The Author's POV

"...I want you to teach me martial body. Your family four stars and a half martial technique."

A rather awkward atmosphere enshrouded the place as Han Yufei's calm and composed face finally crumbled.

Even when we were fighting his face had never once changed this much. It was clear that he was extremely shocked by my request.

"...Are you making fun of me?"

Han Yufei suddenly stood up as he sharply glared in my direction.

A threatening aura sprung out from his body, shrouding the whole room.

"You think that just because I surrendered in the tournament, that I'm now a pushover?"

His voice was becoming increasingly louder with each word he said.

Pushing my hands down, I tried to calm him down.

"No, I don't think that at all. Calm down and listen to me."

But that didn't seem to work as Han Yufei got even more riled up.

"Calm down? ...how do you expect me to calm down when you just asked me to teach you our family's most prestigious art? Do I look like a joke to you?"

"Of course, I know what I asked was outrageous, but I obviously have something of equivalent value in exchange."

"...Eh?"

Han Yufei suddenly froze.

"What did you just say?"

Finally gaining Han Yufei's attention, I continued.

"What I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to exchange something of equal value with you in order for you to teach me the martial technique. In fact, you can also say that it's actually a notch above what you're going to teach me."

"A notch above?"

Han Yufeis's brows furrowed at my last words. He was obviously not convinced. I smiled at his doubt.

"Yeah, I can offer you something even better than your family martial arts."

Han Yufei sat back down.

His eyes were filled with interest.

'Got him.'

I thought as I inwardly smiled to myself.

Just by looking at his eyes, I could tell that I had gained his interest. This was all I wanted.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tapping on the table with my right hand, I remained silent for a couple of seconds. Staring at Han Yufei who was looking back at me, I only spoke up once I noticed that he was about to lose patience.

"In exchange for you teaching me your martial technique, I will give you a five-star manual."

The room froze at my words as Han Yufei was unable to process what I just said.

But it didn't take too long for him to finally understand what I said as his eyes shot wide open. Standing up and smacking the palm of his hand on the table, he leaned forward.

"Did you just say five-star martial manual?!"

His voice cracked a little as he said those words.

It was clear that he was still in disbelief by my proposal.

Staring at him from my seat, I nodded back.

"Yeah. I will give you a five-star manual in exchange for your family art. That simple."

'The Gravar style'

I was planning to exchange

whenever I saw Han Yufei.

wished nothing more than for his clan to rise into prominence

were quite powerful, and there was a lot of competition

owning a five-star sword manual, the chances of

him the Gravar style, I wasn't just trying to get his martial manual, but I was also trying to form a

to fall into deep thought. But it wasn't long before he managed to recompose

prove to me that you

I had long

"It's simple really."

small piece of paper from my dimensional space, I slid it

can sign

doubts seemed to

"Let me see it."

the piece of paper in front of him,

"Hm?"

through it, his brows which had previously

proceeded to

is not a mana

"No, it's not."

I shook my head.

could voice any

one who provides it. I'm sure you will feel like it's more

hard, it wasn't impossible to replicate

been duped by fake mana contracts, and so, by allowing him to provide the mana contract, I was essentially showing him my willingness to cooperate with

the surface. In reality, a mana

afford it

"I see."

as though Han Yufei bought the excuse as he thoughtfully nodded his head.

to myself

"...eh?"

Yufei put the paper down and pointed toward a certain section of

the contract will join Caïssa mercenary group as a member

"Ah, that."

scratched the back of my

this way since what I'm offering is actually

"What!?"

Han Yufei stood up.

Do you know who

I know." I calmly

watch of ever since transmigrating into

rank, ranked fifth in Lock, age twenty years, son of Han Gaye, current head

on Han Yufeis's face as I recounted all the information I

long as he quickly calmed himself

why are

words were filled

smiled at his

things are going, you won't become the head

"..."

Yufei's face turned

He knew that my words held

now being able to live over two hundred years of age, it would still take quite a long time for him to

kept on waiting, he was essentially going to be losing a lot of

was real experience, and I could

me, I can guarantee you

in myself as I said those

I definitely knew the right places to help my

my mercenary group were a far cry from where they were in the past. If

leave, I wanted to at least have a solid relationship

my influence in

soon as I finished saying what I wanted to say, silence descended upon the

at him, I didn't say anything else. I had already said everything that I wanted to say. Whether

wait for his answer did not last for long. Raising his head and meeting

"I..."

***

time, in

is the

trees, Kevin looked at Emma. Lowering her head and gazing at a small holographic map, Emmas scratched the back