Whoa... what a powerful woman...
When Lucas looked at Saria, he found that Saria was also looking at him. The moment their gazes met, it was as if an explosion went off between them. Lucas and Saria both withdrew their gazes and stopped looking at each other.
Lucas sighed internally.
He seemed to have heard Saria's name before...
It seemed Franka had mentioned her back in Bolívar, this director of Rhine Lab's Defense Division, a very powerful Vouivre.
Indeed.
She lived up to her name.
From Lucas's Transparent World perspective, Saria's physical strength had reached a ridiculous level. Not just her physical strength, but even her soul was like a solid iron tower, indestructible. Although not as strong as Patriot, just as Franka had said before, she could easily beat her to a pulp.
It's over...
Miss Franka, the elite operator of Blacksteel Worldwide, has once again been reduced to a unit of power measurement.
What followed was the routine part of a wealthy family's banquet.
All sorts of introductions.
Basically, Jessica's parents introduced their precious daughter to everyone in the main hall. For them, their network of connections was of utmost importance. They would eventually grow old, and the vast business empire in their hands would naturally have to be passed on to the next generation.
However.
Whether it would remain in the hands of the next generation depended on their abilities.
After all.
A behemoth like Raythean Industries was almost impossible to pass down in the same way a small company's owner retires and their child takes over.
At her parents' prompting, Jessica toasted numerous elders.
Meanwhile, Franka and the other two huddled together off to the side.
"Hiss~ I have to say, attending a top-tier banquet like this is really nerve-wracking. Any one of these people could buy a city with their wealth."
Franka savored the expensive red wine she rarely got to drink, one arm wrapped around her chest.
"Lucas, you're quite cute in Ceobe's body."
"Especially when you use Ceobe's cute, squeaky voice to talk so seriously to Jessica's parents. The contrast is kind of adorable."
Lucas leaned against the table laden with various foods, gazing at Jessica in the distance, who was being led by her parents to converse with various powerful figures. Lucas couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
It seems Jessica has grown a lot in the month I've been away.
Otherwise.
The old Jessica would never have been able to say so much, let alone attend a banquet like this.
It seems Jessica doesn't really need my help anymore.
His initial purpose in helping Jessica was to help her overcome her weakness and timidity. Now that she has overcome it herself, it seems there's not much more he can do to help her.
As he watched.
Ceobe's body's innate 'predator' instinct made Lucas want to reflexively grab the surrounding desserts.
After all, ever since Ceobe left the forests of Bolívar with Jessica, she had become extremely obsessed with sweet things like this.
But Lucas forcefully suppressed this urge.
Even though he was using Ceobe's body.
They were brought here by Jessica, and thus represented her image. He couldn't do anything too embarrassing.
However, sometimes Lucas often wondered.
What on earth was Ceobe's stomach made of? Why could she eat so much, and digest it so quickly? No wonder she was starving nine times every three days when she was living alone in the Bolívar forest.
Jessica and her parents were greeting the dignitaries of Columbia.
Meanwhile, Lucas and Franka were chatting about other things while waiting for Jessica to finish.
"Lucas, Lucas!!"
Franka patted Lucas's shoulder and glanced cautiously at a slightly pot-bellied middle-aged man in the corner.
"I've seen that middle-aged man over there. He's the chairman of Auke Foods. He once hired Blacksteel for a protection detail, and it was me and Liskarmy who took the job. His net worth seems to be very high, but to think he can only stand in the corner here..."
Although she knew Jessica was the heiress of Raythean Industries, it sometimes still felt too distant, ethereal, and unrealistic. The difference in their status was too great, making it impossible to even imagine.
But, thinking about this.
Franka still sighed.
Working as a mercenary at Blacksteel was her livelihood, but for Jessica, it was completely different. She was purely there to train her character. And now that Jessica's character had changed so much with Lucas's help, who knows when Jessica might be asked to return to her family to be groomed as the future heir.
Right now, I'm her senior.
But in the future...
Gazing at the incredibly luxurious, palace-like main hall, Franka shook her head. If Jessica were to leave Blacksteel one day, she would definitely miss her. After all, they had been together for so many years...
Lucas, on the other hand, didn't have too many thoughts.
As he looked at Jessica, who was smiling and conversing with many powerful figures in the distance, he only had a gratified smile on his face.
