The Legendary War God Returns

Chapter four

The next day arrived. 

Victor, the head of the Whitmore family organized a private dinner for business associates and friends to discuss the latest improvements to the family business. 

Every family member was expected to participate, including Lydia and Orion. They might not be held in any important regard; however, as the family tradition, everyone was supposed to attend.

Inside the storeroom, Lydia pulled out a couple of male clothes she had kept from years ago. She had made sure to keep them clean and safe with the hope that one day Orion was going to return.

Though they were outdated and weren’t fitted for such an occasion as per family standards, they were still good-looking and neat.

“I am so sorry that this is all I can get. I couldn't buy you a new set of clothes.” Lydia said with a heavy heart. 

She had seen the flashy clothes the other family wore, and to say these were at the rock bottom wasn’t at all an exaggeration.

“I’ll wear this one.” Orion didn’t think much about it. He picked up a low-grade polyester suit with low-quality fabric; however, the color was still black and hadn’t completely worn out.

“Are you sure about that?” Lydia asked, studying his face closely.

“Yes sure. I don’t need expensive clothes to prove my worth.” He assured her. 

After all, it wasn’t like her family spared her any good clothes, so he wouldn’t want to pressure her. 

It was only a dinner party but nothing more. By the time he was done with the investigation and got the proof he wanted and everything came to light, he was going to reveal his identity to Lydia and give her every expensive thing she wanted in the world.

He would make her forget all her suffering and never have to live in her shadow in her house. 

Moments later, both of them arrived in the hall hand in hand together. 

Lydia was clad in a blue dress, and though it wasn’t the latest model, her beauty was still very evident and outmatched. 

She made even those in expensive attire take multiple glances at them.

Both of them took the spotlight as soon as they walked into the hall that was swarming with guests in luxurious clothing, and adorned in expensive jewelry that glistened under the chandelier.

“Humble guest, that is my unemployed son-in-law, Orion Ashford!” 

Victor appeared among the crowd. He smirked as he spoke while looking in the direction of Orion and Lydia.

As soon as he said this, the crowd, who were admiring Lydia's beauty, suddenly had a change of expression. 

They looked over at him with disgust on their faces.

“He had been leeching off my family for years, and guess what? He is back! Hahahah!” Victor ranted on before taking a sip from his wine glass. Most of the guests could help but start laughing.

“Hey punk, look around. Maybe you can learn something about success by observing my family's achievements!” 

Damien appeared by the door. He whispered to Orion before walking off to meet a waiter to grab a drink. 

While everyone was still talking about Orion and Lydia, a tall, middle-aged man, clad in a tunic suit, had his eyes on him all along. There was a wine glass in his hand from which he took casual sips occasionally.

Curiously, he took the initiative to ask.

“Young man, what are your qualifications?” "The man, Lucas Vance asked curiously.

Orion looked over at him before answering.

“I have experience in military operations and security.” 

Lucas narrowed his eyes at him for a while before laughing it off with a response. 

“Hahaha, I see. I do have a lot of friends in the military too.”

He began bragging about his connections, looking like he wanted Orion to curry favor with him.

However, Orion didn’t mind all that. With his identity, men like him were nothing, so he had no interest in whatever he was bragging about.

“Are you okay?” He ignored the man and asked Lydia, who was standing beside him.

She nodded, though feeling a bit nervous; with him around, she was able to keep it all together. If he wasn’t there, who knows what the other family members might have done to her now?

Moments later, everyone proceeded to the massive dining table in the hall and sat around. 

Scrupulous meals were served here and there by the maids, and expensive wine was presented on the side for everyone to feast.

Everyone ate happily and chatted, including Orion and Lydia. 

After a while, Victor clinked his glass to attract everyone’s attention. After all, he had yet to mention the main reason for organizing the dinner.

Everyone looked over, so he began.

“Esteemed guests, allow me to introduce the new business deal Whitmore Global is about to put out there. In fact, this contract will rescue the company from its current financial difficulties and increase our net worth into billions!” 

