The door was pushed open, and a young mage in his twenties walked in. He was wearing a spotless white robe, and his features somewhat resembled William Merlin's, but he looked a lot younger than William Merlin.
"You are?"
"My name is Aube Merlin. According to our relationship, you should call me Cousin …" After the young mage called Aube Merlin entered, he naturally sat in front of Lin Yun and introduced himself while casually flipping through the papers on the table.
"Hello." Lin Yun nodded, but he didn't stop Aube Merlin. The true Elemental Tide was still in his hands, and the papers on the table were only deductions. The complicated formulas and boring data were all written in his own magic language, and no one could understand them apart from him.
"Haha …" Sure enough, Aube Merlin only flipped through a few pages before putting the thick stack of papers back in place. He then teased, "I didn't expect you to be so diligent …"
"I'm just killing time." Lin Yun frowned once again. "I wonder why Cousin Aube is looking for me?"
"Oh, it's nothing …" Aube Merlin leaned against the back of his chair with a relaxed expression, adjusting his posture to a more comfortable one. "I came today mainly for two things. The first is to meet everyone and get to know Cousin Ofran. After all, there are many children of the Merlin Family wandering outside, but only you can make Patriarch Ofran personally summon them back. As for the second matter …"
Aube paused for a bit before continuing, "The second matter is that I want to discuss a business deal with you, Cousin Mafa …"
"Oh?" Lin Yun froze for a moment before smiling. "What? Cousin Aube is also interested in the alchemy business?"
"Of course …" Aube Merlin nodded with a proud smile. "Cousin Mafa, I believe you heard some things related to me after returning to the Merlin Family. I think you should know that I'm one of the most outstanding alchemists of the Merlin Family!"
"Haha …" Lin Yun didn't deny it.
"Alright, Cousin Mafa, let's not beat around the bush. I know that you will encounter some trouble in the Elder Council, and I happen to have a few allies in the Elder Council. It shouldn't be a problem for them to put in a few words for you at a crucial time …"
"Is that so? I really have to thank you, Cousin Aube. But Cousin Aube, if you and your allies speak up for me at the Elder Council, what do I need to do for you?"
"Hahaha, talking to smart people is really easy …" Aube Merlin laughed before slowly standing up from his chair. He put his hands on the desk and looked at Lin Yun with a condescending expression. "What you need to do is very simple, make me a shareholder of the Gilded Rose. I'll invest 3,000,000 golds in the Gilded Rose, holding 40% of the shares!"
"Oh?" Lin Yun looked at Aube Merlin for no less than ten seconds before suddenly smiling. "Cousin Aube, you really know how to joke …"
3,000,000 golds …
How could he say that!
"Haha, you can refuse." Aube Merlin's smile was filled with confidence.
In Aube Merlin's eyes, there was no suspense in this transaction.
Now, everyone in the Merlin Family knew that the Elder Council had already reached a consensus. They wanted the recently returned child to hand over the Gilded Rose. This wasn't the idea of one Elder, or even a few Elders, but the consensus of the entire Elder Council.
Nothing could be done about it, Mafa Merlin had caused a huge commotion in the Black Horn Auction last month.
For a few magic materials, he spent over forty million golds. It was said that even Hanson Charlotte of the Charlotte Family was angered to the point of vomiting blood on the spot. This kind of wealth was shocking even in Okland. How could those old guys of the Elder Council not be jealous?
When he heard of this matter, Aube Merlin knew that his opportunity had come.
Everyone now knew that the three geniuses of the Merlin Family's younger generation would compete for the position of Patriarch. In fact, whether it was Ross Merlin, Aube Merlin, or even Leon Merlin of the Cloud Tower, they had always been doing this. For so many years, they had been nurturing their own forces. Ross Merlin was the first to participate in the Planar War and established a Planar Legion, while Leon Merlin had the support of the Cloud Tower. As long as he opened his mouth, he would be able to get huge support from the Cloud Tower.
Only he …
He had the power of a 5th Rank High Mage and a Master Alchemist, but he didn't have enough support. He could only watch as Ross Merlin's Planar Legion swept through one plane after another. He could only watch as the Cloud Tower spared no effort in supporting Leon Merlin. He could only watch as his position as the Patriarch of the Merlin Family was getting further and further away.
But now, an opportunity finally appeared.
That's right, that opportunity was the Gilded Rose.
