Chapter 83: The flying Duck

Caesar was waiting for Smith’s approval. From their interactions, Caesar knew Smith was an open-minded person who would not deliberately make things difficult. Still, this formal process was a hurdle many men had to experience, and now it was his turn.

​Although Caesar appeared elderly, he had never even held hands with a woman in his entire life. When the world changed and the dungeon outbreak erupted, he was young and spent every waking moment training. After awakening, his entire mindset revolved around getting stronger. Back then, the family was far from stable, so he allowed himself no distractions; every ounce of his effort went into protecting his kin and cultivating his power.

​Over the years, he steadily climbed the family hierarchy until he reached the Transcendant rank, obtaining the revered status of Grand Elder. It could be said he had reached the peak of his life. People like Caesar appeared old, but the truth was that nobody actually knew the upper limit of a Transcendant’s lifespan. No Transcendant had ever died of old age since the dungeon outbreak. Estimates suggested they could live for many centuries.

​Furthermore, upon achieving the second major evolution within the Transcendant rank,they gained the ability to reverse their physical aging, restoring a youthful appearance. However, doing so offered no actual increase in combat power. Most high-ranking figures who reached this stage during their later years chose to retain their elderly appearance to appear more dignified and authoritative. Caesar, who had always maintained a boisterous personality, simply followed this trend to look the part. Beneath the aged exterior, his spirit remained youthful and passionate.

​Throughout those intense years of training and promotion, people constantly urged him to marry and establish a lineage early so his legacy would endure if something unexpected happened to him. Caesar always brushed them off, insisting he simply had not met the right person.

​Several women had actively pursued him over the decades. He could not claim they were unattractive; quite the opposite, in fact. Some were the daughters of high-ranking and powerful figures who held status far above his own at the time. They were celebrated beauties pursued by countless, yet they chose to shower Caesar with affection. Despite their efforts, he always felt something was missing—a subtle flaw that made him retreat. He usually used his demanding cultivation schedule as an excuse to politely refuse them.

​It was not until he met Sarafina that everything changed.

​That fateful day, his instinct alerted him that something extraordinary was occurring near Smith’s house. Thinking it might be a chance encounter or an urgent matter, he rushed to the location. The moment his eyes landed on Sarafina, his heart skipped a beat.

​Caesar had often heard romantic phrases like "love at first sight" and used to dismiss women who claimed to feel it as overly dramatic. But experiencing it himself was entirely different. When he looked at Sarafina, the rest of the world seemed to lose its color, leaving only her standing in radiant clarity. In that breathtaking instant, he finally understood why he had never been attracted to those other women. It was not a matter of beauty or wealth. Those noble ladies had always carried hidden motives, seeking political leverage or status under the guise of affection.

​Sarafina was different. She was like an unblemished white lotus blooming in spring, completely untouched by the murky waters of family politics, schemes, or greed. She was simply a gentle woman devoted to her nephew, untainted by the calculating world around her.

​Although Caesar did not know her full backstory initially, a Transcendant’s heightened sixth sense provided absolute clarity. His intuition told him that the woman before him was as pure as light itself.

​After learning that Smith had left for the slaughterhouse, Caesar seized the opportunity to pursue her directly. Even after he revealed his exalted status as a Grand Elder, Sarafina did not treat him any differently or jump at the opportunity. Only after several earnest attempts did she gradually begin to open her heart to him. As Caesar learned more about her humble history and her shared struggles with Smith, he fell deeper into the trap called love.

​Now, he stood just one word away from Smith’s official approval. Once granted, he could openly court her, build a life together, and perhaps start a happy family. He had even begun silently imagining how many children they might raise together.

​Just at this crucial moment, a voice cut sharply through the room like a divine judge delivering a stern verdict: "Wait, Smith! I have an objection!"

​Caesar’s blood ran cold. He recognized that voice instantly. Turning toward the side of the room, he saw Jacob standing there with a sharp grin. Because of the sudden interruption, Smith paused, remaining quiet and ready to listen to what Jacob had to say. Seeing this reaction made Caesar’s heart sink even deeper. He knew the mischievous nature of the man standing before him, and that playful smile on Jacob’s face signaled that things were about to get complicated.

​Stepping forward with an exaggerated expression of righteous indignation, Jacob pointed a accusatory finger. "Caesar! Now I see what your real plans were from the very beginning! I will not let you off this easily. I am going to inform the other Grand Elders immediately. While we were all gathered to discuss how to assist Smith, organize his growth, and maximize his incredible potential, you were slinking around behind our backs trying to seduce his aunt! This clearly proves you have ulterior motives, and it is entirely unacceptable!"

