The Sovereign Veil Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Zenith Interceptor

Read chapter 9 of The Sovereign Veil by GodEmperor on NovelPedia.

"Julian means no harm; that's just his personality. Don't take it to heart," Chloe said apologetically as they walked away from the Arcanist. "I don't mind," Lucian waved a hand, adopting a magnanimous posture. He added, his voice carrying clearly across the room, "After all, a great man doesn't dwell on the faults of a petty one." The atmosphere in the VIP lounge paused slightly. Lucian did it on purpose. Julian might not have intentionally belittled him, but dismissing him entirely as a "liability" in front of the club was a public loss of face. Lucian was many things, but forgiving was not one of them. "Hey, buddy! I'm not falling for your provocation," Julian called out, remaining completely unmoved on his couch. Lucian felt like he had just kicked a wall of cotton. Julian was either a master of apathy, or he genuinely looked down on Aether-Forged so much that he refused to engage. The other members quickly laughed it off, moving past the tension to discuss engine modifications. Lucian unconsciously joined the conversation. He actually liked the relaxed, enthusiastic atmosphere. These people shared a genuine passion for analog engineering and didn't feel the need to constantly flex their wealth or geopolitical status. As evening set in, dozens of members gathered in the clubhouse cafeteria for dinner. They were incredibly welcoming to Lucian, the newcomer, with many coming over to toast his V12 build. Surprisingly, Julian walked over and proactively clinked his glass against Lucian's. "Lucian, I really didn't mean to insult you personally," Julian said smoothly. "I just fundamentally look down on the Aether-Forged discipline." Lucian's eye twitched. What is the difference between insulting me and telling me to my face that my discipline is garbage? He violently wished he could slap the smug Arcanist. "Everyone, let's raise a glass to welcome Lucian to the club!" Chloe announced, standing up at the head of the table. "To Lucian!" the members echoed, standing up and raising their drinks. Lucian looked at Chloe, a bit speechless. When did I agree to join your club? The Tier 7 Supreme Leader of a multiversal shadow syndicate joining a local car meet? Doesn't the Sovereign Veil have any dignity? Chloe simply winked at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Alright, thank you everyone..." Lucian began, preparing to give a brief, polite speech. Before he could finish, a piercing, high-pitched whine shattered the air above the clubhouse. The members frowned, moving toward the massive bay windows. Outside, a sleek, white Zenith Interceptor a high-end military-grade aero-car was aggressively darting back and forth above the compound, its localized anti-gravity thrusters flaring with blue plasma. Whoosh! The downdraft generated by the Interceptor was violent, kicking up a storm of debris and gravel across the parking lot. Several parked retro cars were caught in the blast radius. "What the hell!" Lucian cursed, watching as a piece of flying debris dragged a long, jagged scratch across the hood of his brand-new sapphire coupe. "You absolute bastard! Cut the thrusters!" Several members stormed out of the clubhouse, pointing up at the aero-car and yelling furiously. "Who is that idiot?" Lucian asked. "That's Marcus Vance. The second young master of the Vance corporate dynasty," someone muttered darkly. Buzz! Whoosh! The white Interceptor descended, hovering just a few meters above their heads. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a young man with sharp features and a highly arrogant, roguish smirk. "Chloe! Your club is hosting a dinner party and you didn't invite me? Is the Vance family not good enough for you?" Marcus called out over the hum of his thrusters. Chloe's face hardened. "Marcus! This is a private retro-car club. You are not a member, and I have absolutely no obligation to invite you anywhere." "Retro cars? You mean analog trash eliminated by the modern era," Marcus sneered, leaning out the window. "The real elite fly Zen