Chapter 84: Gathering Information

"Sir, are you here to look for trouble?"

Hearing this, Rhain revealed an expression of displeasure.

He just simply asked for a meet-up with a man, what was wrong with that?

"Why would you say that?" Rhain asked.

The receptionist’s sugary smile vanished, "Sir, you walk in off the street and directly demand an audience with Master Declan. Do you really think the owner of the Gilded Sparrow has the free time to meet just anyone who asks?"

She had the expression of ’I know you people’ on her face.

Rhain didn’t bother arguing.

He simply flipped his palm, retrieving the small jade fox token from his spatial ring, and placed it on the dark wood counter.

"An old friend of his sent me," Rhain said calmly. "Look at this."

The receptionist glanced down at the jade fox.

Her perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

"I am familiar with all of Master Declan’s personal tokens," she said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "This is not one of them. I suggest you leave before I call the guards."

Rhain frowned slightly.

Fenwick Luo hadn’t seemed like the type to hand over a fake token.

Beside him, Seris gave the token a troubled look.

She could sense Rhain’s subtle annoyance and immediately stepped forward.

"Please," Seris insisted politely. "Just show it to Master Declan once. If he doesn’t recognize it, we will leave immediately without causing any trouble."

The receptionist paused, her gaze shifting between the two youth.

They certainly didn’t look like foolish thugs looking to seek a brawl in a high-end establishment.

"Fine," the receptionist finally sighed, shaking her head. "You are very lucky that Master Declan happens to be present today."

She turned her head and gestured to a nearby attendant.

Picking up the jade fox pendant with two fingers, she handed it over.

"Take this to the Master on the second floor," she instructed. "Tell him two guests claim an old friend sent them."

The attendant bowed respectfully and hurried up the grand white marble staircase

Barely three minutes had passed when a sound of hurried footsteps came.

"Fenwick?" a loud voice echoed through the elegant teahouse, drawing the surprised gazes of several wealthy patrons. "Where is he?"

A middle-aged man in luxurious green robes hurried into the lobby.

He possessed the dense, oppressive aura of a Spirit Manifestation Realm expert.

He scanned the room eagerly, clutching the jade fox token tightly in his hand.

But his gaze swept past the aristocratic guests and the receptionist, finding no sign of the familiar old friend.

He immediately turned toward the front desk.

"Who brought this token?"

The receptionist froze.

She had never seen her usually composed master look so frantic.

Trembling slightly, she raised a hand and pointed a finger directly at the young man standing in front of her counter.

"M-Master... it was him."

Declan’s gaze snapped toward Rhain and Seris.

He looked them up and down, his thick brows drawing together in confusion.

"Where did you get this token, kid?"

Facing the oppressive gaze of a Spirit Manifestation expert, Rhain’s expression did not ripple in the slightest.

"From Fenwick," Rhain replied simply, "He said if I ever needed anything in Mirravele City, I should find you."

Hearing the familiar name, the intense pressure radiating from Declan instantly vanished.

He stared at Rhain for a moment.

Then, a low sigh rumbled from his chest as he visibly forced himself to calm down, returning to the composed demeanor of a high-end establishment owner.

"I see," Declan muttered, adjusting his sleeves. He gestured toward the grand white marble staircase. "Follow me to the upper floor."

Before turning, he shot a sharp glance at the stunned receptionist.

"Prepare something good to eat for our two guests."

"Y-Yes, Master!" the receptionist stammered.

Cold sweat drenched her back. She had almost chased away her master’s most esteemed guests!

__________

The private room on the second floor was quite luxurious.

The walls were lined with sound-insulating arrays, ensuring not a single whisper could escape.

Rhain and Seris sat comfortably on plush velvet cushions across a low table from Declan.

Moments later, attendants brought in a spread of exquisite delicacies and a steaming pot of top-tier spirit tea before silently bowing and leaving the room.

Declan poured the tea himself, an incredibly rare gesture of respect from a Spirit Manifestation expert.

"So, how is Fenwick?" Declan asked as he poured the tea himself, an incredibly rare gesture of respect from him. "It has been years since he left Mirravele City. I have not heard a word about him in such a long time."

