Chapter 220

He would be more than happy to buy loyalty with money alone.

"I can give you a raise... three times?" Jarvan IV, an expert in managing people, knew that money was something that could be given, but definitely not too much at once.

Giving a little can amplify people's desires and greed, while giving too much will conversely reduce their desires.

The more people lack something, the more they want it.

"Three times seems a bit low... five times?" Garen was almost stunned by Chen Ce's haggling—His Highness gave you a chance, and you're already talking about money?

If you want to talk about money, fine, but I've given you a number and you're still haggling?

Haven't you heard the saying: This is a notification, not a discussion?

"Five times..." Jarvan IV looked somewhat troubled. "There was a war recently, and we also allocated a lot of funds to the Mageseeker Order. The national treasury is really a bit tight... How about we compromise and do four times?"

"Four times is a bit too little..."

"If you perform well in the future, I can give you more money, and I'll also pay you extra for bringing back useful intelligence. How about that?"

"If that's the case..." Chen Ce also adopted a hesitant posture—in fact, he knew very well that only in this way would the other party lower their guard against him.

Both of them were pulling at each other.

Finally, Chen Ce nodded with difficulty. "Alright, that will do... It is my honor to serve you, Your Highness."

He bowed respectfully.

Jarvan IV nodded in satisfaction.

Only Garen looked completely bewildered.

Huh? This works too?

"Well then, that's enough for now." Jarvan IV waved his hand again. "You should go back now. Don't stay too long and arouse suspicion—you should know how to answer if anyone asks, right?"

"If it's just an excuse, I think I would still do it," Chen Ce replied with a smile.

Garen, looking completely bewildered, saw Chen Ce off.

He walked back, looking completely bewildered.

Fortunately, before he could ask, Jarvan IV answered his question:

"I don't completely trust him."

"Then you...?" Garen scratched his head.

"It's a small attempt—or rather, a test. There are still many doubts surrounding him, and it will take time to prove them."

"Chen Ce really isn't a bad person..."

"Things are unpredictable, brother." Jarvan IV shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, you should continue your investigation—including the content of our conversation today. You need to verify all the information I gathered, especially regarding that 'alchemical weapon'."

"Okay..." Garen didn't insist on his opinion.

Jarvan IV returned to his original position and looked in the direction Chen Ce had left.

"I hope they're a trustworthy companion..."

Meanwhile, on the other side of Demacia...

Inside the private residence of Grand Marshal Tianna Crownguard of Demacia.

Commander Eldred of the Mageseeker Order stared into thought as he looked at the [Personal Information of Current Mageseekers] on the table.

"Chen Ce...?"

Chapter 81 Hehehe, there are too many demons

Eldred, the leader of the Mageseeker Order, has recently gained power.

In just half a month, he went from a marginal figure in a peripheral department to a prominent figure in the entire Great City and even the whole of Demacia, with countless powerful people who once looked down on him now taking the initiative to curry favor with him.

He experienced the thrill of climbing into the upper class.

Even the current Grand Marshal of Demacia, Tianna Crownguard, is engaged to him.

After spending half his life as a "transparent aristocrat with a high position but no presence," he has finally turned his life around.

So he's been very, very busy lately.

Attending various meetings, participating in various social events, and establishing cooperative relationships with all sorts of aristocratic families... he was almost too busy to find time for anything else.

But it was precisely at this moment that Tianna suddenly asked him to do something—

Beware of a Mageseekers.

A newly joined Mageseeker Order, very young in both years and seniority, and the lowest-ranking Mageseekers.

His name was Chen Ce, and his resume was as white as a beggar's tattered pocket; he looked like an ordinary young man.

What's there to be aware of?

Or did the Grand Marshal himself emphasize the need for caution?

And that tone... it seemed she was about to do something to him. But why would Tianna go to such lengths and go through all this trouble for the Grand Marshal's authority?

Eldred examined the personal information report on the table again, and after a moment's thought, decided to go and find out for himself.

So he walked from his study to Tianna's study—although they were husband and wife, they rarely saw each other, and they didn't even share the same office or room.

Knock, knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door.

A voice then fell from inside the room. "Come in."

With the permission of the mansion's owner, Eldred strode into the study.

Tianna sat upright at her desk, her slightly furrowed brows suggesting she was dealing with some rather thorny political matters.

"Good morning, Tianna," Eldred greeted with a smile.

"Hmm..." In contrast, Tianna's response seemed very perfunctory. "Sit down, just say what's on your mind."

"I wanted to ask you something."

"About what I told you before?"

