"You don't know, you say..."

Everyone turned speechless at Juliet's display of innocence, wry smiles lifted on their faces.

Zieve awkwardly scratched his cheek and said, "Well, let's forget about that for now, shall we? Didn't we say that we'll brainstorm some ideas with you? Let's continue doing that and hopefully we can procure some methods to counter them."

"That's right, as long as we're willing we can definitely find a way..."

Juliet's crew encourage her to pressed on and a smile spread on the young girl's cheeks. Turning towards them, she said.

"Actually, the rumors spreading about us mortal ingredients isn't true but it will soon come true..." Juliet sighed and her employees' eyes widened in shock, Zieve made the same expression as epiphany struck him.

"Could it be that you're planning on using mortal ingredients in the next batch of supplies? Why would you do that, that's equivalent to destroying our reputation and credibility..." Zieve's tone was full of disappointment and the employees wore complicated expressions on their faces.

"Calm down, Zieve, I don't think that Juliet will do such a thing without proper considerations..." A male crew member whose demeanor looked cool and composed interjected, diffusing the tense atmosphere as everyone turned to look at Juliet with hopeful expressions.

Juliet clapped her hands together, her sweet smile intensified and she declared, "About that, I hope that everyone can help me find some ideas on how we can make do with mortal ingredients..."

"Wait a minute..." Zieve facepalmed while his hand gestured for Juliet to stop, "Are you saying that you also don't have an idea on how we could make do with mortal ingredients? Then, why did you order those for our next batch of supplies?!"

His expression turned dark and Juliet puffed her cheeks in indignance, "Why are you shouting? I'm just here in front of you, can't you keep your composure?"

"Keep your composure, my ass! You made such an arbitrary decision and you don't have any idea on how we'll proceed using it. How can I be calm!" Zieve retorted and Juliet's puffed cheeks turned red. Her dignified expression disappeared and tears seeped out of her eyelids.

"Zieve...You made her cry..."

"Zieve, you bastard...You better console her or else..."

The crew members behind Zieve cracked their knuckles and stretched their necks in a domineering fashion.

Zieve's countenance turned pale and he staggered backward as he faced the brunt assault of Juliet's crew members. Waving his hands in innocence, he said, "You guys should be the one to calm down! Violence has no part in a civilized discussion!"

Zieve ran towards the exit, but a crew member blocked his way with a vicious expression on his face. Seeing such sights, Juliet's teary expression changed into laughter as she said, "Zieve, that should tell you that you shouldn't blatantly bully me in front of my friends..." She stuck her tongue out and Zieve felt shivers down his spine.

Juliet already knew how to use her innocence to her advantage and gain the support of the crowd. Possessing such a cunning mind, Zieve wondered about Juliet's family as a bitter smile spread on his face.

"The members and the little owner of the Juliet's Dreamy House sure is lively. Are you guys really that confident that you can stand back up before our presence?" A composed voice echoed from behind the door.

Everyone's figure trembled and they slowly stared at the door. Traces of Spiritual Energy brewed and Zieve acted quick. Manifesting a barrier of defense, a beam of light pierced through the door and struck the barrier as each and every furniture inside the Dreamy House were blasted into smithereens.

"Who's there?!" Zieve fiercely howled in anger and Spiritual Energy filled the Dreamy House. Juliet's crew members seethed in fury.

"Oops, I'm sorry about that, It's just the door was blocking my way so I had to destroy it..." The same voice of a young man echoed out and that young man appeared before everyone's eyes. When they saw the young man's appearance. Everyone reeled in shock and inhibited their Spiritual Energies.

"The Third Prince of the Duterte Imperial Clan, Rodger Duterte?" Zieve whispered under his breath and Juliet who heard his words frowned in displeasure. Crossing her arms, she stared at Rodger and said.

"To think that the Third Prince of the Imperial Clan would be so rude as to destroy the doors of their fellow disciples. Are you not afraid of the consequences for doing such an arbitrary decision?" Juliet's lifted eyebrows and the fierce lights within her eyes astonished the Third Prince as he thought over her words.

If he didn't give any proper explanations for his actions, that would mean that he's challenging the authority of the Paradyne Academy which would serve as Juliet's counter-attack.

"Interesting, I only did it to probe but to think that this little owner of this Juliet's Dreamy House would actually have such a precocious mind." He shook his head, "What a pity, in the end, there's no way that a small child like her could possibly stand up against the influence of the Imperial Clan."

Keeping his disdaining facade, Rodger lightly smiled and said, "Why would I dare to challenge the Academy's authority? And also, these destruction should be fine if I paid for it, right?" He flicked his sleeve, sending a bag at Zieve's direction that the latter received in reflex.

The bag contained a vast amount of Spirit Stones that each and everyone of them never saw in their entire life until now. Normally, they would be delighted, but seeing that it came from their enemy. Their expressions turned sour and Zieve said with a foreboding voice.

"Are you spiting us?"

