Chapter 52 : Your daughter owes me 16 million J

"Isn't this my home?"

Lucy sat in the back seat of the Obsidian motorcycle, her hands resting on Knight's shoulders, her wide eyes reflecting the familiar scenery around her.

"You mean living in a mansion and eating a big meal... you meant my house? Knight!!" she exclaimed.

Knight chuckled, "Just answer the question: are you living in a mansion and eating a big meal?"

The motorcycle coasted slowly down a mountain road leading into a small, peaceful town. Large tracts of farmland stretched out on either side, with scattered houses dotting the landscape. Cows, sheep, hunting dogs, and herdsmen could be seen across the pastures. The entire scene felt like something out of a pastoral painting.

"Isn't that Miss Lucy? Hey, Miss!" A voice called out as someone recognized Lucy from the side of the road. They waved at her with excitement.

Lucy awkwardly returned the wave, and Knight, observing the scene, couldn't help but comment, "You're pretty popular around here."

"This is my home!" Lucy replied with an exasperated eye roll. "From the mountain at the entrance to the end of this road, it's all my family's land. They're my workers, and they've known me since I was a child."

Knight stared at her, momentarily speechless. How big is this place? Thousands of acres?

Suddenly, Lucy smacked him on the shoulder, glaring. "Why are you taking me back home?"

"To see your dad," Knight responded nonchalantly.

"Wait, what?" she asked, confused.

"I've got a business deal with him, and I figured I'd drop you off along the way. You're welcome, by the way."

Lucy stared at him, realizing once again she'd been tricked. "I don't want to go back. Let me off the bike!"

She pinched his shoulder hard, wanting to scream at him for fooling her—again.

"Hey, there's a saying in my hometown... but never mind, we're almost there," Knight replied with a mischievous grin as he twisted the throttle and sped up.

Lucy sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'm already here anyway. Might as well visit my mom's grave while I'm at it."

The sleek, black motorcycle passed through the quaint town, the sun setting in the distance. Soon, they arrived at a luxurious European-style villa. A large front garden adorned with a fountain greeted them. The centerpiece of the fountain was an exquisite golden statue, arms outstretched as if reaching for the sky.

Knight didn't care much for the artistry but was impressed by the sheer opulence. Gold-plated statues? Really?

Nearby, an older maid was sweeping the garden path. She froze when she heard the roar of the motorcycle and looked up. Her expression turned from shock to joy as she dropped the broom.

"Miss Lucy!" she cried, running over, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've come home! Oh, we were so worried about you!"

Lucy smiled warmly. "Mrs. Spette, I'm sorry for making you worry."

Knight watched the scene unfold, impressed by how genuine Lucy's connection was with the household staff. She really is down-to-earth for someone who owns all this.

Before Lucy could introduce Knight, Mrs. Spette's eyes widened as she turned her attention to him. "Oh my... Miss Lucy has brought her boyfriend home!"

That single declaration stirred the entire household into action. Maids, chefs, gardeners, and even the magic tutor all rushed into the garden, surrounding Lucy and Knight.

"Miss Lucy's back! And she brought her boyfriend!"

"Ah, young love! The miss has finally returned!"

"Miss, I've brought new study materials for you!"

One person after another bombarded Lucy with questions and comments, while Knight stood there, amused at the chaos. Lucy, on the other hand, was red-faced and flustered.

"He's not my boyfriend! He's just a... friend," she tried to explain.

Meanwhile, inside the villa, Lucy's father, Jude Heartfilia, stood by a second-floor window, silently watching the scene. With a stern expression, he gave a brief order to someone behind him.

Not long after, a maid appeared in the garden and addressed Lucy. "Miss, the master requests to see you in his study, and your... friend, as well."

Knight grinned and waved off the misunderstanding. "I'm Knight, not her boyfriend."

"Yes, Mr. Knight. The master is expecting you too."

Knight exchanged a glance with Lucy. After a moment of silent communication, he followed the maid into the villa, leaving Lucy behind to deal with the maids.

As they walked through the grand halls, Lucy looked up at the study window. She caught a brief glimpse of her father standing there, but he turned away without acknowledging her. Her heart sank. He hasn't changed at all.

Inside the study, Knight found himself facing Jude Heartfilia, a tall man with slicked-back golden hair, dressed in a tailored light brown suit. He stood by his desk, his hands behind his back, emanating the powerful aura of a wealthy man.

"Are you also a wizard from Fairy Tail?" Jude asked, his voice calm but direct.

"Also?" Knight raised an eyebrow.

Jude turned to face him fully. "A while ago, Lucy infiltrated Duke Abar's mansion, caused a scene, and stole a book. That's when I knew she had joined Fairy Tail."

Knight was impressed. So the old man has been keeping tabs on her all along. He smirked slightly.

"Breaking into a duke's mansion, attacking him, and stealing his property—if I hadn't intervened, the consequences would've been severe. Do you think something like that would've gone unnoticed without someone of my influence smoothing things over?" Jude continued.

Knight chuckled. "I suppose not. It makes sense now why there was no fallout from that mission."

Jude dismissed the matter as trivial. "The duke is in prison now. There were plenty of charges against him; he just needed someone with the right connections to bring him down."

Knight nodded, acknowledging Jude's influence. He really has everything under control.

Without missing a beat, Jude asked, "Do you intend to marry Lucy?"

Caught off guard, Knight blinked. "I'm here for a business discussion, not marriage proposals, but before we get into that..."

Knight reached into his pocket and pulled out an IOU. "Your daughter owes me 16 million J. Let's settle that first."

Jude stared at the IOU, silent. This... this kid outmaneuvered me.

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