The two voices were utterly abrupt, each claiming to be Kael's "best friend" with such conviction that they almost sounded believable.
Kael frowned. Today was his engagement to Amelia—a day he didn't want disrupted by anyone.
"My lord, there are two old men at the gate insisting they're your closest friends and demanding to see you," a guard promptly reported to Jett, whose expression shifted slightly before relaying the message to Kael in a hushed tone.
"My best friends?" Kael's brow furrowed. Since when did he have "best friends" in Laffey City? Finn, the only one he was close to, was already inside the banquet hall!
Reading Kael's expression, Jett quickly deduced the truth—these were likely just troublemakers looking for free food and drink. The audacity to crash a count's engagement banquet!
As Jett prepared to order his men to throw the intruders out, Kael suddenly stopped him. A strange smile tugged at his lips, as if recalling something. **"Let them in,"** he said calmly.
Jett was taken aback but complied, signaling the guards to allow entry.
All eyes in the hall turned toward the entrance, curiosity burning—who would dare claim such a title?
Under the weight of collective scrutiny, two figures swaggered in without a care.
They were unremarkable, even bordering on homely—one with a sharply elongated face, the other short and wiry. Their clothes, while not ragged, were decidedly notnoble attire. Both appeared around fifty years old, strolling in with exaggerated awe, clicking their tongues in admiration like country bumpkins touring the city for the first time.
Yet the moment Finn caught sight of them, his expression darkened. The usually fearless Finn actually flinched, his eyes flickering with unease and wariness.
As for Kael? He simply smirked.
Of course. These two old devils.
These uninvited guests were none other than Vesper and Toms—the two old eccentrics who had been holed up in Flamestar Academy!
Their sudden appearance genuinely surprised Kael. He couldn't help but wonder why these mysterious old men had chosen now of all times to seek him out.
"Hey there, Kael, old pal! Long time no see! How could you not invite your best friend to your engagement?" Vesper plopped into a seat without a care for the bewildered stares around him, grinning shamelessly.
"Bullshit! Since when are you his best friend? Talk about shameless—I'm obviously Kael's closest buddy!" Toms bellowed, completely ignoring the audience as he immediately launched into a heated argument with Vesper.
Kael massaged his temples. Same as ever—utterly brazen, without a shred of shame.
Finn, meanwhile, had been subtly shifting his expression since spotting Vesper and Toms. Clearly, these two had left him with more than a few unpleasant memories.
With the engagement ceremony concluded, some guests began to depart—handled smoothly by Lone Wolf.
"Vesper, Toms, what brings you here?" Amelia, familiar with the pair, greeted them warmly.
"We're here for our best friend's engagement, of course!" Toms declared, slapping his thigh for emphasis. Then, patting his stomach, he added, **"But damn, that journey wore me out. Gotta refuel!"** He promptly seized an entire roast turkey and began shoving it into his mouth, earning a deadpan stare from Kael.
"Absolutely! Priorities first!" Vesper nodded sagely, though his eyes lit up when they landed on Amelia. **"Miss Amelia, I must say—you are peerlessly radiant! Your beauty rivals the stars themselves…"** The flattery poured out effortlessly before he, too, dove into the food, stuffing his face with gusto.
Watching Vesper and Toms devour the banquet like a pair of locusts, Kael seriously considered tossing the old lecher and the swindler out on their ears.
Their complete lack of decorum made him grimace.
But Kael knew better—these two old rogues never played by the rules. Their sudden appearance surely hid ulterior motives.
Their table manners were atrocious. Jett's eye twitched as he muttered, **"My lord, are they truly your friends?"**
Watching them, Kael hatched a plan. He suddenly shook his head. **"Jett, take the guards and throw them out!"**
Let's see how long they keep up this act.
Kael was genuinely irked by their antics.
Though baffled, Jett dared not disobey. He mobilized dozens of guards to expel Vesper and Toms.
"Kael! You'd cast out your best friend?!" Toms wailed, pounding his chest in exaggerated despair.
Vesper, however, didn't complain—though his lecherous gaze kept darting toward female guests, occasionally lighting up with a creepy chuckle.
To Kael's surprise, neither resisted ejection. Even as guards shouted threats or cracked whips, the pair endured it all like docile sheep.
Kael frowned. What's going on? Since when are these two so patient?
Finn was equally puzzled. He might not know Toms well, but Vesper's power was undeniable—unfathomable, even. Yet now, the old man took lashes without protest, like a meek slave!
"Enough! All of you, leave us." Seeing no progress, Kael waved off the guards. The remaining guests, sensing private matters were afoot, promptly took their leave.
"Kael, old friend, you're truly heartless! We traveled thousands of miles just to bless your union with Lady Amelia!" Vesper whined, ignoring the whip marks on his back as if they were nothing.
Yeah, right. Kael scoffed inwardly. I just proposed to Amelia, and you magically appear from Flamestar Academy? That's the lamest excuse ever.
Noticing Kael's skepticism, Vesper chuckled awkwardly, realizing how flimsy his lie sounded. **"Ah, you've misunderstood, my boy! We're actually here with urgent news—something monumental!"**
That piqued Kael's interest. The old men's demeanor was unusually serious. Could they genuinely have critical information?
"Speak." Kael refused to even glance at the lecher.
"No rush, no rush." Vesper winked, gesturing for Kael to dismiss Jett and the others.
Though irritated by Vesper's theatrics, Kael motioned for Jett, Lone Wolf, and the rest to withdraw. Only Amelia and Finn remained—both familiar with the duo and thus exempt from secrecy.
"Heh." Vesper rubbed his hands together. **"Kael, this news will thrill you. In fact, I bet you'll reward me with a few beauties afterward!"**
After another dramatic pause, his tone shifted abruptly: **"But first—let's test your strength!"**
In a flash, Vesper lunged like a meteor, the air cracking in his wake as he closed the distance to Kael.
Kael's nerves tightened. The old coot is attacking me?! This was his first glimpse of Vesper's true power. Finn had warned him, but witnessing it firsthand was another matter.
Vesper's aura now radiated at least level-eight might—possibly even level-nine! Kael couldn't be sure, but the pressure was undeniable.
So the old fox finally drops the act. Kael narrowed his eyes.
Purple lightning erupted around him, his domain flaring to life. Stabilized at mid-level eight after relentless training, Kael met Vesper head-on.
...