The Treasure Pavilion was located in the very heart of the Inner City.
It sold only rare and valuable items --- miraculous
pills, enchanted weapons, and secret manuals of powerful techniques.
Ordinarily, only nobles and renowned martial
experts frequented the Treasure Pavilion, as ordinary people couldn’t afford
even to step through its doors.
At this moment, inside the Treasure Pavilion
---
An elderly man with silvery white hair reclined
on a lounge chair, listening to a traditional opera.
In his hand, he held a small teapot,
occasionally taking a sip from the spout, appearing perfectly at ease.
Suddenly --- screech!
A luxury car abruptly braked at the entrance,
its tires dragging loudly against the ground, leaving behind several long skid
marks.
Before the vehicle had even come to a full
stop, Li Guanglong had already
leaped out.
“Call your shopkeeper out! I have urgent
matters to discuss with him!”
Li Guanglong stormed into the Treasure
Pavilion, his tone commanding and overbearing.
“This guest must be unaware of our store’s
rules,”
The old man said from his reclining chair, eyes
half-closed and voice indifferent: “All purchases here are by prior
appointment. We do not receive unfamiliar clients without notice.”
“I am Second Prince Li Guanglong! I’ve come for
your shopkeeper. Get him out here immediately. If this delays important
matters, you won’t be able to afford the consequences!”
Li Guanglong pulled out his golden token to
prove his identity.
“Oh? So it’s the Second Prince. A thousand
apologies,”
The old man cupped his hands in a mock gesture
of respect, but remained firmly reclined, making no move to rise: “But rules
are rules. No appointment, no audience.”
“What kind of attitude is this? Believe me,
I’ll tear this place down if you keep this up!” Li Guanglong was furious.
He was already agitated by the situation at
hand, and now this old man was dragging his feet and showing no courtesy whatsoever.
Were it not for needing his help, he’d have
lashed out already.
“Even if the Second Prince tears down the
Treasure Pavilion, my answer remains the same.” The old man’s face didn’t so
much as twitch.
“You --- !” Li Guanglong’s scalp tingled with
anger, and he nearly lost control.
Suddenly, he remembered the jade token that Lord Eugene Montgomery had given him.
He pulled it out immediately, holding it up before the old man’s eyes and
shouting, “Old man! Open your eyes and take a good look! This is your
shopkeeper’s personal token. With this in hand, he must grant me one favor, no
matter what!”
“Hm?”
The old man’s expression finally shifted when
he saw the token. He quickly stood up and examined it closely. After confirming
it was genuine, he furrowed his brow and asked, “How did you come by this jade
token? Shouldn’t it be in Lord Montgomery’s possession?”
Hearing the name "Lord Montgomery,"
Li Guanglong immediately realized something. “You recognize this token? Could
it be… you’re the shopkeeper of the Treasure Pavilion?”
Very few people knew of the jade token. The old
man not only recognized it but also named Eugene Montgomery directly --- clearly
no ordinary person.
“Indeed, I am the shopkeeper of the Treasure
Pavilion. May I ask, Second Prince, was this token given to you by Lord
Montgomery himself?” the old man asked, his expression now serious.
“That’s right,” Li Guanglong nodded. “I’m in
trouble right now, and my uncle told me to bring this token to the Treasure
Pavilion to seek someone out. He said you would be able to help me resolve this
crisis.”
“Lord Montgomery once saved my life. I owe him
a debt, and I should repay it. But Second Prince, you are a talented and
capable man with strong backing. If even you are stumped by this problem, I
doubt I’ll be of much use,” the old man replied, shaking his head.
After all, if a prince of the Dragonmarsh was
at a loss, the issue had to be no small matter.
“Others may not be able to help, but you
certainly can --- because I need the Old Diviner of the Celestial
Observatory to intervene, and only you can persuade him.”
Li Guanglong did not hide anything and quickly
explained the situation.
After listening, the old man’s brows furrowed
deeply. “To think the God-King of the Pantheon of the Gods is acting so
lawlessly. Do they think Dragonmarsh has no one left to resist them?”
“Master Shopkeeper, I was too brash earlier.
Please forgive me. I now humbly ask you to visit the Old Diviner in person, and
plead with him to rise and slay the evildoer for the sake of Dragonmarsh!” Li
Guanglong clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
“My father has long since secluded himself from
worldly matters. Getting him to intervene would be like reaching for the
stars,” the old man sighed.
“Even so, please at least try. Only the Old
Diviner has the power to turn the tide now!” Li Guanglong said earnestly.
“In that case, I’ll give it a try. But I make
no promises,” the old man replied.
“Thank you, Master Shopkeeper.”
“Please wait outside for a moment, Your
Highness. I will return shortly.”
With those words, the old man disappeared into the
inner chamber.
Li Guanglong stood by the door, pacing
anxiously.
He had no idea what the situation was like back
at his residence.
If Zeus had already killed and departed, then
even if the Old Diviner agreed to act, it would be too late.
After all, the Old Diviner wasn’t about to go
storming the Pantheon of the Gods headquarters.
Roughly the time it takes for a stick of
incense to burn later, the old man returned.
“Master Shopkeeper, well? Did the Old Diviner
agree to help?” Li Guanglong rushed forward.
“My father said he will not involve himself in
worldly strife. However, in honor of the jade token, he is willing to gift you
a strategic pouch --- enough to see you safely through the crisis,” the
old man said, handing over a white cloth pouch.
“A pouch?”
Li Guanglong frowned, a little disappointed.
What kind of ‘strategy in a pouch’ could
possibly force the mighty God-King Zeus to retreat?
Was this some kind of joke? - Ton
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