their faces in embarrassment.
Even many of the surrounding customers, after hearing Lucas's words, began to applaud excitedly.
Tsukimiyo never expected to lose, and to lose so completely.
This person!!
He's so strong!!
Tsukimiyo never thought that after dominating the scene for so many years, he would meet a rival of this caliber. He was too powerful!!
Not only did he refute him so thoroughly he couldn't fight back, he even got the surrounding customers to applaud excitedly, and on top of that, made the six girls next to him blush and increase their affection for him.
This!!!
So...
*He* is the world's number one Host!
My reputation is clearly undeserved.
Sigh...
Tsukimiyo dejectedly got up and left. He had lost, completely. But he had also learned a lot. As he left, he gifted them the 200,000+ bottle of wine and even sent over a large table of food, treating it as his "tuition fee."
"Mr. Deity, what you just said was simply brilliant. Can you be my boyfriend? I've never dated anyone before, you know. This would be my first time."
Laurentina winked charmingly at Lucas.
The next second.
The entire hall suddenly seemed to heat up.
Sparks ignited in Surtr's eyes, and flames began to burn on the hand she had placed on the table.
Nian didn't say anything, but she gave Laurentina an extremely polite and "radioactively kind" look.
Skadi shifted, moving a little further away from Laurentina. Her former best friend had become an enemy. According to the Abyssal Hunter code, she would show no mercy.