Hearing that his teacher asked him to find out where Lin Li lived, Gerosso knew that he would definitely get his revenge. He couldn’t help but smile smugly, and he even forgot the pain he felt after being physically confined for a day for a moment. He didn’t think as much as Leddings, but he knew that his teacher was rather authoritative in the Supreme Council and had high power. Hence, he immediately responded and proceeded to investigate, ignoring the soreness of his achy muscles.
Watching his student leave, the corners of Leddings’ lips were slightly raised, and there was a look of pride on his face. Actually, getting revenge was not the most important. The most important thing was the big fat piece of meat that was the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic.
At first, no one thought that someone would be able to gain a stable footing in the Breezy Plains; hence, they ignored the production value of the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic. By the time they noticed, it was almost impossible to intervene again, unless they could find a reason to get rid of that young President.
It was a good opportunity for Leddings now. If the other party knew any better, he would offer some profits that would satisfy him. However, if he wasn’t sensible enough, Leddings would collude with other councilors and high-ranking councilors to divide the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic.
After chatting with Macklin and the rest for a while, Lin Li arrived at the residence that the Supreme Council had arranged for him under the lead of an Archmage. After all, he was a member of the Supreme Council, and although it was only a temporary resting place, the environment was rather pleasant.
However, Lin Li didn’t care much about the environment. After the Archmage left, he returned to his room and took out the Book of Eternity.
Although he had just attended a meeting that could be considered one that decided the fate of Anril, Lin Li didn’t think too much of it. To him, increasing his strength quickly was much more important. After he did that, he would go seal the spacetime rift Geresco had mentioned. War was nothing compared to that.
Lin Li read the Book of Eternity with no distractions, but at some point, he vaguely heard someone yelling outside his room. He put the book down to listen carefully, only to realize that the person was calling him.
“Felic, come out!”
Gerosso stood outside the room with a smug expression, entirely forgetting how much he had regretted messing with the wrong person when he had been restrained. Of course, it was not that he didn’t learn his lesson at all. At least now he knew that he ought to stand far away from Lin Li’s room.
The door opened silently.
However, Gerosso immediately got goosebumps. When he saw Lin Li appearing at the door, he broke out in a cold sweat, but at the thought of his teacher standing up for him soon, he immediately mustered up the courage and snapped, “Don’t be too cocky, I’m telling you, my teacher will soon come looking for you. You’re in big trouble, and there will be a time when you cry!”
After saying that, Gerosso turned around and left like he was fleeing, without even waiting for Lin Li to respond. Although he had his teacher to support him, and was sure that Lin Li would have a terrible end, Lin Li was still stronger than him, after all. He could easily confine Gerosso again. If Lin Li were to go hard against him after hearing the news, he would be the unlucky one.
Seeing that Gerosso had scurried away, Lin Li felt a little puzzled, but he didn’t think much. Instead, he turned around and returned to his room to read the Book of Eternity.
The Sky Garden was still in the normal world. It was affected by the changes in the world even though it was hovering in the air. Soon, the sky darkened, and bright magic lamps illuminated the streets and alleys of the Sky Garden.
Leddings didn’t immediately put the connections he had to use, and instead followed Lin Li out according to the news given by Gerosso. He was very familiar with the surroundings because he had also rested in such a place during breaks in between regular meetings when he first joined the Supreme Council.
Hence, Leddings didn’t have to worry much. Clearly, Lin Li didn’t have any powerful backer. Otherwise, even a newly minted councilor would not be arranged to live at such a place.
Reaching the door, Leddings was all ready to push the door and enter. However, before his hand even landed on the door, he heard some voices talking inside the room. It seemed that Lin Li wasn’t the only one there, and he vaguely felt that one of the voices was somewhat familiar.
In order to be cautious, Leddings retracted his hand and moved away from the door, inching towards the other side of the room. Not only would he not arouse suspicion in those who passed by, he could also hear the voices inside. As soon as he tried to listen, he heard sounds of a conversation coming out from the room again. The voice was a little clearer, but after he heard it, his heart sank a little.
It was no wonder he found the voices familiar—they belonged to Aldwin and Macklin. Leddings had been a councilor for many years, and he often had dealings with the Alanna Guild of Magic. Hence, he could still identify the voices of Aldwin and Macklin.
At this moment, Leddings couldn’t help but feel fortunate and thankful that he had been cautious. Had he barged in to question Lin Li recklessly and run into the two of them, the situation would have been awkward. However, why are they here at this moment? Has Felic gotten himself acquainted with these two so soon?
Leddings couldn’t stop thinking about it. Aldwin was a true high-ranking councilor of the Supreme Council who was second only to the chairman and deputy chairman. Besides, he was the President of a Guild of Magic. No matter what, he couldn’t afford to provoke him.
Although it had been a short period of time since Macklin had joined the Supreme Council, he had contributed greatly, and his power had already reached the Legendary-realm. The position of a councilor was just a temporary springboard, and he might become a high-ranking councilor sometime soon. More importantly, Macklin was known to have a bad temper, and he might be tougher to deal with than Aldwin.
However, Leddings did not want to give up just like that. He had come in a moment of anger, and if he were to go back cowardly, what would his student think of him? Besides, the wealth of the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic was too tempting. If he could get some of their wealth for his New Crescent City Guild of Magic, it would be of great help to the development of his Guild of Magic.
Yes, getting a small slice of the pie would be enough. If he pocketed everything, others would be jealous of him. With those thoughts, Leddings decided to stay and listen to find out the relationship between them.
At this moment, Lin Li was talking to Aldwin and Macklin about the things they had done after exploring Osric’s mausoleum in the room. They also talked about some matters regarding the cooperation between the two Guilds of Magic. Due to the fact that there was nothing to hide, they did not deliberately keep their volume down nor care if anyone was eavesdropping on them.
