The representatives of the Monarch Clans and the Prestigious Families were all gathered in one extremely spacious room, receiving the ultimate VIP Treatment from the staff of the Auction House.
They rarely got together, so whenever there was an opportunity, they used this setup to mingle with each other.
This was also the perfect method to play their "word games" with each other, where they tried to gain information that even their spies weren't able to get. "Arthur, are you going to bid for the Serpent Scales?" the Monarch who ruled the Aldebaran Continent, Trevor Remington, asked. "I'll bid for it," Arthur replied. "You will?" Claude Ashford, who was the representative of the Ashford Family, sneered. "Isn't the one who killed the Majin King your grandson? If you're going to tell us that he wasn't able to grab a single scale from that monster, then obviously that will be a lie."
Claude didn't even bother to act respectfully towards Arthur despite the latter being older than him. He simply treated him as an equal because, in his eyes, the Prestigious Families were beneath the Monarch Clans.
Arthur was already used to Claude's antics, but he couldn't be bothered to argue with him.
In his eyes, the Ashford Clan was not a big deal, especially now that he had gained two Mythical-Grade Equipment of his own. "My grandson is just like his stupid father," Arthur commented. "Despite killing a Majin King, that idiot didn't even bother to loot its body before the Laplace Demon took the monster's corpse away. What a waste."
Arthur did an exaggerated sigh while shaking his head helplessly.
Everyone in the room looked at him in disdain because none of them believed his words.
They had already asked some eyewitnesses who were there at the scene.
They stated that Zion didn't pick up any scales from the ground and only stood at the side while a giant Honey Badger feasted on the Majin King's Core.
This brought countless speculations, but at the end of the day, none of them believed that Zion didn't gain anything from his fight against the Majin King.
"Still, I've been wondering how your grandson is able to do all of these things," Claude said with a smile. "First, he fought a Majin Prince, then the Artemians. After that, he helped the Dvalinn Federation in the Rigel Continent. And now, his latest exploit is killing a Majin King.
"All of these feats are something that even the Monarchs cannot do by themselves. And yet, your grandson did it. Can you tell me his secret? How is he able to do such things?"
Arthur snorted. "Do you even need to ask such a question? Obviously, he is only able to do all of those amazing things because he inherited my amazing genes. Do you know that famous saying? Like grandfather, like grandson."
The people inside the room wanted to spit at the arrogant old man for being shameless.
Earlier, he said that Zion was stupid like his father, and now, he was bragging that his grandson was amazing because he inherited his amazing genes?
Talk about double standards!
Even Michael, who was steadfast and always calm, couldn't stop himself from moving two steps away from his father and averted his gaze.
This action didn't escape the eyes of the people inside the room, making them pity the right-hand man of the Leventis Family, who was known for his impeccable administrative skills.
"According to our sources, the reason why your grandson succeeded in killing the Majin King is because Laplace Demon offered him some help," Claude stated. "But I'm very curious. All of us know that the Laplace Demon isn't someone who shows favoritism to Wanderers.
"But after reviewing all of your grandson's exploits, I can't help but feel that the Laplace Demon favors him too much. What do you think about this?"
"I don't know why the Laplace Demon favors Zion," Arthur replied. "But if you have a problem with it, feel free to complain to Laplace Demon. I'll even ask Zion to write you a letter of recommendation if you want."
The corner of Claude's lips twitched because the Laplace Demon wasn't a creature that any Wanderers could meet just because they wanted to.
Although the Monarchs and the Thrones had seen him in the past, they had only seen him once or twice in their lifetime.
As for Zion's recommendation letter?
As if something like that would work!
Claude, who had been tasked by his father to fish for information, did his best to keep a smile on his face.
He knew that Arthur was an old fox, and it would not be easy to dig some information from him. However, he was hoping that the old man would slip up with the help of the people in the VIP Room.
"By the way, our Ashford Clan will host the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament a year from now," Claude said with a smile. "We are gathering the heroes of the younger generation. I hope that Zion can participate in the tourney. My nephews and nieces are dying to compete with him in the arena."
The Dragon and Phoenix Tournament was held every three years, and the host of the event would always be one of the Monarch Clans.
The next tournament would be hosted by the Ashford Clan, which would be held in the Cygni Continent.
This was their way of boosting the morale of the younger generation, who would help protect the continent from the Jinn Invasion.
Knowing his grandson's temperament, Arthur pondered a bit before shaking his head.
"Zion will not join this kind of tournament because he would feel like he is bullying others," Arthur replied.
"Bullying others?" Claude frowned. "What do you mean bullying others?"
"Have your nephews and nieces defeated a Majin Prince?" Arthur arched an eyebrow.
Claude's smile stiffened when he heard the old man's question.
"No," Claude replied.
"Then can your nephews, and nieces kill a Majin King?"
"Of course not."
Arthur laughed before raising his hand.
One of the waiters dutifully handed him a glass of wine, which Arthur held with a domineering poise.
"If your nieces and nephew couldn't even do those things, then why the hell would my grandson join that tournament?" Arthur shook his head. "If Zion were here, he would only have two words to say to you and your family members."
A deafening silence descended inside the room as everyone waited for the rest of Arthur's words. Knowing that everyone's attention was on him, the Patriarch of the Leventis Family smirked at Claude before saying the words that Thirteen often used against him.
"Skill issue." Arthur chuckled. "As you may already know, my grandson fought against three hundred people in the Temple of Courage on his own. This includes the members of the Hero Party. "Those three hundred people can be considered as the prodigies of the current generation, and they were still not able to beat him. So, tell me, does he really need to join the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament to prove his worth?"
The disdain in Arthur's voice made Claude realize that the old man was speaking the truth. If the Hero Party, as well as hundreds of Wanderers, couldn't even bring Zion down, then how could they possibly win against him in a one-on-one battle?
After pondering for a minute, Claude decided to back down for now and consult his father at a later time about the method that they should use to approach Zion.
For the time being, he shifted his attention back to the bidding and ignored the laughter of the other Families, who were amused by the result of his chat with Arthur Leventis.
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