CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 223

"But—!" The waiter opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off with a dismissive wave, turning her attention back to me with a falsely sweet smile. "I’m sorry for the disturbance, miss, but rest assured that he will be immediately fired."

I returned her smile—though it was more of a cold, calculated expression. Then, my face shifted into a straight, unwavering look. "You’re right," I said softly, deliberately. "From today onwards, you’re not working here anymore. You’ll be the one fired, not him."

The room seemed to tighten around us. The manager’s eyes widened in shock, her composure cracking just a little. The waiter looked at me with a mixture of confusion and relief.

The smile on the manager’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce furrow of her brows. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me. "W-What are you saying?"

"Her," I said simply, gesturing subtly. "The secret partner and investor—going by the pseudonym Tigris."

The manager’s face went pale. Her jaw slackened, and her eyes widened in shock. "D-Don’t tell me... you’re..."

"In the flesh," I confirmed, giving her a smirk that carried both confidence and warning.

The moment her composure shattered, she immediately dropped to her knees, frantically rubbing her palms together as if trying to erase her guilt. "I-I didn’t know, miss! I swear! I didn’t know! Please, forgive me!"

I looked down at her, my expression unreadable. "I’ve already gathered evidence," I said calmly as I revealed my phone, showing the secret recordings I had taken. "Let’s see what the courts have to say about this," I added, then raised my voice. "Guards!"

The guards, who had been silently waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward and bowed. "Miss Remillia," they greeted in unison.

I gave them a nod. The guards of every restaurant were personally hired by me, ensuring that the establishment maintained order. "Take her, including the chef."

Her eyes widened with panic. "W-WAIT! PLEASE!" she yelled, grabbing onto my leg desperately. "I-I WON’T do it again! Please, give me one more chance!"

I remained silent, just turning my gaze toward the guards. "Ensure they stay in custody until I give the word," I ordered firmly.

"Yes, miss," they replied without hesitation, grabbing her firmly. She flailed and screamed, clutching at my leg, her voice echoing through the room. "NO! I need to get my things! My money’s in there!"

Her shouts grew louder, attracting the attention of the diners, some of whom looked uneasy or alarmed. Without hesitation, I reached down and carefully pulled the apron from the waiter’s staff’s uniform, then firmly shoved it into her mouth to muffle her cries.

"This is a restaurant," I said coldly, glancing at the startled customers. "You’re scaring away the diners."

The guards moved swiftly to escort her through the backdoor, their footsteps echoing in the tense silence that followed. Inside the kitchen, another guard knocked out the chef who refused to come quietly, ensuring there would be no resistance.

I stepped back into the manager’s office, where the waiter was still standing nervously. He looked at me with wide eyes, instinctively kneeling on the ground. "I promise I don’t know anything about what the manager is doing illegally! I’ve only been here a week, and I really need this job to feed my family. I’m the only one—"

"Stop," I cut him off sharply, and his words trailed off immediately. I fixed him with a steady gaze. "I don’t need to hear your life story. I want to know if you’re a man of your word and if you’re honest."

He nodded quickly, desperation evident in his eyes. "I promise not to tell anyone that you’re Tigris, or that you’re one of the owners of this restaurant!"

A slow smile formed on my lips. "So you’d tell my secret after I’m dead then?"

He looked stunned, hesitating before responding. "N-no, I—"

I laughed at his reaction, the tension in the room easing slightly. "I’m joking. Starting today, you’ll be the new manager of this branch. I need you to search everything in this office for the names of those so-called privileged members."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Me? The new manager?"

"Yes," I confirmed, my tone firm. "You’ve shown that you’re willing to stand up for what’s right, and I believe you can help turn this place around. Just remember, loyalty and integrity are paramount. If you betray that trust, there will be consequences."

"I won’t let you down, miss! I promise!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with determination.

I turned back just before leaving the room, a thought lingering in my mind. I looked at him with a calculated expression. "One more thing—do you know anyone who’s knowledgeable about monsters, and how to cook them?"

