blueteamnovel Chapter 26 The Big Deal
Chapter 26 The Big Deal
"Master—Master—!"
Just as Hick's father was imagining how he would slap his wife's family, who looked down on him, in the face once he arrived in the capital, an anxious shout came from outside.
"What's going on? Why are you in such a panic? What kind of state are you in?!"
Before Hick's father could speak, the old butler standing to the side had already reprimanded him sternly.
"My lord! People from the capital have arrived! They're in the city now, demanding to see you! Judging by their entourage, it's several knights!"
The visitor, ignoring the steward's reprimand, rushed in to report urgently.
Hick's father frowned: "Someone from the capital?"
A hint of doubt flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.
"Heathon, invite them to the drawing room."
"Yes, sir!" Heaton replied and dashed out again.
"Please forgive me, sir, Heaton is too impetuous..." the old butler quickly apologized.
Hick's father waved his hand casually: "It's alright, young people have a lot of drive. Your son is just like you were back then. Go and prepare the reception room."
"Yes, sir."
Before long, Heaton led several tall men dressed in gleaming knight armor into the reception room.
Hick's father's gaze swept over the conspicuous insignia on their breastplates, and his doubts deepened.
The Moreno family?
Neither he himself nor his wife's family, the Evans family, had any close relationship with this illustrious family.
What are they doing in Ryan Territory?
"Riso Moreno greets Lord Ryan. I apologize for our rudeness in coming so suddenly!"
Leading the group was a middle-aged knight with a resolute face, who performed a standard knightly salute.
"It is an honor for the territory of Ryan to have a knight from the Moreno family grace us with his presence."
Hick's father returned the gift cautiously.
The Moreno family was a powerful force, far beyond what the small Ryan Territory could afford to provoke. Unable to discern their intentions, he could only maintain a superficial politeness.
After the two were seated and exchanged a few brief pleasantries, Riso got straight to the point:
"Lord Ryan, to be honest, our young master of the Moreno family... has unfortunately been murdered."
Hick's father's expression hardened. The Moreno family patriarch's son was dead? What did that have to do with him?
Rizzo's voice, heavy with suppressed sorrow, continued:
"We have identified the culprit. However, the family was hesitant to take action before."
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone now carrying a hint of deliberate flattery:
"But we recently heard that your son, Young Master Hick, has not only become an apprentice of Lord Pero, the newly promoted second-level wizard of the Silent Forest, but has also advanced to the third-level apprenticeship! The Moreno family has come to congratulate you on this joyous occasion."
As he spoke, he gave the knight beside him a wink.
The knight immediately took a heavy leather bag from his waist and respectfully placed it on the table.
"A small gift, 500 magic crystals, as a token of my congratulations to Young Master Hick." Riso's tone returned to calm.
500 Magic Crystals?!
Hick's father's gaze was instantly drawn to the bag, and he was shocked.
That's equivalent to 50,000 gold coins! The Moreno family's generosity far exceeded his expectations.
Shocked as he was, he did not refuse, after all, as a second-level wizard disciple, he deserved such a generous gift.
"Thank you for the Moreno family's kindness. However, this gift and the matter of your young master's murder..."
A cold glint flashed in Riso's eyes, and his knuckles unconsciously brushed against the hilt of his sword.
"The murderer who killed the young master has now infiltrated the Silent Forest and become a new apprentice! We have come here to plead with Young Master Hick to eliminate that apprentice within the tower!"
Hick's father was shocked and instantly understood what the other party meant by "inconvenience"—what was the inconvenience?
He clearly doesn't have the ability!
Even if the Moreno family had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to directly storm into the Silent Forest for revenge!
Therefore, after learning that Hick's status in the Wizard's Tower was no longer what it used to be, they quickly brought generous gifts to his door.
Although Hick's father was proud of his son's achievements, he had no intention of getting into such trouble for him.
Just as he was about to politely decline, Rizzo seemed to read his mind and preemptively offered a breathtaking price:
"Upon completion, the Moreno family is willing to offer an additional 2000 magic crystals!"
The number struck like a hammer blow, and Hick's father was so shocked that he almost took the blame for his son.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, pondered for a moment, and thought of the convoy that had just set off.
This is a hot potato; let our son decide for himself.
"Lord Riso," Hick's father began slowly.
"If it's convenient for you, you might want to join the convoy I just sent to the Silent Forest to deliver supplies."
"You can talk to Hick about this yourself. After all, the situation inside the Wizard Tower is complicated, and as an outsider, I really don't know anything about it."
Rizzo's eyes lit up, and he quickly said:
"That would be even better. Thank you, Lord Ryan."
Hick's father nodded and called out towards the door:
"Heathton, come in."
Heaton, who was being scolded by his father at the door, brightened up and quickly called out, "Coming, sir!"
Without waiting for his elderly father to say anything, he ran into the reception room.
This left the old butler looking helpless.
Heath's father looked at Heaton as he walked in and gave him instructions:
"Take these distinguished guests and catch up with the convoy ahead; they have something to discuss with Hick."
"Understood, sir."
Riso bowed to the knights, exchanged a few polite words, and then left with Heaton.
"Master, they..."
"It's nothing, I'm just showing you the way. They have a deal to discuss with Hick."
As he spoke, he weighed the bag containing 500 magic crystals in his hand, then said to the old butler:
"Go and give this bag of magic crystals to Heaton, and have him give it to Hick."
The old butler took the bag, bowed, and said:
"Understood, I'll go right away."
After saying that, he left the reception room.
Looking at the empty drawing room, Hick's father thought of those magic crystal coins.
"Looks like I'll have to work harder. And I'll have to give some money to his maternal grandfather too."
A few days later, in the Silent Forest.
The convoy gradually arrived deep within the Silent Forest, where they finally saw the majestic and magnificent Wizard's Tower standing there.
Because these people possessed Hick's identity verification, the magical artifacts along the way did not attack them.
Upon arriving at the Wizard Tower, several wizard apprentices who had already received the news walked up to the caravan.
"It's the Ryan family's convoy, isn't it?"
"Yes, Wizard, we are the Lane family's caravan, and these things are also to be given to Young Master Hick."
A middle-aged man wearing knight's armor bearing the insignia of the Ryan family stepped forward and replied.
"What kind of wizard is he? He's just an apprentice, just an apprentice."
Although that's what they said, the uncontrollable smiles on the apprentices' faces clearly betrayed their true feelings.
Heaton sensed the glances from several Moreno family knights, composed himself, and prepared to go and say hello.
"What are you doing here? What's in the car?"