Chapter 256 — The Grand Gala

Chapter 256: Chapter 256 — The Grand Gala

Chapter 256 — The Grand Gala

The carriage came to a stop outside the elevator on the Fourth Floor.

Victor stepped out alongside Valseer, Lyra, Grace, and Baker, feeling an excitement he hadn’t experienced in quite some time.

It had been over a year since he’d last left the Fourth Floor.

For twelve months, his life had revolved almost entirely around cultivation, alchemy, and training. Although he’d made tremendous progress during that time, he’d barely interacted with anyone outside his small circle.

Even during his time in the Sanctuary, he’d had more opportunities to socialize.

Victor shook his head with a faint smile.

As much as he understood the importance of tonight’s event, part of him was simply looking forward to being around people again.

They approached the elevator, and its doors opened.

Once everyone had stepped inside, it began descending toward the Third Floor.

When the doors opened again, another carriage was already waiting for them.

Apparently, the hosts had arranged transportation for guests arriving, allowing them to travel directly to the gala without making their own arrangements.

The group boarded, and the carriage set off.

Roughly twenty minutes later, they arrived.

Victor stared through the window.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

The building before them was enormous.

Unlike anything he’d seen in the Tower, the structure was almost perfectly spherical, resembling a gigantic ball rising above the surrounding grounds.

Its size alone was difficult to comprehend.

Bright lights covered its exterior, while glowing formations stretched across the curved surface in intricate patterns. Holographic displays floated at various points around the building, directing arriving guests toward their designated entrances.

The entire place reminded Victor of some futuristic amusement park back on Earth.

Except this was supposed to be a formal ball.

They really went all out.

As they stepped out of the carriage, Victor noticed two separate entrances.

One was reserved for ordinary guests, while the other was designated for royalty, prominent families, and individuals of exceptional status.

Naturally, Valseer led them toward the second entrance.

A long red carpet stretched from the carriage area toward the enormous doors, with crowds gathered along either side.

Many of the spectators held up their citizen IDs, recording videos and taking pictures as important guests arrived.

The moment Valseer appeared, excited voices rose from the crowd.

"That’s him! That’s Tower Master Valseer!"

"Seriously? This is my first time seeing him in person!"

"He’s actually quite handsome," a woman remarked.

"I heard he’s never taken a wife," another said. "Maybe I could change that."

"Yeah, he really is rather dashing," someone nearby agreed.

The woman glanced toward the speaker with a slightly strange expression before returning her attention to Valseer.

Victor almost smiled.

Apparently, even someone as powerful as Valseer wasn’t immune to gossip.

They continued down the carpet, and as the crowd began noticing the people accompanying the Tower Master, the conversations shifted.

"Wait, is that Victor Ashcroft?"

"I think so."

"I’ve heard so many rumors about him."

"Isn’t he supposed to be the Tower Master’s personal disciple?"

"That’s what I’ve heard. Apparently, he’s even being considered as the next Tower Master."

"Seriously? I wonder why."

Victor could hear every word.

With each step, he became increasingly aware of the attention directed toward him.

He’d spent an entire year preparing for this moment—studying etiquette, politics, and how to conduct himself around influential people.

Actually standing in front of hundreds of strangers was another matter entirely.

I’d rather fight a monster two ranks above me.

At least in a fight, he knew what he was supposed to do.

Here, every expression, every gesture, every careless word could become someone else’s first impression of him.

As the pressure began to build, Lyra gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Victor glanced toward her.

She smiled reassuringly.

Some of the tension left his shoulders.

Well, there’s no turning back now.

They reached the enormous entrance, where the doors stood open to welcome the arriving guests.

The moment Valseer stepped inside, a powerful voice rang throughout the hall.

"NOW ARRIVING—TOWER MASTER VALSEER DRAVEN!"

The announcement echoed through the building.

Cheers erupted, followed by a swell of excited conversation as guests turned toward the entrance.

Victor glanced around.

The interior was every bit as extravagant as the exterior. Brilliant lights illuminated the enormous hall, music drifted above the crowd, and hundreds of guests filled the polished floor beneath banners belonging to some of the Tower’s most powerful families.

Before Victor could take in much more, the announcer continued.

"ACCOMPANYING THE TOWER MASTER—HIS PERSONAL DISCIPLE AND THE NEW HEIR TO THE ALCHEMY TOWER, VICTOR ASHCROFT!"

A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.

For a moment, Victor could practically feel the entire room turn toward him.

The rumors had been circulating for some time, but until now, no official announcement had confirmed them.

Now there was no room for doubt.

Victor Ashcroft had been publicly recognized as the Tower Master’s chosen heir.

Conversations immediately broke out across the hall.

"So it’s actually true?"

"He’s really the heir?"

"How old is he?"

"That’s Victor Ashcroft?"

Some guests moved closer, trying to get a better look at him.

Victor maintained the composed expression he’d practiced during his etiquette lessons, even as he listened to the reactions around him.

"That’s it? That’s Victor?"

