The evening of the gathering finally arrived.
Inside the Jubo family mansion, Damon stood before a mirror while Melissa adjusted the collar of his formal clothing.
He wore a well-tailored dark outfit with subtle silver decorations and the Jubo family crest embroidered across his chest.
It was elegant without being excessively flashy.
"Does everything look alright?" Damon asked.
Melissa stepped back to examine him.
"Perfect, young master."
Damon smiled.
"Then I suppose I'm ready."
Melissa picked up a small accessory from the table and handed it to him.
"This is your first formal appearance among the younger nobles since your recovery. You should make a good impression."
"You're making it sound like I'm going to war."
Melissa chuckled.
"Sometimes, noble gatherings can be more dangerous than battles."
Damon laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind."
A knock came from the door.
"Young master, the carriage is ready," a servant announced.
Damon turned towards Melissa.
"Wish me luck."
"Have a pleasant evening, young master."
He nodded before leaving.
The Voss family residence was located within one of the capital's prestigious noble districts.
As Damon's carriage approached the estate, he observed the impressive buildings and carefully maintained gardens surrounding the property.
The residence itself was beautifully constructed, with large windows, elegant stone pillars and magical lanterns illuminating the entrance.
Several carriages were already parked outside.
Nobles and their attendants moved through the entrance while servants welcomed arriving guests.
Roderick stepped down first before helping Damon out.
"Welcome to House Voss, young master."
Damon examined the building.
"House Voss certainly knows how to make an impression."
Roderick smiled.
"They have considerable commercial influence. Their wealth is not something to underestimate."
Before Damon could respond, a familiar voice called out.
"Damon Jubo!"
Adrian Voss approached with a welcoming smile.
"I'm glad you could make it."
Damon returned the smile.
"Thank you for the invitation."
Adrian glanced briefly at Roderick before turning back to Damon.
"Captain Roderick, welcome as well. We've arranged a waiting area for accompanying guards."
Roderick nodded.
"Thank you."
Adrian gestured towards the entrance.
"Come. The others have already arrived."
Damon followed him inside.
The reception hall was spacious and beautifully decorated.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the ceiling, while several tables displayed refreshments and expensive beverages.
Young nobles were gathered in small groups, conversing and occasionally laughing.
As Damon entered, a few conversations gradually quietened.
Some recognised him immediately.
Others whispered among themselves after noticing the Jubo family crest.
Adrian seemed to notice their reactions.
"Looks like you've attracted some attention."
Damon glanced around.
"I suppose that's unavoidable."
Adrian laughed.
"Come. Let me introduce you to some people."
He led Damon towards a group of three young nobles.
"Everyone, this is Damon Jubo, heir of the Jubo family."
A young man with neatly styled brown hair stepped forward.
"Finally, we meet. I'm Lucas Everhart."
He offered his hand.
Damon accepted it.
"Pleasure meeting you."
Lucas smiled.
"I've heard quite a bit about you recently. Though I must admit, I expected you to be a little less approachable."
Damon laughed.
"Should I have arrived with a group of guards and refused to speak to anyone?"
The two exchanged smiles.
Adrian introduced the remaining guests.
"This is Cedric Halden, and this is Lady Eveline Roswell."
Cedric gave Damon a polite nod.
"An honour."
Eveline offered a graceful smile.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Lord Damon."
"Likewise."
Damon briefly studied the group.
Lucas appeared sociable and easygoing, while Cedric carried himself with a certain confidence.
Eveline, on the other hand, seemed observant. Her eyes occasionally moved between the people speaking, as though she was paying attention to more than their words.
They continued exchanging pleasantries before joining the larger gathering.
As the evening progressed, Damon found himself speaking with several young nobles.
The conversations initially revolved around ordinary matters.
However, it wasn't long before his recovery became a topic of discussion.
"Lord Damon, may I ask something?"
Damon turned towards the speaker.
"Certainly."
A young noble standing nearby looked at him curiously.
"Is it true that you've completely recovered from your previous condition?"
Several people nearby became interested.
Damon placed his glass on the table.
"My health has improved considerably. I'm still working on my recovery."
"Then the rumours about your return to training are true?"
"They are."
Another noble joined the conversation.
"I also heard you recently entered the Beast Forest."
Damon nodded.
"That's correct."
The young man appeared surprised.
"That must have been quite an experience."
"It certainly was."
Before anyone else could speak, a voice interrupted.
