“No matter what, I have to reclaim it.” Linley’s mind was set.
If soft persuasion didn’t work, he would take harder measures.
But of course, it would be better if he could reclaim his ancestral heirloom openly and above-board. He would do his best to have the current owners hand it back.
“Boss. How about you just have me act instead and just take it back?” Bebe suddenly piped up in Linley’s mind.
Linley glanced at Bebe, napping on Linley’s legs. He couldn’t help but pat Bebe’s little noggin. “Don’t make trouble.” Bebe couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose. With a ‘hmph’, he laid back down on Linley’s leg and went back to sleep.
At this moment, footsteps could be heard from outside. A blue-robed middle-aged man entered and bowed. “Young master Yale, a Minister of Fenlai Kingdom, Lord Calvin, is outside. He wishes to meet with young master Linley.”
“Calvin? Who’s that?” Yale frowned.
Yale generally didn’t bother with meeting an ordinary kingdom’s Minister.
“Young master Yale, recently, haven’t you been focused on the Lucas clan? This Calvin is a member of the Lucas clan as well.” The blue-robed man chuckled. “The current leader of the Lucas clan is, in fact, his uncle.”
Yale’s eyes lit up. “Quick, let him in.”
“Third Bro, it seems as though your chances of recovering your clan’s ancestral heirloom just went up.” Yale chuckled at Linley.
In his heart, Linley was feeling rather pleased as well.
Linley was looking towards the door as well. A short moment later, a golden-haired man stepped inside the room, smiling. Upon seeing Linley and Yale, he immediately bowed courteously. “Calvin pays his respects to young masters Linley and Yale.”
“Calvin, why have you come to meet with my bro?” Yale asked bluntly.
Calvin didn’t mind in the slightest. Smiling, he said, “The purpose of my visit was to serve as the representative of his Majesty. Young master Linley, have you given any consideration to serving as a court magus for the Kingdom of Fenlai? His Majesty would also be willing to enfeoff you with the title of Marquis and the territory to match.”
Linley laughed.
He still remembered the conditions offered by that Cardinal of the Radiant Church; he could choose to serve in any kingdom of the Holy Union, and even receive a Dukedom. He didn’t have to have any responsibilities, just to enjoy life.
“Calvin, I must say, when I was at the Ernst Institute, a Cardinal of the Radiant Church personally came to invite my bro to join the Radiant Church, and the conditions he offered were much higher as well!” Yale smirked.
Calvin chuckled and continued, “Conditions can always be negotiated. His Majesty only hopes that Linley can remain within our Kingdom of Fenlai.”
After all, each of the six kingdoms in the Holy Union had different amounts of power. If the Kingdom of Fenlai acquired Linley’s support, then in the future, Fenlai’s status within the Holy Union would be further solidified.
After all…
The Radiant Church had the authority to depose any king within the Holy Union, or even exterminate an entire royal clan! The power of the Church far exceeded the power of the royals.
Thus, it was extremely important for a royal clan to have a powerful base of support.
“Calvin.”
Linley finally spoke.
Calvin immediately bowed slightly, appearing to listen very carefully.
“You belong to the Lucas clan, correct?” Linley immediately went to the principal topic for him.
Calvin nodded. A trace of pride on his face, he said, “Correct. The clan leader is my uncle.”
“I belong to the Baruch clan.” Linley looked at Calvin. “An ancestral heirloom of my Baruch clan, known as the warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, has been lost to my clan for centuries now. Right now, I hope to recover this warblade, ‘Slaughterer’. Based on what I know, my clan’s ancestral heirloom is currently residing within your Lucas clan.”
After saying these words, Linley no longer spoke.
Calvin couldn’t help but frown.
“The warblade ‘Slaughterer’, the weapon of the original Dragonblood Warrior?” Calvin looked at Linley.
