Medical Sage

”What is your demand, Chen? Just say it. As long as it’s within our family’s capabilities, there will be absolutely no problem,” Old Brad said. He was still basking in the excitement of winning over a strong ally like Chen Fei, but upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but feel a slight jolt of apprehension.

”Actually, it’s quite simple. It’s about my strength—I don’t want anyone other than you two to know about it,” Chen Fei said slowly.

”Is that all? Chen, don’t worry, I promise we won’t reveal anything about your strength to outsiders,” Old Brad immediately assured him, relieved that Chen Fei’s request was such a minor issue.

”No, Old Brad, I don’t think you understand me,” Chen Fei said, shaking his head and reiterating his point. ”What I mean is that, other than you two and the people who were outside, I don’t want anyone else to find out about what I did outside the Ashford Family castle! And this ’anyone else’ includes the elders of your family and your grandfather.”

”Not even my grandfather?” Finally, it was Old Brad’s turn for his expression to change. His grandfather was the true ruler of the Brad Family; it was impossible to keep anything from him.

Now Chen Fei was saying that not even his grandfather could know. This... this suddenly made him hesitate.

”Chen, you may not know this, but my grandfather, Doug Brad, is the only Prince in the Brad Family and its absolute ruler. So, keeping something about you from him might be… inappropriate,” he said, trying to change Chen Fei’s mind.

”There’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Fei shook his head. ”Old Brad, you should know my character. I don’t bother talking about things unless I deem them necessary. Of course, if you refuse my request, it won’t make me back out of our deal, but I certainly won’t be giving it my all. So, perhaps you should think it over.”

At these words from Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, Old Brad couldn’t help but wear a bitter expression. The phrase ”not giving it my all” was a saying from Huaxia, but he understood its meaning—and its implications—perfectly well.

”But Mr. Chen, how are we supposed to silence those people outside?” Ovilia suddenly interjected. ”Some of them are loyal to the family’s elders, not directly to us.”

”That’s easy. I’m only asking you two not to talk. As for those outside... just pass on a message for me. Tell them it’s my wish, and as long as the leak doesn’t come from you, I won’t blame you. How about that?” Chen Fei suggested with a grin. He simply didn’t want the details to get out and become some spectacle, like a monkey in a zoo. But if the truth was bound to come out, then there was no point in trying to hide it. It was as simple as that.

”...Alright then.” Seeing Chen Fei’s resolve, Old Brad finally nodded slowly. He then added, ”Chen, if the incident at the Ashford Family is off-limits, how should I report your strength to the family? We estimate that the reinforcements we’re gathering should be at least ss+ Level.”

”Then just say I’m ss+ Level as well. It’s best to be neither too high nor too low,” Chen Fei replied with a casual smile.

”I understand...”

Having received assurances from Old Brad and Ovilia, Chen Fei didn’t waste any more words. He left the Peiersido Grand Canyon with them and headed for London Heathrow Airport to catch a flight to Rome, Italy.

「About a day later」

The convoy carrying Chen Fei, Old Brad, and the others finally arrived at the Brad Family Castle.

As Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, set foot in the Brad Family Castle once more, he distinctly felt a change in the atmosphere. It was as if a dense cloud of gloom hung oppressively over the area. The guards surrounding the castle all wore stern, grim expressions, their hands clutching their guns.

”Clan Leader! Duke Ovilia!” However, when Old Brad and Ovilia exited their vehicle, the guards were nonetheless startled. They immediately stepped forward to greet them.

At the same time, their eyes drifted to Chen Fei, who was getting out of the car behind them. Who on earth is this young man? He’s riding in the same car as our great Clan Leader, Lord Old Brad, and Duke Ovilia. Could he be the son of some important figure arriving to reinforce our family? There’s no other explanation.

After getting out of the car, Old Brad whispered to Ovilia, ”Ovilia, I’m going to register Chen’s arrival with the family. Please take him to his room to rest. Remember, arrange one of the five best rooms we use for our foreign dignitaries.” He then turned to Chen Fei with an apologetic look. ”Chen, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I must excuse myself for a while. I need to report your arrival to the family.”

”I understand, respected Clan Leader,” Ovilia nodded solemnly. Even if Old Brad hadn’t said anything, I would have arranged one of our five best Presidential VIP Rooms for the esteemed Mr. Chen. How could I dare to neglect a terrifyingly powerful figure like him?

