Chapter 32 - Partner

Caesar looked at him from top to bottom, then moved quietly and stood behind Robin, "I don't know who you are. if you want something, talk to my big brother about it."

"...what? Since when do you have a little brother?" Billy was surprised by this development and turned to Robin

"Well, technically he's my adopted son, but it would be weird for him to call me daddy when I'm in this shape, no?" Robin chuckled

"Your adopted son.. the young man who shocked the whole kingdom is.. your adopted son?!"

"Hey! Why so surprised? It's not like I've never done the same thing when I was his age! an apple doesn't fall far from the tree haha!"

"..heh~ Really, the Burton family is fortunate to have you as their son, but unfortunate at the same time.. Robin, why are you here at Bradley's institution? is this your way to stay away from us? what have we done to you to deserve this?

...And do I understand that Caesar will walk the same path you chose and have nothing to do with us?" Billy shook his head and sat down, he's already given up on his mission

"Why are you talking like I've given up on the family?"

"haven't you?"

"Of course not! I just wanted to live my life my way and leave my mark in the world's history. Now that I've done what I wanted, I don't see a problem with reconnecting with the family, but.... you better forget that my surname is Burton before that happens." Robin said.

"What do you mean by your words?!"

"Am I not clear enough?" Robin's cheerful smile disappeared and turned serious, "I mean I will help you as a partner, I don't want someone to come to talk to me about family love and bullshit to try to take more benefits from me,

depending on my mood and my satisfaction with your actions I will make my own decisions! I can only give you a promise that I will think about the family first if I have more than one choice."

Billy was starting to get agitated with his old friend. Has the solitude of all these years affected his mind?

"With all due respect, what makes you think you qualify for such a relationship?" Billy contained his anger and asked calmly.

Robin didn't speak anymore, he just gestured to Zara to go pick something, everyone waited until she came back with two talismans, one red with a flame logo and the number (6) written inside it,

and the other was more dark-colored with a black ball logo, and (5s) written inside the black ball.

Billy was looking at both talismans the moment Zara walked in, his features quickly turned intense 'these hides contain energy inside them!'

Robin picked up the two talismans from Zara and threw them at Billy, "Take these two and go to an empty area outside the city, make sure you are all alone, then all you have to do is pass your energy inside and do these seals until the power is activated" Then Robin taught him to seal the Fire talisman and the Darkness talisman

"With your current strength, I trust that you will not be late, so let our conversation stop at this point until you return." Robin then pointed towards the exit.

Billy didn't know what this was, but it seemed important. He didn't say a word and silently disappeared.

"Pour the wine, you ungrateful thing, did you bring it for us to watch?" Robin shouted at Caesar

"coming!"

After the time it took for Robin and Caesar to drink two glasses:

"What was this? WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" A frightened voice came from outside as Billy quickly appeared before them, sweating..with burn marks on his clothes and eyebrows.

"How was it?" Robin chuckled

"Bastard, why didn't you tell me to throw the red skin away before activating the seal?!"

"Haha, that way you can better judge its power, with your level you won't be hurt too much, right? Now tell me.. what do you think?"

"It's..AWESOME!! The red skin produces an explosion with the power of a level 6 cultivator, but the explosive firepower and a wide range can be put into various uses, especially since it can be activated remotely with a hand seal! It can be used in traps or sold to youngsters to protect themselves...

no, even saints can carry it!! using it to distract the enemy or deal a final blow to the opponent if both of them are about to die!

But the black one..ahhh the black one!!

..It hid me for 5 whole seconds!! With my speed, I can do a lot in five seconds, no.. even one second would be enough for an assassination attempt or a surprise attack! How is it possible that you have such things?!" Billy couldn't control himself, his mind hadn't fully comprehended what had just happened yet.. this kind of technology wasn't supposed to exist yet.

"These were the talismans of fire and darkness, little toys I made recently... What do you think, Billy, do you think I am qualified for a partnership with the family?"

Now Billy just thinks of him seriously..' just a partnership? In exchange for a few darkness talismans, the patriarch himself would be willing to personally kiss your ass... literally!'

"How many talismans can you produce of the two types in a year, and how much for one?" Billy didn't have many expectations, if he told him he'd make one of them in a few years he'd never doubt.. those things were way ahead of their time.

"A year? Hehe.. I made a deal with the Duke of Bradley to sell him 100 Fire talismans a month at 20 gold coins each, but since you're my family I'll give you some preference, how about... 150 Fire Runes a month at 15 gold coins?"

Billy swallowed his saliva hard when he heard this. He couldn't believe what he just heard.. These talismans could be mass-produced at such a low price?! Passed on this, the family can circulate talismans to their own army and use them in wars!

A year from today, they will have 1,800 fire talismans...

if these things appear on the battlefield...

The dream of upgrading the family's lands and title...is no longer a dream.

Billy took a breath to calm himself then asked, "What about the darkness talismans?"

"That's the problem... Dark Runes are so much more difficult and cost me so much more to make, even Duke Galan Bradley doesn't know they exist yet." Robin started rubbing his forehead.

Billy got so nervous, those darkness talismans would definitely be much more beneficial to the higher-level cultivators than the fire talismans.

"hmm, I think I can provide 5 talismans a month of this kind, and each one will cost 100 gold coins, what do you say?"

"WHAT-..?! DEAL!!" Billy almost jumped out of his place, even one or two talismans in his lifetime would have been enough to make him happy, but Robin offered 60 per year, and cheaply too!

This is literally buying a chance to assassinate high-ranking officers of the enemy armies with only 100 coins!