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“Precisely. I ended up helping the Practor Family by accident and they soon hired me for a job. It was after I completed that job that they allowed me to enter the tournament,” stated Oli.

Lifting one eyebrow, Rhyner asked, “So you received that as payment for the job?”

“Correct.”

“It seems you’ve been struggling even more than you reported last time...” Glancing at Hurman, Rhyner rubbed his forehead. “You know we’ll help you if you just ask.”

“I know.”

“Yet you still don’t ask? Hurman, we’ve talked about this...”

.....

“Master Rhyner–”

“Just Rhyner, like I’ve told you again and again.”

“...” Shrugging and taking a deep breath, Hurman stated, “Please allow me to address you according to your title, as is custom for everyone else. I don’t need special treatment when there’s no reason for such.”

“Well... It wouldn’t be hard to come up with a reason. Right, Lizbeth?”

“Dad...”

“Either way, as things are now, my family and I have no reason to receive special treatment from the territory,” continued Hurman. “In the end, both Oliver and I feel that our deal was fair. And Oliver also managed to boost our influence with this victory, so it makes sense for both parties involved for Oliver’s entry in the tournament to work as his payment.”

“Then what was Oliver after? Was he that interested in joining my institute?” chuckled Rhyner. “Had he simply shown up at the city hall or the front gates of the institute and shown his essences, he would’ve been offered entry. And had he shown his soul arts during the initial assessment, Oliver would have easily been offered the best treatment the Institute has to offer.”

“But I’m not going to enter the warrior course.”

“WHAT?!” Nixt shouted from the side. “What do you mean?!”

“Please explain?” Rhyner added, staring at Oli more curiously.

Nodding to Rhyner and then Nixt, Oli explained, “Like Master Hurman, I seek the chance to create my own cultivation technique.”

“Even though your current techniques are already so powerful?”

Oli continued with another nod to Rhyner,” Yes. If there’s a chance I can create an original technique, then I want to take that chance. Blending my two essences is something I’ve always wanted to do, but the safest and most effective way for that to happen is for them to be linked via cultivation technique, not battle arts.”

“True... You’re quite well-learned for a nomad. I’ve never met a traveling youth with such profound opinions on cultivation,” remarked Rhyner. “So Hurman told you that taking the formation and magic courses would be better in the long run, even if the way of the warrior is your greatest strength at the moment?”

“That’s correct.”

Facing Hurman directly, Rhyner questioned, “How come you didn’t just present him to me directly?”

“Master Rhyner, the protocol–”

“You know that Lizbeth will set up an audience with me if you so much as ask, so why didn’t consider that? Had you gone through a more private route of presenting Oliver, you could’ve received far more benefits from me than through a tournament. It would’ve given me a great reason to intervene on your behalf with the Libarn Guild, wouldn’t it?”

“So you already know about that?”

“It’s not hard to see when your own granddaughter came running to Lizbeth. She was more accepting of her than you’ve been in a long while, even telling us of her father’s debts and the two ledgers that he keeps.”

Apart from those directly related to Rhyner, everyone else in the room turned to the territory leader in surprise. Adding to their shock, a familiar hawk suddenly came into view behind the lone window high above Rhyner’s desk. The bird easily dove through the open window and landed on a perch built into one side of the desk. In its mouth was a small, leather-bound book.

Taking that book, Rhyner quickly thumbed through its contents. After a few seconds, he sighed and shrugged before tossing the book to Hurman’s feet. “That ledger gives me more than enough evidence to mount an investigation into Reginol and his many anonymous deals. Go ahead, take a look.”

The humbled patriarch carefully picked up the book and looked over its pages in shock.

“That may not be enough evidence to force the Libarn Family to restructure their guild, but I’ve also managed to gain information on Claud’s darker deals as well. And he’s also got his hands meddling in your family...”

“What?!”

“Either way, had you brought Oliver privately, I would have an excuse to act out on your behalf. I’ll still be mounting an investigation and likely force Libarn to change who they let run their business, but aiding you directly will be a little difficult since this affects a few noble families... I can’t show blatant favoritism without a reason, right Hurman?”

“Right...” Hurman agreed with a broken sigh.

“But what if Oliver adopted your name before I make him my direct pupil?” Rhyner asked with a half-smile. “That would let me help out beyond just wiping your debts. Like helping your son get the medical attention he needs.”

“That...”

“I’m sorry, but I have a problem with that plan,” Oli stated, catching most everyone off guard. But both Hurman and Rhyner seemed unfazed by the interjection.

“And why’s that?”

“Because I don’t plan to take on the name of any noble family, nor do I wish to become your direct pupil.”

“You know... This is the first time any youth has refused to become my direct pupil...” But Rhyner suddenly chuckled and shook his head. “No, that’s wrong. It’s the second time someone has refused. And funnily, you both are standing before me right now, working together for reasons I don’t know...”

Now understanding a bit more about Hurman’s relationship with Rhyner, Oli sighed and let his brain start overclocking. He scanned and scoured his thoughts for what he could say next.

But Rhyner spoke up again. Sitting down, Rhyner leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and his chin on his knuckles. “Should I be asking you, or the man hiding in your shadow, Hurman?”