Two days had passed since Xue Mi visited. She had asked for an enormous favor from Ikasa. After she left, he had put forth her request before Feng Yan to hear his opinion.

“Yes! This tournament would be a great chance for me to create a terror of the name ‘Red Eye’ in the Birch City!”

Feng Yan replied with stars in his eyes.

Ikasa was left speechless by his logic. Then he thought about the previous actions of the man before him.

Feng Yan was the kind of man who would bust someone’s head open to cement his fearsome reputation. He used to stay up at night, consuming alcohol just so his eyes would be red and scary.

Of course, he wouldn’t let go of a chance like this tournament!

Ikasa shook his head and once again tried to dissuade Feng Yan from being reckless.

“You will not be going up against some ordinary thugs here. You will face trained and treasured Sense Realm Warriors.”

He warned him to reconsider his decision. Feng Yan did not even pay any heed to the words. Instead, he retorted with passion.

“Do you think I am a pampered lad who has never faced off against danger? I have been fighting wild beasts far longer than you have stopped pissing in your pants!”

Hearing the reply, Ikasa threw his hands up in frustration.

There was no point in arguing with a man who summarized your entire life into two phases: when you used to wet the pants and when you stopped wetting the pants.

Since this warmonger was so eager to fight, he just had to extract the best possible conditions for himself and his business from the City Lord.

He exited his cabin and stretched his back. He could see tall city walls in the distance. It could only mean one thing; they had reached Birch City.

Xin Ruo joined him on the deck. She was still in the dark about Feng Yan’s possible participation in the Tribute Tournament.

‘I will reserve her as the last weapon in my arsenal against that old man. In case my negotiations with the City lord fall through.’

Ikasa thought as he studied the gorgeous side view of his secretary in training. Xin Ruo saw him stare intently at her, and a small self-satisfied smile crept on her lips.

When he averted his gaze, she took the initiative to throw a charming smile his way.

“This is a beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

He nodded dumbly at her question, enthralled by the radiance on her face. She smiled victoriously and sashayed her way into her cabin.

Ikasa gulped at her exaggerated sway of hips. The dress stuck to the contours of her waist made it hard for him to move his eyes away.

He could picture the naked heart-shaped butt underneath her flowing blue dress.

‘What’s wrong with her? The day after we almost kissed, she ghosted me the entire time! Yet, she has been flirting and acting coy with me since Xue Mi’s visit! And where the hell did she learn to walk like that?’

Ikasa shook his head to get rid of the picture of her naked, perky derriere stuck inside.

After one belle had walked away, another beauty came into his sight. Calling her pretty might be far-fetched considering he had never seen her face. However, that buxom and full figure deserved to be appreciated.

‘Ugh, What’s the matter with me? Why am I so horny today?’

Ikasa once again shook his head and went over to Yin Ying. He looked at her wrapped arm and speculated.

“Your hand must be healing well from Medicine Master Hao’s treatment, right?”

She did not answer him verbally but did a few simple actions with her hands.

‘Her bone has healed nicely. Though still wrapped tightly in a cast, she is closer to making a full recovery.’

Ikasa inferred from her movements.

He wanted to ask more about her state of health. However, her deadpan stare killed any desire he had to play nice with her.

Getting her hint, he got straight down to his purpose.

“Are you ready to receive your first task?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll warn you. It won’t be easy to get my approval.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.”

Upon Ikasa’s answer, she gave him another blank stare. Then she rasped her answer once again.

“Yes.”

Her cold and aloof acting was getting on his nerves. He explained his requirements succinctly and coldly.

“Your first task is forming a network of information in this city. If a rat steals from the City lord’s manor, I want to know.”

After finishing what he had to say, he waited for her to ask questions. A frown marred his face when she was still as unresponsive as ever.

Annoyed by her indifference, he waved his hand to dismiss her. Yin Ying nodded at him once and went to look for her men.

Ikasa looked at her back, wondering whether she would ever warm up to him. Lost in his thoughts, he heard a loud broooughhh- in the distance.

A foghorn blowing not so far away drew his attention. The loud whistle signaled they had reached the port of Birch City.

As the ship docked at the shipyard, Ikasa started to think about his upcoming meeting with the City Lord.

‘Should I ask to be a titled Sponsor of this tournament?’

He imagined an announcer introducing the tournament.

“… Ikasa’s Manuals present The Tribute Tournament! If you want to fight like these brave warriors, choose only Ikasa’s Manuals!”

Once he said the lines aloud, he cringed at his creation.

‘Maybe I can do better. First, I should secure a deal with the City Lord.’

Ikasa reassured himself.

Within half an hour, the Ship anchored securely, and the porters started to move the luggage. While they worked, Ikasa and company had left through the entrance of the port.

Chu Kuang stayed back to supervise the workers.

“Butler Han, when we get to the residence assigned by the Xue family, you will be in charge, alright? No matter what the servants say, keep them in check.”

Ikasa was issuing instructions to the only qualified butler he had at his disposal. That’s when he heard someone call him.

“Mr. Ikasa?

A man in his late thirties, wearing immaculate robes, approached them. Ikasa looked at him from head to toe before answering his call.

“Yes?”

“I am Zhu Zan, the Caretaker of the Villa assigned to you by Patriarch Xue.”

The man introduced himself with a bow. Pointing to the large carriage behind him, he said, “I am here to receive you and your companions.”

‘He looks like a pompous show-off. Caretaker Han will have his hands full while dealing with this guy.’

Ikasa thought as he boarded the carriage. A cart pulled by mules followed behind them with his luggage.

“Don’t lean outside from the window!”

Xin Ruo admonished the kids who were excitedly taking in the sceneries of the new city.

They had not gone far when they heard a commotion on the street before them.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep