Emily Goldsmith, The Golden Hall

After arranging a few things, Evan left his apartment and headed towards the parking area. Upon arriving, he saw many cars parked as a small crowd had gathered around one vehicle, making it stand out from the rest.

Joe was standing before this car, looking much different from the ride used to pick Evan up from prison. This car was a sleek black vehicle designed like a Lamborghini, but of a futuristic standard.

It was a Vulkan Model L, a supercar of one of the world’s leading businesses for hyper electric sports cars. Their branded vehicles were typically in the millions of credits range. Because of this, anyone driving such a car would be no different from a crane amongst chickens.

“Who is this plump hunk? I sure would love to go for a ride,” a starry-eyed blonde said as she stared at Joe with a beaming face.

“Sis, do you think he’s just standing around doing nothing? He’s likely waiting for his girlfriend,” a young woman said with a slightly jealous tone.

“Girlfriend? Pssh! So what? It’s not like he’s taken forever,” the blond woman replied again with a hint of madness in her eyes.

“Ah … well, I guess you’re right. My only issue is that he’s a bit too fat, don’t you think?” the other woman said hesitantly.

“What fat? All that can be changed with little ‘exercise.’ Hehe. I’ll have him worked out in as little as a few weeks,” the blonde boldly said while licking her lips, her eyes glazed over.

A few other females who overheard their conversation blushed. But unlike them, Joe, the target of such interest, didn’t seem to hear anything, his eyes indifferent as he leaned against the car and calmly waited.

Evan shook his head at the scene while in thought, Such a popular fellow., I bet if he took a little more care with his weight, he’d probably caused a few disasters. Haha.

After wrapping up his thoughts, Evan chuckled as he bypassed the bitter-looking men who stared at the pretty women who ogled Joe.

Joe looked towards Evan and smiled before he shouted, “Bro, that took you long enough. I’d never seen a man take as much time as a woman. Let’s get going. We’ve wasted a lot of time already!”

Evan rolled his eyes at this and replied, “Joe, you better watch that belly of yours ’cause at this rate, you’ll probably end up giving birth before your future wife.”

Joe wasn’t embarrassed a single bit. He clutched a chunk of flab from his belly and shook it up and down as he smugly replied, “Haha, that was a good one, but sorry for you, Evan, my fat is my pride! So what if I give birth first? That’ll just make the future missus have two of me to deal with. Hehe.”

The women’s faces turned red when they saw this. Some of them could not help but mutter, “So shameless!”

Not long after, Evan had entered the Vulkan, sitting at the back seat. As he sat down, the first thing that caught his attention was the fresh flowery scented perfume of a person seated before him.

She was a young woman about their age, carrying a natural type of grace. She had long flowy blond hair that reached her shoulders with bangs covering her forehead, resting above her blue eyes that carried a hint of shyness. She was wearing a fashionable skirt with a sleeveless shirt and a small necklace around her neck.

Evan was a bit surprised by her, but he soon cleared his thoughts and looked at Joe, who spoke, “Evan, you’ve only met her once, so allow me to introduce her again. This is my twin sister, Emily Goldsmith. Thank you for saving her that time.”

Emily smiled and sent a polite gesture to Evan as she spoke a bit shyly, “T … thank you for helping me. If it weren’t for you saving me that day, I don’t know what I’d do.”

Evan smiled at this as he replied, “Emily, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Don’t worry too much about the past. That bastard deserved every beating he could get for harassing a beautiful woman like yourself.”

Emily blushed at his words before quickly turning around. Seeing this, Joe smirked and teased, “Oh? Emmy, why are you acting so shy? Are you …?”

Not giving him a chance to say his next words, the seemingly harmless Emily hit him on his face as she glared at him silently.

Joe backed up as he spoke in a weakened manner, “Fine …fine, you win. I won’t tease you today.”

“My brother is the best,” Emily said with a hint of spirit, having claimed victory over her brother.

Evan watched on quietly as he pondered, This pair of brother and sister is quite the sight. Now that I think of it, there was a reason why I didn’t remember her.

 The car had already started moving as Joe drove out of the apartment lot. While this happened, Evan looked across the surroundings before fixing his sights onto the rear-view mirror. His eyes landed on the smiling Emily as he finished his thoughts. Not long after the appearance of the First Dimension Calamity, she was among the first to die. Though, her cause for death had remained a mystery, even to the end of my life.

The car soon drove off into the distance, vanishing in a sea of vehicles as it made its way to the city’s most bustling regions.

