Chris wore an expression of indifference as he said, “Oh? I’d like to see how you plan to make sure I don’t leave Riverton.”
“Fine! Chris, just you wait!” Sean Hunter spat the words out before storming off with his entourage.
This was a banquet, and Sean Hunter knew it wasn’t the place to cause a scene. There would be plenty of time to deal with Chris later. After all, Chris had come to Riverton, and Sean was confident he could slowly play him to death.
As soon as Sean left, Lindsay Windson turned to Chris, her face full of concern. “Mr. Shelby, Sean Hunter is the son of the Hunter family, the most powerful of Riverton’s four great salt merchant families. You’ve offended him, and he definitely won’t let this go!”
“Ha!” Chris scoffed, his tone mocking. “Sean Hunter? He’s nothing to me. I couldn’t care less.”
Seeing Chris brush off Sean Hunter so easily, Lindsay could only sigh helplessly.
Before long, the banquet officially began. Nearly all the prominent young elites of Riverton had gathered. Chris and Lindsay found an inconspicuous corner and sat down.
“Mr. Ray Thompson has arrived!”
A voice suddenly echoed across the hall, drawing everyone’s attention.
“What? Ray is here too?”
“I heard Ray is one of the top talents of the Thompson family!”
“Not only that, but he’s already a King of War in the southern battle region of Amerosia at such a young age! I also heard he recently passed the Monster Camp trials. His future is limitless!”
News of Ray’s success at Monster Camp had spread throughout Riverton, and everyone knew his prospects were nothing short of extraordinary.
Chris turned his head toward the commotion, a strange expression on his face. He hadn’t expected Ray to be the young master of Riverton’s Thompson family.
Beside him, Lindsay explained, “Mr. Shelby, the Thompson family is one of Riverton’s four great salt merchant families, ranked second among them. Ray is their eldest son and said to be the future heir of the Thompson family.”
Chris nodded at her words. Back during the Monster Camp trials, he had crossed paths with Ray during the third round of testing. Though Ray had ultimately lost to him, Chris had recognized his formidable strength.
At that moment, Ray spotted Chris. His eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately approached.
“Chris!” Ray exclaimed as he strode over.
Chris raised his head, smiling. “Ray, long time no see!”
Ray’s face lit up with excitement. “Chris, it really is you! I thought I might’ve been mistaken.”
Lindsay, standing nearby, was stunned. She knew this was Chris’s first time in Riverton, so how could he possibly know Ray, the eldest son of the Thompson family?
The surrounding crowd was equally intrigued. Ray was already considered one of Riverton’s brightest young talents, yet here he was, greeting Chris like an old friend. Whispers spread as people speculated about Chris’s identity.
Chris smiled. “Ray, congratulations on passing the Monster Camp trials.”
Ray let out a bitter laugh. “Chris, of all people, you know my situation best. I may have passed the trials, but you… you’re the Monster Badge holder. Compared to you, I’m nothing.”
Ray didn’t give Chris a chance to respond. “You’re here now, so let me introduce you to my grandfather. He’s the current head of the Thompson family, and I’ve told him about you. He’s very interested in meeting you.”
“I-” Chris began, but before he could refuse, Ray had already grabbed him by the arm and led him away.
Soon, they arrived at a luxurious private suite within the venue. On the way, Ray gave Chris a brief introduction to his grandfather.
Ray’s grandfather, Hector Thompson, was the head of the Thompson family-a man of great influence in Riverton.
“Grandfather, this is Chris, the Monster Badge holder from Monster Camp!” Ray announced proudly as they entered.
Hector Thompson’s sharp eyes immediately focused on Chris, studying him carefully.
Hector had heard about Chris from Ray before-a man who not only passed the grueling Monster Camp trials but also earned the prestigious Monster Badge. Seeing Chris in person, Hector’s interest was piqued.
“Haha!” Hector chuckled lightly. “I’ve heard about you from Caspian. Meeting you today, I see you live up to the reputation.”
Chris’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Thompson, you know Mr. Vance?”
Hector smiled faintly. “Of course. Caspian and I were comrades-in-arms once, though that was many years ago. He’s told me about your situation in Middleton and mentioned you’re trying to keep your identity hidden. Don’t worry-while you’re in Riverton, the Thompson family will support you.”
Hector paused, then asked curiously, “So, Chris, what brings you to Riverton?”
It was hard for Hector to believe someone of Chris’s stature would come to Riverton without a reason.
Chris let out a bitter laugh. “Since you’re a friend of Mr. Vance, I’ll be honest. I’ve heard that a fragment of the Dragon Emblem is hidden among Riverton’s four great salt merchant families. My purpose here is to find it.”
“The Dragon Emblem fragment?” Hector and Ray were visibly stunned.
They both knew exactly what Chris was talking about. The Dragon Emblem fragment was a legendary martial treasure, coveted by many.
After a moment of silence, Hector spoke. “The Dragon Emblem fragment isn’t in the hands of the Thompson family. However, I’ve heard it might be with either the Wind family or the Hunter family.”
“The Wind family and the Hunter family?” Chris narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Since Hector had no reason to lie-especially given his connection to Caspian-Chris believed him. If that was the case, his next step would be to investigate the Wind and Hunter families.
—
After the banquet ended, Lindsay couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. “Mr. Shelby, how do you know Ray?”
Chris smiled faintly. “We met at Monster Camp…”
He proceeded to recount how he and Ray had crossed paths during the trials.
When Chris mentioned earning the Monster Badge, Lindsay’s eyes widened in astonishment.
As the eldest daughter of the Wind family, Lindsay was no stranger to the stories about Monster Camp. She knew it was a place of unimaginable danger, where survival was nearly impossible.
For Chris to not only survive but also claim the Monster Badge-it was nothing short of extraordinary.