Teresa's Request

If Andres had been here at that moment, he would have known that his suspicions had been justified.

The one who had hired the Dark Elf Assassin was indeed not the Beastmen, but Inori's elder brother, Mars.

Andres had once suspected that the Dark Elf Assassin who tried to kill Inori had not been hired by the Beastmen, but the situation had been urgent at the time, so he had not given it much thought.

After killing the Dark Elf Assassin, he had immediately come under attack from Ratslo. He had even less energy to spare for that small doubt in his heart, so he put it out of his mind.

Hearing the middle-aged Dark Elf's words, Mars could not help gritting his teeth. Hiring a Ninth Rank assassin had already cost him a price he could barely afford. If the price went any higher, he feared he would be unable to pay.

But when he thought of Inori taking away his position as heir to the Demian Family, he hardened his heart and said, "Fine. Tell me, how many gold coins do you need?"

The middle-aged Dark Elf calmly named a figure.

Mars's eyes bulged, and he shouted, "You're robbing me!"

"Mr. Mars, we never force anyone. Whether you hire us or not is your own decision."

Mars said nothing, because it was a price he could not afford.

The middle-aged Dark Elf glanced at Mars and said, "If Mr. Mars wishes to give up, then I will take my leave."

Mars said coldly, "Your mission failed, so you should return the deposit I paid earlier, shouldn't you?"

The middle-aged Dark Elf replied blandly, "Our rule is that deposits are nonrefundable. After all, we also lost a Ninth Rank assassin."

Mars's expression darkened completely. "Is this how you Dark Elves do business?"

As he spoke, Mars had already revealed killing intent.

The middle-aged Dark Elf noticed Mars's killing intent, but his expression remained calm. There was even a faint smile on his lips. "Mr. Mars, are you planning to attack me? I advise you to calm down. The strength of the Dark Elf race is beyond anything you can imagine."

Mars fell silent. In the end, he let out a blustering snort and turned away.

The middle-aged Dark Elf smiled faintly, left the room, and melted into the night.

Only Mars remained in the room, letting out an unwilling and helpless roar. "What Mad Saber Resior? What Dark Elf Assassin? They're all trash! Inori, just wait. I won't let you be smug for long. The Demian Family will definitely be mine!"

Several days later, Andres returned to Oga City.

Six years ago, when he had followed the army back from Black Mountain City to Oga City, the journey had taken more than half a month.

This time, riding on Silver Dragon's back, he traveled countless times faster.

Trevor and Kondra had other matters to attend to, so Andres parted ways with them outside the city gates.

After bidding farewell to the two Saint Realm experts, Andres watched Silver Dragon fly into the sky.

"Teacher Andres!"

Teresa's voice came from behind him.

The Goblin Merchant Guild's headquarters in the Oga Kingdom was located just outside Oga City.

Therefore, Teresa had been traveling along the same route as them.

Teresa and Alisson rode Gale Eagles, following behind Silver Dragon the entire way.

While the Gale Eagle was still more than ten meters above the ground, Teresa impatiently jumped down and landed beside Andres.

Though he was only thirteen this year, he was already nearly 1.7 meters tall, with long silver hair draped over his shoulders.

"Teresa." Andres smiled and greeted him.

Of Teresa's three Binding Quests, only the final one remained incomplete. It was also the most important one.

Once it was completed, he would gain Wind Elemental Grand Perfection-level talent.

The gap between an ordinary Highgod and a Paragon Highgod was as vast as heaven and earth.

"Teacher Andres, I never expected your strength to have improved so much after only six years apart." Teresa tried his best to put on an amiable smile, but he clearly did not do so often, making it seem somewhat stiff.

"Teresa, your progress is even greater. In just six years, you've already become a Level Seven Warrior," Andres said with a smile.

"Teacher Andres, I'm still far inferior to you."

After a polite remark, Teresa went straight to the point. "Could you teach me Treating Light as Heavy and Drawing Upon Heaven and Earth?"

That was his main reason for seeking out Andres.

After learning that comprehending Drawing Upon Heaven and Earth was a necessary condition for entering the Saint Domain, he had developed an intense longing for that realm.

Although Saint Realm experts would naturally teach him after he joined the Holy Alliance, he could not wait even a moment longer.

He had originally wanted to ask Trevor and Kondra to teach him, but the two Saint Realm experts had no connection to him, and he was not confident he could persuade them.

Andres was different. Andres had guided him before, and he believed Andres would be more likely to agree.

He had followed Andres all the way here, and he had finally found his chance.

Teresa's request was exactly what Andres wanted.

The third Binding Quest was to help Teresa enter the Saint Domain. Andres had already been looking for an opportunity to teach Teresa to master Momentum as soon as possible.

"Of course. During this time, I'll go to the Goblin Merchant Guild to find you and teach you Treating Light as Heavy and Drawing Upon Heaven and Earth." Andres did not waste words.

"Good!"

Teresa's eyes lit up. Things had gone even more smoothly than he had imagined.

"Thank you, Teacher Andres. When you arrive at the Goblin Merchant Guild, just give them my name. The people there will take you to my residence."

After thinking for a moment, Teresa added, "I'll have them prepare a courtyard for you to rest in."

To him, such matters required only a single word.

Though he was merely a Level Seven Warrior, his status within the Oga Kingdom's Goblin Merchant Guild was extraordinary, even higher than that of ordinary Level Nine Warriors. The Goblin Merchant Guild was nurturing him as a potential Saint Realm expert.

"Mm." Andres smiled and nodded without declining.

He could tell that Teresa was deliberately trying to curry favor with him, rather than genuinely respecting him as his "teacher."

But he did not care. Teresa wanted to learn Momentum from him, while he wanted to complete the third Binding Quest. Each of them was getting what they needed.

Once the matter was settled, Teresa and Alisson returned to the Goblin Merchant Guild.

Andres, meanwhile, headed toward Oga City.

To avoid drawing attention, Trevor had dropped Andres off some distance away from the city gates.

But with Andres's current strength, it did not take him long to see Oga City.

Like everyone else, Andres queued to enter through the gates.

The battle report from Black Mountain City had not yet reached Oga City. After all, the soldiers carrying information could not compare to Silver Dragon's flying speed.

Thus, Andres's return to Oga City caused no commotion at all.

If the king of the Oga Kingdom had known that Andres had not only killed Resior, but had also become a Holy Alliance Trainee—and that becoming a Saint Realm expert was merely a matter of time—he would have long since led the kingdom's nobles and ministers to welcome him at the city gates.

Andres walked along Oga City's main streets like an ordinary person and returned home to the East District.