Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Aftermath of the Banquet

On the carriage ride back, Lacy leaned against the armrest of the carriage seat, propping up her cheek with her hand. She felt a bit drowsy, not because of physical fatigue, but rather due to mental exhaustion. It was akin to playing an intense and thrilling five-hour online game; now, all she wanted was to go back and get a good sleep.

Closing her eyes for a brief rest, she regained some energy before slowly recalling the events of the banquet. This Adele person really irritated her.

In her previous life, her country had a long-standing tradition of toasting, even if she didn’t drink much herself. She knew that, psychologically, this was actually a test of obedience. If I toast you, you must drink it all to show your submission. Although the customs here were different, Adele’s actions were still a form of testing.

The moment he entered, Adele seized the opportunity with his words, seemingly playful yet stirring the emotions of the young ladies. Then, he quickly retracted his statement, saying it was just a joke. This sudden rise and fall left the girls’ hearts racing like a roller coaster, quickly drawing their attention to him.

Afterwards, his playful banter with Feng Nao broke the initial unfamiliarity, naturally revealing his emotions and personality, reducing their initial wariness.

Then came a sincere conversation, where he expressed his familiarity with Angus before his death, providing motivation for his subsequent offer of help, making it less abrupt. The sudden shift from a playboy image to such seriousness gave a sense of genuine repentance, making it easier to touch people.

Finally, after Lacy thanked him, he proposed another toast, adhering to the simple idea of repaying a favor. If someone agrees to help you and toasts you, it’s only right to reciprocate by drinking. This is an unconscious act; refusing to drink would clearly indicate great caution, while drinking only part of it suggests you’re being cautious and don’t fully trust.

Lacy understood his intentions and drank it all, pretending she wasn’t guarded, believing Adele’s promise.

Recalling the banquet, Lacy couldn’t help but sigh. Adele was truly a master of seduction. With his emotional intelligence, he didn’t need to be so harsh with Feng Nao; it was likely intentional. If he put in full effort, Lacy suspected that the innocent Feng Nao might fall for him within three days.

As for Mereu, although she spoke a lot at the banquet, most of it was routine pleasantries. She never truly took a stance.

Feng Nao was simple, Adele had designs on Lacy or Karithes. Mereu was like a mystery, Fenleton was focused on new wine and making money, showing no interest in anything else. This was Lacy’s summary of the banquet.

—

While Lacy reminisced on the carriage, Adele returned home to his study.

“How was it? Isn’t Miss Lacy from the Karithes family the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen?” A slightly taller youth brought over a glass of hangover soup. He was Wick, an adopted son of the Tisiphone family and considered Adele’s half-brother.

“Wick, I’m telling you, you’ll regret it if you don’t go. Miss Lacy is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh? More beautiful than the Angel Saintess of the Holy Land?” Wick smiled and sat opposite Adele.

“Indeed, I really want to marry her,” Adele openly revealed his desire.

“You can’t be serious, though. We already agreed to partner with the Anemiyi, and Feng Nao is also quite beautiful.”

“You don’t understand. Feng Nao is indeed a beauty, but Miss Lacy… I fear I might miss this chance, and it could be thousands of years before another so beautiful appears.”

“Alright, Adele, seriously, no more joking. Everything has been arranged. Our partnership with Anemiyi is set in stone. Now isn’t the time to back out.”

“I know. The Karithes must be defeated or subjugated, so we can control Hopland, and our organization’s plan can proceed smoothly.”

“Yes, Adele. The Tisiphone family has invested too much already. There’s no turning back now. I hope you won’t be swayed by her beauty.”

“Don’t worry, I understand,” Adele said, massaging his brow.

“But I will apply to the organization for ownership of that girl after victory.” His voice was slow yet firm.

After a moment of silence, Adele asked again.

“How is the Helis family doing recently?”

“They’ve been very low-key lately, with no major moves.”

“Is that so? I always feel they might have discovered something but haven’t said anything.”

“Even if they did discover something, what could they do without solid evidence? They can’t do anything to us for now. Once everything is settled, they won’t be able to move either. Regardless, history will roll over everything. Whether there will be a Helis family in the future remains uncertain.”

Wick spoke softly, his eyes reflecting a fervent ideal under the candlelight.

—

Upon returning home, two days later, news of the northern battlefront reached Vergha, causing widespread panic.

Westwind was the central hub of the Snowfall Seven Kingdoms. If there was civil unrest, many land routes would be cut off, and the sea route would become the safe choice. As a result, the Karithes family received several times more orders and numerous maritime commissions.

Coincidentally, the three fleets of the Karithes Chamber of Commerce—the Swordfish, Trade Wind, and White Bird—were recalled to the Strait of Silent Moon outside Hopland. Hundreds of ships, large and small, with their white sails, were neatly arranged on the sea, rising and falling with the waves.

The Karithes family’s influence reached its peak in Hopland. Invitations poured in from various places, and other large chambers of commerce from Vergha sent greetings and gifts from afar, hoping to establish good relations.

With peace broken, safe sea routes became a necessity. Both merchant ships and warships were in high demand, and the Karithes family became the focus of attention.

Just as Lolan Hill struggled with how to handle the multitude of orders, commissions, and invitations, the nation of Ruerna also dispatched an alchemy team to Hopland to discuss important cooperation projects with the Karithes, specifically the design and construction of steel warships.

~Recommendations appreciated~

~End of Chapter~