They all call me Great Master

What was Marinda trying to do?

It wasn't a difficult thing to guess.

In Graham's diary, it was mentioned that there were only two secret assemblies in South Los, one being Marinda's 'Lady of the Long Night Salon', and the other was Rat Tail Alley on Rat Street—there might be other gatherings, but those wouldn't be organized, and good items would be extremely rare; if there were any, it would depend on luck.

After Marinda had eliminated two major trade guilds and absorbed more than a dozen medium and small ones, her power had expanded like never before.

So what was Marinda's next target?

It could only be Rat Tail Alley on Rat Street.

However, compared to those trade guilds, Rat Tail Alley, which had close ties with the mystic side, was not so easy to deal with.

It required not only cautiousness but also strength.

Even with the help of that earl, it was the same.

Or rather...

The earl was also not willing to directly confront Rat Tail Alley.

Therefore, Marinda had offered Arthur a high price.

But such a price was not enough for Arthur.

Hearing Arthur's words, "You'll need to pay more," Marinda, who knew Arthur had guessed her intentions, was not at all annoyed but rather spoke with a smile on her face.

"As long as you're not asking me to find a complete set of 'Swift Bird Swordsmanship' or similar techniques, we can talk."

As expected, 'Swift Bird Swordsmanship' or similar techniques were monopolized by the nobles!

But what was the purpose of such a blockade?

What exactly were these techniques hiding?

Arthur pondered in his mind while smoothly saying,

"I need secret techniques related to the 'Cat Faction', of course, if it's from the source of the 'Cat Faction', the 'Cat Hole' mystical knowledge and techniques, then all the better."

Marinda then took another look at Arthur, cigar pipe in mouth.

She was considering if Arthur was just 'going with the flow'.

The fragrance she gave to Arthur originated from the 'Cat Faction'.

Also, Arthur had adopted an orange cat.

Were these things Arthur truly needed?

Or was he misleading her?

Marinda pondered deeply, uncertain but vigilant.

At the same time, she had already agreed verbally.

"It's possible!"

"The mystical knowledge and techniques of the 'Cat Faction' and 'Cat Hole' are rare, but if you can help me eradicate Rat Tail Alley, I will give you a surprise."

Marinda promised.

Even if he was misleading her, as long as Arthur got the job done, she didn't care.

"It must be done my way."

"And the spoils are mine."

Arthur continued.

"Of course, everything will be according to your methods, and you can handle the spoils—but likewise, I cannot offer you more help."

Marinda nodded her head.

"That sounds fair."

Arthur raised his hand.

Marinda immediately grasped it.

Their collaboration began once again.

But afterwards, the two of them didn't discuss this topic further, just making small talk mostly about the Swordsmanship Competition happening between late autumn and early winter.

As daylight broke and Cork Street saw a few passersby, the conversation drew to a close.

"Lord Count is taking this Swordsmanship Competition very seriously," Marinda suddenly said.

"Is it because of the Old Lion of Inner Bay?"

"The Lord Count isn't planning to break off relations with him at this time, is he?"

Arthur feigned surprise.

It was well known that the winner of the South Los Swordsmanship Competition would advance to participate in the South County Swordsmanship Competition at Inner Bay!

If the master of South Los directly confronted the Grand Duke of Inner Bay in acts like 'declaration of war', 'assassination', or 'harsh verbal attacks', destroying the last shred of decency between them, Arthur would absolutely not dare to secure first place in the South Los Swordsmanship Competition.

That would be no different than going to meet one's death!

"Of course not!"

"Although we seem to have the upper hand now, in truth, this advantage is only superficial—the Lord Count has endured so many years not just for these,"

Marinda hinted at something without spelling it out.

Arthur was well aware, and did not ask further.

What happens when a lion ages?

It's not just the Mother Tigress of South Los who is conserving her energy!

After all, South County is very large!

Everyone is sharpening their claws, ready to devour the old lion.

Of course, when the fight to the death comes, will the old lion take one or two young ones with him?

No one knows.

But nobody wants to be one of those taken away.

Marinda began knocking her pipe, dumping all the ash into Arthur's ashtray—this was prepared by Old Charlie for visitors; Old Charlie himself did not smoke.

'The danger of a Spirit Medium dictates watching the details at all times, the smell of smoke can expose you at unnecessary moments!'

Her predecessor didn't care and secretly touched tobacco.

After being discovered by Old Charlie, he started to make excuses, only to be hung up and beaten by Old Charlie, which made him remember the so-called 'exposure' thereafter.

And Arthur?

He did not need such education.

He cared about his own life more than anyone else.

After putting away the pipe, the lady began to adjust her hair—she deliberately made her golden short hair lean to one side, making it look as if it was flattened by a pillow.

Then, she walked toward the front door.

Picking up the ashtray, Arthur saw Marinda out.

"Is it really necessary to fuss over some ash?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Marinda glanced at it.

"Is it really necessary to fuss over some ash?"

Arthur responded with a smile.

The same words, yet with different implications.

Marinda thought Arthur was too obsessed with cleanliness.

Arthur simply did not want anything belonging to Marinda in his place—not out of malice, but merely perceiving it as dangerous,

unless it could be completely verified.

Like the 'Autcarion Potion.'

He placed the ashtray on the platform outside the door—the lower shelf could hold umbrellas for visitors, while the upper shelf originally held two pots of fresh flowers, but they had withered when Old Charlie left town, and the subsequent explosion had shattered even the flower pots.

Thus, Arthur had cleared it all.

Now?

Arthur found that placing ashtrays or some miscellaneous items turned out to be more suitable than mere flower stands.

Walking side by side with Marinda, Arthur and she appeared affectionate under the watchful eyes of pedestrians and neighbors on the street.

"I have a surprise for you in a little while!"

Just as they were leaving the gate of No. 2 Cork Street, Marinda suddenly said.

Arthur was startled, and instinctively, he thought Marinda wanted to show more affection.

And what could be more appropriate than a goodbye kiss at such a moment?

He was averse to that.

He really feared being spit on by Marinda.

But to Arthur's surprise, even as he watched Marinda's carriage disappear down Cork Street, the so-called surprise never came.

And Marinda was not someone who misspoke.

As Arthur was guessing—

"South Los Daily! South Los Daily!"

"The Pioneer Era—the true 'Spirit Medium' Arthur Kredos!"

The shouts of newsboys began to echo through the streets.

South Los Daily!

Arthur was startled, then a smile spread across his face.

This really was a surprise!

Without hesitation, Arthur pulled out six Zeroes to buy a newspaper and was just about to see how the South Los Daily reported him, and how it differed from the Horn Report, when a carriage stopped in front of No. 2 Cork Street.

A young man named Fengter, whom he had met once, jumped down from the carriage and directly said—

"Lord Kledos, I come on behalf of Oak Manor and request your help!"