''Well, to begin with, could you tell me how strong the esteemed item holder is? ''
Before coming to an agreement with Raydon, Cael posed the most significant query that was on everyone else's minds. They wanted to establish a connection with a high-ranking individual, but before doing so, they wanted to find out as much as they could about that person's full power and determine how much of an advantage they could expect to gain from this transaction.
"How strong?" Raydon murmured as if he were thinking about it.
He cast a cursory look around the room, taking note of everyone, including Zephyr, who had already sat down in a stealthy manner and was staring at him in anticipation along with the others.
Raydon didn't know a lot about power structures and ranks, but from what he did know, he understood that the B-Rank was the end of the mid-rank, and the A-Rank was the beginning of the high-rank. After that, however, he was unsure of how the power scale operated, which meant that he could not reveal himself by stating a level or rank at random.
As everyone felt their bodies becoming rigid from the tension and waited for the answer with their full attention, Raydon broke the silence.
eaglesnov?1,сoМ ''He is very strong. '' With great seriousness, he said.
''...''
They were all caught off guard by Raydon's assured and cool response. In that instant, a simultaneous thought crossed their minds, 'Is he this stupid, or is he playing with us? '
They were aware that the person was a high rank item holder and knew that even the weakest possible high rank had the potential to elevate their family to the respected position of a grand family. But their main curiosity was the exact rank this person had. Even among the mid-rank item holders, there was a significant power gap between each rank, and they were curious as to where this person stood in terms of power among the high-ranks.
''Naturally, we know that he is powerful. Do you know precisely what rank this esteemed item holder holds? '' Arden, who up until this point had maintained his composure, found himself unable to resist breaking his silence and asking. His eyes were starting to shine more brightly than they had before, which was a clear indication of the excitement and anticipation he was feeling.
Also, the fact that he was aware that this person was a high rank item holder was all that was required for him to use honorifics when speaking about this individual.
'You know shit… ' Raydon couldn't help but find it amusing as sarcastic thoughts crossed his mind. How could they have such assumptions and speculations about someone who didn't even exist in reality?
Those who ran prestigious and large families or organizations like them had lost their ability to see most things in a simpler way due to their tendency to overthink things, which had now led them to believe Raydon's absurd lie.
Their tendency to overthink and overcomplicate things, which is common among people who run powerful families and organizations, clouded their vision and made them more likely to believe Raydon's crazy lie. They had given in to their own complicated ways of thinking and lost touch with how simple the truth was.
However, there is no one who could fault them for having these thoughts. In the end, all of the happenings at hand and all of the evidence that was right in front of their eyes made them think that way even more. To such an extent that even if Raydon were to say that there is no such person at this time, they would consider this thought to be ridiculous and believe that he was intentionally lying to them.
"I didn't ask because I felt it would be impolite to, so I'm not exactly sure. '' Raydon said with a shrug of his shoulders.
''Of course you did the right thing; it is none of our concern. It suffices to know that this honorable person is a high rank. '' Thalia spoke with caution and restraint, but her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear her. She felt uneasy even just discussing the power of this person.
"You are absolutely right, continuing this discussion would be extremely impolite. '' Zephyr gave a fake cough as he spoke.
While it was natural for him to be curious about the topic, Zephyr, being aware of the common understanding among item holders, made the conscious choice to shift the conversation, deeming it inauspicious to discuss such matters behind a powerful being like that.
''However, I have a strong curiosity about something. '' After taking a sip from the bottle of wine he was holding, he continued. ''What exactly is your connection to this senior? ''
Zephyr tried to sound as normal as possible when asking the question, but even someone like him, who always spoke his mind in a bold and careless manner, didn't know which approach would be right when asking this question.
The room was filled with heightened attention and curiosity, with even Tika's normally composed demeanor revealing a slight blush and twitch on her elf-like ears, as well as an undeniable sense of eagerness. This question was of the utmost importance to everyone present, as it had the potential to shape their family's future.
Raydon gave this question a brief moment of thought before responding, at which point he said it with a carefree smile on his face. ''Is this really important? ''
Again, nobody was able to find the words to respond to Raydon's laid-back demeanor and response. The question they posed was as ordinary as it was vital. All they wanted to know was what role Raydon plays for this particular individual.
'He began to bargain, huh? ' Zephyr thought with a smile.
Raydon was standing in front of them as Cael and the others interrogated him, and they did so while seated in their regal chairs and displaying all of their authoritative stances. From the outside looking in, the interaction did not appear to be a two-way deal at all.
But in the end, Raydon did not provide an answer to their question and instead reminded them that they were not the only ones in control and that it ought to be a deal that benefits both parties.
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