"True, but something tells me that you're aiming for something more than just a simple deal with Figos," Lucille insisted, her voice smooth but laced with curiosity.

Her sharp eyes studied Sokram intently, searching for any hint of deception or hidden motives.

Sokram nodded, musing on the curiosity in her eyes,

"Heh, I do have a greater goal, but that's for me to know." He deflected, trying to shift the conversation back to the profit.

"Besides, if I win the bet with Mr. Figos, our hunting team will pay him the smallest butchering tax in the whole town while still selling our game for forty percent of the market price."

"As a hunting team, it will be quite the profit you will make," Lucille said, her tone thoughtful. "And if your hunting methods are as effective as Lucy told me they were in your first hunt, you will also be the highest-paid hunting team in Eversnow."

But still curious, Lucille wanted to know more about his plan, so she baited him with the little she caught on, "And what are you planning to do about the Steelhearts?"

Prying further into the matter, her eyes narrowed for a second.

Hearing that, Sokram’s eyes widened but only for a moment, impressed that she caught on to it despite him being so subtle.

"Haha, you're truly amazing," he chuckled, trying to mask his surprise. "Sign... They are parasites, feeding on our misery in times of war. So, I'll purge them from our city. They appeared as big investors, but instead of helping, they are only dragging our city down." As Sokram spoke, he pretended to fail to conceal his hatred, baiting her in.

Lucille’s lips curled into a greedy smile as she finally spotted a crack she could exploit to her advantage.

One that aligned perfectly with the Pavilion’s interests.

“It’s personal, then?” she asked, her voice dripping with intrigue.

“Not exactly,” Sokram sighed, scratching the back of his head in an exaggerated gesture of being caught.

“They’re weakening our city. It’s impossible that Nana Brunhild and I are the only ones seeing it. I don’t know their agenda, but to act as they have been acting in a time where war is looming at our doorstep… Don’t you think it’s suspicious?”

“I agree, it’s suspicious. But even we, the Purple Pavilion, hadn’t managed to gather proof of any misconduct that could cause significant damage to them. The previous King trusted them too much, and King Lucien is… young and... influenceable,” Lucille lamented, her voice tinged with frustration.

Margiory mirrored the same frustration listening to Lucille's words.

Sokram nodded and continued, "Whatever they are plotting, Eversnow plays a central role in their schemes. And they already own every butchery in town. The meat they sell doesn't help with cultivation as normal monster meat would. Recently, they bought the western gate stables, and the mounts they provide cause more trouble for the hunters than help them..."

As Sokram spoke, Hannah realized he had been listening to Brunhild's and Astrid's ramblings attentively.

"And it's not just that," Sokram continued, his voice steady but laced with concern.

"They are pressuring our farmers to sell them their lands, especially the ones connected to the city's water system. Their movements are very worrying. Imagine if they control the food, water, and transportation, they will practically own the city. In any other circumstance, I might assume they discovered a new mine or some hidden resource, but who looks for mines or resources in a time of war? I fear they might be aiding our enemies... but that's just speculation on my part, of course."

"So, you want them out of Eversnow before the war starts," Lucille met his gaze, her tone thoughtful.

"But they are powerful. They might not be as rich as the Andronys, but they are at least as strong. They are a family of warriors, and their main powerhouse is an Exalted at the brink of becoming a Semi-Perfect Existence."

Her words carried a warning undertone, reminding Sokram to tread carefully.

"Well, it's not like we don't have our powerhouses," Sokram said, glancing at Hannah, who beamed, smiling back at him.

"But I'm not aiming for a physical confrontation yet. An economical one should suffice to expose a few cracks and prevent our city from falling into the wrong hands."

His expression turned serious, his silvery eyes locking onto Lucille’s ruby ones. “Can you help me take them down? To drive them away from our city?”

Seeing his honesty, Lucille now believed it was truly Fate that brought Sokram through her doors.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from NovelBin. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The Steelhearts were a noble family and one of the richest in Norwinter. They were famous for their shady deals, hostile takeovers, and many other practices that would be frowned upon if weren't for one detail.

The previous King and Count Steelheart were sworn brothers, and he had given Count Steelheart a certain level of control over the army and internal security.

Thus, much of what the Steelheart family did never reached the previous King's ears, at least not before they dealt with it.

But that was only until they stepped on the wrong toes.

One of the previous Count's sons had fallen deeply in love with one of the girls of the Pavilion in the capital of Norwinter.

But she was disgusted with him and refused him.

The young man, infuriated by the refusal, captured the young woman and kept her captive for years while he abused her in every possible way.

But one day, as Fate willed it, she managed to escape and report to the Pavilion what had happened before passing.

Even if that girl had been just a regular courtesan, the Pavilion would have gone to war to avenge her.

But that girl was the daughter of the Matron of the Pavilion, the head of the whole organization and its powerhouse.

