While Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim remained stumped, Xiao Meili's expression was a bit disappointed. In her years working in this Verdant Alstreim Treasure House, she has never seen an accommodating person, nor had she seen a more overbearing person than him.

Did Alchemist Davis have enmity with Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim, or is it something concerning Young Mistress Nora Alstreim? She couldn't help but wonder.

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim narrowed his eyes after his confusion cleared. However, he still couldn't process the meaning behind Alchemist Davis's words.

Judging by the context, there were three nuances he managed to find.

One is that Alchemist Davis has become greedy for Dragon Queen Isabella with his growing prowess, and so can no longer hold his loyalty towards her but wanted to make her his woman!

The second was to warn him that his own subordinate would become greedy because of something or someone else and try to backstab him.

The last one is one of his many subordinates have become greedy and sold themselves to someone else, ready to backstab him.

If someone asked him what he believed Alchemist Davis meant, it would either be the first one or the last one. The last one had already happened. It wasn't anything surprising to speak of... That left, the more likely the first inference.

But, if it were the second inference... that someone else could be Alchemist Davis himself! He would be the only one who could probably sway his close subordinates!

However...

'Perhaps... Is Alchemist Davis warning me that he would corrupt Zeno Alstreim with incentives and flowery words?' Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim mused but inwardly laughed.

'What foolishness... Zeno would never betray me...'

He felt that just the thought itself was absurd. How could someone who has remained loyal for thousands of years turn against him?

The loyalist's blood was filled with reverence and worship for a long time already, and even if there were chances of betrayal, he felt that it should be very less that it can be considered negligible. Besides, he never treated the other party with contempt or used as disposable property but showered with rewards and praises.

How could a subordinate who has never been wronged by him betray in cold-blood?

However, there were others he felt that he should be cautious of...

Due to the Aqua Flood Dragon incident, he knew that many were starting to waver, conform, and harmonize with other sides. He had personally executed a few these days, making him again know some people's true faces. Moreover, if it weren't for Zeno Alstreim, who was acting like he was going to betray him on the behest of his orders, he wouldn't have even known half of the others who were truly prepared to betray him.

Yes, Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim was the one who ordered Elder Zeno Alstreim to act distant from himself at the Alchemy Exchange! This allowed him to pick out the weeds and keep the crops as the former had contacted Zeno Alstreim, misunderstanding that he was dis-aligning himself from his master!

In these two months, he faced so many betrayals all of a sudden that he became utterly tired of it, no longer caring about the other party's reason to betray and mercilessly killed! Moreover, his daughter Elise Alstreim was unable to concentrate on her cultivation and became a bit listless, spacing out all the time.

Clearly, Weiss Alstreim's betrayal had taken a clear toll on her. This made him feel even more fatigue than killing those subordinates whom he thought were loyal.

But whenever he recalled Nora Alstreim's face, he was able to keep smiling, knowing that their future would become better.

'Realistically, the fact that Nora was able to make Alchemist Davis hand over the Enlightenment Martial Surge Pill to me for Elise speaks volumes of her progress in the Purple Guest Palace.'

'Perhaps, it is truly just a matter of time before Nora truly shines under the Dragon Queen's light...' He couldn't help but become satisfied as he looked at the pill in his hand.

...With this, his daughter would finally be able to step into the Martial Master Stage, thereby regaining her lost vitality!

However, he didn't know that Nora Alstreim was miserable; that she had her cultivation base sealed and mercilessly beaten up before being locked in a room, facing an unknown fate!

In the silence, Xiao Meili's eyes became moist as she finally recalled that she came here for as she forgot her current worries.

'Father... Mother... Xiao Melli has finally earned enough wealth to return and set up a shop that would support us and last for generations...'

It was just too many years had passed that she forgot the reason she came here and worked hard to make ends meet without getting married like her peers back in the town.

Just the living conditions, and to live safely without being harassed by a few scums cost a fortune that she ended up running on fumes certain days! Few times, she had to even hire bodyguards with her own wealth so that she would not be harmed when she traveled outside the city for doing errands.

"Xiao Meili, do you want to become the vice-manager of my Verdant Alstreim Treasure House?"

"Eh?" Xiao Melli became stunned.

She slowly turned her head to look at Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim in question, wondering if she heard it right.

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim repeated the same thing, and Xiao Meili finally realized that what she heard wasn't wrong. She was initially planning to resign and return to her town to initiate humble beginnings, but who would've thought she would be personally invited by the Grand Elder!?

Right now, she felt utterly graced and honored!

There was still room for growth!

Xiao Melli gave a deep bow as she clasped her hands, "Xiao Meili thanks Grand Elder for his magnanimous and indiscriminate heart, and humbly accepts the vice-manager position of the Verdant Alstreim Treasure House."

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim laughed.

'Ah, little lass. You aren't a person of the Alstreim Family. Otherwise, for receiving even a bit of favor from Alchemist Davis, you would've stood a chance to gain a Low-level Emperor Grade Treasure...' He inwardly sighed.

'The least I can do is reward you with this post.'

He knew about the ongoing commotion that had exploded from yesterday. It seemed like every family elders, Elders, and Grand Elders subtly gave their approval to the younger generation for this matter. Every younger generational expert, especially young maidens, was aiming to earn the favor of Alchemist Davis.

'Well, which family doesn't want the addition of talent, especially when the talent leaves everyone out of their league? However, isn't this a bit shameful?'

'Oh well, in front of benefits, what is shame? I'm similarly sinful for a few deeds of the past, but as for Nora, she will be the one to decide who she wants, not the other way around.' Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's eyes flashed.

If Alchemist Davis tried to make a move against her, he didn't know what he should do... but if it was mutual, he welcomed it all the same. He took a deep breath and relaxed.

"Vice-manager Xiao Melli..."

"Y-Yes!" Xiao Melli came out of her reverie and stood in attention.

Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim smiled, "Your first task as the vice-manager is to personally deliver these Poison Essences to Alchemist Davis in the Purple Guest Palace."

"Yes!"