Aurora Sinclair hesitated for a long moment, not stepping forward as she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.

This displeased Drake Trent. Linden Grant was his master and his godfather, and their bond was exceptionally strong—even stronger than the one he shared with his biological father, Victor Trent.

He had summoned the girl from the entrance today for his godfather’s sake. After all, when he had tested her, everyone at the branch office had seen it. Failing to provide some sort of resolution would be unacceptable.

It was just that this girl seemed a bit too common for the occasion.

"Godfather, she’s not seriously hurt. I hit her Jade Token."

Linden Grant thought for a moment, then took a small bottle of medicine from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is for you. Go back and apply it once a day. It will be healed in five days."

Aurora Sinclair bowed woodenly. "Thank you, Mr. Grant."

She slowly walked forward to take the medicine bottle he had placed on the table.

Just then, Linden Grant suddenly asked, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Aurora Sinclair stiffened, then replied with a feigned, dopey innocence, "Really? I’ve just been studying at Southeast University. Did Mr. Grant ever come to Southeast University to give a lecture?"

Linden Grant paused for a second, then smiled. "I must have mistaken you for someone else. Since you’re unharmed, please, sit down and eat..."

Aurora Sinclair’s eyes widened in apparent surprise. "I... I can?"

"Drake accidentally injured you, so it’s only natural that we treat you to a meal to apologize," Victor Trent said with a smile. "Come and sit. That chair over there is for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Trent, Mr. Grant, and... Mr. Trent..."

With apprehension in her eyes, Aurora Sinclair sat primly in her chair.

’Jean Quincy always said that even if your face is blank, your eyes have to do all the acting. That’s the only way to fool people.’

Linden Grant smiled and nodded, even using the serving chopsticks to give her a pork rib. "Eat more meat. How can a young lady like you be so thin?"

Holding her plate with both hands, Aurora Sinclair demurely accepted the rib. "Thank you, Mr. Grant. My colleagues and I made a pact to lose weight together."

"Hahaha... You young ladies never eat properly. My daughter is the same way."

Aurora Sinclair mimicked the way Jean Quincy ate whenever she claimed to be on a diet. She carefully trimmed the fat off the rib, nibbled two bites of the lean meat, and then set it aside, eating no more.

She only ate the green vegetables directly in front of her, not taking a single bite whenever a meat dish was rotated her way.

The executives in the room drank and chatted, their conversations sounding incredibly dull.

Aurora Sinclair focused on eating her vegetables, nodding along from time to time. She played the part of a model employee to perfection, all while minimizing her presence.

After several rounds of drinks and numerous courses, Linden Grant suddenly asked, "Young lady, do you dislike smiling, or are you just naturally this way?"

With her mouth stuffed with vegetables, Aurora Sinclair looked up at him, her round eyes wide with a blank, bewildered expression. She struggled to swallow, then pushed up her glasses.

"Mr. Grant, I have braces." Aurora Sinclair showed him her teeth, a bit of vegetable leaf stuck in the wiring. A female executive sitting nearby let out a snicker.

Aurora Sinclair quickly clamped her mouth shut and lowered her head, feigning deep embarrassment.

Linden Grant shot a glance at the female executive before giving Aurora another piece of meat. "Eat up..."

The executive dinner party continued late into the night, with the guests eventually breaking into song.

Sitting in the corner, Aurora Sinclair watched the drunken, disgraceful state of these important figures. A saying from her master suddenly came to mind: ’Wine itself is not to blame; a gentleman knows his limits.’

***

Linden Grant stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, a cup of weak tea in hand. He watched the departing figure retreat into the distance, lost in thought.

Drake Trent asked, "Godfather, what did you see?"

"That young lady is a sharp one—neither arrogant nor rash, with a measured sense of propriety. If she’s from an ordinary family, then her elders raised her exceptionally well. But if she’s the one from Sunstone..."

He took a sip of tea, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. "She cannot be allowed to live!"

Drake Trent shuddered. "Then... is she..."

"I observed her at close range. There truly were no fluctuations of Power from her. It must be the former."

Linden Grant turned and walked away from the window.

"This time, the Morgans shattered our plans. It also proves one thing: the Great Families of Kingsford are not willing to welcome the Trent Family back into the fold."

"But Godfather, the Vance Family did send someone to congratulate me."

Linden Grant walked over to the sofa and poured himself another cup of tea.

"That’s to be expected. The Vance Family has only just returned and urgently needs to establish a foothold. But the other six families are already a tangled, interconnected web; they won’t allow any outsiders to meddle. The Trent Family, on the other hand, has now produced a Martial King, so of course the Vances are willing to band together with you for mutual support..."

A light entered Drake Trent’s eyes. "Then should we cooperate with them?"

"Cooperation is a certainty, but we must also be on our guard. It would be best to swallow them whole."

Drake Trent laughed.

「Meanwhile.」

Aurora Sinclair didn’t let out a sigh of relief until she had entered the dormitory area.

’Thank goodness Morgan had thought of everything, even telling me to get braces ahead of time.’