"You guessed right." Eldred chuckled, unrolling the parchment in his hand. "I don't quite understand why you wanted me to pay special attention to an ordinary, low-level young Mageseekers."

"Since you are the leader of the Mageseekers, it's more appropriate for you to handle this matter," Tianna replied quickly, but she never raised her head—her gaze never left the desk.

She didn't even bother to look at the other person when she was talking to them.

Such an arrogant attitude slightly displeased Eldred, but only "slightly"—because he was already used to it. Even this feeling of "slight annoyance" was only recent.

The woman before him... Grand Marshal Tianna, had never even given him a second glance.

Whether he was down on his luck or now that he's in power.

He used to have little influence in Great City, and being looked down upon naturally made him feel insecure, but now... he feels annoyed.

"Tianna, perhaps I'm asking... what's so special about this Mageseekers?" Eldred's tone hardened slightly.

Tianna put down her pen.

Unfortunately, she still didn't look up.

The answer remained brief, "He is very strong."

"So what does this have to do with me needing to 'keep an eye on' him?"

"Because I want to."

Hmm... maybe I need a reason?

"The reason is," Tianna took a breath, her brows furrowing even more deeply. "I said, because I want to."

"..." Eldred fell silent.

An even greater sense of displeasure gradually spread through his heart.

But after a moment, he suppressed his dissatisfaction. "Alright, I think you have your reasons... I'll keep an eye on that young Mageseekers for you."

"Hmm." Tianna perfunctorily, then picked up the pen on the table again. "If there's nothing else, you can go ahead and get back to work."

"There is something..." Eldred did not leave immediately despite the other party's "eviction notice."

Instead, he walked up with a smile.

"Is there anything else?" Tianna asked without looking up.

"I want to say..." A smile crept across Eldred's somewhat withered face, a smile that appeared rather sinister and lewd. "I want to emphasize one point: we are husband and wife."

"Yes, I know." Tianna's reply remained indifferent.

"Then shouldn't we... have some marital relations?"

"Um?"

A hand suddenly landed on the table and slowly reached towards Tianna's hand holding the pen.

Eldred's smile grew even wider, and he even seemed to have a sense of "getting revenge."

Until he heard the sound of the blade scraping against the scabbard.

His outstretched hand stopped abruptly, and his body stiffened abruptly.

"Find out who you are... Eldred." Tianna's icy voice rang out, her tone unlike that of a conversation between husband and wife—more like a stern reprimand to a subordinate who had committed a capital offense.

"Don't forget how you obtained your current power, and don't forget the real reason you're standing before me today... We simply share the same interests and are each taking what we need, so please don't confuse the stage with reality..."

"Some things I can give you, I can also take back... Never forget who you relied on to gain your current power..."

"You and I have never been on the same level."

"This is my advice to you, and also... a warning."

With a clang, the hilt struck the scabbard, and the precious sword, crafted from pure mithril, was sheathed once more.

Eldred lowered his head and returned to his original position.

"I'm... sorry..."

"I don't want this to happen again." Tianna stood up and walked out as if she were feeling annoyed and disgusted.

Eldred could only seethe with anger but dared not speak out, her eyes filled with resentment as she stared at the floor.

Tianna ignored him and opened the door directly.

What she didn't notice was that a maid was just about to come in to serve tea.

The two bumped into each other.

"Ah..." The maid, who was only about ten years old, was like a frail blade of grass in front of the tall and armored Tianna, and fell to the ground the moment they collided.

She spilled the plate and black tea she was carrying.

Needless to say, some of it spilled on her, and some even... landed on Tianna's pristine mithril armor...

"I'm so sorry... I... I didn't mean to... Grand Marshal..."

The maid hurriedly apologized, ignoring the pain from being scalded by the hot tea, and quickly knelt on the ground to tidy up her things.

She dared not look up, much less look Tianna's eyes.

She knew... she had made a very serious mistake...

She was prepared to be beaten and scolded.

A moment later, the cold voice arrived as expected.

But...

The words don't seem to be quite like that...

"Watch your step, you clumsy thing." Tianna frowned as she wiped the tea stains off her armor, then looked down at the girl who worked as a maid in her mansion with her mother—about thirteen or fourteen years old, several years younger than Luxanna.

"Why are you still lying on the ground? Are you trying to pick up all the tea and glass shards with your hands? Hmm?"

"I'm so sorry... I'll go get a rag right away..." the maid apologized repeatedly, her fidgety little hands revealing her panic and fear.

Tianna's voice remained icy. "No need to get the rag yet."

"Ah..." Upon hearing this, the maid panicked even more—why wasn't she going to get the rag first...? Did this mean she was going to be punished first...?