Chapter 216: Spotted

Luke left Blackstone Company, and as the sky gradually darkened, he hailed a passing taxi.

As he waited for the driver to pull over, he remembered an idea he once considered: buying a car for himself.

Now that his business was expanding and his schedule becomes busier, having a car dots the i in convenience.

It also provides security.

Maybe it is time to make this purchase.

In the taxi, Luke leaned back in his seat, recalling everything that had happened: the discussion with Mr. Blackstone, the breeding arrangements, the progress in his workshop, and Lucy’s unexpected breakthrough.

He didn’t forget the forced date with Lucy.

A date he wasn’t accepting, alas.

Luke promised Seraphina that she would be his date in the academy awards ceremony, and Luke had no intention of breaking that promise.

So, this left Luke with the problem of handling Mr. Blackstone’s enthusiasm and Lucy’s feelings without hurting either of them...

As for his business, things were moving at the best pace possible. Who knew success could be this achievable?

Those handy monkeys, worker ants, and fire lizards will arrive in hundreds and thousands, so many that Luke wouldn’t even recognize the progenitors among them.

And all of them will know what to do, an outstanding workforce, and the foundation of the strongest production line on this planet!

Other employees will also be hired soon.

However, there are positions that Luke must personally oversee selection.

Positions like manager, chief officer of this and chief officer of that, head of this and head of that.

These positions are not something Luke Kingsley can casually entrust to anyone, because while the workshop might have beasts handling production, reliable people are still needed to manage the entire operation.

Luke asked the taxi driver to stop because he wanted to go to a nearby restaurant to get dinner.

This restaurant looked very comfortable, with warm lighting, neatly arranged tables, and exquisite interior decor.

There weren’t too many people, so when Luke walked in, no one paid attention to him because his dressing was decent enough to blend in with the atmosphere.

He flipped through the menu, ordered what he wanted, and asked that everything be pack-to-go because he didn’t plan to eat there.

Today he wants duck breast with spinach and syrup, plus three bottles of wine, because Seraphina is practically synonymous with being a drunkard.

Yes, they have a pretend date again today.

Last time they ate shrimp and ribeye steak, this time Luke wanted something different, and he also ordered some dessert, including chocolate cake.

After everything was ready, he took the food and went for the exit.

While walking down the aisle, Luke noticed some men gathered around tables, eating. They looked like hunters...

Some have familiar faces, one belonging to a family of the Silver Order, and another as well.

Once the heir to the Kingsley family, Luke knew many people from prominent families, so he recognised the violet-haired man among them, Brad Prescott, the uncle of the newly crowned Charles Prescott.

Luke pretended not to recognise anyone, continued walking, and calmly left the restaurant with the takeouts.

But those hunters noticed him too.

After he left, they exchanged glances, and all of them were convinced that the person they saw was Luke Kingsley.

So, they followed Luke outside, and when they saw him get into a taxi and drive away, they got into their own car in pursuit.

One of them said, "Follow him! That’s Luke, the Exile!"

"The Duchess has always wanted him! Let’s go catch him!"

In the taxi... Because Luke is wearing the Imperial River Centaur Chestplate under his clothes, the might of the Imperial River Centaur passively manifests.

The Imperial River Centaurs, beasts of war, are thus the most adept at ambush and guerrilla tactics, which is why they have developed one of the strongest defences in every era.

With such defence, the highest potential of the Imperial River Centaurs can even predict when a sun is about to explode...

Luke didn’t need the highest potential of the Imperial River Centaurs to know that hunters were after him.

He knew immediately they rose from their seats.

This unawakened driver only noticed them when he saw a car constantly following in the rearview mirror.

"What the—thieves?" the man stammered.

"Keep driving normally," Luke said calmly. "If I tell you to speed up, you’ll just crash."

"What am I supposed to do? Let the thieves attack me and my only livelihood?"

"Relax, old man, I’ve got this," Luke said, then he summoned the Olympian Serpent Bodyplate, his body covered by that very layer of scaly armour.

With just a gentle wave of his hand, the road behind the taxi was covered with very thick and resilient vines, ensnaring the pursuing cars like flies caught in a web.

Luke’s driver kept looking in the rearview mirror, mouth agape, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, because he couldn’t understand how the boy sitting in the back seat had done it.

Meanwhile... Luke’s pursuers...

They stuck their heads out the window, shaking their fists and cursing his name.

Luke dismissed the Olympian Serpent Bodyplate.

He did not doubt that this incident would reach Roselyn’s ears, and then, through some filters of Roselyn’s, it would reach Cedric’s ears.

"Such a stupid couple, I’m glad they’re not my parents anymore," Luke said as the taxi continued to drive, with nothing objecting again.

Soon, the taxi arrived at the area once known as the "Warehouse District," but Luke was considering renaming it the "Amigo District" in honour of the first beast he revived here.

The taxi passed by the now brightly lit giant workshop, the lights so bright that the streetlights were no comparison, making the scale of this property seem unimaginable.

Luke got out of the car and gave the driver a generous tip.

"You say this is your only source of income?" Luke asked.

"Yes, I drive to support my wife and children; we are not summoners," the taxi driver replied.

"Maybe you could earn more driving for my company?" Luke said. "Transporting dimensional items from seller to buyers is a trustworthy job, and therefore very profitable. You have to take a position."

The taxi driver was speechless when Luke handed him a card.

This is a special card that guarantees his employment because it comes from the company’s owner.

This little boy? The owner of a company?

"Good night, old man," Luke said as he waved and walked into his villa.