"He is doing fine," Rhain said calmly, taking a sip of the fragrant spirit tea. "He currently runs the largest trading guild in Greymist Town and lives quite comfortably."

"That’s good to hear," Declan nodded heavily. "Fenwick wouldn’t hand this token to just anyone. You must have done him a massive favor."

Declan leaned forward slightly. "So, tell me. Why did he send you to my Gilded Sparrow?"

Rhain didn’t beat around the bush.

"I need a quiet, and safe place to accommodate," Rhain stated directly. "And I need information regarding Mirravele City. Specifically, the major powers."

He deliberately concealed his blood-feud with the Ashvele family.

"I want to know the relationship between the Ashvele Clan, the Silvercrest Clan, and the Solari Clan," Rhain added.

Declan’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t pry.

"Accommodations are simple. The Gilded Sparrow has private, heavily shielded courtyards in the back. As for the Three Great Clans..."

Declan paused, his expression turning solemn. "But your second request is quite grave."

Over the next few minutes, Declan laid bare the details of Mirravele City in great detail.

Among the Three Great Clans, the Silvercrest Clan held dominance over the forging and weapon trade. Because their business did not conflict with the others, they largely remained neutral, sitting comfortably on their mountain of wealth and ignoring the petty squabbles of the city.

The real tension lay between the Ashvele Clan and the Solari Clan.

Both of these towering clans monopolized the elixir market.

The Ashvele Clan was deeply rooted, carrying centuries of foundation. But the Solari Clan was relatively new.

They had experienced an explosive rise to power just a decade ago, aggressively clawing their way to the top and viciously biting into the Ashvele Clan’s profits.

Because of this direct clash in interests, the rivalry between the Ashvele and Solari clans was incredibly heated.

Skirmishes in the shadows were a daily occurrence, and their mutual hatred was practically written into their bloodlines.

Rhain quietly absorbed every single detail.

’A heated rivalry...’ Rhain’s dark grey irises flickered with a calculating light. ’Perfect.’

Rhain set his teacup down with a soft clink.

"I have another question," Rhain said, his tone casual. "Are there any prominent members within the Solari Clan who have a notoriously bad reputation? Someone arrogant, prone to causing public fights, and easy to find?"

Declan’s cup froze halfway to his lips.

He stared at Rhain sitting across him for a long time.

As a man who traded in secrets, Declan wasn’t stupid.

His intuition told him that this boy was planning something incredibly dangerous.

Fenwick had given this boy the jade fox token. That meant Fenwick trusted him unconditionally.

Declan owed Fenwick his life, thus he had promised Fenwick to help regardless of the consequences.

Whatever Rhain intended to do, Declan decided he would turn a blind eye and help him.

"You are playing a very dangerous game, kid," Declan warned in a low, heavy voice. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "But fine. If you want troublemakers in the Solari Clan, there are a few."

For next ten minutes, Declan spoke about a few members of Solari Clan who had pretty bad reputation in the city, but Rhain didn’t find any of them suitable for the task he intended to do.

"There is another one," Declan spoke at last, lowering his voice. "His name is Jarek Solari."

Rhain listened intently.

"He is the nephew of the current Solari Clan Patriarch," Declan explained, his expression turning somewhat disgusted. "He is an arrogant, hot-headed fool who practically lives in the high-end taverns of the eastern district. He starts brawls over the slightest perceived insult, and his reputation is absolute garbage. Both the Ashvele and the Silvercrest clans hate him to the bone."

Declan looked at Rhain with a deeply solemn gaze.

"But he can afford to be arrogant. Despite his rotten personality, his innate talent is no joke. He recently broke through to the first level of the Spirit Manifestation Realm."

"Second, his status in the Solari Clan is incredibly high. Other than being the Solari Clan Head’s nephew, his father is also the Head Enforcer of the clan. If anyone dares to touch a single hair on Jarek’s head, the Solari Clan will retaliate with everything they have. He is entirely untouchable."

An imperceptible smirk stretched across Rhain’s face.

It was exactly the pawn he needed.