"The South Sea Crow''s deration of war is no trifling matter," Glen said solemnly. "Frank, you said that you both came to an agreement, and my third brother is left permanently disabled as a part of that agreement. So, why would she break her promise and return now?" He could not ask those questions in the open, but he certainly sounded concerned as he questioned Frank urgently now.


    "I''m not sure," Frank admitted his fellow apprentice had promised him and had no reason to go back on her word.


    "Are you sure?" Glen pressed.


    Frank could see the suspicion in his eyes but nodded in exasperation.


    It was in a businessman''s nature to be suspicious, and the Turnbulls were Draconia''s most sessful family in trade andmerce. Words alone would never have been enough to convince Glen-the leader of said family-but Frank had nothing else to offer anyway. If anything, it was normal for Glen to be suspicious, even if he had no idea why Ciaran would resume her vendetta against the Turnbulls.


    Coerced by the Lionhearts, perhaps?


    Still, Glen could see that Frank was as in the dark as he was and sighed lengthily. "To be honest, I''d be relieved if it''s the real South Sea Crow."Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "How so?" Frank looked at him, puzzled.


    Glen was briefly silent and exined, "You might not be aware, but Simon Lionheart-the current head of the Lionheart family and the chief of Volsung Sect-has reached a bottleneck in cultivation. He is in urgent need of a catalyst to improve further." "A catalyst..."


    Frank mused to himself and soon realized it. "You''re worried they would go all out ande for your families'' spiritron vein by using the South Sea Crow as an excuse?" "Exactly."


    Seeing that Frank was aware about the spiritron vein, Glen nodded and spoke inly, "I would be less


    worried if it''s really just the South et


    19


    Sea Crowing at us for revenge. If it''s the Lionhearts using her as an excuse to invade us-even butcher our family instead-that would be really troublesome for us."


    we a


    "Right now, we are in a delicate period as we rein in various branch families and assimte their assets. There''s dearly internal discord, and the South Sea Crow showing up right now is just too much of a coincidence."


    Then, looking at Frank, he said, "And the way she issued a deration of war so publicly... it''s like she wants everyone to know that she wants revenge against us."


    "And what''s the Lionhearts'' stance on the matter?" Frank asked, tapping his fingers on the table.


    "They''ve been keeping quiet, though they''ve been keeping a low profile with their movementstely anyway... as if preparing for something. Glen appeared unsettled, and both men fell silent just then.


    "Don''t worry."


    Frank looked up after a while, his eyes shing. "With me standing watch here, I''ll do something, whether the South Sea Crow''s challenge is real or fake." "What if Simon Lionheart personally got involved?" Glen quickly asked a pressing question.


    Frank turned silent again and frowned. "I''m sorry to say this, but I don''t think I can beat Simon Lionheart as I am now."


    Glen looked at him in shock. "What?! You don''t think...?"


    "Yes. I might have a chance at escaping, but defeating him is-"


    Before he could finish, Glen had grasped his hands, his eyes widening. "No, that''s not what I''m saying! You''ve already improved so much...?!"