I arrived at Ricardo Beaumont's mansion just after eight. The place screamed old money—marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and paintings worth more than most people would earn in a lifetime. A servant took my coat and directed me to a spacious hall where Veridia City's young elites mingled.
Ricardo spotted me immediately, breaking away from his conversation to greet me.
"Liam Knight! I wasn't certain you'd come." He extended his hand, which I shook briefly. "Allow me to introduce you to everyone."
He guided me through the crowd, making introductions. I recognized some faces from The Aegis Academy, while others were clearly from prominent families I'd only heard about. Everyone seemed eager to meet me, their eyes filled with curiosity and something else—respect, perhaps even fear.
"And this is Emmett Monroe," Ricardo said, gesturing to a lean man with calculating eyes. "His family controls half the shipping routes in the eastern territories."
