Chapter 29: Darling, You Wouldn’t Want That

The Observation Car.

Wayne sat on the red sofa with Silvia across from him; she had followed him here, once again ignoring the empty seats and sitting directly opposite him.

“What a coincidence. We meet again.”

He responded in silence.

Twice now. What do you want, Sis? It’s too cold, and you haven’t eaten enough, so you came to have me as a snack to warm you up?

Her forwardness made him suspect that the woman was after his vast fortune. He knew these social butterflies who used their beauty to seduce wealthy men into donating their genes, aiming to either hold their heirs hostage or replace their wives. Once they got the money, they’d kick their husbands aside and look for the next target.

The luxury train was undoubtedly an excellent hunting ground. The high ticket prices served as a filter for social classes; no ordinary people could afford to board the train. While not every passenger was mogul-level rich, the success rate here was definitely higher than elsewhere.

Can’t go easy on scammers

, he mused. He should beat her at her own game, swindling her body and money before she could swindle his.

Silvia had been holding out her hand for a while. Wayne gave her an awkward smile and grasped her fingertips politely.

“Silvia Valentine.”

“Wayne.”

After the introductions, she observed his expression and saw no surprise on his face. She said with a raised eyebrow, “Mr. Wayne, do you not recognize me?”

“It is my honor to meet a lady like you,” he said in surprise. “However, this is our first meeting... Forgive my bluntness, but are you some kind of celebrity?”

She seemed confident. Could that be the case? If so, she had not approached him for money. That would leave one possibility: he had been chosen by a wealthy lady and was about to receive long-term financial support.

“I’m a fashion designer and enjoy some fame in Palis, the Republic of Franc. I’m wearing my brand, Silvia Valentine. I thought you might have heard of it.”

She spoke slowly with a hint of disappointment. “Turns out it’s only my wishful thinking. The brand doesn’t have much recognition in Londan.”

“You misunderstood. I just don’t know much about fashion. Your outfit is beautiful and will surely be a great success in Londan.” Wayne hurriedly amended. So she was a wealthy patron. Should he give in now, or after denying her a few times?

Damn, this is a hard choice!

“I see!”

Confirming that he didn’t know who she was, even after hearing her name, Silvia smiled more warmly, concluding that her daughter and this man had not been together for long, and that they hadn’t done the deed yet.

“What do you think of my brand, Mr. Wayne?” She stood up and turned around slowly, her enchanting perfume filling his nose as she displayed her graceful, alluring curves. “You’re from Londan, and I want to bring my brand into the Londan market. Perhaps you could give me some advice.”

You sure you’re looking for advice? You should be thankful that I didn’t call you out!

He suppressed an eyeroll, but since she wasn’t charging him for looking, he gave her a thorough once-over.

After a moment, he frowned. Clothes made a person, and the person made the clothes. Silvia and her design complemented each other perfectly, both beautiful and without a single flaw he could identify. But he felt that something was missing.

“What could it be...?”

“Mr. Wayne?”

“Apologies. I was lost in your extraordinary charm.”

He smiled apologetically and examined her again—from head to toe, from shoulder to waist, from the curves of her back to her hip, finally stopping at her calves.

Great legs! I can play with them for... Bah, I mean such fair skin!

His gaze was so intense that Silvia became disappointed. Her daughter had just as bad an eye for men; both of them chose a perverted bastard pretending to be a gentleman.

See? She had only made a twirl, and Wayne’s eyes were already wide as saucers, looking like he wanted to press his face against her legs for a closer look. Fortunately, her daughter had not entered the grave of marriage yet—making him disappear now would solve the problem.

“Madam, your brand is flawless and will surely be popular in Londan, but you’re missing a piece of clothing, which prevents your charm from being perfectly displayed.”

Wayne kept his tone as serious and calm as possible, but his trembling voice still betrayed his excitement. He’d found a business opportunity—a chance to make money was coming!

Silvia blinked in surprise. “What clothing?”

Stockings!

You’re not wearing stockings. Such a waste for these long legs! They would be killer with black stockings. It wouldn’t be just a dream for your brand to take the fashion capital by storm.

“Have you heard of stockings, Madam?”

“I have. They are too thick and don’t fit the aesthetics of my brand.”

So it hasn’t been invented yet!

Wayne perked up. He was talking about nylon stockings rather than the knitted long socks worn by men in court. As a fashion designer, Silvia would be aware of nylon stockings if they had been invented, but she wasn’t.

Right, stockings were from the country of bald eagles, sold during the Second World War. It wasn’t yet time, and that country didn’t exist in this world to begin with. While nylon had been synthesized—right in Londan—it was being used in the military industry for things like parachutes and uniforms.

His eyes lit up. He had wanted to become an inventor when he first transmigrated. It didn’t matter what he invented; His dream was being able to make money without working another day. And now, the dream was within reach...

Wait, nylon had been invented, and whoever did it held the patent. He might be able to use nylon by paying a patent fee, but once nylon stockings hit the market, the massive profits would make the patent holder ignore their contract and manufacture stockings themselves.

