This bonus chapter is thanks to CHRIS2169XP, Vio_Zero, Kalgarth. I hope you like it and continue to support in the future.
P.S. I forgot to ntion but there would be only three bonus chapters per week.
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Rose can train on her own. Since she just had to feel the lightning, she doesn't need my help. All she needs to do is replenish the mana crystals and the array should last for a few days after which I would have to make it again.
Considering her rank, the mana crystals and sli core expenditure would be great but it is still a cheaper alternative right now. I will have to buy her so superior mana crystals though. It would be better if I could get so from lightning-attributed monsters like her dagger from the Qilin we bought before the test.
As for Laura, I doubt she can endure more than a half-hour training every day. The effectiveness of that half hour is more than enough which is the least I can say for Alicia.
Even after training for five hours, she couldn't show the sa progress as Laura. Still, considering how smooth her process is going, ti isn't that much of a problem.
I decided to give them a break and left for the red-light district. It wasn't very important but I had a prior appointnt with Talisa to collect my paynt.
But if everything went as I planned, then our training session might co to an end for today.
"We-Welco." Talisa nervously greeted . She wasn't alone this ti. The rest of the trio was with her as well. Their expressions were equally nervous. It seems like things really did go according to my plans.
"I assu the buyer wants to et ," I spoke before any of them could say anything. They were astonished at my remark but before they could say anything, they were interrupted by another voice filled with intimidation and authority, "Then you must also know who the buyer is."
It wasn't a question but more like an announcent. But since I already knew who it was, I wasn't perturbed even the slightest. Contrarily, a smirk crept up on my face.
Ignoring the owner of the voice, I turned to Talisa and said, "Since I seem to have caused so trouble for you, you can keep half of my paynt."
The four owners of the Fla Dragon were once again astonished but this ti at my boldness to address them over the president of the central governnt.
"Quite bold of you," Cornelius spoke from the other side of the curtain. I wasn't scared at least a bit and replied, "Well, I have to prioritize my business partners over soone who tried to rip off just recently."
A wave of mana instantly spread around us, maybe around the entire building. It didn't belong to Cornelius though so maybe soone else was offended by my reply.
Too bad. Since I don't have mana, it doesn't affect anyway. It would only suppress lower levels of mana but since I had no mana to suppress, it's pointless.
The sa couldn't be said for my 'partners' though. They were already on the ground. Although they weren't too hurt, they would still feel dizzy and disoriented for so ti.
"I didn't know the Vermillion house didn't even have enough manners to be respectful to their hosts," I comnted, unperturbed at their shenanigans. If they think this would implant fear in and they can intimidate , then I have witnessed normal humans who have more intimidating senses when it cos to business.
"You!!!" A shout ca from the other side of the curtain. If it was soone else, they would have clearly mistaken that shout as anger. But it was nothing but a trick to turn things in their favor.
"I see." I simply replied and turned back to head for the door. Of course, they wouldn't let leave so easily.
A striking beauty in golden armor blocked my path. There was nothing but coldness in her eyes as she spoke, "It would do you well to comply."
What a bold statent. But since none of them are intelligent enough to co up with this sche, they also failed to overlook one important detail.
"Or what? Are you going to force a mber of the imperial family?" I asked, looking deep into Rachel's eyes.
At my rhetorical question, she hesitated. What I said made sense after all. There was nothing they could do against . All they could do was try and intimidate . but if that didn't work, they have nothing at all.
"I thought we had a deal." Since their little trick didn't work, the old man calmly decided to move on to the point.
"We discussed a deal, we didn't make one." I simply replied as I turned and headed for the room where Cornelius Vermillion was sitting.
Since he had no reply to that, he remained silent. I entered the room by pushing the curtain and my eyes fell on the four individuals inside the room.
The old man Cornelius with his skin free of wrinkles. His white hair was the only thing to indicate his old age. Deep black eyes that held wisdom and they were full of life. Anyone could tell those eyes had seen a lot and still hold the capacity to see a lot more.
The infamous beauty, Sophien Vermillion, who standing behind Cornelius on his right side. needed no introduction.
A man, standing behind Cornelius on his left side with trademark black hair and black eyes of the Vermillion family. Michael Vermillion. Son to Cornelius and father to Sophien. An opportunistic insensitive bastard would be the most acute characteristic of this guy.
And then we had another monster of the Vermillion family. The man who was a butler but wasn't a butler at the sa ti. Gallagher Joffrey. The only commoner with a second na because of his abilities. Similarly, white hair to indicate his old age, slicked back to perfection and his black eyes, hide his true emotions.
He was the one who was next to Cornelius when he built the central governnt out of the ashes of a fallen kingdom.
"Still, that doesn't an you can be so unreasonable." The old man Cornelius spoke, seeing that there was no answer to my previous statent.
"Unreasonable?" I asked with my eyebrow raised. Had this old man gone senile? What the hell was he talking about?
