C99 Excellent Person!

Westley noticed Charlotte's troubled expression and followed her gaze.

Two figures approached from the entrance.

On the left was a short, stout man with a beaming smile plastered across his face, reminiscent of the jovial Maitreya Buddha.

To the right stood a man in a traditional long robe and cloth shoes, his short hair peppered with gray. His features were refined and scholarly, exuding a quiet dignity.

He carried himself with a seriousness and an air of erudition that would have marked him as a scholar in ancient times.

Westley scrutinized them closely.

He noted the man's right hand bore six fingers, each unusually long, with joints that bulged like pearls.

"The chubby fellow on the left is Suhail, also known as the Smiling Tiger, one of the three tigers of Lindzac alongside Derrick. Don't be fooled by his amiable facade; he's incredibly sly and far more treacherous than Cadell, the Crouching Tiger who just entered," Charlotte whispered urgently.

"The man on the right is Rochester, known as Mr. Six Fingers. He once dominated the underworld of northern Lindzac. Later, captivated by martial arts, he chose to retire at the height of his powers."

"It's said that he reached the Half-step Grandmaster level a decade ago, and his strength has only grown more formidable since. It's a mystery why he's shown up here now."

Charlotte's voice was tinged with anxiety, and she couldn't help feeling on edge.

She had a hunch that Westley was quite powerful, possibly a Half-step Grandmaster himself, capable of handling the situation. But her belief was based on speculation.

Rochester was a recognized Half-step Grandmaster, one of the top three masters in Lindzac City. His influence in these circles was substantial.

If he were to speak out of turn, it could make the situation nearly unmanageable.

"I'm not concerned with whether his intentions are honorable," Westley said dismissively.

Charlotte opened her mouth to respond but then thought better of it.

Their intentions were clearly not benign.

With Rochester, an outsider, now involved, the night was shaping up to be anything but tranquil.

As they wrapped up their brief exchange, the pair had already approached.

Charlotte stepped forward, her voice warm with feigned enthusiasm. "Mr. Rochester, what brings you here?"

"I've lived in seclusion for many years, steering clear of the Jianghu affairs. My presence today is merely to partake in the festivities. I trust you won't hold it against me," Rochester said, his hands clasped behind his back, his tone detached.

His gaze was piercing, briefly sweeping over Westley with an imposing air.

Yet, the glance was fleeting, and he seemed unimpressed by Westley's unremarkable appearance.

Internally, Charlotte seethed at his audacity, but her outward response was gracious. "Mr. Rochester, your attendance as an esteemed elder graces our banquet with distinction. I wouldn't dream of taking offense."

"Indeed," Rochester responded, his words sparing as if each syllable was an expenditure of his time.

Westley could only shake his head in resignation; such individuals were typically men of few words.

"Boss Powell, all well with you?" Suhail greeted her with a hearty laugh, his demeanor friendly.

Charlotte offered no warmth in return to this 'smiling tiger.' "Surviving, barely," she replied icily.

"Boss Powell, that's hardly fair. With a business empire like yours, you're bound to enjoy a long life," Suhail said with a guileless grin, his smooth-talking nature evident.

Yet, Charlotte knew better; such men were far trickier to handle than the likes of the impulsive Cadell. They were often far more cunning.

"A long life isn't on my wishlist, but outlasting you should be no trouble at all," Charlotte shot back with a biting edge.

Suhail's smile only broadened. "Absolutely! When I pass away, Boss Powell, you must attend my funeral. Let's agree on that."

"Agreed. Not only will I ensure the finest coffin in Lindzac for you, but I'll also arrange for a high monk to conduct a seven-day prayer service to purify your tainted spirit," Charlotte retorted with a cold huff.

"Great idea!" Suhail exclaimed with a smile, clapping his hands as if he was truly delighted.

Yet, Westley could clearly detect the icy murderous intent lurking in the depths of Suhail's gaze.

Charlotte ignored the man, instead reaching out to Rochester and inviting, "Mr. Rochester, please come inside and have a seat."

"Alright."

Rochester gave another subdued response and proceeded to the inner hall without a sideways glance.

Charlotte waited until Rochester had entered before letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

Being in the presence of Mr. Six Fingers made her skin crawl.

His overwhelming aura was suffocating.

When she stole a glance at Westley's reaction, her brow furrowed in disapproval.

His gaze had wandered back to the young women's thighs.

"What a creep!"

Charlotte scolded him silently, though a part of her eased up.

Maybe this carefree fool could indeed work a miracle and change the tide.

She couldn't pinpoint the origin of her trust, but she found herself genuinely hoping for it.

Westley stood by Charlotte as they greeted the arrivals, and he soon noticed something odd.

The guests were mostly influential heavyweights.

Their behavior towards Charlotte was peculiar.

Some shunned her, others wore suggestive looks, and a few harbored sneaky intentions. The crowd was a mixed bag, to say the least.

None, however, showed Charlotte the respect she deserved.

As a woman in this arena, earning their esteem was an uphill battle.

These were men who revered the law of the jungle; strength commanded respect above all else.

About an hour later, Charlotte spoke softly, "We should head in. The meeting is about to start."

"Hold on, weren't they saying that some bigwig named Young Mr. Valdez is supposed to show up?" Westley asked, puzzled.

"Young Mr. Valdez?" Charlotte echoed, equally confused.

"Yeah, I overheard Rollen and that chubby guy talking about him being the night's main focus," Westley explained.

"Could it be Iverson?" Charlotte gasped in realization.

"Who's that?" Westley inquired.

After a brief pause, Charlotte elaborated, "Iverson is young, but he's a prodigy. He's the second son of the current head of the Valdez family. His intelligence is unmatched."

"How formidable is the Valdez family, really?" Westley inquired further.

"Their strength is formidable indeed. They're arguably the most powerful family in all of Northern Jiangsu. With Iverson now in their ranks, I fear the Valdez family's power will climb to an even higher level," Charlotte sighed.

"And how do they stack up against the Freeman family?"

"The Freeman family doesn't hold a candle to them," Charlotte said, shaking her head.

Such high praise.

Westley mulled this over for a moment.

Charlotte, though clearly driven by her own agenda, was not one to make unfounded claims.

But was Iverson truly that exceptional?

Then why would he go after Olivia?

The Rogers family, after all, was merely a third-tier dynasty.

A sense of foreboding suddenly washed over Westley.