Novel Full Chapter 424: Warm
Elion’s biggest demand was his wish to be granted even more autonomy than the special contract had already granted him, but that did not seem to surprise Marilyn.
If anything, what surprised her more was his decision to completely pass on the outfitting benefits the Alliance was willing to provide.
"You do not want equipment support?" Marilyn asked.
"I do not need it," Elion said plainly.
Marilyn studied him for a moment. She was genuinely shocked. Who in their right mind would choose to simply pass up on such an offer, but she just ended up simply nodding in understanding.
If he could say that so confidently, then he most likely already possessed equipment far better than anything the Triad Alliance could provide. Considering everything she had seen and heard about him so far, that was not hard to believe.
"In that case, we can remove that clause and adjust the compensation elsewhere," she said.
Elion nodded, "That would be better."
A few minutes later, Marilyn had finished noting down all the changes Elion requested. The vague clauses were clarified, the frequency and nature of his assignments were properly limited, and his autonomy was written in much stronger terms.
Once she was done, she handed the marked document to one of the attendants waiting outside the meeting room.
"Have this sent to the clerk for revision," she instructed.
The attendant bowed and left quickly. Marilyn returned to her seat and looked back at Elion, "Now we only have to wait for Master Smith to give his final approval."
Elion raised a brow slightly at the name, but did not comment.
Marilyn continued, "Though I regret to say you will not be able to meet the other two Masters today."
"That is all right," Elion said.
He had already expected that the heads of an organisation like this would not all be waiting around just to meet him. Besides, he had gotten what he needed for now.
And so, they spent the next half hour or so discussing different topics. Eventually, the focus of the conversation shifted to Aeron, more specifically, his actual identity and position within the Tudelig family.
As it turned out, Aeron was not merely a distant relative of the ducal house. He belonged to the direct family line, not only that, but he was one of Duke Tudelig’s three sons.
That meant his influence within the family was bound to be significant, even if his attitude did not make it seem that way. The revelation clearly pleased Marilyn.
"I am certain Master Smith would be pleased to speak with you," she said. "He is always looking to become acquainted with people of great importance and build useful connections."
That was an understatement.
An organisation like the Triad Alliance might be powerful in Silvergrove, but in terms of overall influence, resources, and history, it could not compare to a ducal family. No doubt Maya’s father would be ecstatic to gain a chance to form a connection with Duke Tudelig’s household.
It would be a great opportunity to spread his influence.
Just then, a soft knock came from the door, and the room fell quiet. A moment later, the door opened.
A servant appeared at the entrance, only to immediately step aside and make way for a scholarly-looking man with dark hair and a multi-lens monocle over his left eye.
Maya and Marilyn got to their feet immediately. Naturally, the others followed. Zenovia stood, and Aeron both stood. Even Maya’s expression became noticeably more restrained.
Before Elion realised it, he was the only one still sitting.
He raised a brow.
Did this man truly command that much respect?
There was no need for Elion to be deliberately disrespectful, but for some reason, he did not feel like standing. A stubborn part of him was adamant about not playing along.
That was odd.
He had never had a problem showing respect to someone of higher authority when the situation called for it.
Elion frowned slightly. In the end, he disregarded the strange instinct bubbling up inside of him and forced himself to stand as well.
"Master Smith," Marilyn and Maya said at the same time, bowing respectfully.
Now that, Elion was not going to do. In his eyes, he had already shown plenty of respect to someone he wasn’t acquainted with. The monocled man gave a small nod and walked forward.
His black-and-gold cane clicked softly against the floor with every step he took. The cane itself was intricate, almost more like an artifact than a walking aid, with thin golden lines running along its dark surface.
He reached the head of the table and stopped beside the chair.
"Sit," he said in a low, slightly hoarse voice. Only after saying that did he take his own seat, and everyone else followed.
Elion sat down as well, though his gaze remained fixed on the man. Master Smith, however, was not looking at him; he was looking at Maya.
Elion glanced at her too, out of pure curiosity.
Only then did he notice how tense she had become. Maya sat with her back straight, her hands resting on her lap, but there was a faint stiffness in her shoulders. She looked nervous.
Elion’s gaze returned to the man who was apparently her father. Everything about Master Smith seemed carefully arranged.
His dark hair was neatly styled and slicked back. A trimmed goatee framed his chin, matched by a carefully groomed moustache. His layered robes were simple in colour but clearly expensive, and the multi-lens monocle over his left eye gave him the air of someone who enjoyed looking educated.
Finally, the man spoke, "Maya," he said. "I trust your gains were satisfactory?"
Elion raised a brow, ’That was rather straight to the point.’ No heartfelt reunion, no questions about whether she was injured, and no concern whatsoever over her well-being after returning from a dangerous trial.
Maya’s posture, the tightness in her jaw, and the slight trembling in her hands, which had formed fists, told him everything he needed to know.
Maya was terrified of this man. What part of him exactly was she afraid of? He didn’t know, nor did he need to know.
Elion leaned back slightly in his chair.
’What a warm father.’
He could already imagine what sort of life Maya had lived; if he ever had someone so obsessed with nothing more than results as his father, he would probably go insane.
But then again, such an assessment was always subjective; perhaps if he were in Maya’s shoes, he would have long since been used to something like this, to the point that it would have become the norm and a part of his daily life.
Having been forced to conform to how one was raised due to powerlessness, the vast majority of people were bound to become slaves to their own fate.
He nodded quietly to himself, ’I shouldn’t judge people for who they are just because, I guess everything is easy when you have the strength to back it up.’ After all, it wasn’t so long ago that he had almost died because of his own powerlessness.
Maya bit the corner of her lip and lowered her gaze slightly, "Yes, Father," she said. "They were satisfactory."
Master Smith watched her for a moment through the layered lenses of his monocle, "Satisfactory?" he repeated.
The word came out calmly, but there was something behind it that made Maya’s trembling intensify. Her fingers tightened even more against her lap.
"I received a greater bloodline and two artifacts," she said. "The bloodline is compatible with my current path. I have not integrated it yet."
"Good," Master Smith replied. "You will not do so until the proper preparations are made."
"Yes, Father."
Perhaps if this Smith heard of Elion’s gains, he would ask Maya what she had been doing while others were doing so much in comparison, but he probably didn’t know what sort of rewards they had reaped from such a mysterious trial, so her gains would probably sate his curiosity, and unless he asked all those who entered, he would never find out.
Of course, Elion had no reason or desire to reveal such information even if he was asked; the first time was but an accidental slip of his tongue.
Perhaps Marilyn would have extracted the info from either Zenovia or Aeron, but the look on her face told Elion otherwise; she didn’t seem to be on Maya’s tail as much as Smith here.