”Alright, I’ll see you later,” Chen Fei said with a nod and a smile. He watched as Old Brad offered a final bow of apology before turning and walking away.

”Respected Mr. Chen, please follow me,” Ovilia said, leading Chen Fei deeper into the castle.

A moment later, Ovilia had personally guided Chen Fei to the wing of the castle containing the Presidential VIP Rooms reserved for distinguished guests. However, just as he was about to make the lodging arrangements, something unexpected occurred. While following protocol to formally request the use of the room, he discovered that the last available Presidential VIP Room had just been claimed by someone who had violated the rules to get there first.

Soon after, Ovilia’s cold voice, tight with suppressed anger, came from inside the office.

”Cariman, what is the meaning of this?”

”What’s the meaning? Our Brad Family has only five top-tier Presidential VIP Rooms for our most honored guests. Four are already occupied, so this last one can be no exception! It must be given to a guest whose status and caliber are worthy of it! Do you understand?” The woman Ovilia called Cariman—a Blood Clan Duke at her peak, it seemed—had brazenly seized the room and was now acting completely justified.

”Are you implying that the distinguished guest I, Ovilia, have brought is not of sufficient status to stay in a top-tier Presidential VIP Room?” Ovilia was furious, his face twitching with rage. Damn it! Mr. Chen just killed a Prince, and she’s saying he isn’t qualified? At this rate, the guests in the other four Presidential VIP Rooms aren’t qualified either!

Thinking this, his expression turned fiercely grim. He said coldly, ”Cariman, let me remind you of the family rules. Occupying a top-tier Presidential VIP Room requires a formal request! Did you submit one before I did? No? Then leave at once. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the Clan Leader himself!”

”You!”

The peak Blood Clan Duke named Cariman was clearly taken aback. Her expression quickly turned frigid as she responded, ”Ovilia, are you sure you want to do this? Do you have any idea who I’m arranging this room for? It’s Bishop Hales from the Holy Church of the Divine Holy Church! He was personally invited by Elder Bentley and is known as the being closest to sss Level to emerge from the church in the last five years!”

”Hales!?” Upon hearing the name, even Ovilia’s pupils shrank, shaken. He couldn’t help it; the Holy Church of the Divine Holy Church currently had nine Red Robed Bishops, and Hales was indisputably the strongest among them.

Even ignoring the inherent advantage of Light Magic, ”Black Dragon” Nemosin, whom Chen Fei had just killed, might not have been stronger than Hales. In a fair fight, Nemosin would very likely have lost. That alone spoke volumes.

This Hales is definitely among the handful of people on Earth closest to sss Level, but Mr. Chen…

The thought of Chen Fei’s terrifying power allowed Ovilia to forcibly expel his fear of Hales. He clenched his teeth and stated firmly, ”Even if it’s for Bishop Hales, I, Ovilia, will absolutely not relinquish this Presidential VIP Room today!”

Hearing this, Cariman froze in stunned silence.

Ovilia, you… She could hardly believe what she was hearing. That’s Bishop Hales! The undisputed number one in combat power among the nine Red Robed Bishops of the Holy Church of the Divine Holy Church! Ovilia knows who he is and still won’t back down? Has he lost his mind? Is he insane?!

TAP, TAP...

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.

An old man with a face as cold as ice slowly approached, exuding an incredibly terrifying aura. The moment Ovilia and Cariman sensed it, they began to tremble, their eyes filling with deep fear and reverence. Whether due to an elemental counter or the sheer difference in power, this old man was so strong that they lacked the courage to even look him in the eye. All they could do was bow their heads.

Accompanying him was a tall, robust, middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, dressed in the armor of a Light Knight from the Holy Church of the Divine Holy Church.

”What is going on?” the cold-faced old man asked as he drew near, his voice sending a chill through the air.

Ovilia’s heart leaped into his throat.

”Respected Bishop Hales, my apologies,” Cariman said, bowing low. A cold smirk touched her eyes as she continued in a hushed tone. ”I originally intended to arrange for you to stay in one of the Brad Family’s five top-tier Presidential VIP Rooms, but now this Ovilia is trying to snatch it! He even said he wouldn’t yield it, not even for you!”

Heh. Ovilia, didn’t you say you wouldn’t yield even for Bishop Hales? Fine. I’d like to see if you’ll yield now. A sinister, mocking sneer formed in her mind.