VIP Chapter 65: Carver Hysterm
“Oh my, oh my, isn’t this Little Will? No matter how naughty you are, you still listen to your father’s command and come obediently,” a voice said.
Hearing the voice, Will trembled instinctively, almost dropping his cup.
From a distance, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses slowly walked towards him.
Carver Hysterm, the current head of the Hysterm Family.
Although Will had lived in the Hysterm Family’s side manor for fourteen years like an orphan, he had met this biological and nominal father a few times.
He wore a unique and striking white suit, his golden, shoulder-length hair framing his face. He was gentle and refined, like a cultured and seasoned merchant. Age was practically invisible on him, despite being the father of five children. If he hadn’t claimed to the outside world that his wife’s death had profoundly affected him and that he would focus on his business thereafter, Will thought that given his personality and looks, he would have had several stepmothers and a multitude of younger siblings.
Will had always felt that the Hysterm Family’s strange public reputation was inextricably linked to this man.
Carver was not a qualified father.
However, his success stories were so numerous that one could buy three of his books on the street—
“Carver Hysterm’s Adventuring Legend” — telling the story of the captain of the “Polaris,” the Adventuring Team that reached its peak the moment it was formed.
“Carver Hysterm’s Business Logic” — detailing his business acumen and success after retiring from his Adventuring Team and becoming the head of the Hysterm Family.
“Carver Hysterm and His Women” — an account of a charming noble scion’s love affairs, with explicit descriptions.
“How could I not listen to you? You wouldn’t kill me, would you?”
Considering his age from his past life, Will felt he was not much younger than the man before him.
Yet, he was genuinely afraid of Carver. Ever since he first saw him as a child, he felt a strange, unfathomable aura about him. In the original work, he was merely a “backer father behind a minor villain” who only existed in the world-building, never even appearing by name.
“How could that be? You are my most beloved son—at least, that’s how it appears to everyone, isn’t it?”
Carver leaned down and clinked his wine glass, filled with purplish-red wine, against Will’s glass of juice.
Through the orange juice and wine, Will could glimpse something profound in the depths of Carver’s dark blue eyes, the same color as his own.
This man…
Was impossible to fathom.
“The staff I gave you, and those gold coins, how are they? Are they useful?”
“Hmph, is that all you gave me? Did you not even consider how to make my hand injury heal faster… so I could retake the practical exam sooner?”
Will extended his hand, childishly and stubbornly, to show him the scar left by the burn.
“Oh, you’re right, how could I have forgotten? For this kind of wound, ice demon blood should be effective—the material is not easy to obtain. The dungeon that produces it, not long ago, just entered the exploration phase for its higher floors. Not many people have the skill to clear it from the start.”
So accurate.
S had indeed used ice demon blood. He might… have actually participated in the difficult dungeon exploration Carver spoke of.
But…
How could Carver instantly recognize the nature of his injury and immediately suggest a treatment?
Then again…
Although he appeared as a successful businessman now, Carver himself had led an Adventuring Team and ventured into dungeons.
So, this guy had deliberately let him experience such pain.
“Besides, didn’t I arrange for you to join the elite class? You don’t need to rush to take the practical exam.”
Will felt a surge of anger upon hearing this. He was on the verge of collapse because of this matter, and Carver was telling him not to rush.
It was perfectly in line with his long-held impression of Carver as a father.
“Sometimes, I really wonder if I’m your biological son.”
“Oh, of course, we can test that. Look at our glasses; your nearsightedness is inherited from me. That’s a strong connection, Little Will.”
So that’s where my nearsightedness came from?
Why did genetics have to be so accurate in such a place?
“In any case, you wouldn’t have asked me to come if it wasn’t for something bad, you’re definitely trying to trick me into something.”
Will clinked his glass against Carver’s in a gesture of respect, his tone conveying his reluctance.
He looked up to observe Carver’s expression.
For a long time, in order to extort compensation from Carver for his disobedient son, Will had played the part of a rebellious child who acted out due to his father’s neglect.
He would get angry when Carver seemed not to pay him enough attention, do the opposite of what Carver expected, and have loud arguments before doing as he pleased.
This was because it felt more “natural,” fitting the typical portrayal of a young master from a prominent family in Western Fantasy stories, who, at fourteen, lacked maternal affection and parental attention.
Carver had no objections to this.
Will couldn’t see through Carver’s thoughts, but Carver had never changed his behavior due to Will’s tantrums or rebellion.
Despite Carver outwardly claiming to love Will’s deceased mother the most, he maintained a consistent attitude towards Will.
This person was truly full of hypocrisy.
