Madam Ma Wen

Quite a few people wanted to recruit and cultivate Yan Jin. At the very least, several of Frostleaf City's most influential figures had taken an interest in her.

But they could not gauge that Soul Douluo's attitude. Did he resent Yan Jin for failing to appreciate his favor? Did he still intend to take her as a disciple? Or had he already forgotten the matter...

The last possibility was the most likely, but they did not dare gamble on it. Even if the Soul Douluo would not personally act over such a trivial matter, the moment he showed even a hint of displeasure, those who fawned over him might cause trouble.

Amon did not have such concerns. First, he was alone, so there were not many ways for others to target him. Second, he was still young. If someone else extended an olive branch to Yan Jin, they might be suspected of competing with that Soul Douluo for a disciple. But for Amon, it was more like mutual help between peers.

After reaching an agreement with Yan Jin, Amon arrived before the most luxurious estate in the city.

Stopping before the guards at the entrance, he said politely, "My name is Amon. I am a teaching assistant at Icewind Primary Soul Master Academy, and I am here to visit Madam Ma Wen."

Perhaps his Pointed Soft Hat made him seem much taller, or perhaps his clothes lent him an air of mystery. The guards did not look down on Amon because of his age. Instead, they said respectfully, "Do you have an appointment? If not, please wait a moment. I need to ask for instructions."

"Then I'll trouble you," Amon said with a nod.

Ma Wen was one of the three most powerful people in Frostleaf City.

The other two were the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall branch and the headmaster of Icewind Primary Soul Master Academy.

One had the backing of Spirit Hall, a colossal force no one dared provoke. The other was Frostleaf City's strongest expert, a forty-eighth-level Soul Ancestor.

Ma Wen was a merchant who influenced every aspect of Frostleaf City through her immense wealth.

As for the city lord, Frostleaf City had no such thing. In just two years, the city had gone through three city lords.

The Empire's newly appointed city lord was still on the way to take office. Rumor had it that he had been traveling for half a year already, and no one knew when he would arrive.

Before long, the guard emerged and led Amon to the reception hall.

"Hehe, I wondered who it was. Isn't this just a child? Did Shi Guantao send you?"

Ma Wen sat in the seat of honor with one leg crossed over the other, her right hand propping up her cheek as she spoke with a smile.

Amon glanced at the young woman. She wore a tiger-fur coat, and her wheat-colored skin looked healthy and vibrant. Her entire presence exuded a wild sort of beauty.

"Not the headmaster. I came to see you of my own accord."

"You say you're a teaching assistant at the academy? What, do you want to change jobs and work under me? It may be a little dangerous, but the rewards would be much greater."

"I'm very satisfied with my current job."

"If you're not delivering a message for Shi Guantao and you're not here to change jobs, then what do you want from me? I don't think there's anything for me to discuss with a child like you. You'd better give me a reasonable explanation, or I'll teach you a small lesson. I imagine Shi Guantao wouldn't come looking for trouble over something so trivial." A hint of impatience appeared on Ma Wen's face.

"I'm here to seek investment. Madam Ma Wen, you are a merchant, so you should have a good eye for business. Invest in a product, and it brings you profit. Invest in a person, and you can also gain returns."

"Invest... in a person? Hahaha, don't tell me you want me to invest in you? Then tell me, what makes you worth investing in? What kind of returns can you bring me?"

Ma Wen's gaze turned dangerous. "What you're saying sounds just like what most swindlers say. Don't make me certain of that, or you should know the consequences."

"Do you know about the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies?"

"Does that have anything to do with what we're discussing?" Ma Wen's face carried a trace of suspicion.

"Of course it does. It is held once every five years. I have no hope of making the next one, but I am confident that I can assemble a team for the one after that and achieve a respectable ranking. When the time comes, I will promote the Ice Thorn Chamber of Commerce, and after the tournament ends, I will work for you for three years. How about it?"

"Hehe, this is what you call an investment? Do I look foolish enough to believe whatever someone tells me? Use real money to gamble on some illusory matter in the distant future?" A faint killing intent had entered her voice.

"Although I would like to say that my talent is not bad, my current state really is not very persuasive. Then do you believe in Yan Jin? Are you willing to invest in her?"

Amon remained completely unmoved by Ma Wen's killing intent as he spoke calmly.

This was also why Amon had contacted Yan Jin: to make it easier to secure sponsorship. He was only a twelfth-level Soul Master now, and he was already twelve years old. Others did not know that he had undergone earth-shaking changes within. In their eyes, his talent could only be called mediocre.

If he tried to persuade them on his own, the chances of failure would be high. But tying Yan Jin to his proposal was different.

Yan Jin's talent was obvious to all, and it had been personally verified by a Soul Douluo. A fair number of people would surely consider it.

Their greatest concern was the Soul Douluo's attitude. As long as that concern was removed, the odds of obtaining sponsorship would be high.

