After saying that, he pointed at the tuna sashimi on the exquisite dinner plate and said to Charlie, “Mr. Wade, these sashimi are from the two cheeks of the bluefin tuna. The auction price for this fish is three million US dollars, but such little meat from the two cheeks already cost hundreds of thousands of US dollars. When converted, a piece of sashimi would cost tens of thousands of US dollars, and it cannot be found even in the best Michelin restaurants.”Yahiko was not just talking nonsense. In Japan’s society of luxury and money, the price of truly top-notch products could be outrageously expensive.The highest recorded auction price for bluefin tuna was bought for an extravagant price of several million US dollars. Most of the meat from such a fish would go to high-end restaurants. It seemed that one would be able to eat this top-level ingredient at a high-end restaurant, and one would be able to eat a piece of sashimi from this fish in a restaurant for just a few hundred US
Charlie, Yahiko, and Hiroshi exchanged glasses, while Nanako stood by and kept refilling his sake for him.Interestingly, Nanako only refilled Charlie’s sakem and Emi only refilled Yahiko’s sake. Therefore, Hiroshi could only refill his own sake.In Charlie’s opinion, the so-called ‘Laughing Dragon and Nine Heavens’ did not taste good at all. Aside from its pure rice fragrance, this thing was really lackluster. If he wanted to feel slightly drunk, the alcohol content should be at least 40%. For Charlie, this kind of sake was no different from drinking tap water. However, since it was a national treasure that Yahiko had brought all the way with him, Charlie naturally accompanied and drank with him.Charlie was also full of praise for the top-notch sashimi prepared by Emi. In fact, he felt that sashimi itself did not have any taste, and he was only tasting the texture of different fishes. There was not much difference in the overall taste after dipping it in soy sauce and wasabi.
Charlie nodded and said, “That’s good. I was not in Aurous Hill during this period of time, but I probably will not be going anywhere soon. Please feel free to contact me if you need help with anything in Aurous Hill.”“Okay!” Helen was not overly polite and agreed with a smile. She then invited Charlie into the house.Charlie could not help but feel nostalgic as he entered the house.When his parents had rented this mansion back then, they had also restored it carefully, and it looked the same as it was now. Although it still looked very rustic, it gave people a refreshing feeling.After twenty years of idleness, this mansion was once dilapidated, but after Helen’s careful restoration, it seemed as if everything had been restored to the state it was in twenty years ago. For a certain moment, Charlie even felt as if he had gone back to the time when he was just seven or eight years old when his parents had just settled down in Aurous Hill. The family of three had lived an ordinar
Jaime said, “In the second month of departure, I began to treat this pilgrimage sincerely, so I dismissed the entourage that Mr. Wade gave special permission for me to bring along, and I intended to make it to the end by myself...”“I fell ill after being exposed to the rain, so I stayed overnight at a farmhouse. After all, many pilgrims would stay there along the way, so I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with it...”“As a result, the couple tried to sell me to the owner of a black coal mine when I was unconscious with a high fever.”“I heard them saying that an adult with all four limbs could be sold for twenty thousand dollars, and a normal coal mine worker would cost at least three to four thousand dollars a month. As long as the owner of the black coal mine bought someone, he would be able to recover his capital in more than half a year if he worked the person hard, and the rest would be pure profit.”“At the time, the owner of the black coal mine had already driven
Ever since Charlie had confirmed that the Schulz family had nothing to do with the death of his parents, he had never thought of taking the life of anyone from the Schulz family. He could even spare Sheldon’s life, not to mention Jaime.He had also asked people to secretly protect Jaime on Helen and Sophie’s account. The pilgrimage to Jordan Temple was not the same as Dylan cycling on a bicycle to Aurous Hill. The latter had a bicycle, and he would also be passing through the most economically developed areas in Oskia. As long as he did not pedal blindly on the highway, there would basically be no danger to Dylan’s life. However, it was different for Jaime. The environment all the way to the west would get worse and worse, and there would be danger everywhere if he was not careful. Charlie would not be able to explain things to Helen and Sophie if Jaime died on the way if he did not secretly protect Jaime.Jaime also knew that Charlie had not asked people to protect him because he
If Jaime could not pass this test, even if he could regain his freedom from today onward, he would not be allowed to lay his hands on the Schulz family’s assets. This was because Charlie wanted to find an absolutely trustworthy and loyal subordinate for Sophie, so there could not be any hidden dangers buried within this candidate. If Jaime had the slightest idea of giving up on this pilgrimage, Charlie would exclude him immediately. Helen and Sophie did not know Charlie’s real intentions. They could not hide their excitement when they heard that Charlie was willing to be lenient and give Jaime a chance. They hoped that Jaime could take advantage of the situation and agree.However, Jaime hesitated for a moment and then said, “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Wade, but I still want to finish this pilgrimage.”Charlie had an indifferent expression as he said, “Think about it carefully. The road ahead will be even more difficult in the future. You will enter the mountains, the plate
