“The Hiroshi Family invited us for dinner this evening at the Hiroshi Estate,” Lily said, handing Klaus a golden card.
Klaus raised an eyebrow, taking the card from her. The weight of the invitation was evident not just in the card’s ornate design but in the significance behind it. The Hiroshi Family didn’t extend such invitations lightly.
“They must really want to meet us, huh?” Klaus said, examining the card. The Hiroshi Estate was famous, and any dinner there promised to be more than just a meal—it was an event, a show of status, and sometimes even a test.
Lily nodded. “It’s an honor, but it’s also about making connections. Ryo Hiroshi himself might be there. It’s a good chance to meet him.”
Klaus smiled slightly, though his mind was already working. ‘Ryo Hiroshi… the King of Swords,’ he thought to himself. This dinner might not be as casual as it seemed.
“Well, I guess we better prepare then,” Klaus said, placing the card down and turning back to his breakfast.
The Hiroshi Family’s influence was vast, and though Klaus wasn’t overly concerned about impressing them, he knew better than to underestimate anyone with their kind of power. The fact that they extended an invitation carried weight, and Klaus understood that the true purpose behind it would only be revealed once they stepped into the Hiroshi Estate that evening.
“That being said, Klaus, tone it down a bit when we go there today,” Anna said, raising an eyebrow in warning. She knew Klaus far too well to let him go in without a heads-up.
Klaus grinned. “Anna dear, are you worried I’ll cause trouble?”
Anna sighed, but before she could respond, Lily chimed in. “She’s serious, Klaus. Taro Hiroshi has a tendency to stir up trouble, and since we’re not in our domain here, it’s best if you don’t get tangled up with him. He’s what most would call… a prick.” Her face scrunched in mild embarrassment as she said the word.
Klaus leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a thoughtful look. “Ah, so there’s always one of those, huh?”
“Always,” Anna replied with a knowing smirk. “Just this time, we don’t need you making things worse.”
Klaus chuckled, but his eyes were full of mischief. “Fine, fine. I’ll play nice… until I can’t.”
Lily shook her head, clearly unconvinced. “Just remember, we’re there to make alliances, not enemies.” Klaus is no heir to any Great Family, so he doesn’t care about impressing anyone, unlike Anna and the rest. They are there to extend their family influence, so knowing Klaus and his troubles, they start warning him before heading over.
Klaus gave a mock salute. “Scout’s honor.”
But even as he joked, Klaus knew this dinner was no casual affair. There would be more than food served at the Hiroshi Estate—power plays, hidden agendas, and maybe even a challenge or two. He could feel it in his bones and he was looking forward to it.
Later that evening, a sleek flying car arrived to pick them up and take them to the Hiroshi estate. Thanks to Nadia, who always ensured his wardrobe was on point, Klaus looked sharp. His mother had also added some flair to his dreadlocks, giving him a mix of charm and intimidation. He looked both cute and dangerous at the same time, a balance he never minded.
His friends were dressed just as well. Having a close friend who modeled for the number one fashion company in the world certainly had its perks. Even after Klaus died, Nucci Fashion Trend X remained on top of the charts. In fact, it hadn’t just stayed strong; it became even more successful.
The only trouble came from the investors. They had tried to make things difficult for Nadia, but before it spiraled out of control, an anonymous buyer swooped in and purchased the shares of the other investors. Then in a twist, every bit of the shared bought was handed to Nadia to manage. So now, she has 100% control over her company and it’s thriving even better than before.
After about half an hour of flying, they arrived at the estate. From 2km away, Klaus could see the sprawling Hiroshi estate, stretching for miles in every direction. It was grander than he had imagined.
“This place is incredible,” Klaus muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the sprawling estate.
They landed and were quickly ushered into another car, which drove for another twenty minutes before they arrived at a large mansion that stood elegantly like a castle.
“Welcome to the Hiroshi Estate. I am Lanki, the butler of the Hiroshi Great Family,” said a man who looked to be in his late thirties. He was dressed in a dark suit, impeccably neat. He doesn’t need an introduction to know he is a butler.
“Please follow me,” he instructed. Klaus and his friends complied and began to follow him, Klaus sensed a powerful aura around Land and he knew if he were to clash with this man, he knew he’d be in serious trouble. Though Lanki was just a Sage, the energy around him felt far more dangerous than the Zombie Kings Klaus had faced during the invasion at the Arcadian Mine.
“You are Klaus,” A voice spoke
Klaus and his friends stopped and turned to see a young lady, around Lucy’s age, walking toward them. Her presence was striking, and Klaus felt an unexpected jolt of curiosity. Who was she?
“Master Klaus, this is Young Miss Aoi Hiroshi, the third daughter of Ryo Hiroshi,” Lanki introduced her with a slight bow.
Aoi smiled warmly, her demeanor friendly yet poised. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Klaus,” she said, her voice clear and inviting.
For some reason, Klaus felt Nervous and excited at the same time looking at Aoi Hiroshi. He just couldn’t place his finger on it, but there was something about her that he found curious. Of course, he doesn’t know what, just yet. “Nice to meet you, Aoi,” he replied, trying to sound confident.
The atmosphere shifted slightly as Aoi stepped closer, her gaze curious. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you. They said you cleared an entire battlefield with a single attack. That is impressive”
Klaus nodded, unsure of what to say. He glanced at his friends, who seemed just as intrigued. “Yeah, it’s been quite the journey,” he finally said, hoping to keep the conversation light.
Aoi’s smile widened. “I’d love to hear more about it. Maybe after dinner?”
“Sure,” Klaus replied, and just like that, their interaction was over. Aoi turned and walked away, leaving Klaus and the others watching her go.
“Sister Emily said she ranked number 12 on the Inner Disciple Ranking Chart at the Celestial Mountain Academy,” Lily mentioned, her eyes still following Aoi.
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Anna said, glancing at Klaus, who seemed lost in deep thought. Then they started moving again. Of course, Klaus didn’t respond to the comment Lily made, so they followed Lanki instead. Soon, they arrived at a large garden.
As soon as they appeared, familiar faces greeted them.
“Hello, my dear friend Miguel! How have you been?” Klaus exclaimed, his mood shifting instantly. It was like he was seeing a long-lost friend. But everyone around knew better. These two were no friends; calling them mere enemies would be an understatement. They were mortal enemies.
The air grew tense as Klaus smiled, but his eyes held a glint of Mischief. Klaus was looking for trouble with Miguel. Miguel returned the smile, but it was tight-lipped, masking the animosity simmering beneath the surface.
“Just trying to survive, Klaus. You know how it is,” Miguel replied, his voice casual but laced with underlying tension.
Perhaps anticipating something like this, Miguel chose his words carefully, but they only made Klaus narrow his gaze in amusement. After all, he had just survived an assassination attempt on his life; one could say he was indeed trying to survive the past weeks.
“Touche, Miguel, touche,” Klaus said, a smirk playing on his lips. “You and I could have been best friends if you weren’t such a dick.”
Klaus’s raw words caught everyone’s attention. Miguel clenched his fist clearly annoyed by Klaus calling him a dick, but before he could fire back, Anna and Lily pulled Klaus away. The night hasn’t even started yet and he has already started causing trouble.