He pulled out a document that had a few detailed illustrations on it and gave it to the guest closest to him. 

The amount he mentioned made everyone tune in and become very curious about the project. As the file was being passed around, seeing the details, everyone's eyes glistened, and they began discussing among themselves.

“This is so great. By the time I take over the family business in the future, it will have become a behemoth by then.” 

When Damein looked at the document, his eyes flashed with greed and excitement. 

Shortly after, the document got to Orion. He took hold of it and read through it. His face darkened when he noticed the clause that could cause a huge backlash to the company 

He looked over at Victor and decided to ask. 

“Don’t you think this policy isn’t suitable for the company?” As soon as he said this, everyone looked in his direction, including Victor and Damien.

Most people were so close to giving in and investing in the project, yet Orion's words had just caused a stir. They were about to curse at him when he continued.

“I mean, it gives the investors the right to acquire a significant portion of the family asset if the company misses certain repayment deadlines. I feel this policy needs to be looked into and addressed, or else the company will definitely incur huge losses.” 

Orion said the words out of goodwill.

Victor impatiently wanted to get investors, so of course he had added a policy to butter up investors.

Though this policy was very favorable for the investors, as for the Whitmores, it could cause a huge backlash.

However, that didn’t warrant Orion chirping in and saying what wasn’t meant to be his business.

“Kid shut up! You have no business questioning the contract being negotiated by experienced professionals. If you have nothing else to do, just go back to your room and stay there! I don’t want you interfering with the family business!” 

Veins were almost popping out of Victor's neck as he raged loudly. 

“Damn it! How dare you spit so much nonsense? Are you trying to impress Lydia or what?” Damein joined in. 

He went ahead and snatched the document from Orion's hand and passed it over. Anger is still written all over his face.

“If you want to provide suggestions, why don’t you start by finding a job!” Damien added before sitting back down on his chair. 

“Young man, I think he is right. You should indeed seek employment.” Lucas joined in to advise Orion. “If you want, I can—“

“My husband already has a job. You don’t need to!” Lydia was tired of hearing them mock Orion at every turn. She could endure it when it came to her but not him. 

“It’s okay. Let him finish.” Orion said to Lydia with a smile. She nodded but glared at Lucas. 

The latter was stunned but shook his head. He was only trying to extend an olive branch to Orion, but nothing more, yet she was being hostile towards him.

He shook his head and said. “You can come to me if you need a job. I’ll find you one.” 

Orion nodded. “I’ll think about it.” 

There was something about Lucas he had yet to fully grasp. For some reason Orion felt he might be involved with the investigation, but since he couldn't prove it yet, he couldn’t jump to conclusions yet for now.

The whispers in the hall grew louder. Victor knew he had to address the matter, or else the dinner itself would have been for nothing.

“Esteemed guest, the repayment schedule is unusually aggressive; that’s why the agreement gives investors excessive control over the company assets,” 

Victor said, dismissing what Orion had said. When he saw the crowd calming down a bit, he glared at Orion and growled. 

“As someone who cannot support his wife, I suggest you shouldn’t lecture businessmen!” He warned.

Orion didn’t reply or refute. Even when Lydia wanted to defend him, he told her not to.

However, even with his silence, the family members kept discussing the contract and were convinced that Orion was very ignorant. 

An hour later, the dinner came to an end. Victor was able to attract more investors, which made the dinner a success even though Orion was so close to disrupting it.

While the family members were busy escorting the guest out, Orion pulled out his phone and typed a message to Ethan.

“I want you to identify the investment company behind the Whitmore family's new project.”

Minutes passed, and shortly a text was sent back.

“The company has recently become connected to Adrian Blackwell. He is a wealthy investor but with a questionable history.”

Orion read the message, and his face turned solemn. He was about to type a message when another message popped in.

“Sir, Adrian Blackwell's name also appeared in the classified file concerning your ambush years ago.”

Orion's grip subconsciously tightened on the phone while his eyes turned fiercer