Chapter 2027: A Special Gift
As the most powerful noble family in District 011, the Vilna Family naturally had no clan absent from their banquet. Moreover, to emphasize the importance of this gathering, the estate chosen for the event was one of significant historical meaning for the Vilna Family, highly representative.
Xu Huo had contacted Lady Lily in advance. Upon learning that he had been invited to the New Year’s Eve party, she changed her previous warm attitude, politely and reservedly declining the proposal to go together. She told him that those qualified to attend this party were already officially registered in District 011, no longer fringe figures. From now on, he could share in the benefits of District 011, but if District 011 faced trouble, he would also have to contribute.
As for entering the venue, Lady Lily advised him not to arrive too early, because his title was not high. Although he was strong and a new noble, he still had to follow the aristocratic traditions of District 011—at the very least, these obvious formalities could not be wrong.
“When the time comes, the Vilna Family’s butler will notify you on site. They won’t let the guests feel awkward.”
Xu Huo thanked her and entrusted Angel to deliver a small box of gemstones to Lady Lily.
After Xiao Yuan and Tan Qi left, Angel’s tutoring lessons had basically come to an end. Now she was back to being unemployed and was happy to run errands for Xu Huo while also maintaining a good relationship with Lady Lily.
Upon learning that Xu Huo had received an invitation from the Vilna Family, she sincerely congratulated him and even brought homemade pastries as a congratulatory gift.
Time quickly arrived on the day of the party. Xu Huo changed into his newly made formal attire and drove alone to the Vilna Family’s estate.
There were many guests today. Out of respect for the Vilna Family, once they entered the estate grounds, everyone stopped flying and instead walked on the ground, queuing up to head toward a separate villa specifically used for receiving guests. This was just a transfer point. Most cars had to be parked here, and only a few nobles of higher status could drive directly to the main building. Everyone else had to wait for the butler’s arrangements to enter.
After the car was taken away by the servants, Xu Huo entered the villa to wait.
There were already many people in the villa’s lounge area. Unsurprisingly, he saw some familiar faces. Besides those who frequently attended various banquets, on the second floor were people like Karg·Herta, family successors who were closer to Ashis·Vilna.
The last time they had crossed paths was also at a banquet, coincidentally when Jin Feixue had brought the Eerie Sound Knights to cause trouble for District 011 to avenge Hugo. At that time, Xu Huo was still a D-level player, while back on the Rongxin Group’s ship, Ashis·Vilna and Karg·Herta were already A-level players.
A servant brought tea and invited Xu Huo to sit. Noticing the gazes from upstairs, he raised his teacup in a distant toast.
Karg·Herta had a very high player level, but he was a junior in the family. Until the elders finished their conversations, it wasn’t his turn to appear, so he could only wait here.
However, there was also a barrier between the second and first floors. The people upstairs clearly had their own circles and barely interacted with each other. In contrast, those downstairs were keen on making friends, maintaining a restrained but warm atmosphere from the moment they entered.
Lady Lily was also among them, but she did not come forward to speak with Xu Huo. She only nodded from afar before continuing her conversation with other noble ladies.
“Mr. Xu.” A young nobleman took the initiative to greet Xu Huo. “We met before at Lady Lily’s banquet.”
This young nobleman was not old but was already the head of his family. However, he was not a player. The player role in his family was held by someone else, though that person was not particularly outstanding.
“Just call me Roy.” Roy·Clemens said with a smile.
The two engaged in normal socializing, chatting about the previous charity banquet. The Clemens family had also hosted a charity banquet, and Xu Huo had attended to show support. The polite conversation created a decent atmosphere. Soon, others joined in, gradually blending into ordinary aristocratic socializing.
Not long after, the Vilna butler began to summon guests. First, those on the second floor left, followed by those on the first floor.
Riding in the Vilna family’s dedicated car, they circled nearly half the estate before finally arriving at the main building. The pure white structure radiated brilliant lights, the golden glow making the entire venue seem mysterious and hazy, as if one step forward would lead to the power and wealth they dreamed of. Those who climbed the steps before the door appeared even more proud, simply because they were closer to this building.
Everything beyond the main door was the core of this prosperous district. The rise and fall of District 011 were tied to the people within these doors. They symbolized supreme power and also represented the fate of this district for the next several hundred years.
This was not an ordinary cocktail party but a very formal meeting. While it allowed the nobles to get to know each other, it was also a summary of the old year and a prospect for the new year. Therefore, in the center of the huge banquet hall, several rows of long tables were arranged. The table in the very center was clearly reserved for members of the core noble families. The further to the edge, the weaker the family’s strength.
As the main doors of the banquet hall opened, the crowd gradually quieted down, all turning their attention to the entrance.
First to walk out were the important players of the Vilna Family, who took their places on both sides. Following them was the family patriarch, also the biological father of Ashis·Vilna—a wise man who had once been a player but had withdrawn from the game to manage the family estate. Ashis·Vilna and his other siblings followed behind, with nearly twenty people emerging in succession.
Not all of these twenty promising young Vilnas could sit at the main table. Their seats were at two smaller tables staggered behind the main table, separated from the other nobles.
Everyone stood at their designated positions. Xu Huo ended up at the second-to-last table on the right side. He raised his glass with the others and, after the old Mr. Vilna finished his speech, drank it all in one go.
Next came the formal banquet. The Vilna Family had procured rare ingredients from other districts, offering them as a year-end benefit for all nobles to enjoy. Additionally, everyone who had a seat found a gift package under their chair. It was said to be a share of the nobles’ business dividends—a bit of soup given to the lower nobles after top families like the Vilnas had taken the meat.
“The first time you attend this banquet, you might even receive shares distributed by the Vilna Family,” Roy·Clemens said in a low voice. “Pure shares—businesses spread across District 011. Dividends are settled quarterly, with an additional settlement at year-end. If you’re lucky, you might get mining shares, which are very generous.”
In other words, after the nobles of District 011 controlled most of the resources, they cut them into small pieces and distributed them to the lower nobles. The stronger the family, the larger the share. This also followed an upward promotion system: whoever was strong enough could become one of those dividing the cake. The vast noble system and the presence of only one Super Player ensured the continuation of this power.
When the banquet ended, the Vilna patriarch led the heads of important families out, leaving the subsequent activities to the Vilna family members:
“Everyone, tonight we have also prepared a special gift.”