Chapter 88: Another Duel

The one receiving Frank was naturally that wretched Fatty. Fatty had already learned the cause and effect from the steward, and felt somewhat helpless about Old Xie’s actions. After all, that was a steward of a Great Noble Family, right? He had some status, like a dog kept by a Noble. When the dog barks randomly, you can beat it to vent anger, or point it out and let the Master handle it. But no matter what, you can’t just kill him yourself.

But the deed was done, so regret was useless. Moreover, the Stephen and Augustus Families already had conflicts, with great differences in both business and politics. Since the relationship wasn’t good to begin with, one more grudge didn’t matter. So when Frank came knocking, Fatty didn’t give him a good look. Not only did he not admit fault, he counter-accused, saying the Augustus Family had poor discipline.

Such a conversation obviously couldn’t continue, and after a big argument, Frank went home in a rage.

After returning home, Frank first kicked the crying concubine who demanded revenge unconscious, then smashed the furniture in a room, and finally called the steward in, panting, and asked angrily: “Think of a way for me to teach the Stephen Family a lesson and vent this anger!”

“How about suing Little Stephen for killing someone on the street?” The steward immediately suggested.

“Idiot!” Frank was so angry he slapped him, cursing: “A commoner insulting a Noble deserves death. Do you think anyone would punish Little Stephen for that? At most he’d pay a few silver coins. Do you want me to beg for that little money from them like a beggar?”

“This, this~” The steward covered his mouth and groaned, then helplessly said: “Then we can only start that plan!”

“That plan?” Frank was slightly stunned, then gritted his teeth and said: “Fine, since they are unjust, don’t blame me for being unrighteous. Start it immediately!”

“But, Clan Head, you must consider clearly. Once this plan starts, it means we will enter a full confrontation stage with the Stephen Family, with no possibility of reconciliation!” The steward couldn’t help persuading.

“Fuck that!” Frank cursed: “That dead fatty drove me out of his house today without giving any face. Do you think there’s any damn chance of reconciliation? Since we’re going to fight, let’s fight to the end and see who fears who!”

“Then, then alright!” The steward sighed helplessly.

……

Old Xie was completely unaware that he had inadvertently triggered all the deep contradictions between the two major families. Early the next morning, he went out excitedly, first checking the Hercules Family’s shop, but found no trace of the beauty Constantine. Having failed to encounter the beauty, Old Xie went to that Grand Hotel again with a helpless mood, enjoyed a good meal, and then took a carriage back to the Mage Tower.

Just as he entered the door, he was called by the Mage Tower’s steward Lilith to the Old Mage. The Old Mage was clearly in a very excited state, and upon seeing Old Xie, immediately laughed: “Haha, you’re finally back. How was it? Smooth?”

“Yeah!” Old Xie nodded and said with a bad smile: “I not only made Lan Fake agree to treat Krishchen, but I also heard a lot of interesting things from his mouth!”

“What interesting things?” The Old Mage immediately asked nervously.

“Forgot!” Old Xie said very bluntly at first, and when the Old Mage’s face relaxed, he suddenly shouted: “I only vaguely remember something about someone being turned into a frog and soaked in a water tank, and someone leaving home to go to the Imperial Capital of Light ten thousand miles away to rob a bride! Other things, I just carelessly forgot!”

“Damn!” The Old Mage’s face turned green when he heard this. He had only a few embarrassing incidents in his life, and now Lan Fake had spilled them all. He couldn’t help cursing: “That damn blue-skinned toad, I curse his tongue to rot!”

“Haha!” Seeing the Old Mage so flustered and exasperated, Old Xie was incredibly happy!

“Alright, alright, just keep these things to yourself, don’t spread them!” The Old Mage could only helplessly instruct him, then took out a large ancient scroll and handed it to Old Xie: “This is the bet we won, the complete Alchemy Formula for the Goblin Mine! I’ve copied one, you take this original for reference, don’t damage it, this is a treasure!”

