Sam snapped back to reality for a fleeting moment, trying to pierce through the foggy veil of intoxication. He blinked, attempting to steady a world that refused to stay in place.
"Pretty lady... I suspect you've been misinformed," he stammered, his voice thick. "In truth, I am but a weak, utterly incompetent servant. Why on earth would someone like you want to hire me?"
Deep down, Sam had no intention of leaving Clara's service. She was a known variable, and his mission to alter her fate was already in motion. Sarah, however, was a void in his memory—a character he simply could not recall from the original narrative.
His usually sharp, analytical mind had regressed into something primal and instinctive. While he knew he shouldn't offend her, his drunken logic whispered that a night with such a beauty was a gift from destiny, a chance for some much-needed revelry.
"That's not an issue for me," Sarah replied, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "I'm not looking for a mere worker. I want a personal servant. And you... you are truly impressive."
Sam let out a goofy laugh, a wide, senseless grin spreading across his face at her praise.
"Impressive? Truly? I've never heard such flattery, my beautiful lady," he slurred, waving a hand dismissively. "If anyone here is impressive, it is undeniably you."
Sarah's cheeks flushed slightly, and she offered a shy, intrigued smile. "Thank you for the compliment."
Sam shook his head vigorously. "It's not a compliment; it's a fact. Look at yourself in a mirror—I haven't even told the full truth.
'Impressive' is a word for commoners like me. Only a god could truly find the words to describe your beauty."
He leaned in, his eyes hazy but fixated on her.
"But truly, my lady... this servant is just a small, useless thing. Someone must have deceived you about my worth. I should thank them, though—their lies are the only reason I get to lay eyes on you right now."
Sam was intentionally laying on the flattery as thick as possible, hoping to make his rejection of her offer less dangerous.
Yet, he wasn't entirely lying.
He genuinely wanted this beauty to stay a while longer; he certainly wasn't going to turn away from such elegance.
In all his life, Sam had remained chaste, never having been close to a woman.
Even if she was eventually going to leave, he wouldn't let her depart feeling disappointed.
Those violet eyes shouldn't have to experience letdown—not on his watch.
If he was "impressive" in her eyes, then he was more than ready to live up to that title.
When Sarah heard Sam's words, she responded with a cold, organized tone:
"News of the competition you entered has already spread to every corner of the Smorguth family... how you insulted Prince Edmund before everyone's eyes. I've also heard some praise regarding you from Monart. I happen to have a very keen eye for evaluating people."
Hearing Sarah's words, Sam's interest piqued, and his grin widened even further.
"My Lady... that was the bare minimum. But since you came to me specifically, let me show you that I am far better than you expect. Look at this."
Sam pulled out the phone Monart had given him. He opened the messaging app and entered his private group—his "Casino."
"My Lady... Monart likely told you he gave me this phone. But I've done something magnificent with it to serve the interests of the Smorguth family."
Sam sat with Sarah Smorguth for a long time, meticulously explaining every detail of his schemes.
He detailed how he had manipulated Rolf and his cronies, his vision for creating a betting club to clean up the "villainess's" mistakes, and how he had systematically dismantled and insulted Edmund.
He laid it all out—from A to Z—sharing his entire roadmap for the coming month, including projected profits and his strategy for selecting the events people would bet on.
He wanted to appear as impressive as possible to her, simply to keep her sitting there with him for as long as he could.
Sarah listened to Sam's drunken ramblings and his boasting with an unreadable expression, as if she were re-analyzing him from scratch to figure out who he truly was.
Sarah Smorguth was none other than the younger sister of the head of the Smorguth family, Florian Smorguth.
At nineteen years old, she was currently a third-year student at the Academy.
She had first heard of Sam, Clara's servant, from Monart.
He had mentioned that this servant was the reason her niece's personality had strengthened, eventually leading her to kick him out.
Sarah's curiosity was piqued, and it only grew when one of her own servants reported the viral news spreading across the internet and the Academy's groups regarding the gaming event that had captured the attention of the entire Smorguth domain.
What was truly unbelievable was that this servant's name had surfaced yet again.
Sarah had decided to test his loyalty by approaching him in person—using her true appearance, which very few people recognized.
She had planned to offer him a position by her side as a loyalty test.
He seemed to be rejecting her politely, but then... he unleashed a flood of secrets and schemes that made her gasp.
It forced her to seriously reconsider bringing him into her fold. This servant was, without a doubt, something extraordinary.
The way he described the events was undeniably authentic; she could see the truth of it through her own supernatural intuition. He wasn't lying.
This man was a truly gifted strategic mastermind.
If she could bring him to her side, she could realistically challenge her brother's leadership and seize control of the Smorguth family.
Sarah exhaled slowly, a captivating smile gracing her lips as she gazed into Sam's eyes.
"Wow, Sam... I truly didn't expect this. You are, quite simply, magnificent."
Like a fool, Sam nodded eagerly, his face beaming. "Thank you, my beautiful lady."
Then, she pressed her fingers against her lips, her gaze turning playful yet piercing. "And tell me, Sam... do you love me?"
At those words, Sam's brain stuttered, stalling for a second before snapping back to reality—but only for a fleeting moment. It wasn't nearly enough to overcome the alcohol. He just wanted, for once in his life, to savor the moment.
"Yes... I love you very much, my beautiful lady. You are the most exquisite woman I have ever met. I wish we could stay together longer... I'd tell you wonderful stories. This servant truly loves you."
Sarah had intended to ask him to be her special personal servant, but her realization of Sam's true potential took over. Surely, someone with his intellect could never be just a lowly servant.
"Who are you? What is your past?" she asked.
Sam inhaled deeply, tracing a circle on the table with his finger, a lingering smile on his face. "My lady... this person is just an orphaned stray. Don't pay it any mind. How about we go for a walk together?"
His words only deepened her curiosity, but she suppressed it, reaching for her final, ultimate request.
"Sam... how about this? I will give you everything you desire—wealth, fame, even beautiful women. Become my Strategic Advisor. Let us achieve greatness together."
Hearing this, Sam couldn't restrain himself. "Alright, my beautiful lady. I have no problem with that."
Suddenly, out of literal thin air, a holographic window erupted before Sam's eyes:
[Congratulations to the Host! "Sarah Smorguth" has been appointed as a 'Master' in the Pivotal Servant System. Your daily rewards will now be calculated at this exact time every day, based on the Master's satisfaction.]