Free Web NovelChapter 31: Evelyn (2)
Dan stood near the foot of the Seven Abyssal Hell Tower, his gaze slowly traveling upward. The black tower pierced into the clouds, its surface reflecting the afternoon sunlight like pieces of polished obsidian. This was now his, the foundation upon which he intended to build everything.
"A journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step," Dan murmured softly.
Many people admired mountains, yet few climbed them. Many dreamed of greatness, yet few possessed the patience to build it one stone at a time. Dan intended to become one of the latter.
Just as he was considering how best to organize the tower, a familiar sensation tugged lightly at his awareness. Someone was looking at him. Without immediately turning around, Dan quietly observed his surroundings through the corner of his eye.
Evelyn. She had already reached the side of her Phantom LX-9, one hand resting lightly upon the door handle, yet she hadn’t gotten inside. Instead, she glanced toward him, looked away, then looked back again. Dan almost smiled. Interesting.
This wasn’t the first time. Earlier, after the confrontation with Rowan, she had observed him several times despite attempting to hide it naturally, and now she had paused once again. Curious? Most likely. Interested? Perhaps. Romantically? Dan immediately dismissed that thought.
"No," he thought calmly. "We’ve barely exchanged a handful of words."
Attraction born from appearance alone might capture someone’s attention for a brief moment, but genuine interest required something deeper. What Evelyn currently possessed wasn’t affection — it was curiosity.
Curiosity toward an unknown variable: a young Iron II Streamer who somehow possessed one hundred thousand Spirit Wine Jars, a newcomer who had calmly negotiated with one of Metro City’s most influential Guild Masters, a swordsman who had remained composed despite standing before several Gold Rank Streamers.
Dan found that conclusion far more reasonable, and he had no intention of exaggerating reality to flatter himself. After all, a man who mistook curiosity for affection often embarrassed himself before anyone else had the chance.
His eyes remained fixed upon the tower. He made no attempt to approach Evelyn, nor did he wave or begin a conversation. Instead he simply waited. There’s a saying, flowers never chased butterflies, yet butterflies naturally sought blooming flowers.
Likewise, sincerity lost much of its value when forced — whether between friends, business partners, or lovers, relationships built through mutual willingness often endured longer than those pursued through desperation.
Many people ruined promising beginnings because they feared silence, and unable to endure uncertainty, they chased, overexplained, and demanded attention. Yet genuine interest rarely needed chasing. It simply needed the opportunity to reveal itself.
Dan had always believed that if someone wished to know him, they would eventually walk toward him themselves. If they didn’t, then forcing the matter served little purpose. freёwebnovel.com
Several meters away, Evelyn remained beside her car, her fingers unconsciously tapping the key fob.
*Why am I still standing here?*
She could leave — nothing required her presence any longer. The paperwork had already been completed, Rowan had been dealt with, and everything was finished. Then why was she still looking toward the tower? Or rather, toward its new owner? She frowned slightly. This wasn’t like her. She usually avoided unnecessary conversations, especially with strangers.
Yet Dan Moriarty didn’t fit neatly into any category she understood. Most young Streamers she encountered either admired her family, feared her strength, or attempted to impress her. Dan had done none of those things. He hadn’t even looked slightly after purchasing the towee, instead he immediately began studying it, as though owning it wasn’t the end of his goal but only the beginning.
Her curiosity quietly grew. Father rarely praised people, yet during yesterday’s conversation he had spoken surprisingly highly of Dan, and after witnessing today’s events firsthand, she found herself agreeing more than she’d expected.
Calm, patient, confident without arrogance — there was something unusual about him. If she simply drove away now, she had the feeling she’d regret wasting this opportunity. Not because she was captivated, not because she suddenly wished for romance. She merely wanted an answer. What kind of person was Dan Moriarty?
With that thought settled, she closed the car door she had been about to open, then turned and walked towards him.
The distance between them gradually shortened. Dan heard the approaching footsteps long before she reached him, yet he waited until she stood beside him before finally turning. Their eyes met once more, and this time neither looked away immediately. It was the quiet silence between two people carefully measuring one another.
"Congratulations," Evelyn said first, her tone remaining calm. "The tower is yours now."
Dan inclined his head politely.
"Thank you."
A brief silence followed, and neither seemed uncomfortable. Evelyn glanced upward toward the towering structure, and a faint smile appeared.
"I spent years seeing this tower every day."
"I never imagined it would belong to someone else."
"Nor did I," Dan admitted.
Her crimson eyes shifted toward him again.
"My father doesn’t sell things easily and neither does he trust people easily."
"So I’ve heard," Dan smiled faintly.
Another pause. Then Evelyn folded her arms.
"You’re different from what I expected."
"In what way?" Dan raised an eyebrow.
"I expected someone louder." She answered honestly. "Someone eager to show off after buying something this valuable."
Dan chuckled softly.
"What would boasting accomplish?"
"If I tell everyone the tower is mine, It remains mine."
"If I stay silent, It also remains mine."
"The result doesn’t change."
Evelyn blinked. That actually made sense, and she found herself suppressing the urge to smile.
"...That’s an unusual way of thinking," she began. "My teacher used to say something similar. My father. He taught me swordsmanship."
Dan nodded, never expecting anything less than the guild master teaching his own daughter.
"You watched today’s fight carefully," Evelyn continued. "So what did you think?"
Dan’s expression became thoughtful.
"I think..."
"...strength without control is merely destruction."
Evelyn stared at him. That was almost identical to something her father had told her years ago, and she hadn’t expected someone so young to arrive at such a conclusion on his own.
The conversation flowed surprisingly naturally — no awkward attempts at impressing one another, no meaningless compliments, simply conversation.
For several moments they discussed the tower itself: its seven floors, its Living Realm environment, its history, and its reputation throughout Metro City. Eventually Evelyn glanced toward the Phantom LX-9 parked several meters away, and an idea quietly surfaced. She reached into her coat pocket.
Jingle!
The metallic sound of keys echoed softly as she twirled the key ring around one finger before catching it effortlessly. Then she looked directly into his eyes, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of her lips and raised the car keys slightly between them.
"Want to go for a test run?"
