"Come here, darling," Brian said, patting his lap.
"You think I'd—" Before Amber could finish, Brian pulled her onto his lap. She struggled to get away, but quickly realized it was hopeless.
She smells nice… Brian thought.
"Grandpa Tran, help me!" Amber cried, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Sorry, young miss. This old man can't interfere—Young Master Brian is your fiancé," Tran said calmly.
"Y-you perverted jerk! Let me go right now!" Amber kept squirming in his arms.
"Hello, sister-in-law! I'm Adre," Adre said cheerfully, completely ignoring the tense situation.
"Darling, this is my younger brother, Adre," Brian added.
"Who's your darling, you lecher?!" Amber snapped.
After shouting for a while with no one coming to her rescue, Amber finally gave up, her face still bright red.
"Oh, right—you three still want to fight?" Brian said, finally noticing the three useless young men standing nearby.
"We're sorry, Young Master Brian! We'll leave—we didn't know who you were!" Fei said hurriedly.
But since Brian didn't give them permission to leave, all three froze, kneeling on the floor.
"Why aren't you leaving? You've embarrassed my wife—look at how red her face is," Brian said, brushing Amber's cheek.
"Y-yes, Young Master! We'll go now!" The three of them bolted immediately.
Once they were gone, Brian released Amber, and she quickly hid behind Tran.
"Grandpa Tran, do you know where the former captain of the Rain Empire's soldiers lives?" Brian asked.
"Why are you looking for him?" This time, it was Amber who replied.
"Oh, I'm planning to recruit him," Brian said casually.
"But isn't he crippled? What's the point of recruiting him?" Amber frowned.
"Oh? My beautiful wife seems curious about her handsome husband's plans," Brian teased.
"If you don't want to answer, then forget it," Amber pouted.
Ah… too cute, Brian thought.
"If Young Master is looking for Leonardo, he lives at the edge of the city," Tran explained. "After losing his cultivation, he became reclusive and hardly talks to anyone except his family."
"Leonardo, huh? Interesting," Brian said.
A waitress came in with Brian's order, but she stopped short upon seeing her boss.
"Don't worry. Just bring the food over and serve them," Amber said, her voice soft and calm, though her face turned red at the memory of what had just happened.
"Yes, Owner," the waitress replied.
Brian blinked. Eh? Did her personality just flip like that?
Name: Ansel Amber (Daughter of the Ancient Ansel Family)Status: Fiancée of Brian ScootLevel: 22 (Master Stage 2)Race: HumanAffection: 25Loyalty: 0Equipment: Inner Armor Robe (Epic), Rainbow Ring (Epic)
Wow, that went up fast. So women just need to be handled like this to like you? Thanks, K-drama, for the lesson, Brian mused.
"Come on, darling, eat with me," Brian said.
"Mmh." Amber nodded, then quickly added, "Wait—what darling? Eat by yourself, you jerk!" Still, she stayed in her seat and began eating.
The way she reacted made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
After the meal, Brian was escorted to Leo's home.
"Is this the place?" Brian asked, standing before a small, modest house.
"Yes. Lord Leo is an orphan—before joining the military, he had already lived here for over twenty years," Tran explained.
"Alright, let's see," Brian said, knocking on the door.
After twenty seconds with no answer, Brian was about to leave when the door creaked open, revealing a man in his forties.
"Why has the young miss of the Ansel family come to visit a crippled old man like me?" Leo asked.
"I'm just here to bring my friend. This is Brian—he says he has something to discuss with you, sir," Amber said respectfully. Even crippled, Leo still commanded respect; he was once the most talented captain in the Rain Empire's army.
"I'm Brian, and I'd like to discuss something with you, Sir Leo," Brian said.
"Oh? Something to discuss? Come in, then," Leo said after giving Brian a measured look, inviting everyone inside.
..
Brian's group stepped inside Leo's home.
"Please, have a seat—and forgive me if my house isn't to your liking," Leo said.
"This is a fine home, Sir Leo. And it smells wonderful," Tran replied.
Leo's house was small and modest, yet it was spotless and filled with a pleasant fragrance.
"Oh, that scent? My daughter likes it," Leo chuckled.
"You have a daughter, Sir? I've never heard of her," Amber asked in surprise.
"That's because I want her to live as an ordinary person," Leo said calmly.
"Alright, enough about that. Let's get to the main reason you came here, Sir Brian," Leo continued.
"I came here to recruit you as the commander and trainer of my soldiers," Brian said.
"Soldiers?"
"Yes—soldiers. I'm putting together a city defense force," Brian explained.
"Hmmm… is that so?" Leo's tone was skeptical; he was certain Brian had another motive.
"That's right. I want you to join me as my commander—and I want you to swear loyalty to me," Brian said, his gaze sharp.
"Hahaha! You want me to swear loyalty? If you can cure my crippled cultivation, then I'll swear loyalty to you," Leo replied, laughing at what he thought was impossible. He had never heard of anyone recovering from an injury like his.
"Oh, really? Then come with me on my journey to the academy, and I'll heal you along the way," Brian said.
"And why should I follow you?" Leo still didn't believe him.
"You don't trust me? How about this—if I can't heal you, I'll grant you one request, anything you want. But if I can… you swear loyalty and become my commander," Brian proposed.
"Hmmm…" Leo fell silent, thinking deeply.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid?" Brian provoked him.
"You arrogant brat… fine, let's make this bet," Leo agreed at last.
"Father! Father! I got a job at Heaven Restaurant!" A cheerful voice rang out before a young woman entered the house.
"B-Boss? Why are you here?" The girl froze, surprised to see her employer inside her home.
"I came to drop off this man," Amber said.
"This man? Ah! Isn't this your fiancé, Boss?!" The girl finally noticed Brian and was stunned.
"No, we're just friends," Amber quickly denied, blushing.
"Ah, I see," the girl said innocently.
So gullible… she believed that instantly, everyone in the room thought.
"This is my daughter, Natasha," Leo introduced.
"Hmph, your daughter is beautiful—must've taken after your wife," Tran said.
True, she really is beautiful… and she looks so pure and innocent, Brian thought, nodding in agreement while his eyes lingered on Natasha.
"Hey! Where are you looking?!" Amber snapped angrily, seeing him stare.
"I'm just admiring beauty—why are you acting like I've done something wrong?" Brian said casually.
"Hmph!" Amber snorted and looked away.
"So, Sir Leo, we have an agreement? Let your wife and daughter know—we leave tomorrow," Brian said.
"Leave? Leave for where?" Natasha asked in confusion.
"We're going with Young Master Brian. If what he says is true, my cultivation will be restored," Leo explained.
"Really, Father? You can be healed?!" Natasha exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. Ever since her father lost his cultivation, he had often seemed lost in thought.
"You're not lying, are you?" Natasha looked at Brian with wide, worried eyes.
"I'm telling the truth. Why would I bother lying?" Brian said.
"Since we have an agreement, I'll be going. There are still a few things I need to buy," Brian said, turning toward the door.
With that, Brian and his group left the house.