Han Shuo, Phoebe and Candice entered the dirty and run down house. It was actually very clean and tidy inside, with a few decorations that could even be called luxurious. To think that it was only dirty and run down on the outside, but quite fancy on the inside.
After entering the house, Candice abruptly slammed the door shut with a thud that she could not hide. Her broadsword in hand, she blocked the way out.
"Candice, you don't have to be so careful. My dear uncle doesn't know any martial arts or magic, he won't be able to escape this time." Phoebe's mask was off, revealing her stunning features. She sat down casually and looked coldly at a room with an open door.
Han Shuo inspected his surroundings and observed with the original demons. When he saw that there were no suspicious characters around, he poured a cup of warm water and took two greedy sips.
Grover walked out of the room through the open door with a dejected face. He let out a ghastly laugh and looked at Phoebe, "Good niece, dear niece. To think you've been hiding your power all this time. Was Cara already taken by you?"
Phoebe started and looked at Grover in surprise. She shook her head, "No, I've only just discovered this place."
"Let Cara live, I'll give you anything you want, including my life." Grover knew it would be difficult for him to escape death the way things were now, and had let go of everything.
"I'm sorry, Cara is out of my hands. If I'm right, Grandfather Andrew has already sent men here and they've taken her. I don't have the authority to decide whether she lives or dies." Phoebe shook her head and stared at Grover with a cold look. She asked again, "Did you kill my father?"
"Yes, I poisoned him. Since you already know everything, I have nothing more to hide. What else would you like to know?" Grover's face was wooden as he nodded stiffly.
Taking a deep breath, Han Shuo could clearly feel the suppressed anger rising from Phoebe. Phoebe slowly stood up and looked at Han Shuo and Candice, "I want to talk to my good uncle in private. Bryan, will you go outside and wait for me?"
Nodding, Han Shuo put down the teacup in his hand and left with Candice, walking towards the alleyway entrance in the distance.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Candice kept looking at Han Shuo as they left the house, and after a while she couldn't help but ask.
Han Shuo had been thinking about Duke's background with his head down when he heard Candice's question. He raised his head and looked at her in confusion.
As a girl, Candice was a little taller than normal girls. Her skin wasn't pale, but rather the copper tone of someone who had spent many years in the sun. Her body was quite fit and muscular, and her breasts looked like they were about to explode out of her top. Her thighs were lithe and full of explosive power. She looked as difficult to handle as a spirited mare.
"What do you want to know?" Han Shuo wasn't friendly towards Candice, but he didn't hate her either.
"How were you able to pinpoint the movement of the assassins so clearly, as if you saw them all with your own eyes?" A heavy sense of curiosity crossed her face as she looked at Han Shuo with every expression of interest.
"There's a magic called 'Eye of the Sky', you must have heard of it? My method is similar to it. Of course, there are some differences, but I can't tell you the exact details!" Han Shuo glanced at her and said weakly.
"Two archmages were unable to detect the interference from your method. It's truly miraculous. Can you share this method with us? If our band of mercenaries knew this method, it would greatly increase the success rate of our missions. We are willing to offer a hefty reward for it."
"I've heard that you're a merchant, so you can name your price. We can negotiate, no matter how high it is. Other forms of payment will work as long as our band of mercenaries can do it." Candice looked at Han Shuo with sparkling eyes and discussed with him very seriously.
Shaking his head firmly, Han Shuo firmly rebuffed her. "My apologies, there are some things I won't sell. My apologies, Miss Candice."
"Then will you join our Battlefire Mercenary Band? As vice captain of the band, I can approve your application directly. With your strength, you will surely accomplish great deeds if you join us." Candice seemed to know that Han Shuo would reject her, but she wasn't discouraged at all. In fact, she invited him to join them and become a member.
"I'm sorry, I don't plan to, for the time being." Han Shuo again politely declined.
"All right, when you do plan to, please remember to come to us, the Battlefire Mercenary Band, whenever you want. I will welcome you with open arms." Candice promised solemnly.
Phoebe left the house at that moment with a cold and distant expression on her face. Her face softened only when she saw Candice and Han Shuo. She asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing much. Oh right, Phoebe, what about Grover?" Candice pouted a little awkwardly as she asked Phoebe.
"He just killed himself. I've already got what I wanted from him, we can go now." Phoebe's expression was strange as she looked at Candice.
