“Yes!” Candace nodded and then turned to leave. After Candace had left, Caspian Vance looked at the butler and commanded, “Prepare the car!”
“Yes, sir!” Soon, Caspian Vance arrived at the home of the Emperor’s Teacher. Archer Wintersong also lived in Red Hill, not too far from the Vance family.
Inside the study, Archer Wintersong was playing chess alone. Caspian Vance asked curiously, “Archer Wintersong, what did you want to see me for?” It was known that Archer Wintersong and Caspian Vance were close friends. However, due to their unique statuses, they seldom interacted.
Archer Wintersong did not answer Caspian Vance’s question but instead looked at the chessboard and said, “Caspian Vance, would you like to play a game with me?” Caspian Vance smiled and walked over.
The chess skills of both were evenly matched, and after about fifteen minutes, the game was still unresolved. Suddenly, Archer Wintersong looked up and said, “Caspian Vance, I must leave!” Hearing this, Caspian Vance was startled, “What? You’re leaving? You’re not dying, are you?” Archer Wintersong replied irritably, “Get lost! I’ll outlive you!”
Caspian Vance asked curiously, “If you’re not dying, why are you leaving?”
“Ah,” Archer Wintersong sighed, “I must leave for a very important matter. After my departure, I want to entrust Team Thunder to my disciple, Chris Shelby!”
“What? You’re entrusting Team Thunder to Chris Shelby!” Caspian Vance was taken aback. Archer Wintersong, apart from being an Emperor’s Teacher, also commanded the imperial guard, Team Thunder. By entrusting Team Thunder to Chris Shelby, what was he planning?
“Chris Shelby is my disciple, and I hope you will support him when the time comes.”
“Alright! For your sake, I will help Chris Shelby.” After finishing the game of chess, Caspian Vance turned and left. As for where Archer Wintersong was headed, Caspian Vance did not ask. He knew that Archer Wintersong was no ordinary person and that his destination was certainly extraordinary.
Meanwhile, more and more people were arriving to attend the birthday celebration. Many brought extremely valuable gifts. However, Caspian Vance, who had spent his life in military service, disliked such formalities. All those who came with gifts were turned away by the Vance family. Originally, Esther had prepared a gift worth a million dollars, a jade statue, but the Vance family did not accept it.
At that moment, Chris Shelby and Esther found a secluded spot to sit down. Suddenly, there was a thunderous applause! It was Caspian Vance stepping out. This was also the first time Chris Shelby saw Caspian Vance. Caspian Vance looked at the crowd and said with a smile, “Thank you all for coming to my birthday celebration…” After a few formal words, the celebration began.
While Chris Shelby was eating, he suddenly noticed that Spencer Sterling and Lysander Frost were sitting at the same table as him. Chris Shelby couldn’t help but feel resigned; it truly was a case of ‘enemies often cross each other’s paths.’ Lysander Frost and Spencer Sterling looked up, glancing at Chris Shelby with resentful eyes. Chris Shelby chose to ignore the hostility from the two men. In his heart, he didn’t regard them highly and continued to enjoy his meal.
The banquet featured the imperial palace’s royal chef, and the food was exceptionally delicious-something not commonly available. Chris Shelby ate heartily, much like a starving ghost reincarnated.
Seeing Chris Shelby’s unrefined manner of eating, the people around frowned. Lysander Frost mocked, “Chris Shelby, are you a starving ghost reincarnated? You look like you haven’t eaten in three days!”
Spencer Sterling sneered, “Lysander Frost, this Chris Shelby is just a bumpkin. I bet he’s never had a meal this good in his life!”
Facing the ridicule from Lysander Frost and Spencer Sterling, Chris Shelby couldn’t be bothered to respond.
To be honest, it had been a while since Chris Shelby had tasted the cuisine of the royal chefs, and he had simply indulged a bit too eagerly.
His manner of eating was still that of the battlefield.
After all, on the battlefield, time is life, and even eating is a race against the clock.
For pampered youths like Lysander Frost, the harsh realities of the battlefield were beyond comprehension.
Lysander Frost disdainfully added, “I don’t even know how someone so shameless managed to get invited to Mr. Vance’s birthday banquet.”
“Who knows? Maybe this guy just found an invitation somewhere and came to freeload.”
“You’re right! Not just anyone is invited to this banquet. How could Mr. Vance possibly invite such a country bumpkin?”
“Ha ha ha! A bumpkin will always be a bumpkin. Chris Shelby, go back to the East Coast; Middleton is not for you!”
Lysander Frost and Spencer Sterling jeered at Chris Shelby back and forth.
Esther’s expression turned very ugly.
She was about to speak when she heard Chris Shelby say calmly, “Are you itching for a fight?”
Boom!
At these words, Spencer Sterling suddenly stood up.
His face was filled with anger.
From childhood to now, Spencer Sterling had never been hit.
Chris Shelby had slapped him a few times, which was a profound humiliation for him.
Now, Chris Shelby’s verbal threat was like rubbing salt into his wounds!
However, Spencer Sterling knew this was Caspian Vance’s birthday party, not a place for him to lose his temper.
Spencer Sterling coldly said, “Chris Shelby, I’ll settle this account with you sooner or later! Just you wait, I’ll make sure you get what’s coming to you.”
“Really?” Chris Shelby scoffed. “I’d like to see how you, a worthless fool, plan to do that.”
“You…”
Spencer Sterling was furious at this insult.
Chris Shelby’s words were infuriating, practically lethal with annoyance.
Spencer Sterling and Lysander Frost exchanged glances, seeing the anger in each other’s eyes.
But since it was Caspian Vance’s birthday party, they had to restrain themselves and calm down.
The meal lasted an hour.
After the banquet, the Vance family had arranged for some celebrities to perform.
To ordinary people, these stars were lofty figures.
But to the influential, these celebrities were merely entertainers.
As the meal was winding down, Chris Shelby and Esther prepared to leave.
That’s when Candace approached them.
Seeing Candace approaching, Esther’s expression soured.
Candace looked at Chris Shelby and frowned, “Chris, you’re not thinking of leaving just like that, are you?”
Chris Shelby, looking embarrassed, replied, “If I’ve eaten my fill, why should I stay?”
Candace said, “Chris, my grandfather wants to see you.”
“Uh?”
Chris Shelby was taken aback.
Caspian Vance wanted to see him?
Chris Shelby turned to look at Esther, unsure whether to go or not.
If he went, Esther, the jealous type, might feel slighted.
But then again, Caspian Vance’s stature was such that it seemed improper to refuse.