Chapter 863: Spring Tasting Event

The old priest lay in bed, his mind racing. Years of internal and external conflict had given him ample experience in dealing with situations like this.

He knew that for now, all he could do was wait—wait a little longer.

Suddenly, the lights in the room went out. Everything was engulfed in darkness, and a long shadow slid past the gap beneath the door.

In the faint light, his clouded eyes reflected an unusual brightness.

Over the weekend, a call came into Lynch’s villa while he was watching TV.

A new drama from the Federation had become quite popular. It told the story of a young girl and her mad scientist grandfather.

The show’s appeal came from its futuristic concepts like time travel, which captivated the public. It was surprising that even viewers who likely hadn’t finished high school were into this semi-scientific, semi-fantasy series.

Lynch was watching too. In this episode, the girl’s pet dog mysteriously died at the doorstep. She suspected a major conspiracy and wanted to save the dog, so she sought help from her grandfather.

The grandfather, being utterly unhinged, built a time machine out of a washing machine. By stepping inside and flipping the switch, one could travel back in time.

It was kind of interesting. Perhaps its popularity stemmed from the way it grounded wild fantasies in everyday life.

Hardcore science lovers probably didn’t care for it.

By the way, the girl’s skirt was a bit too short, and her top was a size too small. Budget constraints, clearly.

Lynch casually picked up the phone. A professional-sounding woman spoke immediately:

“Mr. Lynch, hello. I’m your personal manager. Do you remember the custom gold-label Coluff plan you signed with our company?”

After Lynch confirmed, she continued,

“This year’s weather is favorable, and temperatures are rising quickly. We’ve selected the finest tobacco seeds for you. They’ll be planted in early March.”

“Thank you for choosing EveryMoment. If you have time, you’re welcome to visit our plantation to observe the growth of your personal tobacco plants and connect with our distinguished clientele…”

“We’ll also be offering some exclusive rare samples for tasting. We hope you’ll accept our invitation to this year’s Spring Tasting Event.”

Every March, EveryMoment—one of the Federation’s largest tobacco companies—hosted events for its premium clients at their plantations. These became unique social occasions.

Client selection was strict—not just wealth, but influence was required. As a result, the attendee pool was top-tier.

This kind of high-end social event was very appealing to many. EveryMoment understood this well and successfully attracted major capitalists year after year. The scale and prestige only grew.

Its purity ensured no fake rich folks could sneak in. Just being invited to the Spring Tasting Event made someone a temporary social focus.

Lynch thought it over and accepted.

The staff quickly wrapped up the call, promising to take care of everything and ensure Lynch enjoyed a relaxing vacation.

He thought it would be just a simple affair, but he didn’t expect someone would soon show up because of it.

Shortly after lunch, the room door opened. A staffer walked in carrying several large bags. Another person followed, draped in even more packages—identity unclear.

“Just leave them by the door. I’ll have someone take them upstairs…”

As the agent was directing the deliveries, she noticed Lynch and hurried over, grinning,

“Mr. Lynch! I didn’t expect you’d be here too!”

Her round, smiling face made it hard to be annoyed. She was Penny’s agent and had been taking care of Penny’s work and daily life.

Lynch nodded in acknowledgment. Once people became close, there was no need for formalities.

“Where is she?” he asked.

“In the back…” the agent answered honestly, giggling. “I’ll take these upstairs now?”

Lynch glanced at the bags and nodded. She called over a maid, and they carried everything upstairs.

She might’ve seemed silly, but she wasn’t. Protecting Penny for two years took some real skill. Many people are misunderstood when judged by appearances alone.

Not everyone is like Mr. Lynch—handsome, talented, and rich.

A few minutes later, Penny walked in.

It was mid-February, and Eminence’s temperatures had already risen to about 14 or 15 degrees and were still climbing. Penny wore a light jacket over a fur vest and carried a newly released spring handbag.

She exuded a fresh, fashionable energy. She didn’t seem surprised that Lynch was still in the Federation—or still in Eminence. She’d come looking for him.

She slipped off her heels, walked barefoot across the carpet, took off her sunglasses from a distance, and tilted her face toward Lynch.

According to the script, Lynch should’ve kissed her cheek and whispered something sweet. But Lynch was, after all, Lynch. He dodged and pulled back, almost making her trip.

She gave him a fierce glare. “Hmph!”

Lynch smiled at her. “I’m allergic to cosmetics. You’ve got makeup on.”

Her expression became a little uncertain. She had put on some makeup. Whitening cream was all the rage now, and pale, translucent skin had become the beauty standard again.

Some said this was a tribute to medieval aesthetics—a retro fashion trend.

But the Federation had only been around for two or three centuries. Where was its medieval period?

When people talked about the medieval, they really meant countries like Gephra.

Even today, noblewomen in those countries sometimes still used arsenic to achieve that pale, glassy look.

In that crazy era, girls who took arsenic long-term had such translucent skin you could see their veins—but they paid for it with their lives.

Most didn’t live past their thirties. The poison accumulated, and eventually killed them.

Penny stood up, washed her face in the bathroom, and came back, wrapping her arms around Lynch’s neck and leaning her face in close.

“Smell it. Any makeup scent left?”

“Clean enough?”

It had to be said—nineteen-year-old skin was incredibly soft. Her delicate features sat so lightly on her smooth face that it was almost contradictory. But it was real.

“Alright, enough fooling around. The movie’s done shooting—so what are you really here for, some event?” Lynch pulled the girl down to sit beside him.

She curled up, hugging his arm. “The movie wrapped a while ago. I needed a break, figured I’d come do some shopping.”

“Spring collections just dropped. There are so many new designs I really love.”

“And also… I came to see you!”

“To see me?” Lynch was a little surprised. “Something wrong?”

Penny shook her head. “No…” Then giggled. “The EveryMoment Spring Tasting is starting soon. Did you get an invitation?”

She looked at him, eyes full of anticipation—like making a wish under a falling star.

Lynch nodded. “They called me this morning.”

“You accepted?” Her voice pitched up with excitement.

Lynch nodded again. “Of course. I said yes.”

“That’s amazing!” she shouted, then threw herself into his arms. Clinging to him, she pleaded sweetly, “Take me with you, please? I really want to go!”

Lynch looked puzzled. “Is this tasting really that special?”

“Of course it is!”

As Penny explained, Lynch began to understand why she cared so much.

EveryMoment, being the top tobacco company in the Federation, catered to the very highest social tier.

For those outside that circle, getting in was a mark of distinction. As the media often put it—if you wanted to know who truly belonged to high society, just see if they or someone around them had been invited to the EveryMoment Spring Tasting.

The entry threshold? A minimum annual spending of one million Sol—at least. No one knew what the upper limit was.

But it wasn’t just about money. You couldn’t apply. Invitations only.

Being invited meant being part of that world. For men, it might not seem like a big deal. But for certain women, it was a golden ticket.

Cross that threshold, and you were in. Fail to cross it, and you’d always be just another ordinary person.

Now that Lynch had been invited and could bring a companion, Penny saw her chance. If she went with him, media coverage would surely make her the center of attention in the Federation—a rising star among women.

Maybe someone like Ms. Tracy wouldn’t care about that kind of validation. But for a young woman with a hint of vanity, it was dangerously tempting.

She wanted to go. Badly.

Lynch appeared to think it over, even showing a trace of hesitation. The subtle expressions on his face were precise—Oscar-worthy, really.

Penny grew anxious. She knew Lynch had complicated relationships with many women, but this chance was rare. She couldn’t let it slip.

She bit her lip, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “Take me with you. If you do, I’ll…”