"I wonder what Draco wanted to achieve by meeting the head of the Everett Family," Ming said, taking a sip from the cup of drink in his hand, watching Rose, who was still dancing with Casper.
"Ahem, you're wrong, bruh. It's the acting head. Don't forget the rules of the Everett Clan, or you'll f*cking regret it," Blum whispered to his friend, chuckling at Ming's forgetful memory.
"Also, I'm sure it's the other way around; the acting head wants to meet with Draco. The Everett Family has a different rule pertaining to their head of the family - it's women who are the head of the family. It's said that the current head, Rose's mother, is ill, so Rose's father took charge of the family."
"But why?" Ming creased his brows.
"You're asking me? How would I know? Maybe they want to poach him," Blum grinned.
The dance finished, the crowd cheering Casper and Rose as they took a light bow, a courtesy to all the clan members present. Separating herself from the crowd, who wanted to overwhelm her, she headed where Blum and Ming were standing. Sharon had been dragged out by some of her friends in the clan.
"Where is Draco?" Rose asked, puzzled by his disappearance.
"Your father wanted to meet him," Blum answered.
"Oh, I get it," her voice was down and moody, her face showing disappointment. Why was Draco in such a hurry to meet her father? His actions made her feel like she was a pest to him.
"Rose, it's time to address the crowd," Casper's voice was heard as he approached Rose, wearing his purple suit.
"I'm coming," she smiled, heading to attend to the crowd.
\\
Draco quickly hid his killing intent as he smiled. "It's a great pleasure meeting the head of the Everett Clan," he chuckled with a light bow.
"As expected of an SS-Ranked Awakener, you don't fear this old man, and I can't see any reverence in your eyes, even though this is our first meeting," the Clan Head observed.
Draco finally saw the face of the head of the family - a young man in his thirties wearing a white shirt and trousers. One could see a resemblance between Rose and this man; he also had black hair like his children. Draco was shocked by the young face of the head of the family.
"No need to be surprised, young one. When you reach a certain level, you can slow the aging of your body," the Clan Head waved his hand, signaling for Draco to sit.
"I think I'm not worthy to sit together with such a great figure like you," Draco clasped his hands together, sounding respectful, seeing two chairs with a table between them.
Laughing, "No need for this between us," Rose's father waved his hand, and Draco found himself sitting on the chair.
"Since you're a friend of Rose, just consider me your father, Romans Everett," he said.
Draco's mind was still processing how he got to this chair; this was the enemy he was up against, he thought. Also, he finally knew the name of the Head of the Everett Family - Rose's father.
Waving his hand, maids entered the room, serving tea for both of them.
"You know, I felt something from you, which makes me curious," Romans said, his words sending shivers down Draco's spine as he took the cup of tea served.
Composing himself, "And I wonder what a great figure like you felt. This is making me a bit scared," Draco said, scratching his head and taking a sip of the tea to relieve his tension.
If what Romans felt was his killing intent, he was in big trouble, as having killing intent against a family head meant instant death.
"I wonder where you got your silver bracelet from. The material used to make it is surely unique," Romans said, calming Draco, who thought he had been caught and was thinking of ways to escape.
"It's a family heirloom," Draco replied, his gaze never leaving Romans'. The bracelet was his brother, something invaluable.
Romans' eyes flickered. "Then I wonder if it's sellable. If it is, I owe you a favor."
Draco's face changed upon hearing this, looking at Romans' neutral face.
"It would be a great honor to receive a favor from the head of the family, but this is a special heirloom. We swore an oath not to pass or sell it to anyone apart from my relatives," Draco said.
Draco had guessed that Romans had found out about Bubble, but it made him wonder what was so special about Bubble that attracted the attention of the head of the Everett Family.
He didn't hide Bubble, and since they met, nobody had disturbed him about Bubble. They just called Bubble a trash Volkoid, saying he should abandon him. But Draco would never do that.
"Is that so?" Romans muttered in a low tone, the surroundings turning chilly. Draco felt a great pressure, making him sweat. It looked like the viper couldn't wait to reveal its fangs.
Maintaining an innocent and sheepish expression, pretending not to hear Romans' words, "I wonder why the air is so cold," Draco muttered. Still, his mind had marked this; he would get his revenge in the future.
A few minutes passed.
"I wonder if this is what the clan head wanted to see me for," Draco asked, dropping the empty cup of tea hastily.
"Yeah, I just wanted to see the popular SS-Ranked Awakener of the Luminari. But I'm confused why you're in haste to leave here, as if I'm a devil," Romans said, raising his eyebrows and calmly looking straight into Draco's eyes.
"Ahem! As a father, you should know today is your daughter's birthday, so..." Draco said.
Romans understood where Draco was getting at, looking at him with an inquisitive gaze, while Draco looked back with pure and innocent eyes. It was a war of attrition.
"Oh, then you can go. I would love to have another cup of tea with a talent like you," Romans chuckled.
"It would be a great honor to drink once again with a great figure like you," Draco said, his eyes shining as if he had obtained a heavenly opportunity. Meanwhile, in his mind, he had already cursed Romans a thousand times, praying nothing would make him come to this snake den again.
"If it's so, you can be excused," Romans waved his hand, and Draco rushed out of the building.
"What an interesting and smart guy! He's good at hiding his emotions. If he's not a friend, one must not make him an enemy," Romans thought.
"Master, why do you want to buy the bracelet so badly? It's just an ordinary one," a cloaked figure said, its voice indistinguishable, its features concealed.
"Don't underestimate that bracelet," Romans replied. "If I hadn't looked closely, I wouldn't have known it was a Volkoid Beast." He chuckled.
"You mean..." The cloaked figure was surprised.
"Yes, it seems the young boy has a lot of secrets. Also, he intellectually maneuvered some of my questions."
Romans stood up. "But since he dared show killing intent towards me, I suppose I'll eliminate him from the face of the world, lest he cause organizational disturbance."
Draco thought he had hidden his killing intent well, but how could an old monster like Romans not notice?
"Investigate his background, then I'll know what to do," Romans said, disappearing from the room.
The cloaked figure also disappeared, leaving the room in silence.
Draco didn't bother looking back as he headed out of the house to the party villa. As he walked, numerous thoughts passed through his mind.
How did he survive? He was sure he was killed by those two men. Does this mean Big Bro Azria is alive? Draco's eyes flickered with joy for a moment.
But why was he just remembering such scenes? It was as if this memory was sealed before. He had an inkling that if he hadn't met one of those killers and heard their voice, he wouldn't have awakened these memories.
A whole dignified head of a main clan ruthlessly exterminated and butchered innocent children. The new voice he heard, which made the other two sound respectful, was the same as Romans' voice; he couldn't mistake it - it was clear and vivid.
He had to settle his grudge and revenge, or he wouldn't have peace of mind.
What Draco didn't know was that, as he had these thoughts, his black eyes had a hint of red hue, his face looking demonic.
Everything was about strength; if he had strength, he would have gotten his revenge today.
Shaking off those thoughts, he looked at Bubble, who was in bracelet form, wondering about his true origin.
From Romans' expression, it seemed he had underestimated Bubble's origin - an unknown Volkoid, said to be of snake lineage.
One thing was that Bubble was behaving strangely nowadays, sleeping longer than before.
Looking at him now, he was already in deep sleep.
"What am I thinking of?" Draco muttered, stroking the bracelet. "No matter who or what you are, you are always my brother, Bubble."
He smiled, unaware that the bracelet shook in response to his words.
Looking at the moon in the sky, his face determined, he would surely get strong and fulfill his hidden dream.