“Test?” Jaime looked at his mother with some doubt and asked in confusion, “Mom, what do you mean by that?”Helen said seriously, “It seems that Charlie’s main purpose in coming today should be to ask you that question, to see if you would take the opportunity to end the pilgrimage.”Jaime asked her, “What is Mr. Wade testing me for? Is he testing my sincerity?”“Pretty much!” Helen nodded slightly and explained, “Charlie’s style of behavior is very similar to his father's. Although I don’t know Charlie well, I know Curtis. What makes Curtis different from most leaders is his first prerequisite for employing people is not based on the person’s ability or background but on the person’s character.”After a pause, Helen added, “In his eyes, no matter how strong a person’s ability is, as long as that person’s character is not good, he will not make deep friendships with him, let alone put him in his career blueprint.”“But many people don’t care about this now, and many bosses themsel
Three o’clock in the afternoon.A direct flight to Hong Kong took off at Aurous Airport. Marianne, who was deep in thought, was sitting on the plane, looking out of the window at Aurous Hill which was getting farther and farther. She could not help but think of the details of her acquaintance with Charlie in Hong Kong.Although she felt inferior when she happened to see Charlie and Nanako walking together today, it did not affect her deep love for Charlie in the slightest. All she could think of was for time to pass faster in the future. She could not wait for the day when classes would start at Aurous University. She even decided to call Charlie after school had started to tell him that she had come to Aurous Hill on a business trip and then tell him that she had already been employed at Aurous University when they met up. Marianne was also prepared for the worst. She did not care even if Charlie was not happy after knowing it and wanted her to leave Aurous Hill. This was her
Elaine may have led a life as if she was above the rules, but beneath that tough exterior lay crippling insecurities and a horrific inferiority complex.She was always afraid of being belittled—but more than that, of being ostracized and betrayed.Over the years, the greatest source of her complexes could all be traced back to Matilda.After all, Matilda had been a star back in their school days. Because Elaine was a close friend of hers, many boys would get chummy with Elaine, but only because they were interested in Matilda.Being from a poor farmer's family, Elaine had been scorned plenty and therefore felt exceedingly inferior around Matilda.It was from that sense of inferiority that Elaine had inadvertently developed a one-sided rivalry against Matilda, and she believed her greatest triumph over Matilda in this life was the moment she had stolen Jacob from her.However, while Elaine presumed that she could hold that victory over Matilda's head, Lady Wilson had soured that v
Moreover, given Elaine's ridiculous temper, Jacob knew she would definitely go overboard and destroy him.He wouldn't even have a place to live at that point, and it would really be game over if she held a grudge and stormed the Calligraphy and Painting Association!Under such circumstances, he couldn't ask for a divorce—hell, he might even refuse a divorce if Elaine asked for one!However, that was when Elaine laughed coldly. "Oh, my… You're really not going to divorce me?""Come on—how long were we married?" Jacob quickly reasoned. "Getting divorced at our age? People would laugh at us."Elaine scoffed. "Now I'm curious… Matilda's quite old too, and she's a divorcee marrying again. Won't people laugh at her?""Technically, she's a widow—"Jacob blurted out, but soon turned pale, tensing up again not a second after he had just calmed down, asking gingerly, "W-Why would you suddenly mention her?'Elaine stopped pretending right then and snapped, "It's actually impressive that y
Horrified, Jacob promptly grasped the steering wheel and brought the Cullinan back under control while not hesitating to snap, "Are you crazy?! We're on the highway—that could have killed the both of us!"However, Elaine ignored him and seized the moment to open the armrest box, pulling out the large white envelope.As she opened it, she muttered, "So, it really was a wedding invitation… You really are a terrible friend, Jacob Wilson, hiding a wedding invitation like this! What's the point? Just look at that nervous face of yours—would I suspect you of having an affair with the bride-to-be?"She flipped open the card and was experienced enough to check the names first while disregarding the usual preamble. She wouldn't care about the venue or the time either, focusing solely on the professor who had somehow made Jacob very nervous.That was how Elaine found the names in less than a second: Yolden Hart and Matilda Hall.Matilda?!The name could well be knives stabbing Elaine in th
