295 Past Events (1/2)

Ritch wanted to kick Ross when he heard that. 'What do you mean you made a background check? Couldn't you go to Thousand Sails City yourself to see how influential the Gilded Rose is? To see what the famous figures of Thousand Sails City such as Solomon, Cadgar, or Lys think of your younger cousin? It's not that hard…

'Thousand Sails City is only a few days away from Okland, it would only have taken you a few days to visit Thousand Sails City and check! You would naturally have understood why your cousin isn't interested in what you offered… He is a Master Alchemist that isn't even 22! He is someone who beat an Archmage when he was only a 9th Rank Great Mage! All of Okland's geniuses are far inferior to your distant cousin. What Aube Merlin? What Leon Merlin? What Stan Watson? They are far inferior to him…

'If you had learnt this, would you still be willing to use your alchemy techniques and magic knowledge as a bargaining chip?'

Ritch really wanted to tell Ross the truth...

But he couldn't say anything...

Ritch's friendship with Ross was indeed special. He owed Ross a big favor from the Raging Flame Plane.

That was why he didn't mind telling Ross that he was meeting a special VIP, and even some of the matters concerning that VIP. These things were already known to many inside the Black Horn chamber of commerce, and it wasn't a secret with a higher level of confidentiality.

But the identity of the special VIP...

This definitely couldn't be shared.

No one else knew right now besides that guard leader and himself.

He had to report this matter to the higher-ups immediately and wait for them to decide to what extent this information should be kept secret. Before that, he definitely couldn't leak this, even to Ross.

The problem was that if he didn't say anything, Ross would most likely cause some trouble.

The current Ross didn't know how terrifying his distant cousin was. He thought that the young mage was only an ordinary person from a small, distant town, and he even wanted to offer such meager techniques and knowledge to trade for something.

That was too dangerous.

With Ritch's understanding of Ross Merlin, he could definitely affirm that if Ross' transaction failed, he would definitely move on to threats and using force to snatch that thing. At that time, Ross would be finished. Even if Patriarch Ofran personally appeared, he might not be able to protect him.

'What should I do…'

Ritch saw Ross' confidence as recklessness.

'How about I give him some hints?'

As he thought of this, Ritch coughed. ”Well, Ross, I think that your distant younger cousin isn't that simple. Why else would your patriarch be in such a hurry to get him back?”

”Haha, that should be because of William,” Ross sneered. He had been annoyed by William repeatedly blocking his path. ”After going to Thousand Sails City, William kept sending information to the family, embellishing the Gilded Rose's power. Patriarch Ofran is already convinced that the Gilded Rose is unbelievably wealthy. He thinks that as long as he can control that wealth for the Merlin Family, he will be able to surpass the Watson Family in some respects. It's ridiculous! The struggle between the Merlin Family and the Watson Family has been going on for a millennium, how could it be decided by mere wealth…”

”You…” Ritch had risked unveiling that secret to give him a hint, but Ross was still clueless. So Ritch had no choice but to keep a smile on his face while prodding him with another hint. ”This seems a bit arbitrary. You think your younger cousin would be able to gain so much wealth in Thousand Sails City just by relying on William?”

”Well…” Ross' expression sank as he thought of this. ”My younger cousin is indeed in control of a frightening force. It is very likely that an Archmage is protecting him. You should have learnt about Stan Watson's death already. I suspect that it is the work of an Archmage at Mafa's side. I asked Anna of the Red Dragon Mercenary Group and she said that it was the work of someone very young, probably in his early twenties and holding a staff with an Elemental Amber embedded in it. Help me look for that person if you can. I suspect that this is a shadow following Mafa…”