Cannot Hope said with a sickly sweet smile, “Now that we are free from those hindrances pray tell me why have you come to visit my humble home, Lord Kairos?”

Calling Kairos, ‘Lord’ is befitting the title that the young boy now have, even if it is not yet official.

Not even for a single moment did Cannot Hope think the boys are visiting to play. As a merchant, reading the body language of another person is only second nature, and it’s obvious that these kids came here with other intention than to making merry thus he went straight into the topic.

“We are here for Jim,” likewise, Kairos did not mince words.

“I have heard that my son is a good friend of yours. Good, good, the younger generations should hang out together more often,” the merchant spoke to Kairos alone, his eyes have already turned into dollar signs, while the rest of his friends are basically ignored. Jones might be a big deal in the cultivators’ world, but in his eyes, it is a waste of breath to forge a relationship with him.

“Mister Hope, I will cut to the chase. We are here because Jim is my brother, and I wish for him to be treated in your house as importantly as I see him.”

“Of course! He is my son, do you think I would mistreat him?”

“You know what I mean Mister Hope and not just Jim, but his mother as well.”

After silently looking into Kairos’ eyes for a moment, Mister Hope’s face turned dark towards the reproachful look he is receiving from a mere boy.

“Young man. You presume to instruct me in the way I run my family?”

“I do not care for how you run your family. My only concern is my brother here, and if he is unhappy how his mother is treated, I do not mind paying you another visit.”

Kairos took out his Trade Federate token and placed it on the table. The token will grant him the full benefits of a core craftsman, but the most important thing is this token is given to him by Grand Elder Feng.

Not giving Kairos face is the same as not giving the Grand Elder due respect.

Within the merchant circles, an elder is a powerful person who controls the levy price from using the services provided by the Trade Federate. Anyone that offended the Grand Elder is in for a world of trouble.

Although Kairos did not know about this, he at least understands that the title of ‘Grand Elder’ is rather high up for any merchants, and he took a bet that this would suppress the man’s arrogance.

Since the beginning, Cannot Hope had not once treated Jim as his own child. In fact, in his mind, earning his next big fortune was more important. He already has more than what he could spend in his lifetime, however since a long time ago the meaning of having money had already disappeared. Instead, it became a game of numbers for him. The more figures he could rake in, the more satisfied he will feel.

Now he awaits his next big challenge, his next investment, and his next incredible feat of overturning the market so that the world may see his success and be awed.

His monthly ledger acts like a scoreboard, telling him how well he did and continuously feeding his ego.

But even though he made all these money, he could not remember the last time he went out and spent them. Anything that is required is purchased by the many butlers and maidservants in the mansion.

His obsession has reached the point where even his family members are no longer important in his eyes. Any person that could provide him with a good avenue to bring in the dough is his best friend while those that couldn’t earn him money may be dead for all he cares.

People like Jim and his mother are pointless beings that are simply a waste of air. When he heard of his boy appearing at his gates, he had told his servants to ignore him. His son is fully capable of letting himself in, so why should he waste the efforts of his servants?

These workers are eating and using his money. If they are to waste their energy on a useless person like Jim, they are wasting his funds!

It was only when he after he found out that the boy had brought back Kairos that it changed his mind, but realising that the Kairos cared not for formalities nor have any intention to do business with him, Jim’s value naturally gone back to nothing in his eyes.

Looking at the token on his table, he felt an urge to slap the young boy in front of him. A core craftsman might be a great title, but he has seen and trampled upon countless people of that same tier.

Maybe Kairos’ refined weapons could be an innovation that overwhelms the market for a while, but that doesn’t mean much to him.

Perhaps if the young boy had known his own place and offered a good business deal, then he would have stayed polite. But since this child is a brainless lout like everyone else, then the need to discuss things further no longer exist.

He decisively threw away any attempts to salvage the situation. Even the powerful, refined weapon that the boy made means nothing in his eyes. In fact, the research to replicate inscribed sealing weapons is already underway by his orders the moment he heard of the invention.

With the Hope family’s powerful network and access to the furthest corners of Saint Empire, even if Kairos is the originator, they will steal it away from him and seize the market.

