Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 170 Art Exchange (Second Update!)

Salomon's "ladies' tea party" was actually an art exhibition, which also included a buffet, but it seemed more upscale because the venue was the Four Seasons Hotel Manhattan.

"I don't understand what's so high-class about it." Salomon cracked his neck, trying to loosen his black bow tie; the black tuxedo Athena had chosen for him was making him quite uncomfortable. He looked at the map on his phone and asked, "There's a crematorium and a porn shop next door. Are you sure you didn't book the wrong location?"

"It's the Four Seasons Hotel, not the Four Seasons parking lot. Don't tell me you can't read. Okay, stop playing on your phone, we still need to choose a car later." Athena reached out and touched Salomon's clothes, trying to make the sorcerer look his best. To this end, she kept adjusting the sorcerer's hairstyle and clothing. This exchange was organized by Athena's group of artist friends, and in order to let Salomon attend this art exhibition and exchange, she even asked for leave for him—Eton quickly agreed, because this was attending high art, not going to see some ball game.

Athena wore a black, fitted, off-the-shoulder evening gown. One side of the long skirt slit to her waist, while the other trailed just to the ground, revealing her long, shapely legs and black patent leather heels with red soles. She accessorized with diamond earrings and a platinum armband, her hair neatly styled in a bun, looking incredibly elegant. After posing for herself, the Greek goddess, with a satisfied expression, took Salomon's arm, who was now almost as tall as her.

"Perfect," she said with a smile. "They'll be so envious. My child, you are just too perfect. You look like a perfect gentleman."

“Very well, my dear single mother Minerva,” Salomon said, raising an eyebrow in a pretentious manner. “Let’s dominate the social scene. You know, I hate this kind of thing, and I don’t have the patience to deal with any idiot I encounter through social means. I have plenty of prank spells that can easily cause someone’s social death.”

"My dear child, that's a high-class social occasion. There won't be any fools there." Athena laughed heartily, pinching the sorcerer's cheek. "You're not as cute as you were when you were little. I still prefer how chubby you were back then."

"This is growth, Minerva. The past is just nourishment for today's growth." Salomon sighed. "I've been passively losing weight since puberty, and I'm quite satisfied with the results so far."

"You're looking more and more like an adult. I mean outwardly, not inwardly. You've always been very mature," Athena said, leaning on Salomon's shoulder. "I wore lipstick today. You should be glad you're not at the age where you can leave lipstick marks on your face."

"Coo coo!"

"Shut up, you stupid owl!"

To outshine everyone at the social scene from the moment she arrived, Athena specifically chose a red Ferrari. Just as Athena herself said, her group of artist friends immediately surrounded her as soon as she got out of the car. Even after Salomon handed the car keys to the doorman, her friends continued to chatter incessantly around her, as if she were the hostess of the art exhibition—but this meant nothing to Athena. She had been a socialite in New York for years, and the Kardashians were just plugged-in outlets.

"I'd like to introduce you to someone," Athena interrupted their question with a boastful tone. "This is my son, Salomon. He's currently studying at Eton College and has received a King's Scholarship."

Unlike the affected mannerisms of the British middle class that ordinary Americans look down on, the refined elegance of British culture is precisely what Manhattan's ladies admire. Whether it's the way they drink tea or the white cotton handkerchief they use when coughing, this air of sophistication is what they want to learn and emulate.

Salomon said they were just too bored.

Unfortunately, Eton College's strict rules made Salomon perfect in this regard, because if he sipped his tea loudly, the teachers would certainly disapprove. Therefore, when the sorcerer spoke with that perfect London accent, the ladies welcomed him even more warmly. "Let Lorna come next time," Salomon said, finally managing to shake off the women and follow Athena into the exhibition hall. The handkerchief embroidered with his initials was long gone, and he wondered which parliamentary wife or businesswoman's wife it was now in. "I really dislike these kinds of occasions."

“Little Lorna isn’t suited for this kind of occasion,” Athena said to Salomon, nodding and smiling at the passersby. “I’m worried she might accidentally pull off those women’s necklaces. And here’s a little secret: I’ve actually attended a few exhibitions with the Sorcerer Supreme. Come on, you should meet some real artists.”

Before Salomon could ask why the Sorcerer Supreme was attending an art exhibition, Athena pulled him deeper into the gallery, finally stopping in front of a painting. Salomon couldn't offer any comment on the painting, not only because he knew nothing about modern abstract art, but also because he couldn't see what a pile of pale and bright white could express; he preferred Baroque paintings.

Athena stepped forward and embraced a dark-haired woman standing before the painting. "I should introduce you," Athena said. "Vanessa, this is my son Salomon. Salomon, this is Vanessa, she is the artist of this extraordinary painting."

"Hello, ma'am." The sorcerer's manners were impeccable.

"Oh, Minerva, I had no idea you had a son." Vanessa looked at Salomon with suspicion. "And he's already so big."

"There's a lot you don't know," Athena replied with a smile, completely unconcerned that Vanessa mistook her for a rich woman keeping a gigolo. Athena turned to the sorcerer and said, "Vanessa just arrived in New York. She's here to find a discerning benefactor."

“I have some Italian blood,” Vanessa said, extending her hand to Salomon. “If you don’t mind, I can tell you about Italy.”

"Believe me, I've listened to 'La Dame aux Camélias' at least ten times." Salomon grasped Vanessa's hand, then secretly gave Athena a look. He couldn't understand why Athena would introduce this woman to him.

“Vanessa was away from New York for a period of time,” Athena said. “We were good friends then. You can’t imagine how much her talent was wasted in Italy, where people just couldn’t appreciate the beauty of her paintings.”

"You're exaggerating, Minerva," Vanessa said with a smile. "I still really like Italy."

"Do you like making potato balls?" Athena pulled Salomon to the painting. "Vanessa returned to Italy to bring these paintings back. Just admit it, those Italians always want you in the kitchen."

"Actually, I quite like fried potato balls and Jack's potatoes," Salomon said rather unconvincingly. "And for that perfect figure you mentioned, I try my best to keep my stomach in. I'm hungry, Minerva, let's skip to the buffet. I think those little sandwiches are delicious."

Athena smiled somewhat awkwardly, then twisted Salomon's waist with one hand. It has to be said that this move seems to be ingrained in women's DNA. Regardless of nationality, race, or age, any woman is adept at it, and Athena was no exception.

“I don’t mind,” Vanessa said. “Apart from the artists, there aren’t many people here who understand art. They just want to wave their money around and buy a painting to decorate their living room. Come on, Minerva, let’s not just stand here like idiots.”

Please vote for me~~~~

I'm such a fucking genius! Yesterday, while I was typing, I felt sleepy, so I opened a bottle of Monster Energy. But then I was worried that drinking Monster Energy would keep me awake, so I poured honey whiskey into the mango-flavored Monster Energy and drank it... I'm such a fucking genius, that's why I lost consciousness in front of the keyboard.

(End of this chapter)