Chapter 2: A Change

"You want to be a noble?" Liao turned to pitch in to their conversation.

Jerome looked quite shock, he's familiar with the Eastern man and knew that he was someone powerful since the tavern owner regard him as a V.I.P. but he never really interacted with him before.

He always planned to be acquainted with Liao but he was finding it hard to do so, after all, the man only talks to people he finds interesting.

"Yes, I want to be a noble." Jerome answered while the old woman rolled her eyes and left the two men to talk as she was left ignored.

Liao smiled, his fox-like eyes looked more narrow. "Come with me, I want to talk more." He grabbed Jerome over his shoulder making him shock as he was practically dragged to a private room.

It was mostly for people who wants to talk about business and there's a room specifically for Liao. The man was greatly favored as he was known to invest on many businesses which end up being successful and famous.

It might be confusing to see a well-off man in an unknown tavern in the discreet of town but just like Jerome, Liao came to such a place to gather information. After all, there's more you can hear from the public than the papers.

When they entered the private room, the Eastern man closed the door and gestured the younger to sit on the couch, moving to the shelf to pour some whiskey that was reserved for him.

"You talk big kid, go on, tell me. How can you become a noble? It'll be quite a disappointment if it's just an empty dream." Liao chuckled as he sat down with two glasses of whiskey, placing one in front of Jerome.

"You drink, right?" The older asked before sipping his whiskey, only to gasp and cough. He was not a drinker himself.

Jerome felt less intimidated now that he found it ridiculous that the man acts cool but turned out to be silly.

"It's not empty." The younger stared at his whiskey before looking at Liao.

"I already have a plan." He added.

"Oh?" The Eastern man smirked, "Now don't keep me waiting."

Jerome never told this to anyone yet but maybe Liao would be the opening opportunity for him to have an easier path.

Though as Kevin, he never really read anything about a man named Liao before nor that Jerome was acquainted to anyone in the East.

Jerome knew that Rowan collaborated with the Kingdom of the East but the name Liao Feng didn't ring any bell.

'Could there be a change in the story?' He thought to himself before deciding to answer the older.

"I was born poor, my father was a miner and my mother, she took care of us. When I was at the age of 16, I helped my father by working where he mined but two years later he died." Jerome started while Liao listened.

Or he seemed to, "This is related to your dreams of being a noble because..." He urged the younger to continue, seemingly impatient.

Jerome looked at him in disbelief, his lips in a thin line before taking a deep breath before continuing, "I long wanted for us to have a better life, but I was too young to achieve that."

"Ah... Yes... The enemy of all... Time." Liao frowned while Jerome nodded.

"When I turned 18, my father died of fatigue and my mother died from the same reason a few months after, leaving me to take care of myself."

Jerome ignored the way the Eastern man sniffled, he don't know if he was actually sad for him or was just acting but he decided to continue, "That's when I decided that I want to be a noble. I don't want to live my whole life at the bottom."

"First, I stole bits of gems from the mine where I worked before, hiding them in candy wrappers so that I won't be discovered." Liao listened intently now.

"Then, I would sell them to pawn shops and jewelry stores for the price of 500. They would gladly buy since it was cheaper compared to their suppliers." The Eastern man became even more amazed.

"The money I gathered were all saved at a bank. Estimating it's total, I could say it is over five hundred thousand since I bought a new house and new wardrobe." The younger explained that made the latter shocked.

Who wouldn't be? A young man such as Jerome could be tempted by the use of money, but instead, he stayed focus on his goals and was able to save such an amount.

Jerome could practically buy a mine and a store now but he was still working for a tavern instead of getting started.

"I worked here for connections and opportunities. I also wanted to talk to you but I'm not that arrogant to walk right to you and ask you to help me, I don't know what to pique your interest yet but I guess my ambition did the job. I'm only looking for information, money is not a problem." Jerome looked at Liao, bluntly stating his plans that made the Eastern man grin.

Liao sipped his whiskey again and coughed, Jerome couldn't tell if they're having a serious talk or if the older was taking him seriously or as a joke. Nevertheless, he waited for the man to speak.

"I like you! Know what? I've decided to help you!" Liao stood up, excited. This made Jerome shocked and also relieved.

"R-Really?"

"Yeah! I don't really care for your dreams and such but you're smart and hardworking. I could use that attitude. I want to see what you can do." Liao giggled before sitting down again, Jerome pressed his lips into a thin line again.

"I know someone who's selling a mine and I have an empty shop. If you want to get started, we could meet here in three days time. Bring the money and everything, we'll then proceed smoothly." The Eastern man smiled.

"Bring the seller and the papers on that day. I also want to see the mine tomorrow." Liao stared at Jerome, with how the young man was given the opportunity, he was immediate to take the lead.

A smart man and more noble than anyone Liao met. He always met people who only see what's in front of them but Jerome was quite meticulous.

"Of course, then I believe this is a start of our collaboration? Soon-to-be Lord..." The older waited for the latter to properly introduce himself, lending his hand out as he stood up.

"Jerome Wright." He stood up and shook Liao's hand.

"Liao Feng. Let's meet tomorrow morning in front of the tavern, I'll have a carriage take us to the location."

Things are proceeding quite smoothly that the younger couldn't help but be anxious.

As he walked home, he began to think. 'Did Jerome also had this kind of opportunity?' He asked himself.

It was already surreal that he was living in the same manhwa he read and idolized years ago, now he felt like he was making progress a little too good.

'Maybe I was already making a difference? I read that Jerome became successful three years after his parents died but this was quite early...' He seemed pensive as he walked that's why he didn't notice who was in front of him and collided with someone.

"Ah! Oh... Sorry..." He looked up at the taller person who was wearing a cloak. They seemed to stare at Jerome just as the latter stared at him but before he could see his face, the mysterious man already walked away.

'Strange...' Jerome shrugged and continued his walk, he knew people could be strange and discreet in the middle area of the Kingdom, especially the ones near the walls.

The next day, Jerome waited for Liao in front of the tavern like they agreed on.

"My lord! You came!" Liao excitedly ran to the younger, it made Jerome a tad bit embarrassed how the older acts more childish than him and exclaiming him as a lord even when he doesn't have the title yet.

"C-Can you quiet it down...? It's early in the morning. Also, can you not mention me as lord? I do not have the title yet." He sighed as the Eastern man guided him to the carriage.

"I didn't quite understand." Liao smiled.

"You did." The younger was getting a bit more comfortable with how the older acts now. Kind of like Jaz.

When they got in the carriage and settled down, Jerome looked at him. "How would you like me to address you?" He always called Liao as Sire since he was a customer at the tavern and a V.I.P. at that.

"Just Liao, my lord." The older smiled, the younger sighed again and eventually smiled.

"Alright, Liao."