"He looks younger than I expected."

A few women nearby seemed to have a different opinion.

"He’s actually pretty cute."

"He’s unmarried, right?"

"I wonder if he’d want to have my children."

Victor’s expression stiffened slightly.

What?

He resisted the urge to turn toward the speaker.

Just keep walking.

Beside him, Lyra’s lips twitched.

Victor caught it from the corner of his eye.

She was enjoying this far too much.

The announcer’s voice rang out again.

"ALSO ARRIVING— ALSO A PERSONAL DISCIPLE OF THE TOWER MASTER LYRA SHADOWBLAST!"

Victor glanced toward her.

During their time together, Lyra had used the surname Ashcroft because of their marriage arrangement, which had originally been necessary for her to obtain a citizen ID.

Now that she had an identity of her own, she’d decided to reclaim her family’s name.

Shadowblast.

It was the surname of her parents and represented her connection to the Shadow Fox Clan.

Victor understood her decision completely.

Of course, that didn’t mean he’d stopped teasing her about it.

As Lyra walked beside him, several voices rose from the crowd.

"Lyra Shadowblast?"

"Isn’t she a beast?"

"Man, she’s beautiful."

"Those fox ears really suit her."

"I know what you mean, brother. The things I’d do..."

Lyra’s expression tightened.

One of her ears twitched toward the voices.

She started to turn, but Grace gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

Lyra stopped.

For a brief moment, irritation flashed across her face before she forced it away.

They’d spent the past year learning how to handle situations like this.

No matter how irritating someone’s comments were, they couldn’t simply react however they pleased anymore. Their public image mattered, and tonight was certainly not the time to forget it.

Lyra took a quiet breath and continued walking.

A year ago, Grace’s hand on her shoulder probably wouldn’t have been enough.

The announcer moved on.

"ALSO ARRIVING—GRACE EVERFLOW, PERSONAL DISCIPLE OF THE TOWER AND PRINCESS OF THE GALVANIC EMPIRE!"

Victor nearly stopped.

He turned toward Grace.

"You’re a princess?"

Grace nodded calmly.

"Yes, Young Master."

Victor stared at her.

"How come you never told me?"

"Well, you never asked."

She smiled faintly.

"And honestly, I prefer not to tell people unless there’s a reason."

Victor stared at her for another moment.

For an entire year, Grace had taught him how to address royalty, how to behave around nobility, and how to navigate conversations with people who had spent their entire lives in high society.

Apparently, mentioning that she belonged to that world herself had never seemed relevant.

Victor shook his head in disbelief before smiling.

"So I’ve been living with a princess this entire time. Who knew?"

Lyra immediately looked offended.

"I’m also a princess."

Victor turned toward her.

"That’s right. You are."

He considered that for a moment.

"So I’ve been living with two princesses."

"Chirp!"

Nala, perched on his shoulder, puffed out her chest.

Victor glanced at her.

"Three princesses. My mistake."

"Chirp!"

Satisfied, Nala settled down.

Victor then looked toward Baker, almost expecting him to reveal something equally ridiculous.

Baker simply looked back and yawned.

Victor shook his head.

Of course.

They continued forward as the announcer made another introduction.

"ALSO ARRIVING—BAKER DRAVEN, PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE DRAVEN FAMILY!"

Victor’s head turned sharply.

Baker Draven?

He stared at his bodyguard.

Baker had never been particularly talkative, even after an entire year of living together. Victor trusted him with his life by now, but apparently there were still some fairly basic things he didn’t know about the man.

Like his last name.

He’s a Draven?

Victor stared at him for another moment.

We’ve lived together for an entire year, and nobody thought to mention that?

Baker continued walking with his usual sleepy expression, seemingly unconcerned by the announcement.

Victor sighed.

I’m really going to have to get this guy to talk more.

With that, their group’s introductions were finally complete.

They continued farther into the hall as the announcer turned his attention toward the next arriving guest.

"NOW ARRIVING—ROYAL PRINCE ALEXIS BAKERFIELD!"

Victor glanced back toward the entrance.

A large young man, perhaps seventeen or eighteen years old, appeared beneath the doorway.

He had a broad, powerful build and carried himself with an upright, confident posture.

Victor recognized him immediately from the portraits he’d studied.

So that’s Alexis Bakerfield.

As Victor watched, Alexis happened to look in his direction.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, Victor expected the polite acknowledgment he’d been taught to expect from royalty.

Instead, Alexis smiled and gave him a small nod.

There was something surprisingly casual about it.

Victor returned the gesture.

Interesting.

Around them, the grand hall remained alive with conversation, music, and the steady arrival of influential guests.

Victor recognized family crests he’d spent months memorizing. Royalty and prominent families who had existed only as names and portraits were now crossing the same ballroom in front of him.

And more than a few of them were already looking his way.

The introductions were only beginning.

There were still countless people Victor would need to meet before the evening was over.

But for now, he continued deeper into the ballroom alongside his companions.