The Tycoon's Odyssey

Chapter 155: 155:The Banquet

Evan paced around his luxurious bedroom, clearly irritated. The clock was ticking away, and the evening event was approaching quickly. The room bustled with stylists and designers, all meticulously working to make him look perfect.

Celina was supervising everything with a stern solemn expression, while her daughter, Elina stood nearby, flipping through fashion magazines with a grin, tossing suggestions every now and then.

Evan, now sitting on a chair with a frown, grumbled, "Do we really need all this? It's just a banquet."

Elina, smiling mischievously, replied, "Come on, Brother. It's important to look good. Besides, you never know who you might meet."

Celina adjusted Evan's suit with a practised touch. "This isn't just any banquet. We're entering a world where appearances matter. It's about projecting confidence and authority."

"It's a war..." Elina declared dramatically and then added while shaking her two ponytails, "A war that you need to win no matter what."

Evan shot them a skeptical look. "A battlefield, you say?"

He gave them a look asking, 'Are you two smoking some crack?'

At this point, it felt less like he wasn't going for someone else's banquet, but rather his own.

"Yes," Celina affirmed, fixing his cufflinks. "In high society, how you present yourself can make all the difference. It's important to make a strong impression."

Evan sighed but stayed still and allowed the stylists to continue their work. "Alright, alright."

Elina gave him a playful nudge. "Just trust Mother. She knows how to handle these things."

As Evan caught a glimpse of his reflection—his hair neatly styled and his suit perfectly fitted—he started to see the value in all the effort. Even though he was still a bit grumpy, he couldn't help but appreciate Celina's attention to detail.

Also, to be fair, he looked quite good.

With a tall, well-toned build, he looked like an A-Class model and may even leave them to dust.

With a final adjustment from Celina and a reassuring smile from Elina, Evan prepared for the evening. He realized that looking good was more than just vanity; it was an important part of making a great impression.

The first floor was open to the general public, while the second floor featured private dining rooms. The third to fifth floors contained lodging rooms, and the sixth floor held VIP suites.

The seventh floor was reserved for large events, including the banquet tonight. The eighth floor housed the exclusive presidential suites, with only four available.

Taking the elevator to the ground floor, Evan found it less crowded than his previous visit. He was greeted warmly by the guard but that was the extent of the interaction.

As he entered, his eyes widened as he spotted almost every reputed figure in the city.

From politicians, business magnates, and other high-profile guests, there were many who were from other regions.

Evan was familiar with some of them and each one of them was wealthy. Sadly, none of their attention fell on Evan as he lingered in the corner, holding a glass of cola in a wine glass which he hesitated to drink, worried that if it might actually be wine, he would be in deep trouble since he wasn't used to drinking.

Evan stood alone at the banquet, like a lonely desolate figure in the midst of the bustling crowd.

Around him, people had already started forming groups, exchanging words and pleasantries.

Meanwhile...

"I am bored...'

The high-society gathering swirled around him with chatter and laughter, yet he remained largely invisible. He scanned the room with a mix of curiosity and detachment, his presence seemingly akin to a ghost among the sea of familiar faces.

Suddenly, the doors to the grand hall opened, admitting a new wave of guests.

Among them were Noah's lackeys—John, Jasper, and Ken—who were strutting in with their usual smug expression and immediately spotted Evan, drawing a few sidelong glances as they made their way through the crowd, whispered before looking for someone and then made their way towards him.

Their presence brought an edge of tension to Evan.

'Damn!'

'Not them... Just because I said I am bored doesn't mean that you had to arrange clowns for my entertainment, God.'