Alex's Troubles

There were quite a few upscale restaurants along Tulip Avenue, and Starlight Restaurant was one of them.

Andres had originally intended to pick any upscale restaurant nearby, but Alex had recommended this place.

Andres and his family arrived at Starlight Restaurant by carriage. The moment they entered, a neatly dressed waiter came forward to greet them.

"Welcome, honored guests!"

Led by the waiter, Andres and his family took seats in a quiet corner of the main hall.

It was Raul and Helen's first time in a place like this, and they seemed somewhat restrained. Before leaving home, the couple had even dug out and changed into their finest clothes.

Alex was a little better, but his gaze kept sweeping across the hall and the entrance, as though he were waiting for and searching for something.

The restaurant was exquisitely arranged. Although there were many tables in the hall, their placement and spacing were just right. Every table had its own measure of privacy, and the diners did not disturb one another too much.

Soft light filled the restaurant. Countless gemstones were set into the deep blue ceiling, glittering like stars in the night sky.

Soothing, elegant music drifted through the restaurant, performed live by a highly skilled band.

"What would you like to order, sir?" The waiter handed Andres a menu.

Andres passed the menu to Raul. "Father, Mother, you order. Get whatever you like."

Raul took the menu, and Helen leaned over as the two of them looked through it.

"Gasp!"

They both sucked in a sharp breath.

Helen whispered to Andres, "Son, the dishes here are far too expensive! Even the cheapest one costs thirty gold coins. That's enough for our family to eat well for several months!"

Raul added, "I think we should find another place."

The old couple had lived frugally for too long and could not accept such spending.

Although the Mitchell Family was far better off now than when Andres had been young, they still could not be considered wealthy.

They could afford a few dozen gold coins, but they would never spend them on a single meal.

Andres smiled and reassured them. "Father, Mother, don't worry. Our family is different now. It's only one meal, so don't overthink it."

Raul and Helen still looked uneasy. Raul asked, "Andres, what exactly happened?"

Seeing his parents' expressions, Andres knew they would not be at ease unless he explained something.

After thinking it over, he knew Raul and Helen would not understand things like Treating Light as Heavy or momentum, so he decided to put it more plainly.

"Father, Mother, I'm already a Level Eight Warrior. I could be granted the title of marquis and given a fief at any time. Do you think our family still needs to worry about the cost of one meal?"

"A Level Eight Warrior?"

Raul, Helen, and Alex were all stunned.

"Brother, is that true?"

"Of course. Why would I lie to you about something like this?" Andres said. "So, Father, Mother, order whatever you want."

"This... this is truly..." Raul was so excited that he could barely speak.

Originally, he had thought that Andres becoming a Level Seven Warrior was already heaven's blessing. He had not dared hope for another breakthrough, yet only a few years later, Andres had given him another surprise.

"A marquis! That means a true noble lord!" Raul was so excited he could not close his mouth. "Haha, then I won't hold back!"

"This one, this one, I want this one too. Ah, and I'd like to try this as well..."

After they had finished ordering, the waiter collected the menu, bowed to them, and left.

Raul's eyes shone as he surveyed the entire restaurant. It was mealtime, and Starlight Restaurant had many guests. Quite a few of them were prominent figures in the Oga Kingdom.

The shock on Raul's face deepened.

"Look, that's Count Keen! Ah, Count Haig too. Even Marquis Roman is here!"

Raul exclaimed repeatedly, then whispered to Andres and the others, "It truly is an upscale restaurant. The last time I saw this many important people was at His Majesty the King's three-hundredth birthday celebration."

The current king of the Oga Kingdom was already over three hundred years old and nearing the end of his life.

In the Coiling Dragon World, ordinary members of the Human Race lived for a little over a hundred years. As one's strength increased, one's lifespan also grew, but unless one reached the Saint Domain, even a Level Nine Expert could only live five hundred years.

The current king of the Oga Kingdom was a Level Seven Warrior, so his lifespan was only around three hundred years.

A few years ago, the king's three-hundredth birthday celebration had been exceptionally grand, with all of Oga City celebrating.

Alex was also watching the people in the restaurant, but unlike Raul, he seemed to have a target in mind, his eyes continuously searching.

Andres had long noticed Alex's expression and could not help asking, "Second Brother, are you looking for someone?"

"Huh? No, I'm not." Alex was startled by Andres's question and hurriedly denied it.

How could Andres fail to see that his younger brother was lying? Still, he did not expose him.

Then he remembered that Alex had been the one to recommend Starlight Restaurant. He became even more certain that Alex had another purpose in coming here.

Just then, the restaurant doors opened again, and someone entered.

Andres noticed Alex's eyes go wide at once, staring fixedly toward the entrance.

Curious, he turned to look and saw a beautiful young woman in a white velvet dress entering the restaurant. She appeared to be around twenty years old, with lovely features and skin as smooth as jade.

The moment she entered, a waiter immediately stepped forward and led her into a private room in a quiet part of the restaurant.

Andres turned back and found that Alex's gaze was still following the woman. Even after she had entered the private room, he continued staring blankly in that direction.

"Second Brother, do you like her?" Andres asked directly.

"Huh?" Alex snapped back to his senses, and his face immediately reddened.

That reaction was practically an admission.

Raul and Helen both smiled so broadly their eyes seemed to fly upward.

They had always worried about their eldest son's marriage, yet after all that worrying, nothing had come of it. Now their younger son had given them a surprise.

"Which family is she from?" Helen stared at Alex with shining eyes.

Under the gaze of his parents and older brother, Alex knew he could no longer hide it. He confessed, "Her name is Aniya Daniel. She's Marquis Daniel's daughter."

Marquis Daniel?

Andres's heart stirred. Wasn't that the elderly nobleman who had participated in the battle at Black Mountain City?

Marquis Daniel was a Level Eight Warrior. On the battlefield, he and Inori's older brother Mars had fought Zhuo Ge of the Beastmen.

After Resior died, Zhuo Ge had successfully retreated. Marquis Daniel and Mars had been unable to stop him.

Andres had not expected Alex's beloved to be Marquis Daniel's daughter.

"Alex, you actually know Marquis Daniel's daughter! Marquis Daniel is a Level Eight Warrior!" Raul said in surprise.

Alex's expression darkened, and he revealed a helpless smile. "How could I possibly know someone so noble? I only happened to see her once by chance, and I fell for her."