Relief...
Jessica has changed a lot.
Finally.
Jessica finished greeting the large circle of dignitaries, and next up was Raythean Industries' own family banquet.
This kind of banquet was completely different from a normal person's dinner party.
The hosts didn't need to stay with the guests the whole time. After all, with so many people, it was impossible to attend to everyone. Basically, they would toast each person once, and that would be it...
This kind of banquet served as a platform, allowing big shots from all walks of life to gather together and discuss business and cooperation.
Normally.
Outsiders like Lucas were not qualified to participate in Jessica's family banquet. But before Jessica could even speak, her father took the initiative to invite them to join.
As the high and mighty chairman of Raythean Industries.
Jessica's father was not like ordinary nouveau riche who became arrogant with a little bit of success. On the contrary, his emotional intelligence was very high. He knew that these were his daughter's friends, and not inviting them would not only slight the guests but also make his daughter feel awkward.
The family banquet was held in another dining room.
Lucas and the others followed behind Jessica.
Upon entering, they were greeted by unparalleled luxury. Only Jessica's family attended the family banquet, not even other relatives.
After all.
Once one's status becomes high, it's often difficult to balance work and family.
As the chairman of Raythean Industries, Jessica's father was often on business trips, and Jessica's mother, as her husband's capable assistant, naturally often accompanied him. In the past, Jessica was often home alone. Later, when she chose to go to Blacksteel Worldwide, the family saw even less of each other.
Therefore.
They cherished the time they spent together as a family.
This kind of peaceful and warm family atmosphere was a rarity in such a powerful family.
Jessica is very fortunate...
At least... she has parents who love her so much.
Lucas's lips curved into a slight smile as he looked at Jessica.
And this gaze was naturally caught by Jessica's father.
Or rather.
His attention had been on Lucas all along.
Jessica's father was a very, very good judge of character; otherwise, he wouldn't have reached his position.
In his earlier conversation with Lucas.
Jessica's father was even a little surprised.
The aura of this 'little girl' was unusually profound and transcendent. She didn't feel like a young girl in her teens or twenties, but like someone who had lived through countless years, calm and unperturbed.
His daughter's friends were truly extraordinary.
And...
His daughter seemed to look at this 'little girl' with a rather unusual gaze.
Love?
Deep love.
Hiss!!
Jessica's father felt a headache coming on.
"Mr. Reeve."
Jessica's father had originally intended to call her Miss Reeve, but his daughter referred to the other party as 'Mister'. However, the name seemed to be from Yan, and Jessica's father was well-traveled and naturally knew that the term 'Mister' in Yan was not just used for men, but also as a term of respect for learned individuals.
"Miss Franka, Miss Liskarm, as Jessica's father, I am very grateful for your care of Jessica over the years. I'd like to propose a toast to you. For my precious daughter to have transformed from her previous shyness to this, the three of you must have put in a lot of effort."
Jessica's father's gesture made Franka and Liskarm feel a bit overwhelmed.
Who was Jessica's father!
The head of Raythean Industries!
And the two of them were just ordinary mercenaries. Although they were elite operators, compared to such a major figure, they were nothing. The two of them quickly returned the gesture.
Franka composed herself.
As a mercenary who had faced life and death situations countless times, she wasn't so nervous that she couldn't speak in front of these top dignitaries. She smiled slightly and said.
"It's mainly thanks to Mr. Reeve. Liskarm and I didn't help much."
Franka was telling the truth.
99% of Jessica's transformation was due to Lucas's efforts.
Jessica's father looked at Lucas with some interest.
To be honest.
He quite liked Lucas's calm and steady personality. That kind of temperament... tsk tsk tsk, it wasn't something an ordinary person could cultivate. If Lucas were a boy, Jessica's father might have tested him a little. If he passed, perhaps he might... but unfortunately, she's a girl... Sigh...
Jessica's father was relatively open-minded.
He doted on his daughter very much.
Unlike other corporate bosses who forced their daughters into political marriages regardless of their feelings, Jessica's father had always been contemptuous of such practices. He always felt that as long as his daughter liked someone and he approved, that person could marry into their family. After all, Raythean Industries was so large and powerful, it could even be described as the number one company in all of Terra. It didn't seem to need political marriages to secure its position.
