Soon, the discussion on Merlin's side came to a conclusion.
Just as Lin Yun expected, the first to stand up was Logan, who seemed to be in his sixties. That meticulously combed old man slowly stood up. "Patriarch Ofran, I have no choice but to remind you that 30,000,000 golds isn't a small sum. The Merlin Family doesn't have the financial resources to support a Planar Legion sweeping through the Raging Flame Plane. I personally think that the Family should write a letter to Merlin Thorne and tell him that his mission is to obtain wealth from the Raging Flame Plane and not to use the Merlin Family's wealth in a Planar War."
"Elder Logan …" Just as the old man finished speaking, Aube Merlin stood up, clearly dissatisfied. "My father has been campaigning in the Raging Flame Plane for many years, but has he ever made a decision that harmed the interests of the Merlin Family? If not for the Raging Flame Beastmen's fierce offensive that caused the Planar Legion to suffer disastrous losses, how could my father have asked for reinforcements? "
"Haha, Aube, I can understand that you are worried about your father's safety, but you have to understand that the Merlin Family doesn't serve the interests of a single person. You know how much your father has gained in the Raging Flame Plane over the past few years. You know, I know, everyone knows. Asking for 30,000,000 golds … Do you really think that the Merlin Family specializes in minting gold? I can clearly tell you that the Merlin Family's finances are very tight right now, and we simply can't take out 30,000,000 golds. Aube, if you have the ability, you can go collect that 30,000,000 golds yourself. I can even help you convince the Elder Council to treat it as your personal investment. In the future, you will be able to monopolize 10% of the Merlin Family's profits in the Raging Flame Plane!"
"You!" Aube Merlin's face turned red, but he didn't say anything after opening his mouth.
Nothing could be done about it, this was Aube Merlin's greatest weakness.
Aube Merlin was an alchemist.
Everyone knew that the resources needed to nurture an alchemist were astronomical, especially for a Master Alchemist like Aube Merlin. The resources he consumed could only be described as frightening. It could be said that Aube Merlin's father, Thorne Merlin, had spent all his years in the Raging Flame Plane on Aube Merlin. Let alone 30,000,000 golds, the father and son duo couldn't even take out 3,000,000 golds.
This was also why Aube Merlin wanted to invest in the Gilded Rose.
Aube Merlin needed a machine that specialized in minting gold coins.
Unfortunately, that Mafa Merlin was too tactless …
"In short, the Merlin Family's finances don't allow us to send too many reinforcements to the Raging Flame Plane. Thus, my personal opinion is that we can send reinforcements, but it should be limited to 5,000,000 golds. As for the rest, we can only wait until the Merlin Family's finances improve …"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
…
After Logan Merlin concluded, six or seven Elders quickly expressed their support. They were the ones who had surrounded Logan Merlin and were clearly on his side.
"Elders, I believe I don't need to say much about the Raging Flame Plane. Everyone should be clearer than me. I only wanted to say that all the forces of Okland are fighting over the Raging Flame Plane. It could be said that whoever controls the Raging Flame Plane will become the number one force of Okland." My father is leading the Planar Legion to fight bitterly in the Raging Flame Plane, strenuously resisting the Raging Flame Beastmen's fierce attacks. What he needs now is some support from the Family. It's only 30,000,000 golds. Could it be that the Family really can't afford it? "After all, this 30,000,000 golds will ensure that the Merlin Family doesn't fall behind in the fight over the Raging Flame Plane. It will give the Merlin Family hope of becoming the number one force of Okland. Everyone, think about it carefully. Is this 30,000,000 golds really worth it?"
Aube Merlin's words clearly resonated with some of the Elders.
Thus, the Elders Council started to get lively.
Apart from Ross Merlin and Leon Merlin's side abstaining, the remaining fourteen Elders were divided into two factions, endlessly arguing over whether or not the 30,000,000 golds should be spent.
Lin Yun's horizons were broadened.
The solemn and sacred Elders Guild had completely turned into a market. Those well-dressed and sanctimonious Elders had turned into haggling aunties and hawkers. For the sake of the military expenditure of 30,000,000 gold coins, they had rolled up their sleeves and spat at each other as they quarreled fiercely …
An entire hour passed …
This quarrel lasted for an entire hour.
In the end, no one could convince the other side.
After an hour, Patriarch Ofran, who had been massaging his temples the whole time, couldn't help but say, "Alright, let's put this topic aside for now …"
No one objected to this decision.
