Chapter 101: Dinner With The Five Families 2

People wearing white long sleeve shirts and black vests came in. They brought food and drinks to each and every table. The drink was, of course, special and was not alcoholic. The food and delicacies, however, were only normal.

Everyone talked with members of their families as they ate. Most of the words that came out of their mouths were praises, they all praised the effects of the drinks.

Only the Elites in their family felt the effects, as for the ones with higher ranks, they hardly felt anything.

Still, if Elites who had just recently brokethrough would drink this every day, they'd reach the Commander in no time.

Eva, who was seated at a round table together with Marcus, Emily, and Nexus, stood up. "The beverages that you're drinking right now will be released within the first week of next month. It will be available at 'The Corner' so that everyone will be able to enjoy and benefit from the effects of the drink."

Eva smiled and sat back down. "It only took us a week to attract the attention of the two strongest families in Estra. We can proceed smoothly from here." 

Marcus nodded. "There will be a lot of suggestions thrown later about how we'll move forward and I'm sure someone will bring up the distribution of these drinks to stores all over the country." 

"Should we agree?" Emily asked.

Marcus nodded. "Seeing that we're advancing fast in the ladder, we should also advance our plans, skipping a few steps."

Eva smiled. "We'll see if we can get good offers."

----

While Marcus and the rest were discussing their future plans at their table, others were also conversing with their families.

On the Flavus table. 

"Maya, are you okay?" Leo asked as he placed his hands on the round table. He noticed that Maya didn't seem like herself. She was shy, but not this shy that she would hardly lift her head.

Maya wiped the sides of her mouth with the provided napkin and then whispered. "This gathering is for people with grand statuses, I feel quite out of place."

Leo chuckled. "What are you talking about? You are part of 'Asura'. That's already something prestigious."

Maya smiled and looked at him. "I guess you're right."

The relationship between the two was currently undefined as no one wanted to make the first move. Leo was still on the fence as he didn't want her and her sibling to be caught up with his family's mess.

Ronald Flavus glanced at Leo and Maya. He was proud of this son of his and he's also happy that his son finally found someone. 

Ronald never forced Leo into that engagement with Zoey, but he couldn't do anything against all the elders of the family. 

Now, however, all the old coots seemed to have forgotten about the engagement and didn't pester Leo about marrying the young miss of the Xalia family. 

Ronald could guess that it's because of Leo's move on investing in 'Asura'.

Sadly for them, their family isn't part of Asura. Ronald knows this but he didn't say anything.

"Leo," Ronald called out. "When are you planning on introducing her to your old man?"

He has already noticed Leo hanging out with this woman for quite a while, and from the reports he received from the guards that guarded Leo in the dark, he could tell that there was something between them.

Maya blushed.

"Dad!," Leo raised his voice. "Why can't you ask this question when we're alone and not here where there are other people?"

Ronald chuckled as he nodded.

Maya's face turned bright red as the people around her began looking in her direction. 

She had never liked Leo when they first met. It wasn't love at first sight. However, as time went on, they both gradually became close, mostly because Leo would always be there for her. 

During her photoshoots Leo was with her, making sure that the cameraman or anyone for that matter won't take advantage of her and let her do unnecessary poses.

Leo was also good with her siblings and would play with them when she was busy.

Still, she's wondering why Leo hasn't made any moves a guy would usually do in this situation.

Maya turned her head to Leo who was already looking at her, smiling.

Krey who was sitting close to them had anger, jealousy, and exhaustion in his eyes.

----

At the Minser table.

Loo, who looks to be around 30 years old, is still sitting beside his father.

"You must not let the Strongwald get any piece of the cake. I tell you, if they do, they'll only grow stronger." Loo's father Doo spoke in a soft voice.

"I know dad, and I believe Eva isn't planning on giving out more of the company since it's currently on the right track," Loo spoke as he munched the food on his plate. He seemed like a kid when he's with his father.

"Eva is smart, but the Strongwald family is scum. They'll do everything they can to remove obstacles in their way." Doo's brows were scrunched as he talked about the strongest family in Estra.

The public, of course, knew nothing about any of it. Only a few of the upper echelons knew some of their heinous activities.

Loo nodded. "What about the Frey? Will we expect any movements from them?"

His father knew more about the five families than he does, so it's always best to ask him when it comes to issues related to them.

Doo shook his head. "They won't stoop that low if they don't have to. Frey and Flavus also have an extremely good relationship so they won't be targeting 'Asura' any time soon."

"I see." Loo continued eating.

----

At the Xalia table.

"Zoey," Rey Xalia looked at his daughter. "What's the plan of Asura moving forward?"

Zoey lifted her shoulders. "I don't know and I don't need to know. Whatever it is that Eva has in mind, I'm sure it'll make Asura grow."

Rey nodded. "How did you get close to these people anyway?"

He and Zoey hardly talk. They hardly eat breakfast together, which is why he never had the chance to ask this.

Zoey thought for a while. "As you know, we met while traveling. Eva and I became friends and viola." 

"That's it?" Rey wasn't really interested in how she met with Eva. What he was interested in was conversing with this daughter of his.

"There's nothing else I can say, we just clicked." Zoey continued to give short answers.

"What about that kid Marcus?" Rey casually asked.

"What about him?" Zoey tilted her head to the side, not understanding what his father was trying to ask.

"You two seemed to be close." Rey continued. 

"Well, we kind of are. We've been spending more time with each other lately." Zoey smiled.

When Marcus would stop cultivating and go downstairs, he would see Zoey there together with Eva and Maya. That's when Marcus' interaction with Zoey started to increase.

"He seems to be taken." Rey took a glass on the table and downed its contents.

"What are you even thinking?! We're friends, nothing more." Zoey glared at her dad.

"Alright, alright, whatever you say." Rey chuckled.

----

At the Strongwald table.

"We should take these drinks for ourselves. Let Eva work for us." Senator Bong spoke. Although the drinks had no effects on him, he could still feel that it was better than any of the drinks served by bars and clubs in Estra.

"Patience Bong. You know that we can't make a move yet. We'll have to play along for now and see where this goes." Merts spoke.

Senator Bong nodded. "I never said we would do it now."

They currently can't waste any of their resources. If they make a move on Asura now, they will have tons of casualties. They can't handle having that many now that they are in an alliance with Octopi.

"Or just let the business run" Vid suggested as he gobbled down dish after dish and drink after drink.

"Are you stupid? If our family can get a steady supply of this, we'll be able to reach new heights. Geniuses in our family will be given an opportunity to break through faster."

"Hey Bong," Vid wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at the person he had just called out. "I was only suggesting. Calm your shit down."

Pald then chimed in "The only reason you're trying this hard to convince us to take the drinks that 'Asura' create is because of your own gain and not of the family, so stop making it sound like you actually care."

"You!" Senator Bong pointed towards Pald. "I've been ignoring you all this time to avoid trouble, but you still want to fight?"

"I'm just saying the truth. If you're offended then that's on you." Pald chuckled.

"Alright, both of you stop. You can fight when you get home, but right now, it looks like things will get interesting." Merts turned towards the table where Marcus was sitting.

Everyone then saw Eva standing from her seat going back to the place where the microphone was.