Chapter 115: Chapter 114: The Truth of the Threat

When Jon and Ivory arrived at the trading house’s council hall, quite a few people were already there. Besides a few familiar faces, there were also some Jon didn’t recognize; they were likely people in charge of other affairs within the trading house.

Pascal was among them, his young face a mixture of nervousness and excitement, clearly from participating in such a "high-level" meeting for the first time.

Reya sat at the head of the table, wearing a long, deep teal dress that accentuated her elegant demeanor, with a fur-trimmed vest over her shoulders. The moment she saw Jon enter the council hall, she gave him a gentle smile.

Rosalind, Joyina, and Evans, who were seated on either side of her, all nodded to him in greeting. The few others he didn’t know well sized him up with curiosity.

They had long been curious about this young man who had saved the young miss and resolved the trading house’s crisis, but they had never had the chance to meet him.

Seeing him today, he was even younger and more imposing than they had imagined. And word was, the terrifying manticore in the rear courtyard was his Magic Pet!

With all these factors combined, the gazes of these Ordinary people were filled with considerable awe and reverence.

Jon paid no mind to their stares. Seeing an empty seat next to Evans, he walked over and sat down, while Ivory took a seat with the other women.

A moment later, a gray-haired, middle-aged man walked in. He wore brown leather armor, carried dual swords, and had the air of a melancholy poet. After greeting Reya, he sat down on Evans’s other side.

Seeing the ruler-like precision in his movements and the ring of throwing knives on his belt, Jon understood.

’This must be the other person Reya mentioned from the reinforcements. Looks like he’s a dual-wielding Ranger...’

This was a variant of the Ranger class that eschewed bows and arrows, instead choosing close combat and thrown weapons as its primary fighting style. It was a class with an extremely high skill ceiling and a very low skill floor, mostly seen among the long-lived Elves who had ample time to hone their craft. It was quite rare for human Professionals to choose this path.

’However, since a father sent this man to protect his own daughter, he can’t be some fraud. I just wonder if I can spar with him to grind for experience like I can with Evans...’

After the gray-haired man sat down, he noticed Jon sizing him up. He turned his head, met Jon’s gaze, and then introduced himself.

"Vedri."

’Short and to the point. Seems he’s not much of a talker,’ Jon thought, and then stated his own name in return.

With Vedri’s arrival, everyone with decision-making authority in the Golden Maple Leaf Trading House was now present.

Reya surveyed the room and officially began the day’s agenda.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Today, we will be discussing the true identity of the enemies who have recently been attacking our United Commerce Association."

"But before that, I must formally introduce someone to all of you—"

She stood up and gestured toward the young Warrior seated first on her left.

"Mr. Jon, our benefactor."

"Without him, I would have long since fallen into our captors’ hands. Without him, Rosalind would have also died in the assassination attempt. Without him, we would not have obtained the vital intelligence we are here to discuss today."

"Not to mention that three days ago, it was he who personally slew the Evil Mage, freeing us all from the threat of a terrible power."

The weakness from invoking a miracle still affected Reya, making her complexion seem somewhat pale, but her words were resonant and forceful, striking everyone’s hearts like a steel chisel shattering ice.

"Without him, we would not be sitting here today, calmly holding this council!"

"Mr. Jon is a benefactor to us all! A person so important that we must repay him with everything we have!"

As she finished speaking, Rosalind and the several other Professionals who had been in the convoy that day all rose in unison and gave Jon a solemn bow.

As these people of power and authority rose to bow, the others—though they didn’t feel it as deeply—followed their lead.

For a moment, everyone in the vast council hall was bowing to a single young man.

Jon clearly hadn’t expected Reya to make such a scene and looked a bit stunned.

But he quickly understood her intentions. This was not only to express her formal gratitude but also to establish his status within the trading house.

Faced with such a solemn scene, he couldn’t very well act aloof, so he simply stood up and returned the bow.

"Everyone, I’ve received your thanks. As an Adventurer, I simply did what I could when the time was right."

"I’m also honored to be able to stand here and work with all of you."

"But now is not the time to assign credit or discuss rewards. We will have many more opportunities to get to know each other in the future."

With that, he nodded to Reya.

"For now, let’s get down to business."

Reya and Jon’s eyes met. The affection in her emerald-green eyes was unconcealed for all to see.

But she didn’t care. She just looked at Jon and nodded gently.

"Very well. As Mr. Jon said, we will have many more opportunities to get to know each other in the future."

"Now, the council will officially begin."

She sat back down, her gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"According to the results of the Sun Church’s interrogation of Jeffrey Newman, the recent attacks on our Noble United Commerce Association, as well as the kidnappings, assassinations, and various other crimes, were all carried out by the same group."

"They are called—the Blood Eye Association."

No wasted words, she went straight to the point.

This direct and decisive style made those who weren’t familiar with the young miss shudder slightly.

Reya, however, paid no mind to their reactions and continued in a serious tone.

"It is an extremist organization whose goal is to restore the Archer Empire, which was overthrown by the current Benest Royal Family one hundred and thirty-five years ago."

"Their main strategy is to create chaos in various regions, attack nobles both high and low who hold power, and seize control of local governance or economies. By doing so, they create de facto independent territories to achieve their goal of restoring the empire."

"The reason we’ve recently found ourselves ’under siege’ is that their targets largely overlap with the noble members who form the core of our association."

"Therefore, this is not some vicious business competition. This is a premeditated act of rebellion against the entire imperial system!"

The council hall fell into a sudden silence.

After letting everyone digest this wave of information, Reya dropped another bombshell.

"Furthermore, according to Jeffrey Newman’s confession, behind the Blood Eye Association’s activities in Heta County, there are also traces of the Eternal Frost Sect!"

Her words caused an uproar.

Who living around the Shery Mountain range wouldn’t know of the infamous reputation of the Eternal Frost Sect?!

For years, the evil deeds committed by those madmen, who commit atrocities under the banner of faith, were enough to make a crying child fall silent!

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