Alex was in an exceptionally good mood.
The kind of good mood where the world felt light, the sky seemed bluer, and even the air tasted expensive.
"Okay kid, come here next month.", Nolan said with a lazzy look.
"Alright old man.", Alex nodded and looked at Anna and others.
Then he noticed something strange.
Anna, Darion, and every single child of the Celestus family had suddenly dropped to one knee.
Their expressions were solemn. Reverent.
"It is an honor to meet His Majesty, Alchemy Emperor Nolan Magnus," they said in perfect unison.
Alex blinked.
"…What?"
He looked left. Then right. Then back at Nolan, who was still holding barbecue skewers like a street vendor.
He was a perfect actor. He wouldn't let anyone think that he had already learned about him.
"Brother Darion, Anna… maybe there's a misunderstanding here. He's just an old man who sells barbecue. How can he be the Alchemy Emperor?"
Darion's eye twitched.
