Chapter 135

“Not surprising for a former kingdom’s twin pillars—you’re willing to name a price.”

After reading the “quote” handed to her, the middle-aged woman in brown robes smiled at the elder with a rose emblem embroidered on his chest.

“Lord Sam, if you don’t mind, could you tell me how much the Lyon family paid you to deliver this letter?”

“This…”

“Heh, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine—I was just curious.”

Seeing the elder’s troubled expression, the woman in brown robes chuckled.

“Getting money out of the Lyon family is your own skill, and our Jiao Jin Sect’s doctrine doesn’t oppose such things—in fact, we encourage them.”

“But without me, you wouldn’t have made this money at all. As the most crucial link, I demand a share of your earnings. Do you agree?”

“Agreed, of course I agree!”

Silently cursing the money-grubber, the elder named Sam, realizing he held no leverage, nodded repeatedly while gritting his teeth and handing over a new quote.

Seeing the woman’s expression finally soften with satisfaction, the elder, eyes aching at the loss, quietly exhaled and bowed slightly, speaking with solemn respect.

“Grand Preceptor, the Lyon family’s representatives are outside. If you’re available now…”

“Available? Of course I’m available!”

Mimicking the elder’s tone, the middle-aged woman in brown robes laughed heartily.

“Just helping to find one person brings such a rich reward—how could I not be available? Come, take me to meet the Lyon family’s guests.”

“Of course, this way, please.”

Leading the woman in brown robes through the manor’s long corridor to a secluded reception room, the elder of the Rose family stepped forward to introduce both parties to the group rising hastily to greet them.

“Grand Preceptor, these are the last surviving elder of the Lyon family, the new head of the Lyon household, and the Duke’s most trusted personal steward.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this lady beside me is the Grand Preceptor of the Wealth Division of the Jiao Jin Sect. You may call her…”

“No need for names—call me ‘Brown.’”

Cutting off the elder’s introduction, the woman in brown robes stepped forward, shook hands with each of them, and smiled warmly.

“I heard from Lord Sam that you contacted the Jiao Jin Sect because the Lyon family’s designated heir has gone missing, and you want me to find him, correct?”

“Yes, yes!”

Hearing her question, the youngest of the three—the new head—nodded eagerly, his golden hair bobbing.

“Brown… Grand Preceptor! To be honest, we’re truly out of options.”

“The succession ceremony is in just over two days, and all the invitation letters have been sent out—but this morning, the Duke’s chosen heir simply ran away from the hospital!”

“Honestly, if you can find him within two days, we’ll add fifty percent more to your gift list!”?!?!

Are you insane? Who just blurts out their bottom line on first meeting?

Hearing the young man’s words, the other two Lyon family members froze, their eyes widening in shock and anger as they glared at him, filled with reprimand.

The young man seemed to realize his mistake, slapping a hand over his mouth, shaking his head frantically, eyes wide with panic.

“I… I didn’t mean to say that! I didn’t!”

“Heh, please don’t blame him. The Head didn’t intend to reveal this—he simply dislikes deception, so I used a small trick to encourage more honest communication.”

After briefly explaining what she’d done, the woman in brown robes smiled unconcernedly at the three, whose eyes now brimmed with deep wariness.

“As for the extra fifty percent, let’s forget it. The gift list you submitted is already generous enough.”

“Though the Jiao Jin Sect loves wealth, we’re not insatiable—we take only what we’re owed.”

Seeing the three visibly relax at the news they wouldn’t have to pay more, the woman in brown robes curled her lips slightly, then added:

“However… while I’m confident I can locate the new Duke, our method of finding people is somewhat unusual. Are you prepared to accept it?”

Unusual?

Hearing her words, the three Lyon family members exchanged glances. Finally, the eldest elder spoke up.

“Brown, what exactly do you mean by ‘unusual’?”

“He must join the Jiao Jin Sect—not you three, but the Lyon family’s new Duke.”

The woman in brown robes slightly parted her lips, grinning like a large brown cat spotting a fat mouse, her expression oddly twisted.

“I venerate the Cat Spirit among the Three Holy Spirits. Anyone who has ever handled money—even just touched it—cannot escape its perception or summons.”

“So finding the new Duke’s location is simple. If the Cat Spirit wishes, it can even bring him directly before you—even if he’s fled the capital, it won’t delay the succession ceremony in two days.”

“But as a price, once the Cat Spirit’s power locks onto him, he will be influenced by it, marked with the scent of the Jiao Jin Sect, making it nearly impossible for him to ever associate with another sect.”

“Is this price acceptable to you?”

Forced to join the Jiao Jin Sect? Never join another sect again?

After hearing her words, the three Lyon family members exchanged glances once more.

Fine, let him join—it’s just a puppet Duke. As long as he shows up at the succession ceremony in two days to stabilize the Lyon family’s situation, even if he lost limbs, it wouldn’t matter!

But… what if the Jiao Jin Sect has ulterior motives?

The family is rushing the succession to preserve as much of the Lyon estate as possible—even if they can’t save it all, they can use the Lionheart Duke’s name to secure benefits for their own kin.

But if the new Duke joins the Jiao Jin Sect, now there’s another player who can wield the title. What if the Jiao Jin Sect secretly intervenes and tries to seize the Lyon estate?

…

“Grand Preceptor, please first lock onto his location.”

After a tense exchange of glances, the Lyon family reached consensus. The Duke’s steward bowed slightly.

“If the new Duke hasn’t gone far and is merely hiding nearby, we’ll find him ourselves. But if he’s left the capital, then we’ll need you to bring him back.”

“Very well. Please give me something he’s used.”

Unconcerned with the Lyon trio’s hidden calculations, the woman in brown robes took two soiled bandages from the old steward, sniffed them, her dark brown lips trembling slightly as she silently chanted two lines.

Instantly, a lazy cat’s meow echoed through the reception room. The woman’s pupils rapidly contracted, then split open like a sliced wound, her eyes swelling grotesquely into feline orbs.

“I see him.”

Blinking uncomfortably, she watched the “trail” on the bandages stretch farther away. Her eyes had swollen over three times their size, her appearance now terrifying. She grinned.

“The trail is strong—he hasn’t gone far. Let me see his surroundings… hmm… he climbed over a wall, carrying something, landing in a vast patch of red roses. Nearby is a six-story rose-colored villa…”

Wait—why does this building look familiar?