Remy dutifully guided the kids inside the manor. The dining room was located on the first floor. It was a spacious room with a long table at its center. The table could accommodate at least a dozen people.
However, right now only one person was sitting at the head of the table. This man had black hair and blue eyes, just like Edward. Moreover, he had a black beard that was neatly groomed.
Edward bowed respectfully after entering the room. "Good evening, Father."
"Hmm." Viktor nodded ever so slightly. He rested his elbows on the table, interlocked his fingers together, and lay his chin on them as he silently observed his son's friends. He had already met Adam a few times before, but this was the first time he had seen Lisa.
So his gaze lingered on her for a while. Lisa, feeling this powerful Magus' gaze, involuntarily trembled. She lowered her head and nervously greeted. "G-Good evening, Lord Viktor."
A moment of silence ensued as Viktor continued to look at Lisa, while the latter nervously stood still. Edward wanted to say something but didn't dare to. He didn't try to act out of line in front of his father.
Viktor only ever showed his doting side to Elaine, but in front of Edward, he was always strict.
"Lisa de Clare, correct?" Viktor suddenly spoke.
"Yes, my lord." Lisa curtsied, trying her best to maintain a calm facade. But her ever-so-slightly trembling hands gave her away.
Suddenly, Viktor's lips curled up into a faint smile as he spoke. "No need to be so formal. You're Eddie's friend after all. You may simply address me as Uncle."
Lisa was taken aback, not having expected the Magus to be so easygoing. She sincerely smiled and replied, "Yes, Uncle Viktor."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Hmm." Viktor nodded.
Edward also involuntarily released his clenched fists and sighed a breath of relief. He didn't want Lisa to feel uncomfortable at his home. Moreover, he also wanted his father to have a good impression of her.
As the youth gestured to Lisa with a thumbs up, Adam cheerfully walked toward Viktor and stretched out his hand. "Hehe, long time no see, Uncle Viktor!"
Seeing Adam approach, Viktor laughed. He shook the youth's hand and then patted his shoulder. "It's been a while, you little troublemaker."
As Viktor and Adam spoke to one another, Edward saw their interaction and pursed his lips. How come he's never behaved that way with me…
For as long as he could remember, Edward had always seen the stern side of his father. Having become used to such treatment since childhood, the youth couldn't help but believe that his father was treating him this way because of what happened to his mother.
Because deep down, Edward always blamed himself for his mother's health. After all, she did fall sick after he was born.
He then shook his head and got rid of such depressing thoughts. Today was supposed to be a happy occasion and he was not going to allow himself to dampen his mood. He sat down right next to his father while Adam sat across from him.
Seeing Lisa sit beside him, he involuntarily blushed. An action that didn't go unnoticed by his father.
Adam took out a large wooden barrel from his earring and placed it on the ground next to Viktor.
"What's this?" Viktor asked curiously.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Hehe." Adam had a smug expression on his face. "This is the wine I brewed personally. It is my gift to you."
"Interesting." Viktor smiled. He then waved at one of the servants standing behind him. The servant came forth, skillfully opened the barrel, and started pouring a cup for him.
"Oh!" Viktor was taken aback by the aroma of the wine. He looked at Adam with raised eyebrows. "Did you really brew this yourself?"
Adam puffed out his chest. "Of course I did. Even the old man said it was not bad."
"Hoho." Now Viktor was really looking forward to the wine. "If old Berger said it's 'not bad,' then it's clearly something."
After receiving the cup from his servant, Viktor swirled the wine lightly and then gulped it down in one go. Following that, his eyes widened in surprise. "Great!"
"Hehehe~" If Adam had a tail, it would be wagging intensely right now.
"Kiddo, what is the name of this wine?" Viktor asked as he gestured for the servant to pour some more.
"Adam's Tears!" The youth raised his hands and declared heroically. Stars seemed to be shining within the depths of his eyes as he marveled at his naming skills.
Listening to him act so dramatically, Edward and Lisa burst out laughing. Meanwhile, Viktor's lips twitched. The servants inside the dining room also struggled to contain their laughter.
"Are you serious?" Viktor asked incredulously.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Adam raised his chin and spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Of course! It's a good name, right? Hehe, I know, I know."
Seeing the youth ask questions and then answer them by himself, Viktor didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But it was undeniable that it was a very good wine. It could easily be considered one of the best wines he had tasted in the Southern Federation.
He could already think of various ways of marketing this wine and making loads of money out of it. However, this was not the time or place to speak of business. Even though he was in the company of little kids, they were his son's friends after all.
So he waved his hands again and instructed the servants to start serving food. As the dishes started to be served one by one, the atmosphere turned casual and enjoyable.
Adam and Lisa didn't feel like they were in the presence of a powerful Magus at all. Viktor chatted with the kids and asked about how their academy life went.
Soon, the topic switched to Edward's sister, Elaine.
"Uncle, has Elaine settled down at the Tower of Daybreak?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, she has." Thinking of his daughter, Viktor smiled warmly. "She's always been a social butterfly. I'm sure she won't have any problems living in the Empire."
Adam's eyes shone with curiosity and wonder. "Can you tell us more about the Acadian Empire? Is it really as good as people make it out to be?"
"Haah, where do I even begin?" Viktor took a sip of the wine and continued. "In the Ulier Continent, the Acadian Empire is a land of opportunities for Magi!"
"Whoa!" Both Adam and Lisa were fascinated. If even a Rank 2 Magus such as Viktor had such high words for the Empire, then it surely had to mean something.
Excited, Adam asked eagerly, "Uncle Viktor, tell us about your journey to the Empire!"
