"Actually, I want the five of us to form a party."
Ambrose's words hung in the air like a spell, transforming the dining table's atmosphere. The crackling of the yet to be put out fire provided the only sound as each person processed this unexpected proposal in their own way.
Adelaide and Hualing remained seemingly unaffected – as Ambrose's subordinates, their allegiance was already secured. Whether he called it a party or a private army made little difference to their dedication. Still, Adelaide couldn't help but steal glances at the others, her mind already calculating the implications of this expanded circle.
Meihua adjusted her glasses, her mind racing. She'd come seeking Marcus for protection, following the plot points she remembered from the novel. Instead, she found herself being invited into a party by the Rothschild heir himself. She had wanted to avoid Ambrose earlier due to Hualing's volatile nature, yet here she was, contemplating joining his inner circle. Though she had to acknowledge that it was indeed a good deal, even the kingdom's most prestigious guilds couldn't match the resources the Rothschild family could provide.
Her eyes darted to Marcus, curious about his reaction. She knew that Marcus had trouble trusting people after being kicked out of the party and even more after Hualing's betrayal. And now he was being asked to join a party with the person who had killed him in his previous life. She wondered what choice he would make.
Marcus sat in rigid silence, his expression carefully neutral as he processed the offer. He couldn't deny the advantages – the Rothschild family's resources could accelerate his growth far beyond what he'd achieved in his previous life. Such backing could help him prevent past tragedies and right former wrongs. Yet hesitation gripped him.
His eyes flickered to Hualing, memories of her betrayal in his previous timeline sending a chill down his spine. The knife-wielding maid who had nearly ended his life mere minutes ago bore little resemblance to the shy girl he'd first met in that other time. Now she just sat by Ambrose's side, humming cheerfully as if she hadn't just threatened to kill him.
Another concern gnawed at him – Meihua's Mythical-grade talent far outshone his mere Top-grade ability so he wondered why he was invited as well. He'd learned the hard way how quickly "friends" could turn once they deemed you inferior. The memory of Lysander's party surfaced unbidden – the camaraderie that had soured into contempt, the backs that had turned once his talent proved insufficient.
Marcus studied Ambrose's face, searching for signs of similar disdain. The heir's expression remained open, almost innocent – much like Lysander's had been at first. The thought made Marcus pause. Was he projecting past trauma onto this situation? Or was his instinct warning him of genuine danger?
"So, what do you think?" Ambrose's gentle inquiry broke through Marcus's spiraling thoughts.
"I—" Marcus began, then paused. A cold calculation settled over him. Well, it didnt matter now, refusing might offend Ambrose. Making an enemy off the Rothschild heir – potentially much more dangerous than Lysander had ever been.
Besides, he'd evolved his talent once; he didn't believe he couldn't do it a second time. If he could match or surpass Meihua's Mythical grade, his position would be secure. As for Hualing... proximity might provide answers to questions that had haunted him across two lifetimes.
Rising smoothly, Marcus offered a formal bow. "I'm willing to join the young master's party."
Meihua followed suit almost immediately, not wanting to be left behind. "I'm also willing," she declared, bowing deeply.
Ambrose's smile carried genuine satisfaction. He'd wondered how to draw these two main characters to his side, yet they'd willingly delivered themselves to his doorstep. "It seems my luck is quite good," he thought. Now he could mooch off the protagonist's aura while maintaining a safe distance from the most dangerous events. His internal monologue took on an almost playful tone: "I guess you could say that I'll be: Surviving the magic academy with just intelligence stats."
A/N - Okay I'll stop
…
Meihua shifted uncomfortably on the ground as she studied Ambrose's serene expression. Despite the pleasant meal they'd just shared, a nagging sense of unease persisted in her mind. "Why do I feel like I've fallen into a trap?" she wondered, watching their newly appointed party leader with careful attention.
The choice of Ambrose as leader wasn't weird as many might think - while he might lack physical prowess, it was common practice in the kingdom for intelligence-types to take command positions. Their strategic insight often proved more valuable than raw strength.
The atmosphere shifted as Ambrose reached into his spatial ring with deliberate grace. Three objects materialized in his hand, their crystalline surfaces catching the afternoon light. With careful precision, he placed them on the makeshift table before them. Meihua, Marcus, and Adelaide's eyes widened in unison as recognition dawned - these weren't ordinary crystals, but high-grade mana crystals, each worth a small fortune.
Ambrose distributed them with a knowing smile, watching their reactions. His Mind's Eye ability had already revealed the crystals' true value when he'd examined his spatial ring's contents after his talent evolution, but even he was somewhat surprised by the intensity of their responses.
Meihua accepted hers with trembling fingers, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. Despite knowing Ambrose's wealthy background, such casual generosity exceeded her expectations. Her earlier suspicions began to feel foolish - how could this be a trap when it was clearly a windfall? The mana crystal in her hands represented exactly what she'd been hoping to obtain through far more dangerous means.
Adelaide's reception was more complex. Through their telepathic link, Ambrose had already made it clear the crystal wasn't meant for selling. Her frustration was evident in the slight downturn of her lips - as someone familiar with the [Accounting] talent's progression path, she saw little value in awakening abilities she could already approximate through normal means. To her merchant's mind, the crystal's monetary value far exceeded its practical worth.
Marcus perhaps showed the most genuine joy, though his enthusiasm was tempered by frequent nervous glances toward Hualing. The mana crystal represented an unexpected blessing - he'd been preparing himself for a deadly confrontation with the boss monster at the hidden cave to obtain one of lesser quality. Only Hualing's constant killing intent marred his elation.
"Hualing, are you jealous?" Ambrose asked, noting his bodyguard's intense stare.
"Young master... I-" she began, but Ambrose cut her off with a smile.
"Actually, I didn't give you one because you have yet to awaken your talent," he explained smoothly. "How about this - if you manage to awaken your talent before the test ends, I'll give you three."
The offer was calculated. Ambrose had no desire to further empower his already formidable and unstable bodyguard. The crystals given to the others served as a precautionary measure, ensuring he'd have some protection if Hualing ever turned against him.
He didn't believe that she'd do that but it was always better to be prepared just in case. As for the promise - he considered it safely impossible. He knew that Hualing had the potential to awaken a talent, but awakening in such a small time period was simply impossible. If people could awaken talents just simply because they wanted to, wouldn't everyone have a talent?
Yet despite his logical assessment, a tendril of anxiety curled in his stomach. Something about Hualing's responding smile made him wonder if he'd just made a grave miscalculation.