The long black limousine stopped in front of the huge mansion.
"It's much grander than I expected," Lucas murmured in disbelief seeing the huge castle-like building past the iron gates.
A huge garden lay between the house and the gates that would take half an hour for ordinary people to cover it by walking.
Lucas felt jealous of Frederick, after all, who wouldn't want such a grand place like this Capital?
The large gate with Frost crest slowly opened and while the guards opened it, a few knights patrolling the area greeted them.
Lucas stared at the people giving Frederick utmost respect. Their eyes were filled with admiration and respect.
However, Lucas didn't feel anything good about them because who knows how many of them ridiculed, mocked and harassed Frederick when he was young making his life a living nightmare.
Now that he had shown his worth and talent, all of them changed their views but would they have done this if Frederick hadn't changed?
No, they wouldn't.
The higher society was a place filled with shallow and hypocritical people that smooch on you until you stop giving them benefits.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Frederick spoke with a grin.
'If this is humble then what isn't humble according to you?'
Lucas' lips twitched but he didn't nitpick.
It wouldn't be good to argue in front of so many people.
"Let's go."
Frederick waved his hand and walked in the front while Lucas closely followed Frederick with a straight and upright look under the piercing gaze of servants that was filled with intrigue, confusion, and curiosity.
Some were scrutinising him wondering where this guy came from but Lucas just walked unfazed.
Entering inside, Lucas saw a huge lineup of maids bowing their heads and at the centre stood a black-haired lady.
Frederick's eyes moistened seeing this.
"Mother."
Ariana smiling gently, extended her hands and welcomed Frederick as he walked steadily into his mother's warm embrace.
Lucas' heart strung a bit seeing their interaction and at the moment, he wished for his mother's soft gentle touch filled with love and warmth.
After embracing her child for a moment, Ariana felt solace as she caressed Frederick's hair.
When the two separated, Ariana entered and shifted towards Lucas.
"Welcome to the Frost Household."
"I hope you had a pleasant journey, Lucas. Thanks for taking care of my unruly son.''
"Yes, Mam. There were no difficulties on the way."
"I hope my son didn't trouble you," Ariana spoke sweetly and pinched Frederick's cheek.
"My stop it. This is embarrassing."Frederick protested.
"Oh my, you are now finding your mom embarrassing how rude."Ariana is sad a few tears making a pitiful expression.
Frederick sighed and let her mother do what she want making Ariana smile gleefully.
"Frederick is a bit naive, stiff in handling things properly. He also had a habit of messing things up and destroying the atmosphere."
Lucas's lips twitched hearing Ariana dissing Frederick.
'Madam your son is the goddamn protagonist and you are stepping over him.'Lucas laughed inwardly watching Frederick despairing face.
At the same time, his heart felt hollow watching thier interaction. His mother is also quite sweet and always worries about her.
For a moment, he wanted to abandon everything and run away to his mother's warm embrace.
"Learn from Lucas. He is so mature."Ariana chided Frederick who already felt the world spinning around.
"Madam, Frederick is the star of the Academy. You dont need to worry about him. He had properly inherited your beautiful face."
"Sheesh! Stop teasing this old lady."
Lucas bowed gently and decided to use his sharpened skills to butter her up but stopped when a servant walked in and whispered something into Ariana making her frown.
"I see."
"Lucas, The Duke is inviting you to the study room. It seems an urgent situation has arisen so Duke wanted to finish the meeting quickly." Ariana spoke with a smile.
"I understand Madam," Lucas spoke.
'It seems Duke had caught the fish of Omen.'
A sly smile appeared underneath his face that didn't go unnoticed by Frederick's eyes.
'He is cooking something. I'm damned sure this guy is cooking something.' Frederick wiped out the beads of sweat forming over his forehead.
After staying with Lucas, Frederick knew very well how frightening this guy was.
He would rather offend the Demon King than this guy, who would first make you lessen your guard, break your mental barrier and stab you when you least prepared for the situation.
"Sir Lucas, please follow me."
A man with a face filled with wrinkles spoke politely.
"Okay!"
.....
In the huge room, except for the sound of breathing, everything else ceased for a moment.
"Since you asked for Frost House approval, you should know the weight The Frost approval carries."
A man with a navy bluish eye spoke with a solemn expression.
"Yes, My Lord!" Lucas spoke softly, however his brows creased alarmed by the frightening pressure weighing upon him as if a mountain had been placed over him.
Frank Frost, the current Duke of Frost Household stared at Lucas menacingly.
"It's good that you know."His lips curled and as locking his gaze on Lucas, he spoke sternly."So let me give you my opinion."
"I don't like it."
Lucas's eyes widened upon hearing his words but he made sure to manage his facial expression.
On discussing things with people of higher ranks, one should learn to stay unfazed instead of screaming why, what, please.
"May I know the reason?"