“Huh?” Old Xie took it and asked curiously: “I thought Rui Li would renege. Why would she suddenly be willing to give this to you?”

“This, I’m also strange!” The Old Mage suddenly said: “Based on my understanding of her, her anger wouldn’t dissipate for months. I originally planned to wait for her to calm down before asking for it. But unexpectedly, the day before yesterday she came to find me personally and took it out, saying a bet is a bet?”

“With your understanding of Rui Li, is she the type to honor a bet?” Old Xie immediately asked curiously.

“Obviously not!” The Old Mage shook his head and smiled bitterly: “I know her very well. She is the typical sore loser. If she lost to me, she would most likely renege. If she lost to someone else, she would shift the loss onto me!”

“Then obviously, there’s something fishy here!” Old Xie then asked: “Besides giving this, did she say anything else?”

“Oh, she said she wants to bet again!” The Old Mage also found it strange: “The rules are the same as the last two times, right here!”

“Bet again?” Old Xie was puzzled: “Why is she so stubborn?”

“Don’t know!” The Old Mage shrugged: “Maybe she has other tricks up her sleeve!”

“What’s the bet?” Old Xie asked, “She wouldn’t be trying to get something for nothing, would she?”

“Of course not!” The Old Mage became very excited at this point, grabbing Old Xie’s shoulder and saying excitedly: “It turns out, what she got last time were two scrolls. Besides this Goblin Mine, there was also the complete Alchemy Blueprint for the low-level Goblin Mortar. Oh my, the bet this time is that. You must win, you absolutely must win it!”

“Goblin Mortar?” Old Xie’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He had long heard of the power of this thing. It was said its range could reach 1500 meters, farther than a siege catapult, and its power was strong, capable of causing huge damage to City Walls. Yet its volume was small, able to be dragged around by a few Goblins, obviously a terrifying thing.

“Exactly, it’s this thing, you must do your best!” The Old Mage said anxiously.

“Sure, isn’t it just dealing with a little girl? No problem!” Old Xie agreed readily, then asked: “By the way, have you built the Goblin Mine yet?”

“Still in production!” The Old Mage said.

“Then you study it first!” Old Xie returned the Blueprint to the Old Mage and said: “Anyway, I’m too lazy to do it. If you can build it, try giving it to the Imps. If they learn it, hehe, the output will be huge!”

“Right, why didn’t I think of that!” The Old Mage immediately nodded, “Okay, I will definitely try my best to make these little guys learn to build Goblin Mines!” After saying that, the Old Mage walked away in a hurry.

……

Two days later, again on the first floor of this Mage Tower, four people met again. Little Princess Lanslo Snow still had that look wanting to eat someone, but this time she had obviously learned her lesson, knowing she couldn’t gain an advantage verbally, so she didn’t curse out loud, just stared at Old Xie with that resentful, angry gaze, making Old Xie feel a bit uncomfortable, thinking, was he being a bit too mean to this little girl?

Just as Old Xie was doubting himself, Rui Li spoke, “Teacher, and Little Stephen, today I want to prove to you that my student is the best!”

“Hmm?” Both the Old Mage and Old Xie looked at her with suspicion.

Rui Li didn’t care, just said coldly: “Let the facts speak! Get ready, I’ll count to 3, then start! 1, 2, 3, start!”

This time, the Little Princess surprisingly didn’t cheat, and only shouted formally after Rui Li said start, “Magic Shield!”

Immediately, in just a split second, a pale blue Magic Shield appeared in front of her. The Old Mage immediately exclaimed: “That’s impossible, instant Magic Shield requires at least a Level 3 Mage to do. You, you definitely used magic jewelry to cheat!”

“Hehe, you’re wrong!” Rui Li smiled calmly, then announced proudly: “Due to the huge stimulus Little Xue received last time, she awakened the talent of a God-blessed One. This Magic Shield was indeed cast by her own power! I didn’t even give her that item!” Rui Li’s words revealed immense pride and accomplishment, as if victory was already in the bag.