At night, a family meeting was held in one of the Ptolemy family’s meeting rooms.
Other than Daniel and Casey, Madam Jenny, Eldest Young Master Mike, and Young Miss Lana were also there.
“I still have a lot of important work to do in the Chamber of Commerce. Father, you summoned me back in a hurry. Is there anything important?”
The eldest son, Mike, was a mature man in his thirties. He had a brown beard on his face, and his curly yellow hair had been carefully groomed. He had just reached the meeting room and took off a black coat and threw it onto a chair. He sat down on the sofa in a dignified manner.
Beside him were Lana and Jenny, while Daniel and Casey were sitting on the other side.
“There is an important matter, indeed. When Casey went out to sea this morning, he captured a few mermaids, but they escaped. That matter might cause the sea folks to retaliate against us. We will need to strengthen the floating city’s defense system. Apart from that, Casey’s gold-tier magical ship was also damaged.”
As Daniel spoke, his fingers tapped on the table in front of him lightly. Casey, who was next to him, lowered his head in shame and did not dare to make a sound.
“My dear second brother is still so ignorant. Did he take a fancy to some young girl on the way and end up being too busy enjoying himself on the ship, causing the mermaids to escape?”
After hearing that, the corners of Mike’s mouth rose. The mustache on his face trembled as he spoke with a hint of mockery. “We have no more than five gold-tier magical ships. Now that Second Brother has destroyed one, I wonder what else he plans to destroy next.”
“Mike, don’t try to frame me. Watson was to blame for the mermaids’ escape. According to the guards on the ship, Watson was the one who defeated them. He even broke the precious water tank that was used to transport the sea folks! As for the damages to the gold-tier magical ship, it’s also related to him.”
At the mention of Watson, Casey could not help but clench his teeth.
The banquet had ended about an hour ago. Daniel had immediately invited Watson and Antonio to stay in the mansion. However, Watson had rejected him and had signed a contract with Daniel. After giving the corresponding contract to Daniel, Watson and Antonio immediately left the mansion and returned to the hotel to rest.
Casey was happy that Watson had not agreed to stay. After all, he did not have to meet him all the time. At the same time, he was also a little angry. His father had personally invited him, but Watson had rejected his offer. Their family had spent half of their assets to obtain the blueprint in Watson’s hands. He was responsible for that debt.
“Watson? Who is he?”
Mike had just returned and did not know about Watson, so he asked about him.
“Well…” Daniel recounted in detail what had happened that day. After he finished speaking, he asked, “Mike, what do you think?”
As he listened, Mike leaned forward. He listened very seriously. Then, he spread his hands and leaned against the sofa, seemingly relieved. “I only have one thought. Fortunately, Father was smart and did not offend Watson, and how foolish my brother is; the Ptolemy family would suffer more in the future.”
“Mike, did you come back just to mock me? Watson broke my arm, and his subordinates stepped on me several times. Furthermore, he caused our family to suffer a great loss. If it were you, would you have let him off? ”
Casey stood up with reddened eyes.
Jenny, who was opposite him, also stood up. She pulled him into her embrace and lightly patted his shoulder. “My poor Casey, don’t be angry. We will make Watson pay for what he did! But before that, you have to listen to your father. Your father’s words are always right.”
Mike was the son Daniel had with his deceased ex-wife, while Jenny bore him Casey and Lana.
That was why Casey could compete with Mike for the position as the future head of the Ptolemy family, even though he was useless.
A trace of disgust appeared in Mike’s eyes, but he did not show it.
“Lana, I heard that you had some private contact with Watson today and even danced with him. What do you think of that young man?” Daniel walked past Casey and turned around to ask Lana.
“I think that Watson is a person who does not reveal himself. I can tell that he has received a good education since he was young. Furthermore, the strength he displayed today is definitely beyond an ordinary gold-tier elite. Perhaps he is at the peak of gold-tier! In addition to that, he can create an unprecedented ship. I feel that we should spare no effort to rope him in.”
Lana’s eyes flickered, and she replied without the slightest hesitation.
To reach the peak of gold-tier at such a young age, one’s future achievements would be limitless. At the very least, one would be a platinum-tier. There were only a few platinum-tier elites in the kingdom, and not a single one of them belonged to the Ptolemy family. If their family had a platinum-tier backer, it would have been much more convenient for them to do things. Not to mention that Watson’s boat that Watson had already surpassed the efforts of the Ptolemy family’s several generations.
Perhaps that was an idea that Watson came up with on a whim. However, if it was not the case, if it was an idea that he had just come up with, Watson would not have known if such a boat could be realized. Since Watson dared to make it during the bet with Casey, it meant that he had the confidence to win against Casey.
“Let’s not talk about that. Watson is Master Antonio’s disciple, so we must keep an eye on him.”
