Chapter 102: Unexpected Encounter

Ordinary people naturally had no right to sit at the same table as the young lady. They gathered together instead, collectively paying their respects—a gesture considered the greatest blessing for them. After the audience with Miss Li Yan, she retreated to the inner hall, refraining from joining the gathering. Outside, at the banquet, Li Xiuxiang unquestionably became the star of the evening.

This rekindled his confidence. Watching Le Kai, who was tucked away in a corner, devouring his food with abandon and completely unrestrained, brought him immense satisfaction and a deep sense of superiority. This boy was nothing but a country bumpkin, desperately pretending to be a wealthy and refined gentleman. That one million surely belonged to Lanska’s private fortune. He wondered how Lanska would treat him after losing to himself this time.

The Lan family had truly fallen from grace. None of the recent generations had produced any decent contestants. Now, pinning their hopes on this native was simply naive and laughable.

It was well known that noble banquets were merely formalities—opportunities for various factions to communicate and network. Few cared about the food and drink. Everyone adhered to the code of gentlemanly conduct, striving to present their most perfect selves. On the surface, they were dazzling and impeccable; in reality, they were hypocritical, insincere, and duplicitous.

Especially someone like Le Kai, with his strong mental fortitude and supernatural abilities, could easily perceive the falsehoods of these people. He had no interest in mingling with politicians and ladies who made deceit and shamelessness their motto. The human world was truly complicated. His teacher hadn’t been wrong—he was only suited to survive in the wilderness.

During his seclusion, Le Kai occasionally took pills and consumed the rations stored in his wristwatch’s space. For a meat lover like him, those two months had dulled his palate. Faced with so much exquisite food now, he showed no restraint. Finding a corner where no one paid him attention, he indulged himself.

Meat that hadn’t been irradiated tasted tender and fresh. Outside the wilderness, even mutated rabbits had meat as tough as rubber. There was no comparison to this delicacy.

Some nobles nearby were still posturing, but upon seeing Le Kai’s manner, their expressions darkened with disgust. One by one, they left, afraid that standing near him would diminish their own status. Soon, the large corner was left with only Le Kai, fiercely battling his food.

If not for the presence of the mayor and Li Xiuxiang, noble guests of the highest rank, some pretentious aristocrat would have long since come over to deal with him. This was outright defiling a refined and elegant banquet!

How did such an uncouth second-rate citizen manage to sneak into such a high-level event?

Finally, someone reached their limit and sought out the captain of the Gun God squad, who was in charge of security for the entire banquet.

“Such a thing actually happened? Don’t worry, we’ll handle it discreetly, so as not to disturb the mayor or the distinguished guests,” the Gun God captain said in surprise. Nearly all attendees were nobles who valued aristocratic etiquette above their lives and would rather die than lose face. How could anyone be so uncouth as to eat ravenously and ruin the atmosphere?

The Blue Shark squad had eight members, all dressed in evening gowns and tuxedos, stationed around to monitor the event. Yet their attention was fixed solely on Li Yan; others could perish without catching their notice.

Captain Gun God was bored out of his mind. The city government was the most heavily guarded place in Huazhong City. Under the small firmament, ordinary weapons were ineffective. The main entrance was equipped with full defense systems, and every person carried a Cosmic Network ID chip. It was impossible for terrorists to infiltrate.

The real threats had been ruled out. What remained were mere trifles likely to upset the young lady’s mood.

Following a noble’s tip, Gun God soon spotted Le Kai, back turned, ravenously chewing. Perhaps too eager, Le Kai suddenly choked, fumbling to grab a nearby fine red wine and gulping it down in one go.

“What the hell! So fierce? I’ve been starving, struggling to get by, and I don’t even get a taste of that bottle worth a hundred Wolf Battle Coins, but this bumpkin uses it as mouthwash? Absolutely intolerable!” Gun God was furious, striding over. Behind him, the nobles visibly relaxed, flashing smiles of relief. Being near such a lowly, uncultured savage was a grave insult.

“Kid, this is a high-class banquet, not a tavern. Watch your manners, or I’ll have to ask you to leave,” Gun God warned, approaching and pressing his hand on Le Kai’s shoulder with quiet force. As a martial artist, Gun God’s physical strength was formidable. Using full power could reduce a person to pulp, so he applied just a little pressure—still more than most could bear.