✽✽✽

After driving for a while, Evan, Joe, and Emily arrived at a famous restaurant, the Golden Hall, a large compound within the main square of Norkton City. Many corporate individuals, along with famed faces and those with high status, would dine here occasionally.

There were rumors that even people from the royal clan and officials of the Dawn Star Empire would often dine here, but that was mostly speculation as this palace was only a branch of the main restaurant that existed in the royal city of Earlington.

“Whew, we are finally here. What do you think? It’s classy, ain’t it, Evan?” Joe asked with an eager tone.

Evan looked about with a calm expression as he replied, “It’s pretty good. Far better than anywhere I could ever afford to eat.”

“Well, that’s to be expected. It is the Golden Hall after all. Let’s not dawdle. In we go!” Joe said, changing the topic as he stepped forward with great strides, leaving behind the calm Evan and awkward Emily.

Evan shook his head at this scene, and Emily lowered hers to hide her embarrassment. He glanced at her and spoke, “Shall we hurry on before your brother gets into trouble?”

Emily, snickered at these words, feeling more comfortable, she replied, “Hehe, you’re right. Brother tends to get in trouble easily. I have to protect him most times.”

As she spoke, Emily promptly followed Joe with Evan in tow. Evan smiled as he muttered softly, “I’m afraid you’ve got it wrong, young miss. It’s likely the other way around. A good brother feigns weakness, even more so for his most adoring sister.”

Soon, they had both entered the building, following a carpet, which brought them to an open area filled with a variety of luxurious furniture and people dressed in fancy attire. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling along with a myriad of ornaments of high value.

Emily didn’t seem surprised or fazed by these sights, while Evan merely looked around with a hint of curiosity. While they walked, a few individuals sent them glances with the majority mainly staring at Emily due to her refined appearance.

Of course, when they saw Evan, they didn’t pay him any mind, viewing him with disdain upon seeing his simple, poor-like attire. The mood was a calm and prestigious one, but it was at this moment, a lively scene was occurring at the greetings desk between an employee and a fat youth.

Evan sighed as he thought, It seems we’re too late.

“You slimy bastard, how dare you do this to me? I have been a customer here for years. How can you revoke my seating arrangements?” Joe cursed.

The employee was a skinny man with a shrewd appearance. He smiled at Joe and replied in a neutral tone, “I’m sorry, Mr. Goldsmith, but your table has already been reserved. I’m also sorry to say that all other sitting areas are reserved for today. If you’d like to come back later, you must register beforehand.”

A few of the dinners seeing this, shook their heads as they discussed in hushed tones.

“Oh, that Goldsmith family, huh? It’s a pity. He doesn’t know yet,” one person said.

“Indeed. The way that guy is acting, I’m surprised they would still have the guts to come to a refined place like this one,” a man said.

“True, but isn’t it that young lad’s fault? He’s too impulsive, daring to insult the son of Earlington’s Council Elder, Mr. Keller,” someone else said as he listened into Joe’s rant.

“You little wretch, that’s what I did! How dare you say that I should register beforehand? Get me your manager right now!” Joe shouted as he seemed as if he was about to attack, causing the employee to shrink back with sweat rolling down his forehead.

Soon though, Emily’s voice sounded nearby, “Brother, stop! We don’t need to eat here. Let’s go somewhere else!”

She ran over to Joe as she spoke, tapping him on his side. Joe was angry, but he soon felt clear-headed as he heard his sister’s words. He noticed the goading looks from the individuals in the room and spoke out loud, “Hmph! Who’d want to eat at this garbage place, anyway. They have such terrible customer service and guests. Let’s go!”

Joe then turned around and grabbed Emily’s hand as they both prepared to leave the scene. He looked at Evan and apologized, “Evan, it seems that I’ve made a fool of myself. We can only eat another a place.”

Evan shook his head and replied with a smile, “Haha, we shouldn’t be concerned over ‘small things’ like this. I thought that some outside food would do us even better.”

Joe was a bit surprised at Evan’s reply, far unlike that of someone his age, but he then laughed as he spoke, “Haha! You’re right. A wise man looks forward. Trivial things aren’t to be fussed over.”

Emily giggled at their words. They were about to exit the main hall, but it was at this time, a voice sounded from nearby.

“Well, someone’s gotten a bit smarter. I wonder, Evan, did you learn that anecdote during community service?” A calm but mocking voice said, followed by a series of claps.

Joe, Emily, and Evan looked towards the source. However, upon seeing the person who appeared, their faces sunk. Evan’s eyes grew icy; a dark aura permeated his being as he spoke coldly, “So, you’re here… Micheal.”