Lana’s long white eyelashes trembled as she recalled Watson’s astonishing dancing posture and handsome face when he danced with her.
“Not bad. If you weren’t a girl and had a strange illness that even a famous doctor couldn’t cure, you would have been a good choice to take care of the family in the future.”
Daniel sighed as he praised her. The Ptolemy family would hold a meeting every once in a while. He would ask the three children to answer questions. That was the way he assessed whether each child could inherit the family business. Lana was always the one who reacted the fastest and saw the furthest. If Lana were a boy, he would not have to worry about the future of the family.
“Tomorrow, Master Antonio will bring Watson to the Ptolemy family to participate in the trial. When the time comes, try to get close to him. It would be best if you could get the model of the new boat called submarine from him! Even though Watson gave us the blueprint, the Ptolemy family hasn’t studied that new boat. It would take at least a few years to build it. If we can get a sample, we can study it much faster.”
Daniel continued to knock on the table. His plan was very simple. He could not go back on his word on the surface after signing the contract with Watson, but he could cause trouble in the dark. If he could grasp the manufacturing method of the submarine, he would not need to beg Watson anymore. When the time came, he could simply send someone to make a fake account book to fool Watson.
“Casey, you should go and see Watson tomorrow. I’m not asking you to become friends. At least make him forgive you. Don’t have a hostile relationship with him! I don’t know if you can understand the purpose of my arrangement. If you don’t understand, then ask your big brother or Lana.”
As Daniel spoke, he stood up and glared fiercely at Casey, “I have to say, Casey, your actions today have greatly disappointed me! From today onward, you had better restrain yourself. Currently, Master Antonio is in the city. If any other problems were to arise at this time, even I can’t save you.”
“I understand.”
Casey lowered his head weakly, but there was a flash of displeasure in his eyes. Clearly, he was not convinced.
“Father, when the time comes, may I also chat with Watson?” Lana raised her hand at that time.
“Of course.”
Daniel groaned, shook his head, and did not say anything else after noticing Lana’s ability to entice Watson and the light in his second son’s eyes. He turned around and walked out of the mansion.
….
After a quiet night, the morning came. Watson pushed the hotel door open and walked out, yawning.
He went to bed very late because after he fused with a peak gold-tier submarine in the Ptolemy family’s manor yesterday, all the nobles in the city came to him one after another, asking if the submarine could be sold or if the blueprints could be sold to them. Watson spent a lot of time getting rid of those people.
“Hey, Watson, good morning.”
Just as Watson was thinking about what happened yesterday, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him. It was none other than Casey, who had bandages wrapped around his hands and a face full of scars. The smile on his face was even uglier than when he was crying.
There were two beautiful maids behind Casey, holding a gift box with exquisite snacks in their hands.
“Watson, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I brought some snacks from home. They are all very delicious. Have a taste.” As he greeted Watson, Casey gave a signal to the two maids behind him. The two women immediately opened the snack box in their hands, took out some pastries, and placed them in front of Watson. “Young Master Watson, let us feed you. Ah!”
“Young Master Casey, what are you going to do now?”
Of course, Watson did not open his mouth obediently. Instead, he took two steps backward.
Why would Casey, who he had defeated yesterday, rush to the front of his hotel early in the morning and even send someone to bring him pastries? Did Casey harbor a grudge and was preparing to poison him with the poisoned pastries?
“Watson, I came here today to apologize to you.” Casey’s smile became even more awkward. “I’m sorry for what happened yesterday, but you’ve already taught me a lesson. Let’s call it even. From now on, I promise that I won’t target you anymore! To show my sincerity, why don’t I bring you to my usual places later?”
Last night, after the Ptolemy family meeting, Casey returned to his room to talk to his mother, Jenny. He decided to get in touch with Watson before his brother did that morning.
Although Casey was not very bright, he was not a fool. He knew that his father was unhappy with him. If he let Mike get in touch with Watson first, it was very likely that the person who would inherit the Ptolemy family in the future would not be him.
For the sake of his own future, Casey decided to put aside his enmity with Watson temporarily. At the very least, before he obtained the submarine model from Watson and restored his position in his father’s heart, that was what he planned to do.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to the Ptolemy Manor to undergo the trial arranged by my master. I’m afraid I don’t have the time to accompany you out.”
“The trial can be completed anytime. The place I’m going to take you to won’t take up much of your time. At most, it’ll take one morning. Furthermore, the place I’m going to is related to your trial. Don’t worry, follow me.”
Casey gave him a look; he did not give him a chance to refute him. The two girls who had just approached Watson and were about to feed him with snacks suddenly held his hands on both sides so that he could not escape. They smiled charmingly and led him away.
