Holding a Banquet

By the time Luo Ge picked up his two younger sisters from school and returned to the base with Roxy, it was already dark.

Lilia was standing at the entrance of the base, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

She was dressed in a neat maid outfit, her attire quite simple.

The moment Lilia saw Luo Ge, her eyes lit up, and she immediately greeted him respectfully, "Welcome back, Master Luo Ge, and Miss Roxy too..."

"Yes, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Luo Ge smiled at her.

Afterwards, Lilia led Luo Ge, Roxy, Aisha, and Norn into the inner room.

A delicious aroma could be smelled from afar. The dining table in the room was piled high with ale, bread, and a pot of stew.

The most eye-catching item was even two grilled pufferfish, golden brown and placed on a plate, their skin slightly charred and steaming.

The moment Luo Ge saw the pufferfish, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

Um...

Pufferfish... delicious... hehe.

Luo Ge secretly shifted his gaze from the pufferfish and then noticed the people gathered there.

It wasn't just Paul and Lilia; there was also Elinalise, Talhand, Nanahoshi... and the only two women left in the search and rescue team.

Vierra and Shirra, the two sisters.

Vierra was holding her younger sister's hand, while her sister, Shirra, didn't dare to look up, giving the impression of extreme social anxiety.

Luo Ge withdrew his gaze, then nodded to the few people he knew and greeted them.

Then he and Roxy took their seats.

Everyone had finally arrived, but no one rushed to start eating.

Because Paul suddenly stood up at that moment, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated...

Then.

Everyone turned to look at Paul, Paul glanced around at everyone present, his eyes finally filled with gratitude.

"Everyone!"

Paul cleared his throat.

You've worked hard during this time.

"Elinalise, Talhand, thank you for putting aside past grievances and coming all this way to help our family."

Elinalise held a wine glass.

Hearing this, he pursed his lips, snorted, and didn't reply.

Talhand was quite straightforward, nodding to Paul in a very frank manner.

"... And Lilia, you've worked so hard these past few days too. While I'm busy outside every day, you've been taking care of this family and helping to look after Norn and Aisha..."

"Vierra, Shirra... and all of you, I, Paul, am equally grateful for your willingness to stay and assist me."

"Miss Nanahoshi..."

Paul expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone present.

... Apart from Elinalise at the very beginning, who seemed to have a problem with Paul, was ungrateful, and turned her head away pretending to look out the window.

Everyone else raised their glasses in response.

After completing the final circle and thanking everyone present, the group realized that the main event was about to begin.

Paul strolled leisurely over to Luo Ge, raising his glass with a complex expression.

"Luo Ge..."

"The last person I want to thank is actually you. Compared to someone as wonderful as you, I, as an incompetent father, am a complete failure."

"Since the Mass Teleportation... thanks to you, Lilia, Aisha, and their daughter were able to return safely..."

"Not only that, you also risked your life to go to the Demon Continent and bring back news that Zenith is still alive..."

He paused, his eyes reddening, his voice choked with emotion, "I'm sorry... Luo Ge."

"I've done nothing... I'm such a useless father."

"Luo Ge!"

I'm so proud of you!!!

Although Luo Ge felt that Paul's emotional words were a bit cheesy in front of so many people, he did not interrupt him or embarrass Paul.

After waiting for Paul to finish speaking for a full half minute, Luo Ge silently raised his glass, downed it in one gulp.

Luo Ge exchanged a knowing glance with Paul. Though he said nothing, it was as if he said everything.

Paul nodded to Luo Ge and then returned to his seat, still standing.

He looked around, his gaze settling on the crowd.

"Three years have passed since the Mass Teleportation. Everyone has returned, but my wife Zenith is still not back."

"Next... I will head to Begaritt to find my wife."

"I am so grateful to everyone here for staying and continuing to help me. I, Paul, will never forget your kindness."

After Paul expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone present, he finally took his seat.

Immediately afterwards...

Someone shouted, "I'm going to start eating!" and everyone picked up the cutlery on the table and began to eat.

The banquet was very lively and lasted until late into the night.

After a satisfying meal, Paul discussed with everyone the specific departure time and things to be aware of during the journey.