"Entering the Beast Forest doesn't necessarily mean someone has become strong."
Damon turned.
A young noble with golden hair stood nearby, wearing an expensive outfit decorated with a prominent family emblem.
His expression carried a faint smile.
"Some people might simply have been fortunate enough to return alive."
A few nobles exchanged glances.
Adrian frowned slightly.
"Lord Damon, allow me to introduce Cedric's cousin, Marcus Halden."
Damon nodded politely.
"Pleasure meeting you."
Marcus returned the gesture.
"I've heard about your recovery. It's certainly an interesting development."
Damon smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
Marcus continued.
"Still, I imagine you'll need considerable time before catching up with the younger generation."
Damon regarded him calmly.
"Perhaps."
He paused before adding.
"But I suppose entering the Beast Forest is a reasonable place to start. After all, experience is difficult to gain by simply discussing it."
Lucas struggled to suppress a laugh.
A few others smiled.
Marcus's expression stiffened slightly.
Damon simply picked up his glass.
He had no intention of turning an ordinary gathering into an argument.
Adrian eventually redirected the conversation.
Later, Damon found himself standing beside Adrian near one of the large windows overlooking the garden.
"You handled that rather well," Adrian remarked.
Damon glanced at him.
"Handled what?"
"Marcus. He enjoys testing people, especially those he considers beneath him."
Damon chuckled.
"I noticed."
Adrian shook his head.
"He's not a bad person, but his pride occasionally gets ahead of him."
After a brief silence, he asked something that had been on his mind since arriving.
"I heard House Voss has considerable commercial interests."
Adrian looked surprised.
"That's right. Our family is involved in several trading activities."
"What kind of goods?"
"Mostly cultivation resources, medicinal ingredients and materials obtained from magical beasts. We also maintain several transportation arrangements connecting different regions of the kingdom."
Damon became interested.
"Do you manage those businesses yourself?"
"Not yet. My father handles most of the important decisions, although I've started learning about the family's commercial operations."
Damon nodded thoughtfully.
"That sounds interesting."
Adrian studied him.
"Most young nobles I've met are more interested in cultivation, military achievements or family politics. You're the first person tonight who's asked me so many questions about trade."
Damon smiled.
"Strength is important, but resources and connections matter too. A powerful person without the means to support his ambitions can easily find himself limited."
Adrian laughed.
"That's an interesting way to look at things."
"Perhaps."
For a moment, they watched the activity in the reception hall.
Then Adrian spoke again.
"We should discuss business another time. I think you'd find some of our family's activities interesting."
Damon nodded.
"I'd appreciate that."
As the gathering approached its conclusion, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
Lucas approached Damon with a cheerful expression.
"Lord Damon, I hope this won't be our last meeting."
Damon smiled.
"I hope so too."
"Perhaps we can arrange something together another time."
"That sounds good."
Eveline also approached.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Lord Damon. I hope we have another opportunity to speak."
"The pleasure was mine, Lady Eveline."
Adrian accompanied Damon towards the entrance.
"Thank you for attending. I hope you enjoyed yourself."
"I did. It was an interesting evening."
Adrian smiled.
"Then I look forward to seeing you again."
Damon nodded before stepping outside.
Roderick was already waiting near the carriage.
"Are you ready to return, young master?"
"Yes."
The carriage moved through the illuminated streets of the capital.
Damon leaned against his seat, reflecting on the evening.
"So, how was the gathering?" Roderick asked.
Damon smiled.
"Interesting. I met some decent people."
"Any trouble?"
"Nothing serious."
Roderick nodded.
Damon turned towards the window.
He had entered the gathering expecting curiosity and perhaps a few attempts to test him.
Instead, he had discovered something more valuable.
Potential friendships, commercial connections and an entirely different side of noble society.
The world of nobles was another kind of battlefield.
Here, words, relationships and information could be just as valuable as swords.
Damon smiled faintly.
He was beginning to understand that becoming stronger would require more than simply improving his cultivation.
Meanwhile, at the Voss residence, Adrian stood beside a window overlooking the garden.
One of his companions approached.
"What do you think of Damon Jubo?"
Adrian considered the question.
"He's different from what I expected."
"How so?"
Adrian smiled.
"He seems more interested in understanding people than proving himself to them."
He paused.
"I think we'll be seeing more of him."
And in the capital, the name Damon Jubo was slowly beginning to return to conversations that had forgotten it for years.