​Hearing this barrage of completely fabricated accusations, Caesar panicked. Everyone in the room knew Jacob was spouting nonsense, but Caesar worried about what Smith might think. Jacob was extremely close to Smith, and if Smith took these ridiculous claims seriously, Caesar’s dream of happiness would evaporate into thin air.

​Caesar opened his mouth to explain, but Jacob gave him no chance to speak, firing accusations like a rapid-fire gatling gun. "I’m telling you, Caesar, you won’t get away with this! I’m messaging all the elders right now!"

​Jacob dramatically pulled out his communication device, deliberately tapping the screen in slow motion to maximize the psychological torture. He was blatantly trying to rattle Caesar. Smith sat nearby, watching the spectacle with a quiet smirk. Recognizing this as Jacob’s playful way of getting a little revenge, Smith chose not to intervene, opting instead to enjoy the show.

​Sarafina did not take offense either. She was not a petty woman who judged situations purely on surface appearances. Having spent the last few days interacting with Caesar, she understood his genuine character well. Spotting the subtle glances exchanged between Smith and Jacob, she realized the two were simply playing a lighthearted prank. Given that these men shared equal standing as powerful figures, such friendly teasing was harmless, so she quietly sat back to watch Caesar’s reaction.

​Meanwhile, Caesar’s panicked mind completely failed to process that he was being teased. His thoughts were entirely fixated on the precious opportunity slipping through his fingers. To him, the cooked duck sitting on the dinner table was suddenly spreading its wings and trying to fly away, and he had to catch it at all costs!

​Before anyone could react, Caesar lunged forward.

​He instantly activated his Transcendant aura, snaching Jacob’s phone and precisely channeling energy into his right arm. Winding back like a professional baseball pitcher ready to hurl a fastball, he used every ounce of his physical strength to hurl Jacob’s phone straight out the open window!

​The moment the phone left his hand, it shattered the air with a booming sonic shockwave, confirming it had been thrown at several times the speed of sound. The device streaked across the sky like a shooting star and vanished into the darkness of the night.

​The sudden, dramatic burst of extreme power left everyone in the room completely dumbfounded.

​Caesar turned back toward Smith, his face pale with anxiety. "Smith, let me explain! It’s not what you think! I don’t have any ulterior motives! This guy is actively trying to frame me!" He began frantically blabbering excuses, his desperate expression creating a wildly comical contrast with his formidable stature as a Transcendant Grand Elder.

​Sarafina could no longer hold back her amusement. She burst into a fit of lively laughter, clutching her stomach as she gasped for air.

​Her melodic laughter acted like a sudden wake-up call for Caesar. He froze, watching her laugh so hard she was nearly out of breath. Looking over at Smith and Jacob, he noticed their shoulders trembling as they fought desperately to suppress their own laughter. Caesar stood rooted to the spot, his utterly bewildered expression becoming the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

​The entire room erupted into uncontrollable laughter. Smith and Jacob stopped holding back, roaring with amusement alongside Astra.

​As the realization slowly dawned on Caesar, his face flushed bright red, turning as dark as a ripe tomato. Embarrassment washed over him in waves as he realized he had fallen for a childish prank. It was clearly their playful revenge for his earlier posturing, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

​Caesar turned a fierce, murderous glare toward Jacob, looking like a hungry predator ready to devour its prey. Scared by the terrifying stare, Jacob instantly stopped laughing. Using his quick reflexes, he scrambled backward, ducking behind Smith’s wheelchair to use his friend as a human shield. Knowing he could not attack Jacob while he was hiding behind Smith, Caesar could only stand there huffing in defeat, eventually letting out a begrudging laugh along with the rest of them.

​Once the roar of laughter finally subsided, Smith wiped a tear from his eye and smiled warmly. "Alright, Caesar, enough with the jokes. You don’t have to worry about a thing. You have my full approval to pursue her as you please. I trust my aunt’s judgment completely, and she is a fully grown adult capable of making her own choices. I only hope the two of you live a happy and fulfilling life together."

​Smith’s expression then sharpened slightly, carrying a touch of gentle warning. "However... if I ever hear that she has a reason to complain about you, I swear you will have a very difficult time explaining yourself to me."

​Caesar nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at grain. "Don’t worry! Under my protection, I guarantee that no one will ever harm a single hair on her head!"

​After boasting for a bit longer, Jacob peeked out from behind the wheelchair, grinning broadly. "Alright, let’s put the playful banter aside," he said, stepping out now that the danger had passed. "I’ve had my laugh. Now, let’s get down to serious matters."