CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: UNLESS SOME GREAT HERO SAVES YOU!

Reven felt a headache building up.

"Your Highness, wealthy people are not exactly something one can order from a catalog," Reven sighed, rubbing his temples. "And even if we found one, who would dare to mock you to your face?"

"Excuses! I hear only excuses!" The skeleton, whose name was Prince Kaelus, waved his bony arms. "If you cannot find me a villainous young master to serve as a foil to my greatness, then perhaps this planet is useless after all! Prepare the-"

"Wait!" Reven shouted, his eyes shifting towards the window. Through the gap in the curtains, he saw lights flickering on in the neighboring villa.

"Your Highness! Look!" Reven pointed a trembling finger toward the window. "Hell has answered your call! A neighbor has moved in next door!"

"To stay in this place, he must be sufficiently wealthy. He can act as the perfect friend!"

The skeleton walked over to the window, looking out. "A neighbor?"

"Yes! Think about it," Reven spoke fast, desperate to save the planet. It wasn’t because he was worried about this planet. It was simply because he didn’t want to be caught.

If they were detected, the Prince might be scolded and locked up for a few centuries. But him? He would be severely punished for helping the prince, even though he was nothing more than a victim in this.

"This is an exclusive neighborhood. The rent is astronomical by this planet’s standards. Whoever moved in there must be filthy rich. And since they are neighbors, you are bound to interact!"

The skeleton’s eye sockets seemed to flare with ghostly blue flames of excitement. "A wealthy neighbor... the difference in our social standing... It’s perfect! He is the perfect candidate to become the Arrogant Young Master friend of mine!"

"Exactly!" Reven wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Quickly, Reven! Let’s go meet him!" Kaelus commanded, rushing towards the door.

"Will we meet him like this? Wouldn’t he be frightened to death? If you want him to look down on you, you can’t expose your true identity. You have to keep it a secret!"

"Ah, right! In that case, prepare my disguise!" The skeleton commanded, striking a pose. "I must look like a poor but handsome youth who is struggling to make ends meet!"

Reven nodded. Although this was for the best, he was still worried about the future. The Prince was too eager to become the protagonist.

"I just hope nothing goes wrong." he mumbled.

"Hmm? Did you say something?"

"N-nothing at all. I’ll make the preparation. I’ll make sure that wealthy man becomes your friend and lets you stay in his house so that later on, you can display your poverty and make him look down on you."

"Move into his house? Why would I do that? Didn’t we snatch this place already?" Kaelus tilted his head sideways.

"Your Highness, aren’t you supposed to be a poor person who speaks dialogues like ’ten years in the west, ten in the east’ and so on? If you are staying in a villa where the wealthy live, wouldn’t that make him suspicious!"

"Ah, right. You are very clever. In that case, prepare everything for me. Meanwhile, I will practice my dialogues. Hahaha, ten years in the east, ten in the west, don’t look down on the poor!"

Laughing proudly, Kaelus walked away, leaving the preparation to Reven, the undead magician of Necropolis. That wasn’t the only identity of Reven though. He was also the son of Malakor, the undead mage that Leo had made his friend.

Unfortunately, he was only one of the many children that Malakor had. In the hierarchy, he was barely noticeable. That’s why Reven didn’t doubt for even a moment that he was going to be punished without anyone to help him, in case he was caught by Necropolis.

"I will make it happen, your highness. I’ll make your dreams come true, as we crush that wealthy friend of yours, creating wealth greater than his, so he can only look up to you in the future!"

"That way, you won’t be eager to blow up this planet or get bored, taking me to search for another fun planet. We would be able to stay hidden longer..."

Reven looked out the window at the neighbouring villa, his expressions growing solemn.

....

Meanwhile, Leo had just finished inspecting the kitchen. It was fully stocked, likely part of the service provided by the agency.

He grabbed a bottle of cold water and walked into the living room, relaxing on the couch the previous couple had vacated.

....

Three days later...

Leo was fully immersed in the process of taking his company public. For the last three days, he didn’t even step out of the villa.

All he did was finalize the smaller details regarding a shell company that was going to buy the first batch of stocks of his company. He even prepared to bribe the officials to fast forward his application.

He didn’t realize that the reason his application hadn’t been approved yet, was because the entire bureau was in commotion. The name that they had heard in the news was finally going public.

It wasn’t sure who leaked the news. Or rather, was there even a single person there who didn’t? The only reason they delayed the process was because various global enterprises were putting pressure on them to delay the application.

Meanwhile, all those major players on earth, had started a race to gather as many funds as possible so they could snatch more stocks of Leo’s company.

Some companies were even selling their well performing subsidiaries to stockpile more credits within this week.

Fortunately, the wait didn’t last long. After four more days, finally it was time for Leo’s company to go public. All he had to do was to visit the bureau and take his company public.

....

"We have been waiting here for a week. How long? At this rate, when will I become the protagonist? I would die of boredom much before that!"

In another villa, Kaelus was grumbling while lying on the floor as if was melting from boredom.

"We can’t force the process," Reven answered. "It has to look perfectly coincidental. Don’t forget the plan! After he leaves the villa, I will attack him in a disguise. When he is scared, you will come and save him, making me run away!"

"Your Highness, isn’t that protagonist’s entrance worth the wait?" he asked.

"Yes! Yes, that’s how a protagonist is supposed to be! Hahaha, perfect! I will wait!" Kaelus burst into laughter again, regaining his vigour.

"Your Highness, he is leaving the villa!" Reven suddenly exclaimed, making Prince Kaelus stand up quickly.

"It’s time to put the plan into motion! It’s time for me to save that weak human’s life! This is where my hero’s arc begins! Muahahaha!" Kaelus cheered.

...

Meanwhile, Leo stepped out of his villa. He was walking across the street, with no cars visible in this ghastly neighborhood.

"They are late." He looked at the time, and then at the sky. "As expected of my perfect delivery service guys. You keep making me proud by never being on time."

While waiting, Leo walked through the neighborhood. Is was as if he was on a sightseeing tour of the neighborhood that he had only seen from above.

Unfortunately, he soon came to a stop as he felt a presence appear behind him.

"You bastard, I am a great robber who is here to steal from you! I will take everything that belongs to you! No one will save you today!" A loud voice fell on Leo’s ears. "I might even take your life today, unless some great hero comes to save you!"

"What’s with the cliche lines?" Leo frowned, feeling a soul chilling cringe rise through his body.