Chapter 237: Turning Down the Territory Leader
“So you’ve only recently entered the territory?”
“Precisely. I ended up helping the Practor Family by accident and they soon hired for a job. It was after I completed that job that they allowed to enter the tournant,” stated Oli.
Lifting one eyebrow, Rhyner asked, “So you received that as paynt for the job?”
“Correct.”
“It seems you’ve been struggling even more than you reported last ti...” Glancing at Hurman, Rhyner rubbed his forehead. “You know we’ll help you if you just ask.”
“I know.”
“Yet you still don’t ask? Hurman, we’ve talked about this...”
.....
“Master Rhyner–”
“Just Rhyner, like I’ve told you again and again.”
“...” Shrugging and taking a deep breath, Hurman stated, “Please allow to address you according to your title, as is custom for everyone else. I don’t need special treatnt when there’s no reason for such.”
“Well... It wouldn’t be hard to co up with a reason. Right, Lizbeth?”
“Dad...”
“Either way, as things are now, my family and I have no reason to receive special treatnt from the territory,” continued Hurman. “In the end, both Oliver and I feel that our deal was fair. And Oliver also managed to boost our influence with this victory, so it makes sense for both parties involved for Oliver’s entry in the tournant to work as his paynt.”
“Then what was Oliver after? Was he that interested in joining my institute?” chuckled Rhyner. “Had he simply shown up at the city hall or the front gates of the institute and shown his essences, he would’ve been offered entry. And had he shown his soul arts during the initial assessnt, Oliver would have easily been offered the best treatnt the Institute has to offer.”
“But I’m not going to enter the warrior course.”
“WHAT?!” Nixt shouted from the side. “What do you an?!”
“Please explain?” Rhyner added, staring at Oli more curiously.
Nodding to Rhyner and then Nixt, Oli explained, “Like Master Hurman, I seek the chance to create my own cultivation technique.”
“Even though your current techniques are already so powerful?”
Oli continued with another nod to Rhyner,” Yes. If there’s a chance I can create an original technique, then I want to take that chance. Blending my two essences is sothing I’ve always wanted to do, but the safest and most effective way for that to happen is for them to be linked via cultivation technique, not battle arts.”
“True... You’re quite well-learned for a nomad. I’ve never t a traveling youth with such profound opinions on cultivation,” remarked Rhyner. “So Hurman told you that taking the formation and magic courses would be better in the long run, even if the way of the warrior is your greatest strength at the mont?”
“That’s correct.”
Facing Hurman directly, Rhyner questioned, “How co you didn’t just present him to directly?”
“Master Rhyner, the protocol–”
“You know that Lizbeth will set up an audience with if you so much as ask, so why didn’t consider that? Had you gone through a more private route of presenting Oliver, you could’ve received far more benefits from than through a tournant. It would’ve given a great reason to intervene on your behalf with the Libarn Guild, wouldn’t it?”
“So you already know about that?”
“It’s not hard to see when your own granddaughter ca running to Lizbeth. She was more accepting of her than you’ve been in a long while, even telling us of her father’s debts and the two ledgers that he keeps.”
Apart from those directly related to Rhyner, everyone else in the room turned to the territory leader in surprise. Adding to their shock, a familiar hawk suddenly ca into view behind the lone window high above Rhyner’s desk. The bird easily dove through the open window and landed on a perch built into one side of the desk. In its mouth was a small, leather-bound book.
Taking that book, Rhyner quickly thumbed through its contents. After a few seconds, he sighed and shrugged before tossing the book to Hurman’s feet. “That ledger gives more than enough evidence to mount an investigation into Reginol and his many anonymous deals. Go ahead, take a look.”
The humbled patriarch carefully picked up the book and looked over its pages in shock.
“That may not be enough evidence to force the Libarn Family to restructure their guild, but I’ve also managed to gain information on Claud’s darker deals as well. And he’s also got his hands ddling in your family...”
“What?!”
“Either way, had you brought Oliver privately, I would have an excuse to act out on your behalf. I’ll still be mounting an investigation and likely force Libarn to change who they let run their business, but aiding you directly will be a little difficult since this affects a few noble families... I can’t show blatant favoritism without a reason, right Hurman?”
“Right...” Hurman agreed with a broken sigh.
“But what if Oliver adopted your na before I make him my direct pupil?” Rhyner asked with a half-smile. “That would let help out beyond just wiping your debts. Like helping your son get the dical attention he needs.”
“That...”
“I’m sorry, but I have a problem with that plan,” Oli stated, catching most everyone off guard. But both Hurman and Rhyner seed unfazed by the interjection.
“And why’s that?”
“Because I don’t plan to take on the na of any noble family, nor do I wish to beco your direct pupil.”
“You know... This is the first ti any youth has refused to beco my direct pupil...” But Rhyner suddenly chuckled and shook his head. “No, that’s wrong. It’s the second ti soone has refused. And funnily, you both are standing before right now, working together for reasons I don’t know...”
Now understanding a bit more about Hurman’s relationship with Rhyner, Oli sighed and let his brain start overclocking. He scanned and scoured his thoughts for what he could say next.
But Rhyner spoke up again. Sitting down, Rhyner leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and his chin on his knuckles. “Should I be asking you, or the man hiding in your shadow, Hurman?”
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