Antiques (Part Two)

[Early bird gets the worm, please collect and recommend! While reading, don't forget to log into your account first, as it increases membership points!]

The little fatty Gute vaguely lingered in Merlin's memory, so Merlin calmly and diligently reminisced. Finally, some information about Gute surfaced in his mind.

Gute's full name was Douglan Gute. The Douglan Lineage possessed no deep heritage and only rose to prominence starting from old Douglan's generation. Although their foundation was shallow and they were not nobles, old Douglan was exceptionally formidable. Starting from scratch as a mere commoner, he used a mere few decades to develop into the current tycoon of Blackwater City.

In all of Blackwater City, nearly ninety percent or more of the jewelry trade was operated by the Douglan Lineage. That was why the little fatty Gute usually threw money around so lavishly, and naturally, he quickly managed to hit it off with Merlin, Anson, and the others.

Gute possessed a very fat build and sat in the front row, a single person occupying enough space for two. His eyes were very small, slightly narrowed into nearly straight lines. Gute appeared very happy upon seeing Merlin and Anson, speaking hastily, "Come quickly, I've already saved good seats for you two. These are front-row seats, no less."

Merlin and Anson sat down unhurriedly, and the two of them began talking endlessly about the new history teacher.

Merlin shook his head slightly, watching Anson and Gute. Half of their words did not stray from women, so no wonder Mei Xue had warned Merlin not to go carousing. Following these two fellows, it certainly was not easy to avoid carousing without strong willpower.

Merlin still reaped some harvest, however, gradually clarifying the situation from their idle chatter. This was an aristocratic etiquette class opened by a noble in Blackwater City, specifically teaching various aristocratic manners.

Subjects like music, history, philosophy, painting, and all sorts of complex aristocratic etiquette were taught here. Aside from young nobles who came, sons of tycoons like Gute—even if they were not nobles—all wanted to send their children to learn aristocratic etiquette to help with future interactions among the nobility.

Before long, the room grew lively. People arrived one after another, and the originally empty room was now nearly filled. Merlin estimated there were over forty people.

Among them, a thin, pale man entered through the front door, seemingly purposefully walking past Merlin. Glancing at Merlin, he let out a soft snort, immediately wore a look of disdain, and sat in the back row.

Merlin held no impression of this man, yet clearly, this man and Merlin were definitely not on friendly terms.

"It's Tilafa again, this self-important fellow. Merlin, pay him no mind. Your marriage with Avril is already settled, so it's useless no matter how unwilling this guy is."

Anson spoke in a low voice, and Merlin also nodded, firmly committing this information to memory. Merlin did not know Tilafa's true identity, but fortunately, he had a big-mouthed fellow like Anson, extracting it within just a few remarks.

Tilafa was the eldest son of the Wengulite Family and, just like Merlin, an absolute heir to a baron. In truth, the conflict between Merlin and Tilafa could hardly be considered a dispute between the two of them, but rather a conflict between their lineages—quite a melodramatic tale when spoken of.

Baron Wengulite had once fallen in love with a woman, and as it happened, Old Wilson had also fallen in love with that woman. The two had even quietly dueled over it back then, and in the end, Old Wilson's skill edged out slightly, ultimately winning the woman. She was now Old Wilson's eighth wife, Mei Xue's mother.

Merlin clicked his tongue slightly, never expecting that busty wife to possess such charm in her youth, inciting a duel between two nobles.

Yet the conflict between the Wengulite Family and the Wilson Family was far from over, as the feud between the lineages extended down to Merlin and Tilafa.

Tilafa loved Avril, and the Wengulite Family had even proposed marriage to the Barman Family. Later on, however, Baron Barman had Avril and Merlin engaged, whereupon the conflict between the Wengulite Family and the Wilson Family became completely irreconcilable.

"Merlin, Tilafa hates you to the bone and will find trouble with you in everything. You must be careful not to get too close to him, and definitely avoid conflicts. Although this fellow is self-important, he genuinely possesses some ability. He possesses earth elemental affinity and has a chance to become an Earth Swordsman in the future. Fighting him—the three of us combined wouldn't be a match."

Anson warned in a deep voice, clearly harboring deep apprehension toward Tilafa.

Elemental Swordsman again?

Merlin nodded. Having already witnessed the power of those with elemental affinity, he naturally would not be foolish enough to start a conflict with Tilafa.

Before long, the sound of leather boots rang out from outside the room. A woman walked inside, and instantly, the room fell completely quiet.

This woman possessed very long legs encased in flesh-colored silk stockings, draped in a furry overcoat on her upper body that still failed to conceal the massive protrusion on her chest. Her figure was curvaceous, and her entire being radiated a mature, alluring aura.

Though her face was seductive and her figure blazing hot, every movement she made exuded an elegant temperament. The two completely distinct temperaments of allure and elegance seemed to blend together perfectly on this woman.

"Perfection!"

Anson and Gute both stared fixedly at the newly arrived woman, clearly struck dumb by the shock.

The woman seemed unconcerned by the gazes of everyone in the room, offering a faint smile as she said, "I am your new history teacher. You may call me Jia."

"Perfection, truly perfection! To think I'd run into such a perfect woman. This won't do. Merlin, Gute, you two make a declaration right now that you won't compete with me for Jia. She's mine."

Anson appeared extremely excited, already incoherent in his speech.

Gute said with dissatisfaction, "Pfft, Anson, why don't you look at how many people are staring at her? Still, if you truly want to get your hands on her, it's not entirely impossible. Coming here to teach—everyone knows what that's all about. Isn't it just to seduce the young nobles here? Deluding themselves about reaching the heavens in a single bound. I'll turn around and help you investigate Jia's background so it's convenient for you to make a move."

Merlin remained noncommittal toward Gute's words. With not a shred of memory regarding this place, he naturally knew nothing of the situation here. Yet judging from what Gute and Anson had just chatted about, over ninety-nine percent of the female teachers who came here intended to seduce young nobles. If they succeeded, they could leap straight to the heavens in a single bound.

The previous history teacher had actually stopped coming to class because she hooked up with a baron's son, so basically, the teachers arriving here harbored impure motives.

Jia, however, appeared extremely composed, speaking nonchalantly, "Alright, let us begin class formally today. Today, I am going to explain antiques to you!"

As her voice trailed off, Jia fished a small ring out from her pocket. She held it high, and the sunlight shining in from the window enveloped the ring, casting a porcelain-white sheen.