As the eldest daughter of the Alex family and the head of the massive Alex Merchant Guild, Winnie was the epitome of noble pride. Every move she made was the focus of attention in Green City.
Even the commoners in the lower strata of Green City knew that the jewel of the Alex family was praised as the "Most Beautiful Tulip in Green City," an elegant compliment.
Cohen, born into a noble family, though his family was a minor one with little influence, was exceptionally attentive to this noble pride, a lady who commanded both respect and admiration.
This attention was like that of an ordinary person following a celebrity, filled with longing and distant dreams.
"Greetings, sir. I am Winnie."
Hearing Cohen's exclamation, Winnie wasn't angry. Instead, she politely greeted him first.
Cohen, overwhelmed by the honor, didn't know what to do with his hands.
Vina, upon seeing this tulip who even she found stunning, felt a mix of wariness and an irrepressible envy and longing.
This lady is so beautiful. If I were such a beautiful noble lady, perhaps Lord Li De wouldn't be so indifferent to me.
"Lady Winnie, it's an honor to meet the most beautiful lady in Green City.
I am the master of the Crimson Mage Tower, Li De Kachar."
Li De slightly raised his head, a faint, polite smile on his lips, looking directly into the girl's eyes.
His gaze was clear and bright, without any extra undertones.
Although the girl before him had looks and demeanor that were off the charts, Li De, who had long reached a state of mental clarity, maintained sufficient grace and elegance.
Winnie, with the most appropriate smile on her lips, was slightly taken aback when she saw Li De's pure eyes.
Compared to those nobles who appeared graceful on the surface but turned around with lecherous eyes, this mage seemed genuinely different.
Is this how geniuses are?
"Winnie Alex. I should say, it's my honor, Lord Li De.
To meet the most magically talented genius mage in Green City, a disciple of Grand Mage Spark Ross, I believe the Alex family will shine because of this."
Nobles are nobles. Even though he knew it was flattery, Li De felt a sense of comfort looking into those beautiful violet eyes.
This is what you call skill.
"Lady Winnie, your words make me feel a bit ashamed. Perhaps only my teacher deserves your praise."
Teacher. Li De sighed inwardly.
Although the Vampire Progenitor was aloof, he was very meticulous. When he entered Green City, he used the identity of the heir of a noble family from a border town.
The name Li De Kachar was real and verifiable, but the original noble's territory had been overrun by beastmen, and the heir with the same name had been devoured by dire wolves.
It was a perfect identity.
But the annoying thing was, for some reason, the Vampire Progenitor, as a vampire, had entered Green City three years ago and became a disciple of Grand Mage Spark Ross, one of the three great mages of Green City.
But that wasn't the most annoying part.
The most annoying part was that after becoming a disciple, this guy just holed up in the mage tower and never even visited Spark's home.
Although they had a teacher-student relationship in name, only Li De knew that they were practically strangers.
He wasn't even sure if the powerful grand mage, after finishing his magical research, had incidentally forgotten about him.
The Vampire Progenitor was a classic example of wasting resources. A grand mage! There were only three in all of Green City. How many treasures must be hidden in his home?
He had originally planned to visit Spark after familiarizing himself with the spells on the attribute panel. This incredibly powerful grand mage was definitely a valuable resource.
With the grand mage as a banner, the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild's development would no longer be easily hindered.
Winnie smiled slightly and didn't elaborate on the topic. After a few more polite exchanges, she invited Li De to her office.
A magical genius, especially one backed by a grand mage, was worth befriending.
This was the most standard noble behavior—always aligning with useful people.
Fifth floor.
A large, elegantly decorated room with windows facing the bustling streets of Green City, from where one could even see the city lord's manor not far away.
Vina, Cohen, and Laurent waited in another office.
Cohen looked around the spacious and luxurious room with curiosity.
"Vina, the Alex Merchant Guild is the greatest guild in Green City, right? It has existed since Green City was founded a thousand years ago.
Do you think what Lord Li De said can come true? Can the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild really reach the same level as the Alex Merchant Guild one day?"
Vina didn't hesitate for a moment and nodded firmly.
"It will. Lord Li De never lies."
When Lord Li De took her from her harsh stepmother's home to the mage tower and canceled the marriage agreement her stepmother had arranged—marrying her off to a crippled noble—she stopped doubting the man who had changed her life.
Whatever Lord Li De says will surely come true.
Just like when he promised to bring me to the mage tower.
Laurent found the naive words of the two young people amusing.
Truly, young calves aren't afraid of leopards. The Golden Wheat Merchant Guild reaching the heights of the Alex Merchant Guild?
Only someone who hasn't experienced the extortion of Green City's underground forces and nobles would say such a thing.
Even reaching one-tenth of the Alex Merchant Guild's stature would make Li De an extraordinary figure in Laurent's eyes.
The Alex Merchant Guild, entrenched in Green City for over a thousand years, was so powerful that even the city lord wouldn't dare to make such a claim.
"Lord Li De, this is our first real meeting and conversation, isn't it?
As expected of a genius mage, to be able to devote yourself to magical research in your mage tower. This dedication is something I need to learn from you."
In the office.
Winnie sat on a gray rectangular sofa, separated from Li De by a round table filled with tea and pastries.
After sitting down, Li De's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the fur covering the sofa. The dense mana emanating from it made him feel exceptionally comfortable.
"Frenzied Gray Bear?"
The Frenzied Gray Bear was a type of bear-like magical beast that lived deep in the Far Mountain Range. These bears could exceed level 15 upon reaching adulthood.
Even a thousand-strong army might not be a match for an adult Frenzied Gray Bear.
The fur of these magical beasts was a crucial material for crafting fourth and fifth-tier magic scrolls. The pelt of an adult Frenzied Gray Bear could sell for 4,000 to 5,000 gold pucks.
These two sofas would require the pelts of at least two Frenzied Gray Bears, meaning the sofa he was casually sitting on was worth over ten thousand gold pucks.
From this seemingly insignificant detail, Li De felt the overwhelming heritage of nobility.
He was now genuinely interested in the Alex Merchant Guild.
"Lord Li De, you are truly knowledgeable. But these are just two sofas. With the power you wield, I believe even the hide from a giant dragon is within your reach."
Although Winnie was saying something she herself didn't believe, the gleam in her eyes made it seem as though she meant every word.
Li De shook his head. No wonder the Vampire Progenitor disliked dealing with these people. Excessive politeness came off as somewhat hypocritical.
A thought crossed his mind, and out of curiosity, he opened his attribute panel, focusing his attention on the noble girl before him.
A flash, and an attribute panel appeared before his eyes.
Li De's heart trembled. When he looked up at Winnie again, his gaze had noticeably changed.
Was this girl's background... a bit too exaggerated??