Le Kai had sensed his approach but had no intention of acknowledging this irrelevant intrusion. He was enjoying his meal and had no time for such trivialities. Feeling the pressure on his shoulder, he frowned, displeased. “Don’t you know interrupting someone’s meal is very rude?”

“You… it’s you?” Gun God was about to scold him for his audacity but was shocked by the familiar voice. He immediately realized his mistake and cursed himself for being so foolish. Who else but that little demon, the disgrace of the Blue Shark squad’s reputation, could have infiltrated the city government banquet?

Such a devil was better avoided altogether. How had he been so stupid as to come here himself?

Judging by his close relationship with the young lady, he was far beyond Gun God’s humble position as a mere bodyguard.

In that instant, Gun God was filled with regret and shot a fierce glare at the noble who had urged him here. The noble, mistaking the look for a confirmation, nodded excitedly, unaware he was now blacklisted and doomed.

Le Kai spat out the chicken bone, wiped his mouth with a napkin, then turned with a faint smile to the embarrassed Gun God. “You said you’d ask me to leave? Pray tell, is that your own idea, Yaner’s, or perhaps the mayor’s?”

Cold sweat dripped from Gun God’s forehead as he silently lamented his misfortune.

“I… it’s a misunderstanding, brother Le Kai. I was only joking. Actually, I saw you alone here, enjoying the feast all by yourself, and thought it might be lonely. So I came over to keep you company and apologize for any offense. We’re all people close to the young lady and should unite. I hope you’ll guide me in the future.”

Thankfully, Gun God was quick-witted, instantly concocting a smooth excuse. Growing bolder by the moment, he raised his glass. “Come, I toast you, little brother. Your straightforwardness truly commands my respect.”

Even he admired himself for resolving the crisis in a second, and for getting to taste the long-desired fine wine. He considered himself incredibly clever.

Le Kai couldn’t help but admire the fellow’s shamelessness. “In that case, sit down and join me!”

Ignoring Gun God’s hesitation, he pulled him down and casually handed him a greasy pig’s trotter from his platter. “Since we’re kindred spirits, unlike those politicians, no need for pretense. Eat heartily!”

Gun God stared at the trotter, oil dripping onto his hand. Such rudeness clashed terribly with the elegant banquet.

He sighed internally. Though not a noble himself, the Blue Shark squad were no hooligans—they ate and drank with decorum. Yet over twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on him now. If he just grabbed the trotter and bit into it, what would become of his dignity?

But seeing Le Kai’s sincere gaze, he couldn’t resist. He didn’t believe this youth was some innocent, pure child. His instincts warned that refusing would have severe consequences.

His facial muscles twitched as he took the trotter. Feeling the grease spread over his hand, he thought his image was utterly shattered. One hand held a wine glass, the other a giant pig’s trotter. The scene resembled those legendary mountain bandits.

His reputation was ruined.

Furious, Gun God bit into the trotter fiercely.

Nobles and special forces nearby were dumbfounded. The captain of security behaving so crudely at a banquet was outrageous. Even more shocking, the next moment, Gun God raised the trotter and devoured it with wild, frantic energy, as if starved for days—more so than the savage before.

A wine glass slipped from a noble’s hand, rolling far on the floor, but he remained oblivious, staring blankly.

The Blue Shark squad members turned away in shame, pretending not to witness the spectacle. It was utterly humiliating.

Le Kai beamed, applauding Gun God’s alternating bites of wine and trotter. “You live in outer space for years, probably quite rough. Rarely get to taste such pure, primal meat. Take advantage and eat your fill.”

Gun God swallowed back bitter tears, venting his frustration on the trotter. With his integrity gone and dignity lost, he might as well throw caution to the wind.

Suddenly, a commotion arose. Gun God sensed something amiss and paused his ravenous feast, raising his head.

At that moment, his head buzzed with dizziness, and he wished he could die on the spot.

Unbeknownst to him, the mayor, Li Xiuxiang, and a large group of officials and nobles had surrounded him. All eyes fixed on him with contempt and mockery. Especially Li Xiuxiang, who, though smiling, pressed her lips tightly together, her mouth twitching slightly—clearly very angry.