??Chapter 1430 Sincerity as a Weapon
Nico bared his teeth in a grin, speared a chunk of fatty pork, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing with exaggerated delight.
"That settles it, then. I'll see you out."
Kadir stood and helped Tristan down the stairs.
At the entrance, they t Adelina, the young maid who had been waiting faithfully, along with a knightly retainer from the Greymount household. After handing Tristan over to their care, Kadir climbed back up to the second floor of the Silent Goblet.
He pushed the door open. Nico, who had been slurring and bleary-eyed just monts ago, was now sitting upright, pouring wine with steady, elegant hands.
Two glasses sat before him.
"Co. A toast to my good friend," Nico said, his voice crisp. "After years of hiding your light in the Colosseum, your day has finally co."
"Praise the great Giant King. May his glory shine upon us brothers."
Nico raised his glass. Kadir joined him. As two of the earliest humans to join the Stoneheart Horde, they shared a history and a joy that required few words.
"Praise the Giant King."
Kadir offered the toast with genuine reverence before taking his seat. He popped a small, dried mana-seed into his mouth.
"Well?"
Only after swallowing the seed-and its sobering properties-did Kadir speak, his voice low and serious.
He had brought Nico along for two reasons: to establish a business link between the Colosseum and the new guild, and to let the fat man's predatory eyes assess Tristan Greymount.
"Passionate. Sincere. Ambitious. He has vision, and his temperant is solid."
These were the highlights Nico had cataloged. His judgnt was harsh and exacting; he rarely gave such high praise to anyone.
"You know that's not what I'm asking," Kadir said flatly.
Nico chuckled. He knew his oldest friend wouldn't be satisfied with
surface-level observations.
He clamped another piece of fat between his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth, savoring the grease with a slow, deliberate chew.
"He's too young."
It took a long ti for Nico to swallow and deliver that verdict.
Kadir didn't respond. He waited.
"According to our intel, Tristan went missing for ten years. He only started his rise after he returned ho," Nico mused, his eyes narrowing into slits that glead with cunning. "I don't know what he went through in that lost decade, but it's undoubtedly the reason he secured the position of Guild Master for the Cross-Realm Trade Guild.""
"The Greymount family is second-rate. They have no deep foundations to offer the Horde. The only thing of value," Nico tapped the table, "is our new friend, Tristan."
"My friend, it's obvious. Everything hinges on those words: 'Cross-Realm
Reviews
All reviews (0)