One could never face a big corporation alone. Besides, contracts these days were full of loopholes to exploit. In the end, he would only be setting the table for another.

What to do?

He frowned deeply. He was a mage now, and his time shouldn’t be wasted on developing stockings. What if that got in the way of his studies and caused him to drift away from the beautiful magic girls, thus foiling his chance of a four-way relationship? He would be losing a pound for a penny.

Case in point, Veronica’s father was a banker!

A worried scowl had replaced the stupid grin on Wayne’s face, and his eyes weren’t on her legs at all. Silvia twirled twice more, even lifting her dress a bit. Confirming his disinterest, her mood improved somewhat.

She misunderstood. He was talking about clothes!

“Way—”

“Ms. Valentine, it’s been a pleasure to chat with you. I’ll be getting off at Enrod Station. Looking at the time, I should be returning to my cabin to pack.” Wayne stood up and politely bade her farewell.

You’re very beautiful, Sis, but you came too late. Mr. Lando runs banks. I won’t let go of my father-in-law no matter what.

Confused, Silvia raised her hand to stop him. “What is the piece of clothing you said I was missing?”

Boy, do you know that not finishing your sentences will get you sentenced to death by sinking? Especially when it’s related to a lady’s attire. You are not leaving without explaining yourself.

Wayne didn’t want to tell her, so he vaguely said, “I was mistaken. Your designs are perfect. Nothing’s missing.”

That only made her more certain that she was missing something. During their back-and-forth, two men walked into the dining car.

Their cold eyes swept the car, and one blocked the door while the other strode up to Wayne and Silvia with violent intention, triggering his supernatural sense.

Danger!

The man in black reached into his jacket and pulled out a pistol, pointing it at him. “Everyone, stay where you are and don’t move. Hand over your cash. We only want money, not lives.”

It’s just robbery!

Wayne thought with relief.

You scared me. I thought you were assassins sent by the big shot.

But much to Wayne’s irritation, the robber didn’t keep his word. He had said that he only wanted money, yet as soon as he got a good look at Silvia, his eyes shone with a different desire, widened like he would like to press his face into her legs for a closer look.

Bah, despicable!

“Watch the door. I’ll have a chat with this lady.”

The robber shouted at his companion before leveling a lecherous gaze on Silvia’s prominent bosom. As a man of action, he didn’t understand the importance of precaution and simply reached out for the prize.

You’re bold, kid. Even I didn’t touch her. What do you think gives you the right? Just because you have a gun?

Wayne scoffed and moved to stop him, but before he could, Silvia flashed by and grabbed the robber’s wrist, twisting his arm into a pretzel.

Crying out in pain, the robber instinctively tried to spin away, and as soon as his back was turned to Silvia, she made a heavy kick at the back of his knee, making him scream and fall to the ground. Then she let go of his wrist to grab the back of his head, slamming it hard against the floor. With a loud bang, the robber went silent.

Everything happened in a flash, so fast that Wayne’s eyes could barely keep up. In terms of physique, Silvia and the robber weren’t even in the same weight class, but she’d taken him out as easily as swatting a fly.

Wayne was stunned.

Oh my, what if she forces herself on me later? Veronica, come and save me!

Silvia picked up the gun from the floor and pointed it at the unconscious robber’s head, demanding that the other robber drop his weapon. Unfortunately, the robbers were professionals. The moment she took down robber number one, robber number two, on door watching duty, had immediately taken a nearby passenger hostage.

It was a child. He pointed his gun at the child’s temple and used the child’s body to shield his own. The child didn’t cry—he was too scared to. And his mother fainted then and there.

“Drop the gun, or I’ll kill this brat!”

Silvia frowned, her expression turning grave. Just as she was weighing the pros and cons of revealing her true identity, a hard object pressed against the back of her head.

Wayne!

He pressed the gun harder against her head and sneered, “Didn’t expect that, did you? I’m one of them. Let my brother go, or I’ll shatter your pretty makeup!”

Silvia was stunned. Did her daughter fall for a robber?

Robber number two was also stunned. He didn’t know there was another one of them on the train.

Both wondered if he was faking it and decided to wait and see.

“I’m talking to you. Are you deaf? Point the gun away from my brother!”

Wayne came up behind her and wrapped his free arm around her neck, pressing his nose into her hair to take a deep inhale, his expression lecherous. “What are you waiting for, darling? You must have a soul as beautiful as your face. You wouldn’t want the innocent kid to die because of you, would you?”

Her eyes twitched. He was too close, seriously violating the rules of social distancing.

“I didn’t expect this from you. I misjudged...” She took a deep breath and slowly lowered her arm, pointing the gun toward the floor.

“Hahaha, well done, mate! I’m lucky to have you here.”

Robber number two threw the hostage aside and strode toward Silvia. He was a hundred percent certain that Wayne was one of them. That lascivious expression was identical to his fallen boss. In fact, Wayne said his lines better.

After taking three steps, robber number two stood dumbfounded as two guns rose to aim at him.

“Drop the gun,” the same command came from both Wayne and Silvia.

...You... Are you not on my side?

Really? Your expression and lines didn’t seem like an act. How did you suddenly become a good guy?!