Chapter 453 - 452: Vulgar Nobles
One of them wore a horse-shaped Brooch on his chest and was dressed rather conservatively.
The other was a Gnome, and like all Gnomes, he sported a rather exaggerated hairstyle and beard.
The one with the horse-shaped Brooch spoke first. "I am the butler of the Valenza family. It is a pleasure to meet you, Colin the Dragon Slayer."
"I am here on behalf of the Fuke family. Thank you for lending a hand to Lily some time ago," the Gnome said in a high-pitched voice. "Goodness, you’re a bit taller than I imagined."
"It seems our Dragon Slayer is quite popular," the Weston butler said with a smile.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you all," Colin said, nodding in a slight daze.
He knew the two old men must be from the families of the other two Field Teams.
Ever since the Dragon Slaying, those two teams had been eager to get on good terms with them.
This situation wasn’t particularly surprising.
After all, among the more promising Field Teams, everyone but him belonged to either the old aristocracy, the new nobility, or were Paladins from other city-states.
In any case, a guy like Colin, with no real background, was indeed the perfect target for various factions to win over.
But Colin had absolutely no idea what to say in this kind of situation.
’Am I, a poor kid from the slums, supposed to talk business with these people?’
Colin glanced at the two ladies standing beside him, hoping they could offer a topic to keep the conversation going.
Ale, standing next to him, was intently focused on a piece of cake. It seemed she wasn’t the least bit nervous; in fact, she was quite at ease.
Sela, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
She was staring wide-eyed in their direction, foolishly holding a plate of cake without daring to make a sound. It seemed her family’s status wasn’t very high.
’All right, I can’t count on these two.’
Colin asked tentatively, "So... what’s the theme of tonight’s banquet?"
"Theme? It’s likely just a whim of some up-and-coming banker who wants to show off in aristocratic circles," the butler from Valenza said with some disdain. "Just a bunch of tasteless nouveau riche."
"To be able to make a comeback in just three years is proof enough of the Lowell Clan’s eye for investment. There’s no need to be so harsh on them," the Weston butler said sarcastically.
The Gnome, holding a glass of red wine, chuckled. "Investment? Loan-sharking hardly counts as an investment."
Standing off to the side, Colin listened silently to their conversation.
He knew nothing of the grudges between these prestigious families, so he had no choice but to stand by and listen. It seemed that these men, and the families they represented, all looked down on the host of the banquet.
"Sela? What are you doing here?"
Midway through the conversation, a somewhat gruff voice came from the side.
The butlers who were talking immediately fell silent.
The man who approached had a messy shock of red hair and a large red beard, and a very sturdy build.
He wore an expensive formal suit, but on his feet was a pair of thick rain boots one would often see at the docks. In terms of demeanor alone, he gave off more the impression of a dockworker than a nobleman.
"Hey, how’s everyone doing?" the red-haired man said with a wave and a grin. "I’m Sela’s father. Are you her friends?"
Sela, blushing, tugged at the corner of his coat, looking utterly mortified.
But Leo didn’t seem to notice anything odd at all, still smiling foolishly.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, Colin introduced himself. "I’m Colin. Sela was my first Mage Teacher."
"Sela? Come on, her grades in Magic class were nothing to write home about, HA HA HA..."
Sela’s father stepped forward and clapped Colin on the shoulder. "I’m Leo Hawkeley, from the islands to the west. My family’s pretty good at shipbuilding, so we’ve made a small fortune here in Thousand Masts City. The business with the Frost Giant Pirates a while back also earned us a pretty penny."
"A pleasure, sir."
The Weston butler gave a slight nod. "I am the butler of the Weston Clan. We have collaborated with you many times in the past, but this is the first time we’ve met in person."
"Huh? Oh, it’s you lot. I’ve only ever met your family’s servants. Are you the master of the Weston family?" Leo said boisterously.
"I am not the Family Head of the Weston Clan, merely the family’s butler."
Colin studied their expressions.
This time, perhaps because their families had some business collaborations, the butlers treated Sela’s father with a measure of respect.
Of course, it was also possible that none of them were fond of the so-called banker who dealt in usury.
After all, besides those trapped in the mire of gambling, the people willing to take out high-interest loans were often desperate souls with nowhere else to turn.
These loan sharks also preferred to hire gang thugs to collect debts, and their methods were nauseating to even hear about. As someone who used to live in the slums, Colin knew this all too well.
The group chatted for a while.
A man in a black formal suit and a black soft-brimmed hat stepped out of the mansion and stood at the entrance.
The man had light brown hair, a high, crooked nose bridge forming a remarkably prominent aquiline nose, high cheekbones, and a pair of eyes as Sharp as a hawk’s set deep within their sockets.
’This must be the Family Head of the Lowell Clan,’ Colin thought.
If Laine, whom he had met a while ago, was like a lion, then this man looked like a cold-blooded vulture.
"Thank you all for gracing my residence with your presence!" the Family Head of the Lowell Clan boomed. "I am honored by your attendance as we gather under the seaside stars. Tonight, let us dispense with tedious formalities! There is only fine food, good wine, and pleasant conversation. I hope you will all cast aside your restraints, drink to your heart’s content, and spend a relaxing and enjoyable evening."
An Attendant at the mansion’s entrance shouted, "Everyone, the banquet has officially begun!"
At these words, the people standing in the courtyard began to applaud and cheer.
Then, several servants came out of the mansion and began to guide the guests into the main hall.
One of the servants approached Colin and Ale.
He gave a slight bow and said, "You two, please follow me."
"Please, lead the way," Colin said with a nod.
The servant gave him a strange look, seemingly taken aback by the polite term he had just used. Nevertheless, he dutifully led the two into the main hall.
The mansion’s main hall was quite spacious. The polished oak walls gleamed so brightly they were almost blinding, and glowing seaweed and pieces of coral were placed in the corners of the room as decorations.
Four large tables were now set up in the hall.
The butlers and the Family Head of the Lowell Clan were seated at the head table, while the younger people like Colin, Ale, and Sela were placed together at a secondary table.