Chapter 179 - Most Commendable Man
Once the conversation with Krystal ended, Lina saw Atlantis again.
Atlantis was surrounded by a different crowd, but double the number of people. They were engrossed in a heavy discussion, all of whom were eager to make his acquaintance.
Lina took a slow sip of her champagne and stared. How many glasses had it been?
Lina did not remember. She was entranced by the dry yet fizzy drink. It was sweet and tasted of lightly flavored soda.
Those who had once insulted him were practically groveling at his feet.
"What a humorous sight," Lina muttered under her breath.
In the meantime, Lina could feel Kane's curious stare piercing a hole through her skull. He didn't take his eyes off of her. She knew why. He wanted to know what she said to Krystal in private.
Lina stroked the hair out of her face. She'd stay for Atlantis' speech, but knew he'd be surrounded by the same crowd. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't interrogate him here. She couldn't ask him any private questions. Thus, Lina settled the champagne glass onto the plate of a passing waiter.
Then, Lina headed straight for the door. Tonight had been a partial success. She wasn't able to ask Atlantis about his mission, but she was able to network with only the people that mattered.
As Lina passed by the group of people dressed in fancy suits and dresses, a man caught her attention. The man was all alone, seated in the corner in plain clothes that were shabbier than the waiters. Thus, no one paid him any mind or attention.
"Those who dress like they have no one to impress are the people you should impress the most," Lina whispered to herself.
Instantly, Lina began to approach the man. He was sitting all by himself, resting his hands on a cane like a wicked villain. When she crossed the threshold from the light to the shadow that hid him, she felt people looking at her.
People that weren't the typical crowd.
Lina didn't want to put herself out there. The first rule of business negotiation was to wait for the other person to engage. She had ignored that rule when speaking to Krystal, but she had no choice. This time, the relationship was meant for networking purposes only.
Lina leaned by the walls and watched the crowd again. She made no moves to greet the man. Instead, she seemed like a typical socialite taking a break to recharge her social batteries.
"Lina Yang. Twenty-one. Year of the Snake and stars aligned to Scorpio. A formidable match," the man murmured to himself.
Lina froze. When she looked at him, he was already watching her. Then, she saw his thumb counting the large wooden beaded bracelet in his hand. Her lips parted. When she looked at him, he seemed like no ordinary man.
"Kaden DeHaven. Constellation of a god. Eternal suffering."
Lina realized he was no longer staring at her. Instead, he had slowly turned his head to the balcony where she once stood. Lina squinted at the spot, but saw no one there. Then, she witnessed a flash of red from beyond the window.
Was that Kaden? She straightened up, but paused.
"Do I know you?" Lina asked the old man.
The old man did not speak. He solemnly turned his head to look at her. His movement reminded her of a wooden doll. His face resembled overused leather, filled with wrinkled lines. His skin sagged over his eyes, hiding them from her.
"You're the favored child of Heaven and he is the boy destined to die," the old man whispered to her. "Your red thread is not tied to one man. It is tied to two. One is your destiny and the next is your destruction."
"Who are you?" Lina remarked as she began to approach him.
The old man did not pull back from her presence. He simply peered up at her, revealed a tired smile, and laughed under his breath.
"I am no one just as you are someone,"? he told her.
"You're a seer," Lina pointed out. "I've read about you. People that communicate with Heaven."
Lina heard there was one in Wraith a few years ago, but the seer was nowhere to be seen. Some speculated the seer died, some believed the seer retired. There were all sorts of rumors, but none that Lina cared for.
"I am no one," the man said in a voice as deep as the roots of an ancient tree.
"The men of my destiny…" Lina began. "Are they Atlantis and Kaden?"
"They are someone to you," the man told her. "Just as you are no one to me."
Lina was growing confused. He called himself a nobody. Then, she was a somebody. But her destiny was important to her, just as he didn't care about her.
"And how do I become someone to you?" Lina retorted.
The old man's mouth twisted into a slight smile. He tilted his head and let out a wistful hum. Closing his eyes, he leaned into his seat.
Lina noticed the cane's wooden pattern looked familiar. Then, her eyes grew wide with recognition. The distinctive pattern came from a winter tree. It sounded like a plant from her imagination, but it was not.
They were the dead trees that stayed firm at the peak of an icy mountain. The wood crafted from it was extremely sturdy, but there wasn't much equipment made from it due to the extreme lack of supply. Thus, just a small slab of wood could cost at least millions per inch or so
"That cane," Lina pointed out in disbelief. "It's from a winter tree."
The old man smiled wider as her words pleased him. He rested his head back and leaned it upon the wall. His fingers continued to stroke the beads with his thumb.
"You are just as Heaven depicts you to be," the old man told her. "You were favored, not for your beauty, but for your wisdom."
Wisdom.
Heaven.
Lina suddenly recalled a dream she had. There, she was standing in a cloudy realm of white. Lina was running down marble hallways to stop a man from jumping into a purple whirlpool.
Then, she quickly followed after him. Afterward, a long red thread levitated in the air. Next, more people jumped into the well, including Sebastian, someone that resembled Priscilla, and next, Isabelle, which promoted another red string to float.
But there was a group of people chasing after Lina in the distance. Leading it was a man. She suddenly wondered if anyone else had jumped into the whirlpool.
"One of the men of my destiny. Who is it?" Lina asked the old man.
The old man opened his mouth. "It is—"
"Atlantis," Lina breathed out, noticing he stopped right in front of her.
"Lina," Atlantis blinked.
Lina could only stare. The timing was impeccable.
"You met my grandfather already?" Atlantis said with a light laugh. "Bummer. I was looking for him to introduce you two."
Lina was startled by the way he addressed the old man. She opened and closed her mouth, attempting to process this information.
Atlantis pridefully turned to his grandfather with a large smile. He walked to Lina's side and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Grandpa, this is Lina," Atlantis declared.
Lina forced a smile. Atlantis was introducing her as one would their future spouse. But her attention was too focused on the old man.
If this was Atlantis' grandfather, then he was the man Lawrence was close to. But why did the man appear much older than Lawrence, by at least a few decades? Lina credited her grandfather's youth to his frequent exercise, but felt amiss.
"My boy," the man muttered. "I have found you the woman of your desire."
Atlantis laughed like he was used to the old man's weird antics. "You didn't find her, Grandpa. I invited her."
"This is your paternal grandfather?" Lina asked.
"Yes, he's close friends with your grandfather, or so he says," Atlantis said with a proud smile.
Lina didn't remember Atlantis ever mentioning his grandfather. If this was the paternal relative then… the old man was the previous head of Medeor Corporation!
Lina's brows shot up. Now, she knew why the old man wasn't dressed in a fancy suit. He did not have to. He had no one to impress, for he was the most commendable man in the entire room.
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