Departure

After Marquis Gallo was carried away, the cabinet members did not linger either. They made no contact with Andres, clearly unwilling to get involved in the grudge between Andres and Marquis Gallo.

"Andres, I didn't expect you to cause such a huge incident the moment I returned. In the Oga Kingdom, no one dares to offend Marquis Gallo."

Inori walked over to Andres and said with a smile.

After Andres revealed his strength, the tone Inori used when speaking to him changed.

In the past, Inori had also treated Andres rather warmly, but it had been the warmth of someone in a higher position toward someone beneath them. Now, they were speaking as equals.

"My lady, he injured my younger brother first." Andres smiled and shook his head. If Alex had not been injured, Andres would not have intended to seek trouble with Marquis Gallo.

"I know. I'm only reminding you that although Marquis Gallo himself is useless, the Ninth Prince behind him is no ordinary person. But don't worry, I'll do my best to help you," Inori said.

Andres's heart stirred, and he instantly understood Inori's intentions.

She wants to pull me in to deal with Ninth Prince Patur.

She wanted to recruit him, yet made it seem as though she were helping him.

If he had not already known of Inori's ambitions, Andres would certainly have been deeply moved.

However, helping Inori seize the throne had already been part of Andres's plans. So he said nothing more, merely putting on a grateful expression. "Thank you, my lady!"

"Why be so polite?" Inori was clearly pleased with Andres's reaction.

After chatting for a few more moments, the two left Marquis Gallo's residence.

Only after seeing Inori back to the Demian Family residence did Andres return to his home in the East District.

Early the next morning, a spacious carriage stopped outside the Goblin Merchant Guild's entrance.

As usual, Andres had come to guide Teresa's training, but this time, he had brought his entire family with him.

Because of his injuries, Alex was lying inside the carriage. Raul and Helen stood beside Andres, looking somewhat restrained.

That was because Ivan was standing at the entrance, warmly welcoming them.

To the elderly couple, the chief person in charge of the Goblin Merchant Guild in the Oga Kingdom was a lofty figure beyond their reach, an important person they could never have encountered.

Yet Ivan was now welcoming them like old friends, making the elderly couple inevitably feel uncomfortable.

"Mr. Andres, I am very pleased that you have become a guest elder of the Goblin Merchant Guild. Believe me, this will be the right decision." Ivan smiled as he handed Andres a black-gold Token.

This was the Goblin Merchant Guild's guest elder Token. Its holder could enjoy various privileges within the Goblin Merchant Guild.

After giving it some thought last night, Andres decided that since he had now offended Marquis Gallo, his current strength was enough to protect himself in the Oga Kingdom, but still somewhat insufficient to protect his family. To prevent anything from happening to them, he had decided to cooperate with the Goblin Merchant Guild and become one of its guest elders.

Guest elders were not truly members of the Goblin Merchant Guild. The two sides had a cooperative relationship.

After becoming a guest elder, Andres would need to help the Goblin Merchant Guild with certain matters whenever it had need of him. In return, he could receive some assistance from the Goblin Merchant Guild.

He wanted to settle his family within the Goblin Merchant Guild. That way, even if the Oga Kingdom wanted to use Alex and the others to threaten him, they would not be able to.

The Goblin Merchant Guild's power far surpassed that of the Oga Kingdom.

"I hope we work well together." Andres smiled and accepted the guest elder Token.

"Come, let's go inside and talk." Ivan said.

Led by Ivan, Andres entered the Goblin Merchant Guild with his family.

The news that Andres had become a guest elder of the Goblin Merchant Guild did not cause much of a stir in Oga City.

The topic at the center of attention in Oga City now was the battle of Black Mountain City.

After Inori returned, the Oga Kingdom heavily publicized news of its great victory. The people of Oga City were immersed in the joy of triumph, and the battle of Black Mountain City was all anyone discussed in the streets and alleys.

The major theaters throughout the city were also urgently preparing new plays based on that battle.

However, Andres's name did not appear in the Oga Kingdom's official victory report.

Ten days later, the army returned to Oga City.

King Oga led the cabinet members and other nobles out of the city to welcome them. Marquis Daniel, Mars, Deputy Commander Gaston, and generals of every rank all received rewards, but Andres was not on the list of those being rewarded.

The Mitchell Family knew that it was surely because of the matter with Marquis Gallo that Andres had not received the military merits he deserved, and they all felt indignant on his behalf.

Andres himself did not care. After becoming a guest elder of the Goblin Merchant Guild, his family no longer had to worry about gold coins, at the very least. As for a noble title and fief, he did not care about those either.

Andres spent every day at the Goblin Merchant Guild, either guiding Teresa or training himself.

A few more days passed before news finally came from Trevor and Kondra.

Inori personally delivered the news to the Goblin Merchant Guild.

"Andres, Lord Trevor has decided that we will depart early tomorrow morning. Remember to gather outside the West Gate."

"Understood. Thank you, my lady."

"It's nothing. I should be the one apologizing to you." A guilty expression appeared on Inori's face. "You were the foremost contributor in this war. Setting aside the other rewards, a ducal title and fief should have been guaranteed. But because of your conflict with Marquis Gallo, His Majesty canceled your merits. Although I did my utmost to argue for you, it was still useless."

Those were her sincere words. She truly had done her utmost to argue for Andres.

With Patur's overbearing temperament, if he learned that the person who severely injured his son was not only not punished but also received lavish rewards, he would certainly not let it go. What a pity, Inori thought.

She had hoped to intensify the conflict between Andres and Patur.

However, King Oga adopted a compromise: he did not pursue Andres's actions, but neither did he grant him any further rewards.

"Miss, don't worry about it. We're going to the Holy Alliance anyway. Things like titles and fiefs aren't important."

"You really can take things in stride." Inori shook her head. "All right, I've delivered the message. Pass it on to Teresa as well. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer."

Andres escorted Inori out of the Goblin Merchant Guild.

Then he told his family that he would be heading to the Holy Alliance.

The Mitchell Family had long been mentally prepared. The whole family shared a meal to see Andres off.

Early the next morning, Andres and Teresa arrived outside Oga City's West Gate. Trevor, Kondra, and Inori were already waiting beyond the gate.

Everyone boarded Trevor's Silver Dragon and flew westward.