Chapter 102: The Call and the Contract
After learning more about the World Catalogue, Silas made a conscious effort to push to reach the level 20 mark. But it was always easier said than done. He had no quick way to push up. His EXP increased so slowly that he almost forgot it even existed.
The only quick way he knew was through battles, but only if he went into a rift, where the battle could push him to his limits. There were other ways, like sex, but it had never given him any huge amount of EXP before, at most three, which was almost nonexistent in the grand scheme of things.
But he loved it like that because he felt that if sex were to give him like 100-500 EXP every time, there would be no point in staying with his current partners. It was true that before he even got to fuck Anna, the system granted him quests related to that, and that helped him level up a lot.
But, after he got to know her more, and now, lived with her under the same roof, he realized that getting rewards for sex was just too... fucked up. She was his prize. Her boobs, her ass, her skin, her tight pussy... They were all his collective prize. Same for Chloe and Gromda.
Coming out of his class, after another torturous session of history that made him wonder just how the upper-level students had sat through all this, Silas headed for the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch.
There was another class he had to attend, Mana Studies, one of the few classes he didn’t want to miss. As he moved through the corridors amidst the gazes and whispers of students, something he had become accustomed to years ago, he received a call.
The caller was the Vice Principal, Miss Elena. With a confused expression, Silas changed directions and headed towards the Administration Building.
***
Antoine sat on part of the long meeting desk with Miss Elena seated opposite her. Beside him was a beautiful lady with long blonde hair and green eyes. Her skin was fair, her eyelashes long, with full lips. She wore light makeup, enhancing her already enchanting beauty. She wore a blue shirt that was buttoned up, but left her cleavage. Well, it wasn’t intentional, or maybe it was.
Her breasts looked big, almost rivaling Anna’s own. Her name was Vida Snow.
Talking of Anna, she was seated beside Miss Elena with a bored expression that even made her more beautiful. Vida wasn’t even trying to hide her jealousy and envy for Anna’s beauty, which no amount of makeup could beat.
Anna was already beautiful, standing as one of Valecrest’s most beautiful staff. What she didn’t know, though, was that her current beauty was a killer. Silas’s essence had enhanced her beauty to insane levels, the same for his other girls. But that was a topic for another time.
Antoine couldn’t help but glance at Anna, and even had thoughts of her, but he shook his head. If anything, he knew her true identity. The academy head nurse position was just a facade to pass the time and live a more normal life.
She was a figure he couldn’t just have any perverse thoughts about. Don’t judge the man. Anna was sexy, with everything in the right proportions. He was just being...
At that moment, Silas entered, looking as though he expected some shit to happen. He didn’t have good memories of the place. Not even one. But maybe this would be different. He hoped so or...
"Mr. Ashard, nice to see you came on such short notice." Antoine immediately stood and greeted Silas with a handshake, which Silas returned. If anything, Silas wasn’t disrespectful, especially towards strangers.
"Uh... Okay," Silas answered awkwardly and turned to Anna, who just shrugged and beckoned him to sit on the seat reserved for him in the middle of Miss Elena and herself. He sat, and Elena immediately started with introductions.
"Mr. Ashard. This is Mr. Antoine Jacobs, the CEO of Aureline Apparel Group, and Miss Vida Snow, the Chief Legal and Contract Affairs Officer of Aureline Apparel Group."
Vida smiled professionally before extending a hand.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Ashard."
Silas shook it politely.
"Likewise."
The handshake lasted barely two seconds before both of them withdrew. Miss Elena folded her hands on the table.
"I’ll leave the floor to Mr. Jacobs."
Antoine nodded gratefully.
"Thank you."
He tapped the holographic tablet before him. The paused news broadcast disappeared, replaced by Aureline’s corporate emblem.
"As Miss Elena has already introduced us, I’ll get straight to the point."
Silas silently nodded. "I hate wasting people’s time."
That answer earned a small smile from Antoine.
"I’ve heard that much."
He clasped his hands together.
"Mr. Ashard... Aureline Apparel Group would like to renew the partnership your family once shared with our company."
Silas’s expression changed ever so slightly.
"My family?"
"Yes."
"For years, the Ashard family worked closely with Aureline during our early expansion."
Another screen appeared showing old photographs. Some were almost twenty years old. One showed a younger Antoine standing beside Silas’s father in front of what looked like Aureline’s very first flagship store.
Another showed his mother laughing with several designers while holding sketches. Silas’s eyes lingered on the images.
"They never told me about this."
"They probably had their reasons," Antoine replied calmly. "Your parents weren’t merely clients. They were among our earliest investors. And perhaps more importantly..."
He smiled.
"They believed in Aureline when we were nothing more than a small clothing startup."
Silas leaned back slightly. That... he genuinely hadn’t expected.
"So you’re saying my parents helped build this company?"
"In part." Antoine nodded honestly. "We had many people helping us in those difficult years. But your parents were among those who chose to trust us before anyone else did."
He looked at Silas directly.
"We’ve never forgotten that."
The room became quiet. Even Anna looked a little surprised. Silas rested his chin on one hand.
"Then why now?"
"Because now," Antoine answered immediately, "the Ashard family’s only successor has appeared before the world."
He tapped another button. Silas’s recent photographs appeared. His appearance after leaving the rift, his interview clips, news articles, and even magazine covers were already requesting permission to use his image.
"You’re no longer simply Silas Ashard. You’re New Liberty’s youngest confirmed S-Rank. A national figure. A public personality. And..." He chuckled. "Whether you like it or not... One of the most marketable faces in the country."
Silas scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"That’s one way to put it."
"It is simply reality."
Vida finally spoke.
"Our research department has spent the last forty-eight hours studying public opinion." She swiped through several charts. "Your approval rating currently exceeds ninety-three percent. Among the younger generation..."
She smiled. "...it’s even higher."
Silas looked horrified.
"Seriously?"
Anna failed to suppress a laugh.
"You’ve become a celebrity."
"I hate celebrities."
"You are one."
"..."