Early next day, the boys continued their journey heading towards Jim’s home, the Hope family mansion.

When they reached the Dirt Gold territory, the area patrol saw the Hope emblem from afar and greeted them. This place is the closest settlement to the capital with very few bandits, and the guards are pretty lax.

Riding on the back of the Land Wyrm, the gigantic beast may be a sight to behold, but it is well within the range of someone from a powerful merchant family.

They walked through rich pastures near the border undisturbed until they met several shepherds tending to their flock that looked at them with wide, curious eyes. When they noticed Jim in the group, they shouted warm greetings over, “Heyyy Young Jim! You’re back from school?”

“Uncles! You’re tending the sheep early today!” He shouted back happily.

Jim and his mother might be treated as eyesores back in the Hope mansion, but they are very popular with the locals, especially with their amicable nature towards the lowborn, unlike the others. It is no wonder because Jim himself felt treated like a lowborn among his family.

It was after heading into the territory for a good six hours that they finally arrive near the Hope’s mansion.

A stupendous view welcomed the boys when they arrive. The entire mansion is surrounded by spirit grass, a high-class weed-like plant which generates several times more Heavenly Energy into the air than most herbs.

Heavenly Energy comes from the different terrains, the sea itself and even life force emitted from all living things. It is considered an unrefined type of energy.

Because Gaia is a Mortal Realm, the land’s energy is weak, and therefore the plants, animals and people living on it could only receive minimal amounts. Having so many spirit grass surrounding the mansion will definitely help the cultivation of everyone living in this area, and yet the Hope family mansion is not a cultivator’s sect building but only a merchant’s property.

When one thinks about this, one can see just how rich the family is to be able to afford such expensive plants. Of course, to deter thieves, they are all fenced up.

When they reached the gates of the Hope family mansion, Jim tried to excuse himself and enter alone, but he was stopped by his friends at once. This time, Kairos has plans to meet with the famous Hope family head.

“Come on, captain. You know they don’t like me. No one would come to open the gates for me even if the sky is falling.”

“Let’s see if they really dare then. I’ll ring the bell again,” said Kairos resolutely.

*Ding Dong*

The huge bell at the gate rang loudly as Kairos gently pulled the crank. The boys waited for someone to come to the gate, but after a little over a quarter hour, no one answered.

“Maybe no one is home?” Tommy asked naively.

“That’s impossible. Such a large mansion must have caretakers at any hour of the day. I believe they are simply ignoring us,” Alan said

“That makes sense, Edward can you see them?” Kairos asked.

Among the brothers, Alan has the best combat instincts, whereas Tommy has the most brute strength, Jim the fastest speed, Kairos the most powerful Soul Perception, while Edward the best vision. Seeing as far as a couple of hundred meters away is not difficult for the archer and further than anyone’s Soul Perception could reach right now.

Naturally, if Jones entered this comparison, he will win in all areas. The title of the best combatant of their year is not just for show.

“They definitely saw us. A few servants are by the windows looking at us with an eyeglass, but none are moving.”

While they talked, Jim stood behind anxiously. The normally chatty boy was silent as he felt the great Hope mansion growing larger and looming over him.

“I’m going to make them come out,” Jones said, and he rang the bell repeatedly.

With such a loud ruckus outside their door, the servants will have no choice but to come to the gate and a few moments later, a disgruntled male servant came out to meet them.

With an arrogant and displeased tone, he asked, “Who are you, young boys? Don’t you know how rude it is to be …”

“I am the heir of the Solitary Blades. The successor to Yi Jian, Disciplinarian Head Instructor to Saint Cadets Academy.

And this here is Kairos, recently bestowed the rank of Hundred Aristocrat by the emperor himself. Honorary core craftsman to the Trade Federate by Grand Elder Feng. And student president of the second year class of Saint Cadets Academy.

Who are you?”

The effect of what Jones said is immediate.

“I..I.. I’m sorry. Please follow me to the guest hall.”

The guys followed a ghastly pale butler into the Hope mansion, and they are brought to a large room with an overhanging chandelier. The room itself is luxuriously decorated, with cushioned divan and a low table made fully out of green copper metal.

The butler immediately excused himself as the maids came to the guest room offering them refreshments.

Even though they see the exquisitely made food and colourful beverages being served on trays, none of them passed a single morsel through their mouths.

Among the brothers, Jim is no doubt the one that loves sweets the most, but at this moment he only sat there a face pale not touching any of the pastries.

Moments later, his father, the Hope’s family head, walked in with an entourage of servants.

Hearing that several boys with high status are gracing their family together with his son he rushed over as quickly as he could.

Among them, he heard there is one with the title of Core craftsman. Of all the statuses given by Jones, this particular title was the most defining one for a merchant family like them.

With a single glance, he deduced the group that accompanied his son, because there is no one else but Kairos with the Honorary Core Craftsman title at his age. Within the merchant circles, those who had not heard about the boy and his latest weapon technology can’t even call themselves merchants.

A sword that could act as a top-tier inscribed weapon and at the same time a seal weapon is something that could break the market.

Not only that, they have tested the Devilheart family’s latest invention, and the seal sword could only absorb a certain amount of energy from their opponent, depending on the seal stone embedded within.

To absorb a higher amount, a more powerful vessel is needed to hold the stone, making the cost vastly higher for a small improvement.

Additionally, even if someone did purchase an expensive high-grade seal sword, that person will be trading the firepower of an engraved weapon its sealing ability. The seal stone absorbs all Ki it is exposed to, and this means that even the user’s own Ki will be drained when using such a weapon.

When comparing the two latest products on the market, although Kairos’ weapons are even more expensive, the Devilheart family’s selections cannot even be considered an alternative.

It made a powerful noble house regret their decision to not accept the business deals offered to them during the auction. They had greedily believed that their invention will take over the market with its release. By the time they realised the mistake of looking down on others, they have already lost the market.

As a merchant, the Hope’s family head could not waste such a good opportunity, and he quickly came fawning over the boys.

“Young master! What a pleasure to have you in our mansion. If I told the other old fogies that even after all their invitations you still came to my place first, they would be so jealous that their faces will turn green. Hahaha”

Kairos silently but politely stood up as he came over. The middle-aged man in front of him looked round like a barrel and has a face full of oil. No doubt his wealth allowed him to enjoy whichever scrumptious meal he wanted.

This man is called Cannot Hope, the father of Jim and current head of the Hope family.

Despite his appearance that would make others think that he is weak, he is an A ranker, and his presence gave them a terrible pressure. Not only him, but all of his entourage are of the same rank, and their powerful auras seemed to drown out the young boys.

However, unlike what the A rankers believed, these young boys did not cower, but merely stared them fiercely, without a shred of panic on their faces. All of them had been through numerous life and death situations recently and what Jim’s father is doing right now can’t even make them lift an eyebrow in amusement.

As a merchant and the leader of a huge enterprise, he is used to acting in such a judgemental manner. But when Cannot Hope saw the powerful gazes from the young ones, he quickly retracted his aura and apologised, “I was careless, I was careless. Leave us so that I may talk with these young friends,” he gestured towards his servants. They promptly excused themselves, leaving only the boys and Jim’s father in the room.