"Of course! My brother is an expert on that! Since we were kids, we couldn’t afford normal meat, so my brother had no choice but to become a hunter and a cook for us!" he replied eagerly.

"I thought you were the only one your family relied on?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Hehe, actually, we’re twins, but overall, we’re like one," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice.

I nodded, appreciating the bond they shared. "What’s your name?"

"Tom Figero," he said.

"And your brother?"

"Jerry Figero," he replied.

"Does he have a stable job?" I asked, curious about their situation.

"We both applied here to get jobs, but I was the only one who got hired. He’s been looking around for quick jobs since no one can hire us because we lack education," he explained, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"What are you waiting for then?" I said, my tone encouraging.

"Huh?" he responded, confused.

"Call your brother now. He can start his first day here as a chef," I said, a smile forming on my lips as I turned to leave.

"Thank you very much, miss! You’re an angel!" I heard him yell after me as I walked away, feeling a sense of fulfillment.

I knew that giving Tom’s brother a chance would not only help them but also strengthen the restaurant’s kitchen with someone knowledgeable about the unique ingredients we would be using.

"Remillia, you’re back!" Christian exclaimed as I entered the veranda.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "I have something to say to you later," I whispered, hinting at the gravity of what I intended to reveal. Then I looked around, making sure the others were listening. "So, have you explained it to them?"

Christian shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. "They won’t believe me! No matter what I say—"

I cut him off gently but firmly. "This restaurant is owned by Christian’s father, and yes, it is a place that exclusively serves monster and beast meat," I revealed, watching their reactions carefully.

"Ewww..." Angela muttered in disgust, wrinkling her nose.

"They’re more nutritional than the livestock we used to eat," I countered, trying to emphasize the benefits. "These meats are rich in protein and other essential nutrients that can’t be found in regular meats."

"But they’re monsters!" Rex protested, his expression still one of distaste.

"Think of it this way," I continued, trying to persuade them. "Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad. Many cultures around the world consume exotic meats, and they thrive on them. Plus, we have the opportunity to offer something unique that no one else does."

Edge tilted his head, curiosity evident in his expression. "This is the first I’ve heard of this restaurant," he said, studying me.

"Well, it’s starting to gain popularity, and more people are accepting it. Even foreigners are beginning to enjoy the taste of monster meat," I explained, trying to convey the growing trend.

"She’s right!" Christian chimed in, his enthusiasm evident. "We now have five branches around Aeonia, and we’re planning to expand even more!"

"Wait, why do you know more about Christian’s business?" Cypher interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"Well because she’s the one who pla- Oof!" Before I could answer, Christian opened his mouth again, but I quickly stomped on his foot to shut him up.

"That’s because I was the first one to try their dishes back in Hilde, where their restaurant originally is located," I lied smoothly, maintaining my composure.

"Really? You were the first?" Whitney asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yes! I had the opportunity to taste their unique offerings before anyone else, and I can assure you, it’s an experience you won’t forget," I said, embellishing my story just a bit more. "The flavors are unlike anything you’ve ever had, and I believe it’s worth exploring."

Christian nodded, backing me up. "If Remillia says it’s good, then it’s definitely worth a try. We’re committed to quality and ensuring that our dishes are not only delicious but also safe and nutritious."

Whitney tapped her chin thoughtfully, considering the potential. "As an expert in business, I think it’s an excellent idea to invest in Christian’s restaurant now, while it’s still in its early stages," she said with a nod.

Before I could continue, Christian opened his mouth to speak. "Remi—ouch!"

I cut Christian off again by stomping harder on his foot, subtly glaring at him to keep him from saying anything unnecessary.

"What?" Whitney asked, confused by the interruption.

Christian quickly added as he glared at me, "What I meant to say is, you should talk to my dad about that," his tone a bit defensive. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. "Here’s my dad’s contact info," he said, handing a sleek business card to Whitney.

Whitney took the card, glancing down at it and reading the details carefully.