He stopped looking at the White Feather Merchant Association.
Watching others make money felt worse than losing his own.
“Hmph, a merchant association built on speculation and opportunism like this will go bankrupt sooner or later!”
Feeling thoroughly disgruntled, Li Xiuman muttered under his breath and left the scene.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the White Feather Merchant Association, Jetis, who was swirling a glass of red wine, caught sight of Li Xiuman's figure with her sharp eyes!
“It's the master!”
“Has Master come to inspect us again?”
“As expected, in Master's heart, we are always just a bunch of children.”
“He's always watching over us in secret, protecting and guiding us!”
Jetis sighed with emotion.
Beside her, the newly recruited vampire, Girette, hurriedly asked in excitement.
“Lady Jetis, should we invite Master inside?”
Jetis looked tempted for a moment, but then shook her head firmly.
“Master is already leaving, so we shouldn't trouble him.”
“Besides, Master wants us to grow up on our own.”
“This merchant association must be a test that Master has set for us.”
“Master has already shown us the direction, and today has proven that the path he pointed out is immensely successful!”
Jetis set down her wine glass and sat back in her leather chair.
“How could I have the face to ask Master for more guidance?”
“I want to be his right hand in his eyes, not a fragile child huddling under his wings.”
Jetis glanced out the window before quickly drawing her gaze back.
“Just how far ahead has Master's sublime wisdom foreseen?”
“I cannot see through it.”
“But as long as I struggle my hardest to decipher Master's next move and follow right in his footsteps, that in itself is a success.”
“Lady Jetis's foresight is truly profound.”
Girette praised.
As a newcomer among the vampires, she felt extremely fortunate to be assigned to intern under Lady Jetis.
If she could learn even a fraction of Lady Jetis's wisdom and her ability to decipher Master's deeply meaningful and wise words, she would be more than satisfied.
“Go and check if there are any issues with the warehouse scheduling.”
“At the same time, compile a list of the adventurer parties that came to discuss partnership today and hand it to me.”
Jetis had snapped out of her thoughts regarding Li Xiuman's 'inspection' and quickly returned to her work.
After all, today's grand opening was so explosively popular that it had slightly exceeded Jetis's expectations, leaving her somewhat frantic.
However, Jetis's abilities were indeed outstanding. She quickly and systematically brought the newly opened White Feather Merchant Association onto the right track, smoothly accommodating the massive crowd.
“Could all of this also be within Master's calculations?”
“Did he come to inspect just to see if we were running into trouble?”
“And did he leave because he believed I could handle the situation on my own?”
The busy Jetis's mind suddenly clicked.
So that was how it was!
As expected of Master! Just when did he foresee up to this step?
Could Viscount Fantes's entire conspiracy from start to finish have been under Master's expectations and calculations?
After all, Master indeed knew about the monster incident in advance and had us make preparations.
Viscount Fantes, who planned the destruction of White Bear City, was probably nothing more than a marionette in Master's eyes, to be toyed with... at will...
Such control and foresight were simply terrifying.
“Master... is truly unfathomable...”
A cold sweat began to break out on Jetis's back.
She had only glimpsed a tiny fraction of Master's arrangements with her shallow intellect, yet she was already this shaken...
While Master, who had laid out this entire chess game...
Having such a master guiding the way forward was truly reassuring.
...
“Give me twenty jin of beef!”
“No, wait, that piece is too fatty, and it's full of sinew. It'll be too tough to chew!”
“This piece, yes, this one! Cut it from here! Right here!”
The unfathomable Master, Li Xiuman, was currently choosing cuts of beef at the market.
Now that the official bulletin had been posted, Li Xiuman no longer had to endure those annoying investigations by the nobles.
Thus, enjoying his complete freedom, Li Xiuman planned to buy twenty jin of beef to celebrate.
Even though he couldn't eat anything.
But he could nourish his vampires! Rorona, Jetis, and the others should be coming home for dinner tonight, right?
Today, he would cook personally and sear some steaks!
A master personally cooking—tst, tst, tst, how could there be such a wonderful master like him in this world!
He would also buy some spices and red wine.
Li Xiuman bought two barrels of very expensive red wine and various spices for searing steak.
He returned home.
No one was home. It seemed Jetis and Rorona were still working hard to make money in the dungeons.
Such good kids. Li Xiuman really liked hardworking kids like them.
Jetis and Rorona had already progressed to the point where they might as well be on the moon shouting, “One small step for us, one giant leap for Master,” while Li Xiuman's grasp of their situation was still stuck in the Stone Age.
Using magic to heat an iron pan, he prepared a thick sauce and bottled it in glass jars.
Then, he sliced the beef, melted some butter, added the herbs, and began searing the steaks.
Searing both sides to a golden brown, he plated them, drizzled the sauce over them, and garnished the plates with sliced cherry tomatoes.
Then, he seared the next piece.
Looking at the plates of freshly seared beef.
“Looks like my culinary skills haven't gotten rusty.”