That scene made many passers-by on the street look envious. The two handmaidens that Casey brought were only 14 or 15 years old. They were about the same height as Watson and had perfect looks. They were not very mature, but their breasts were very full. They looked like a natural pair with the handsome Watson.
When Watson and the others left, they did not notice that the curtains of a room on the second floor of the hotel behind them had been pulled open. A gaze was fixed on their backs.
….
“That is where I’m taking you—the largest entertainment venue in the floating city! Watson, what do you think?”
About twenty minutes later, Watson followed Casey to the underbelly of Watergate City, a building built in the water.
The surroundings were underwater walkways built with magic, connected to a huge ball of light with a building that was several times smaller than the one in the floating city. Residents walked on the neon-colored streets. Their laughter could be heard through the water curtain.
“This underwater entertainment place is called the Crystal Palace. It was founded by the Ptolemy family. All the nobles in the floating city have invested in it. Most of the city’s treasures are gathered in the Crystal Palace. Even if there is nothing on the surface, there will still be something here.”
Casey had a mysterious expression on his face. While he was explaining, he brought Watson through the water curtain.
After crossing the water curtain, the Crystal Palace appeared in front of them. The water was pushed away from the building by an invisible force, forming a huge water shield that stretched for an unknown number of kilometers.
“The Crystal Palace is connected to the city’s power source. It borrowed its power from the sea god’s trident, so this place will not be eroded by the sea! I’ll tell you a secret. The sea god’s trident is stored here. If you’re doing the trial, then this is your trial’s location.”
“Is it really okay for you to tell me those secrets before the trial starts?”
“What does it matter? You’ll know sooner or later anyway. Furthermore, the sea god’s trident is not a secret in the Crystal Palace! As long as no one knows its exact location, it’s fine. I heard from my father that the security in that place is very tight. Anyone who tries to enter will die. Let’s not talk about that. I’m bringing you here for fun today. Let’s not talk about such serious matters.”
As Casey spoke, the two of them had already walked into the Crystal Palace. When the two guards in sky-blue clothes saw Casey, they bowed their heads respectfully. “Greetings, Young Master Casey.”
“Prepare two carriages for us. We are going to the Iris Flower Tavern in the city.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The two guards quickly prepared the carriages for the two of them. Casey brought two maids to drive the carriages while Watson and Casey sat in the carriages.
When they sat in the carriages, Casey touched the wounds on his body. He was in so much pain that he let out a hiss. Watson stared at all of that and did not say anything. He did not know why Casey had invited him. Did he want to apologize or set him up? Watson was prepared to continue observing for a while.
It was already ten minutes later when they arrived at the Iris Flower Tavern. Although it was called a tavern, it was like a large manor. The manor was covered with trees, and there was also a small artificial lake. The environment was excellent, and most of the people there were men. They were all dressed in luxurious clothes, and they looked rich and noble.
“Young Master Casey, it’s been a few days since you’ve come here. Did the girls here not serve you well last time?” As soon as they arrived at the door, a woman with a veil over her face and a full head of raven-black hair walked up to Casey.
The woman had green almond eyes, and she looked like she was in her twenties or a child in her teens. She had the mature charm of a woman and the naivety and cuteness of a girl. She looked very strange.
“She is a peak gold-tier mage, and the magic she practices is a rare charm element.”
Watson felt judgmental when he saw the woman. At the same time, he felt a faint sense of familiarity with her body, as if he had seen her somewhere before. After thinking for a while, he remembered it. A long time ago, when he was fighting against the Demoness Bandit Gang, he had felt that aura from the evil god, the Primordial Demoness, that the Demoness Bandit Gang had summoned.
Watson only took a glance at that woman before shifting his gaze away. On the other hand, that woman’s gaze suddenly fell on Watson. After looking at him for a long time, she revealed a smile. “Young Master Casey, why did you bring a new guest with you today? I wonder who thist handsome youth is… ”
“His name is Watson. He is Master Antonio’s disciple and a friend of mine.”
“Master Antonio? The kingdom’s greatest mage, also known as the Astrologer?”
“That’s right, it’s him.”
“He is the Astrologer’s disciple? It’s an honor to have a big shot like you to come to our Iris Flower Tavern! Let me introduce myself. I’m the boss here. My name is Elven. Of course, you can call me Little Yi.”
The veiled woman bowed slightly to Watson, and an inexplicable color flashed in her eyes.
“Alright, Miss Elven. Let’s talk pleasantries when we have time. First, arrange a room for us. I want to take Watson to experience this place.”
“Alright, Young Master Casey. I will definitely find the best place for you. In fact, our tavern has recently received a batch of high-quality goods. They are all virgins. I guarantee that you will have a heavenly experience here.”
The woman named Elven smiled at Watson.
