158 Who Called Me? (1/2)

”Oh…”

Hoen glanced at Monchi and then nodded, as he indeed knew Solan Monchi. Although the Cloud Tower was the Black Tower's mortal enemy, in the struggles between those forces, there were rarely any major conflicts breaking out because of their large influence. They wouldn't make a move unless one side was at least 80% certain that they could eliminate the other side. Their fights were mostly about who was leading in various fields as well as small-scale conflicts and clashes. A true life or death battle might not even occur once in a year.

Sometimes, the mages of both forces might even cooperate, and their understanding of each other wasn't inferior to their understanding of their own side.

Hoen and Solan were both 9th Rank High Mages and had come into contact on many occasions. And because of one of the times they cooperated, Hoen even owed Solan a small favor.

”High Mage Hoen, it's an honor to see you…” A smile blossomed on Monchi's face. He had heard Hoen's name by accident and had now talked purely based on his instincts as a businessman. It had been a gamble.

In any case, he wouldn't have lost much if he lost the gamble, but if he won the gamble...

And he won the gamble!

Although Monchi wasn't gifted in the field of mana, he was pretty skilled at reading other people. And seeing Hoen's expression now, he could confirm that this person indeed had some degree of friendship with his younger brother.

And sure enough, the originally tense 9th Rank High Mage slightly eased up after hearing of Monchi's identity, and he even greeted him in an amiable way. ”Is Solan doing well?”

”Not bad, not bad, last time he returned to Thousand Sails City, he kept talking about you, talking about how your accomplishment in the field of magic was greater than his…” Monchi lied through his teeth. Everyone in Okland knew that Solan would definitely reach the Archmage realm once he returned from the Dark Azure Plane while Hoen had just advanced to 9th Rank High Mage this year and was on a completely different level compared to Solan.

But who would hate flattery?

Especially when the one who was flattering him was Solan's older brother...

Hoen would spend all his time on magic so he rarely had the chance to come in contact with people. How could he resist such sugar-coated words? A hard-to-discern smile appeared on that square shaped face.

But no matter how faint that smile was, it couldn't escape the eyes of an old fox like Monchi. Monchi knew that the opportunity had come and immediately showed an embarrassed expression as he gently asked Hoen, ”High Mage Hoen, can we speak?”

”Ah?” Hoen gave Monchi a suspicious look, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded and walked over to Monchi's side. ”Speak, what is it?”

”It's like this, High Mage Hoen, this Mafa Merlin had some business issues with me. He owes me three magic materials and has yet to hand them over…”

”Eh?” Hoen suddenly frowned. Mages cared about honoring their obligations even more than merchants did. Hearing that Mafa Merlin had such vile conduct, his originally poor impression of him had dropped even lower.

”I'm also to be blamed for being too trusting. I thought that the great Gilded Rose wouldn't short me of my three magic materials, I didn't expect it…” Monchi shook his head as he explained as if he had truly been cheated of these magic materials.

”Your point is that you want me to help you get them back?”

”No no no…” Monchi was suddenly startled. How could he have them returned now? The Vaughn Treasury was still lying unexplored in the Four Seasons Canyon. Even if Hoen was willing to help out, Mafa Merlin didn't have them in his hands right now, and thus, Monchi promptly shook his head and said with a helpless expression, ”High Mage Hoen, I wanted to see if you could help get Mafa Merlin to sign a contract.” Monchi sighed dramatically and continued, ”I had been too trusting and only made an oral agreement so I don't even have a contract sheet left…”

After saying this, he shook his head and sighed once again. Sympathy could be seen on Hoen's face as he straightforwardly agreed, ”Rest assured, I'll definitely make him sign a contract.”

”Thank you, High Mage Hoen…” Monchi thanked him profusely while showing a perfectly contented smile. 'Let me see how you get out of this Mafa Merlin, this is a High Mage on the same level as Solan. Even if that old man Solomon came, he wouldn't be able to do anything.'

After agreeing to Monchi's request, Hoen walked back to Lin Yun. He didn't make any moves, but the fierce mana fluctuations emitted even made Cadgar and Sauss feel breathless.

”Mafa Merlin, it isn't easy to reach your rank at such a young age... It could be considered quite an accomplishment. I won't make it too hard on you, I'll give you one chance. As long as you agree, I can make it as if nothing happened, otherwise…”

”What chance?”

”First, you undo Leon's Mana Shackles, and then you have to sign a contract for Leader Monchi's three magic materials…” He then paused. ”But as a punishment, I'll also put Mana Shackles on you. Three years later, you can come look for me at the Cloud Tower.”

”Ah?” Lin Yun was stunned. Lin Yun could understand the matter about removing Leon Mana Shackles, and he could even understand why he wanted to add a punishment, but what was that matter about three magic materials and Monchi?