The purple-haired man released his grip on the elderly man's collar. Though his arrogance had diminished, his face still bore a flippant, mocking expression. With his hands shoved into his pockets, he tilted his head slightly, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he spoke in a lazy yet provocative tone: "Oh, look who it is, little master of the Lilith family. Out on patrol today? Learning how to manage things from your mommy?"
Lionel's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure passing through his eyes. However, his expression quickly returned to calm, with an undercurrent of authority subtly emanating from him. He stood tall, his sharp gaze cutting into Richie like a blade, exuding a quiet but undeniable pressure that filled the air.
Behind Lionel, Omar couldn't hold back and stepped forward, his tone icy as he snapped, "Richie, you'd better watch your mouth! This is the young master's territory. Don't forget your place. Apologize to Mr. Mars and the young master at once!"
Richie let out a derisive laugh, his face full of mockery as he glanced at Omar. "Oh? The 'loyal dog' speaks? Coming to defend your master now? Truly devoted, I must say. Impressive, really."
Omar, enraged, stepped forward and raised his hand, ready to strike Richie. However, Richie moved faster. With a cold snort, he shifted his weight and delivered a swift kick to Omar's stomach. Caught off guard, Omar staggered back several steps, clutching his abdomen in pain as he fell to the ground.
The onlookers gasped, and many instinctively backed away, plunging the scene into chaos. Just then, Lionel raised his hand with a calm yet commanding gesture. A translucent magical barrier materialized instantly, separating Richie and Omar. The barrier glowed faintly with a golden light, emanating an aura of undeniable authority, as if warning everyone present.
Lionel's voice was low and steady, carrying an unyielding gravity: "Omar, stand down. Don't act on impulse." His gaze shifted to Richie, growing colder with each word. "Richie, are you planning to completely sever ties with us here? You know the consequences of your actions."
Richie leaned casually against the side, still maintaining a carefree posture, though a hint of wariness flickered in his eyes. Running a hand through his purple hair, he feigned indifference as he replied, "It wasn't me who made the first move, young master. Surely you can't pin this on me?"
Lionel didn't dignify his excuse with a response. Instead, he fixed Richie with an icy stare, his gaze as cold as frost. "Don't test my patience. Apologize to Mr. Mars and leave immediately. If you refuse, I'll ensure your name is permanently blacklisted. That won't just affect you, it'll cut off your family's supply channels as well."
The words struck like a blade, precisely targeting Richie's weakness. The disdain on his face faltered for a moment. Though still reluctant, it was clear he was weighing his options. Eventually, he clicked his tongue and grumbled, "Fine. Messing with your family really is too much trouble. If I go back, my big brother will chew me out anyway."
He turned and walked over to the elderly Mr. Mars, his expression shifting into a half-hearted smile. He patted the old man's head as if placating a child and said in an insincere tone, "Sorry about that, old man. Guess I went a little overboard earlier. But honestly, your skills aren't what they used to be, huh?"
Mr. Mars frowned slightly at being patted on the head but remained silent. He simply straightened his rumpled collar with a calm demeanor. Richie, unbothered, grabbed the box containing the rare ingredient from the stall, acting as though his behavior had been entirely reasonable.
"All right, all right, I'll stop bothering you noble types," Richie said with a dismissive wave of his hand, his tone dripping with sarcasm and disdain. He walked away with a casual swagger, his footsteps light and carefree. Yet just before leaving, he stopped, turned back, and cast a sharp glance at Lionel and Mr. Mars. His lips curled into a biting smirk as he sneered, "Next time, get someone competent to guard the stall. Don't make me waste my time."
Though his words were delivered lightly, the undercurrent of provocation and contempt was unmistakable, cutting through the air like a knife. The surrounding crowd frowned at his insolence, some muttering about Richie's rudeness and arrogance, while others cast admiring glances at Lionel, impressed by his composure and decisiveness. However, a few questioned why Lionel hadn't taken direct action to expel Richie.
Richie's figure faded into the crowd, but his arrogant laughter seemed to linger in the air. Lionel watched him leave, his expression calm, though a trace of deep thought flickered in his eyes. After a long moment, he exhaled softly, as if releasing a lingering frustration. Turning toward Mr. Mars, he stepped closer and lowered his voice, his tone laced with a hint of apology. "Mr. Mars, I deeply regret that you had to endure this. I'll have security strengthened to ensure he doesn't trouble you again."
The elderly man looked up, his gaze warm and profound. He adjusted his collar and gave Lionel a serene smile, his voice calm yet reassuring. "Young master, there's no need to trouble yourself over someone like him. He's just an immature child. I can tell you've done your best to maintain order here. To have a young man like you standing by us is already an honor. As for someone like him, I'm long used to it and won't take it to heart."
