Chapter 388: Perhaps You Can Postpone It?
“Hmm?”
Dicus had thought that the deal was as good as settled, only for Mag and Amy to both reject him at once. Furthermore, their voices firm and unyielding, without any intention of negotiating with him.
“I’m inviting my friends over for lunch tomorrow. I already promised them, so no.” Amy had been already close to falling asleep, but she immediately snapped wide awake, and shook her head at Dicus with a serious expression.
“Mr. Mag, this is a request made by the city lord himself…” Dicus ignored Amy, and attempted to negotiate with Mag.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already promised a lunch party for my daughter and her little friends tomorrow. That’s not going to change.” Mag shook his head with a smile, and cut Dicus off mid-sentence. He placed his hand gently on top of Amy’s head, and wasn’t interested in negotiating at all.
Dicus stared at Mag as if he had never heard anything so absurd. He was rejecting a request from the city lord just for a kids’ party? How could anyone have such twisted priorities?
“You’re the best, Father!” Amy rubbed her cheek against Mag’s hand, and stuck out her little tongue at Dicus.
_This restaurant owner really is good to his daughter. But if I have a daughter as adorable as her, I’d probably spoil her like this as well. _Dicus wore a resigned smile on his face at the sight of Mag’s firm expression.
He hesitated momentarily before adopting a more serious expression, and continuing, “Mr. Mag, I shouldn’t be telling you this in advance, but I feel like I should inform you of this so you’re aware of the gravity of the situation. The city lord is not reserving the restaurant tomorrow for his personal affairs. Instead, he wants to hold the first conference between the giant dragons and demons at your restaurant. I can’t reveal any specific details, but you should understand how beneficial this event would be to the status and reputation of your restaurant. A kids’ party can be postponed, but this opportunity is not to be missed.”
_They’re reserving the restaurant as a conference venue? _Mag raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. A vast expanse of ocean separated the respective territories of the dragons and the demons, but conflicts between the two sides were still a common occurrence. It was quite apparent what the conference was going to be about, but Mag was confused with regard to why the city lord would hold the conference at a restaurant.
Was he trying to use food to maintain world peace? Mag was perplexed.
“Father…” Amy wore a conflicted expression on her little face as she looked up at Mag. She seemed to have understood what Dicus was saying, and grasped how important the situation was.
“My apologies, I’ve made a promise to my daughter, so I must deliver; that is what I require of myself as a father. Hence, the lunch party must be held tomorrow.” Mag patted Amy’s head with a smile before turning to Dicus, and continuing, “If the city lord doesn’t mind, he could perhaps postpone the conference to tomorrow in the evening. However, I have a few conditions. If the city lord can agree to those conditions, then I can offer a one-time reservation service.
“1. The restaurant can be reserved from 5pm at the earliest, but it must close at 9pm sharp. 2. The reservation fee will be 3,000 gold coins, which covers double penalty rates for my staff to work on their day off, as well as the costs of the ingredients used for the meals. 3. The city lord’s castle must ensure the restaurant’s safety. If the restaurant is damaged during the course of the conference, compensation must be given. Lastly, I have one small request: my restaurant has developed a large customer base, but I have no intention of expanding it for now. Hence, I want to set up a few tables and chairs as an outdoor dining area next to the restaurant. Would the city lord’s castle be able to sell or rent the plot of land next to my restaurant for that purpose?”
Dicus’s mouth gaped open wider and wider, and he was looking at Mag as if he were questioning Mag’s sanity.
_This guy is asking the city lord’s castle to postpone the negotiation between the dragons and the demons just because his little girl is having a lunch party!? What an insane man! _
Setting that aside, even if the city lord agreed to postpone the conference, they still had to agree to a few conditions of his before being allowed to reserve the restaurant.
Conferences between species rarely ever went smoothly, and it was very common for a conference to last an entire day. However, he was only giving them a time limit of four hours, after which he was going to kick everyone out and close the restaurant no matter what.
Furthermore, the reservation fee was astronomical: 3,000 gold coins! That was a reasonable price if they were trying to reserve Ducas Restaurant, but how was that price applicable to such a small restaurant?
On top of that, the city lord’s castle also had to provide him with that plot of land in front of his restaurant to facilitate an outdoor dining area.
Dicus didn’t even know how to put his emotions into words anymore; his vocabulary simply failed him.
Who gave this restaurant owner the confidence to state such demands?
“Those are the only conditions I have; please relay them to the city lord, Mr. Dicus. If that’s all for today, then I have to go and tuck my daughter into bed.” Mag wore a respectful smile on his face, but he was clearly asking his guest to leave.
He didn’t think those conditions were inappropriate. If it weren’t for the system’s accursed new mission, he wouldn’t be willing to work on his day off.
Mag had no interest in maintaining world peace and things like that. Compared to Amy’s happiness, nothing else was important.
“Alright, I’ll relay those conditions to the city lord, and let him make a decision. I’ll be taking my leave now.” Dicus nodded, and didn’t say anything else as he turned to leave.
“Father, you’re so good to me.” Amy was extremely touched as she looked up at Mag. Her lips quivered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
“You’re the most precious thing to me, so of course I’m good to you. No one and nothing is more important than you, so don’t cry anymore. I love seeing my Little Amy’s beautiful smile.” Mag picked Amy from the ground with a smile on his face.
“Mm-hm.” Amy nodded as a smile reappeared on her face. She wound her little arms around his neck before planting a kiss on his cheek. She looked at him with an earnest expression, and said, “Father is also the most precious thing to me, so I’m going to take good care of Father.”
“Let’s get you tucked into bed. We have to inform Teacher Luna and all of your little friends tomorrow morning.” Mag smiled as he tapped Amy gently on the nose. He held her in his arms, and he felt as if he were holding the entire world.