"The auction in Ambeser is indeed the most authoritative in all of Erune... Mr. Sophie, are you interested in the auction?"

"Interested, yes, but unfortunately, I don’t have the qualifications to attend."

"Is this what troubles you, Mr. Sophie?" Princess Magdal asked with some delight, "There’s no need for that. I happen to know the baron running the auction, Baron Donner. If Mr. Sophie doesn’t mind, I can introduce you to him. The Baron is a serious businessman, and I believe he wouldn’t mind having one more guest."

"Perfect!" Brand knew that this princess, who was well-connected and very popular, surely had her ways. However, he felt a bit like he was using her and genuinely thanked her with sincerity, "In that case, I shall take you up on your offer. I really wish to see this auction. Thank you very much, Your Highness, the Princess."

"It’s just a small favor." Princess Magdal smiled slightly at him, as if being able to help others made her very satisfied. "But Mr. Sophie should be careful; Marquis Youxi is a petty person, and recently you should be wary of him seeking revenge in Ambeser."

"I am well aware." Brand nodded. He certainly knew this, but the fact was that he came to Ambeser under an alias this time. With a population of up to 300,000 in Ambeser and its surrounding areas, and not less than a thousand nobles of all sizes, he would be hard to find once he left the Holy Temple, unless Main Priest Wood spoke up. Marquis Youxi would have quite a challenge locating him.

...

After leaving the Ande Fulei Grand Temple, Marquis Youxi immediately boarded a carriage. Severely injured, De Jia’er, whose face was ashen, was also helped onto the same carriage by his attendants. The smell of blood became overwhelming inside the carriage. Those servants familiar with Marquis Youxi knew that he had severe OCD about cleanliness, yet at that moment, he didn’t even frown, only asked, "How are your injuries?"

"Not great, I might need half a year to recover," De Jia’er replied weakly. Though his wound was staunched using Divine Arts, he was still too weak to sit properly.

"I didn’t expect that young man to be so formidable." Marquis Youxi couldn’t help but touch his own cheek; the cold pain made him wince. The sharp inhalation of breath, given that no one had dared to harm him like this since childhood, left the marquis in silence, deep in thought.

"You acted impulsively this time, my lord," De Jia’er replied weakly.

"Old Wood officiated the ceremony for only these two in a decade. Of course, I wanted to understand what he was doing." He sniffed the blood-stained fingers near his nose, wrinkling his brow and cursing, "Impulsive? Hard to speak of it. But that brat is unforgivable. Just two women, and he handled it so viciously. Hell if I know where he emerged from—"

"So what does the Marquis think?"

"Magdalene didn’t seem to know him, so he shouldn’t be on my lovely niece’s side," Marquis Youxi contemplated with a sullen face. "Possibly the descendant of Ancient Nobles. It’s said that Former King Ai Ke had support from some hidden noble families back then. Those nobles have more or less ties with Kruz... It’s unclear what the old geezer Wood is trying to do by bringing them out now."

"Is he trying to extend his term? Sir, this could affect our plans..." Suddenly, De Jia’er struggled to sit up.

"Stay put, what are you nervous about," Marquis Youxi, discarding his usual frivolous demeanor, glared at De Jia’er coldly. A Sword Master was actually frozen by that glance, "Does a region priest extending his term seem like an easy task? Even the greatest forces in Kruz can’t influence the Holy Temple’s decisions. No sense at all. I suspect that old geezer wants to struggle a bit, but let him be; it has nothing to do with us."

While speaking, Marquis Youxi lifted the curtain of the carriage and cast a cold, sinister glance outside, grinding his teeth secretly.

...

Leaving the Holy Temple, Antitina heard that Brand had another conflict with a marquis and couldn’t help but give him a fierce look. But this was already quite good; after all, since Brand stood up for them, she didn’t put on the airs of the senior staff lady to lecture this absent-minded lord thoroughly. Brand was becoming used to it. He resembled nobles, but he wasn’t one after all.