500: Chapter 495 Not a puppet, but the new king

Countless gazes, some curious, some probing, some contemptuous, focused on him like invisible searchlights.

He was not dressed too ostentatiously.

A well-tailored deep blue suit accentuated his slightly slender figure, making him appear tall and straight.

There were no superfluous accessories, only a silk pocket square the same color as his eyes folded in his breast pocket.

He was like a sword sheathed in its scabbard; seemingly harmless, yet exuding a subtle sharpness.

He came alone.

He brought no entourage, not even a female companion.

This made many people who were prepared to watch him make a fool of himself slightly surprised.

Kevin Hossen’s etiquette was impeccable.

He smiled and greeted the hostess, Madame Eleanor, his demeanor composed and his conversation appropriate.

He displayed neither the awkwardness of a country boy entering high society for the first time, nor the arrogance of someone who had gotten rich overnight.

That calmness made many people nod in approval secretly.

Julian of the Vanderlin family stood nearby, holding a wine glass and observing coldly.

"It seems he is not as unbearable as the rumors suggest," he whispered to the person beside him.

Isabella of the Roche family swirled the red liquid in her glass, a playful smile curving her red lips.

Like a female leopard that had spotted its prey, she developed a strong interest in this "New King."

Kevin ignored those searching gazes.

He simply took a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray and quietly walked to a less conspicuous corner.

He knew he was the protagonist tonight.

But he was not prepared to make the first move.

He would wait.

Wait for those impatient hunters to walk right into his trap.

As expected, it wasn't long before...

A slightly drunken young man with an overly loud voice staggered toward him holding a wine glass.

It was Leo Astoria, a collateral member of the Astoria family.

A notorious good-for-nothing who usually acted recklessly by relying on his family name.

"Yo, isn't this the new master of our Hossen Family?"

Leo's voice was loud, successfully attracting the attention of everyone nearby.

Kevin looked up and watched him calmly.

"Hello."

"I heard you ran away before and stayed on a farm in the countryside?"

Leo's face showed undisguised mockery.

"What, was the milk there better than the champagne here in Saint-Lothaire?"

A burst of suppressed laughter sounded around them.

This was naked humiliation.

It mocked his origins and implied he was a bumpkin unfit for polite society.

Kevin's expression did not change.

He even smiled slightly.

"Milk and champagne each have their own merits."

"Milk strengthens the body, whereas champagne... if you drink too much, you start talking nonsense."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

The suppressed laughter abruptly stopped.

Leo's face instantly flushed the color of pig liver.

"Who the hell are you calling nonsensical?"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he instantly bristled, taking a step forward, and the wine glass in his hand tilted "accidentally."

With a crash.

The icy champagne splashed entirely onto the front of Kevin's suit.

The entire hall fell into a dead silence.

Everyone held their breath, watching the scene unfold.

This was a provocation.

The most direct and merciless provocation.

If Kevin became angry, he would lose his composure.

If Kevin tolerated it, he would be seen as weak.

This was a dead end.

A flash of excitement crossed Isabella's eyes.

Julian, however, frowned slightly.

He wanted to see how this New King would break the deadlock.

Leo looked smugly at his "masterpiece," waiting to see Kevin either fly into a rage or look utterly miserable.

However, he was disappointed.

Kevin merely lowered his head and glanced at his soaked suit.

Then, he raised his head, his gaze passing over Leo to look toward the hostess, Madame Eleanor, not far away.

On his face was even a polite, slightly confused smile.

"Madame Astoria."

His voice was still calm, but carried a strange penetrating power.

"Did I do something impolite?"

"Or is the hospitality of the Astoria family to splash wine on guests?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

Madame Eleanor's face instantly turned ugly.

This move was too vicious.

Kevin did not target the idiot Leo, but directly aimed the spearhead at the entire Astoria family.

He elevated a personal conflict to the level of family honor.

Now, the one who was embarrassed was no longer Kevin, but the Astoria family!

"Leo!"

Madame Eleanor shouted sternly, her voice carrying suppressed rage.

Leo was instantly sobered up by half.

Only then did he realize what a huge disaster he had caused.

"I... I didn't mean to, my hand slipped..." he explained in a panic.

Kevin didn't even spare him a glance.

He only looked at Madame Eleanor, waiting for her answer.

Like a nobleman who had been offended, waiting for the master of the house to give him an explanation.

That composure and sense of pressure made everyone present look at him with new respect.

This young man was not some farm boy at all.

He was a hungry wolf who knew how to use the rules to tear at his opponents!

Madame Eleanor took a deep breath, forced an elegant smile back onto her face, and quickly walked over.

"Mr. Kevin, I am truly sorry, my nephew was exceedingly rude."

She glared fiercely at the pale-faced Leo.

"Leo, aren't you going to apologize to Mr. Hossen!"

Leo reluctantly shuffled over, lowered his head, and mumbled an apology, "Sorry."

"Speak up!" Madame Eleanor's voice was icy cold.

"I'm sorry!" Leo nearly roared the words out.

Only then did Kevin turn his gaze toward him.

He reached out and gently patted Leo's shoulder.

"It's alright."

His gesture was light, and his tone was gentle.

"Young man, it's understandable if you've had too much to drink."

"However, if your tolerance for alcohol is low, perhaps you should drink less."

"After all, it won't always be your aunt here to clean up your mess."

Having said that, he released his hand and nodded slightly to Madame Eleanor.

"Madam, I need to freshen up, please excuse me."

He turned and left, leaving behind a tall and solitary figure.

From beginning to end, he showed no sign of distress, nor uttered a single curse.

Yet, he caused the instigator to lose all face and put the organizer in a passive position.

He had completed the sharpest counterattack in the most elegant manner.

In the banquet hall, the music and conversation resumed, but the atmosphere was completely different from before.

Julian put down his wine glass, his eyes becoming unprecedentedly serious.

"This person... is a formidable figure."

Isabella licked her red lips, the light in her eyes growing even more fervent.

"He is much more interesting than I thought."

After tonight, the entire high society of Saint-Lothaire would re-evaluate the heir of the Hossen Family.

He was not a puppet that could be toyed with at will.

But a New King who had already begun to bare his fangs.