The previous King, fearing the Pavilion and valuing the Steelhearts, treated it as an isolated incident and punished only the young man, but not the whole family.

The problem was: It wasn't an isolated incident.

The second problem was the punishment.

The King sent the previous Count's son to prison, but the prison was in the Steelheart's territory.

This kept him away from the reach of the Pavilion, while he enjoyed luxuries even while incarcerated.

Since then, the Pavilion and the Steelhearts have been enemies for decades.

The only reason they hadn't entered an all-out war so far was that the King had gained the alliance of the Elves from the Central Continent and forbade them from continuing to fight.

Since they weren't strong enough to face a King backed by the Elven Empire, they abided.

But Norwinter's royal family lost all its privileges within the Pavilion since then.

But now that they had gotten their hands on the Spirit Magic Technique, they would no longer be stagnant, and their powerhouse could even reach the Perfect Level of Existence, the same level as Empress Meriande.

If that happened, they would reach a new level of authority, one that not even the elves could dare to underestimate.

"Alright, consider this one a favor from my Pavilion to our newest and most dear friend," Lucille said, her voice smooth but laced with determination.

As soon as she spoke those words, Ayame scribbled something on a paper sheet, sealed it in an envelope, and gave it to one of the guards still standing in front of the door.

"Now, about the guidance..." Sokram began, but this time it was Lucy who interrupted him.

"Aren't you going to ask her about me and the contract you are going to offer me?" Lucy asked, pouting.

“Haha, of course,” Sokram chuckled, his voice laced with playful confidence.

His arm remained draped casually around Lucy, his fingers tracing soft circles along her back. “Your mom already knows you’re mine. She said it herself, the Pavilion always takes Devotion into account.”

"The guidance?" Lucille pressed him, leaning closer like a fox stalking its prey.

Her lips curled into a sly smile as she teased her daughter, her ruby-red eyes glinting with mischief while giving Lucy a defiant look.

"How do you wish to go about it?" Sokram asked while caressing Lucy's tails to reassure her, and she lay back onto his chest, relaxing.

"My plan was to start by guiding Lucy and you first, alongside a few of your most trusted." Sokram glanced at Ayame and the remaining guard.

"After you all fully master the cultivation technique, I plan on training another two groups, but my time is limited as I'm also taking Savannah and Amber under my wing."

"Already building your harem, and yet you leave me out of it?" Lucille asked, pouting.

Her flirty action irked Sokram's Master and two grandmothers, but for his sake, they were holding back their temper.

Sokram shook his head, not missing that she dismissed his plans entirely, which wasn't unexpected, "No, not yet, at least. I'm building something. Something which Lucy and you will also be part of. I'm not seeking friendship with you and the Pavilion for nothing. But that will also depend on the success of other parts of my plan."

Lucille smiled, satisfied that he was aiming to add her to his plans, which would give her a chance to stay close to him.

But Sokram reassured her, and the other women, once more. “Once the next step is ready, we’ll talk more about it. As for the guidance, I sense you have a better suggestion.”

“I’ll first have to talk with the Matron of the Pavilion, our powerhouse, and the Head of our organization, but I believe she’ll select the Aura Masters who will undertake your guidance,” Lucille replied, meeting his eyes with a teasing smile as her hand trailed lightly across his lap.

“But I’ll accept your offer of learning from you personally. I can’t have other foxes laying their hands on you before me, so I’ll do my best to protect you from them.”

Lucille winked mischievously.

Glancing at Hannah and the others, she added. “Not that you need any more protection, haha.”

Sokram was just getting used to staying near her. But every time she upped her teasing, it became harder for him to maintain composure.

Instead of continuing this futile struggle, he decided to retreat for now.

“Great, but you don’t mind taking Lucy home with me, right? Savannah and Amber are already there waiting.”

“Leaving already? But it was starting to get fun,” Lucille pouted.

Yet Sokram could see a hint of sincerity peeking through her playful facade.

“Well, their patience with your teasing is reaching its limit,” Sokram said, nodding toward his two grandmothers and his master.

Lucille didn’t dare meet their eyes.

Seeing the barely concealed frustration in their eyes, Sokram couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

He straightened his posture, his silvery eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and longing.

“So yes, it’s better if I leave,” he said, his tone light, “But don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

The promise hung in the air, as tangible as the tension between him and Lucille.

“Not alone, you aren’t!” Hannah interjected immediately, standing as her instincts made her motherly side flare up.

Standing up with her, Margiory and Leona nodded firmly to reaffirm Hannah's statement.

“Never said that, Nana. But you shouldn’t treat our new friend with so much hostility,” Sokram chided gently, raising the medallion with a confident smile.

“Besides, now that our information is protected, we have a lot less to worry about, right?”

It took only a second for Hannah to grasp Sokram’s meaning.

With the Purple Pavilion safeguarding Sokram’s and his family’s information, there would be significantly less concern about Dracony discovering his true identity.