However, to keep his plans hidden, there is no need to turn the relationship sour, for now. After all, the research on a dual function weapon will still require a bit more time.

“Lord Kairos, no matter what, Jim is still one of the Hope family and my son. I will certainly take good care of my boy. You have no need to worry.”

“And his mother?”

“Of course,” Cannot say with a smile, but in his eyes, there is a glint of anger.

“How dare this conceited little boy looks at me with disdain!? I am the prodigy trader. No one can look down on me… Wait for it, child… you will regret today with the rest of your life, soon.”

The merchant may not be one to take another’s life like those bloodthirsty adventurers, but the business world is no less savage. Moving his funds around a little, there are plenty of ways to make his life more cruel than death for today’s slight, and at the same time, delightfully profit from the boy’s suffering.

“Very well, we shall take our leave now. Thank you for your hospitality Mr Hope,” getting the answer he wanted, Kairos replied cordially.

The group stood up as one without any intent to stay a moment longer. They patted Jim on his back and made their way to the door.

After the party left, young Jim quietly looked at his father with newfound hope in his eyes.

“He promised… to take good care of mom!”

The older man returned his gaze and said coldly, “Make sure you build a good relationship with that boy Kairos. He is not a simpleton.

…..And, don’t be afraid to make use of that boy Jones. He is merely a cultivator and too straightforward for his own good, but people like him are useful to have around.”

The older man is trying to teach his son how to use people. An important lesson in his own eyes.

But a strong sense of disappointment creeps onto Jim’s face. The boy answered with a cold smile that could freeze fire, “I trust they will take great care of me if I require anything.”

He had answered honestly, but he knows that his father would never understand the relationship he has with his friends. Excusing himself, the boy promptly left the guest hall in haste to see his mother.

It had been six months since he saw her. Hopefully, by now, her health has already improved.

The rest of the friends continued on their journey towards the tiny settlement that Kairos, Edward, Tommy and Alan live in. It is a mediocre village lacking in every amenity, but at least the walk from the Dirt Gold territory wasn’t far. Though, for Jones, it is a little bit of a detour.

While they are heading over, they started discussing about Jim amongst themselves.

“Do you think he will be alright?”

“I believe he should be fine for now.

Even if we have the power to pull him and his mother out from the Hope mansion right now, it would mean separating from his father.

However, this is definitely far from over.”

The others nodded, they sincerely hoped things will turn for the better. No matter what, the man is still the father of Jim, and it is always better to have a full family.

Though Jim had it tough at his home, the orphans couldn’t help but envy him.

Not only he has a mother that loves him, but his father is also still alive. Isn’t that the most important thing?

Their captain, Kairos have discussed several options with Jim, preparing to offer many good business contracts for his youngest brother’s sake, including even exclusivity rights. But whether he would offer it to his father is left in his hands. Now that they have done all that could, they can wait and see how things would turn out.

Time flew by accompanied by conversation. Before they noticed, the boys are already by the village’s river.

“Kairos, I’m going to go ahead towards the Solitary Blades clan’s territory. There is something that my God-father said that has been on my mind for a while and I’m a little concerned.”

“Big brother Jones, you’re not going to sit a while before going?”

“I’ll come around to visit if everything turns out to be fine. Besides, I have not yet prepared myself to talk to Uncle.”

Kairos nodded, knowing that the incident between Kairos’ dad and Jones’ father had not yet been resolved.

The boys finally said their goodbyes and parted. Left with Alan, Edward, and Tommy, the four of them went into the village Rutea. When they walk towards Kairos’ home, a ranger’s hut situated at the edge of the village, the village chief rushed over. He had been waiting the moment the boys were spotted.

“Young Kairos, you’ve returned!” the village chief laughed.

Without giving them a chance to reply, he continued speaking excitedly, “Several days ago the royal conferring party arrived!”

For the sake of officiating Kairos’ title as a Hundred Aristocrat and to assign him his proper land and power, they had been awaiting the boy’s arrival all this while.

At this exact moment, the official conferrer and his party arrived on mounts. Amongst them was a rider on a large black lion with silver eyes. He dismounted, patted down his state clothes, and swiftly stepped before the boys.

With a loud voice, he yelled, “Kairos of Rutea, kneel and receive your title!”