Limitless Fortune: I Collect SSS-Rank Skills as Payment-Chapter 52: Malcolm Goldveil

It didn’t take long for Lucien to leave Dawnreach Plaza and arrive at the Goldveil family’s estate in Bellenford Capital.

Just looking at its grandeur and opulence, anyone would know exactly who it belonged to.

Only, Lucien, who was being dragged around like an aimless, floating leaf, wasn’t in the mood to admire the scenery.

"Sir Velmara, can you please not use your magic like this? I can just walk, you know?"

Lucien felt speechless and more than a little embarrassed.

But even as he complained, the owl he wanted to see didn’t appear, nor did the wind magic stop dragging him along.

Instead, the wind suddenly picked up speed, and before he could even yelp in surprise, Lucien was flung straight onto the porch, landing right in front of the luxurious courtyard.

"Ouch... can you please stop being mean?"

Lucien mumbled in annoyance. Fortunately, he used the stone barrier skill on time, saving him the pain of falling.

He didn’t know why Velmara was acting so strangely today. He couldn’t recall him being like this before.

"Come inside and meet me in the backyard."

Just as Lucien was brushing the dust off his clothes and glancing around the massive mansion, an old voice echoed across the porch, startling him.

’Grandfather?’

The voice sounded familiar to Lucien.

Seeing that the door ahead was open, he didn’t think much of it and stepped inside swiftly. He also had a few things he wanted to discuss with his grandfather, the strongest member of their family.

As soon as Lucien entered the door, he felt that he had passed through some kind of barrier.

’Array?’

Lucien raised his eyebrows, as the feeling he got after entering this door was the same as when he entered the awakening chamber.

After awakening the mana stat, he realized he could sense things he hadn’t been aware of before.

"It seems you really managed to awaken your class. Congratulations!"

The backyard of the mansion wasn’t far, and Lucien reached it quickly. Almost immediately, he heard an old voice, tinged with surprise, congratulating him.

When he looked ahead, he saw his grandfather, Malcolm Goldveil, standing beneath a blooming magnolia tree.

His back was straight despite his age, and his presence carried a quiet authority. Silver hair, neatly tied behind his head, framed a stern, weathered face marked with faint scars.

His sharp eyes, still full of power, met Lucien’s with a hint of rare softness. He wore a deep blue robe embroidered with the Goldveil family crest, and even in the calm setting, his aura felt as solid and unshakable as a mountain.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

Lucien gave a respectful bow, reining in his usual frivolous attitude.

Honestly, he was a little nervous inside as this was the first time he was truly meeting Malcolm.

He had to admit, the pressure radiating from someone of Weaver rank was intense, even though Malcolm hadn’t said much.

"Umm... humble, but not arrogant. It seems you have finally changed your ways. Going to the Genesis Rift Dungeon seems to have done you well..."

Malcolm’s sharp eyes scanned Lucien from head to toe, finally showing a hint of satisfaction.

"Okay, that’s it for now. We have a guest to entertain here, after all."

But before Lucien could reply or even try to speak, he saw Malcolm’s piercing gaze suddenly shift away from him, turning toward the side as he slowly called out:

"Prince Dorian, stalking the younger generation? Is that fitting for a royal?"

His voice shifted from amiable to icy as his eyes locked onto a particular spot in the backyard.

When Lucien reflexively turned to look, he managed to see nothing, not even a shadow.

’Prince Dorian? Why is he here?’

But his heart immediately lurched at the revelation of his Grandfather. Although he couldn’t see or sense anyone where he was staring, he knew it wasn’t unusual.

After all, how could he spot a Weaver rank mage that was intentionally hiding?

’But, grandpa said, he was stalking me?’

Did that mean... the moment he stepped out of the Genesis Rift Dungeon, Dorian was already trailing him?

’Damn! Fortunately, Velmara arrived in time.’

Now that he realized it, Lucien felt thankful for Velmara, whom he had complained about earlier.

As the atmosphere in the Goldveil mansion grew colder and colder, the tense silence was finally broken by a hearty laugh.

"Haha... Sir Malcolm is still as perceptive as ever. Don’t mind me. I was merely checking up on your health. I have no ill intentions."

As the voice grew clearer, Lucien finally saw the figure of a tall man dressed in elegant mage robes flickering into view in the once-empty spot.

It was none other than Dorian Edoria, Second Prince of the kingdom.

His dark mage outfit, adorned with intricate runes, and the slender wand in his hand, crackling with swirling, fiery energy, made him appear quite intimidating. Not to mention his elegant robes and the Edoria royal crest on his chest, which he wore proudly.

"Now it seems you are healthy and fine."

Dorian looked at Malcolm with a little surprise. He didn’t care about his accusation of stalking Lucien at all.

"Yeah, the Edoria royal family sure has a unique way of checking on someone’s health."

Malcolm didn’t seem to like his attitude, as his old voice was still cold.

"Haha... okay, I admit that this was a little low of me. But... you just wouldn’t come out, so I had to take help from the younger generation."

Dorian smiled and rubbed his arm as if he’d been caught.

Then, he suddenly turned his head, looking directly into Lucien’s eyes, and asked as if casually:

"You won’t mind this much, right, Sir Lucien?"

Dorian said abruptly with a smile. The curiosity in his eyes toward the boy before him was clear for all to see.

For a brief moment, the air turned still.

The playful edge in Dorian’s voice didn’t match the subtle pressure that came with his gaze, like a silk glove hiding iron beneath.

Lucien, of course, felt it. If it were before, he might have succumbed to the pressure and replied unconsciously. But now he was different.

"I don’t know either, Second Prince Dorian. Let my grandfather decide for me."

Lucien composed himself despite the pressure and replied. He neither faltered nor panicked; he simply let his grandfather handle it.

After all, what was the use of this old gramps?

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l