In the Star Group, Bernard and Maya were sitting next to each other.
They were returning to the country in a disappointed mood.
Maya had been pouting all day as she muttered, "What was the problem with that guy? We had offered him so much, yet, he refused our offers. It was clear that our offers were better than theirs. I thought he had no good relationship with his family? He even made us wait for too long… I need to start auditing the company money after this. Ugh, I want to punch that guy on the face."
Bernard closed his eyes while smiling as if the disappointment didn't bother him that much.
"Father, why are you smiling?" Maya glared at her.
"So, I can't smile?" Bernard gradually opened his eyes and glanced at her.
"No… Not that. He just rejected our offers, you know, and it took him so long to do this."
"Calm down, will you?"
"How can I calm down after all these things?"
"It's because he rejected us that you need to calm down."
"Huh?" Maya frowned as she took another look at her father's face. He didn't seem to be joking.
"I am just warning you that he's more dangerous than I thought…" Bernard smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"What is the biggest reason for him to go to the War God Family instead of us?"
"Because they're family?"
"Nah. It's because of Leonardo." He shook his head.
"Him? Because he's his grandfather?"
"I have told you he doesn't like his family. What he wants is the War Saint…" Bernard facepalmed. "Although we can provide him with experts to teach him, he's not going to take that because even we can't bring an expert at Leonardo's level. They're something that money can't buy…"
"But still—" When she was about to interrupt him, Bernard raised his hand, asking her to listen to him.
"His strength aside, the one that makes Leonardo that dangerous is his brain. Not many people can play this type of strategy game with him, so what Theo wants is not the benefits he can get right now.
"If you take a look at his deals and plans until now, he has been making short term deals. He just wants to solve a specific part. For example, the contract with the other five countries… He just wants to protect himself from them.
"However, it will be different if he chooses Leonardo. He must have gotten the gist of what was happening behind the scene, and all of them pointed at one man, the War Saint.
"He has been fighting by himself until now, so he can acquire the money or benefits by himself. Hence, what he truly needs is none other than the brain that can predict his future. In other words, he wants Leonardo's teaching about strategy.
"When the time comes, Theo will definitely leave the War God Family because he can simply say the reward he received comes from his grandfather's motto, not the Griffith Family. There's no time restriction in the contract anyway, unlike us...
"After leaving with all the knowledge imparted by one of the greatest strategists in the world, Theo may even come to us with all that knowledge. In terms of planning and negotiation, I am afraid he will become even more terrifying.
"To put it simply, he's planning to use the War God Family as his stepping stone before going to another part of the world… If somehow Theo or should I say this small 'Leonardo' chose us, what kind of offer could you give him?" He let out a long sigh. "This guy… What happened to him these past few weeks? To think he changes this much."
Maya dropped her jaw to the ground, not believing what she had heard. "I think you're overestimating him…"
"Dear, I have never once underestimated my enemies even if they're just a mere Normal Rank Hunter, and I don't fear to overestimate my enemies as long as it can give me security." Bernard's face became serious. "And I am afraid… I am still underestimating this guy. The dragon will soon soar in the sky…"
"What do you think we should do?"
"Offer yourself to him." Bernard smirked, teasing his daughter.
"Father…" Maya's eyebrows twitched as her hand was on the bracelet, ready to take out a gun.
Bernard raised his two hands as if he surrendered while explaining his words. "I mean, you can use your own reputation to create a joint operation with the War God Family to maintain a good relationship with him.
"Even if we can't manipulate the group mission, there is still the joint venture that comes every two years. Either way, you need to maintain a good relationship with him. We may not be able to do it with the War Saint, but if we can get him before he rises, the benefits may surpass our imagination."
"That is something I can do, but what if he turns out not to be like you said?"
"There are only two scenarios. First, if he turns out to be inferior to what I expect of him, just abandon him. Second, if he is that good but bears his fang against us, even if you need to spend all your money, hire all Mythical Rank Experts and hunt him down… No matter what, we are a businessman, not his slaves that will give him everything." Bernard's face became cold.
Even Maya couldn't help but shiver for a few seconds before Bernard returned to normal and winked playfully.
"Well, I just hope we don't reach that point. For now, just maintain our relationship with him."
"Okay." Maya nodded a few times before recalling a particular word. "You said he's a dragon. What about me? A phoenix?"
"…" Bernard fell silent as if he refused to answer.
"Father…"
"Ehm." Bernard scratched the back of his head. "Do you want the truth?"
"Of course. I want the truth. You need to avoid lying as much as possible in business since trust is the basics." She harrumphed.
"I was about to call you an orc… but I guess you are a golem, especially with your armor and weapons."
Maya's eyebrows twitched as a pistol appeared in her right hand. She pointed it right on Bernard's face and glared at him. "Do you want to die, Father?"
"I just told you the truth.." Bernard looked away as if he didn't care about the gun.