Chapter 379 379 The words mean more than they say

Chapter 379 Chapter 379 The words mean more than they say

"Alright then, water it is," Reaves gestured to the maid. "Come, serve Mike some chilled water," he instructed the maid, who nodded and hurried to fulfill the request.

"So, how is business now?" Reaves inquired, curious about Mike's work in the alchemy field. "It's a lot," Mike confessed, maintaining his smile. "The business is thriving, though," he added.

"I can imagine," Reaves said as the maid brought water for Mike to drink. "Hope you don't mind joining us for dinner, Mike. I was just about to head inside. Tiffany should join us as well," he said, giving Mike a warm smile.

Mike smiled in return and nodded, "Of course, I am in no hurry," he said to Reaves. With that, they decided to head to the dining hall, where the food was already laid out in abundance. Reaves called a maid to summon Tiffany, instructing her to come down for dinner.

"My wife is not in at the moment, but she should be here anytime soon," Reaves informed Mike. "Of course, I was just about to ask about her."

Tiffany made her entrance, "Dad, you called?"

"My dear Tiffany," Reaves said to his daughter, "Come have dinner with your dad and Mike." Tiffany laughed, "Okay, dear dad," she smiled at her father and glanced at Mike, her dislike evident but hidden beneath a polite facade.

"Hi Mike," she greeted with a curtsey. "Hi Tiffany," Mike rose to return the courtesy.

She moved to the table and sat down, maintaining a smile despite her reluctance to spend time with Mike. "How have you been, Tiffany?" Mike asked, attempting to initiate conversation.

"I have been well," she responded with a rehearsed smile. "Just busy doing girl things," she joked, letting out a small laugh.

"Of course," Mike laughed in response. "Tiffany has been a darling, I must confess," Reaves praised his daughter with a smile. "I wouldn't have wanted a more perfect daughter," he added.

"Oh, Dad," Tiffany blushed, genuinely laughing at her father's remarks. "Come on, eat your food," Reaves urged them to start eating.

As they enjoyed the meal, Reaves was the first to break the silence, "Heard about the Vitality Elixir making rounds in the city?" he asked Miike.

"Of course, I have," Mikesaid, a small blush tinting his cheeks as he felt the anger boil within him again.

"What do you think about it?" Reaves asked.

"Well, I think it's a genius idea and creation," Mike responded honestly. "I was truly amazed when I saw how effective it was," he added, looking genuinely impressed. n(-o)-v./e-)l.(b/-1-(n

"I can assure you were not as surprised as I was," Reaves chuckled.

"You know, a very good thing about it is that the elixir not only has aphrodisiac properties, but it also helps to restore stamina and even the overall vitality of the person that uses it," Mike shared with Reaves. "I feel it can also be used as a military material," he suggested.

Reaves let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, you are just right," Reaves said, acknowledging Mike's insight. "I always knew you were a genius," he praised Mike. "The initial purpose of the elixir, according to Nexus, was actually to create a Vitality Elixir as a military material. But once people started using it and seeing its incidental effects, it became even more effective and gave people a shock," Reaves explained.

"Wow," Mike remarked, taking a sip from his drink, the clink of the ice cubes resonating in the elegant dining hall. The crystal-clear liquid in his glass reflected the soft glow of the chandeliers above. "I must say this Nexus person is really skilled," he commented, his eyes gleaming with a hint of admiration. The ambient light accentuated the thoughtful expression on Mike's face as he savored the flavors of his drink.

Reaves, the patriarch of the James family, acknowledged Mike's words with a nod, his piercing gaze reflecting both wisdom and discernment. The polished mahogany table stretched out before them, adorned with fine china and silverware, a tableau of opulence that mirrored the grandeur of the James family mansion.

"I must commend his luck," Mike continued, his voice resonating with a mixture of genuine appreciation and underlying complexity. The air in the room seemed to thicken with unspoken sentiments as he spoke. "Imagine creating something for a purpose and seeing it go even beyond your expectations," he added, casting a sidelong glance at Reaves.

Reaves, a man of few words, responded with a subtle smile, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of success. The air carried the faint aroma of the meal that had just concluded, a culinary masterpiece prepared by the skilled hands of the mansion's chefs.

"I really can't wait to meet this Nexus genius," Mike declared, his eyes wandering around the room, taking in the lavish surroundings. However, beneath his composed exterior, a storm of conflicting emotions brewed. In his heart, he harbored a detestation for Nexus, a resentment born from the perceived theft of his own spotlight in the city he considered his domain.

Reaves, ever the observant patriarch, caught a glimpse of the complexity in Mike's expression. The dining hall, with its high ceilings and ornate decorations, became a silent witness to the intricate dance of personalities unfolding within its walls.

"You know he has become the talk of the town," Mike continued, his voice adopting a tone of feigned curiosity, an attempt to mask the undercurrent of rivalry that fueled his words. "Everywhere I go, talks of Nexus echo around me," he shared, seamlessly directing the conversation toward Reaves, who remained a silent yet attentive presence.

Tiffany, seated elegantly at the table, had been a quiet observer of the unfolding dialogue. The fine porcelain of her dinner plate hinted at the culinary delights she had sampled. Her eyes, however, betrayed a keen awareness of the nuances playing out between her father and Mike.

"This has really made me curious about who this genius Nexus is," Mike added, his gaze momentarily shifting towards Tiffany. The room, adorned with tapestries and paintings that spoke of the family's legacy, provided a backdrop to the unspoken tension surrounding the mention of Nexus.

Tiffany, ever perceptive, decided not to interject into the conversation. Instead, she listened attentively as Mike continued to praise Nexus. His words, however, carried a dual nature, revealing a dislike masked by a veneer of admiration. Tiffany chose not to call him out, realizing that her observations might fall on deaf ears in the presence of her father's undivided attention.

"I have to meet him personally," Mike declared, the clinking of his silverware against the plate punctuating his statement. Reaves responded with a short laugh, recognizing the intricacies of the unspoken dynamics.

"Oh, I understand your reservations," Reaves acknowledged, his smile concealing the depth of his insights. "I do think the young man is quite talented," he continued, steering the conversation away to the potential luck between the Russel family and Nexus.

"The Russells really hit a gold mine by taking him," Reaves remarked, the sentiment carrying a tinge of admiration for the strategic move made by the influential family. The echoes of their conversation reverberated in the dining hall, where the air bore witness to the unspoken challenges that defined their interactions.