Old Master Law smiled, his expression lamenting as he took Old Master Tuner’s outstretched hand and replied, “You’re right. Time flies. I can’t believe it’s already been more than a decade.
“We’re both growing old and it’s getting difficult for us to move about. With you in Swallow Capital and I in Harbor City, who knows when we’ll meet again if not for this?”
Old Master Turner smiled. “Any extra day we have is a blessing considering our age, and every time we meet is one less time for the future. Who knows when the last time we meet will be? We’ve lost quite a number of our friends since we last met.”
Old Master Law then pulled Jasper over and smiled. “In that case, then we’ve really got to thank this young man here. I wouldn’t have had a reason to come to Swallow Capital if not for the beautiful celebratory banquet he hosted. He’s the one hosting this dinner as well.”
Old Master Turner turned to Jasper, and before the former could speak, Jasper immediately greeted him courteously, “Hello, Old Master Turner. I’m Jasper Laine.”
Old Master Turner smiled and nodded before replying enthusiastically, “Good, very good. I’ve heard of you before. It was a very beautiful banquet you hosted. It’s a shame that I was still in treatment and couldn’t come to see it for myself, but a few of my old friends told me about you. You’ve done well, young man.”
Jasper smiled. “The banquet was indeed a success, but I can’t take all the credit. It was a joint effort with my colleagues, and I wouldn’t have been able to host it so successfully without the higher-ups’ help and leadership. There’s still a lot I have to learn. I wouldn’t dare take all the credit myself.”
Old Master Turner chuckled. “A young man like you should’ve gone to work for the government, not in business.”
After a little more small talk, Jasper found an opportunity to suggest, “The wind’s a little strong tonight, old masters. Perhaps we could move this conversation upstairs?”
Both Old Master Turner and Old Master Law easily agreed.
The small group made their way into the hotel, and not even the manager of the InterContinental Hotel had the level of importance to approach them. They had no choice but to maintain a distance from the group of stern strong men in black.
They shuddered internally at the identities of the two old masters, knowing that each of these seemingly normal bodyguards was palace guards. Specifically, they were the kind one could not push against, for they could very well legally kill you on the spot.
Looking past the guards’ shoulders, they saw the two old masters laughing and joking as they walked in front. They left the formidable figures like Brad and Zachary to walk behind them as their juniors.
However, speaking with the two old masters was a young man like Jasper.
This scene had the managerial level of the InterContinental Hotel remembering Jasper’s appearance and name deeply in their hearts. This man was the last person they could offend.
The two old masters conversed deeply throughout the way and there were no signs of any potential conflict between the two families at all.
There were no mocking undertones or targeting subtexts at all.
If anything, the two seemed like old friends catching up with one another.
Jasper listened quietly beside them and added a few comments from time to time when given the opportunity. The atmosphere around them was harmonious.
Between Zachary and Brad who were following behind them, they did not share looks, scoff, turn away, or anything of the like even though the two were not given any chance to join in their fathers’ conversation.
If anything, Brad merely looked at Jasper’s back with slight uncontrolled envy seeing as how the youth could easily join the two old masters’ conversations.
‘How did Zachary find such treasure?’
Brad felt his chest clench thinking about how disappointing his son was despite being the same age as Jasper.
It was a relief that Jasper was a Laine and not a Law, or that would give him a true headache.
Entering the Imperial Ballroom, everyone inside collectively stood to greet the two old masters.
Especially Norman and Ian. The two felt their hearts thump erratically when they saw how Jasper stood beside the two old masters when Zachary and Brad could only follow behind them.
‘The importance of those two old masters…
‘No one would oppose to considering them national treasures!
‘So just what had Jasper done to be so adored by both old masters?’
“I see that everyone’s already here.”
