"Please, have a seat," the masked man invited.

He lowered himself onto the sofa at the farthest corner of the lounge and spread his arms along the backrest as though he owned the entire room. Crossing his legs, he leaned back and silently observed Ashley.

Though his posture appeared relaxed, the pressure emanating from him was anything but. Behind the mask, his eyes followed her every movement as she calmly took her seat, as if weighing and evaluating her worth.

Ashley and the others settled onto the sofa without the slightest sign of discomfort. Unlike most people who would have been intimidated by the masked man’s overwhelming presence, none of them appeared pressured or diminished in his company. When Ashley saw the refreshments in front of her, she casually picked up her drink and took a sip to wet her throat, showing no hesitation whatsoever.

The masked man’s eyebrow arched slightly at the sight. She hadn’t questioned the drink, inspected it, or even paused to consider the possibility of foul play. Her actions spoke louder than words; she was demonstrating complete trust in him.

Not blind trust, nor foolish naivety, but the confidence of someone who had already judged his character and found him worthy of it. That single gesture subtly strengthened her position at the negotiating table, portraying her as both trustworthy and self-assured.

After all, under the current circumstances, most visitors would have felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles. They would have been wary of every word and every movement, let alone touch the drinks placed before them, fearing they might be drugged or tampered with.

In reality, the entire setup served a dual purpose. It was not merely designed to establish dominance over guests, but also to assess their composure, confidence, and judgment.

If someone wished to do business with the uncrowned King of the underground world, confidence alone was not enough. They needed to trust both their own abilities and the man sitting across from them. Otherwise, why would anyone choose to work with a partner they did not trust?

For this first round of testing, Ashley had passed.

The oppressive atmosphere surrounding the masked man eased slightly, and deep down, she let out a sigh of relief as her small gamble paid off. She had merely speculated that the refreshments and the carefully arranged setting of the room were not acts of hospitality, but part of a subtle screening process designed to apply psychological pressure on anyone brought before him for negotiations or questioning.

It was a test of composure, confidence, and judgment. Those who succumbed to the pressure would likely be dismissed, while those who remained calm and unfazed would earn his approval. In his eyes, anyone who passed this assessment would be viewed more favorably, not merely as a potential associate, but as a business partner with promise and a future worth investing in.

"Now then, Miss Gildenvale, please tell me, what is it that you wish for?" the masked man asked once more.

As promised, he intended to grant Ashley’s request. With the city’s vast information network firmly under his control, he already knew why the true heiress of the Gildenvale family and the heir of the Walker family had come to his territory in the first place.

A faint smile curved Ashley’s lips as she settled comfortably into her seat.

"Sir, I know you’re already aware of the reason we came here," she said calmly. "And I also know you proposed that wager with full knowledge of what I would ask from you if I won. So, rather than waste either of our time, I’ll be direct."

She paused briefly before meeting his gaze.

"I came here to ask for your permission to conduct business within this city."

The masked man leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the backrest.

"And what exactly does that entail?" he drawled, his voice slow and deliberate.

"Simply put, I hope you’ll spread the word among your people not to interfere with our operations or target our supply convoys," Ashley replied calmly. "We intend to establish a distribution network within Maple Leaf City and grow alongside it. As the city’s population expands, we believe it has the potential to become a major commercial hub, and we want to contribute to that growth."

She spoke plainly, without embellishment or flowery promises. There was no attempt to oversell her company, only a straightforward statement of intent.

"As you already know, our company operates across a wide range of industries," Ashley continued. "As Maple Leaf City develops, its demand for goods, services, infrastructure, and technology will inevitably increase. Supply chains will need to expand, new markets will emerge, and investments will be required. We simply wish to be among the first to enter that market and participate in its development."

The masked man did not respond immediately.

Instead, he fell silent, his fingers lightly drumming against the backrest as he sank into deep contemplation. His unreadable gaze rested on Ashley, as though carefully weighing every word she had spoken, calculating the benefits and risks hidden beneath her proposal.

"And what exactly do I stand to gain if I agree?" the masked man asked, his sharp gaze fixed on Ashley. "Surely you don’t expect me to simply give you the green light without receiving something in return, do you? Allowing you to conduct business within my city is one thing, but asking me to forgo my share of the profits is an entirely different matter."

"Of course," Ashley replied with a smile. "Rather than partnering with other businessmen and allowing them to profit from our venture, why not work directly with us instead? If I’m not mistaken, someone of your stature likely owns a significant portion of the prime real estate in this city. After all, not many people can casually wager a billion-dollar plot of land without batting an eye."

She leaned back slightly before continuing.

"So, how about this? Let us lease one of your finest buildings in the downtown district and establish our operations there. That way, you’ll earn a steady stream of rental income every month while we conduct our business. As for additional terms and stakes, I believe that’s something we can discuss in greater detail."

Ashley maintained eye contact with the masked man, her smile never wavering.

"I can have my team prepare several business proposals for your review. Once you’ve had a chance to examine them, we can sit down and negotiate terms that benefit both parties. After all, a successful partnership should be profitable for everyone involved, shouldn’t it?"

The smile on Ashley’s face remained calm and professional, but beneath it lay a clear message. She was showing her sincerity and willingness to cooperate, while subtly reminding the masked man that negotiations were a two-way street.

She was prepared to accommodate reasonable demands, but she would not allow herself to be cornered or pressured into accepting terms that favored only one side.

Seeing Ashley so confident in her proposal, the masked man let out a low chuckle. The moment he had casually placed a billion-dollar plot of land on the table as a wager, he had already revealed more than he intended.