637 Surprise Attack
'Friends...'
After hearing Vaan mention the word, Acharon suddenly felt guilty. He couldn't believe he tried to destroy his martial future by getting him banned from the Martial Arts Repository.
Fortunately, the situation didn't escalate to that point.
"Young Master Vanderlin, I'm glad to have a friend like you," Acharon sincerely said before seeking his help, "In your opinion, do you think my family is safe since we haven't completed the transaction?"
"Not necessarily, Young Master Acharon," Vaan calmly replied.
At the same time, he silently thought, 'Your family isn't safe because I just robbed your treasury clean... You can escape the disaster of wealth but not the disaster of poverty...'
In truth, the Evron family wouldn't face the threat of bankruptcy or decline even though their treasury had been robbed clean. It still had its surface-level wealth and various businesses. The loss of wealth only stopped the Evron family from growing and expanding; it wouldn't force the Evron family into decline and ruin.
In other words, the Evron family's development would simply stagnate for the following dozens of years as the Evron family re-
accumulated its wealth.
"Oh? What kind of other danger is there?" Acharon asked with a startled look.
"On my way here, I was obviously followed by several different parties, Young Master Acharon. It's quite clear that news of my Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill and my visit to your family had been leaked. As such, even if we hadn't completed the transaction, others would still know that I came to sell the Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill to your family. And if others knew of this matter, Duke Gamliel would likely know too."
"Ahh..."
Acharon felt pained in his heart after listening to Vaan's reasoning. His father had been the one who secretly leaked the news in hopes of it reaching Duke Zaahir's faction.
This was a devious move to cut off Vaan's path of retreat and forcefully bring him over to Duke Gamliel's side. After all, Vaan couldn't go back to Duke Zaahir's faction if the other party believed he was a traitor.
Acharon didn't expect that this move from his father would backfire on them.
Karma was certainly a bitch.
"Of course, we just have to make it seem like that wasn't the case," Vaan continued.
"Instead, we should make others believe I just came to befriend Young Master Acharon, and we hit it off. And since I was looking for a buyer, you intended to introduce me to Duke Gamliel the next day. Duke Gamliel would get a Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill and a promising young talent in his faction."
"Then, if I speak a few good words about you, Young Master Acharon will get all the credit. By then, Duke Gamliel will be impressed, and your Evron family's standing in the faction will surely rise," Vaan spoke eloquently.
Acharon felt his blood pumping with excitement just by listening to Vaan speak. He could simply imagine his family's glorious future.
"Hahaha!" Acharon suddenly burst into laughter and wrapped one of his arms around Vaan's shoulders like a bosom friend. "Shall we go and eat now, Young Master Vanderlin?"
Acharon was a bit slow-witted, but he eventually understood how to make the spies think Vaan had just come to the Evron family to make friends; they just needed a happy meal together.
"Sure," Vaan smiled.
Alas, the Evron family's estate was bound to be anything but quiet and peaceful that night.
"Haiz, I don't know what I would do if my Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill got destroyed too," Vaan sighed emotionally, seemingly speaking without thought.
However, the expression of the head of the Evron family and everyone else changed instantly, becoming more grave. It was like they had realized the purpose behind the surprise attack.
Whoever attacked them was clearly targeting Young Master Vanderlin and the Rank 4 Body Reformation Pill!
"Stay close, Young Master Vanderlin. We don't know if the enemy is still around," Beru stated while scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
Although Beru seemed to have cooled down, he was still burning furiously inside. The enemy had no respect for the Evron family or the imperial law and made the Evron family lose face in front of their guest!
How could the dignified Beru not be furious?
Meanwhile, Acharon, standing beside Vaan, looked a little depressed. After all, he had also been caught in the blast and had parts of his clothes burned. And yet, he didn't receive the slightest concern from his father.
Nevertheless, it was just a passing feeling. Acharon wasn't at the age where he would sulk over a little matter. He understood his father's position and his concern for the whole Evron family.
Acharon would only receive his father's concern if he were seriously injured.
Suddenly, another attack descended.
This time, everyone in the Evron family sensed the incoming attack as they were outside in the open. Even so, they noticed a bit late, leaving them with little time to react.
"Incoming attack—!" Beru roared.
Boom!
A beam of reddish-yellow light descended from the sky and struck the ground forty meters away from Vaan. The concentrated power erupted immediately upon impact, blasting outward in all directions.
The second attack had also been instructed by Vaan.
Vaan went through the motion of guarding himself against the incoming blast wave, but he wasn't serious about blocking. That was because someone else stepped forward for him.
"You dare?!"
Beru was livid as he shot past Vaan and shielded everyone from the incoming blast with his aura again.
"Show yourself if you dare! How dare you offend my Evron family twice! Face me, you coward!" Beru barked at the dark, cloudy skies.
However, no one emerged from the dark clouds in the skies despite Beru's repeated calling. Vaan had already instructed Fraegar to go into hiding after the second attack.
Two attacks were enough to make him the clear target of the attacks.
There was no room for doubts.
The first attack had destroyed half his clothes and backpack, spilling out its contents with nothing to hide.
Thus, even if the Evron family found out their treasury had been robbed later, they would never suspect it was Vaan's handiwork. He was clearly the victim. He had nowhere to hide all that treasure.
So how could he steal their entire treasury from right under their noses?
The Evron family would think the thief could be anyone but Vaan.