CHAPTER 64: A SCUMBAG’S GUIDE TO FORMAL DINNERS

I don’t like family dinners.

Never have.

Even in my past life, formal meals were always a performance, a carefully choreographed dance where one wrong step meant you’d be found floating in Tokyo Bay the next morning.

This dinner with the Kuzmina-Nakanos was no different, just with less chance of concrete shoes and more chance of awkward questions about why my stepsister kept blushing every time I passed her the potatoes.

Kimiko had outdone herself tonight. The table groaned under a spread that would make most restaurants jealous—roasted chicken with herbs, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables in some kind of lemon butter sauce, and fresh-baked rolls that smelled like heaven.

Say what you want about being stuck in this world, but the food was a definite upgrade from convenience store bento boxes and instant ramen.

"And then," Luka boomed, gesturing with his fork so enthusiastically that a bit of chicken nearly went airborne, "the steel plate just glowed red! That stiff VHC evaluator—I swear his jaw almost hit the floor! Never seen anything like it!"

I nodded modestly, the picture of a humble son basking in his father’s pride. "It wasn’t that impressive. I just did what felt natural."

My leg pressed firmly against Natalia’s under the table. She didn’t pull away. In fact, she shifted slightly closer, the soft fabric of her yoga pants brushing against my jeans.

Kimiko smiled, passing the basket of rolls across the table. "It certainly sounds unique. Thermal Incision, was it? What an interesting name."

"I prefer Divine Kitchen," I said with a smirk. "Sounds more badass."

Natalia snorted quietly beside me, quickly covering it by taking a sip of water. Under the table, I gave her knee a light squeeze. She nearly choked.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Kimiko asked, her eyes flickering between us.

"Fine," Natalia coughed, shooting me a glare that promised retribution. "Just went down the wrong pipe."

Kimiko nodded, but her gaze lingered a moment too long, shifting between Natalia’s flushed face and my own. It was unnerving, especially since technically I’d spent less than two months as her son.

The real Satori had known her for eighteen years, but I was flying blind, improvising every filial interaction based on half-remembered TV shows and the occasional yakuza underboss who’d treated me decently.

"So," Luka continued, oblivious to the silent currents swirling around his dinner table, "I was thinking we should go shopping this weekend. Get you both properly outfitted for the Gala."

"I already bought a suit," I reminded him, stabbing a piece of chicken. "That charcoal gray three-piece from Severin’s."

"Off the rack?" Luka looked horrified. "No, no, no. My son needs a proper tailored suit for his debut. First impressions matter in the Hunter world."

"Dad," Natalia said, "I don’t think we need to—"

She stopped mid-sentence when I slid my foot up the inside of her calf. I felt her tense beside me, then relax as she realized what I was doing. Under the table, her foot found mine, tracing lazy circles around my ankle.

"Need to what, sweetie?" Luka asked, looking up from his plate.

Natalia cleared her throat. "Need to... go overboard. But a tailored suit would look nice on Satori." She glanced at me. "He cleans up surprisingly well."

"Such high praise," I said, keeping my tone light and teasing. Brotherly.

"So tell me more about this Reyna girl," Kimiko said, changing the subject with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "The one who was interested in Satori’s Aspect?"

I could feel Natalia stiffen beside me. I pressed my leg more firmly against hers, a silent reassurance.

"La Sirena," Luka supplied helpfully. "Veronica Cabana’s little sister. The one they call the Viridian Comet. She’s basically Hunter royalty."

"She seemed nice."

"And beautiful," Luka added with a wink. "I saw the way she looked at you, son."

"Dad!" Natalia snapped, then immediately looked embarrassed at her outburst.

Kimiko’s eyebrows rose fractionally. Shit.

"I mean," Natalia backpedaled, "Satori should focus on his training, not girls. The entrance exam is coming up."

"That’s right," I said, smoothly slipping into the role of focused student. "Romance is the last thing on my mind right now."

The doorbell rang, its electronic chime slicing through the tension like a knife. Thank fucking god.

"I’ll get it," Luka said, pushing back from the table.

He returned moments later with a thick, embossed envelope bearing the VHC seal. His expression had gone from jovial to almost reverently serious, like a priest handling a sacred relic.

"Well, look what we have here," he said, holding up the envelope. "It’s official."

He opened it carefully, as if afraid he might damage the contents. Inside wasn’t just paper. It was a formal, holographic invitation that, when activated, projected a miniature, shimmering image of what I assumed was the VHC Gala venue—a grand, neoclassical building with floating spires that defied physics—into the air above our dinner table. Glimmering text detailed the date, time, and dress code.

"Wow," I said. Even the Yamaguchi-gumi hadn’t gone this hard for party invites.

"The Valorian Hunter Commission requests the honor of your presence," Luka read aloud, his voice swelling with pride, "at the Annual Recognition Gala celebrating excellence in the Hunter corps." He looked up, eyes shining. "This is the high-end invitation. Reserved for B-Rank and above."

"It’s beautiful," Kimiko said, reaching out to touch the hologram. Her fingers passed through the light, making it shimmer. "When is it again?"

"Two weeks from Saturday," Luka said.

As the holographic invitation glittered above the remnants of our dinner, my System interface flashed, visible only to me.

[PRIMARY QUEST UPDATED: The Alpha’s Debut]

Objective: At the VHC Gala, publicly establish a new social standing and decisively humiliate an arrogant Scion without revealing your true power.

Reward: 50 SP, new Title [The Social Predator]

Note: An ’arrogant Scion’ will be present. Identify and engage.

Humiliate an arrogant scion? The place will be crawling with them. This was like shooting fish in a barrel. A very expensive, well-dressed barrel.

"I can’t wait," I said, my eyes meeting Natalia’s across the table.

She gave me a small, secret smile, her eyes full of excitement and a hint of wickedness that made my blood heat. I’d created a monster, and she was magnificent.

Luka continued to beam, holding the invitation like it was made of gold, the picture of a proud, oblivious father.

Kimiko smiled warmly at her husband, but her eyes flicked towards me and Natalia, her expression thoughtful and deeply concerned. She was putting the pieces together, slowly but surely. Part of me wondered if I should be worried, but honestly? The challenge excited me.

After all, what’s a scumbag sovereign without a few risks to keep things interesting?

"So," I said, placing my napkin on the table, "who’s ready for dessert?"