Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Changes for All Parties, a Secret Talk Between Master and Servant

After a brief and slightly awkward scramble, Reya finally lay back on the bed.

But her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes were a clear sign she was anything but calm.

After Jon and Joyina briefly discussed the Sun Church’s report declaring Reya a Divine Favored, Reya couldn’t help but ask the one question that was on everyone’s mind.

"Mr. Jon, is that manticore in the backyard your Magic Pet? What’s its name?"

At this question, not only Joyina but Rosalind as well turned to look at Jon.

Such rare Demon Beasts were indeed seldom seen. If Jon’s departure had been for its sake, it would be entirely understandable.

But Jon’s reply was completely unexpected.

"Yes, its name is Big Mimi. But I only just caught it in the outer regions of the Shery Mountains during my trip back. We aren’t long-time partners."

"If you want to get close to it, you should probably wait. It’s not very obedient yet and still needs to be tamed."

Hearing this, Joyina couldn’t help but ask curiously.

"Mr. Jon... is your home in a village near the Shery Mountains?"

It was only natural to be curious about the background of this powerful young Warrior, especially since he’d been blessed by the Deities she worshipped.

But Jon deftly sidestepped the topic.

"More or less. There’s not much to say about that..."

"By the way, Reya, you mentioned before that you wanted to use this opportunity to root out the traitors in the trading house. How did that go?"

The three women present all noticed Jon’s reluctance to discuss his background, which only made them more curious. However, none of them were tactless enough to press him on it at that moment.

Reya blinked and answered softly.

"The traitors in the trading house... have been detained by Ivory..."

"What awaits them is the justice of Imperial law."

Hearing this, Jon raised an eyebrow.

"Isn’t that letting them off a bit too easy?"

"As I recall, the Empire’s punishment for betraying an employer is imprisonment or exile?"

"Yes, that’s usually the case... but there’s a supplementary clause to that law."

A hint of steel entered the red-haired girl’s otherwise soft expression as she spoke.

"Those who betray their employer and thereby place them in mortal danger shall be stripped of all property and executed by hanging."

"After the interrogations were over, Ivory had them transferred to the Birch Town jail. Once spring arrives, they will be escorted to Heta City to face judgment."

Jon watched silently as Reya finished, a hint of approval in his eyes.

’It seems that even without the trauma of losing her father and Rosalind, this girl has still managed to grow...’

’Who said growth has to come from pain?’

’Turning every experience into your own power—that’s growth, too!’

At this thought, Jon couldn’t resist reaching out to pat Reya’s head, which made her shy all over again. She pulled the blanket up to hide her beet-red cheeks.

Then, Jon turned to the Priestess, who was watching with a fond, knowing smile, and asked her seriously.

"Ms. Joyina, is there any word from the Priest?"

"I previously reached an agreement with Knight Aston to share the results of Jeffrey Newman’s interrogation with us."

"He’s likely our best lead right now to uncover the mastermind’s identity."

Facing Jon’s question, Joyina’s smile vanished, and she replied seriously.

"Mr. Ingram mentioned this to me. He will inform you the moment the intelligence arrives."

"Moreover, because traces of an Evil Magic user were found in Birch Town this time, a request for reinforcements from the Defender Army has been sent to the high church along with Reya’s report. Judging by the timing, we should have a reply by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"That would be for the best."

Jon nodded and looked back at Reya, who was lying in bed.

"Many of the recent events have either been resolved or are awaiting an outcome. Overall, we still hold the initiative. No matter how the enemy reacts, we’ll have room to maneuver."

"Reya, as the leader of the trading house, you need to rest and recover so you can better face the complex situation ahead. If you have any problems, talk them over with us."

"It’s getting late, so I won’t stay any longer."

"Mm... I will..."

The red-haired girl, still bashful, gave a soft reply. She didn’t ask him to stay, but simply squeezed Jon’s hand. As if drawing some kind of Energy from the touch, she peacefully closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Jon turned and walked towards the door, giving Rosalind a meaningful look on his way out.

After preparing the potion Reya might need when she woke up, Rosalind also left the room without a word.

Joyina saw the exchange between them but didn’t think much of it.

’As the two people Reya trusted most, Jon and Rosalind likely had internal trading house matters to discuss. While I’m in charge of protecting and teaching Reya right now, I’m still an outsider. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to ask about their business.’

But what the Priestess couldn’t have imagined was that while Jon had called Rosalind away to discuss matters concerning the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House, it was more about certain "personal affairs."

...

In Resting Room 1, a warm lamp glowed softly.

Jon took off his cloak, handed it to Rosalind who had followed him into the room, and asked casually.

"Rosalind, how’s the search for a new base going?"

The silver-haired woman took the cloak, smoothed it out, and hung it on a coat rack as she answered softly.

"I’ve selected three locations that fit your requirements, Master."

Jon’s eyebrow twitched slightly at the use of "Master," but he said nothing. Instead, he spread his arms, signaling for Rosalind to continue speaking.

"The first is a small hall at 14 North Gate. The original owner decided to sell it due to the recent turmoil. Its advantage is that it’s near the main road, making it convenient for moving goods. The disadvantage is that it’s quite conspicuous."

"The second is on the edge of the Old Town District. It’s an abandoned outbuilding of a former nature church. Its advantages are its seclusion, a spacious and sturdy underground level, and a separate entrance, making it inconspicuous. The downside is that it’s a bit remote, which would make moving large quantities of goods inconvenient."

As she spoke, she naturally moved in front of Jon. With slender, somewhat unpracticed fingers, she began unfastening the buckles and straps on the side of his chestplate.

The cold pieces of armor were removed one by one, clinking softly as they came off and revealing the dark shirt underneath, which clung to Jon’s frame.

"The third option is the old site of ’Grent Manor,’ on the outskirts of the Merchant District."

Rosalind gently placed the chest plate on a low table nearby, then moved behind Jon to continue fiddling with the straps connecting his Shoulder Armor and Arm Armor.

"It was once the ancestral home of a knight. That knight has since gone bankrupt and forfeited the manor to the lord of Birch Town, Viscount Paris. The Viscount has no need to live in the residence, so he has put it up for sale."

"It has its own small Workshop and warehouse, and the living quarters are well-equipped—it would only need a simple cleaning to be usable. It also has pre-existing walls and a tall iron gate, offering good security. The location is also ideal. The only drawback is the high price..."

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