Chapter 294 - 292 : Pride (2)

Chapter 294: Chapter 292 : Pride (2)

Adrian glanced at the severed limb with a thoughtful expression.

"I’m sure we could create some tremendous artifacts or weapons using its blood and bones."

Arthur’s head immediately snapped toward him.

His ears practically perked up.

’Did he just say a Demon Lord?’

He stared at the glass case.

Then at Adrian.

Then back at the glass case.

A dangerous gleam appeared in Arthur’s eyes.

He immediately pushed himself to his feet and approached Adrian.

"Old man."

Adrian glanced at him.

"What? Need another beating or something?"

"I’ll buy that arm from you."

For a moment, Adrian simply stared at his son.

Arthur pointed toward the glass case.

"Tell me how much you want for it."

Sylvia’s eyes widened slightly.

"Arthur, why do you want that?"

Arthur looked at her.

"I have some use for it."

He paused, then added with complete seriousness, "I really need it."

Sylvia glanced at the severed arm.

Then she looked back at her son.

"What kind of use?"

"That’s a secret."

Arthur immediately turned toward Adrian again.

"Old man, I’m loaded. Just name your price, and the money is yours."

Adrian’s expression slowly changed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Son."

Arthur froze.

That particular tone.

That particular word.

He knew exactly what it meant.

Adrian had called him son.

’No.’

His eyes narrowed.

’Surely, he wouldn’t.’

Adrian had always placed manners, etiquette, and proper respect above everything else.

Surely, even he wouldn’t stoop so low as to use the same childish gesture twice.

Arthur began to open his mouth.

"Wait, you—"

Adrian raised his hand.

And calmly showed Arthur his middle finger.

Silence.

For approximately one second, Arthur’s mind went completely blank.

Then Isabella burst out laughing.

Evangline doubled over, clutching her stomach as she struggled to breathe. Aaron turned away, but his trembling shoulders betrayed him. Victor stared at the scene before finally bursting into laughter himself, while several others around them failed miserably to maintain their composure.

Even Sylvia covered her face with her palm, thoroughly exhausted by the antics of the father-son duo.

Adrian, meanwhile, looked thoroughly satisfied with himself.

Arthur stood motionless.

A vein began twitching on his forehead.

’Fuck.’

He slowly lowered his head.

’I really need that arm.’

His gaze shifted toward the glass case.

’If it genuinely belongs to a Demon Lord, I’ll need that bloodline.’

Arthur clenched his fists.

He glanced toward Adrian.

The man was still wearing that infuriating smile.

’Fine.’

Arthur took a slow breath.

’Fuck pride.’

He had spent years building his strength, and he wasn’t about to let his ego prevent him from obtaining something that could help him grow even stronger.

’I’ll do whatever it takes to get strong enough to beat that old man someday.’

Arthur suddenly looked around.

That was when he noticed something.

Aiden and Astarte were nowhere to be seen.

He frowned slightly.

’Where did those two go?’

He had more than a few questions for Aiden, especially considering everything that had happened during the battle. As for Astarte, he would need to speak with her later as well.

’I’ll deal with them afterward.’

His gaze returned to the glass case.

’First, the arm.’

Arthur slowly turned toward Sylvia.

Then, with the determination of a man preparing to make the greatest sacrifice of his life, he took a step toward her.

His expression softened.

His eyes widened.

His lips parted slightly.

And he summoned the most devastating weapon in his arsenal.

Puppy-dog eyes.

"Mother..."

Sylvia blinked in surprise.

Arthur looked up at her with an expression so pitiful that even the most ruthless person in the world might have hesitated before refusing him.

"I’ll spend an entire day with you."

Sylvia’s expression changed.

Arthur immediately continued, sensing an opportunity.

"You can decide what we do. Anything you want. We can go wherever you want, eat whatever you want, and spend the entire day together."

He clasped his hands together.

"Just give me that arm."

For a brief moment, silence settled over the group.

Then Adrian burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHA!"

He clutched his stomach, looking at Arthur as though he had just witnessed the funniest thing in the world.

"You brat! Do you really think that’ll work? Are you seriously trying to—"

He didn’t get to finish.

Sylvia suddenly reached over, snatched the glass case straight out of Adrian’s hand, and pushed him aside.

Then she placed it directly into Arthur’s hands.

"I accept the deal."

Silence.

Adrian’s mouth fell open.

He stared at Sylvia.

Then at Arthur.

Then at the empty space where the glass case had been.

For the first time that day, Adrian Evan Imperius looked genuinely defeated.

"...What?"

Sylvia smiled warmly at Arthur.

"An entire day together, just the two of us. You promised."

Arthur immediately hugged the glass case against his chest.

"Of course, Mother!"

His response came so quickly that several people struggled to suppress their laughter all over again.

Adrian slowly turned toward Sylvia.

"Wait a minute. You can’t be serious."

Sylvia glanced at him.

"Why not?"

"Because—"

"Because what?"

Adrian opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

He looked at Arthur, who was now examining the glass case with the expression of a merchant who had just acquired a priceless treasure for a fraction of its actual value.

A vein twitched on Adrian’s forehead.

’That little bastard!’

He had been standing right there.

He had personally brought the arm back.

He had intended to store it safely in the family treasury.

And somehow, in less than a minute, Arthur had managed to take it from him using nothing but a ridiculous expression and a promise to spend time with his mother.

Adrian slowly looked toward Sylvia.

She smiled sweetly at him.

He turned away.

"...Unbelievable."

Nearby, Victor stared at Arina.

His expression suggested that he was reconsidering everything he had ever believed about Arthur.

Arina, meanwhile, looked away and sighed.

"Alright. I’ll take back what I said earlier."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Which part?"

"The part about Arthur having pride."

She watched her brother proudly clutch the glass case while practically radiating happiness.

A small smile formed on her face.

"Apparently, he has no pride at all."

She paused.

"Just not enough to stop him from getting what he wants."

Victor stared at Arthur.

Then at Sylvia.

Then at Adrian, who was still standing there looking as though the world had personally betrayed him.

Arina’s smile widened slightly.

"And this time, he used our mother’s guilt against her."

Victor slowly nodded.

"...That is actually impressive."

"Isn’t it?"

For a moment, the two of them watched Arthur inspect his prize.

Then Victor shook his head.

"Your family is quite terrifying. Lady arina."

Arina smiled.

"You have no idea."