Lionel's expression softened slightly at the elder's words. He nodded, the coldness in his eyes gradually dissipating. In a low voice, he said, "Mr. Mars, you've always been a valuable asset to our market. We will ensure that you can continue your work here without any disturbances."
Mars smiled warmly, nodding as he waved a hand lightly to indicate he was fine.
At that moment, Lionel turned to face the still-gathered crowd. His gaze swept across them, and he spoke with calm authority: "The situation has been resolved. Please disperse and carry on with your business."
Hearing his words, the crowd began to break apart, murmuring in low voices as they went back to their tasks.
"Who would've thought Richie could be so brazen…?"
"Young Master Lionel is truly impressive—handling something like this at his age."
"No wonder the Lilith family has such a strong foothold here. With a young master like that, it's no surprise."
The scattered whispers slowly faded, and the market's bustle gradually returned to normal.
However, Perry remained rooted in place, his eyes fixed on Lionel's retreating figure. A complex mix of emotions stirred in his heart: respect mingled with an indescribable sense of wonder.
Lionel withdrew his gaze and walked toward Omar, who was still lying on the ground. He crouched down and extended a hand, pulling Omar up with a firm grip. His movements weren't overly gentle, but they carried a resolute strength.
Omar kept his head down, a look of shame evident on his face. He gritted his teeth and said in a low, sincere voice, "Young Master, I'm sorry. I was too impulsive earlier and caused you trouble."
Lionel glanced at him, a fleeting hint of complex emotion crossing his eyes. His tone remained cold, but there was an unmistakable note of concern beneath the surface. "Impulsiveness doesn't solve anything. Don't make the same mistake again. Understood?"
Omar lifted his head and nodded guiltily. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but he held back. Lionel's eyes shifted to Omar's hand clutching his abdomen, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Go and get that wound treated. Don't let me see you playing the hero like that again—it's meaningless."
After a brief hesitation, Omar finally nodded and replied, "Yes, Young Master." He turned and walked toward the medical area. Lionel watched his retreating figure, the coldness on his face gradually softening, though his sharp gaze lingered, as if still pondering the events that had just unfolded.
The crowd had long since dispersed, and the market returned to its usual bustle. Yet the earlier conflict seemed to leave an invisible mark in the air. Lionel stood where he was, adjusting his cuffs, and muttered under his breath, "Some people really don't know their limits…"
"He actually dared to confront someone of a higher level than himself head-on…" Perry muttered to himself, a trace of surprise flickering in his gaze. According to the system's earlier assessment, Richie's level was 53. For Lionel to handle such a confrontation so fearlessly couldn't simply be attributed to his family background. Perry knew there must be something else behind the young master's confidence and authority.
"Of course, with a family like his to back him up, it's easy to act tough," Perry remarked to himself, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, teasing smile.
The system's voice suddenly rang out in Perry's mind, calm and devoid of emotion:[Host, if you wish to avoid drawing Lionel's attention, it is advisable to leave now. He seems to have noticed the commotion in your direction.]
Perry snapped out of his thoughts, instinctively glancing toward Lionel. Sure enough, the young master's gaze appeared to be scanning the crowd, his sharp eyes sweeping dangerously close.
Perry's heart tightened, and he cursed inwardly for letting himself get so caught up that he forgot to keep a low profile.
"Damn, almost got noticed!" Perry muttered to himself as he quickly turned around, using the confusion of the dispersing crowd to squeeze toward another row of stalls. He kept his head low, doing his best to avoid attracting attention.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Perry quickened his pace, weaving through the crowd. Just as he was beginning to relax, thinking he had successfully blended in, a familiar voice called out behind him:
"Hey, you there!"
His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively froze. Turning to look, he saw Tim——the slightly scatterbrained guy, pushing through the crowd toward him. Tim wore an excited grin, and his eyes sparkled with unmistakable curiosity.
"You saw that just now, didn't you? Young Master Lionel was so impressive and commanding!" Tim chattered on as he approached. "Perfect timing, Lionel is looking for you! Come on, I'll take you to meet him!"
Perry's heart tightened. He waved his hands frantically in refusal, speaking rapidly, "No, I can't! I've got things to do, and I'm in a hurry! My goal today is to sell my ingredients, I can't afford to waste time."
Tim paused, surprised by Perry's reaction, but quickly broke into a good-natured laugh. "Aw, don't be so uptight! Meeting Lionel isn't something that happens every day. This is a rare chance! You admired his performance just now, didn't you? Who knows—he might even help you find some buyers!"
But Perry wasn't swayed. He took a step back, shaking his head with firm resolve. "No, really, I have urgent business to attend to. Maybe another time!" Without waiting for a reply, he spun around and hurried off, eager to avoid further entanglement.
Tim stood there, scratching his head as he watched Perry's retreating figure. "This guy sure is a simple one… missing out on such a great opportunity," he mumbled to himself.