Free Web NovelChapter 446: An Awkward Reunion
"Marcus, we’re going to look at equipment first. Come find us when you’re done back here."
The moment they heard there would be drinking involved, the women immediately lost interest. They had their own priorities, and shopping for gear ranked far above sitting around a table with a pair of men discussing auctions.
"Okay."
Marcus nodded. Lily led the group away to browse equipment while Marcus followed Old Vine deeper into the auction house. A few minutes later, he was staring at the old man’s private collection.
Damn. This was ridiculous.
Two jugs of century-old Maiden’s Reserve. Two more of 150-year-old Duke’s Vintage. A full jug of premium Firewater. Every single one had been acquired through auctions at outrageous prices. That wasn’t even the end of it. Old Vine had hired a high-level system chef exclusively for entertaining guests. The moment they sat down, a lavish spread of food appeared on the table, filling the room with rich aromas.
Marcus couldn’t help shaking his head. The old man really knew how to live. He had spent so much time focused on making money that he’d neglected the obvious truth. ’What’s the point of earning wealth if you never enjoy it?’ Work hard when it’s time to work hard. Enjoy yourself when it’s time to enjoy yourself. That was the proper way to live.
Decision made. He needed to learn from Old Vine. Maybe it was finally time to stop treating himself like a poor man.
"Cheers!"
There was no need for politeness between them. Marcus picked up the wine and drank freely, enjoying every cup. At the same time, another thought quietly formed in his mind. When he got the chance, he was definitely hiring a chef for the mansion. A talented one. Life was meant to be comfortable. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
About half an hour later, a message from Lily arrived.
"Marcus, we’ve picked out our gear. Where are you?"
"I’m in the auction house’s back hall, drinking with Old Vine. Come inside. We’ve been talking so much we haven’t even discussed the auction yet."
In truth, most of the time had been spent drinking rather than talking. Marcus had already had enough that he could feel a pleasant buzz settling into his head. Any more and he’d start getting dizzy. It was probably time to discuss business. Besides auctioning the Guild Creation Token, he also planned to put up several pieces of Golden and Blue equipment below level forty-five. Most players were approaching level forty now, making it the perfect time to sell.
Just as Marcus was about to bring up the details, a flash of light appeared nearby. Three figures materialized inside the hall.
The two standing on either side wore sorcerer’s robes, one blue and one red. Their appearances were identical. Tall, graceful, and perfectly proportioned, they looked like mirror images brought to life. Even standing still, they naturally drew attention.
Icefall and Firebrand. Old Vine’s twin granddaughters.
Marcus had seen plenty of beautiful women by now, but even he had to admit the twins were exceptional. What made them especially memorable wasn’t just their appearance, but the contrast between them. Icefall carried herself with cool elegance and quiet confidence. Firebrand was brighter, warmer, and far more expressive. The same face. Two completely different impressions.
Yet despite how striking the twins were, neither managed to draw attention away from the woman standing between them. Her white cleric’s robes seemed almost luminous under the hall’s lighting. Combined with her calm bearing and natural grace, she immediately became the center of attention the moment she appeared.
FreshwindElara. Dominion’s only Five-Element Cleric.
"Stone!"
The instant she spotted Marcus, surprise lit up her face. "When did you come back from the Mystic Turtle’s Tomb?" Without hesitation, she hurried toward him.
"FreshwindElara."
Marcus stood and caught her in a brief embrace. A smile immediately spread across her face.
"Stone, when did you finish the quest? Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I did." Marcus laughed. "I sent you several messages last night, but you weren’t online."
FreshwindElara blinked. A moment later, she checked her notifications and discovered the messages waiting for her. "Oh." She smiled sheepishly. "I was staying with Icefall and Firebrand yesterday. I never logged in." Then her smile brightened again. The happiness on her face was impossible to hide.
"You’re drinking with Grandpa Old Vine?" Without waiting for an answer, she sat down beside him, picked up a wine jug, and filled his cup. "Come on. Tell me everything that happened in the Mystic Turtle’s Tomb." She gestured for Icefall and Firebrand to sit as well.
The twins took their seats.
Firebrand stole several glances toward Marcus. Each time she looked away almost immediately. It seemed as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the courage to begin. The uncertainty in her eyes was impossible to miss. Marcus felt increasingly uncomfortable under those looks.
Meanwhile, Icefall sat quietly beside her sister. She didn’t greet Marcus. She didn’t speak to him. She didn’t even look in his direction. It was as though he wasn’t there at all.
Marcus frowned slightly. If not for the fact that he still needed to discuss the auction with Old Vine, he might have left already. Seriously. These sisters could be unbelievably stubborn. He had already asked Old Vine to apologize on his behalf. He had even returned the Mythic artifact, Ironwood Staff, without asking for anything in return. In Marcus’s eyes, he’d done everything reasonably possible to smooth things over. Yet judging from their attitudes, they were still unhappy with him.
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. ’If I’d known this would be the result, I might not have bothered at all.’
What Marcus didn’t know was that Firebrand was struggling with her own thoughts. She wanted to speak. More than once, she’d almost opened her mouth. But every time she remembered her grandfather’s earlier words, she lost her nerve. Marcus had been willing to sell the Ironwood Staff rather than hand it directly to them. That fact lingered in her mind. Did he dislike her? Did he want nothing to do with her? The more she thought about it, the less confidence she had. So she stayed silent. Not because she was angry. Because she didn’t know how to start.
Old Vine watched the scene unfold and felt a headache coming on. Nobody understood the situation better than he did. Looking at Firebrand’s troubled expression and Marcus’s growing irritation, he could already see the misunderstanding deepening.
And the worst part? The blame rested squarely on his shoulders. Thinking about how worried Firebrand had been these past few days, Old Vine couldn’t help feeling a stab of regret. He had only wanted to help. Instead, he had somehow made everything worse.