Aube Merlin himself was a Master Alchemist. He had a far better understanding of the Gilded Rose in the distant Thousand Sails City than those old guys of the Elder Council. Aube Merlin even personally went to the eastern part of the kingdom and saw with his own eyes how that alchemy shop in Thousand Sails City monopolized the alchemy business there.
It was hardly an exaggeration to say that it was an alchemy monster that could produce a huge amount of wealth every day. Every time he saw those alchemy items with the Gilded Rose's imprint, Aube Merlin couldn't help feeling envious. It would be great if that huge amount of wealth fell into his hands.
By relying on that wealth, he would definitely be able to ascend to the position of Patriarch of the Merlin Family. He would be able to lead the Merlin Family to crush the other two Families and even become one of the peak forces of the Andalusia Kingdom.
In comparison …
It would truly be a waste for that wealth to fall into the hands of that younger cousin of his.
Just from the auction last month, it could be seen that thirty to forty million golds was only used to buy a few magic materials. This was enough to prove that his younger cousin lacked ambition. Otherwise, thirty to forty million golds would be enough to arm a powerful mercenary group. It might not be enough to sweep through a plane, but it would be more than enough to protect the Gilded Rose and make that huge alchemy monster go further. Wasn't that better than buying a few magic materials?
In Aube Merlin's eyes, this wealth could only be used to its fullest extent if it was in his hands.
Now, Aube Merlin finally had that opportunity.
Those money-minded old guys of the Elder Council were truly impatient. It hadn't even been two months since that younger cousin of his returned to the Merlin Family, yet those old guys couldn't wait any longer and wanted to force Mafa Merlin to hand over the Gilded Rose.
This was simply stupid.
It hadn't even been two months since Mafa Merlin had returned to the Merlin Family. It could be said that apart from William Merlin, he didn't know many people, and he didn't have any sense of belonging to the Merlin Family. Forcing him to hand over the Gilded Rose at this time would only result in a life and death struggle.
In Aube Merlin's eyes, the best method was naturally to wait a few more years until Mafa Merlin thoroughly integrated into the Merlin Family, to the point where he couldn't leave the Merlin Family. Then, he would use gentle methods to slowly nibble away at the Gilded Rose bit by bit. At that time, even if the Merlin Family couldn't obtain the entire Gilded Rose, they would still be able to occupy a pivotal position in Andalusia's alchemy market.
Unfortunately, those old guys of the Elder Council simply didn't understand this reasoning.
But it was good that they didn't understand, it gave him an opportunity.
He could use this opportunity to strike a deal with Mafa Merlin.
This was all thanks to the help of those old guys of the Elder Council. Otherwise, he would have most likely been rejected if he had rashly proposed this deal to Mafa Merlin. But now, with the pressure from the Elder Council, as long as Mafa Merlin wasn't a fool, he wouldn't refuse his proposal.
Thus, Aube Merlin could be said to be full of confidence as he sat there.
Aube Merlin didn't say anything after saying "you can refuse". He only looked at Lin Yun with a smile, a smile filled with boundless confidence.
Time slowly passed, but Aube Merlin wasn't worried at all.
Because Aube Merlin knew that the other side was thinking and weighing the pros and cons.
But no matter how he weighed the pros and cons, the choice he made in the end wouldn't be out of his expectations.
Sure enough, Aube Merlin waited for less than three minutes before he saw the young mage on the other side of the desk reveal a bitter smile. "Looks like I have no choice but to agree?"
"Haha …" Aube Merlin didn't say anything and only smiled.
The bitter smile on the young mage's face became more and more intense.
Finally, under Aube Merlin's gaze, he finally spoke.
"But, I really don't agree …"
"Hmm?" At first, Aube Merlin thought that he had misheard, but after thinking about it carefully, he really didn't mishear. The other side really said "don't agree".
How could he not agree?
Aube Merlin, who was originally calm, suddenly couldn't keep his cool.
"How could you not agree!?" Aube Merlin simply couldn't accept this outcome. Aube Merlin, who had been calmly sitting in his chair, suddenly jumped up and looked at Lin Yun with a fierce gaze. He was breathing heavily, as if he had forgotten himself.
"Because there really isn't a need." Lin Yun 'expression didn't change, he only looked at Aube Merlin with a regretful expression. "The Gilded Rose is currently operating very well and doesn't need more shareholders. What, operating well is not enough?"
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