The Banquet Begins

Just as Black was trying to figure things out.

Eliyas made an even more surprising move.

He picked up two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter’s tray and walked straight towards Black.

‘No way.’

Black felt that things were about to go south.

‘Could this morning’s events really have given him the illusion that we’re two like-minded geniuses?’

Alarm bells went off in his head.

Eliyas was one of the most troublesome and uncontrollable characters in the entire story.

A single small choice of his could cause a huge deviation in the plot.

Black had no idea how to deal with this number one male protagonist.

Eliyas slowly walked up to him and offered him one of the glasses.

His face wore a relatively friendly smile.

“Let’s get acquainted. I’m Eliyas.”

At the same time, he extended his hand to Black.

Black suppressed the doubts in his heart and shook his hand.

His tone remained polite.

“I’ve long heard of your name. I’m Black.”

The moment their hands clasped, Eliyas’s gaze flickered slightly, as if he had sensed something.

“You’re very strong.”

He released his hand and looked directly at Black. His words were flat, yet they carried an unquestionable certainty.

He paused, then added.

“You’re qualified to be my opponent… and my friend.”

This left Black stunned.

It once again went beyond the game’s plot that he knew.

Whether it was in the main storyline or in the side stories related to Jianye, Eliyas had never said such a thing to anyone.

‘What on earth is going on?’

‘Could it be that when a male character catches Eliyas’s attention, it triggers this kind of dialogue?’

He thought to himself.

Eliyas didn’t seem to mind Black’s silence.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the laughing and chatting crowd.

It finally landed on the surrounded Oscar and Aphra.

His tone carried a hint of contempt as he said, looking straight ahead.

“A council of ants. Boring, uninteresting, and useless.”

“You think so too, don’t you?”

Hearing this baffling question, Black was at a loss for words.

After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded and replied.

“Indeed.”

‘Ah, yes, yes, yes, you’re the protagonist, whatever you say is right!’

Seeing Black agree with his point of view so readily.

A genuine smile appeared on Eliyas’s face, though it was very faint.

“Not bad. You’re the first person who dares to agree with me on this. The others…”

“Wouldn’t dare to have the slightest suspicion of insulting the emperor.”

Black’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

‘So that’s how it is?’

‘Damn it!’

‘I wouldn’t have answered if I’d known. Now I’ve made myself stand out even more.’

Eliyas said no more and downed the red wine in his glass in one gulp.

Then he suddenly said.

“Let’s have a fight. You name the time and place.”

This completely threw Black off.

Was he kidding? How could he possibly fight a “Long Aotian” like Eliyas?

After a moment of shock, he decisively refused.

“You jest, sir. I am by no means your match. I dare not overstep.”

Black’s refusal was within Eliyas’s expectations.

He casually placed the empty wine glass on a passing waiter’s tray and threw out a heavy bargaining chip.

“I respect your wishes.”

“How about this: as long as you’re willing to fight me with all your strength, I can agree to any condition you name.”

These words were even more unexpected for Black.

Although he knew that Eliyas, as a proud genius, was keen on finding an opponent who was his equal.

He hadn’t expected him to be willing to make such a promise just for a fight.

That was a very heavy offer.

Black didn’t refuse outright. This condition was indeed worth considering.

He pondered for a moment and replied cautiously.

“If the opportunity arises, I’ll consider it.”

Eliyas seemed satisfied with this answer.

He didn’t press the matter, just waved his hand at Black, turned, and left, leaving only a single sentence.

“I’ll be waiting for your news.”

Watching his retreating figure, Black was lost in thought.

Although the process had been unexpected.

At least for now, it seemed Eliyas held no hostility towards him.

Temporarily putting the matter of Eliyas aside.

Black sipped the red wine in his glass and saw another familiar figure at the banquet.

Brenna.

His cousin was wearing a soft pink formal dress tonight.

The hem of the dress was adorned with fine lace, which made her skin look fair and her temperament gentle.

She had the appearance of a girl from a good family, soft and delicate, and was particularly endearing.

Brenna also saw Black. Her eyes lit up, and she walked over quickly.

She looked Black up and down with a look of admiration.

Tonight, Black was wearing a well-tailored black formal suit.

The material of the suit was fine and had a subtle sheen under the lights. Its straight lines perfectly outlined his tall and straight figure.

It made his already handsome features even more outstanding.

The quietness of the black complemented his calm expression perfectly.

He had less of his usual flippancy and more of an elegance and mystery, making him stand out from the crowd.

“Cousin.”

Brenna’s voice was filled with excitement.

“This suit looks so good on you! It’s beautiful!”

Black smiled and raised his hand, intending to pat her head.

Seeing her carefully styled hair, he pulled his hand back and said warmly.

“You look very beautiful tonight too. My cousin is really growing up and becoming more and more beautiful.”

“You’re no longer the little pipsqueak who used to follow me around, begging for candy.”

“It seems that before long, the threshold of Uncle’s house will be worn down by suitors.”

Being praised so directly, a blush spread across Brenna’s small face, and she shyly lowered her head.

She muttered in a low voice.

“Cousin, don’t tease me.”

Seeing her shyness, Black stopped teasing her.

He then asked, “Why don’t I see that kid Leán?”

Mentioning her brother, Brenna immediately put on an expression of frustration and disappointment.

She pointed to a corner of the banquet hall.

“There, hanging out with his good-for-nothing friends again.”

Black followed her finger and saw Leán sitting on a sofa with several first-year boys.

Although they held wine glasses in their hands and seemed to be sipping wine and chatting, their eyes were wandering, and their minds were clearly not on the wine.

Their gazes, as if drawn by a magnet, constantly darted towards the girls passing by in the hall.

The girls attending the banquet tonight were all dressed in exquisite formal gowns.

All sorts of designs showed off their slender waists, full chests, and smooth arms.

Under the lights, their exposed skin was even more fair and bright.

The young women’s light steps and cheerful laughter all tugged at the heartstrings of these young men who were just beginning to feel the stirrings of love.

It made their eyes glaze over. Occasionally, they would wink at each other and whisper their critiques.

Black watched this scene and couldn’t help but chuckle.

He had also been that age, so he naturally knew what these half-grown boys were thinking.

A banquet, after all, was not just about champagne, dancing, and music. More importantly, it was about this faint, ambiguous atmosphere that filled the air.