Although Will disliked him…
From a utilitarian perspective, he didn’t reject interacting with Carver; in fact, he hoped to have more conversations with this father.
Carver gave off a very unsettling vibe.
If he had looked like a traditional greasy merchant or a grizzled old uncle, it would have been fine. But dressed in a flashy white suit like this, he resembled some high-ranking villain…
From the perspective of someone “outside the story”…
Carver seemed like…
A key behind-the-scenes villain who was planned but never appeared in the original work.
“Trick you? How could that be?”
Carver picked at a dessert behind Will and replied with satisfaction.
“Didn’t you just hear it? That Brandon Family brat talked to you for a long time and gave you all the information.”
“You’re not referring to finding me a Half-elf Fiancée, are you?”
“Yes. That’s right, a Half-elf. Elves are rare beings, possessing pure and beautiful bloodlines, yet they live in seclusion. A Half-elf princess should be a desired person by many.”
“Uh… I say, you must have slept with quite a few real elves. What right do you have to brag about the rarity of elves here?”
“Hmm? Is that from those small booklets sold on the street? I don’t recall that myself.”
“This… this is…”
Oh no, did I just reveal that I’ve read many of those street pamphlets detailing his romantic exploits?
Will realized the conversation was heading in the wrong direction and quickly changed the subject—
“However… an alliance with the Royal Family, and finding me a Half-elf wife… that doesn’t fit your usual style at all. Carver, what are you thinking?”
“Hmm, how does it not fit?”
“I thought the Hysterm Family wouldn’t try to appease the Royal Family, considering you look down on that title.”
Although it wasn’t part of his plan or missions.
But…
Having finally seized an opportunity to pry information from this unfathomable father, Will didn’t let it pass.
“Moreover, you don’t like me. Such an opportunity for an alliance with the Royal Family would never fall on me.”
“You can tell me, what is my style?”
“In your style, you would always be at odds with the Royal Family. And even if it came to this… you would choose to side with the stronger party, and the child for the marriage alliance would undoubtedly be my stronger older brothers.”
“Hmm… It seems you still don’t understand the Hysterm Family and me enough…”
Carver’s words were cut short as the previously quiet banquet hall suddenly became noisy.
“She’s here, she’s here.”
“The focus of this banquet.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Princess Treya.”
“I heard she withdrew from public appearances after dedicating herself to sword training.”
“Speaking of which, she hasn’t showcased her swordsmanship in front of everyone yet.”
“Look, she’s here. Still as beautiful as ever.”
Treya entered from the second-floor entrance. She was indeed different from the person Will had seen in the training grounds earlier.
She wore a pure white gauze dress, paired with white stockings and crystal shoes. Her previously unbound hair was now styled into a few braids at the top, tied with light blue ribbons that trailed down.
She descended the rotating spiral staircase step by step, the sound of her crystal shoes on the stairs crisp enough to be heard even amidst the clamor of voices.
With her naturally silver hair and this predominantly white outfit, she appeared like immaculate white light descended from the heavens.
Treya exuded an air of aloofness that felt out of place in the money-scented banquet.
Even standing in a crowd, people might not flock to curry favor with her.
—Eugenie beside her, on the other hand, looked a bit… humble.
Her strikingly red curly hair and pure black dress, along with her mid-calf black stockings, made her appear slightly plumper than Treya. Of course, this might be the sturdiness of someone who had spent years fighting in dungeons.
While Eugenie was generally considered beautiful, compared to Treya, something always felt lacking.
“Since the two of them are here, ‘that person’ should not be far behind,” Carver suddenly said.
“It’s quite lively. Eugenie, walk a little slower. In such a formal occasion, still rushing around like you’re in a dungeon. What kind of appearance is that?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Will saw the most distinguished person in the room, the current Queen Anna, dressed in noble purple. Her crimson hair was exceptionally striking, and her long trailing gown followed behind the two of them as she made her entrance.
Speaking of which, Will had wanted to complain about this in the original work: was the king naturally bald? How could all nine of his children inherit the mother’s hair color, with no trace of the father’s genes?
As the Queen uttered these words, the nobles present, who had some inkling of what was to come, ceased their conversations and focused their attention on her.
She descended step by step, her gaze shifting to Carver.
“The girls’ meticulous makeup took a little time. Mr. Carver, when shall we announce the news to everyone? Should we wait for the banquet’s atmosphere to deepen further?”
Carver raised his wine glass, as if replying to her.
“Since everyone is already here, why not do it now?”
Here it comes, here it comes—
The highly anticipated moment of announcing the engagement!