"Yan Jin? You mean that little brat foolish enough to refuse a Soul Douluo's recruitment?"

Some of Ma Wen's anger faded as she pondered. "That little brat is indeed worth investing in. A great figure from Spirit Hall naturally has good judgment.

"But she angered That Lord because of her stubbornness. Clearly, That Lord had already promised to have the people of Spirit Hall in Frostleaf City properly settle the little brats under her care.

"Yet she still could not stop worrying about them and refused to go to Spirit City, eventually angering that Soul Douluo enough to leave.

"Her talent is certainly good, but not good enough for a Soul Douluo to be willing to take along a group of burdens for her sake.

"I think no one in Frostleaf City can bear the wrath of a Soul Douluo. Until That Lord's attitude is confirmed, no one would dare recruit her."

"Not recruitment, but investment." Amon raised his index finger and gently shook it.

"And you would be investing in me, not her. It's just that she counts as half my disciple, so part of your investment would reach her through me. This is different from bringing Yan Jin into your chamber of commerce."

The other party could not establish too close a relationship with Yan Jin. That was why Amon had listed Ma Wen as his first choice.

Compared with taking in a disciple, a commercial investment like Ma Wen's was more suitable.

It would show Yan Jin sufficient goodwill without making their relationship overly close.

Ma Wen was somewhat tempted. Although Yan Jin often committed petty theft, she had refused a Soul Douluo's recruitment for the sake of her companions. There was nothing to criticize when it came to loyalty.

What restricted the chamber of commerce's development was its lack of support from sufficiently reliable powerful experts.

Ma Wen had long planned to cultivate powerful Soul Masters close to the chamber of commerce, but she had achieved little. The return cycle for such investments was too long, and suitable targets were difficult to find.

As for directly seeking cooperation with powerful Soul Masters, it would be hard to say who would hold the initiative then. She would inevitably lose much of her autonomy, and she had no desire to see the chamber of commerce she had worked so hard to build become someone else's.

Previously, she had considered only how to directly bring Yan Jin into the chamber of commerce, but had abandoned the idea out of concern for the Soul Douluo. Amon's proposal offered another, safer arrangement.

In eight years, that Soul Douluo's attitude could be determined as well, while Amon would bear the risks during that period.

Though Yan Jin would not directly join the chamber of commerce through this method, and her relationship with it would not be as close, it was safer.

"She's willing to go with you?" Ma Wen asked.

Amon gave a slight nod. "She has already agreed. She refused that Soul Douluo before because her brothers were truly too young, and she could not stop worrying about them.

"I will stay here until she graduates from Icewind Primary Soul Master Academy. By then, the youngest among those she worries about will be eight or nine years old, older than she is now.

"If you are willing to look after those children while we are away, what else would she have to worry about?

"Yan Jin is even more outstanding than you think. Her talent is not limited to cultivating Soul Power. In battle, she is equally a genius.

"An astonishing battle instinct, an innate grasp of Soul Power techniques, decent cultivation speed, and my planning and guidance—she is destined to become a powerful Soul Master.

"I will take her to enroll in Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy, then participate in the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies.

"If we do not qualify to join an advanced soul master academy in five years, we will work under you and sell you the rest of our lives. How about it?"

"I have to admit, your proposal has moved me." Ma Wen uncrossed her legs and adopted a more upright posture. Solemnity entered her dark brown eyes. "Then tell me, how exactly would this investment work?"

Amon laid out the plan he had prepared long ago. "While we are at the primary soul master academy, give us five hundred Gold Soul Coins each year. After we enter an advanced soul master academy, two thousand Gold Soul Coins each year.

"When Yan Jin and I obtain our first and second Spirit Rings, the Ice Thorn Chamber of Commerce must provide assistance.

"Also, arrange a house for us beside the academy. When we leave Frostleaf City in five years to further our studies at an advanced soul master academy, you must take good care of Yan Jin's younger brothers and sisters.

"Of course, returns eight years from now are somewhat too far away, so we will offer some benefits during this period as well.

"I recall that your chamber of commerce has dealings in clothing. How about this? Other than occasions where school uniforms are mandatory, Yan Jin's clothing will be arranged by you.

"You can print your chamber of commerce's emblem on her clothes. In addition, the academy sometimes organizes competitive events, and you can have her wear any new clothing styles you wish to promote on such occasions.

"Or more directly, print GG designs for other products on her clothes."

Amon paused before continuing, "With Yan Jin's personality, she will draw plenty of attention no matter where she is. As long as she is outstanding enough, no one will fail to notice the GG on her clothes. Also, if this form of GG proves effective enough, you will need to give us additional compensation."

"A very creative idea. This idea alone has considerable value."

As a shrewd merchant, Ma Wen immediately grasped the key point. She smiled and said, "Then it's settled. Also, bring that little brat Yan Jin to see me tonight. Don't let anyone else know."

"Pleasure doing business with you." Amon raised his right hand and adjusted his Monocle.