Chapter 198 – Family?

Chapter 198 - Family?

"Haha." Nart chuckled when he realized he just got played by this young man. He didn't find it offensive or anything. He was simply fond of such an act because he knew that the younger generation had enough talent to even pull something like that.
"Good, good, good. Let's continue." Nart nodded with a smile. Even though he had thrown a house into the agreement, with how Theo restarted the conversation, Theo would at least demand another thing.
Theo then continued with a smile. "Instead of a house, it's better if you give it to me in cash. That's my demand."
Once again, Nart widened his eyes, never expecting such an answer. If Theo agreed with the house, he could simply choose a house where he could monitor Theo. Yet, the latter demanded cash instead of a house, meaning that he could get a house of his own choice without going under his supervision.
He was completely surprised to see that a young man two years younger than his granddaughter could actually see so far ahead.
Little did he know, Theo had another reason. He wanted to buy a house near the second Teleportation Circle since after the competition, he would go to the other side through that gate. The monsters around that area were far stronger than the current gate he utilized after all.
"Say, how about I add another demand? Why don't you just marry my granddaughter? I feel like my Eilric Family will be fine if you're my grandson-in-law. You're the person my granddaughter chose too…"
"No, thank you. This and that are two different matters." Theo politely rejected him. "Alea and I don't have such a relationship."
"Haha, many are married this way, especially if you've such a big family. Love can be nurtured."
"That's not my problem." Theo shook his head, not wanting any relationship that would hinder him in achieving his goal.
"Well, that was just a grandpa joke." Nart laughed while pointing at him. However, he soon let out a long disappointed sigh and said, "I wonder what you dislike from my granddaughter… I thought I'd given the best education, time, and enough love so the child won't go astray."
"It's not my position to say it." Theo declined to answer again while continuing, "Anyway, do you agree with the conditions? I have a feeling that you're just trying to make me forget about the deal."
"Hoho, you're certainly right." The old man didn't feel ashamed to admit it. "Just like you, I want to make the deal in my favor, but I guess you win this time. Fine by me, in order for you to make my granddaughter enter the main competition and shine on that big stage, I will be giving you money to buy a house, D Rank Skills, Two Hero Rank Spears, and information about your brother."
Theo extended his hand as Nart shook it almost immediately, signaling they had agreed.
"I will send you the contract later."
"Thank you." Theo nodded and asked, "So, what are the other things you want to tell me?"
"It's about the movement. I've promised to give you some information about the update, right? Well, you are lucky that not a single movement ever happened again after that incident. I'm afraid there was something big involved behind the scene, but I didn't find a single clue.
"With you showing an overwhelming result, the government has begun to act, so I doubt there will be any more threat that will come your way until the competition ends."
"That's indeed good news."
"Then, there's something you need to know with your current reputation. I am fond of someone who doesn't act big, but someone like you is just the minority. Even if the government has acted, there will be many petty people trying to pick on you, especially if they think that you are taking your power for granted."
"I don't care about them. It's not like I am going to revolve myself around them and I don't think I will get into trouble before the competition. After that… Let them come." Theo shrugged and said, "I trust the government will do something about their backing, so it's not like I'm afraid of other students. Even if they're trying to kick me out of the team, only first-year students will do it because of the competition system." Theo explained with a calm expression.
"It seems you have thought it through, so I won't bother you with it anymore. The last thing I want to say is… How much do you know about your family?"
"…" Theo narrowed his eyes as his expression became serious.
"I've searched for your background this whole time and I can only see your parents and brother there. I can't see your cousin and other relatives, making it a bit weird. That's weird because I see that your parents are listed as orphans, but they are not actual orphans."
"I don't need to care." Theo abruptly stopped him and rose from the seat. "All I know is that my parents have died, and there's no relative taking care of me this whole time. Even if they came into my life, I would simply ignore them. When you can't even help the family in their lowest point, then don't expect something in return at their highest point. That's all. I hope that you don't mention anything about my family."
"I can respect that." Nart nodded with a calm expression. "Anyway, I have told you everything I want you to know. Since we've finished, you can go. I'm going to eat."
"…" Surprisingly, Theo sat down again as he ordered some food.
"Ho?! Are you going to eat here? This old man doesn't mind having company though, hahaha." Nart chuckled and returned to his usual loving grandfather's character. "Come come. Are you sure you have ordered enough? We can't let a kid like you starve."
Theo remained silent while waiting for food as Nart kept talking about his experience. He even thought that Nart was trying to tell him the most fabulous story that every grandpa had… It was how there was something amazing when he went to school.
In any case, he didn't remember when was the last time he had eaten with someone other than his teammates.