When it came to the experience of exploring Osric’s mausoleum, Aldwin and Macklin thanked Lin Li emotionally. It was not only because Lin Li managed to resolve Osric’s perfect body, but also because the mages of the Alanna Guild of Magic would have long been wiped out without Lin Li along the way, and they might not have been able to even make it to the last floor.
However, Lin Li didn’t say anything more on that topic. He simply smiled at the two of them and dropped the subject. After all, he had struck a fortune during that exploration. Not only did he obtain the core of the Eternal Furnace, he also managed to conscript a Guru of Alchemy.
After that, the three of them talked about cooperation, from magical crystals to magical equipment and so on. Due to the fact that they were only talking about their intentions at first, they didn’t go into too much detail. However, if they were to lay all their cards on the table, it would take a long time to discuss.
The three of them were chatting and laughing leisurely in the room, appearing rather close. Leddings, who was eavesdropping outside, felt like his heart was gradually freezing. Putting aside the relationship of the trio, the fact that they had a cooperation going on made him feel that the matter was tricky.
No matter what, since Aldwin and Macklin were inside, Leddings already had no intention of intruding to seek justice. It seemed that he could only go back and talk to the rest about it. If he were to work with the other high-ranking councilors, there might be some hope for the matter.
However, just as Leddings was about to leave, he heard the sound of footsteps coming again, and he turned around to take a look, only to see that it was the chairman Andoine, giving him a great shock.
“Hey, Leddings, why are you still standing here? Are you here to see Felic?” Andoine knew that Leddings did not stay there, and so questioned him in puzzlement. However, he did not think much of it.
However, Andoine’s question made Leddings feel so shocked that he nearly started, and couldn’t control the cold sweat from breaking out on his body. It seemed to have penetrated his clothes. If it weren’t for the black robe he was wearing and the obscurity provided by the night, others would probably have seen him being drenched in sweat.
“No, no, I…” Leddings did not know what Andoine had come to do, nor did he know what relationship he had with Felic, but he dared not question him at all. He frantically found a random excuse, and said, “I’m waiting for someone. Yes, I’m waiting for someone. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“You’re waiting for someone here?” Andoine muttered, but he did not suspect anything. He went straight to Lin Li’s door and entered. He said, “Felic, you rascal, you’re here, and yet you didn’t come to see me. You actually made me come to you!”
“I knew you were busy, but I didn’t expect you to be so eager to see me. I’m so ashamed,” Lin Li answered smilingly. Although he seemed apologetic, it didn’t sound sincere.
“I’m eager to see you? Rascal, don’t think so highly of yourself,” Andoine teased. He wasn’t offended by Lin Li’s attitude. He responded to Aldwin’s and Macklin’s greetings, after which he said, “I just came to inform you about something.”
Listening to the conversation between Andoine and Lin Li, Leddings was overwhelmed with fear, and he stood rooted to the ground. Regardless of what their relationship was, he could tell from their conversation that it was definitely not ordinary.
He is Andoine, the chairman of the council who is second only to the three arbitrators! Who is Felic, and how did he get involved with Chairman Andoine!? Damn it, that bastard Gerosso almost caused me to die. Had I really barged in to question Felic…
At the thought of the dire consequences, Leddings shuddered, and realized that even the high-ranking councilors would not be able to save him if that were to happen.
However, the people inside the room didn’t know that they were just talking, yet someone outside was already on the verge of breaking down. Lin Li arranged for Andoine to sit on the chair, after which he smilingly said, “What’s the big deal? Why did you have to come all the way here personally? You could have just gotten someone to relay the message, and I would have to run back to see you obediently.”
“Get someone to relay the message? I’m the messenger, why would I get another one?” Andoine waved his hands nonchalantly. Although he was the chairman of the Supreme Council, he was not the type to put on airs. Rosen might have done the opposite if it were him.
Upon hearing that, Lin Li, Aldwin and Macklin were all slightly shocked. Lin Li curiously asked, “It’s degrading enough for you to be a messenger. Who made you relay a message?”
“Who else can task me with errands? Those three above me, of course,” Andoine said while pointing upwards.
Of course, once he said that, Lin Li understood as well. In the Supreme Council, apart from the three arbitrators, no one else could give Andoine any tasks.
“Uh, why don’t we go back first?” Knowing that Andoine was relaying a message on behalf of the three arbitrators, Macklin and Aldwin decided to leave even though they did not know what they were going to talk about.
“No need,” Andoine said while waving his hands. He then said to Lin Li, “The three arbitrators are asking to see you tomorrow. They have something important to discuss with you.”
Discuss?
Aldwin and Macklin knew of the relationship between Andoine and Lin Li; hence, they were not shocked about their behavior. Actually, the three arbitrators asking to see Lin Li was not that surprising, either. Anyway, Apophis, Megard, and Chris had previously met Lin Li separately. They were just going to meet him together this time.
However, what did they have to discuss? How could the word ‘discuss’ be used here! For a moment, Aldwin and Macklin were somewhat petrified. In the entire world of Anril, the only person who was qualified to ‘discuss’ anything with the three arbitrators was probably a figure like Pope Rosario of the Brilliance Shrine.
Seeing their reaction, Andoine pursed his lips, but he did not make fun of them, because he’d reacted the same way when he heard that the arbitrators wanted him to relay the message.
“Alright, I’ve relayed the message. I still have to go back to prepare for the meeting tomorrow. I won’t chat with you any further.” Although Andoine still wanted to chat with Lin Li and dig up some more information about pharmaceutics, he was a chairman who had endless things to do.
