The Billing Household

Later in the day, the most famous knight in Melvinger City was walking in the Billing Family Mansion. It was a huge building, far bigger than the Golden Lion Villa. Dozens of guards could be seen guarding the gates, some of them having reached the preparatory knight level.

However, this was not enough to startle James or George.

As if he was expecting them, John Billing revealed a wide smile upon seeing his 'friend'.

"George! This is a relief...I am crumbling under all the stress that came from those false accusations from commoners and the absence of my father"

George smiled awkwardly: "It is good to see you again"

"I wanted to thank you for sparing me during the Melvinger City Arena. Most knights would not be skillful enough to avoid vital organs and major injuries in such duels, but the physician who stitched me up was amazed that the blade somehow did not cut any of my arteries"

George stayed silent, acknowledging John's good manners.

However, he had not come here for John. As awful as it was, he held no sense of duty towards John. The man had always opposed him, and only thanked him and considered him a friend after his family entered rough waters. He was an opportunist, a quality that would make him a great nobleman, but a very poor friend.

George required absolute loyalty from the people in his close circle. Rather than friends or acquaintances, he needed loyal subordinates bound to him.

"Where are my manners? Let me give you a small tour of our humble mansion. Although it is not as impressive as the Dragon Pavillon, it is still the second most valuable mansion in the whole Melvinger City, symbol of the Billing Household's wealth and influence!"

George smiled apologetically. Unknown to John, George had already come to the Billing Mansion quite a few times. Usually, it was just a meeting between him and Lady Emma, but twice, the Viscount Frederick Billing himself had invited him to discuss matters related to their trade of spiritual potions.

"I am afraid that the visit has to be postponed", a butler barged in the conversation, "The Mayor and ten knights have invited themselves with the intension of searching the household for criminal activities and ties to the underworld"

John's eyes became extremely sharp. If a gaze could kill, then the butler would have been dead already: "Oh? So these hypocrites and opportunists have dared to step into our mansion? They must think we are weak because my father was captured, and my sister under heavy pressure. What about the Jales Household and the Fireheart Household? Why are they keeping silent about it?"

George analysed the situation: 'The two other main noble families must be thinking that this is the opportunity to get rid of their rising competition who has earned tremendous influence and strength over the past decades. As for the mayor, he must be aiming at Lady Emma's personal treasury. No acolyte would be able to disregard the alluring thoughts of earning a rank 2 dark path acolyte's magical ingredients, research and spells'

Seeing the troup of knights and the heavy gaze of the Mayor, George could tell that the latter did not expect to see him here.

To be fair, George did not expect the Mayor to be so daring as to bring a small troup of knights into a main noble family. Even if the head had been captured already, the Mayor was planning on plundering a main noble family in broad daylight. It was truly unfitting of an acolyte who was thinking with his head. It was more of a ruffian stealing what he thought valuable as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

George could not let him search the Billing Household. Besides the contracts he had signed with the Billing Household that implicated trades of spiritual potions, the Billing Household possessed a significant amount of magical ingredients that they had gathered over the years, which George planned on getting his hands on. Besides the magical ingredients, George was more afraid of the Mayor seizing the remaining negative energy stones, which would serve as a catalyst to his breakthrough to the rank 3 acolyte realm. Even if the production was halted, George knew that the amount that Lady Emma had gathered over the past month would be enough for his own cultivation.

"George! What a surprise. For you to be at the Billing Mansion!", the Mayor spoke

George feigned ignorance: "Well, I needed to hear it from the Billing Household itself. I have heard that Lady Emma and her father were arrested? Surely, you have proof to show since you arrested them, right?"

The Mayor squinted: "Proof? Of course, we have proof. Testimonies, corpses as well as evidence that righteous guards were silenced by the Billing soldiers! We are here to collect the remaining evidence and put an end to the evil noble family that has established itself in Melvinger City!"

George smiled: "As the mayor, you cannot disregard laws. The Melvinger City Laws state that unless Lady Emma is proven guilty in a fair trial, you cannot jail her, much less her father who did nothing"

The Mayor smiled: "You might be the Melvinger City Champion, but you sure act and think like a dark path acolyte. Were you in cohorts with Lady Emma?"

George shook his head: "There is no wandering acolyte who can enter Melvinger City without you being notified of their arrival. I am no exception to the rule. I have met Lady Emma for the first time roughly two months ago. This should be enough to immunize me with whatever groundless accusations you hold towards Lady Emma. Because in the end, these are just groundless accusations"

The Mayor squinted: "You sure speak well. However, do not make things difficult for me. I respect you for your strength and alchemical skills, but you are no match for me. I do not hold the title of Mayor for no reason. This title is linked to my title of the strongest acolyte in Melvinger City. How else do you think the Viscount Billing was captured?"

John immediately shouted: "YOU POISONED HIM, YOU BASTARD!"

As John unsheathed his sword, twelve knights from the Billing Household who had gathered followed his command, quickly followed by dozens of soldiers. At the sight, the Mayor's smile no longer was present on his face: "Are you rebelling against Melvinger City's authority?"

George moved forward: "Mayor. If you take another step forward, I am afraid even I will not be able to stop this little army of veteran soldiers from cutting you down. You might have taken a grand knight down by surprise, but you are only a rank 2 acolyte. If a battle breaks out, I am afraid that I will have to stand with the Billing Household"

George's words earned the acknowledgement and respect of all soldiers affiliated with the Billing Household. More importantly, John was looking at him like a brother.

The Mayor sighed in defeat: "I will not forget this, George. Hopefully, my suspicions towards Lady Emma were just suspicions. I will uncover everything. Do you hear me? Everything. I truly hope that Lady Emma is innocent, and you have done nothing wrong"

George waved at the Mayor.

'Time to get what I came here for', George thought inwardly.