Chapter 326: Chapter 326 - Table Taken
"Ignacio Richard?" Vance Johansson’s expression darkened instantly.
If Mason Raymond truly became Ignacio Richard’s student, touching him would require considerable effort.
"Yes, but apparently Mason Raymond turned him down," the steward continued.
Vance Johansson’s brow furrowed slightly, and he couldn’t help but sneer. "He actually said no? I never thought Ignacio Richard would face rejection, haha!"
The steward wasn’t as confident as Vance Johansson. He said fawningly, "Young Master, since Ignacio Richard has taken notice of Mason Raymond, he must think highly of him."
"It’s only been six months, and he’s already making headlines everywhere. Who knows how much stronger he’ll get if we give him another six months..."
Vance Johansson scoffed. "You’re giving him too much credit. He’s just a grandmaster right now. You think he’ll jump several levels in half a year?"
The steward said seriously, "Even so, if Ignacio Richard decides to shield him..."
"Shield him?" Vance Johansson burst into laughter.
"Mason Raymond made a public challenge through the media, saying he’ll settle things in six months. Is Ignacio Richard really going to openly protect someone?"
The steward suddenly understood and couldn’t help but chuckle. "I didn’t realize Mason Raymond dug his own grave..."
Vance Johansson’s eyes narrowed. "The biggest problem right now isn’t Ignacio Richard—it’s Jerry Sean."
"As long as he’s breathing, I won’t have peace!"
With Jerry Sean around, Vance Johansson wouldn’t dare challenge the Sean family’s power.
"Just wait until you’re dead—I’ll defile your precious granddaughter right in front of your tombstone!" A flash of cruelty crossed Vance Johansson’s eyes.
——
I traveled back with the Chuzzle Battle Zone team.
After that conversation with the Sean family, the pressure on me had grown tremendously.
The urgent feeling pushed me to keep moving without rest.
Originally, I planned to head straight to the Divine Alchemist Pavilion, but with less than two weeks until New Year’s, it wasn’t the right time to visit the Divine Alchemist Pavilion.
After thinking it over, I decided to go to the Divine Alchemist Pavilion after New Year’s.
Once we reached Chuzzle, I said goodbye to Commander Wood and left the Chuzzle Battle Zone.
The moment I got home, Jasper Thompson called to ask about what happened.
When he found out the Chuzzle Battle Zone took first place, Jasper Thompson was thrilled.
"Mason Raymond, you really surprised me!" Jasper Thompson said excitedly through the phone.
Then Watson Thompson’s voice came through the phone.
She yelled into the phone, "Mason Raymond, when are you coming over to visit us?!"
Jasper Thompson scolded, "Go on, get out of here!"
I found it amusing but could only say over the phone, "We’ll see when the opportunity comes."
Jasper Thompson switched topics. He said, "Mason Raymond, where are you spending New Year’s?"
Bringing up this subject, I couldn’t help feeling a bit melancholy.
During holidays, one misses family the most. I usually spent New Year’s at the Lucas family house.
Now that I was divorced from Lyla Lucas, I felt alone.
I sighed and said, "I’ll return to River City—after all, that’s where I grew up."
Jasper Thompson said, "Why don’t you come to my place?"
"Yes, yes, yes, come to our house for New Year’s!" Watson Thompson said excitedly.
I shook my head and said, "I should go back to River City. I lived there for over twenty years."
Seeing this, Jasper Thompson didn’t push further.
After hanging up, I cleaned up and got ready to return to River City.
"Victor Green, are you going home?" I asked.
Victor Green shook his head and said, "I haven’t been back in several years."
"Then bring your sister and come back to River City with me," I said.
Victor Green agreed with a nod.
After that, the three of us packed our things and headed to River City.
About ten days remained before New Year’s, and River City already had that festive feeling.
Many people working elsewhere had slowly started returning home.
River City seemed to be coming alive.
I drove back to Longyue Community.
