Chapter 3129: Carol and Thanks for the Meal
Of course, Xu Huo wasn't particularly interested in the Field family members present either.
Both sides maintained an unspoken understanding, only exchanging a few inconsequential words during the meal without touching on anything significant.
Li De and the others sat in a corner of the banquet hall. Although the waiters didn't neglect them, they remained like invisible people throughout the entire process—not a single member of the Field family cast a glance their way, nor did anyone exchange a single word with them.
This was an extreme form of contempt. Li De and everyone with him wore sour expressions. Their indignation and anger were only natural, but they couldn't afford to fall out with the Field family over this.
When their strength wasn't enough to trample this family underfoot, any action they took would be nothing more than a clown show in the other party's eyes. So there was no need for them to stay and humiliate themselves further.
The dinner proceeded in a very oppressive atmosphere. Even though most people wore smiles on their faces, few were genuine.
"Clack!" At that moment, the banquet hall's doors suddenly swung open. Accompanied by footsteps, a blue-eyed young man in a black formal suit strode in casually, announcing loudly to everyone, "Quite a full house, huh. Looks like I picked a good time."
"Carol." Seventh Uncle stood up, frowning at him. "Why are you back?"
"Heard the family was lively, so of course I had to come see." The blue-eyed young man, Carmen Field's grandson Carol Field, walked straight to the main table and sat down on the other side of the Field family head, directly across from Xu Huo. He casually grabbed a fork, stabbed a piece of meat from the platter, took a bite, and said while chewing, "The family chef's cooking hasn't changed in all these years. I'm sick of it. I'm amazed you can all swallow it without changing expressions."
Even as he said this, he didn't actually spit the meat out but swallowed it instead.
The old man who had been staring at him softened his expression. "Why didn't you inform us when you came back?"
"If I informed you, wouldn't I miss seeing Granduncle?" Carol said with a smile. "I've been away so long, and no one missed me. The moment I said I wanted to come back, everyone urged me not to. How could I possibly inform you?"
"You're serving in an external post—that's your duty," said a woman seated at the main table.
Carol glanced at her. "Oh, my mother didn't come today, so you managed to get a seat at the main table? The Field family adopted you, not my grandfather. Your biological father's family hasn't died out yet."
The woman's expression turned unpleasant. She reminded him, "In front of guests, you should maintain the family's dignity."
"Dignity?" Carol tossed his fork onto the dining table with a clatter that drew everyone's attention—though his appearance had already been quite attention-grabbing. Now, everyone had unconsciously stopped eating and was quietly watching this scene.
"I'm the one with the least dignity, aren't I? My mother was forced into seclusion by you all, and I was exiled to an E-level wormhole point. Have you ever considered my dignity?"
The woman said nothing more but cast her gaze toward the old man at the head of the table.
"Carol," the old man said with some helplessness, yet also with tolerance, "you haven't seen your family in a long time. Since you're back, let's just have a meal together. Eat, and then you can leave."
Carol let out a contemptuous laugh, his handsome face filled with heavy sarcasm. "I didn't come back to eat."
"I heard you found a Spatial Evolver who can rival Grandfather. I had to come see for myself, so you don't go using his legacy to curry favor again."
Having said this, he finally turned his gaze to Xu Huo across from him. "What benefits did Granduncle promise you to make you work for the Field family?"
"You flatter me," Xu Huo said calmly. "I'm just here to freeload a meal for a day. I'll leave after eating."
Carol stared at him fixedly for two seconds, then clapped his hands and laughed. "How ridiculous."
"How ridiculous." He repeated those four words, his laughter growing louder and louder, as if he couldn't stop. His voice filled the entire banquet hall until the expressions of those attending gradually turned ugly. Only then did he stop, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes as he said to Xu Huo, "How could I let you come for nothing? After the meal, I'll take you to the Unrestricted Ruins. Stay as long as you like. Whatever you find there is your own fortune."
"Carol!" This time, it was another old man at the main table who spoke, his tone carrying a warning. "This isn't a major decision you can make."
Carol was completely unyielding. "If you've got the guts, just kill me. Kill me, and I won't go."
The others were quite furious, but the Field family head remained expressionless as he said, "I'm glad you're willing to make new friends. The family was just about to arrange an escort anyway. Since you've volunteered, you can personally accompany Mr. Xu here."
Carol's expression sobered slightly, then he showed a look of boredom. He glanced around lazily before fixing his eyes on Xu Huo. "Are you done eating?"
Xu Huo put down his utensils, took a final sip of water, wiped the corner of his mouth, and stood up.
Carol pushed his chair back and walked toward the door first. Since they were leaving, Li De and the others naturally wouldn't stay either. Even if they couldn't go to the Unrestricted Ruins, they had no intention of remaining.
But just as everyone reached the doorway, Xu Huo suddenly stopped. He turned around, looked at the crowd in the banquet hall, and said, "Everyone, thanks for the meal. Until we meet again."
It sounded like a sentence full of implications, but the speaker didn't linger. He turned and walked out the door.
Once outside, Carol nodded at Xu Huo, and the two used an instrument to teleport away. Li De and the others also took advantage of the brief opening in the blockade barrier to leave the Field estate.
With the "protagonist" of the banquet gone, there was no reason for the others to stay. Under Seventh Uncle's hint, all Field family members except those at the main table exited.
"He must be the genius who emerged out of nowhere in zone E27-014," the family head said after a moment of silence. "People like him are naturally rebellious, just like Carol. Otherwise, Carol wouldn't have rushed back."
"Did he enter the Box Mirror?" This question was directed at Seventh Uncle.
"Yes," Seventh Uncle replied respectfully. "His skill in Mental Super Evolution is considerable. He may have already taken what Mr. Carmen left behind."
"Geniuses are like that—they do as they please." The old man sighed softly. "Forget it. It's his own stuff. He can leave it however he wants. Since no one in the Field family can inherit it, it can only go to an outsider."
"How can we let an outsider benefit?" the woman who had spoken earlier said. "That's Field family property. He should hand it over!"
The old man shot her a sharp glance. "This is not something you should meddle in."
The woman lowered her head slightly. "Didn't Father place the items within the family hoping that one day they would be passed on to a talented descendant?"