"Weren't you talking about manners just now? Isn't it basic etiquette to let soone discuss the terms first? Shouldn't you have waited until we had co to an accord? Yet you went ahead and did this while we were still discussing a deal. What do you call this?" He counted many valid points in one breath.
Yes, it is an unspoken rule in business that if you are doing business with one party, you cannot do it with another party without breaking up with the first party.
If I wanted to sell my things here, I should have properly ended the things with them first. In that case, he is absolutely correct. Correct he is.
[Why did you say it two tis?]
'Because he is.'
"Very well then. I know it is unfortunate but it seems we will have to end our business deals here." I spoke while standing up and buttoning my jacket.
They were all surprised at my swift reaction as if I was waiting for them to say it and I was. "Regarding the duel, I have properly compensated Miss Vermillion."
I continued despite their surprised looks. Even the old man Cornelius was a little surprised.
'Ha! When it cos to business, I'm a rchant by blood. If this brat of hundred and so thinks he can one-up , he is sorely wrong.'
"There is nothing more to discuss." I turned to leave. I raised my hand to push the curtain aside when soone very rudely and strongly, very strongly, grabbed it and a crackle rang throughout the room.
[HP -76]
[Your wrist has been dislocated]
This fu*k.
I was angry of course. Anyone would be. But I was thankful to this assailant as well. He has given a reason after all.
Michael didn't let go of my wrist. I only turned to look at him deep into his eyes. There was nothing but coldness on my face and eyes. My earlier easygoing deanor was completely gone. I was in profit mode now.
"Show the necessary respect." He coldly stated but there was no aning to it. He let go of my wrist and stepped back. None of the others in the room said anything.
Another useless trick. I grabbed my wrist and pulled it in place with a slight crackle. I turned to look at the old man straight into his eyes. The aning was clear, if not us, then no one.
He must know that the empire is a behemoth even compared to the central governnt. But the only reason he can make a threat like that is because he knows I won't take my business to the empire. It is too split right now.
Haa…
How amateur.
I turned to leave. There was nothing more to do here. Their ssage was across. Now it was ti to leave mine.
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"Won't that create complications?" Gallagher asked once the mbers of the Vermillion family were heading back to their manor.
"Why would it? There is nothing he can do about it." Cornelius calmly replied. He was confident that Adrian would have no choice but to return to them. Cornelius had enough power to sever any of his dealings with any other player whether as long as it wasn't from the empire.
But going to the empire would be a foolish mistake. That would only make him be targeted by the empire's nobles and the profit wouldn't be anywhere to be seen.
"We are the only one offering him good enough conditions. But if he thinks he can make it on his own, we will just have to sever that connection." Cornelius spoke before he added so instructions, "I want him monitored. Be sure to report of his every move."
Cornelius was a careful man. It wasn't just sheer strength and luck that made him one of the powerhouses of the entire world. He was equally cunning as well.
When rising in the ranks of the Hawser kingdom as a commoner rchant, Cornelius just didn't have his eyes on the small throne of the small kingdom, he always wanted more. His ambitions made him the most dangerous man among all the kingdoms and even the empire couldn't ignore his notoriety.
Yet, a child born yesterday was trying to best him in terms of his base. He was a rchant by birth. That was how he rose to power. If Adrian thought he could beat him at that, then in the eyes of the house Vermillion, Adrian was the biggest idiot in the world.
"I will make sure of that," Gallagher replied.
"Keep an eye on him in the academy as well," Cornelius spoke but this ti he wasn't addressing Gallagher but Sophien. Sophien didn't like the idea of that but she couldn't refute her grandfather. "Yes, grandfather." So she simply replied.
The rest of the journey was quiet. Cornelius was thinking and no one dared to interrupt his thoughts even by breathing heavily let alone speak.
However, contrary to what everyone expected, Cornelius wasn't thinking of ways to flourish the potion business. There was sothing that was bothering him.
'That look in his eyes.' Cornelius thought back to the mont when Adrian glanced at him briefly while fixing his wrist.
'What is this ominous feeling?' Cornelius couldn't tell what it was. He had covered every scenario yet there was this small feeling in the corner of his mind that the child he thought to be a greenhorn compared to him, wasn't simply who he thought him to be.
'No. it is futile. There is nothing he can do.' Still, Cornelius chose to be rational and logical. Since there was no logical explanation for this feeling regarding the boy, there was no need to worry. He held all the cards, there was nothing the boy could do.
When the carriage arrived, an official was seen running in the Vermillion party's direction. There was nothing but panic on his face. Seeing him like that, Cornelius instantly had the sa feeling as before. Only it was amplified by a thousand tis.
"Sir, there's been an ergency." The official hurriedly spoke between long breaths.
"What is it?" Cornelius asked despite that heavy feeling.
"The potion. The recipe for the potion has been made public." The official replied with panic in his voice.
The rest were heavily shocked while a wave of terrifying mana emitted from Cornelius.
'That darned bastard.' He cursed in his mind but it was already too late.
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