Chapter 618: Gifts
Only a portion of the entire collection consisted of genuine Etherium Gold.
Even so, it was already more than enough. Looking at the enormous fortune before him, Axel sighed deeply.
’This girl... Is this her way of repaying me?’
A warm smile unconsciously appeared on his face. He quietly returned to his own room.
His plan was simple. First, he would absorb another ten kilograms of Etherium Gold to further strengthen himself.
Afterward, he would sell roughly half of the remaining supply.
The resulting wealth would allow him to establish powerful connections throughout the cultivation world.
Those connections would become the foundation that would protect Lana in the future.
At the same time, they would also help him gather more information regarding his girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Lana remained completely immersed in her own excitement.
Suddenly, she remembered the mysterious white crystal she had obtained earlier.
’I should ask Master about it once we return to Xila City. Perhaps he’ll know what it really is.’
With that thought in mind, she calmly entered her cultivation state.
Several days later, the RV finally arrived in Xila City.
The familiar skyline gradually came into view, while the bustling streets and towering buildings made the peaceful village feel like a distant memory.
The moment Lana stepped out of the RV, she immediately spotted two familiar figures waiting nearby. Her elder brother.
And Lucian.
For the briefest moment, a warm feeling bloomed inside her heart.
However, she quickly suppressed it before anyone noticed. Instead, she flashed them a playful smile.
"If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought both of you were standing here just to ask me for gifts."
Lucian chuckled softly. "I’m not the one who wanted something."
He calmly glanced toward her brother.
"Your brother has been pestering me since this morning. He kept asking when you were coming back."
Lana couldn’t help laughing.
At that moment, Conard suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Lucian only a few hours earlier.
That morning, when he had gone downstairs for breakfast, Lucian had been as cold and indifferent as ever.
He had never bothered hiding his icy personality around outsiders.
In fact, the higher his status climbed, the more obvious that coldness became.
Now, Lucian was already approaching Peterson’s level of wealth and influence.
If things continued at this pace, it would only be a matter of time before he surpassed the Peterson family entirely.
Perhaps, he might even become one of the ten most influential people in the world.
As those thoughts crossed Conard’s mind, looked toward Lucian before quietly asking,
"Do you think Lana will return with us?"
Lucian finally looked at Conard before a faint smile appeared on his usually indifferent face. "Yes, Brother Conard."
The moment those words left his mouth, Conard’s face darkened. He frowned deeply before glaring at Lucian.
"How many times have I told you? Don’t you dare call me Brother Conard. I feel completely disgusted every single time you say it."
Lucian merely chuckled. "Oh, come on, Brother Conard. You’re being far too harsh. Lana is my wife so you will be my brother, isn’t that right?"
His teasing smile only made Conard’s expression grow darker. Lana had no idea this conversation had taken place earlier that morning.
If she had heard it herself, she would have undoubtedly burst into laughter.
Conard pointed a finger at Lucian. A trace of anger flickered across his eyes. "So, you were planning to call Lana wife now?"
Lucian leaned back in his chair and smiled helplessly. "I genuinely wanted to."
He shrugged casually. "But I know she’d be just as upset as you are. So I gave up on the idea."
Conard quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Good. If you ever called her ’Wife,’ I’d probably lose my appetite."
Only then did he return to eating his breakfast.
The peaceful atmosphere lasted only a few seconds.
Suddenly, Lucian calmly spoke again. "I want you to move out."
Conard stopped chewing. He slowly lowered his fork before looking toward Lucian.
His eyebrows twitched. "You really chose to interrupt me while I’m eating breakfast?"
Lucian calmly took another sip of his coffee. "If I didn’t say it now, you’d continue treating my house like a free hotel."
Conard snorted. "If you dare kick me out, I’ll simply take Lana away with me."
Even as he spoke those confident words, he already knew the truth.
The only reason he was staying here was that Lana refused to move into the Peterson residence.
If Lana had agreed, he wouldn’t have remained here for even another day.
Lucian smiled calmly. "You know the truth, so do I. Lana won’t move until you deal with Thessy.
"We are trying..." Conard begin.
"That’s a problem you should’ve solved a long time ago."
A brief silence followed. Then Lucian’s expression gradually became serious.
"The Peterson Family, what exactly are they planning to do regarding Lana?"
Conard frowned. This man...he truly was frighteningly perceptive.
Despite nobody informing him directly, he had already noticed the Peterson Family’s recent movements.
Conard placed his utensils aside. Since the topic had already been brought up, there was no point in hiding it.
"Lana still refuses to acknowledge us. Whether officially or privately, she’s determined to handle everything herself."
He sighed quietly.
"So, we’ve decided to reveal our relationship with her behind her back. We’ll make sure everyone understands she’s connected to the Peterson Family. In that way, no one will dare bully or target her so easily."
Lucian remained silent for several moments. Then he slowly asked,
"Have you ever considered how Lana would feel if she found out?"
Conard’s expression immediately became solemn. "Believe me. Our protection might eventually become her greatest shield."
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
Conard continued,
"Thessy has already tried hurting herself simply to make Lana suffer emotionally. If things continue, she’ll eventually cooperate with our enemies. And once that happens, Lana will inevitably become one of their primary targets."
He clenched his fists tightly. "If Lana isn’t protected by our allies beforehand, she’ll be placed in an extremely dangerous situation."