Seeing Rowena’s panicked expression, Daniel began to explain.
After hearing him, Rowena managed to calm down a bit.
After all, being taken to an isolated space for a private conversation was unsettling for anyone.
Rowena had nearly thought Daniel was planning to harm her.
“I’ve heard that some of your brothels have been involved in forcibly taking young women from ordinary families and selling them elsewhere,” Daniel said, looking at her.
“That… that was in the past. In recent years, I’ve stopped such activities and strictly forbidden my staff from engaging in them,” Rowena quickly defended herself.
She knew Daniel had a daughter at Crossbridge Academy, so she understood his concern.
Rowena’s response was swift and sincere, her fear evident as she feared Daniel might act against her if she hesitated even a second.
After speaking, she fell to her knees.
“Stand up; there’s no need to be so afraid. As I said from the beginning, I just wanted to talk,” Daniel said, gesturing for her to stand.
He continued, “Remember what I just said. If I find anything like this happening in Riverside City, our next meeting won’t be a simple conversation.”
Relieved, Rowena quickly promised, “No, I swear nothing like that will ever happen again.”
“Good. I hope you’ll keep your word.”
As Daniel finished speaking, Rowena realized they had returned to the original office. She was still a bit shaken.
Murdoch noticed Rowena’s unsettled expression and gave her a curious glance. frёewebηovel.cѳm
“Mr. Murdoch, you’re next,” Daniel announced.
The next moment, Daniel and Murdoch were in a separate space.
Unlike Rowena, Murdoch wasn’t frightened.
He seemed more intrigued, even pleasantly surprised by Daniel’s power.
“It seems the rumors about Daniel being unable to become a mage were false!”
The fact that Daniel could bring him into an isolated space so effortlessly spoke volumes about his power.
Perhaps Daniel was the real reason Crossbridge Academy had defeated Houses Windwhisper and Lunastone.
Before this, Murdoch had speculated that maybe Daniel’s father hadn’t died, or a powerful relative had come to aid Crossbridge Academy through its hardest time.
But now, it seemed that the so-called mysterious savior was Daniel himself—the one everyone believed had no magical talent was the one hiding the most.
“So, what can I do for you, Daniel?” Murdoch asked, sensing that aligning himself with Daniel could only benefit Rhine Tavern.
“I’ve heard you’ve been expanding your territory recently?” Daniel inquired.
“That’s true, but it’s only natural, isn’t it? Rhine Tavern has been in Riverside City for years, yet its space has always been limited. Expanding is the only way to increase our profits,” Murdoch explained.
“But you’ve exploited contract loopholes to seize areas that should belong to Crossbridge Academy,” Daniel said, fixing his gaze on Murdoch.
Murdoch began to sweat.
His actions were no more than contract manipulation in the business world, and with both houses gone, he figured he could pin everything on them.
But he had crossed Crossbridge Academy and disrupted Daniel’s plans.
Those areas were intended for future academy facilities.
“Ah… it must have been my people’s doing; they’re used to shady dealings. Rest assured, Daniel, I’ll make sure that all territories belonging to Crossbridge Academy are returned immediately.”
“Good. I have new plans for Riverside City, so keep Rhine Tavern as it is,” Daniel instructed.
“Of course, I’ll keep that in mind,” Murdoch replied, drenched with sweat.
He hadn’t realized such a minor transgression could almost land him in serious trouble.
Daniel could crush him with a single finger.
“Your business here is done. You may leave,” Daniel said.
Murdoch found himself back in the office, exchanging a glance with Rowena before they both took their leave.
Now, only Daniel and Ms. Claire remained in the office.
Claire’s demeanor had changed drastically.
Usually, she carried herself with the composure of a seasoned merchant, fitting Daniel’s mental image of a shrewd trader.
But now she seemed distracted, more like a business owner on the brink of collapse.
Daniel was naturally curious about what could have happened to cause such a drastic shift in Claire within just a few days.
The last time they’d met, she had shared information about House Windwhisper and House Lunastone, and she’d been her usual self.
“Ms. Claire, has something happened with Dragonscale Bank?” Daniel asked, puzzled.
Claire gave him a complicated look, almost resentful. “Daniel, you’ve really put me in a bind this time…”
“What do you mean? We haven’t even interacted recently, have we?”
“Remember when you asked why Dragonscale Bank, a neutral organization, was collecting so many mana stones?” Claire said slowly. “After that, I asked some colleagues, but no one had answers. Out of curiosity, I decided to investigate myself, and… well…”
She gave a bitter laugh.
What started as a simple inquiry had led to some startling revelations.
Claire produced a unique box, intricately carved with fine engravings.
Daniel recognized the patterns immediately—they weren’t mere decorations but a magic array, meaning the entire surface of the box was an array.
Carefully, Claire input her mana.
As it flowed through one of the patterns, the box opened to reveal a crystal emitting a pure mana aura.
“All the mana stones Dragonscale Bank collected have been turned into this thing. They call it a magic array crystal,” Claire explained.
Just this small crystal held mana equivalent to billions of mana stones, which explained why Dragonscale Bank was so eager to accumulate them.
Their purpose was to convert mana stones into magic array crystals using a specialized array.
Daniel was surprised to hear this; he hadn’t expected Dragonscale Bank to be collecting mana stones to refine them into magic array crystals.
He was familiar with these crystals, knowing they were far more valuable than mana stones.
As Claire watched, Daniel also produced a magic array crystal, even larger than the one she had shown.
Seeing the crystal in his hand, Claire was at a loss for words.
She had already thought Daniel was extraordinary, like someone who carried a mana stone mine with him.
But now, it seemed she had underestimated him.
Did Daniel perhaps carry a crystal mine as well?
Claire’s shock was entirely within Daniel’s expectations.
He hadn’t realized this was known here as a magic array crystal. He’d always called it a mana crystal.
Daniel glanced at the items in his inventory space.
How many of these did he have again?
How many zeroes?
Counting them was getting a bit tricky!