"Why? Did you do something that needs my forgiveness?" Max asked, amused.
Inwardly, he was rather surprised. He knew how well-respected alchemists that can make grade-three pills, were. Even the city lords of the cities like Ninam wouldn't dare do anything that might displease them.
So, he didn't expect him to be so afraid of the city lord that he was willing to kneel to him just so he wouldn't complain to the city enforcement and prevent the city lord from knowing that he tried swindling her guests.
However, what Max didn't know was that the old man wasn't afraid of the city lord but of the supreme guard commander who was little Arya's father, Ryan.
The old man felt like slapping Max's face hard when he heard his words. However, there was nothing he could do now. He could only do what Max wanted which was to confess his crime. Therefore, he gritted his teeth and pleaded, "Lord Max, It was wrong of me to try to swindle you. Please forgive me. I'll sell the pill to you as promised."
"What do you mean, shopkeeper? Haven't you already sold it to me before this guy came?" Max asked,
"Yes! Yes! It's already yours. I misspoke just now." The old man nodded and felt regret about the fact that he wouldn't be able to earn more Mana stones than he previously thought. 'It's fine. 600,000 are already more than enough.'
However, The old man didn't know that Max wasn't planning to let him off just yet.
After he admitted that the pill was already his, Max nodded and asked, "So, how much should I pay for it?"
The old man froze. He forced out a smile that looked very creepy on his wizened face and said, "Didn't.... didn't we already agree on a price earlier?"
Hearing this, the smile vanished from Max's face and he coldly asked, "Agreed or forced?"
After listening to their conversation, the enforcement guards understood what was going on. When they heard Max say that he was forced to buy the pill, their expressions darkened.
Although they didn't want to offend the old shopkeeper since he was an alchemist, that was before when they thought that this matter wasn't related to Max and his group. However, now that they found out that Max was involved, he couldn't ignore it anymore.
"Old man, how dare you?" Two male guards shouted at the same time and took a step toward the old shopkeeper, enraged.
The female guards shook their heads helplessly upon seeing this.
Max wasn't too surprised by this since he had already expected them to not ignore the matter anymore since he was the city lord's guest and being exploited in her city.
However, when he noticed their infuriated expressions that didn't seem fake, he couldn't help but be a little taken aback and thought, 'It seems the city lord's charm is great, at least on the male elves.'
The old shopkeeper's eyes burned with hatred when he looked at Max. If he knew Max was going to tell them about what he did even after he made a fool of himself, he wouldn't have kneeled to him.
However, he didn't have time to dwell on his thoughts and had to think of some way in which he could salvage the situation.
He looked at the two angry guards and hurriedly said, "Guards, you misunderstand."
"Misunderstand?" The guards paused when they heard this before coldly asking, "Explain yourself clearly. If we find out that you dared treat our lord's honored guests, we won't let this matter go?"
The old man smiled wryly and thought, 'If I wasn't afraid of you making this matter worse, I wouldn't have kneeled to this brat in front of everyone.'
He took a deep breath to calm down and said, "I never tried to cheat our guests here."
"Mm?" Max and the ladies frowned upon hearing this. However, before they could say anything, the old man continued, "There must have been some communication between us." After saying this, he glanced at Max meaningfully.
Max chuckled inwardly upon seeing this and clapped his hands as if he just recalled something and said, "Yes, that's right. There was really a miscommunication. I think I heard him wrong when he said that this was worth 600,000 Mana stones instead of 60,000."
"Is that right?" The enforcement guards glanced at the old man and asked. They could obviously tell that Max was now using them to teach him a lesson. However, they didn't say anything and played along. After all, it was clear that the old man was in the wrong initially.
The old man almost coughed out blood in anger when he heard what Max said. However, he still forced himself to calm down and said, "That's right."
Seeing that the problem had been solved, the enforcement guard left after bidding them farewell.
"Elders, Miss Janice, let's go." After how his plan to make things difficult for Max backfired, Jack felt it humiliating to stay there for a second more. After calling his Elders and Janice, he turned around and left.
The two middle-aged men gave Max a deep look before he turned around and followed after Jack. As for Janice, she didn't go after him but stayed there instead.
After walking some distance, Jack noticed Janice's absence. He turned around to see Janice still standing in front of the shop and happily talking with Max.
After looking at them for a while, he turned around and walked away without saying anything. However, the two elders walking behind him could feel the dense murderous intent coming from him.
They frowned and asked, "Young master, you aren't thinking of killing him, right?"
"Yes. I am." Jack hissed, his hands clenched tight.
The elders glanced at each other and hesitatingly said, "Young master, It wouldn't be wise..."
Before they could finish what they wanted, Jack coldly interrupted them, "What? Are you scared?"
"No, it's not that, young master. However, that kid might have some impressive background since Ninam city lord treat him as her honored guest."
Jack frowned upon hearing this. This was what he was also worried about. Suddenly, his eyes twinkled as he said, "What if he doesn't have any impressive background to speak of?"
"We didn't understand what you mean, young master?" The elders asked.
"Just think about it. Would the arrogant Ninam city lord who doesn't even think much of the top families of the Green leaf kingdom, treat him as their honored guest because of the force behind him? Do you think the force behind him is stronger than the top three families?"
"Other than the royal family, only the top ten sects are more powerful than the three families." One of the duo said.
"That's right. However, I'm sure you know it can't be because of the sect that he is treated with so much respect because even the core disciples don't receive such treatment from the elves."
The duo nodded in acknowledgment. Jack then continued, "Therefore, I suspect he must have done something other than made them feel indebted to him. For example, helping someone close to the city lord."
If Max was here, he would've been shocked to see how shrewd he was to guess this.
"This makes sense." One of the Elders nodded and thought, 'Why doesn't his mind work when he is with that wench?'
"That's why we didn't see anyone protecting him." The other one commented.
"Yes. So, do you think there would still be any problem if we kill him after he leaves the Ninam city's protection?" Jack asked, his eyes flashing with cruelty.
"No. If it's exactly as you guessed, there won't be any problem." The elders said simultaneously.
"Good. Now, one of you keep track of his movements at all times until he leaves the city. Once he is out, we'll strike." Jack told them the plan while thinking, 'This is what you'll get after crossing me. As for that whore, I'll make sure she regrets ignoring me all this time and trying to flirt with that scum in front of me.'
...
Unaware of the disaster approaching, Max was talking with Janice. After talking for a while with her, he found out she was Flavia's sister or half-sister to be exact. They shared the same father but different mothers.
"May I ask sir Max if Flavia is alright? It's been a long time since she last sent a message." Janice asked while observing his expression.
