Chapter 51: Banquet Hall
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After Kevin took the letter, he merely glanced at the signature on it and threw it into his bag without opening it. Instead, he broke out in sweat hearing what had happened, and in his heart, he cursed the lanky man [Note: in the raw text it was written as “fatty”, but after revising, the author was talking about the lanky middle-aged man who had approached Lin Li for a favor in the previous chapter] over and over. Reward handsomely after it’s done? Mage Kevin’s assistant? Kudos to him for coming up with that. Letting this kind of demon become my assistant…
The two talked for a little while and were about to enter the banquet hall when they were recognized by the eagle-eyed Castellan.
“Good evening, Mage Kevin!” The smile on Isaac’s face was cordial. After greeting Kevin, he was slightly befuddled. “Why didn’t President Gerian come?”
“I’m really sorry, Master Castellan. Something has cropped up in the guild and requires President Gerian to deal with it. He’s unable to make it for the banquet today.”
“Then that’s too bad.” The Castellan’s expression was pained, but in his heart, he was secretly delighted. He would not have to address the old fellow awkwardly as Uncle Gerian now that he was not here. After returning from the Guild of Magic, Isaac felt regretful countless times. He could have talked about any other things, but he had to mention that his father had met Gerian before. This was like digging his own grave…
When Isaac’s eyes fell on Lin Li, his brows were slightly furrowed. The Robe of Wrath was simply too old. Isaac furrowed his brows not because he thought Lin Li’s appearance was shabby, but because he thought the young man seemed to have little respect for him. After all, this was a banquet hosted by the Castellan of Jarrosus City. People who attended the party should dress themselves decently. It seemed a little too casual coming to a dinner in an old mage robe like what the young mage was wearing.
But Isaac was, after all, a man of high rank as a castellan. Even though he was slightly unhappy, he still displayed a warm and gentle smile on his face.
“And this is…”
“This is Mage Felic from the guild.”
“…” The smile stiffened on the Castellan’s face. Felic of the Guild of Magic had been a legendary figure in Jarrosus ever since the battle between Gerian and Old Merlin. Even though Isaac was the castellan, he had never thought Felic would come to this banquet in person. He did not even imagine that the legendary potion master, who alone supplied the million gold coin auction, would be a young mage who looked no more than 20 years old wearing an old mage robe.
However, Isaac was a staid person. Although his heart was pounding, he managed to keep his emotions in control. His smile froze for a moment, and then he held out his hand amicably. “Welcome, welcome. I’ve never expected to have such a distinguished guest like Mage Felic.”
“You flatter me, Master Castellan.”
Isaac was so excited that he could no longer spare the effort to attend to the other guests. He warmly escorted the two of them into the banquet hall while at the same time expressing his admiration for Lin Li.
The other guests were slightly further away and so they were unable to hear Kevin’s introduction. Although they found Isaac to be overly enthusiastic, they did not take it to heart. They merely thought that the Castellan was like themselves, hoping to befriend the Guild of Magic, and hence regarded the two young mages sent by the Guild of Magic as important.
The Castellan Mansion had evidently put in a great deal of effort for this banquet.
The spacious banquet hall was bright as day, illuminated by 12 crystal chandeliers. The floor was covered with a thick red carpet, and looked especially gorgeous under the crystal chandeliers. Lin Li entered the hall and felt as if the surroundings were basked in magnificence and filled with a luxurious aura. From time to time, handsome young waiters carrying trays of wine ambled through the hall, and beautiful waitress fluttered between the tables like butterflies.
Lin Li was somewhat unaccustomed to it, attending a banquet like this for the first time. Besides, he had no acquaintances at the banquet. He talked to the Castellan with a prudent look on his face, but it was mostly about unimportant matters.
Matters such as he had left in a hurry at the last auction and didn’t have the time to say hello to Mage Felic, and that he was sorry about it…
Or that Mage Felic was so young but his attainments in pharmaceutics were so advanced, making Lin Li’s head turn as big as a bucket. But he could not tell Isaac that he had smashed in countless gold coins and a Scroll of Wishes to attain his status as a guru of all five series. It was money that paved the way. You could do it as well if you had the money…
In addition, guests would approach from time to time to greet them, either asking the Castellan to discuss some confidential matters or trying to befriend the Guild of Magic. Lin Li gradually became bored, so he made up an excuse to leave, took a glass of red wine from a waitress, and went to hide in a secluded corner.
After he had withdrawn himself from the banquet and hid in the secluded corner, he found some interest in observing the company of guests.
The majority of the guests were distinguished personages of Jarrosus. Apart from the 17 forces, there were many rich businessmen and celebrities. The men and women were all dressed to the nines, fluttering about in the banquet hall like butterflies. It looked an extremely lively scene.
Among them, the 17 forces were obviously the main characters of the banquet.
For example, the previous owner of the deep silver necklace, the patriarch of the Rolin Family, was present at the banquet as well. When Lin Li spotted him, he was already surrounded by at least five or six guests blatantly flattering him.
And Mr Anthony Rolin seemed to enjoy the feeling. He was talking incessantly and eloquently in front of the guests with a triumphant expression on his face. Lin Li had not recognized him at first glance—he was nothing like the jittery patriarch of the Rolin Family who had asked Gerian for an evaluation the previous day.
He shifted his gaze away from Mr Anthony and saw someone he knew entering the banquet hall.
It was the redheaded beauty he saw at Ina’s place!
Lin Li’s eyes widened as soon as he saw the fiery long hair. He never thought that he would see this woman at the banquet in the Castellan Mansion.
And this redheaded beauty looked as if she was close to the Castellan. Upon entering the hall, she took Isaac’s arm affectionately with a coquettish look on her face. Isaac seemed to be very fond of her as well, his expression kind and loving, just like how Gerian had looked at Lin Li in the beginning.
Seeing the scene made Lin Li even more confused.
McGrenn and his daughter could be said to be the lowest level of adventurers, and a reward of a dozen gold coins was sufficient for them to risk their lives in the Sunset Mountains. The relationship between the redheaded beauty and the Castellan was not at all shallow, and they most likely shared some family relations. Their statuses were far apart from each other, so how did she know McGrenn and his daughter?
As he was still puzzling over it, he suddenly saw Isaac along with the redheaded beauty coming in the direction of where he was sitting.
In that instant, Lin Li hesitated; to be honest, he wasn’t keen on seeing this Rowling woman.
Unfortunately, regardless of how much he was reluctant to see her, the Castellan brought her to him.
As she got closer, Rowling saw Lin Li in the corner too. She was again reminded of what happened at Ina’s place, and embarrassment could at once be seen on her pretty face.
“Mr Felic, why are you sitting here alone? Are you blaming Isaac for the poor reception?”