Regarding the marriage and romance issues of his subordinates, Lin Jun had always been indifferent, even occasionally acting as a matchmaker, for instance, pulling red strings for a certain tailless Lizardman and a werewolf.
But the Pink Puchi (Inanna) was off-limits, at least for now.
He had just managed to equip her with strategic-level weapons of mass destruction like the Fire and Ice Elemental Lords. Lin Jun wished he could keep her in the Mushroom Garden every day, ready at the highest state of alert at all times.
Now someone suddenly came to tell him they wanted to find her a husband, start a family, and have children?
What kind of joke was this!
What about the combat power of those two Elemental Lords? Lin Jun himself couldn't command them!
He was busy saving the world; don't add to the chaos!
Matters like marriage could completely wait until the world was saved before being held grandly!
Starting a family at thirty wasn't too late either!
"In summary, Comrade Adin, this task concerning the safety of the world is entrusted to you." The Marshal Puchi stepped on a stone block, resting a tentacle on Adin's shoulder, entrusting him solemnly.
Adin's mouth opened slightly. In those eyes that always appeared steady, there was actually some blankness at this moment: "You mean... let me go... ruin the blind date banquet meticulously prepared by Duke Alama for Miss Inanna?"
"Relax," the Marshal Puchi waved a tentacle. "Pink Puchi will cooperate with you. She herself doesn't have this intention either; this blind date banquet couldn't possibly succeed to begin with. Your main task is to make the scene ugly enough, awkward enough, to make Alama temporarily give up this thought, avoiding him coming up with some new tricks after a while and wasting our precious energy in vain."
Saying this, the Marshal Puchi pulled an S-grade magic crystal out of his body and stuffed it into Adin's bosom.
"Don't worry, Boss. I will definitely complete the mission." Adin's eyes were full of conviction to save the world!
...
The banquet was arranged to be held in Oath City.
On the main road leading to the ball, gilded family carriages rolled over the smooth stone pavement. Warhorses draped in magnificent tack snorted occasionally. On horseback, young knights straightened their backs, armor polished to a shine.
Occasionally, low beast roars came from magic beast mounts contracted by certain nobles.
In front of the manor's imposing gates, the old butler Eric directed attendants to guide the endless stream of carriages to park in designated areas, arranging grooms to take care of those precious mounts, while welcoming every noble guest holding an invitation with impeccable etiquette. Under his orderly dispatch, the busy scene in front of the door, though lively, always maintained an orderly rhythm.
Just then, a young attendant responsible for checking invitations and guiding guests hurried to Eric's side, lowering his voice to report: "Head Butler, a small situation occurred. Viscount Vera, whom you instructed to pay special attention to, has arrived... but he didn't come alone. He brought two companions not on the invitation list."
"Are they the Viscount's family?" Eric asked.
"No, friends."
Eric frowned slightly.
Bringing people outside the invitation list to attend the banquet was already against the rules, and if they weren't even the invitee's relatives, it was somewhat rude.
However, since it was Viscount Vera, the holder of "Sacrifice" who was just conferred the title not long ago.
Thinking about it, perhaps it was just because of his newly promoted noble status that he wasn't familiar with the many unwritten etiquette rules of the upper social circle yet.
Thinking of this, he walked over there personally.
...
Vera and the three led their horses, blocked outside the manor.
They didn't even come by carriage, just one person per horse, coming to the banquet without bringing any attendants. They belonged to the category of having no noble pomp at all. Sirian didn't come; he said as an outsider Elf, he wasn't suitable for and didn't like attending human noble gatherings, preferring to stay in Misty Haze Fort, so Vera naturally didn't force him.
Fayin hung her head dejectedly, fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.
It was precisely her curiosity about noble banquets previously that made Vera insist on bringing her and her sister along, disregarding that temporary butler's reminder of "best to attend alone."
Now blocked outside the door, judging gazes cast from those passing magnificent carriages, and even occasional light chuckles, rang out.
She felt she made Vera lose face on such an important occasion.
"Vera," she whispered, almost daring not to look up, "how about... you go in first. Sister and I will find a place nearby to wait. After the banquet ends, we'll go back together..."
Hearing this, Vera laughed: "What are you thinking? Really treating me like a noble lord?"
He looked around at this imposing gateway, tone relaxed: "Since we came together, how can there be a reason to leave you hanging outside? If it really doesn't work, we'll find an inn to rest for a night. Tomorrow I'll take you guys to tour Oath City properly; it won't be a wasted trip!"
He said while trying to adjust his posture: "No. 5, No. 5? Relax a bit, you're squeezing me so hard I can hardly breathe..."
No. 5 Puchi clinging to his back had its mycelial tentacles tightly wrapped around his waist, mushroom cap pressed against the back of his neck.
Strange place, strange people, faintly present mana fluctuations—all made it in a state of high tension. Hearing this, it only relaxed a tiny bit of strength; tentacles still clamped tightly.
Just then, a steady yet gentle voice cut in, breaking the minor impasse at the door:
"Viscount Vera."
Old butler Eric had personally come to the door at some point. He first bowed slightly to Vera in greeting, posture impeccable: "Please forgive the door attendants for being cautious. Those coming today are all important figures of the Kingdom. Their duty dictates, inevitably somewhat rigid."
Vera waved his hand hurriedly, indicating it was he who was presumptuous.
Eric turned sideways, making an elegant "please" gesture, his gaze falling on the sisters: "Two young ladies and Lord No. 5 of the Mushroom Tribe, please don't be restrained. A banquet is originally a place for happy gathering."
Under Eric's personal guidance, Vera and the three finally stepped into the carved main doors of the banquet hall.
In an instant, it was like stepping into another world.
Dozens of huge crystal chandeliers hung from the painted dome. Thousands of perfectly cut crystals refracted candle fire and magic crystal lamps embedded in the walls, illuminating the entire hall as if it were day, yet flowing with a warm, mellow golden halo like honey.
The air was permeated with a complex fragrance mixing expensive spices, fresh flowers, baked pastries, high-grade leather, and faint magical incense.
Figures moved in the halo. Gentlemen wore well-tailored dark formal suits, chests adorned with exquisite medals symbolizing family and merit, colorful sashes draped diagonally from shoulders. Their demeanor carried calmness and elegance.
And ladies' skirts were wide as blooming flower crowns, waists bound slender by corsets, appearing even more graceful. The jewelry hanging on their bodies made them look moving.
Fayling and Fayin stood by the door, almost stunned into forgetting to breathe by this ultimate magnificence and noise rushing to their faces.
The dresses on them, carefully selected before departure, looked like faded coarse cloth under this contrast.
No sparkling jewelry embellishment, no complex and expensive embroidery, skirts not wide enough, fabrics appearing plain and unadorned before that top-grade silk and velvet.
In contrast, they couldn't help feeling a burst of awkwardness.
Just as the sisters stared blankly at the unimaginable scene before them, Vera, chewing a fruit in his mouth, already handed two grape-sized fruits to them: "Tasty, try them!"
Not far away, the Count's son, Phineas, swept his gaze over the three people and one mushroom, not lingering too much.
These few bumpkins who started eating as soon as they entered were obviously not competitors at a glance.
The truly threatening guy...
He cast his gaze to another corner of the banquet hall.
There, Inanna's former adjutant Warren was talking and laughing with Duke Lorenzo's second son.
Seeming to sense his gaze, Warren smiled at him from afar.
(End of Chapter)
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