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Chapter 220 218: Part 3
Chapter 220 218: Part 3
Chapter 220 218: Part 3
"It seems almost too real," Oliver whispered in awe.
Val turned to the man and said, "Only a fool would criticize an artist like you who can infuse such raw emotions into his work."
Hearing his words, the man's face reddened with gratitude.
Clearly, he wasn't used to getting praised.
"Thank you for your kind words. Please, keep the painting as a token of my appreciation."
With a bow, he turned away, leaving behind a masterpiece in Val's hands.
It was too late for them to react as the man's figure disappeared into the crowd.
"What a weird person. He didn't even wait for us to decide before walking away," Oliver complained.
"It's good for us. It's rare to come across a painting like this in one's lifetime," Val said. "But there are three of us, and there is only this one masterpiece. What should we do?"
"Since he left it in your hands, just keep it," Lucious said.
"Uh... Okay then, I will." Val said, storing the painting in the Void Orb.
'Where's the disharmony I was expecting? These bastards are not playing by the rules!'
Looking at them from the window of his room, Lorel clicked his tongue in disappointment.
The matter of ownership was settled too easily.
These people seemed to have no greed.
Lorel cursed them out for a couple of minutes before feeling good.
Meanwhile, Lucious gestured towards the cafe's counter and said, "While we're here, I must recommend the pastries this place offers. They might be known for their coffee, but their pastries are the hidden gems of this establishment. Consider it on me."
With that, he handed over the menu to Val and Oliver.
Oliver didn't even take a look at it before placing it down on the table, "I have been here a couple of times, so I know what I will get."
On the other hand, Val browsed through the options mentioned in the menu, his eyes lighting up at the delectable descriptions. Despite his Unfeeling and Emotional Impairment traits, food was one of the things he actually enjoyed. In the end, he wasn't a heartless monster. He was just different than others, always prioritizing his safety and benefits before anything else. Compared to a ruthless business of the modern world, he was no different, just a bit more ruthless. After all, his ruthlessness didn't only extend to others, but also to himself.
"Everything sounds so tempting," Val commented. With a playful grin, he handed the menu to Oliver, "Pick up a selection for us, will you?"
Oliver chuckled, "Leave it to me to ensure our taste buds are delighted."
And with that, he made his way to the counter to place their order.
Now that Val was alone with Lucious, he could bring another matter to light.
"Lord Lucious, are you aware that Oliver's life is under threat?" Val inquired.
Lucious's sunny expression dimmed, like the sudden arrival of night, becoming as cold as the winter gales.
It was reminiscent of a sunlit day overtaken by storm clouds.
"Explain. Who dares to target him?" Lucious said in a demanding and chilling tone.
Although his gaze was cold, Val knew it wasn't directed toward him. He remained seemingly unfazed.
"So you didn't know. Well, I don't mind telling you. From what Alex shared with us, it appears Leon has set his sights on Oliver. He's dispatched Clea to assassinate him during the upcoming expedition,"
Val revealed.
A cold smirk appeared on Lucious's lips. "It seems they've chosen to ignore my previous warnings," he remarked icily.
Although Lucious was a renowned figure, acquiring Oliver from the Thunderspear tribe hadn't been straightforward.
Their unwritten law was: if you're born in the tribe, until your last breath you will die in the tribe.
Anyone that dare to break this code was punished heavily before being exiled.
Lucious had to part with a significant amount of wealth to take Oliver under his guardianship.
When Lucious first encountered him, Oliver's condition was pitiable, reminiscent of a neglected street urchin. He wore tattered clothes, and beneath them, his skin was marred with bruises and wounds that have scarred over.
At first glance, it was clear Oliver had suffered from unimaginable and heinous forms of abuse.
Seeing him, Lucious was reminded of the lost children of the D. Dragon and D. Grace clans who were forced to scatter throughout the kingdom, lost and struggling to find their way back.
Overwhelmed with compassion, Lucious decided then and there to adopt him.
Because Oliver was just a piece of trash, the Thunderspear clan after gaining the permission of the Lord of Thunder willingly sold him to Lucious in exchange for a wide range of resources.
During that time, Lucious had also left behind a stern warning.
"People I extend my hand to are as precious to me as my family. I can never stand them being wrong. Now that Oliver has become a part of my family if anyone ever troubles him, they will have to answer to me."
This warning was for everyone who might want to trouble Oliver out of pettiness.
And from the looks of it, he was just playing flute before a cow.
His warning has fallen on deaf ears.
What he feared was transpiring.
Oliver was being dragged into the swirl of disgusting clan politics.
"Why would Oliver hide such an important matter concerning his life and death from me? Does he still take me as his master?" Lucious grumbled like an old man.
"I don't think that is the case. I mean, whenever he talks about you, his face would light up and he would be all smiles like a child talking about his parents. You are akin to a father figure for him. He likely kept silent to spare you the added burden of worry," Val said.
As a result, he avoided causing any misunderstanding between Lucious and Oliver. He didn't know that this would actually prove to be beneficial to him in the end.