"Father, Uncle Victor and the others are secretly analyzing Ron’s strength and value."
"That’s quite normal." Cassius communicated with him using Spiritual Power:
"Such an outstanding young man hasn’t emerged in the Central Lands for quite some time, and everyone is curious about him."
As the men engaged in seemingly harmonious but actually probing exchanges, three ladies from the Storm Clan gracefully approached.
Their attire tonight was clearly well-designed, aiming to display the elegance of the Nobles while showcasing youthful charm.
Lianna wore a light blue long dress, with a necklace made from Wind Element crystal adorning her chest.
The crystal flickered with the rhythm of her breath, adding a mysterious allure to her.
"Lecturer Ralph, please enjoy the specialty dishes from our clan."
Her voice was gentle and elegant, but Ron could sense a trace of intentional allure:
"This is an appetizer made from the secretion of deep-sea coral worms, said to enhance Magic Power perception."
When handing Ron the plate, her fingers lightly brushed against his palm.
Ron took the plate, with no change in expression, as if entirely unfazed by the suggestive contact.
"Thank you, Miss Lianna."
He said calmly, then turned his attention to the food on the plate.
The youngest, Lavni, chose a more direct approach.
She pretended to accidentally spill a drop of wine on the table, then bent forward to wipe it with a handkerchief.
This action revealed her curves completely to Ron, yet she didn’t forget to give him a sweet smile.
"Sorry, I’m a bit clumsy."
Her cheeks blushed, presenting a pitiful appearance:
"Father always says I’m lacking the elegance of a lady, and it seems he may be right."
But Ron merely nodded slightly, then continued conversing with other guests.
Sitting in the main seat, Cassius noted all of this.
His expression subtly shifted, with a mix of disappointment and inevitability.
"It seems the rumors are indeed true."
He analyzed in his heart:
"Ron Ralph is definitely the scholar type, nearly immune to beauty and temptation.
Furthermore, it’s said he already has two beautiful Alien Race attendants by his side, and a close relationship with Her Highness Eve of the Crown Clan, making it reasonable for him to overlook our specially trained marriage candidates."
This realization led him to adjust the negotiation strategy for what was to come.
Since beauty is ineffective, the approach would be from a perspective of interests.
"Have you gained significant findings in your Abyss exploration recently?"
Victor proactively initiated an academic topic, with a look of inquiry in his eyes:
"May I know how you maintain Magic structure in such chaotic conditions as the Abyss?"
This was a quite professional question.
Ron pondered for a moment before deciding to share some irrelevant experiences:
"The key is understanding the nature of chaos, rather than attempting to eliminate it."
His tone turned professional:
"Traditional Magic seeks absolute stability, but in the Abyss environment, such pursuit leads to structural collapse.
The better approach is to apply adaptive adjustments during Casting, allowing the Magic to adapt to environmental changes."
"Adaptive modulation of Magic in chaotic environments..."
Victor squinted with contemplation, this concept evidently sparked some inspiration within him:
"That’s certainly an interesting approach. Could you explain the specific implementation in detail?"
"This involves some complex theories."
Ron politely declined further inquiries: "If Senior Victor is truly interested, we can arrange a private time for thorough discussion."
Upon hearing this response, Victor nodded with evident expectation in his eyes.
Gareth also began his probing:
"I heard you have quite an expertise in Alchemy? I’ve been studying a new type of Living Metal lately and encountered some technical bottlenecks..."
He flexed his metal fingers, producing a series of crisp sounds:
"Specifically, how to maintain the activity of the metal structure, while preventing rejection by the biological immune system."
This question sparked some interest in Ron.
The refining of Living Metal was precisely one of the directions he intended to explore further.
"Immune rejection mainly arises due to the energy characteristics on the metal surface being incompatible with the biological system."
He thoughtfully proposed:
"Perhaps a biological membrane could be applied on the metal surface, or the recognition mechanism of the immune system could be directly modified."
"Biological membrane coating..."
Excitement gleamed in Gareth’s eyes:
"This idea is intriguing, though the specific implementation must require considerable difficulty."
"Indeed it does." Ron nodded in acknowledgment:
"It necessitates the integration of knowledge from Alchemy, Biology, and Magic Potion Making, alongside considerations for long-term stability."
The atmosphere at the banquet gradually became more congenial.
Several guests commenced discussions with Ron on various academic topics, while the three ladies continued their ’service’ duties.
After the initial seduction attempts, their behavior became more restrained, no longer engaging in obvious enticing acts.
When the third course was served, Cassius decided to address the core topic of the evening.
"Lecturer Ralph, I wonder if you currently have a fixed residence in the Central Lands?"
His tone became more formal:
"To my knowledge, although the conditions at the Abyssal Observation Station are decent, it’s ultimately not as convenient as having a private base in the Central Lands."
This question drew the attention of everyone at the table.
Owning a private residence in the Central Lands signifies not only convenience but also status and identity.