After all, traveling to Begaritt is no easy task. Not to mention that it is thousands of miles away from the Millis Continent, a long journey.

The danger level of the Begaritt Continent is second only to that of the Demon Continent.

However.

Luo Ge didn't take it to heart.

He's already conquered the Demon Continent, so how could the mere Begaritt Continent possibly be a challenge for him, especially with so many people here this time?

As the banquet drew to a close and everyone left one by one, there were only a few people left.

"Hmm, Luo Ge..."

Ms. Roxy, slightly drunk, approached Luo Ge and called out his name.

"Teacher?"

"What's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you... Could you... could you take me back to my room?"

Roxy, her face flushed, said drunkenly.

"Of course, no problem!"

"Teacher!"

Luo Ge patted his chest, his face full of assurance.

Just as Luo Ge was about to take Roxy back to the second floor of the hotel.

After entrusting Norn and Aisha to Lilia's care, Paul went to find Luo Ge alone.

He pulled Luo Ge aside, Paul asking with a gossipy look, "Hey, Luo Ge... what's going on between you and Roxy?"

"What's going on? What happened between me and Teacher Roxy?"

Luo Ge waved his hand, looking innocent.

Paul, speaking with the air of someone who'd been there all along, nudged him with his elbow. "Hmph, stop pretending. Ever since you came back that day, you and Roxy have gotten even closer."

"Hehehe, you two must have been up to something secretly, right?"

"Hello!"

"Don't talk nonsense, my relationship with the teacher is completely innocent."

"Heh, so you had a litter of innocent babies, right?... Roxy's eyes are different today. Confess honestly, have you two already... you know what?"

"What?"

"They've gone to bed."

"..."

Luo Ge's lips twitched.

Paul was just solemnly thanking everyone at the table, but he's like this in private.

Besides those things in bed, is there nothing else on your mind? For example, is it possible that you and Teacher Roxy only admire each other on a spiritual level?

"Old Deng, you've had too much to drink tonight, haven't you?"

"Cough cough, have I had too much to drink?"

I am perfectly sober!

Paul lowered his voice and glanced at Roxy.

Roxy was leaning against the wall, her cheeks flushed, her hat brim askew, her eyes a little unfocused, but her gaze remained fixed on this side.

"Look at her, Roxy's eyes haven't left you once. And you still dare to say nothing happened?"

Nothing really happened.

"Then what are you feeling guilty about?"

I have nothing to hide.

"No, you brat, you're just feeling guilty."

A black line flashed across Luo Ge's forehead. The way Paul had been holding him tonight clearly indicated that he wouldn't let him leave until he explained his memories clearly.

Luo Ge glanced at Lilia, who was not far away, for help, but even Lilia didn't come to stop him. Instead, she stood aside and watched the drama unfold with great interest.

Faced with their gossipy curiosity, Luo Ge felt utterly helpless and exhausted; he was truly at his wit's end.

"Hello!"

"Seriously, Luo Ge, I don't care what happened between you and Roxy, but you're still a minor this year. Be careful not to cause a death."

"..."

Luo Ge frowned, but continued to endure.

"If you choose Roxy... what about Nanahoshi?"

"Nanahoshi?"

"Why are you bringing her up again? Haven't I already explained everything clearly and plainly? My relationship with Nanahoshi is just a simple business partnership, purely platonic..."

"Is it just pure friendship???"

Paul looked on with suspicion, muttering to himself, clearly not believing what he was being told.

In his view, there is no such thing as pure friendship between men and women... they are all just excuses.

"Luo Ge..."

Luo Ge looked up and saw Roxy staggering over, her face slightly tipsy.

"What are you talking about? I think I heard the Nanahoshi..."

"Uh, it's nothing!"

Luo Ge glared at Paul, warning him not to talk nonsense, before leaving with Roxy.

Watching Luo Ge lead Roxy away, their figures receding into the distance, Paul immediately lit up with a look of satisfaction.

Although Paul felt a little disappointed that Luo Ge hadn't managed to capture Nanahoshi, he was also somewhat relieved that Luo Ge had finally figured things out.

There was a time when he thought his son would spend his entire life clutching his sword.

Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better.

That brat Luo Ge has finally grown up!!!