The Tycoon's Odyssey

Evan, now sitting on a chair with a frown, grumbled, "Do we really need all this? It\'s just a banquet."

Elina, smiling mischievously, replied, "Come on, Brother. It\'s important to look good. Besides, you never know who you might meet."

Celina adjusted Evan\'s suit with a practised touch. "This isn\'t just any banquet. We\'re entering a world where appearances matter. It\'s about projecting confidence and authority."

"It\'s a war..." Elina declared dramatically and then added while shaking her two ponytails, "A war that you need to win no matter what."

Evan shot them a skeptical look. "A battlefield, you say?"

He gave them a look asking, \'Are you two smoking some crack?\'

At this point, it felt less like he wasn\'t going for someone else\'s banquet, but rather his own.

"Yes," Celina affirmed, fixing his cufflinks. "In high society, how you present yourself can make all the difference. It\'s important to make a strong impression."

Evan sighed but stayed still and allowed the stylists to continue their work. "Alright, alright."

Elina gave him a playful nudge. "Just trust Mother. She knows how to handle these things."

As Evan caught a glimpse of his reflection—his hair neatly styled and his suit perfectly fitted—he started to see the value in all the effort. Even though he was still a bit grumpy, he couldn\'t help but appreciate Celina\'s attention to detail.

Also, to be fair, he looked quite good.

With a tall, well-toned build, he looked like an A-Class model and may even leave them to dust.

With a final adjustment from Celina and a reassuring smile from Elina, Evan prepared for the evening. He realized that looking good was more than just vanity; it was an important part of making a great impression.

Moreover, tonight he was really going to the battlefield and even the system had issued the decree.

[Quest]

[Ruin the engagement and make Noah and his family lose their faces.]

[Rewards: Destroyer Card]

He didn\'t know what this thing would exactly do, but he was sure this was going to come in handy.

_____

The event was being held at the Esplanade Hotel, the most prestigious venue in the city. It made sense that such a significant event, involving the city\'s elite, was being hosted in a venue that matched their stature.

Evan knew that the event was filled with high-ranking figures from BBSR, but he was unclear about Noah\'s specific reason for inviting him.

But one thing was certain—trouble was brewing.

For Evan, what mattered the most was making connections that could benefit him in the future. He understood that, no matter how much money one had, connections were key for acquiring things that money alone couldn\'t buy.

The banquet was scheduled to begin around 6 p.m., so Evan wasn\'t concerned about driving his Mercedes S-Class sedan which was brought after a relentless banter for Maria who was using him to drive this car.

Unlike others, Evan didn\'t prefer flashy sports cars. It wasn\'t because he didn\'t love them—he did—but what the point of owning a sports car if it can\'t be driven to its full potential? And being in a city filled with an ample number of speed breakers at every twist and turn, Evan didn\'t want to make himself frustrated.

Though he didn\'t mind, others certainly noticed. The sleek, luxurious sedan effortlessly drew attention and admiration as it glided smoothly through the streets, prompting drivers to clear the way.

As he sped across the street, he heard another beastly roar beside him. Rolling down his window, he exchanged a brief nod with the driver of the sleek black sedan as if conveying an unspoken message.

When Evan arrived at the Esplanade Hotel, he had grown accustomed to the admiring glances and whispers about his car. The entire hotel had been reserved for the event, indicating that the host was someone of considerable influence and only those with invitations could enter.

The guards, recognizing Evan\'s car, didn\'t bother stopping him to check for an invitation. This was convenient for Evan, as it allowed him to avoid unnecessary delays and helped him maintain a low profile.

The Esplanade Hotel boasted an underground parking lot. Its ground floor served as the reception hall that could accommodate guests if the dining area was full.

The first floor was open to the general public, while the second floor featured private dining rooms. The third to fifth floors contained lodging rooms, and the sixth floor held VIP suites.

The seventh floor was reserved for large events, including the banquet tonight. The eighth floor housed the exclusive presidential suites, with only four available.

Taking the elevator to the ground floor, Evan found it less crowded than his previous visit. He was greeted warmly by the guard but that was the extent of the interaction.

As he entered, his eyes widened as he spotted almost every reputed figure in the city.

From politicians, business magnates, and other high-profile guests, there were many who were from other regions.

Evan was familiar with some of them and each one of them was wealthy. Sadly, none of their attention fell on Evan as he lingered in the corner, holding a glass of cola in a wine glass which he hesitated to drink, worried that if it might actually be wine, he would be in deep trouble since he wasn\'t used to drinking.

Evan stood alone at the banquet, like a lonely desolate figure in the midst of the bustling crowd.

Around him, people had already started forming groups, exchanging words and pleasantries.

Meanwhile…

"I am bored...\'

The high-society gathering swirled around him with chatter and laughter, yet he remained largely invisible. He scanned the room with a mix of curiosity and detachment, his presence seemingly akin to a ghost among the sea of familiar faces.

Suddenly, the doors to the grand hall opened, admitting a new wave of guests.

Among them were Noah\'s lackeys—John, Jasper, and Ken—who were strutting in with their usual smug expression and immediately spotted Evan, drawing a few sidelong glances as they made their way through the crowd, whispered before looking for someone and then made their way towards him.

Their presence brought an edge of tension to Evan.

\'Damn!\'

\'Not them… Just because I said I am bored doesn\'t mean that you had to arrange clowns for my entertainment, God.\'