Chapter 49: Value

Chapter 49: Value

The nobles who were preparing for the marriage alliance already knew there would be no result this time. Initially, they prepared a price for buying an idiot, leaving some room for bargaining, but no matter how much room, it was still the price for an idiot. Now, facing a Northlands child who wasn’t too foolish, the original price was clearly inappropriate.

The wealth recently revealed by the Northlands seemed somewhat unexpected. When one side’s bargaining chips changed, the other side also needed to make adjustments. However, such adjustments couldn’t be decided immediately, so the matter had to be postponed for now. Bran was still young; they could always wait and see.

Temporarily setting aside their respective goals, everyone began to communicate in a relatively relaxed and harmonious manner. The teenagers also felt less invisible pressure, gradually forming small, intersecting circles.

By now, Bran’s image as an idiot had completely vanished. He had completed a brilliant, image transformation—a little pervert. Do not think Bran had other intentions; he was just with the Northlands tough girls all day, and the boundaries between men and women became a bit blurry for him. It was all just habit, just like he was already used to being held in Danny’s arms. Just like when he naturally helped Zoya put on the anklet and casually touched her calf in the process…

This was not so easy to explain! Since there was no possibility of becoming family for now, letting that little bastard Bran take advantage again would be a loss. So, under the stern warnings of their elders, the young maidens all maintained a safe distance from Bran. Only one person was an exception: Eileen.

“Come here, little Bran, I can let you hold my hand, just like Danny does,” Eileen said with a look of condescension.

“My Danny could drown you with a single spit, and you want to be like Danny? Dream on!” Bran said with a face full of disdain.

“What are your plans? Look at your little lovers; they all ran off after getting benefits from you.”

Hearing this, Bran bared his two big front teeth, took Eileen’s hand, and said, “As long as I have you by my side, that’s enough.”

Then, he saw goosebumps appear even on Eileen’s neck. Was this reaction a bit too strong?

Eileen shivered, looked at Bran holding her small hand, and said, “I don’t mind someone confessing their feelings, but I mind a little sissy confessing to me.”

“But, don’t you think we’re a perfect match, you tomboy?”

Eileen and Bran looked at each other. Both troublemakers felt this made a lot of sense. So, under the somewhat dumbfounded gazes of the other youths, they walked off arm in arm, wrapped around each other’s necks and waists, affectionately…

Not far away, Aiman, who was buzzing around Lily like a fly, got anxious. He rushed over in a few steps and blocked their path. “What are you two going to do?”

Bran felt dizzy. What’s our relationship? What business is it of yours what I do?

Eileen directly voiced Bran’s thoughts: “What’s it to you!?”

Aiman stood there awkwardly, unable to back down. Then he prepared to use his age and status to overpower his sister, but Bran spoke up then: “Can we two take him? You block him head-on for a couple of sword strikes, I promise to circle behind and slap the back of his neck twice.”

Seeing his sister looking eager to try, Aiman stamped his foot in anger and left.

…

“A few days ago, you two seemed fine. What happened?”

“Isn’t it because of your sister?”

“What did my sister do to you?”

“She actually seduced my brother.”

“Nonsense, it’s your brother buzzing around my sister like a fly.”

Then the two troublemakers hugged each other even tighter.

“Believe I’ll strangle you!?” Eileen tightened her arm around Bran’s neck.

“Believe I’ll stab you to death?” Bran squeezed Eileen’s waist hard, a small knife flashing in his hand before disappearing.

Then the two walked passionately embraced towards the outside of the Mountain Villa…

“Let’s go to the market,” Bran suggested.

“How? Can you find a horse willing to carry you?”

“Isn’t there you?”

“Get lost! Believe I’ll slap you!”

Bran explained: “I mean, you ride the dragon and take me along.”

Eileen found it strange and looked at Bran, asking, “I see you get along well with the animals in the Manor. Why won’t those ponies let you ride them?”

