Noticing his sister's puzzled look, Klein suddenly felt that this was an opportunity. He sized her up and said with a serious expression, "You're right.
He sized her up and said with a serious expression, "Melissa, you aren't showing enough respect for tonight's banquet."
"What?" Melissa wore a puzzled look.
Klein pointed at her neck.
"As a lady, you're still lacking a necklace to adorn here."
Without waiting for his sister to speak, he chuckled and took out a silver amulet surrounded by angel feathers from his pocket.
"Thankfully, I've prepared it for you."
"…" Melissa was first taken aback before she blurted out, "How much is it?"
Sis, your focus isn't right … Klein silently lampooned as he explained with a chuckle, "In fact, it's not expensive.
As it was only a half-finished product, I imitated an artifact I've seen before and engraved blessings and beautiful patterns on it. "
"You engraved it?" As expected, Melissa's attention was diverted.
"How is it? What do you think of my handiwork? "Klein handed the amulet to his sister.
Melissa flipped it around and looked at it a few times before biting her lips.
"I like the angel feathers around it."
If you think the incantations and symbols I engraved are ugly, just say so. There's no need to hide it … An amulet is mainly about its effects! The corners of Klein's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to persuade his sister to accept it, he saw Melissa wear the silver necklace around her neck with a reluctant expression. Then, she carefully positioned the amulet.
"Perfect." Klein sized it up and praised exaggeratedly.
Melissa shot a glance at him and looked down at the amulet.
She said in a muffled voice, "Klein, you weren't like this in the past. This …"
"Perhaps it's because I have a good job and a good income that I've become more confident." Klein interrupted his sister and gave an explanation.
Sigh, even though I've received the original owner's memory fragments and there aren't any major problems, there are still some details that I'm used to showing my true personality … Especially after I've become more and more comfortable with Baansen and Melissa … He sighed inwardly.
Melissa seemed to agree with his reasoning and pursed her lips.
"You're fine like this, really fine …"
After the siblings chatted for a while, Baansen changed his clothes and went downstairs. He was wearing a white shirt, a black vest, a tuxedo, a black bow tie, and a pair of well-ironed pants. He looked like a new person, like a successful person who had his own business after working hard for many years.
The hairline is similar as well … Klein chuckled inwardly.
"Very good, Baansen. That's exactly what you should wear." He smiled brightly and spread his hands.
Melissa nodded in agreement.
"It turns out that clothes are more important than me." Baansen made fun of himself.
Klein took the opportunity to take out the remaining amulet and repeated what he had said before.
Finally, he said, "I made one for you too."
"It's not bad. I'll carry it with me." Baansen accepted it calmly and teased, "Klein, I wouldn't be surprised even if you suddenly know how to cut hair, make clothes, repair clocks, and feed curly-haired baboons."
"Life is always full of surprises and surprises," Klein replied with a smile.
Following that, the siblings cleaned themselves up and walked out the door. They took a trackless public carriage to North Borough's Fania Street.
The Woods' house was also a terraced house, but unlike Klein's, it had a porch and a small lawn in front of the house, making it look more elegant.
When the doorbell was rung, Klein, Baansen, and Melissa waited for less than twenty seconds before they saw the star of the day, Selena Wood.
The girl with long burgundy hair gave Melissa a joyful hug.
"I like this dress of yours. It makes you look especially beautiful."
Beside Selena was her father, Mr. Wood Sr., a senior employee of the Baekeland Bank's Tingen branch.
"Welcome, our esteemed elder brother. Welcome, our young historian." He deliberately greeted Baansen and Klein in an exaggerated manner.
Young historian … Why didn't he add a description of a "conscientious" person … Klein lampooned inwardly, took off his hat, and replied with a smile,
"Mr. Wood, you are more spirited and younger than I imagined."
His compliment had unknowingly leaned towards the Foodie Empire.
Baansen extended his hand and shook Old Wood's hand.
"I know quite a number of bank employees, but they are all equally arrogant and stiff, like the latest models of machines. None of them are as gentlemanly as you."
"If you had seen me at the bank, you might not have given me such an evaluation." Old Wood smiled happily.
After exchanging pleasantries, Selena, who was wearing a new dress, led the siblings inside. At times, she would say in a normal voice, "Elizabeth has arrived." At other times, she would say to Melissa in a suppressed voice, "Your two brothers are more handsome than I imagined."
Hey, my hearing is very good … Even though you're complimenting me … Klein looked helplessly at the two sixteen-year-old girls walking side by side in front of him.
