"Mayor, I've made my choice."
Lancelot handed the communicator back to Secretary Andy.
"Oh? That quickly? Let me see what you picked."
"Twenty bottles of Vitality Elixir and two bottles of Light of Revival. That's all?"
Kaidiwen looked at Lancelot in surprise.
"Mayor, as you know, my ability lets me quickly absorb the nutrients in potions," Lancelot explained.
"All right, in that case, we'll go with your choice. I'll have someone deliver these potions to the special training camp as soon as possible." Mayor Kaidiwen waved a hand, looking quite generous.
The two chatted for a while longer before Lancelot said he wanted to return to the special training camp and make the most of his time training. Kaidiwen then had his driver take Lancelot back.
At the entrance to the sports center, Grove and Gerard craned their necks, looking out for something.
Earlier, Grove had shamelessly called Director Stead and learned from him that Lancelot was returning to the special training camp from the city government building in Deputy Mayor Kaidiwen's car. He had come here specifically to wait for him.
"Father, when you see Second Brother, you must sincerely admit you were wrong. It would be best if you cried. Lancelot will surely soften, and then I'll strike while the iron is hot and put in a few good words. Everything that happened before will naturally be water under the bridge." Gerard offered Grove advice like a scheming lackey.
Before long, a black hovercar slowly approached. Grove recognized Deputy Mayor Kaidiwen's car at a glance from its distinctive license plate. He could not help being shocked by Lancelot's current status, and at the same time, he became even more determined to mend their father-son relationship.
The two hurried forward to meet him.
Inside the car, Lancelot also noticed Grove and Gerard. His eyes betrayed no emotion, as if he were looking at two strangers.
"Sorry to trouble you, but could you stop them for me?" Lancelot said to the driver, subtly conveying a message at the same time.
I barely know these two.
The driver immediately understood and replied with a smile, "No problem. They're just two ordinary people."
The car stopped, and Lancelot got out. Gerard ran toward him, shouting, "Second Brother!"
Lancelot, however, did not so much as glance at them. He strode into the gymnasium, his figure gradually disappearing into the crowd.
Grove and Gerard still wanted to pursue him, but just then, a tall man in black with a cold expression stepped in front of the father and son.
"Gentlemen, Lancelot doesn't want to see you. Could you please stop bothering him?"
"Who are you? This is a family matter. Stay out of it!" As he spoke, Gerard tried to push the driver aside.
But how could someone who served as Deputy Mayor Kaidiwen's driver be an ordinary person?
With a slight shake of his arm, he sent Gerard staggering backward until he fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Grove's face turned alternately pale and livid, but he did not dare step forward.
For one thing, he could not beat this man.
For another, how could he afford to offend the deputy mayor's driver?
In the end, the two had no choice but to slink away under the driver's cold, mocking gaze.
After they left, the driver took out his communicator and called Kaidiwen.
"Mayor, it's confirmed. Lancelot doesn't care about his original family. I've seen that look before."
"Oh? Is that so? I understand!"
Kaidiwen ended the call, looked at Secretary Andy beside him, and nodded slightly.
Andy naturally understood what to do, took out a communicator, and called Director Stead.
"Hmph, that unfilial son! To think he'd be so heartless. All those years raising him were wasted!"
On their way back, Grove complained indignantly. Gerard's expression was also sour, and his earlier confidence had vanished.
Lancelot had changed too much. He would not even look at him or their father.
"Father, we can't give up. Since the soft approach didn't work, we'll have to use a hard one."
A ruthless look flashed in Gerard's eyes.
"What do you mean?" Grove frowned. "He's an ability user. Can you force him to do something he doesn't want to?"
"Of course I don't mean using force. I mean using his reputation to pressure him," Gerard explained. "Second Brother has A-grade potential and will definitely take the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination in the future. I looked into it, and every supernatural school conducts background checks when admitting students. We only need to use that as a threat, and he'll have no choice but to submit."
"You mean ruin Lancelot's reputation?" Grove's eyes lit up.
"Yes. We just need to spread the word that after Lancelot became an ability user, he abandoned his original family, looked down on his own relatives, and was ungrateful and selfish..."
"His status naturally puts him at the center of public attention. Once we spread the word, the major media outlets in Leite City will rush to report on it."
"Heh, when that happens, Lancelot will definitely come to us to mend the relationship. Then we can take the opportunity to back down and step forward to help him suppress public opinion. Everyone will be happy!"
Grove looked at his eldest son in surprise.
Who on earth did you learn to be so full of wicked schemes from?
Even so, Gerard's plan made Grove feel as though he could see hope.
"That's what we'll do!"
No sooner had he spoken than the communicator in his pocket vibrated. Grove looked at it and saw that it was Director Stead.
He hurriedly answered, but just as he was about to say something, Director Stead said coldly, "Grove, in view of your dereliction of duty at work, which caused considerable losses, your request for promotion has been denied."
"Also, don't do anything stupid. Don't cause Lancelot any trouble. The government's higher-ups attach great importance to this Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination.
"If you don't know what's good for you, hmph..."
Having said that, Director Stead gave Grove no chance to speak and hung up immediately.
Grove stood there in disarray, communicator in hand, his heart feeling as though it had plunged into a bottomless abyss.