"Mr. Reeve, how did you and my daughter meet? As parents, we are quite concerned."
Jessica looked nervously at Lucas beside her. They hadn't discussed this question at all before coming, as they hadn't expected Jessica's high-and-mighty father, the head of Raythean Industries, to speak to them personally.
Lucas smiled slightly. "We haven't known each other for long, about two months in total."
"The way we met was a bit special, and it's not very convenient for me to disclose the details here. Please forgive me, Uncle and Auntie."
Lucas spoke eloquently, and his inherent temperament was truly impeccable. Even in Ceobe's harmlessly cute appearance, Lucas's presence added a touch of handsomeness.
Jessica, standing beside him, was a little mesmerized. Lucas's profoundness was now firmly etched in her mind. In her eyes, Lucas at this moment seemed to have already transformed back into his original handsome appearance, rather than Ceobe's face.
Lucas naturally couldn't be completely honest with Jessica's parents.
After all, his existence was too special.
Even if Jessica's parents had seen a lot, they probably hadn't encountered something like a soul.
Jessica's father had already silently given him a thumbs-up in his heart.
Not bad... not bad...
Eloquent, dignified, a person's ability and upbringing are fully revealed in their speech.
Compared to this 'little girl' named Lucas, his own nephews and nieces seemed rather lacking. They were around the same age, or even older, but how could there be such a big difference? What a pity, she's a girl... If only she were a boy.
His daughter likes him, and he passed his initial assessment. Perhaps they could develop their relationship further.
Jessica's father never looked at a potential son-in-law's family background. After all, no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't be more powerful than Raythean Industries, unless it was the crown prince of Yan.
Lucas spoke in a calm and steady tone, and roughly told Jessica's parents about some of the experiences he had shared with Jessica, from how Jessica completed her assessment under his guidance, to going to Lungmen together for a commission, and then to Bolívar for another commission. Although some of the plot points were changed, the general idea was still the same.
"Jessica's personality has changed for the better now, but I don't think it has anything to do with me. It's mainly because Jessica herself worked hard. She successfully overcame her own weaknesses."
*Wuwuwu!!!*
*Lucas!!*
Jessica's eyes shone brightly. At this moment.
In her eyes, Lucas was incredibly dazzling, and her face instantly flushed red.
As for Jessica's parents, they were extremely satisfied. They nodded continuously, and were even muttering to themselves in their hearts about whether they should invite Mr. Reeve to assist Jessica when she returns to Raythean Industries to be groomed as the heir in the future...
Although he was not old.
His temperament and speech were truly impressive.
For a moment, Jessica's father even had the feeling that he was talking to a very ancient person.
What a pity.
If only he were a boy~~
The family banquet passed quickly.
Jessica and Lucas returned to her room in the manor, while Franka and Liskarm were settled in the guest rooms next door.
As soon as they returned to the room.
Lucas left Ceobe's body and returned to the necklace.
"How was my performance? I didn't embarrass you, did I?"
Lucas said with a smile.
Jessica just shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
"No... Lucas, I'm regretting it a little. Why didn't I just have your real self meet my parents!!"
"?"
And beside them.
Ceobe was already lying motionless on the bed, starving.
Throughout the entire banquet, Lucas had managed to suppress Ceobe's body's instinctual hunger with his strong will. But after returning the body to Ceobe, all she felt was a deep hunger.
*I'm starving to death.*
*Ceobe can't take it anymore~~~
"You've been through a lot, Ceobe."
Lucas patted Ceobe's head. It was true that Ceobe had been through a lot. For someone who gets hungry if she doesn't eat every two hours, being able to endure a whole meal was a great effort.
Jessica was very happy. She also stroked Ceobe's head and said happily.
"Thank you, Ceobe!"
"I want to eat something, Big Sister Jessica~~"
——————
In Rhine Lab's special vehicle.
The General Manager, dressed in a formal suit, smiled slightly as she looked at her friend beside her.
"Why do you look so preoccupied, Saria?"
"I'm not..."
Saria shook her head.
"Do you remember that little Perro girl we saw at the banquet earlier?"
"I do. What about her?"
Saria didn't say the next sentence.
*Her condition is very similar to Ifrit's in the [Diabolic Gaze Project], just much more stable.*