6:50 PM. At The Luna Restaurant.
Atop a skyscraper in the heart of Titan City, neon lights shimred like millions of diamonds scattered across the earth. But at this pinnacle, the chaos below was reduced to a silent landscape.
Owen's white SUV turned smoothly into the Drop-off zone of "The Luna."
Although his car was a new model and expensive for ordinary people, when parked amidst an army of 'Supercars' and custom-made 'Limousines' lined up there, his vehicle looked instantly “modest” and out of place, like a stray sheep wandering into a pride of golden lions.
The atmosphere in this area was strangely quiet and orderly. No honking horns, no roaring engines. Only the soft breeze and classic jazz music playing gently to accentuate the venue's luxury.
The mont the wheels stopped spinning, a valet in a pristine white uniform trotted over to open the car door with speed and exaggerated humility, as if they already knew this car would arrive at this exact second.
"Welco, sir..."
Glossy black high heels stepped onto the red carpet laid out to receive them, followed by the slender figure of Clara in a 'Wine Red' evening gown. The velvet fabric accentuated her smooth, pale skin, making it radiant. The high-slit design revealed her beautiful legs with every step. A small diamond set that sparkled just enough in the light enhanced her elegance and seductiveness, befitting the star of the night.
And the person stepping down from the driver's seat was Owen.
Today, he wasn't sporting the look of a playful strear, but was in full 'Professional Bodyguard' mode. A pitch-black fitted suit emphasized his broad shoulders and straight back. His hair was slicked back to reveal a handso, solemn face. A Bluetooth earpiece attached to his right ear completed the image.
Owen's sharp gaze didn't focus on the exquisite crystal chandelier or the expensive view. He swept his eyes to scan the surroundings rapidly... CCTV positions, number of security guards, escape routes... everything was recorded in his head within seconds.
"Owen..." Clara linked arms with him tightly. She tried to keep her composure, but her whisper trembled with excitent. "This place is amazing! I've only seen it in high-society magazines. I never thought I'd actually set foot here in this lifeti... Look at those cars. How many millions is each one?"
"I know... but try to act natural. Relax a bit," Owen whispered back, patting the back of her hand lightly to calm her nerves.
But before they could step through the revolving doors, a beautiful receptionist in a sleek black dress walked straight toward them with a professional smile honed to perfection.
"Welco, Mrs. Ward... and her escort."
She bowed gracefully before gesturing toward a private glass elevator. "Master 'Goldwin' is waiting at the VIP room 'Moonlight'. Please co this way."
Owen narrowed his eyes slightly behind his black sunglasses. The suspicion in his heart rose another level.
'No asking for nas... No checking reservation codes...'
He noticed other staff in the area pausing their activities to look at them with great interest, even if just for a few seconds.
'That guy must have prepared very well... If it's not because he really cares about Clara as a die-hard fan, he must be expecting sothing more than just a al.'
"Thank you. Lead the way," Owen replied curtly, tightening his grip on Clara's arm slightly a signal for her to be cautious.
The receptionist led them through a hallway paved with polished black marble. It was flanked by giant wine cabinets reaching the ceiling, displaying thousands of expensive bottles. One wall was a large glass pane revealing the night view of Titan City sparkling below.
Clara was still dazzled by the luxury, montarily forgetting her fear. She saw this as an easy job just sitting and eating beautifully in a special place. But for Owen... he felt imdiately that the $250,000 transferred wasn't just a fee for her ti...
It could be said that he had bought absolute control of the situation.
The deeper they walked, the fewer people there were, until they reached the quietest zone of the restaurant. The receptionist stopped them in front of a massive teak door carved with an exquisite crescent moon pattern. Two giant n in black suits stood guard, but seeing the guide, they bowed and stepped aside dutifully.
"We have arrived. Mr. Goldwin is waiting inside," the receptionist gestured.
Owen stepped slightly in front of Clara, fulfilling his bodyguard duty. He turned back to look at her, nodding once with eyes that conveyed the aning, 'Don't be afraid. Rember, you are not alone...'
Clara inhaled deeply, smiling to accept that confidence. Owen reached out to grab the brass handle, pushing the heavy door open...
Creak...
The mont the wooden door opened wide, soft light from a crystal chandelier shone out to welco the visitors.
The VIP Room 'Moonlight' lived up to its na. One wall was a large curved glass pane fully revealing the round moon and the night view of Titan City. The floor was paved with a thick, deep red Persian rug. Every piece of furniture was ticulously selected, reflecting classic European luxury.
In the center of the room was a long dining table covered with a clean white linen cloth. Silver candlesticks and a vase of fresh red roses were placed perfectly.
And at one end of the table... the host of tonight's banquet was waiting.
The image that appeared made Clara's eyebrows raise in surprise because the owner of the na 'Goldwin' was not a pot-bellied, bald tycoon, or a middle-aged man with lecherous eyes as she had imagined.
