Chapter 527: Charity Gala.

In the evening, the assistant came to remind Leo of something and he decided to get dressed, he wore a simple royal blue suit while Snow dressed up in a similar is evening gown. Well, Marian Grisha had been the supplier for clothes to the whole family, no other brands or designers would get a chance. Leo didn’t mind it at all because the style of his clothes was rather tamed and simple. Lily and the twins would be staying home, because first, Lily had homework as her teacher told they would be holding a test, and the twins, well, they had denied going with their parents when asked, because they found parties boring. The reason was simple, Leo and Snow would keep a watch and won’t let them be naughty.

Leo sighed at this and said, "Well, what can we do, they are supposed to be naughty."

Finally, the couple got into a luxurious sedan, and a convoy of five cars moved out of the minister’s mansion. Two cars in the front and two in the back, with Kyle personally driving the couple. The guards assigned to Snow were all high level commandos who served at the front lines, and Snow also trusted them.

Leo didn’t mind any of this, because he had already placed a circle of his own people around her, so he was worry free, these guards would never get to act protective of Snow as Leo’s men would make sure to keep things clean and at bay. After half an hour, they reached a garden and Leo asked, "They are holding this fundraiser in the Royal Gardens?"

Snow shook her head and replied, "The royal garden is on the other side of the city, this is an imitation of the royal garden that was constructed for the people recently, so that they could come in and experience the luxury of the royal garden. Though the cost to build this all was not too much. This land was already a waste parcel."

Leo nodded in understanding, and said, "The ambience of the surrounding area would also get a boost with this garden here. It was a good decision, the real estate will boost."

Snow nodded and replied, "However, to make sure that such a growth doesn’t turn into a bubble and the real estate prices don’t inflate too much. We are planning to have similar gardens in all the cities of the nation."

The young man took a deep breath and replied, "Hmmm, that would be nice, all the people would get a chance to experience things like a royal garden."

Snow nodded, the car came to a stop, they got off, Leo first and then he helped Snow out as they walked hand in hand. The event was covered by the press, but they had been given a proper instruction to not highlight this event as if it was some movie blockbuster or anything. Charity was meant to be done in secret and confidence, not flaunted at the people.

Inside the garden, the security was tight because most of the guests happened to be from the Sigil Families or the celebrities from the movie world and business circles. The people spotted Leo and Snow, some of them came over to exchange greetings and the Cardinals smiled as they conversed. Leo was an introvert but not an antisocial person, also he had come to understand that the next phase of the space missions would need them all to unite together as humans first so he was willing to chat with everyone.

Snow also had her own circle of people and she met with them briefly before they all went to take their seats. The event was beginning and the Host took the stage. It was a young lady who had been rising in the world of cinema very quickly, she belonged to the artists signed by the Starlight Media, a subsidiary of the Cardinal Group, however, Snow and Leo had no recollection of that because this aspect of the finance and investment was minor for them.

The lady smiled and said, "Welcome ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to show support for the people of the eastern hill peaks who have been affected by the devastating earthquake. Before he start the event why not we all say a silent prayer for the souls of those who departed in this mishap and pray that god give the people who survived the strength they need to stand tall in this time to rebuild."

The people held a silent prayer for thirty seconds, and then the host spoke once more, "I am Megan Jubonte, and to start the charity event I would like to donate a small amount to this fund."

A screen behind her lit up and a green bar appeared on it, she continued, "The goal of the event is to raise at least fifty million yuan for the people, but the amount donated by the people would be kept a secret to maintain the old principle, kindness should not be flaunted."

The people applauded it, and then the lady said, "The Crazt family had been in the business of liquor since my Grandpa was my age, and they have produced some of the finest blends of our country and I heard that even his majesty likes to savor one sip or two from their cellars. So, to make sure that none of you hold back from donating. We decided to auction off a bottle of their centurion single malt. This is one of the only five bottles they ever made, and today you can take it home."

An attendant pushed over a trolley with a crystal bottle sitting on top. The bottle was one feet big and the top of it was sealed with a thick layer of wax and oil paper. Leo was unimpressed, he looked around at the people who were eagerly waiting to bid for it, and his mood festered. Snow sensed it and whispered, "Some things cannot be changed. They are not you, how can you expect them to donate things for free? This is their hard earned money."

Leo rolled eyes and just when the lady said, "So, who is going to bid a hundred thousand yuan for this bottle?"

The people started bidding and the price rose to a million within seconds, Leo didn’t care, he sat their watching the people causing the price to rise and when finally it was just two people who were left Leo raised his pedal and said, "Three million yuan."

His voice was calm but it was akin to a bomb and it shocked the people. Snow sighed, she knew that he had enough of it, and when the people pulled back, the host congratulated Leo, and the bar behind her increased thrice in size. Leo said, "May I have that bottle now?"

The people were confused one more time, the organizers gave the nod, who would stop Leo Cardinal. An attendant came over with the crystal bottle, and then presented it to leo with a gloved hand. Leo took the bottle, inspected it, then he looked at the attendant and asked, "Do you have a lighter?"

The attendant was surprised but he did have a lighter and gave it to Leo, who, in front of everyone used the flames from the lighter to melt the hard wax from the top of the bottle, it caused the people to gasp. This was a bottle worth three million, how could he open it so casually. The seal came off and a strong but mellow aroma hit the nose of the people. Leo poured himself and Snow a drink in front of everyone and said to the attendant, "Can you please make a drink for all the people who bid for this bottle? Let them have a taste and if any of it is left, then bring it back to me."

The attendant was shocked, but he quickly got to work, and before the people could applaud, Leo said, "This is the toast to those who died in that earthquake. I hope that when we move ahead with this gathering we consider this as a redemption for the mistakes that we made by flaunting our resources. Because believe me, the people outside don’t care how much money we have, they care how we use it. If we are using this gathering as a mean to project the impression that the welfare of someone else is just equal to one drink for us, then it is wrong. I hope you all don’t take any offence, but we need to stop making it look like we deem the human life less than a glass of whiskey."

Then he clinked the glass with his wife and said, "To being a human."

Snow and he looked around and found that many of the people stood up and raised their glasses as they repeated the phrase one by one, and gulped it down. They sat down and now their expressions were far more calmer and sincere than earlier, because Leo had just schooled them very nicely. It didn’t feel good, and they didn’t want to give him another chance to look down on them, not as a businessman, but as a human.