Return of the Legendary Runesmith-Chapter 505 - 504- Dinner

"I understand. I apologize for not thinking deeply enough about my creation and the consequences it could bring," Clark said, his head slightly lowered.

This wasn’t the conclusion of this exhibition anyone could have thought of.

A living legend bowing his head and apologizing for creating something...yes, definitely not something anyone even saw in their widest dream.

Adrian sighed but said nothing.

He didn’t blame the man. Clark’s intentions had been good. Perhaps he had also wanted to make the world depend solely on him, given that no one else could tune the fifth thread, but in the end, his efforts had been driven by concern for public welfare.

So no, Clark wasn’t a criminal. Just a little short-sighted.

He could have approached things differently or might have taken his time researching more about the fifth thread and the risk it involved.

But then again, Clark was getting old and before age claimed his life, he wanted to leave something that could imprint his name in the history books with golden letters.

Soon, a man dressed in a black suit bearing the insignia of Noredeim on his chest stepped forward and announced, "Please return to your homes for now. Further updates will be delivered through the newspapers."

As he spoke, soldiers and staff members began escorting the audience out of the venue, leaving behind only a handful of individuals, the guests personally invited by Clark.

The Emperor hummed and rose from his seat.

Turning toward Clark, making the man flinch, he said, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but without thinking everything through, you should not have organized this exhibition."

Clark lowered his head even further. "I apologize, Your Majesty."

Dorren did not linger. He turned to Adrian and said, "I would like to offer you a meal tonight. My butler will come to escort you."

With that, the Emperor turned and stepped down from the stage as if descending a staircase.

Then, with soldiers marching behind him, the silver-haired ruler left the venue.

Adrian exhaled a long breath and turned toward Clark.

The man stood frozen for a few seconds before suddenly turning away. Without saying a word, he walked off toward the backstage.

The remaining staff members and Clark’s assistant hurried after him.

"Look at him. So disrespectful," Annabelle muttered as she walked up to her darling.

Ruby and Ariana weren’t far behind and soon joined them. Ruby spoke first, "That was brilliant, Adrian. You once again proved how different this subject is for you compared to the rest of us."

Ariana gave a wry smile. "If even I could understand something as complex as Runesmithing, then yeah, you did a great job."

Annabelle nodded with a bright smile. "Exactly. Even I understood everything you said. And I’m sure those idiotic fools also realized how their favorite Runesmith was about to ruin their society."

Adrian chuckled. "I’m surprised you didn’t jump at them after all the curses thrown my way."

Annabelle crossed her arms and frowned. "These two held me back. Otherwise, I would have made them regret ever coming here."

Adrian shook his head and gently caressed her hair.

Just then, the same man who had announced the conclusion of the event approached them. "Excuse me."

Adrian and the others turned toward the middle-aged man in the black suit. His head was completely shaved, and a pair of dark green eyes sat behind thin-framed glasses.

"Ah, I thought the dinner was in the evening?"

The butler nodded. "Please let me know where I should send the carriage to pick you up."

Annabelle leaned in and whispered, not nearly as quietly as she thought, "Darling, are you really planning to meet that man?"

Adrian ignored her for the moment and replied to the butler, "I’ll meet you here, at the entrance of the venue."

The butler gave a polite bow before leaving.

Annabelle grumbled, "Darling, that man felt dangerous."

Ruby sighed. "Anna... Adrian can’t possibly refuse an Emperor’s invitation, especially when the man personally invited him."

Ariana nodded. "And I’m sure he only wants to thank Adrian for tuning that armament." Then, lowering her voice, she added, "...and maybe request another one."

Adrian shrugged, "Well, I won’t just simply make him an armament because of his position."

Ariana frowned, "You know rejecting his request would possibly enrage him, right?"

Annabelle nodded, "That’s right! So, let’s just leave this place and forget about the invitation."

Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "Do you two not remember that I can use teleportation?"

Shaking his head, he continued, "If things get out of hand, I’ll simply disappear. That’s always an option. But ignoring an Emperor’s invitation would only invite unnecessary trouble."

This dinner hadn’t been part of his plans, and Adrian still had matters he needed to attend to. Still, this meeting might prove beneficial.

"Professor."

Soon, three young figures approached them. The blond-haired one spoke first. "Are you alright?"

Adrian hummed in mild curiosity. "Why wouldn’t I be?" Sylvie’s eyes were filled with concern, which left him confused.

Allen explained her worry. "You were being targeted by so many people. They were nasty."

Annabelle nodded in wholehearted agreement. They were ugly people who deserved to wash their tongues with soap three times a day.

Adrian smiled softly. "If other people’s views and comments bothered me, I would have run far away and isolated myself a long time ago."

That made Sylvie flinch. Suddenly, the incident from almost a year ago resurfaced in her mind, the same incident that had changed so many things.

Adrian then asked them, "How do you plan on returning to the academy?"

"More than that, shouldn’t you three be preparing for the final terms? What are you doing here?" Ariana asked with a frown.

It had already been announced that the second-year final exams would begin as soon as the ongoing assessments concluded.

Yet these three were wandering around as if they had already secured top scores.

"Ah... um... w-we’ll head back now, Headmistress," Olivia muttered. Her voice trembled with nervousness as she tugged the other two away.

Sylvie’s eyes lingered on Adrian, her expression steeped in sorrow. And it wasn’t that Adrian failed to notice her grief; he simply chose to remain silent on the matter.

Once they left, Adrian asked, "So, should we go back and relax for a few hours?"

Ariana nodded, "Before that, how about we have lunch somewhere? I am quite hungry."

Adrian wanted to say that he would cook for them but then, he was tired as well. So, he said, "Alright, let’s go and try some delicacies of Antonmine."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.