Calvin was silent for a while, then said, “Young master Linley, honestly speaking, the person with the most authority in the clan is my uncle, but my uncle is getting on in years. He isn’t responsible for most of the clan’s affairs. His biggest hobby is being a collector. This warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, is an item which he often shows off to visitors. This treasure which is worth nearly a million gold coins is the most valuable item in our clan’s collection as well. It would be fair to say my uncle values this item as much as his life. To have him give it up… this will be difficult.”
Linley frowned.
The warblade ‘Slaughterer’ had originally been sold for only 180,000 gold coins. Although due to inflation, the value of gold centuries ago was much more than it was now, at most the selling price would be equivalent to nearly 400,000 gold coins today. But Calvin had just claimed that its value was nearly a million gold coins.
From the looks of it…
That ‘disgrace to the family’ who sold the warblade, had sold it far too cheaply.
“Calvin. This warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, is after all the ancestral heirloom of my clan, passed down over five thousand years. You can imagine the importance my clan places upon it. To outsiders, it might merely be a collectible item, but to my clan, the loss of this heirloom is a humiliation.” Linley’s face was dark and forbidding as he spoke.
“I absolutely must wipe this stain off of our clan’s honor. In order to recover this warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, I am willing to pay any price. Do you understand what I am saying?” Linley stared at Calvin.
Calvin sensed that things were heading in a very wrong direction.
He, too, had heard of the history of the Baruch clan. After all, his clan had several items related to the Baruch clan.
To a clan which had once dominated the entire Yulan continent, the importance of their ancestral heirloom could be imagined. In the past, the Baruch clan was too weak and could be ignored with impunity. But now, this Linley had appeared out of nowhere… forget about the future Linley, even the present Linley would not find it too difficult to deal with their clan.
If Linley said just a few words to the Radiant Church, suggesting that he wanted to recover the warblade ‘Slaughterer’ to cleanse this humiliating stain on his clan, the Lucas family would most likely have to obediently hand it over.
But once the Radiant Church got involved in this matter, things would get more complicated for everyone involved.
“I understand your meaning, young master Linley.” Calvin was growing a bit nervous.
Smiling, Linley looked at Calvin. “I hope the Lucas clan can understand the difficult position I am in. As a descendant of the clan, I have no choice here. Calvin, why don’t you go back and have a chat with your uncle first. Tonight, I will personally pay a visit to your clan.”
“Our Lucas clan will gladly welcome young master Linley’s arrival.” Calvin was already beginning to mentally map out the way by which he would persuade this obstinate uncle of his.
Watching Calvin depart, Linley felt a slight sense of superiority.
Although he hadn’t taken up any official position, just based on his fame, with a few words, he was able to unsettle a kingdom’s Minister’s mind. This was all due to his status, and his status came from his personal power.
That very night.
The welcoming room of the Lucas clan was extremely tastefully adorned, and the ten people within it were, without a doubt, ten extremely important people within the Kingdom of Fenlai. The lowest ranked amongst them was a Count. And the reason all of them were here, was to meet with Linley.
Linley, the newest star of the Kingdom of Fenlai.
Although Linley was only seventeen, and although Linley had not received a writ of nobility,
not even the Dukes of the kingdom dared to treat him lightly.
After all, no matter how high their stations were, they were only capable of displaying their power within the Kingdom of Fenlai. But Linley? This was a person who was highly valued by the Four Great Empires and the two major alliances. Perhaps a few decades from now, Linley would become a Cardinal of the Radiant Church, with a status higher than even their king.
It was best for them to build good relations with Linley while he was still of comparatively low rank. And building good relations with Linley was naturally an important matter.
Among those ten or so people, only the clan leader of the Lucas clan, Marquis Jebs, felt rather uncomfortable. He was already getting on in years, and didn’t have any other hobbies. The thing which he loved the most was that weapon of the first Dragonblood Warrior. It was his pride and joy.
But… the descendants of this weapon’s clan had come to retrieve their treasure.
“Mr. Linley, please enter.”
“Mr. Yale, please enter.”
The voices of the attendants outside could be heard. Instantly, all of the ten or so people in the room turned to smile at the door. Even the unhappy Marquis Jebs squeezed a smile onto his face.
