The Growth of a Titan-Chapter 455- Walking Into A Pre-dug Hole

"Guys I’m doing a wine taste test; I promise the wine is really good!"

"..."

With a table set up at the front of the ship’s deck, Sol tried to attract the passing disciples over to drink his wine. However, all the disciples who passed by only glanced over at the table filled with wine jars and cups before continuing on their way.

"What’s going on? Why is no one coming, it’s practically free wine!"

Sol plopped his chin onto the table completely dejected. He had been here for nearly half an hour, but no one was willing to come over. The ship had already started heading for the Land of Shadows and the sun was starting to set.

Lanterns appeared on the deck of the ship as disciples came out to mingle. Sol thought this was the perfect opportunity to commence his plan, but nothing was going right.

He didn’t understand what was going on, he was sure there would be at least a few hundred people coming over.

Sol was so confident in this that he had Yoon-jae create a bunch of cups with his Ice Aether Energy.

A few people from the Western Continent suddenly walked by his table but only showed mild curiosity towards what he was doing before walking away. Some of them also stop to greet Cian who was standing by the side, but that was it.

Sol wasn’t surprised by their actions, but what surprised him was the reaction from those from Jianghu.

A young disciple who was wearing simple cultivator robes was walking by. When he smelled the sweet aroma of the wine, he couldn’t help but pause and look over. When he saw the table that was set up with wine and Sol on the other side, he curiously walked over.

"Greetings Senior Brother Sol, is there something happening here?"

Sol knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up, but he couldn’t help but sit up and say with a huge grin.

"I brewed a few batches of wine and thought I would hold a taste test of the excess amount. How about it?"

The youth’s expression changed dramatically to one of horror when he heard that. Forcing a smile he then said.

"Ah, sorry Brother Sol, I think I forgot to deactivate the Aether Gathering Formation in my room, I have to leave to turn it off!"

After saying that, the youth turned and practically sprinted away.

"But... But the Aether Gathering Array in the rooms turns off automatically when you’re not using it."

Sol watched as the youth disappeared into the crowd. He released a long sigh before his forehead met the table causing a soft thud to echo out.

Sol thought that with his notoriety people would be willing to show him face and try his wine. But why was he getting such treatment instead? Even the female disciples who were once stealing glances at him were avoiding his table.

Lifting his head from the table, Sol propped his chin up with his hand and asked with a frown.

"Is there something I’m missing? From what I witnessed the disciples who greeted me like the smell of the wine, but the moment I said it was leftover batches they were scared away. Even the Alchemy Disciples are avoiding this area, what’s going on?"

"After I finish this, I’ll just go gather some of them and force them to try it."

Yoon-jae said this as he sat off to the side creating wine cups one after another. Ushi was responsible for putting the ones created into a simple storage bag.

Sol shook his head when he heard Yoon-jae’s words.

"There’s no point in forcing them, plus they aren’t my main targets, it’s those who haven’t joined a Pavilion and aren’t from one of the Holy Sects or Great Clans. As for forcing these disciples to drink my wine, that would be counterintuitive to my plans, they should come on their own accord."

Byeong-ho, Mar-Dule, Cheong-su, and Cheong-san were off to one side along with Cian. They were true to their word in not helping Sol, however, even they were confused as to what was going on.

Cheong-su and Cheong-san even saw members of their Music Pavilion and Beast Taming Pavilion avoiding Sol’s table.

Woo-seong was there well, but there wasn’t really anything he could do to help Sol.

"I spread the word using my channels, but no one is showing up. Is my Miura Clan’s influence so lacking?"

Ushi, who was gathering the ice cups Yoon-jae created, said with a deep frown. This situation was also a blow to him, to think he couldn’t gather a few people here to drink free wine. Something wrong was definitely going on.

Mar-Dule who was still drinking wine, suddenly wore a thoughtful expression before saying.

"*Hiccup*...I think I know what’s happening...*Hiccup*"

Everyone turned to him as they wanted to know the answer, however, they were a bit doubtful if he even knew where his hand was from how drunk he was.

After taking a drink straight from his wine jar, Mar-Dule said after a few hiccups.

"In the Academy, the Wine Pavilion would put up missions for someone to taste test their wine. Their prices were known to be extremely exorbitant because everyone refused to drink their experimental wine. Their experimental wine was notorious for being awful, but not only that, the taste would always linger in your mouth so anything you drink or eat for the next few weeks would taste horrendous."

Upon hearing that, Sol immediately understood the situation and he asked.

"Who are the disciples who would take these missions?"

"*Hiccup*...It was mostly disciples who didn’t come from notable backgrounds and lacked resources. They needed a way to make money and the Wine Pavilion’s missions were perfect for that."

With those words from Mar-Dule, everyone also understood the situation. The target audience Sol was going for was already traumatized by the Wine Pavilion taste tests.

Sol smacked his forehead.

"They aren’t reluctant because I’m giving them leftover wine, but rather because they think I’m making them drink awful wine I failed at brewing."

No wonder all the disciples who came here showed such terrified expressions when he told them that!

Even disciples from the Holy Sects and Great Clans would avoid him since news got out as to how awful the Wine Pavilion’s experimental wine could be. With the added fact that Ushi disseminated the news of him holding a wine taste test here, of course, no one would show up.

Sol wanted to cry. He wasn’t aware something like that had happened in the Academy. Him unknowingly using the term ’taste test’ was like him digging a hole for himself for this plan to fail. No, the hole was already pre-dug he just stupidly walked and fell right into it.