That's not right. I'm still far from being handsome … Hey, Miss Selena, how ugly did you think of me and Baansen previously? One is reserved and gloomy, slovenly, pale, and listless. The other has sparse hair and looks prematurely old? Klein pinched his glabella and diligently practiced his Spirit Vision.
Miss Selena is healthy, excited, and very happy … Mr. Wood Sr. has a small problem with his lungs. Yes, I saw his pipe … Klein scanned the crowd in a good mood.
"Elizabeth, Melissa is here." At that moment, Selena called out in a brisk tone.
A girl in a blue lace dress walked over. She had naturally curly brown hair and cute baby fat.
Klein was taken aback for a moment because he knew this girl.
He had even helped her choose an amulet at the underground market!
Elizabeth first greeted Melissa before looking at Baansen and Klein.
She stood there in a daze, frowning slightly as though she was thinking about something.
Soon, Elizabeth smiled and greeted them politely as though nothing had happened.
Klein pretended not to recognize her. Under Old Wood's lead, he came to the sofa in the living room and was introduced to Selena's brother, Chris, and the other guests.
Klein couldn't help but feel envious when he saw Baansen happily chatting with Chris and the other solicitors using his neighbor, Mr. Shaud.
I don't have such social skills … He picked up a glass of aperitif from the table in the corner and listened quietly. From time to time, he would nod and laugh in agreement.
Not long after, all the guests arrived, and the banquet officially began.
As there were too many guests, the Wood family's dining table couldn't handle it. Therefore, the banquet was a buffet. The maids served steaks, roast chicken, fried fish, mashed potatoes, and other food on different tables. The servingmen were in charge of cutting them to fit the portions.
When Klein saw the elegant glazed plates and silver knives and forks, he couldn't help but be speechless. He felt that the middle-class Wood family was too extravagant.
Since they're so rich, why did Chris prepare for the wedding for a few more years? He thought of what his sister had once said. Hmm, perhaps it's to accumulate such cutlery that they had to prepare for a few more years. For such a family, dignity is very important!
Amidst his thoughts, Klein picked up a porcelain plate, came to the dining table, and forked a piece of roasted meat smeared with honey.
At this moment, Y'lisabet, who had cute baby fat on her face, came over and looked at the food.
She looked at the food and whispered, "So you're Melissa's brother … Thank you. Selena really likes the amulet I gave her. She said that she felt healthy the moment she put it on."
Selena … Amulet … Klein suddenly recalled the reason the girl beside him had chosen the amulet.
It was a birthday present for a friend who liked mysticism!
That friend is Selena? Selena likes things in the mystical domain? Klein frowned slightly and smiled politely.
"That might just be a placebo effect."
After saying that, he waited for her to praise Rosell The Great.
However, Elizabeth's reaction was one of confusion.
"What's a placebo effect?"
"It's a purely psychological effect. Sometimes, when we believe that we will become better, we will really become better," Klein roughly explained.
"No, she said that it's different from the amulets she bought in the past. It feels different," Elizabeth emphasized.
She turned her head to glance at Klein and said curiously,
"I didn't expect Melissa's brother to be an expert in mysticism."
"As you know, I'm a history major, so I'm always exposed to such things." Klein changed the topic and asked, "Are you also from Tingen City Technical School?"
"No, I used to be classmates with Selena and Melissa. Later, they went to technical school, and I went to the nearby Ivos Public School," Elizabeth explained seriously.
Public schools weren't public schools, but schools that accepted students from the public. They had evolved from good grammar schools, and their goal was to nurture graduates who could enter university. The tuition fees were rather expensive, and they would consider the student's family background. Even the typical middle-class couldn't afford it.
She didn't chat further. After choosing her food, she returned to Selena's side.
After congratulating the main character on her birthday, the banquet gradually came to an end. Klein and Baansen were invited to join the ranks of Texas Hold 'em. The small blind bet was half a penny, and the big blind bet was one penny. As for Melissa, Elizabeth, Selena, and the other friends, they went to the second floor. It was unknown if they were chatting or playing other games.
Klein's luck wasn't good today. He played more than twenty rounds, but he didn't get a good hand. All he could do was watch and discard his cards, acting as a spectator.
He flipped the corner of his card again and realized that it was a Two of Hearts and a Five of Spades.
"Should I try to bluff him?" Klein considered it for a moment, but he still couldn't muster the courage to do so. He resisted the urge to cheat with divination.
He covered his cards and knocked on the table, indicating that he wasn't calling. Then, he got up and left the long table for the bathroom.
Rosell is also a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He actually found a strange reason to continue naming the game Texas … Klein shook his head as he walked forward.
At that moment, he suddenly stopped, and his pupils constricted.
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