Chapter 65: Stepping Stones Part 2

Arias's plan for the first day of the gala was initially focused on making connections with powerful figures. His ultimate goal was lofty, and achieving it the way he envisioned required a vast network of resources. The benefits of his second reconstruction would undoubtedly assist him in the coming days, but much work remained.

Using brute force alone to reach the top wasn't ideal; it would only serve to make enemies of the world and its inhabitants, leading to countless annoyances down the line. Arias's current method, though slower, promised a better outcome—one where the world would not oppose him but rather adore and worship him. To achieve this, he needed a delicate balance of force to crush his enemies and manipulation to win over allies.

Diana's unexpected presence had shifted his strategy for the evening. With her by his side, he no longer needed to pursue his initial plan aggressively. The mere fact that they arrived together would prompt countless power players to seek him out, each eager to use the Amazonian princess for their own schemes. This put Arias in a particularly good mood as he and Diana spent the first thirty minutes of the gala sampling various delicacies and exchanging stories.

"So, all the women back on your island often train naked?" Arias asked with a visible grin.

Diana narrowed her eyes at him but then laughed. "Heh, I would have no problem battling in the nude. While you are distracted, I would easily achieve victory over you. Why are all men obsessed with the flesh?"

Arias shrugged. "I simply enjoy the finer things in life. Maybe you could train me to resist the flesh by sparring with me naked. Unless, of course, you're worried you'll be distracted by my flesh?"

What Arias intended as a joke, Diana took quite literally. She grinned and replied, "Hah! I always keep my mind clear in battle. Besides, when I was younger and mischievous, I once looked at old paintings displaying the body of a man. It was nothing special."

"What do you mean 'when'? You're still quite wild and mischievous. If it weren't for me, you'd have offended nearly half the room with a smile on your face," Arias teased.

Diana laughed again, genuinely enjoying his company. She was completely at ease, having forgotten the foul mood she was in earlier. Arias's only goal for the evening was to keep her happy, and he was succeeding. The combination of food, liquor, and humor was more than enough to maintain her good spirits.

Steven, who had previously made every moment of their time together tedious with constant education and rigid schedules, was no longer a concern. Arias had taken over the role of guiding Diana, but in a way that she found enjoyable rather than oppressive.

"I would not! By Hera, is that what you think of me now?" Diana retorted, feigning indignation.

Arias smirked. "I'm just saying, you have a knack for saying what's on your mind. It's refreshing, really."

Their carefree behavior had not gone unnoticed. The majority of the guests at the gala maintained stiff, formal personas, only ever smiling or laughing lightly. Arias and Diana, however, were unreserved, drawing a fair share of attention. But this didn't bother Arias. He knew that many would soon approach him, eager to gain favor with Diana through him.

After about thirty minutes of mingling, Diana expressed a desire to greet her fellow Justice League members, Martian Manhunter and Aquaman, who were also in attendance.

"You go on ahead, I'll catch up after taking a small breather," Arias said, excusing himself to get some fresh air on the balcony. It was during this brief moment alone that Apeiro's voice echoed in his mind.

[It's nice to see you laughing genuinely again, Ari. That woman must be special to achieve that,] Apeiro commented, her tone a mix of happiness and sadness.

Arias shook his head. "It's not that she's special. It's just easier for me to smile knowing I didn't really lose the only person that mattered to me."

Apeiro fell silent, her emotions a swirl of joy and sorrow. [I love you, my Ari,] she finally whispered, the words heavy with meaning.

Arias, however, found it difficult to fully accept her sentiments. "Are you saying that as my mother or as Apeiro?"

[Can't it be both?]

"I suppose it can."

Their internal conversation was abruptly interrupted by a voice from behind Arias.

"I seem to have underestimated your resourcefulness, Mr. Markovic."

Arias turned to find Lex Luthor standing behind him, wearing his signature arrogant grin. Although Arias hadn't planned on encountering him so soon, it was inevitable that their paths would cross.

"A common mistake. Humans often tend to overlook the things above them. I'm used to it," Arias replied coolly, causing Luthor's grin to falter slightly.

"Is that so? Well, I can understand the feeling of making your first billion while still young. I can see you making far more should you cooperate with LexCorp," Luthor said, hinting at a potential alliance. The way he phrased it, however, was more of a veiled threat than an invitation.

Arias found this amusing and let out a small snicker. "I'll keep your words of advice in mind. Though it should be said, money isn't my end goal. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wild princess waiting for me."

Without giving Luthor a chance to respond, Arias walked away, leaving the billionaire fuming. As he made his way back to the main hall, Arias pondered the brief exchange. Luthor was clearly suspicious of him, but that was to be expected. Still, the evening was drawing to a close, and Arias had no intention of wasting more time on unnecessary distractions.

He quickly located Diana, who was engaged in conversation with Aquaman and his wife, Mera. As he approached, Diana introduced him. "There you are. I want you to meet one of my fellow members within the Justice League, King Arthur of Atlantis, and his wife, Queen Mera. The two are newlyweds, so I was just giving them my congratulations."

Arias extended his hand first to Arthur, a well-built man with long blonde hair and a stubbly beard. "A pleasure to meet you. You have my congratulations as well."

The handshake with Arthur was firm but brief, while the one with Mera was gentler and lingered slightly longer, accompanied by a moment of eye contact. Mera, with her striking blue eyes and vibrant red hair, stood out even among the illustrious guests. Her tight green dress accentuated her curvy figure, and Arias couldn't help but appreciate the sight.

'Dedicated and loyal,' he thought, noting her demeanor. But now wasn't the time or place to test his luck.

"Diana, it's about time we leave. The media will make it harder to exit if we linger much longer."

"Damned media. They only know how to spread lies and annoy me. Farewell, Arthur, and you too, Mera. Congratulations once again," Diana said as she bid her fellow heroes goodbye.

Arias, now holding the tipsy princess by the waist, turned to walk away but not before offering his own parting words. "Although brief, it was nice meeting you both. I'm sure we'll get acquainted properly in the future."

As they made their way out of the gala, Arias couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The evening had gone better than planned, and the connections he had formed would undoubtedly prove useful in the days to come.