Chapter 243: Fan

Everything went according to Richard’s expectations.

After his date ended, Luke came over to him.

Of course, the man wasn’t completely foolish.

The fact that Richard had pleased him only prevented him from losing his temper, but Luke still frowned as he approached, his expression filled with suspicion.

He knew very well that something was wrong.

Richard’s friendliness could not possibly be without any motive.

Luke sat down across from Richard, staring at him with a questioning gaze.

"I’m already full, so there’s no need to offer me anything," he said.

"You’d better tell me what your purpose is."

"Crimson Heart," Richard replied casually.

He had no intention of talking about anything else.

If things didn’t go according to plan, he would simply control Luke with Mind Attack.

Given how vast the gap in strength between them had become, Mind Attack was no longer just a way to weaken Luke—it could directly take control of his mind.

"Ohh..." Luke’s reaction was calmer than Richard had expected.

He didn’t overreact at all.

"So you want that item. Of course, outsiders can obtain it, but are you really willing to pay the price?" Luke said.

"What would I have to pay?" Richard asked.

"I don’t know. That’s not my business. Even the elders aren’t involved in this. It’s a matter for the Grand Ancestors. You’re mistaken if you came to me to get the Crimson Heart," Luke replied while shaking his head.

Richard frowned when he heard that.

It seemed things were more troublesome than he had anticipated.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table as he thought.

"What about your grandfather?" Richard asked again.

"What do you mean?" Luke looked confused, sensing something odd about Richard’s question.

"I want the Crimson Heart. I’ll do anything to get it."

"You?" Luke’s eyes widened slightly as he stood up warily.

"Are you planning to do something to me? You’d better not think like that here."

But just as he finished speaking, the light in his eyes suddenly vanished.

After that, he even sat back down in front of Richard.

"You should have stayed calm," Richard said.

"I’m sorry..." Luke lowered his head with a guilty expression.

Of course, all of that was the result of Richard controlling his mind.

"Tell me. I don’t want to use force, so give me a better idea of how to obtain the Crimson Heart," Richard said.

Brute force was his last resort. He wanted to avoid deeper conflict with the Order of the Crimson Veil.

After all, so far his conflicts were only with Charles, Ethan, and a few other young members.

That hardly counted as anything significant— even the elders might not care.

But if he were to clash with a Grand Ancestor, that would amount to an official hostility toward the Order of the Crimson Veil.

Richard was certain there was still a way—Luke simply hadn’t told him before.

"You might be able to ask Miss Carla for help..." Luke answered.

"Who is Carla?" Richard was quite surprised to hear that name.

"She’s just a ten-year-old girl, but her grandfather is the strongest here... She admires you quite a lot after hearing stories about you. If you build a good relationship with her, she should be able to help."

"Ohhh..." Richard’s mouth opened in surprise.

That girl’s grandfather was the strongest.

This meant a Grand Ancestor with absolute authority over the Order of the Crimson Veil—an ancient figure who had existed since the Order was founded.

No one knew his exact identity, whether he was the founder’s son or a disciple.

However, without a doubt, his strength was enough to let him roam freely across the entire world.

Richard wondered how such an old figure could have such a young granddaughter.

Perhaps his child only had a child in this era, or perhaps after she was born, the girl had encountered some problem and had been sealed until now.

None of that was impossible.

"How can I meet that girl?" Richard asked.

"She’s on the mountain. If you don’t want to cause a commotion because news of your presence in this city spreads, I’ll need to go to the mountain myself to meet her and inform her," Luke replied.

But if Luke went to the mountain, he would effectively leave the range of Richard’s Mind Attack and be freed from his control.

Richard would never agree to such a plan.

Going up the mountain together with Luke would be even worse—outsiders entering without permission was a serious offense. Even if he hid within a Hidden World, Richard believed he would still be exposed, given the number of powerful Magi on that mountain.

"Just spread the news that I’m in this city," Richard said after thinking for a moment.

Although that might attract Ethan’s and Charles’s lackeys, they alone were not enough to worry him.

Luke nodded and then stood up.

He left the restaurant and approached the young members who were wandering around.

Soon after, he returned to Richard’s table.

Richard then released him from Mind Attack, instantly changing Luke’s expression as all the memories returned.

"You? You?" Luke, who had just sat down, stood up again.

But Richard moved quickly, grabbing his hand and pulling him back into his seat.

"I can take control of you again," Richard said.

"So you’d better stay calm. I just want to meet my fan... There’s nothing wrong with that, right?"

"No..." Luke answered unconsciously.

"Ohhh..." Richard turned his gaze toward the window beside him.

Suddenly, a crowd had gathered just to catch a glimpse of him.

However, the fact that he was sitting together with Luke seemed to thoroughly confuse them.

"He’s the one who managed to escape from the Lord and then drove Charles almost insane with jealousy by marrying Queen Lilith."

"Yes, exactly like the image I’ve seen before."

"What is he doing here? Isn’t he afraid Charles will beat him up? After all, Charles has already returned..."

"Oh no, look—Charles is coming."

"So fast, it looks like there’s going to be a fight..."

"..."