"Then you shouldn't have anything to do with me after this. May I leave now?" Han Shuo suddenly spoke up when he saw them talking.
Phoebe focused her beautiful eyes on Han Shuo once again and looked at him dumbly before she said to Candice, "Candice, two of your mercenaries have made it out. Go contact them first and see if anyone else survived in the wrecked courtyard."
Candice looked at Phoebe and Han Shuo with an ambiguous expression and showed a smile of understanding. She nodded to Phoebe and walked away with large strides.
"Bryan, would you like to take a walk with me?" Phoebe blushed at Candice's meaningful look and only slowly returned to normal after she'd left. She looked at Han Shuo with an expectant face.
"Sure, where do you want to go?" Han Shuo thought and asked.
"Let's go to the southern district. I think the Boozt Merchant Guild is no longer a threat to me."
Han Shuo didn't say much more as he accompanied the beautiful Phoebe on a slow walk through the dirty streets. There were people on the streets who had obviously fallen on hard times and they shot admiring glances at the richly dressed Han Shuo and Phoebe.
"In this world, our guild doesn't really have much status. Although merchants earn some gold, our status is basically the same as that of ordinary citizens." Phoebe's voice was far away as she said introspectively to Han Shuo at her side.
"Miss Phoebe, you don't see the looks the other people are giving you. They are actually full of admiration and envy. To them, your current life is what they dream of, what else are you dissatisfied with?"
"Heh heh, we almost died yesterday. They can't even imagine a life full of unknown dangers. Maybe they worry about their daily lives, but we worry about our lives. I wonder who admires whom!" Phoebe sighed self-denigratingly.
She suddenly stopped walking and focused her gaze on Han Shuo. "Bryan, with your abilities, you are sure to climb quite high as long as you are willing to work hard. I was thinking of asking you to run the guild with me, but I've thought it through. I think that the small Boozt Merchant Guild would not be enough for you. You should have a wider scope. Bryan, have you thought about how you should live in the future?"
Han Shuo began as he remembered his status. Although he had left behind the label of a runner, he was still a student of the Academy. With his status, even if he graduated from the Academy quickly, there was still nothing to his name. Of course, this was not the life he wanted, but Han Shuo had no other plans for the time being.
"Power and a high position is what you should strive for. No matter how much money a merchant has, he is still a small figure at the mercy of others. Only those with an illustrious reputation and an exceptional position have the right to control and determine the lives of others. You should become such a person!" A mesmerising light shone in Phoebe's beautiful eyes as she stared directly at Han Shuo, her voice full of conviction.
His mind had never been so agitated. Han Shuo had thought about these things before, but never as clearly as at this moment. Since he had the good fortune to be reborn, he should enjoy all that life had to offer without reservation. Why didn't he use the power he had at his disposal? Under Phoebe's persuasion, Han Shuo's attitude of not wanting to remain ordinary slowly began to catch fire and he became full of determination.
After a while, Han Shuo took a deep breath, nodded and said quietly, "I understand your meaning, but my opportunity doesn't seem to have arrived yet.
A brilliant smile spread across her face, as if Phoebe had been waiting for those words. Upon hearing Han Shuo's words, she immediately stared at Han Shuo and said, "You are wrong, the opportunity has always been there. The fastest way to gain power and status is to achieve merit in war. The Empire has never been at peace, and our battles with neighbouring countries have never stopped. I believe a great war will break out in the near future. I think you should get involved. As your good friend, I'm willing to help you and do everything I can to help you.
"I appreciate your good intentions, but I want to get everything I deserve with my own hands." Han Shuo said firmly to Phoebe, paused and then said again, "Miss Phoebe, please prepare the rations I need. I'll come by the guild in a few days to pick them up. I think we'll have many opportunities to work together in the future."
"Well then, I've said all that needs to be said and I don't need you to accompany me on this random walk. I trust that with your skills you will soon rise to prominence within the kingdom. Just remember that I am your friend!" Phoebe winked at Han Shuo and said sweetly.
"Heh heh, your words today have inspired me greatly, I will remember them! Farewell Miss Phoebe, don't forget my rations!" Han Shuo smiled and suddenly changed direction, heading towards the northern part of the city.
Phoebe pouted angrily after quite some time had passed since Han Shuo had left, she said angrily in a voice only she could hear. "Damn it, all you care about is your rations!"