Chapter 488: Turmoil at the Banquet

A cold smile tugged at Aaron's lips as he looked at David.

"Mr. Warren, we're just small-town nobodies. We wouldn't dare associate with people of your standing." He glanced at the glass in David's hand. "So you can keep the apology drink."

Cold sweat immediately gathered on David's forehead.

"Aaron, come on. 'Mr. Warren' sounds awfully distant." He forced a warm smile. "When you were little, you called me Uncle David. You were much friendlier back then."

Seeing that Aaron remained unmoved, David quickly changed tactics.

"And don't you remember Maya? When you were kids, she used to follow you everywhere. She even told you she was going to marry you when she grew up, and you two made a pinky promise."

David laughed as though recalling a fond memory. "That's why your father and I agreed on the engagement back then."

Aaron almost laughed.

So that was where this was going.

David had finally stopped dancing around the real reason for this reunion. He was here to marry off his daughter—no, to honor an old engagement, apparently.

"Dad, what are you talking about?"

Maya, who was sitting beside Aaron, immediately looked displeased.

"We were children. How can something we said back then possibly count? And who even arranges childhood engagements anymore? That's ridiculous."

David's expression darkened.

"Enough. Victor and I agreed on this years ago. You don't get to dismiss it just because you feel like it." He stared sternly at his daughter before adding, "Or do you expect your father to become the kind of man who breaks his word?"

Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly.

That last sentence had not been meant only for Maya.

David knew exactly what kind of man Victor was. Friendship, loyalty, keeping one's word—those were the things Aaron's father valued most.

Sure enough, Victor's expression stiffened.

He had clearly understood the implication too.

Aaron gave David a quiet look.

Not bad. He knows exactly where to press.

Maya, however, was not interested in playing along.

"Dad, you can't just decide this for me. Besides..." She hesitated for only a moment before blurting out, "I already have a boyfriend."

David froze.

"He's from Arcanis City too," Maya continued. "I was planning to bring him home and introduce him to you, but then you suddenly said we were coming to Sealine City. He came here too so he could meet you properly and we could make things official."

For several seconds, David simply stared at her.

Then his face twisted.

"You..."

He looked as if both of his children had spent the entire meal competing to see who could give him a heart attack first.

"You're trying to kill me today, aren't you?"

Maya frowned. "What's wrong with having a boyfriend?"

"What's wrong—"

"Dad, he's a well-known talent in Arcanis City," she cut in, pride immediately entering her voice. "He's only twenty and he's already a Gym-level Trainer. He's also a second-year student at Pokémon League University."

She lifted her chin slightly.

"Two years ago, he placed in the top fifty of the Hidden Dragon Rankings and was offered special admission because of it. He's amazing."

Her gaze slid toward Aaron.

"He's not someone you can compare to a simple exam top scorer. Sure, 'national top scorer' sounds impressive, but most of the real prodigies are recruited directly and never even take the exam. All Aaron did was come first among the people who were left."

Aaron gave her a strange look.

Top fifty on the Hidden Dragon Rankings?

That really did sound impressive.

At least, it probably would have to someone else.

"What? He's that talented?"

David's wife immediately brightened.

"Maya, why didn't you tell us sooner? A boyfriend like that is nothing to hide." She smiled excitedly. "Where is he? Call him over. If you two are serious, we should meet him properly."

Maya's earlier irritation vanished, replaced by a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Mom, I wanted it to be a surprise. He should be here soon. He said he was already on his way."

Beside them, David's face had turned frighteningly dark.

Top fifty?

Top fifty?

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Sitting right next to Maya was the current number one on the Hidden Dragon Rankings—the first Trainer in thousands of years to clear the ninth floor of the Hidden Dragon Tower.

Aaron was arguably the greatest young Trainer in all of Hualis.

And his idiot daughter was proudly talking about some guy who had barely scraped into the top fifty two years ago?

David's chest rose and fell heavily.

He had the perfect opportunity sitting right in front of him, and Maya had thrown it aside for someone David considered completely insignificant by comparison.

If she married Aaron, David would gain a son-in-law whose future connections and influence could transform the Warren family's position overnight. With someone of Aaron's potential behind him, even the competitors who had spent years circling his company would become far less threatening.

Instead, Maya had brought him this.

David finally snapped.

He stepped over and slapped her across the face.

Smack!

"Ah!"

Maya recoiled, one hand flying to her cheek as she stared at him in disbelief.

"Dad... you hit me?"

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"You've never hit me before, and now you hit me in front of everyone?"

She burst into tears.

David's wife shot to her feet. "David! What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you hitting the kids today?"

She grabbed his arm, but he violently shook her off.

"Stay out of this, or you're next!"

The sheer fury in his voice frightened her enough that she stopped immediately.

Across the table, Aaron's family simply watched the Warren family tear itself apart.

Aaron's mother was enjoying every second of it.

Go ahead. Keep turning on each other. Serves you right.

Aaron, meanwhile, watched David thoughtfully.

He had a pretty good idea what was really going on now.

David pointed furiously at Maya.

"Call him right now and tell him not to come. Then break up with him. Today."

Maya stared at him through her tears.

"No!"

David's expression became even uglier.

"We love each other! I'm not breaking up with him just because you suddenly decided I should marry someone else." Maya wiped at her face angrily. "And what's wrong with him anyway?"

She took a shaky breath before continuing.

"I heard a veteran Class Champion-level Trainer has already accepted him as his personal student. His mentor even said that one day he could surpass him."

Maya pointed straight at Aaron, her voice rising again.

"He is outstanding! He's way better than some bullshit exam top scorer!"

Aaron's eyes narrowed.

For a moment, the chubby little girl from his childhood flashed through his mind—the one who used to follow him everywhere and had solemnly hooked her pinky around his beneath the setting sun.

Then he looked at Maya as she was now.

Aaron almost laughed.

Heh... people really do change as they grow up. Apparently, it wasn't just her appearance that changed.

...