Chapter 11: Banquet and the Girl

116 Feis Street

At the entrance of the Carl family mansion.

Dressed in a black evening gown, Lis alighted from the carriage, and a nearby servant promptly approached, leading Lis toward the main hall of the banquet as Bender and the carriage were directed elsewhere for rest.

Lis loosened his tight collar, still somewhat unaccustomed to such intricate attire.

Following the servant into the grand hall, Lis entered a space luxuriously decorated over hundreds of square meters, where numerous polished, crystal-clear crystals hung overhead in a massive Magic Crystal Lamp, casting a soft glow while the tables nearby were filled with fragrant delicacies and fine wines at the guests' disposal, amid guests who were already toasting and mingling.

The Carl family, indeed, ranked within the top five in Feis Kingdom by virtue of controlling the influential Golden Vine Flower Guild, possessed enough strength to "purchase" a Baron's title from the kingdom, and the mansion they acquired in the Noble District was no less luxuriously majestic, evidence of the Carl family's substantial wealth.

Lis looked around with interest at the guests in luxurious outfits scattered around the dance floor; his former self seldom attended such soirées, thus even these should-be familiar faces of Feis City's high society appeared utterly foreign to him, with no familiar faces.

Just then, Mora Karl, having just dealt with a Count by her father's side, spotted the rather distinctive Lis not far away. Her eyes lit up and, after informing her father, she approached Lis directly.

"You, how come you didn't come to find me after arriving, are you really our esteemed Lord Viscount? Just standing there by yourself, not even mingling with others?"

Lis shrugged, "You know I hardly ever attend these kinds of events. I don't know any of these people, how am I supposed to strike a conversation? I saw you were talking with that old man earlier, so I didn't approach you."

"What do you mean 'that old man'? That is His Excellency Count Dion Duval, the Finance Minister of the Kingdom!"

Mora looked at Lis incredulously, unable to believe he didn't recognize even him, and promptly started introducing Lis to the other distinguished guests around.

"That is Arsen Hade, the youngest son from Duke Hade's family, who is said to be highly favored by His Majesty the King nowadays."

"The man speaking to my father over there is Monte Oraya, President of the Oraya Commerce Guild, a guild not inferior to my family's. He happens to have good relations with my father, though."

"That's Mrs. Pasha Koy, a well-known socialite of Bright City, you better be careful not to be enchanted by her!"

Stealthily pointing with her finger, Mora gestured towards a lady in a purple fringed long dress, chatting and smiling with several gentlemen nearby, raising her eyebrows at Lis.

Upon her words, Lis took a careful look, hissing softly in appreciation of her undeniable charm, scrutinizing her academically, and concluding indeed she was as substantial as her reputation suggested, a true mark of a renowned socialite, a lesson learned!

For the first time, Mora deeply shared an academic exchange with Lis, both coming to a mutual understanding.

"You sly guy, you must have done your field research already, right?" Lis looked suspiciously at his friend, whose eyes were shining with excitement.

"It's just artistic appreciation, okay? She's almost old enough to be my mother!"

The questioned Mora nearly jumped up and swore to prove his innocence, although in Lis's eyes, this man was almost thoroughly unscrupulous.

"Enough with this topic." Mora saw his father waving at him, seemingly about to welcome another esteemed guest, and hurried over, "I'll come find you later, don't sneak off!"

After all, it was Mora's birthday banquet, and although most people were there to foster connections and social relations, as the host, he couldn't be absent from the scene for too long.

Lis was quite content to be left alone, unfamiliar with the other guests, free from disturbances.

Lis listened as Mora's father, Vim Karl, thanked all the guests at the banquet, conversing in pleasantries, and moved to the long table to pick and choose his food.

Roasted lamb chops, herb sauce snails, beef tenderloin with goose liver, Boditch's Sweet Shrimp Salad, cheese chicken cutlet, hazelnut caramel cake, coconut cherry pie...

Satisfied, Lis heaped a large plate of delicacies and, disregarding the somewhat astonished looks from the servants, settled in a corner of the banquet hall to fully enjoy his meal.

Indeed, as one of the top five guilds in the kingdom, the availability of Boditch's Sweet Shrimp, native only to a few coastal regions of the Fanor Continent in the Duchy of Boditch, was a rarity, its fresh taste was exceptional, and it was a wonder how it was transported from the distant shores to the inland kingdom of Feis.

In his past life, he had never seen such ingredients in the Feis Kingdom during his gaming days, having only encountered them once when he went on a quest to Boditch, confirming their fresh and bouncy texture, truly a top-grade among seafoods.

"Ding~"

As Lis was enjoying the gourmet food, a plate was set down next to him on the table. He glanced at it—wow, even more packed than his own!

Two lamb chops topped the pile, stuffed with various foods and finished with two servings of hazelnut cake, precariously perched in a way that was somewhat heart-wrenching.

While Lis's attention was on this "tower" of a plate, a figure emerged from behind it and sat down on a chair nearby.

Lis observed this person, who unlike the other guests, wasn't socializing in the dance area but was hunkered down in the corner like him, relishing the food.

Dressed in a fiery red off-shoulder evening gown, her similarly red long hair casually draped to her waist. The well-tailored design accentuated the girl's perfect curves, highlighted by layered cut-out patterns and delicate fringe against her fair skin. Her appearance was somewhat ordinary, yet her gray-purple eyes sparkled with vivacity.

The girl curiously glanced at Lis, seemingly surprised to meet someone else who also "stood out from the crowd." She smiled gently at him and then began to enjoy the delectable treats before her.

Although Lis felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, he didn't dwell on it, thinking he might have seen her once before in his past gaming life!

Soon, both of them launched an assault on the "two mountains" before them. Despite the continuous eating, the table manners remained impeccable, and the food on the table visibly decreased at a rapid pace.

While Lis had started eating first, both finished their meals almost simultaneously.

"Squeak~"

Both pushed back their chairs and stood up, ready to replenish their plates from the buffet.

"Pfft~"

A bell-like laugh rang out next to Lis. Turning his head, he saw the girl looking at him with a curious smile.

"You're really strange, aren't you? Don't most people come to these soirées to meet officials and nobility? Why are you hiding here eating?"

Lis looked at the girl's plate in her hand and somewhat speechlessly said,

"Aren't you doing the same? I just can't be bothered with all that mutual flattery."

"I'm different!" the girl waved her hand, "I came with friends to gain some experience, and to snack on some goodies. I heard Golden Vine Flower Commerce specially arranged for a convoy to go to Boditch in the east to buy lots of precious ingredients for the soirée—I couldn't miss it."

Her initial statement sounded rational, but her latter words betrayed her true foodie nature.

"That's true, that Boditch Sweet Shrimp Salad is great, I'm planning to go for more."

The mention of food even made the girl's eyes light up:

"Right? Isn't it amazing? Normally you can't buy it even if you have the money!"

Lis also joined in the conversation,

"But I think the Boditch Sweet Shrimp would taste even better in Golden Shrimp Balls."

The girl looked surprised,

"Golden Shrimp Balls, what's that? Is it a dish? I didn't realize you could cook!"

"Of course!" Lis, who had grown up in an orphanage in his previous life, had indeed mastered excellent culinary skills.