This was the first time Linley had been addressed as ‘Mr.’, a title he was a bit unused to. He saw an old man with gleaming silver hair walk over to him, beaming as he said very courteously, “I’m very happy to welcome Linley and Yale to my clan’s home. As the leader of this clan, I, Jebs, feel deeply honored.”
Linley couldn’t help but show a hint of a smile on his face.
It looked like there was a chance!
71
A Lack of Money
Within the audience hall of the Lucas clan, the room was dazzlingly lit, and beautiful serving girls brought out tray after tray of delicacies. Everybody was toasting each other and chatting quite amicably.
Since he was young, Linley had received strict instruction from his father, and so he knew how to comport himself. On the surface, he was engaged in idle conversation with the nobles, but in his heart, he was still rather impatient with it all.
“Duke Bonalt, by your leave.”
Linley bid farewell to this Duke Bonalt in front of him, then headed directly to the Lucas clan’s leader, Marquis Jebs. Seeing Linley walk in his direction, he knew that he could no longer avoid the topic of the warblade, ‘Slaughterer’.
Linley and Marquis Jebs both took seats at a table in a corner of the audience hall.
“Marquis Jebs, I expect your nephew has already informed you as to why I came here today,” Linley said courteously.
Marquis Jebs sighed. “Linley, I’m already an old geezer. I really can’t bear to part with my collector’s items.”
“Marquis Jebs, my Baruch clan has over five thousand years of history, and I have always been proud of the fact that I am a descendant of the Baruchs. But for the ancestral heirloom of our clan, the warblade ‘Slaughterer’, to be lost to us, is a humiliation. Marquis Jebs, I can openly assure you that for centuries now, our clan has labored to recover the warblade ‘Slaughterer’. One of the main reasons why I trained so hard since my youth was out of my desire to recover our ancestral heirloom.”
Although Linley’s voice was very calm, the ‘absolute resolve’ in his voice was unmistakable.
“I understand, I understand.” Marquis Jebs, with a major effort, produced a smile.
Of course the Baruch clan would want their ancestral heirloom back. Marquis Jebs also understood that if he was dead-set on refusing to return the warblade ‘Slaughterer’, then his Lucas clan would truly draw the ire of this seventeen-year-old young man.
Marquis Jebs was fully aware of how much influence this young man now possessed.
Even putting the Radiant Church aside for now, the Dawson Conglomerate alone could easily devastate his family.
“Linley. The warblade ‘Slaughterer’ is an extremely valuable treasure. In the past, someone offered me a million gold coins to buy it from me, but I couldn’t bear to part from it.” Marquis Jebs turned to the subject of ‘money’. “Our Lucas clan is an ancient one, but to be frank, we actually don’t have a huge amount of money.”
Linley understood this point quite well. Based on what Yale had said, the Lucas family was a very old one, with a great deal of influence within Fenlai City. But in terms of financial resources, they were far and away less wealthy than, say, the level of Kalan’s Debs clan.
To force a not-so-wealthy clan to suddenly hand over a treasure worth a million gold coins as a gift wasn’t too realistic.
“So he wants money for it?” Linley relaxed.
If it was just a matter of money, things wouldn’t be too difficult.
“Marquis Jebs. In the past, your clan spent good, solid gold in order to acquire this warblade, ‘Slaughterer’. Naturally, I too must give you a figure that would satisfy you. But of course, I do hope that Marquis Jebs won’t try to take a huge lion’s bite out of me,” Linley chortled as he spoke.
A hint of a smile was revealed on the face of Marquis Jebs.
No matter what, he would eventually have to hand the warblade ‘Slaughterer’ over. At the very least, though, he had to get some gold for it.
“Linley, since you have acted so sincerely towards my Lucas clan, then my Lucas clan also has to give you face. Although this warblade ‘Slaughterer’ is worth around a million gold coins, as long as you can offer us six hundred thousand gold coins, then you can take the warblade ‘Slaughterer’ away with you,” Marquis Jebs said forthrightly.