"It's because this business is too subpar. The mechanic orb shield is good however that's it. Normal people can afford it but it's useless. It can't save their life in case they encounter danger for real. Guns aren't effective either and the common man had no training in marksmanship. Moreover, it may sell well at first but the market will saturate soon. It's not as if every common man needs this every day. Those who buy it will just keep it as decoration."
Lucas nodded his head as Frank's thoughts were justifiable. Even if the price of these things is affordable it is not as if everyone needs this. And the market for these things is quite narrow for now.
Even if you wear normal 5-Star armour for protection there a 5-Star beast attack may tear it down in the worst case or damage it if the person is lucky.
And the main point was that common people rarely face danger unless they step into a place they shouldn't have.
However...
"If that is your concern, then there is nothing to worry about." Lucas cast a smile filled with confidence that startled Frank.
"Explain! "He commanded sharply.
"My Lord, have you ever thought of a scenario where every unawakened life will be in danger? A scenario where awakened ones would be too busy to even protect themselves."
Frank's eyes narrowed listening to Lucas' words.
What Lucas said wasn't a possibility but the future that was going to happen within one and a half years.
The Demons had been preparing for this for thousands of years. A continent spell of mass scale, that gonna lift the entire Demon realm and strike the world.
The Demon World was originally part of this world that formed a huge barren Northern Continent and when it emerges, it will collide with the North borders of many Empires including Cyprus creating large-scale tectonic movements and earthquakes disrupting everything.
The Demonkins would submit themselves to the Demons willingly and then a bloody war will begin that will bring the era of chaos.
"This is just your wishful thinking."
"Whether it's just wishful thinking or a definitive future, My Lord you should know better than anyone else." Lucas, boosted by his confidence, spoke straight with an overbearing tone making Frank's expression solemn.
"Anything can happen anytime. What I am doing is preparing some cards in case of disaster. My current guns can kill a 4-Star in sneak attacks and my Mechanical Orb Shields are as strong as 3-Star armour. This is just the first batch. There will be further improvements. An unawakened with the ability to defend and attack at 4-Star rank is enough to survive in this case. Moreover, these things aren't made for fighting but for the survival of the common man in a worse scenario."
Frank closed his eyes for a moment and then gave a bitter smile seeing Lucas' confidence about the upcoming situation.
"It seems I have underestimated you. You are quite far-sighted."
"And what about that fly you brought along."
"My Lord, that fly had its use."
"Your Honour should know it better and let me say this once again, all of this is just a coincidence however this coincidence may save the lives of many."
Frank's lips twitched seeing Lucas smile. For some reason, his eyes looked quite sinister.
'I wouldn't be here if I believed in all of this coincidence. This reason had already gone out of style a hundred years ago.'
Frank unfolded his legs and picked up his pen.
"I am satisfied with your answer. It seems you are going to create some huge waves in the future and I will be happy to be part of it."
Lucas smiled happily and after a few conversions, he gave a bow and was led out by his servant.
However, when Lucas stepped out his expression changed.
'Was he testing me?'
'Maybe I made the wrong move talking about the future scenario, however it would be good if he thinks of me as useful.'
...
Seeing Lucas disappearing, Frank sighed.
When Frederieck came up with the proposal, he thought that the person had taken advantage of his friendship and fooled him. So, he decided to check up on the boy's background.
In fact, he was really surprised. His academic profile was excellent. However, the real person is way beyond impressive.
Frank can feel the sharpness in those gentle-looking eyes that were ready to cut his enemies at any moment.
Still, he wasn't that much interested in him before and was forced to call him here. However, his opinion of the boy had changed.
That boy's temperament is quite refined.
He may look like a nervous anxious boy who fears everything but all of this is a ploy that hides his true self.
'Moreover those golden eyes, I am sure he is his son.'
'Like father, like son.'
Frank turned his head and spoke."What do you think?''
The space was distorted and at the corner of the room, a man with a cigar sat on the chair with an ugly expression as if he had stepped on some shit.
"I don't like him."
Frank frowned hearing his words.
"Why?"
"That bastard. I am 100...no, I am 1000% damn sure that this boy will steal something precious of mine. And that thing is priceless and more precious than my life."
Frank blinked his eyes in confusion, making a weird expression.
"Keep him under observation."
"I am Duke, not your shadow guard."
"Just do as I say. Keep an eye on him at all times. If you invade his personal space and search-"
"That isn't spying, rather stalking. Are you high? Are you smoking cigars or smoking weeds?"
'This guy just want to protect him but his face is too thich to admit it.'
Cough…Coug.
The man coughed hearing Frank's words.
"It seems, you need some mental treatment. I should inform Her Highness about this. You're smoking some drugs again, it would be better if she knew about you fooling around here and being high after taking a cigar."
"What? Nooo!"
"Don't tell her, please!!"
The man's scream echoed but Frank, turning an blind eye, made a call to the Empress.
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