Li Xiuman then took out dome covers to place over each steak, using magic to keep them warm.
Then, he waited alone until late into the night. It was still just Li Xiuman.
“It's a bit... lonely...”
“Dammit, why isn't anyone coming home!”
Li Xiuman pulled out a magic communication tool designed for short distances.
Recalling how to use this magical communication device, he pressed this and pulled that, barely managing to operate it.
“Master? Is that you, Master?”
Rorona's voice came from the magic device.
“Ah, yes, it's me.”
“Where are you? What are you doing?”
Li Xiuman really wanted to ask if Rorona was coming back for dinner tonight, but doing so would make him seem lacking in masterly dignity, so he decided against it.
Li Xiuman had to maintain his dignity!
“...”
Silence fell over the communication line.
Hmm, did the connection drop?
Trash magic item, utterly useless!
“Are you still there?”
“...Yes, yes, I'm here, Master!”
Rorona answered in a rush.
Having been analyzing the deep meaning behind Master's words according to Big Sister Jetis's instructions, Rorona had momentarily forgotten they were on a call.
What does Master mean? What is the hidden meaning!
If only Sister Jetis were here!
“I am currently in White Crystal City, executing Master's future plans!”
Rorona's single sentence rendered Li Xiuman completely speechless.
Crystal-what city? Where? What plans?
I understand every single word, but why does it make absolutely no sense when put together!
Dammit, what on earth is wrong with these vampires? Since when did they become so abstract?!
In any case, it seemed this fellow wouldn't be coming back for dinner.
So Li Xiuman simply hung up the communication device!
“Hello? Hello? Hello?”
“Master, are you there?”
Staring at the disconnected magic communication device, Rorona began to ponder.
Does Master's action carry some deep meaning? Could it be that my current actions are highly inappropriate, causing Master to be displeased with me?
Must I adopt a new course of action?
That makes sense. This is Crystal City. Unlike the cities we've been in before, it is much more developed.
If I limit myself to our past methods and experience, things might get...
We must call off tonight's operation!
Rorona quickly notified the other vampires involved, bringing the hostage rescue operation to an end and preparing a new plan of action.
As it turned out, their sudden retreat saved them from tonight's impending crisis.
...
“Hello, Jetis?”
“Where are you? Are you coming back tonight?”
Solemnly picking up the communication device amidst her work, Jetis heard Li Xiuman's words. Instantly, her brain began running at full speed as she desperately searched for clues!
Why did he add a question mark after her name, Jetis?
Was Master unsure whether he had reached the right person?
How could that be? That's Master we're talking about!
There must be a deep, hidden meaning!
Yes! He is reminding her to stay vigilant. If she were to meet with an accident, someone else would have answered this device instead of her.
Master's very first sentence was warning her of this!
And the next sentence, asking where she was?
Master had literally just visited the White Feather Merchant Association this afternoon. How could he not know where she was?
So, there is also a deep meaning here...
He is pointing specifically to her current location at the White Feather Merchant Association!
Connecting it to the previous warning to stay vigilant!
Master means to say: beware of someone making a move against me at the White Feather Merchant Association!
That's it!
A momentary victory had made her too optimistic, blinding her to the potential threats!
The White Feather Merchant Association was so prominent right now; they would likely face retaliation from jealous rivals or competitors!
Master once said: the tree that stands tallest in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind.
As for the next line, "Are you coming back tonight?"
The meaning was even more obvious. Master calling personally couldn't possibly be just to invite her back for dinner, could it?
So combining it with the previous two lines, the deep meaning was that he was giving her a choice.
She could either go home to accept Master's protection and escape tonight's crisis...
...or steel herself to face the danger alone.
As expected of Master. He is always so gentle and considerate.
Warmth flooded Jetis's heart.
She must never disappoint Master. She would play to her strengths to the absolute fullest and become a reliable support for him!
“Master, I'm still quite busy, so I won't be returning tonight.”
“Beep... beep... beep...”
The communication line cut off immediately.
It seemed her analysis was entirely correct. Had Master said anything else, it would only have interfered with her judgment.
That was why he hung up without a single word.
“Investigate the White Feather Merchant Association immediately! Check if there are any assassins!”
“Check the food as well! See if anyone has poisoned it!”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Late that night, the White Feather Merchant Association successfully captured several infiltrating assassins and detected traces of magically synthesized poison in their food.
...
“Master, I'm a bit busy right now and cannot return for the time being! Thank you for worrying about me!”
“The magic communication device you are calling is out of service range.”
“Master, I'm in Black Wolf City now...”
“Master...”
“The party you are calling...”
Staring at the communication device.
Then looking at the table full of steaks.
Not a single person was coming back. In fact, most of them weren't even in White Bear City.
Just what on earth were they doing!
Why were they scattered all across the world!
In the end, Li Xiuman cut a piece of steak, watching the juices ooze out.
“Busy, everyone's busy... It's good to be busy...”
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