But he was rely a young boy, around 18 years old!
He had a tall, slender figure but possessed muscles proportionate to soone who took good care of himself. His face was handso, like a prince walking out of a novel cover. Sharp features, pale skin contrasting with clear blue eyes that looked innocent yet hid a glint of stubbornness. His bright blonde hair was set ticulously but deliberately left a strand falling over his forehead to add the charm of a playful young man.
He wore a cream-white bespoke suit from a famous brand that looked luxurious and expensive, perfectly accentuating his elegance beyond his age.
Vwoom!
But while Clara was stunned by his handsoness, Owen froze dead!
Because the mont he stepped past the threshold, what slamd into him wasn't the cold of the air conditioner or the aroma of food... but a massive amount of "Mana Aura" packed so tight it was about to explode!
'Impossible...'
Owen's dark brows knitted together into a knot. Cold sweat seeped from his temples under his hairline. His instincts scread that the thing standing in front wasn't just a normal human... but a monster in the guise of a young boy!
The wave of energy radiating from the boy was violent and uncontrolled. It wasn't calm and profound like the ocean of 'Nova,' who was an expert S-Rank... but it was like a giant dam with cracks, leaking massive amounts of water uncontrollably.
'Pressure at this level... Could this guy be an S-Rank Awakened!?'
Owen's brain processed rapidly. Although he couldn't be 100% sure, with this amount of overflowing mana, at the very least, this kid must be at the peak of Rank A, or had just awakened recently but ca with S-level mana from the start sothing enviable and terrifying at the sa ti.
Owen swallowed down his dry throat. The situation he had anticipated was completely wrong. The heavy-spending fan willing to pay half a million to eat with Clara turned out to be a 'walking ti bomb'!?
In contrast, Clara, standing beside him, let out a soft sigh of relief.
Since she was just an ordinary person, she couldn't see the berserk mana aura and couldn't sense the massive pressure that made Owen almost breathless. To her... the person in front was just a good-looking young man.
'What is this? Just a rich young master? Oh boy... thought it would be a scary perverted old man.'
The tension accumulated along the way vanished completely. The stiff smile from a mont ago was replaced by a sweet smile dripping with charm and confidence.
And the mont those blue eyes turned to et Clara's slender figure... sparks of excitent ignited in his eyes.
"God!!!"
The young man exclaid loudly. His eyes were wide and sparkling like a little kid eting a superhero. He hurriedly strode toward Clara, but before reaching her, he stopped and kept a respectful distance.
"The real one... The real Clara in the flesh! Oh~ You're a hundred tis more beautiful than on screen! Your complexion looks great, and your aura... Oh! It's absolutely radiant!" The young man looked up at her with eyes filled with worship, like a loyal disciple eting the goddess he revered.
He placed his hand on his chest and bowed elegantly, like a well-bred gentleman.
"Allow
to introduce myself formally. I am 'Ryan... Ryan Goldwin.'" His voice trembled slightly with excitent. "I am your die-hard fan! I've followed you since the first day you opened your OnlyStar channel!"
Clara blushed when attacked by a barrage of complints. She hurriedly raised a slender hand to cover her mouth, laughing softly to hide her shyness.
"Oh... that's enough, Mr. Ryan. Complinting
this much, I might float into the sky." She smiled sweetly at him. "Nice to et you. Thank you for supporting
all along."
"With absolute pleasure! For , supporting you is the highest honor!" Ryan replied with a clear voice, before realizing it was rude to keep guests standing too long.
"Oh! Apologies. I was too excited. Please... Have a seat right here, My Lady."
He gestured invitingly and hurriedly went to pull out the high-backed velvet chair for Clara to sit like a gentleman.
As for Owen, standing quietly observing, he secretly let out a long sigh of relief seeing the boy's deanor.
'Luckily this guy is just a typical otaku... not a pervert looking to grope.'
He watched Ryan treating Clara as if she were a goddess or queen to be worshipped. There was no crudeness in his eyes, only pure admiration (and obsession).
Owen assessed the risk in his mind rapidly... Right now, he was just a Rank B. Even with his cheats and superior combat skills, if he had to clash head-on with an S-Rank level power user, even if it was an uncontrolled S-Rank, his chance of winning was still lower than 20% anyway. And even if he won, he would likely be in a near-death state.
'Best not to have any trouble...'
Owen decided to choose the safest strategy. He walked to stand calmly, hands clasped behind his back, slightly behind Clara's chair. He adjusted his expression to be impassive, acting as a professional bodyguard blending into the room's wallpaper.
Ryan walked back to sit at the head of the table opposite her. His gaze fixed and focused on a single point: Clara's face. As if on this earth, only she existed...
He didn't even glance at the "Black-Suited Bodyguard" standing radiating alertness behind her for even a second. As if Owen was rely air, unworthy of attention...
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