Six hundred thousand gold coins?
Compared with the actual value of the warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, this really was not a high price.
But right now, Linley had only managed to procure around two hundred thousand gold coins from his work as a sculptor. This trip to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, he did indeed obtain a large amount of magicite cores. But the value of these cores was only around a one hundred thousand gold coins or so. He didn’t have enough money.
The most valuable thing Linley possessed was…
Blueheart Grass and the magicite core of the Saint-level Violet Tattooed Bear!
Linley had over a hundred clumps of Blueheart Grass left, and each clump was worth several tens of thousands of gold coins. But of course, the price of the Saint-level magicite core was incomparably more valuable. A Saint-level magicite core was an invaluable, priceless treasure, worth far more than the magicite core of a magical beast of the ninth rank.
In the past, according to what the books Linley had read said, the standard valuation of a magical beast of the ninth rank’s magicite core was around five million gold coins. In reality, these days the price would nearly reach ten million gold coins!
But as far as a Saint-level magicite core went, perhaps even if one tried to offer a hundred million gold coins, it still wouldn’t be enough.
A priceless treasure!
Naturally, Linley was not willing to simply sell off the Saint-level magicite core. At the same time, the Blueheart Grass was going to be very important to the future of his clan. Every single clump was to be cherished.
The sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’!
Linley’s mind suddenly drifted to the stone sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’. Linley felt very torn about it, and in fact usually didn’t even want to look at it. This was why Linley had continued to let Yale safeguard it.
“Sell it.” Linley suddenly came to this decision, and in fact, in the bottom of Linley’s heart, this thought flashed by: “I wonder what Alice will think, once she sees this sculpture?”
Linley consulted with Doehring Cowart.
“Linley, it’s best if you go ahead and sell off this sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’,” Doehring Cowart advised. “You don’t want to look at it, but if you keep it with you, you’ll always have it on the back of your mind. Best to just sell it off. Also… this will serve to broaden the fame of the Straight Chisel
School that I founded.”
Linley chuckled.
“Marquis Jebs, rest your mind. Very shortly, the six hundred thousand gold coins will arrive. I only hope that while you are waiting for me, you won’t sell off this warblade, ‘Slaughterer’, to anyone else,” Linley said with sincerity.
Marquis Jebs hurriedly replied, “Linley, be at ease. Even if someone else offered me two million gold coins, I still wouldn’t sell it.”
Indeed, if it weren’t for Linley’s particular status, how could Marquis Jebs bear to part with it?
Within the office of Manager Austoni at the Proulx Gallery.
“What?! You are willing to auction off that sculpture?” Austoni’s eyes were wide with amazement and wild joy.
Linley nodded slightly. By his side, Yale cast a helpless look at Linley.
Yale had grown up alongside Linley, and so he understood Linley’s temperament very well. Linley was a person who cared deeply about friends, and was extremely loyal to them. But at the same time, Linley hated owing others. This time, Yale was preparing to loan Linley a few hundred thousand gold coins.
But, as Linley put it, “I don’t want to see this sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’, anymore. Best that I sell it.”
Yale secretly thought to himself that if this sculpture was auctioned off, Linley’s fame would be broadcast far and wide, which would also improve Linley’s status. This was a good thing. Thus, Yale didn’t try to force Linley to accept his money.
“Wonderful. Wonderful.” Austoni was extremely excited. “Linley, don’t worry one bit. For this sculpture of yours, our gallery won’t collect so much as a single gold coin in transaction fees.”
“I need to auction this sculpture off within the next seven days.” Linley directly stated his requirements.
Austoni said confidently, “Be at ease. Starting tomorrow, our Proulx Gallery will arrange for a five-day major exhibition event, as well as spread the news of this sculpture, ‘Awakening From the Dream’, to every single wealthy clan. On the seventh day, we will begin the auction.”
Coiling Dragon_Book 1 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 61