Because everyone knew that continuing to quarrel like this wouldn't result in anything. After all, no one was certain that they could suppress the other side, unless Ofran appeared and used his authority as the Patriarch to make the final decision.
But …
No one would do that.
Even when the quarrel was at its most intense, Logan Merlin and Aube Merlin had a tacit understanding not to ask Ofran to appear. This was the most basic tacit understanding of the Elder Council. Whoever violated it would be ostracized by the entire Elder Council, because if Ofran appeared, it would mean that he would have the opportunity to interfere with the Elder Council's affairs.
This wasn't a matter of 30,000,000 golds or even 50,000,000 golds …
Thus, a topic that had been arguing for a long time was put aside in this tacit understanding …
Ofran also knew what both sides were thinking, so he only sighed before bringing up the second topic. "The second topic was proposed by the thirteen Elders. Thousand Sails City's Mafa Merlin is too young, inexperienced, and lacking in ability to manage the Gilded Rose on his own. Thus, they proposed that Mafa Merlin hand over the management rights of the Gilded Rose to the Merlin Family's Elder Council for a while. Once Mafa Merlin matures, it would be handed back to him. What does everyone think?"
This time, the clan meeting hall was surprisingly quiet.
All the Elders were sitting in their seats, no one discussing it with the others, because there was no need to discuss it. This was the decision of the entire Elder Council.
"I agree." Logan Merlin once again stood up. "First of all, I want to make it clear, Mafa Merlin, that I agree not because I'm dissatisfied with you, but for the benefit of the entire Merlin Family. You are only in your twenties, you are too young. When I was your age, I was still worrying about a few thousand golds, while you already controlled the Gilded Rose and controlled a huge amount of wealth …"
After saying that, Logan Merlin changed the topic. "But you don't have the ability to use that wealth. Just look at your actions in Okland. Over a month ago, you spent a total of 37,000,000 golds in the Black Horn chamber of commerce's auction just to buy a few kinds of magic materials, especially the Star Gem. You spent a total of 20,000,000 golds in order to fight against Hanson Charlotte of the Charlotte Family. After hearing the first topic, you should know what 20,000,000 golds means to the Merlin Family. It means a large amount of equipment, a large number of warriors, and it means that the Planar Legion in the distant Raging Flame Plane can resist the fierce attacks of the Beastmen …"
"Yes." Aube, who had been quarreling with Logan Merlin, seemed to have forgotten their previous disagreement and nodded with a smile, expressing his support for Logan Merlin's words.
"Haha, you see, Aube isn't much older than you, but he's a lot more mature and sensible than you. Mafa Merlin, you should really think about whether spending 20,000,000 golds in order to fight against Hanson Charlotte was worth it. To be honest, I feel that with your character, you aren't enough to control the Gilded Rose. Thus, I agree with the Elder Council's suggestion to let the Elder Council manage the Gilded Rose for a while. Once you truly mature and become sensible enough to consider the interests of the Merlin Family, the Gilded Rose would be handed back to you …"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
…
This time, it was a lot more lively than the first topic. Just as Logan Merlin finished speaking, fourteen of the remaining sixteen Merlin Elders raised their hands in approval.
As for the remaining two …
One was Ross Merlin, the other was Leon Merlin.
There was no need to mention Ross Merlin, he was already on the same side as Lin Yun. As for Leon Merlin, it was because he was afraid.
In fact, after the second topic was raised, Leon Merlin's complexion became paler and paler.
Because Leon Merlin had already heard it.
It turned out that Mafa Merlin was the child that Patriarch Ofran had recalled after persuading him.
As he thought of this, Leon Merlin wanted to curse.
'Patriarch, oh Patriarch, have you gone blind with age? Of all people, why did you have to recall this scoundrel? You are causing trouble for the Merlin Family …'
Moreover, this wasn't the worst part.
What truly made Leon Merlin's vision darken was that the first Elder Council he had attended in a few months was actually discussing how to seize the Gilded Rose from Mafa Merlin's hands.
'Are you fucking crazy!?
Do you want to seize the Gilded Rose from his hands? Do you want me to help you find a few ropes to hang yourself with?
'Damnit, you are courting death …'
From start to finish, Leon Merlin kept shaking. By the time Logan Merlin asked everyone to vote, Leon Merlin was even more afraid. He wished he could directly hide under the table, so how could he raise his hand in agreement?
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