Lucian tossed both golden-black cards onto the table.
Valdmir snatched them up instantly, his reflexes sharp.
His fingers tightened around them as he examined the first one.
No need to verify it was his own.
But the second one
He held it up, flipping it between his fingers.
It looked identical to his.
“Did he rob another patriarch too?” Valdmir’s brows furrowed. His expression darkened as he slowly turned the card over, reading the golden letters etched into the black surface.
Lucian Kane.
Silence.
For a brief moment, his mind went blank.
Then
Valdmir shot up from his seat.
“You… you…!”
His sharp gaze snapped to Lucian, eyes filled with disbelief.
“Who the hell are you?!”
Lucian leaned back, completely unfazed.
He simply smiled.
“Relax, don’t look so shocked. It’s not that big of a deal.”
But Valdmir wasn’t smiling.
His carefree attitude from moments ago had vanished.
His normally boisterous demeanor had turned into something deadly serious.
“Not that big of a deal?” Valdmir’s voice was low, his brows still furrowed as he slowly sank back into his seat. “Brother… if you have this card, you should know better than anyone what it means.”
His fingers tightened around the card. His mind raced.
“This changes everything.”
Valdmir could feel the weight of the situation pressing on his shoulders.
“I need to discuss this with the other heads.”
But he remained silent.
There was no point in panicking. He had to assess the situation properly.
Lucian, meanwhile, looked utterly unbothered.
He shrugged, spreading his hands.
“At some point, when you reach a certain level of wealth and power it all feels the same. Billionaire, multi-billionaire it’s just numbers.”
His tone was casual.
“This kind of power? It’s boring for people like me.”
Boring.
Valdmir nearly choked.
“Boring?!”
The Golden Black Order Card was the single most powerful asset in the world.
With it, laws, restrictions, and limitations meant nothing.
Everything no matter how illegal or impossible could be done.
But there was one rule.
“Of course” Valdmir exhaled, his tone more controlled now. “Just don’t abuse it. Because if you do Sir Black can take that power back just as easily.”
He looked at Lucian, his expression unreadable.
“I can’t imagine having something like this at your age. I truly can’t.”
His voice softened, but his mind was still racing.
At first, when Lucian entered the room, Valdmir thought of him as a young man with access to interesting technology.
Someone worth befriending.
But now?
Now, this was different.
This wasn’t just some promising young man.
Lucian Kane was someone on his level.
A person with the same status as him.
Which meant
The Golden Black Order Card holders were no longer just seven.
There was now an eighth.
And Sir Black had lied to them.
Valdmir carefully inspected the card once more.
It was real.
No doubt about it.
There was no mistake.
Which meant
Lucian Kane was someone untouchable.
Valdmir exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples.
“I won’t lie, brother Lucian This changes a lot.”
Then, sitting up straighter, he nodded firmly.
“I must apologize if my butler behaved aggressively toward you earlier.”
His tone had completely shifted.
This wasn’t a friendly greeting anymore.
This was respect.
And no one knew better than Valdmir what kind of monster his butler was.
The man was obedient, but only to those he deemed worthy.
And Lucian Kane had surely not been on that list before.
Lucian smirked slightly.
“It’s fine. He knows his limits. Though, he could be a little nicer.”
Valdmir chuckled, coughing lightly. “I’ll personally teach him later.”
From the sidelines, Alex sat in stunned silence.
Mouth slightly open.
His gaze darted between Lucian and Valdmir, still trying to process what just happened.
“Wait, wait, wait”
Just a moment ago, Valdmir was big boss
And now?
Now they were speaking as equals.
From ‘a kid in need of help’ to ‘a fellow giant.’
What… just happened?!
Alex straightened his back, suddenly feeling the need to sit properly.
He was sitting next to two powerful figures, and he did not want to look like an idiot.
Back to Valdmir & Lucian
Valdmir let out a deep sigh.
Then, his gaze sharpened.
“Brother Lucian Do you really need our help dealing with the World Council?”
He placed both golden-black cards back on the table, handing Lucian’s back with both hands.
A silent gesture of acknowledgment.
“I mean if you just show them this card, I doubt they’d dare to do anything.”
His expression was genuinely confused.
After all, with this card, Lucian could do whatever he wanted.
Lucian leaned back slightly, his gaze steady as he looked at Valdmir.
“Please handle this for me. I’d be grateful.”
His voice was calm, but there was a clear avoidance in his tone.
“For certain reasons, I’d rather stay out of this. I have… other priorities.”
He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to.
Valdmir studied him for a moment before breaking into a grin.
“Ahh, no worries, brother Lucian!” He laughed heartily, waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll take care of it. Consider it done. If anyone asks, I’ll say I was the one who handled that… whatever family or island that was.”
He chuckled, brushing off the entire situation like it was nothing.
“Small matter. Small matter.”
Valdmir wasn’t just being generous he was genuinely pleased.
After all, doing a favor for a Golden Black Order cardholder was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Powerful alliances weren’t built by brute force alone. They were built on favors and trust.
And Valdmir knew that well.
Lucian gave a small nod. “I appreciate it, brother Valdmir.”
Valdmir beamed. “Hah! No need for thanks. In fact, I should be thanking you!”
His tone grew even lighter, more casual.
“I’m really glad I arranged this meeting today. Just imagine how the other heads will react when they find out I befriended the eighth golden cardholder.”
He leaned back, laughing. “They’ll be burning their asses to the ground with jealousy!”
Lucian smirked slightly but didn’t comment.
He had no interest in power games between the Seven Families.
But if Valdmir wanted to brag?
That was his problem.
Then, suddenly
“By the way, brother Lucian… Are you married?”
How about dating?
Lucian froze.
His mind immediately flooded with different faces.
Celestia. Avey. Rose.
He could almost still feel the lingering sensation of Rose’s unexpected kiss from earlier.
He quickly shook his head. “No.”
Valdmir’s eyes lit up.
“Ah! That’s perfect, then!”
Lucian blinked. “What?”
Valdmir grinned wider, as if an idea had just struck him.
“You see, my daughter is quite lonely. She doesn’t have many friends to play with.”
He waved a hand as if this was a completely normal thing to say.
“How about a small friendship?”
—-