The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Morine wasn’t one to delve deeply into matters of fate.
In the ‘Apocalyptic Book’, he found a treasure trove of miscellaneous knowledge, but the one thing missing was an explanation
of fate. He used to liken fate to the caste system in India, where high fate equated to high caste. Just like a high-caste person,
someone with high fate had a prestigious social standing but wasn’t inherently powerful.
However, Maria’s words suggested that fate was much more intricate than that. The idea that the Divine Dragon wasn’t born but
could be achieved puzzled him even further. How could something of such high destiny not have a natural origin and yet be
attainable in the future?
Morine felt completely adrift, unable to find any clues to make sense of it all.
At that moment, Maria flashed a reassuring smile and said, “Young Master, don’t fret too much. I’m still studying the Book of
Changes. Perhaps with another breakthrough, I’ll unlock the secrets of the Divine Dragon’s fate.”
Morine felt a glimmer of relief. He realized that understanding something as complex as this couldn’t be rushed, so he decided to
set aside the question of the Divine Dragon for now. Turning to Maria, he said, “Miss Clark, I have no further inquiries. As
promised, I’ll give those three gentlemen a chance. Would you mind calling them over?”
In no time, Larry Cole from abroad, Keagan Myers from Eastcliff and Marius Cross, who had been Maria’s loyal companion all
his life, made their way up the stone steps and arrived at Maria’s courtyard.
Breathless, the trio stood at the door and Marius spoke, “Miss, we’re all here.”
With a clear voice, Maria responded, “Come in.”
Eagerly, the three men entered the courtyard and saw Morine seated across from Maria, busy making tea by the stove.
Approaching respectfully, they said, “Miss, Mr. Wade...”
Before they could finish, Maria nodded and smiled, “Mr. Wade has graciously granted you a chance and today, he is here to fulfill
that promise. Hurry and express your gratitude!”
The three of them exchanged excited glances and immediately knelt to the ground.
In unison, they said, “We thank Mr. Wade for his kindness!”
Morine had to interject, “Please, the three of you, get up quickly.”

Maria adopted a stern, parent-like tone, “You must not rise until you’ve received a blessing!”
Remaining motionless, the three of them knelt as directed. It was the first time Morine witnessed Maria’s commanding presence.
This delicate and well-behaved young woman now issued orders to these three elderly men on their knees before her,
completely subverting his perception.
Not wanting to prolong the moment, Morine decided to administer the elixir and urge them to stand up. He took out three pills
and said, “These are Rejuvenation Pills. They can cure all ailments, extend life by 20 years and grant you more time with Miss
Clark in the future.”
Morine’s final words caused a sudden pang in Maria’s heart. She knew the immense value of the Rejuvenation Pills at this level.
Her three adopted sons weren’t exactly fond of Frank, let alone kind to him, yet he willingly offered them such precious pills. This
exceeded Maria’s expectations.
As Morine finished speaking, Maria realized that his generosity was likely motivated by her, ensuring she wouldn’t be lonely in
the years to come.
The three elderly men were equally surprised and pleased. Not only were they about to gain 20 extra years of life, but they also
saw how much Morine cared for Maria.
In their eyes, there was no better match in the world for Maria than Leonardo. They couldn’t help but envision Maria wearing a
wedding dress, ready to marry him.
Grateful and slightly reproachful, Maria exclaimed, “What are you all waiting for? Why aren’t you thanking Mr. Wade for his
blessing?”
Instantly snapped back to reality, the three men loudly replied, “Thank you, Mr. Wade, for your blessing!”