Just as we passed through the community gate, Victor Green pointed outside and said, "Mr. Raymond, isn’t that your ex-wife?"
Looking up, I saw Lyla Lucas.
Right then, she was surrounded by four or five young men.
Listening closely, I could hear these punks pointing at Lyla Lucas and swearing.
"When are you gonna pay us back? If you don’t pay up soon, we’ll toss you in a brothel!"
"Please, I... I don’t have the money right now. Can I pay you back in a couple days?" Lyla Lucas begged.
The young man lifted his leg and kicked Lyla in the stomach, grabbed her hair, and said, "In a couple days? How many days has it been already?"
Seeing this scene, I kept my face expressionless.
Just then, Lyla spotted me standing there.
She desperately broke free and ran frantically toward me.
"Mason, save me, please... save me..." Lyla grabbed my leg and spoke in panic.
The young men quickly chased after her, pointing at my nose and saying, "Hey, punk, what’s your connection to her?"
"He’s my husband, he’s my husband!" Lyla said urgently.
Just hearing the word "husband" made me feel slightly sick.
"You’re her husband, huh? Perfect, she owes us three hundred thousand. You gonna pay it off for her!" the punks cursed.
I glanced at them and said, "We’re divorced. I have nothing to do with her."
"You say you’re divorced and that’s it?" The punks blocked my path.
Victor Green said sternly, "Don’t push our patience. Get lost now!"
But the young men kept causing trouble. I finally ran out of patience, waved my hand, and knocked them straight to the ground.
As those men got up from the ground, they pointed at me and said, "You just wait!"
After saying this, they turned and ran off.
Lyla grabbed my leg, saying, "You still love me, don’t you? Otherwise, why would you help me deal with them?"
My face was cold as I said, "Lyla, when you say that, don’t you feel sick? Get away—just looking at you makes me nauseous."
"I don’t believe you can be so heartless to me! You used to treat me so well!" Lyla pleaded.
"That was then, this is now," I said coldly.
Right after, I ordered, "Victor Green, get her out of here."
"Yes, Mr. Raymond." Victor Green immediately stepped forward, grabbed Lyla’s arm, and tossed her away.
Lyla hit the ground hard with fresh blood flowing from her nose.
But I didn’t look back as I walked away.
——
Over the following days, I barely left the house.
I spent all day at home, either training or brewing potions.
In the blink of an eye, Chinese New Year was right around the corner.
Not many people knew I was back.
The big villa felt pretty empty and lonely.
Just when I was about to spend New Year’s this way, Victor Green came back excitedly.
He grinned and said, "Mr. Raymond, I’ve booked the New Year’s Eve dinner. It’s getting late—we should go!"
"New Year’s Eve dinner?" I was slightly surprised.
Victor Green said, "It’s Chinese New Year—we’ve got to celebrate properly. These days, wealthy people like to book hotels for the celebration, right? Let’s go and enjoy the festivities."
I thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright."
So we drove to a hotel.
At that moment, the hotel entrance was packed with cars, many with out-of-town license plates.
Victor Green took me to the front desk and said, "My name is Victor Green. I already reserved Table Three."
"Please wait a moment." The receptionist checked her computer.
She looked up with an apologetic expression and said, "Sir, I’m sorry, but your table is already taken."
Victor Green was shocked and said hurriedly, "Table Three is supposed to be mine—I even paid for it!"
The receptionist said awkwardly, "But... there are already people at that table."
"What’s going on?" At this point, a well-dressed man walked over.
Seeing this man, the receptionist immediately said, "Manager, this gentleman said he booked Table Three, but there are already people there..."
The manager waved his hand and said, "I’ll take care of this."
After saying this, he walked up to me and Victor Green, and said with a light smile, "Sir, I apologize. Your table is indeed occupied. To make up for it, our hotel is willing to refund double your deposit. How does that sound?"
"Screw your refund! Who needs your pocket change?" Victor Green said angrily.
"I made the reservation ten days ago, and now you tell me it’s taken?"
