Arthur repeatedly reminded Taylor to take good care of Ashley. Taylor, ever the reliable one, immediately agreed. He grinned, calling Ashley m'lady so casually that it made her blush. People in love always found it hard to part. After lingering together for a little while longer, Ashley checked the time. “I have to go, or I’ll be late.” Arthur pressed a kiss to her smooth, delicate cheek. “See you tonight.” “Okay.” After Ashley left, Arthur took his time getting ready. He changed into his formal suit, adjusted his tie, and checked the time before stepping out of his dorm. After what had happened yesterday, nearly the entire Governance University now knew who Ashley was. Even those who hadn’t been at the cafeteria had heard about it through word of mouth. Within a single night, the news had spread across the whole school. Ashley was Arthur’s fiancée. With that status, no one at Governance University would dare to mess with her. And with Taylor by her side, Arthur wasn’t too worried. The event Arthur was attending today was an exclusive high-society banquet in Evergrand City. Only the most powerful and influential figures in Evergrand City received invitations. Attending this banquet meant gaining access to the elite social circles of Evergrand City—an opportunity that was rare and invaluable. It was an outdoor event, held during the day. Arthur had deliberately chosen to go alone, not wanting Ashley to get dragged into the chaos surrounding him and Solivair. After all, Solivair would be attending as well. Arthur and Solivair were destined to clash at this banquet. Inside the car, Hugo handed Arthur a booklet. “This contains profiles of Evergrand City’s most influential people. Study it carefully and decide who you want to connect with at the banquet.”Arthur took the booklet and nodded. “Got it.” The information inside was incredibly valuable. Flipping through the pages, he found detailed descriptions of Evergrand City’s elites, including their business empires and wealth rankings. Each profile even included a photograph. Arthur didn’t dare slack off. He carefully memorized each entry on the way to the banquet. The name Solivair Tremo appeared prominently near the top of the list. Soon, the car arrived at Evergrand City’s largest outdoor estate. The banquet was about to begin. Without delay, Hugo and Arthur stepped out of the car and made their way inside. Many guests had already arrived. The moment Hugo appeared, a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. People who had been engaged in casual conversations turned their attention toward him, immediately stepping forward with eager smiles. “Mr. Hugo, it’s been far too long.” “A pleasure, Mr. Hugo! We’ve been waiting for you.” Hugo responded to them with his usual warm and kind demeanor, greeting each one in turn. Taking the opportunity, he began introducing Arthur to the various guests. Arthur, as the chairman of Cloudia Corporation, was no stranger to social events. He carried himself with confidence—poised but not arrogant, respectful yet composed. His demeanor instantly left a good impression on the guests. More importantly, he had come as Mr. Hugo’s student. If Hugo had personally brought him here, it meant Arthur held a significant place in his eyes. That alone earned him immediate respect. Many of the guests had heard of Cloudia Corporation before.Recognizing Arthur’s potential, they didn’t hesitate to offer him words of praise. “Mr. Gray, you’re truly a rising star. To develop Cloudia Corporation into what it is today in just two years is no small feat.” “Such talent at a young age—your future is limitless.” “Being chosen as Mr. Hugo’s student is an honor most could only dream of. Mr. Hugo’s sharp eye for talent never fails! Hahaha!” Arthur listened, but what truly struck him wasn’t the compliments. For the first time, he got a real sense of just how powerful Hugo was in Evergrand City. This banquet was filled with political figures and top businessmen, people who shaped the city’s power structure. And yet, simply because Arthur was introduced by Hugo, they all treated him with deference. That alone spoke volumes about Hugo’s influence. As Arthur continued greeting guests, his eyes suddenly landed on a familiar figure. A smile appeared on his face as he stepped forward. “Mr. Lovaris, long time no see.” Ryder turned to face him, a hint of amusement in his gaze. He gave Arthur a nod. “It has been a while.” Ryder had always had a favorable impression of Arthur.