Lucian didn’t quite know how to react.
“It’s Lucian Kane,” he finally said, shaking the man’s hand.
The man let out a hearty laugh. “Kane Hmm, I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before. Ah, whatever! I’m Valdmir Malvic.”
He extended his hand, grinning broadly.
Lucian hesitated for a second but shook it anyway. There was something overly spirited about Valdmir, and just being around him already felt exhausting.
“And you? Who are you?” Valdmir’s sharp gaze flicked toward Alex.
Alex stiffened under the man’s intense stare, as if a wild, hungry beast had just laid eyes on him.
“Uh Hello, sir! Nice to meet you!” Alex stammered. “My name’s Alex. Currently kidnapped by this gentleman here.” He saluted stiffly.
Valdmir tilted his head, staring at Alex like he was some sort of bizarre creature. Then, to Lucian’s dismay, he nodded approvingly.
“Weird way of greeting but good!”
Shaking his head with amusement, he turned back to Lucian.
Shaking his head, he gestured toward the extravagant table in the center of the room.
“Come, brothers! Sit! I prepared this for my guests! The chair and table alone cost $322 million! One of my best collections! It is said that this table once belonged to Genghis Khan himself! Priceless! But” he grinned, “not even the most expensive thing I own.”
Alex felt his soul leave his body.
“$322 MILLION?! For a table?! And he just JUMPED on it a moment ago?!”
His eyes sparkled not out of admiration, but sheer disbelief.
Valdmir chuckled, amused by Alex’s reaction.
Lucian sighed but took a seat. I want to leave already, but I have to deal with this guy.
Alex gulped as he eyed the chair. This thing is more expensive than what my entire bloodline has earned combined
He sat down carefully, his fingers lightly brushing against the armrest as if afraid to damage it.
Lucian, meanwhile, wasted no time.
“So, Mr. Valdmir Malvic, why did you invite me personally?”
Valdmir leaned back, laughing.
“Haha, nothing serious, brother! I just wanted to say hello! After all, it’s not every day that Sir Black orders us to do something.”
His eyes glinted with interest.
“Not to mention, all the other family heads must’ve been SHOCKED when they received this request.”
Lucian remained silent.
“I really wonder” Valdmir leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his fist. “How did you get to know Sir Black? Even I can’t message him directly. You must be really close.”
Valdmir leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a playful grin, but his sharp eyes never left Lucian.
” do you know Sir Black personally?” he asked, his tone lighthearted, but the weight behind the question was undeniable.
Lucian remained composed, his expression unreadable.
“Ah, no, no. I don’t know anything about Sir Black,” he replied smoothly. “I just helped an old man cross the road one day. He gave me a number and said if I ever had a problem, I should message him. He’d repay the favor.”
Silence followed.
Alex, sitting beside Lucian, nearly choked on his own breath.
“This dude he seriously has a death wish.”
Valdmir let out a loud, exaggerated laugh.
“Brother Lucian, you’re really good at joking!” he bellowed, but despite his booming laughter, his eyes remained cold.
He didn’t believe a single word.
Lucian only smirked.
With an easy flick of his wrist, he raised his hand high.
Between his fingers, a sleek golden-black card gleamed under the light.
“See? He even gave me this.”
Valdmir’s entire body tensed.
His heart skipped a beat.
His breath caught in his throat.
A Gold-Grade Black Order Card.
Impossible.
There were only seven of these in the entire world, each personally handed out by Sir Black himself.
And yet
Lucian Kane was holding one.
There’s no way. This isn’t possible.
Valdmir’s eyes flickered to the back of the card.
His expression shifted instantly.
Engraved on the card was:
3. Malvic.
His own name.
His own damn card.
Valdmir’s hand instinctively patted his shorts, checking his pockets.
Empty.
His heart sank.
Pakkk!
Valdmir slammed his palm against the table, his booming laughter echoing across the room.
“HAHAHAHA! Good one, Brother Lucian! You stole my Black Order Card right from my pocket without me noticing!”
His voice was loud, filled with amusement, but his eyes gleamed dangerously.
Lucian had robbed him blind, and he hadn’t even realized it.
If it had been anyone else, Valdmir would have killed them on the spot.
But Sir Black had given strict orders to take care of Lucian buisneses.
And so, Valdmir laughed.
Still, the thought lingered in his mind.
How? When did he take it? Why didn’t I notice?
As a Peak Family Patriarch, his skills were second to none, yet Lucian had stolen from him effortlessly.
It was impossible.
Valdmir’s fists clenched under the table.
What a shame if others got to know he won’t be able to show his face.
This dammn brat
but still
I need to build a good relationship with him before the other families start getting interested.
For now, he forced another laugh, shaking his head.
“Brother Lucian, you have fast hands! Very skilled indeed, hahaha!”
Lucian smirked, twirling the golden-black card between his fingers.
“You shouldn’t leave important things in your pocket, Mr. Valdmir. Someone might take them.”
His voice was casual, but his eyes gleamed with amusement.
Valdmir exhaled slowly, calming himself.
“Brother Lucian,” Valdmir leaned forward, his grin still present, but his voice now held a subtle edge. “If you know about the Golden Black Order Card, then you must also know its importance and what it represents. I must say you have guts, joking about something like this.”
Lucian simply chuckled.
“Of course. How could I not?”
Then
With a casual flick of his fingers, something shifted in his grip.
Suddenly
There weren’t one, but two identical Golden Black Order Cards in his hand.
Valdmir, who had just started to relax, felt his body go rigid.
His breath hitched.
What the hell is this?
For a moment, the entire room fell into silence.
Valdmir’s frown deepened as he stared at the two identical cards.
If Lucian had only stolen his card, that was one thing.
But this?
There were only seven in existence.
No more. No less as farr as he knows
And yet
Lucian was now holding two.
Copy maybe?but who dares
Valdmir’s expression darkened.
This
This wasn’t a joke