Rodger shook his head and nonchalantly said, "Of course not, it's just right that I pay for the damages that I did, right? Who knows when you guys could afford those furnitures again..."

His words sent clamor throughout the entire crew and Spiritual Energy filled the air once again. Juliet knitted her eyebrows, "Glorious Third Prince, mind if you tell us your business? I don't think that you only came here to show off your wealth. If that's the case, we won't entertain you any longer, since we're quite busy unlike you..."

Rodger's expression brightened in amusement, "Busy?" He swept his gaze over the empty restaurant, "I can't really see what's making you busy here..."

Zieve couldn't finally take it anymore and exploded with anger, his sword flashed in the air but before he could attack, Juliet blocked his way with her palm.

"Stop it, Zieve. If you attacked him, he would take that as a declaration of war. Once that happens, he will become more proactive in attacking us, given that he has acquired a so-called reason for his actions..." Juliet warned and Zieve's figure trembled in realization. His Spiritual Energy dissipated along with the crew members upon hearing Juliet's words.

"Hahaha," Rodger laughed, taking a nearby chair, he sat down and said, "For a young girl, you have quite the active imagination, right there. Don't worry, I'm not looking for a fight; I just came here to negotiatie some matters."

He placed both of his hands on the table and continued: "Each and everyone of your members possessed qualities that every establishment requires for their employees. Given that they're so talented, It would be a waste if they stayed and rot in here..."

His words were sharp and contrasted his calm tone. Juliet's expression darkened and Zieve along with the crew members behind him seethed in anger. A warrior may die but never humiliated.

"So the Third Prince came here to poach my crew members?" Juliet asked in a cold and indifferent tone, something that contrasted her small and adorable appearance. Right now, Juliet was in her business mode, mimicking her mother's actions according to her memories.

"Poach? There's no need to use such words. It should be called as an invitation..." Rodger turned to look at Juliet's crew members.

"Salary is five times more than what Juliet's Dreamy House is offering, free lodging and food, and as long as you do well, you can be promoted and become a branch manager. Potentially earning five digits of Spirit Stones in a single day...How about it?"

Zieve and the crew members expression flickered. It would be a lie if they said that the Third Prince's offers didn't tempt them. Making a sidelong glance at Juliet, a male crew member bitterly smiled and stepped towards the Third Prince's side.

"I will remember all of my debts towards the Dreamy House. However, I hope that everyone can respect my decision. I'm just someone insignificant with no hopes of ascending on the road of martial arts. In my life, I only desire to live comfortably and unfettered..."

Rodger revealed a small smile on his face as he tapped the shoulder of the crew member who changed sides.

"You made the right decision, and I will make sure that your life will be comfortable from now on..." He glanced at the other crew members and said, "Who's next? Don't hesitate, it's your future that we're talking about. Are you really sure that such a young girl like her could provide your needs in the long term?"

His words froze Juliet's crew members and they realized that their dream of standing on the top of all establishments in the Empire would only be a pipe dream if they keep on following Juliet whose experience of the world couldn't possibly compare to the Third Prince.

Expressing their apologies, Juliet's crew members changed sides one after another, until only Zieve, the head chef was left.

"You guys..." Zieve clenched his fists in indignance as he swept his gaze over the crew members whom he shared stories and laughters with. He didn't expect that they would be so fickle as to directly change sides in front of Juliet without thinking about the debts that they owe her.

"I'm sorry, Zieve. But I just don't think that such a little girl like Juliet could possibly handle managing the Dreamy House. Even now, she can't even think on her own and take responsibility for her actions like a proper owner should do..."

Rodger sneered, he glanced at the cold and indifferent Juliet before extending an offer to Zieve with his hand stretched towards him.

"How about you? The Head Chef of Juliet's Dreamy House. Your talent will be wasted if you stayed in this joke of a restaurant. I believe that us, the Duterte General Merchandise can make your talent bloom and make your name resound throughout the entire Empire."

Juliet who remained silent all this while finally moved her eyes and made a sidelong lance at Zieve. Even though her crew members left her one after another, she still maintained her business facade and never let her emotions overwhelm her actions.

Zieve felt Juliet's gaze and glanced at her. He saw her cold expression, and also. The slight trembling of her knees.

Gnashing his teeth, Zieve fiercely glared at Rodger and the former crew members of the Dreamy House. His cultivation base rotated and everyone, including Rodger was taken aback as they flew outside, landing roughly on the snow with astonished expressions on their faces.

"Remember my words, we may have fallen today but we will surely rise again. That would be the moment when you realized how foolish your decisions were..." Zieve proudly declared before dragging Juliet at her residence, just behind the Dreamy House.

Rodger wiped the snow off her clothes, his indifferent expression soon changed into a venomous one as he engraved Zieve's words in his mind. Turning around to leave with his newly-acquired crew members, he mumbled under his breath.

"Zieve, I gave you the path to heaven but you chose to walk on the path to hell...Don't blame me if something happens to you, or to that little owner of yours..."