Ⅳ
When Sean's message arrived, Arthur was preparing tea and snacks-
He roasted the tea he had cut from a tea brick in the pot. As its distinctive aroma began to spread, he poured the fresh milk beside him straight into it.
The snacks consisted of small baked cookies, red velvet cake, and some cashews.
He arranged the three treats on a silver three-tiered stand, with the cashews first, then the cookies, and finally the cake.
After adjusting the angle of the silver stand, Arthur nodded in satisfaction.
If it had been just for himself, he would never have gone to so much trouble.
But this was to entertain Malinda, who was bringing him a Seventeenth Rank ritual substrate.
Naturally, he needed to put some thought into it.
It was a matter of courtesy.
Of course, it was also to set the next step of his plan in motion.
Diodone Hamlet had already entered the game.
Arthur trusted Pistrie Hamlet to handle everything properly.
But Pistrie alone was not enough.
That march still required some arrangements.
Simply put...
Arthur was short of people.
War Elephant had followed Old Lion to South Los.
But the Construct Maker and Bloodshadow Thorn were still around-the two lurking in the shadows were a thorn in Arthur's side, a bone stuck in his throat.
Besides, if those two did not show themselves, what would happen to the Gold Mine?
So he had to make them appear.
There was no need to worry about Bloodshadow Thorn. Arthur already had specific arrangements in place.
For the Construct Maker, however, he had none.
Thus, Arthur needed to arrange an evenly matched opponent for the Construct Maker.
Malinda was naturally the most suitable candidate.
Clever and powerful.
Most importantly, they shared a deep friendship.
They had worked together time