Bran sighed and explained: “Not just well, we get along too well, too equally. That’s why they won’t let me ride them.

Don’t look at me with such ignorance and surprise. Would you normally carry your brother around on your back? Or would your brother normally carry you on his back?

Your dragons, they seem like your partners, but the premise is they are mounts, and then they are partners. You cultivate this partnership for better riding.

But I’m not like that. I have no purpose; partners are just partners. So when I want to ride on them, it’s an offense. But I believe if real danger occurs, they will help me. They also wouldn’t mind carrying me for a while, but normally, forget it.

Actually, in the Manor, not all animals refuse to let me ride. Danny’s horse, the two oxen used to pull carts in the Manor—they are used to certain relationships.”

“Then why don’t you ride them?” Eileen pressed.

“I don’t like the way they look at me and treat me.”

“What way?”

“They look at me like I’m a child, licking my face as soon as they see me…”

Eileen laughed and patted Bran’s shoulder in comfort.

…

Bran and Eileen stood on the dragon’s back, watching the Crystal Ball from the outskirts of the crowd. Even though several days had passed, the onlookers hadn’t decreased. Eileen marveled, “So beautiful! How did you all do it?”

“A gift from the Phoenix.”

“Stop lying to me. After the initial frenzy, everyone here understands you really dug a big pit,” Eileen said somewhat resentfully.

Bran gave an awkward chuckle. “Just a game, don’t mind it.”

“How are you planning to sell this?” Eileen gestured.

“It doesn’t matter how to sell it; I just want everyone to get what they need. For example, your specialty metal Dragon Gold, or these Caravans being able to provide enough high-quality cloth. It’s a pity these bastards brought some inferior goods. Otherwise, given the Caravan’s scale, how could they just be watching?”

“I heard someone entered the Mountain Villa at night. Why haven’t I seen you take any action?”

“Just needed a few corpses, and it’s not good to kill for no reason.” Bran gestured with his hand over the heads of the people around them, which caused a momentary silence in the vicinity. “So I just spread a message. If anyone has had enough of living, they can come. Everyone gets what they need.”

Bran didn’t deliberately lower his voice, causing those around who heard this to curse inwardly. Is that what ‘getting what you need’ means?

Bran continued: “There was also a rather special person, actually a Wizard, whose ability was to merge into Shadows.” At this, Bran laughed, inexplicably.

Eileen’s curiosity was completely piqued, and she kept asking: “What happened? What exactly happened?”

The people around subconsciously quieted down, pricking up their ears to eavesdrop.

“He merged into the Shadow and became part of the Manor’s Mural. Now, it’s unclear whether he’s considered alive or dead?” Bran then mocked: “Was he afraid the Manor’s exterior wall decorations weren’t good enough?”

“Liar, it’s fake!” Eileen didn’t believe it.

“Go see for yourself. It’s quite a vivid Mural, a pretty good collection piece.”

“You must be overwhelmed, so you came up with this deceptive trick,” Eileen still wore an expression of disbelief.

Bran smiled, very sincerely and confidently: “It’s just that these past two days the White Wolves have been eating a bit too much. I guarantee no one who entered the Mountain Villa escaped. Otherwise, you Dragon Riders can give it a try. Bring a few more people; coming with too few won’t be enough.”

“Get lost!”

“Don’t think we don’t know. That Wizard and two Dragon Riders arrived one after the other, and then you Dragon Riders got scared off. What a pity. Wanted to chase them out and capture a couple alive, but my mom wouldn’t let me,” Bran said with a little smug look.

“How much for this Phoenix light show?” Eileen, seeing her probing purpose was discovered, decided to change the subject.

“Friend price for you. You offer two or three pieces of Dragon Gold, and I’ll practically give it to you.”

“Deal. Just as my father said, Northlanders forget themselves as soon as they get proud.” Saying this, Eileen urged her mount to push through the crowd and headed towards the crystal.

Bran: “Uh…”