Jacob's brain blanked out, leaving only a dull hum as soon as Walker mentioned 'Professor Hall'.Already feeling nervous in the first place, he quickly said, "Okay, okay—I got it. Anyway, I'm hanging up if there's nothing else!"With that, he promptly pressed the button to hang up.Nonetheless, Elaine was soon asking in curiosity, "Who's Professor Hall?"If Jacob had any semblance of composure, he would have said 'a colleague at Senior University' as if it was perfectly natural, and the matter would have been forgotten.But the reality was that he didn't—in fact, he was the champion when it came to dropping the ball as a casual question from Elaine left him sweating all over his brow.Even as he slid nervous glances at her face, he stammered uncontrollably, "N-Nobody…"Elaine promptly noticed his strange reaction and frowned. "I'm talking about Professor Hall. What do you mean, nobody? Who are they? And what's this about an invitation? Inviting you for what?"Seeing that he was
Jacob had really had too much to drink and couldn't remember the later parts of what had happened last night—even how he had gotten home was a blur.Naturally, he also forgot that Walker had brought Matilda's wedding invitation, and therefore didn't hesitate to answer the in-car answer button.Over the phone, Walker was positively fawning as he asked, "Mr. Wilson? It's Walker. Why didn't you come in today? Had too much to drink last night?""Uh-huh," Jacob grunted, lethargic. "I did—my head still hurts now… Anyway, what's up? Trouble at the association?""No, of course not," Walker quickly said. "I was just worried you're still hungover, so I called to ask. If you need a driver or anything, you just need to ask!"Then, before Jacob could answer, he continued, "By the way, my wife is somewhat knowledgable in Oskian medicine, and she has recipes for brews that cure hangovers and nourish the liver. I'm sure you'll need the latter since you're always drinking at social events, so I as
Fortunately, Elaine and Jacob's bickering never escalated.Even though Elaine was winning, Jacob found it tolerable.After Jacob finished his lunch and cleaned up, he never looked up as he said, "Charlie sent a text, saying Claire's flight would touch down earlier at three. We will leave at two."Elaine grumbled. "Why leave so early? She's coming back from abroad, and there'd be checkpoints she has to clear—she'd be lucky if she could leave by half past three. I'm sleeping a few winks now, and we'll leave at half past two."As she left the dining room, she didn't even look back as she said, "Clean up for me too."Jacob had a million complaints but said nothing as he kept his head down, throwing Elaine's lunchbox in the trash can as well.With Elaine gone, he sat on the couch as her hangover slowly cleared while his mood soured with the lack of alcohol.In the end, the pleasure of being fawned over at the Diamond Room was but temporary—the pain of his beloved leaving with someone
Vera kept her plan to investigate the identity of the abbess deep in her mind and told Charlie nothing.Instead, she smiled as she said, "It seems that it's both yours and Ms. Ito's good fortune that she has attained enlightenment. You've never had anyone who could attain enlightenment and master Reiki at the same time, so Ms. Ito will definitely be a great help to you in the future."Charlie chuckled and said calmly, "I'm not hoping for her to help. I'm simply happy for her with her enlightenment and excited to have another comrade in my solo ventures into the dark forests."Vera nodded in understanding, and she murmured emotionally, "I've lived for so long, and it's only when I opened my heart to you that I felt that sensation you described."There was a flicker of wistfulness in her eyes.She really did not expect to attain enlightenment before meeting Charlie.Years ago, she thought that she would eventually avenge her father.Now, she no longer hoped to murder Fleur Griffi
Vera was inwardly disappointed to hear that Claire was returning.That meant there were fewer chances of Charlie visiting the Scarlet Pinnacle Manor, as were her chances of seeing him again.Still, she didn't let it show, instead asking casually, "How are things at Champs Elys? Are the warriors improving at a rate to your satisfaction?""Well, most of everyone's improvement is within expectations…" Charlie explained, just as he remembered a certain someone. "By the way, there's something I haven't told you yet. Are you perhaps acquainted with the name Ito Nanako?""Yes," Vera smiled. "The Japanese lady who was with you. What about her?""She attained enlightenment days ago.""Enlightenment?" Vera did a double take and soon pressed, "Enlightenment in what sense? Essential Qi or Reiki?"After all, the former was the path to enlightenment in martial arts, while the latter meant enlightenment in cultivation.But despite the distinction between both domains, enlightenment was a comm
While Charlie had long since gotten used to Elaine and Jacob's bizarre marriage, being near the heart of the storm still took a toll on his senses—to the point that he felt physically sick.Leaving right away was therefore his best solution.Once he left, however, he realized he didn't have anywhere to go. Champs Elys was quite far, and it would take a lot of time.As he started to feel bored stiff, he remembered Vera for some reason and called her.Once Vera answered, she quickly asked in curiosity, "To what do I owe the pleasure? Lunch, perhaps?"Charlie chuckled. "Since you've put it that way… I haven't eaten either, so lunch it is!"Vera giggled. "Come over to my place, then. It's cold outside, and I was just lighting up a hot pot. I'll have Madam Marilyn prepare an additional portion.""Okay!" Charlie agreed to it without hesitation. "I can return her car too. Just wait, I'll be right there!"Once he hung up, he got on the Rolls Roycs he had borrowed from Scarlet Pinnacl