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'

the five-star manual that I was planning to

this plan in mind whenever I saw Han Yufei. The Gravar style, although powerful, was practically

Yufei wished nothing more than for his clan to rise into

were quite powerful, and there was a

owning a five-star sword manual, the chances of his clan

trying to get his martial manual, but I was also

his eyes, he appeared to fall into deep thought. But it wasn't long before he managed to

me that you

at his question. I had long seen

"It's simple really."

from

can sign a

'mana contract' escaped from my mouth, all doubts seemed to have been dispelled from Han Yufei's

"Let me see it."

paper in front of him, Han Yufei carefully looked through

"Hm?"

was looking through it, his brows

to put the paper

not a

"No, it's not."

I shook my head.

any

contract, you can be the one who provides it. I'm sure you will feel like it's more secure if you

wasn't impossible to replicate a

mana contracts, and so, by allowing him to provide the mana contract, I was essentially showing him

surface. In reality, a mana contract of that caliber

just couldn't afford it at the

"I see."

bought the excuse as he thoughtfully nodded his head. Then, taking the

myself when I

"...eh?"

his brows once again, Han Yufei put the paper down and pointed toward a certain section of the

contract will join Caïssa mercenary group as a member for five years

"Ah, that."

back of my

short, for five years, you will join my mercenary group. I made it this way

"What!?"

Han Yufei stood up.

mercenary group? Do you know who I

I know." I calmly

one of the people I have been keeping close watch of

twenty years, son of Han Gaye, current head of the

of shock appeared on Han Yufeis's face as I

not last for long

all of this, why are you

filled

merely smiled at his

way things are going, you won't become the

"..."

turned ugly at my

that, he didn't answer back. He knew that my words held some truth

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

going to be losing a lot of time waiting for something that would happen a

was real experience, and I could provide that for

waste your time there? If you join me, I can guarantee

great confidence in myself

great teacher, but I definitely knew the right places

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

the real goal was to gain his trust. If in the future he planned to leave, I wanted to at least have a solid relationship with him so that I could

massively boost my influence

I finished saying what I wanted to

already said everything that I wanted to say. Whether he wanted to accept my

did not last for long. Raising his head and meeting

"I..."

***

time, in a

far is the

and only seeing trees, Kevin looked at Emma. Lowering her head and gazing at a small