Chapter 56

The next morning, on the seventh floor of the mage tower, Laurent reported respectfully to Reed who was standing by the window.

“Rom Bernard, Level 5 Mage, 27 years old. Son of a Marquis of the Empire. He came from the Imperial Capital, Norland to Grimm half a year ago to serve as a manager in The Alex Consortium. He is well-regarded by the nobility of Grimm. He loves rare antiques and gemstones and is particularly admiring of elven arts and crafts. Also, Rom is Winnie Alex’s most ardent suitor, but based on what my little birds had said, Miss Winnie seemed to not have given Rom any preferential treatment, and their relationship in the guild is also only as a superior and subordinate.

Laurent looked at Reed whose back was facing him and was looking at the streets outside through the window as he adjusted his tone.

“Master Reed, this Sir Rom has a large role in the management of The Alex Consortium’s hierarchy. If we want to purchase materials in large quantities. We will not be able to go around him.”

After running into trouble with the food plan, Reed had changed a lot. While the matter was subsequently resolved perfectly in the end, it still made him more determined to open up the network of contacts in Grimm.

So he had gotten Laurent to inquire about the news of the nobles in the city.

In fact, as far as his identity was concerned, it was probably best if he were to go out in person. However he was not ready to make contact with his master by chance, Archmage Spock, so the most direct way was to have a noble with considerable status on his side.

Dawnbreak was now a framework, except for the fact that the city did not have to be built, but everything else had to start from scratch.

Not only did he need to purchase a large number of supplies, but he also needed to prevent any leakage of information… His identity as a vampire made him particularly cautious with his actions.

This was very similar to a business management and simulation game back on Earth, the only difference was that if he was to fail in the game he could restart. If he fails here, however, he would ruin the fate of the vampires.

In this case, it was much more important to find a breakthrough point.

During this time, the manager of The Alex Consortium, Rom Bernard had entered Reed’s sight.

The high status as the son of a Marquis aside, he was also a member of The Alex Consortium and held important positions within it.

The new material purchase plan that was about to commence would have to go through The Alex Consortium, a python that coiled around Grimm.

Actually, Laurent’s suggestion was Winnie herself, but Reed rejected it without second thoughts. The beautiful girl had a terrifying identity and background, plus she had a clever mind and plans that he did not know of. So it was better for him to avoid her.

As he said that, Laurent frowned and hesitated. “Master Reed, during this period, I felt that The Alex Consortium seemed to be investigating our Goldwheat Guild in secret. Their manager even once asked me by the side where the batch of food was headed.”

Reed’s heart skipped a beat as he turned his head around a faint chill flashed in his eyes.

“How can you be sure they are looking into us? Isn’t it normal to inquire about your business partner’s details during a transaction?”

The frown on Laurent’s head slowly relaxed as a smile appeared on his face again.

“It’s because the information they are asking is just too much. Especially about you. Of course, I may be overthinking things. During this period, The Alex Consortium had been taking good care of the Goldwheat Guild, and those popular, hot-selling products that usually were not available to a small guide like us, we have managed to get them a couple of times. The Goldwheat Guild had also earned about 30 gold Pykes due to this. Goddess above, these are gold Pykes that belonged wholely to the Goldwheat Guild without any need to split to those accursed underground factions… Master Reed, this is all due to you, praise be to you~”

Laurent had just casually mentioned it and did not take the matter to heart, but it was different in Reed’s ears.

No matter how little a strange thing was, he must always be vigilant. What was that girl with the beautiful violet eyes planning to do?

Although he had only met her once, he was deeply suspicious of Winnie, this most beautiful tulip. She was not a simple white bunny like Viena was.

Plus she was also a disciple of a Transcendent, a daughter of a Marquis, and a Level 11 Gale Warrior to boot. In contrast, her beautiful appearance seemed to pale in comparison.

“Laurent, help me sent out an invitation letter, and invite Lord Rom to the best tavern in Grimm, Elviss, for a drink.”

It was time to hammer a nail inside his enemy, and Reed’s dark eyes were as deep as the stars.

Laurent bowed respectfully and left.

Reed’s current status among humans was not low, not only he had the title of an Imperial Baron, but he was also a genius Level 10 mage. Moreover, he was also a disciple of Archmage Spock.

His identity was undoubtedly noble.

Two solhours later, Laurent brought back Rom’s letter.

Rom’s response expressed his joy at Reed’s invitation and confirmed that he would be arriving on time at seven o’clock in the evening.

At the same time, he had also praised his moniker as a genius mage, and also send his greetings to his master, Spock, a very common communication language of the nobility.

“Laurent, Rom has been pursuing Miss Winnie’s affection, right?”

Reed closed the gorgeous letter in his hand and looked at Laurent with a smile.

Laurent was taken aback for a moment. He had previously suggested that Reed best contact Winnie directly as she was the chairwoman of The Alex Consortium. Her authority and the resources she could mobilize was incomparable to an outsider like Rom.

In his opinion, there was a friendly exchange between the two… and the other side helped the Goldwheat Guild to resolve the food purchase problem.

So Winnie would have been the best target, but Reed’s expression of deep anathema had him puzzled.

But for him to hear this question, he had a weird expression on his face. Had Master Reed’s heart also been captured by the Tulip of Grimm?

Reed looked at Laurent’s eyes and shook his head helplessly.

“All people have weaknesses, don’t they?”

Laurent showed an expression of understanding. “Master Reed, liking beautiful girls is not something to be ashamed of. For a handsome and outstanding person like you, no woman could resist your charms. If my girl weren’t too young, I would have been willing to let her be your concubine.”

Reed was very satisfied and appreciated Laurent’s vision.

“You have a daughter?”

Laurent was full of pride. “Master Reed, my daughter is a famous beauty in Grimm.”

“Really?”

“Of course, she looks exactly like me.”

“Pffft… let’s focus on Rom.”

Laurent looked somewhat resentful.

“Lord Rom is the eldest son of House Bernard, and studied under an Archmage from the Norland Imperial Academy, and had met Miss Winnie there. From then on, he fell in love with her at first sight…”

It was a very old yet common tale, an aristocratic teenager had been smitten by a noble lady studying far away from their homes, and the noble lady’s outstanding talents and perfect looks had impressed the aristocratic teenager.

The aristocratic teenager had launched a frantic pursuit of the noble lady. Year after year, until the noble lady had returned to her domain, and yet the aristocratic teenager still remembered her. In the end, he traveled the distance just to be by her side every day.

After listening, Reed was deeply amazed. In this era of inconvenient transportation, only an aristocrat with nothing else better to do would do such a thing.

Moreover, listening to that, while it might have sounded romantic, was it also not a very standard case of being a kiss-ass?

After blinking, an idea slowly formed in his mind.

He was not very good at dealing with unfamiliar nobility, but bamboozling a kiss-ass, however, seemed to be very simple?