Chapter 216 Business Buddies.

[Ren Hilton's POV]

I was doing my best to stifle my laughter. It's funny how this guy is so easy to express what's in his heart, especially considering how cruel he was in the game. It's a complete 180° from Aron's character in the game.

We left the cafe and walked out, with Alver following behind us, settling the bill.

Currently, Aron, Alver, and I walked together in silence, with Blaze perched on my shoulder.

'Should I walk behind you guys? Like if he tries something funny, I can grab him,' Blaze asked.

'Nope,' I replied, confident that there was nothing this guy could do to harm me.

"So, who do you want me to stay away from?" I asked the obvious.

"Really?" Aron had that tired expression on his face, as if telling me to catch up.

"Spell it out for me. I can be a bit slow sometimes," I said, hearing a snicker from Alver's side. The guy was keenly observing.

Walking with these two attracted a lot of attention, from admiring female gazes to those who knew Aron and might be affected by my curse.

"I want you to stay away from Cecelia," Aron said outright.

"Who's she?" Alver asked.

"Shut up for a second," I retorted.

"Dude, at least include me in this! Is this some kind of love triangle thing? Are you both courting the same girl?" Alver practically hopped with curiosity.

"Nah... maybe," I smirked, and Aron clenched his teeth a bit, clearly getting angrier.

"I just said stay away from her. Do you not understand?" Aron was quite stubborn about it.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I said so," he replied.

"Oooooo, drama," Alver chimed in with amusement.

Aron's curt response only served to intensify my amusement. It felt like we were part of a live drama, with Alver equally captivated by the unfolding scene.

"Why should I keep my distance from Cecelia?" I probed further, a strong desire to unravel the motivations behind his request burning within me.

Aron's frustration radiated palpably as he abruptly stopped walking. His crimson hair swayed gently as he turned to squarely face me. He hesitated before speaking, "You being in her proximity might pose a danger to both her and yourself."

My curiosity surged. "Dangerous? Can you explain further?"

Alver leaned in, mirroring my curiosity. "Yeah, Aron, you can't just drop a bombshell like that and expect us to comprehend without an explanation."

Aron took a deep breath, visibly working to contain his anger. "Cecelia... she's my dog."

The conversation had veered back into this territory, and it left me puzzled. How could someone who had shown the ability to save lives harbor such deep-seated animosity toward a girl?

Wait...

"Is your treatment of her related to that blond-haired senior or something?" I probed, mentioning Adam in our discussion.

Aron flinched, and it was clear that Adam was a sore subject for him. His unease hinted at a layer of complexity beneath his harsh demeanor.

"Well, maybe there's a connection between his attitude towards her and his hostility towards me," I mused.

And with that, Aron abruptly spun on his heels and dashed away. He ran like a distraught child fleeing a scene, leaving me with a sense of disappointment. The cafe encounter and the conversation had yielded no meaningful information. I had hoped for more.

"You seem let down," Alver noted.

"Haaa... it appears that being born in the palace doesn't necessarily guarantee intelligence," I remarked with a resigned shrug.

The purpose of our conversation remained unclear, which left me with a sense of bafflement.

Alver's expression initially soured, hinting at frustration, but it quickly shifted back to a smile.

"Are you going to walk me to the academy?" I asked, and Alver nodded in agreement.

As we made our way to the academy, Alver offered minimal insights into his time at the Solstice and his plans for the future. It seemed he was adept at keeping his intentions shrouded in mystery.

'He's no fool,' Blaze chimed in.

"And here we are. Should I meet your warden? I'll tell them I am your elder brother," Alver was about to dash inside the gate.

"Stop and let's not concoct any strange relationships," I chided, pulling him back by the collar.

"Awww... now we're business partners," Alver remarked with a quirky charm.

"Whatever, I'm going in," I stated, resuming my walk toward the academy gate, only to pause mid-stride.

"Hey," I called out.

"Can I enter now? I'd really like to meet this Cecelia," Alver began, ready to continue with his inquiries.

"Nah, I have a favor to ask," I informed him, invoking a sense of reciprocity in our interactions.

"Tell me," Alver promptly retrieved a notepad from his robe.

I spoke with a sense of gravitas, "A Convergence Amulet, S-tier."

The request hung in the air, and Alver's eyes widened with bewilderment as he scrutinized me and the notepad. I sighed internally, realizing that my attempt might not yield the desired result.

"I can get you a B-tier for this mediocre familiar," Alver finally spoke, his offer accompanied by a sense of disappointment.

'This guy!' Blaze nearly erupted in frustration, ready to voice his disapproval.

"Nah, forget it," I replied, making an attempt to turn away.

"Wait! I'll find you one... but keep in mind, you owe me a favor," Alver insisted, his determination unwavering.

"I will," I accepted, understanding that this favor could be a valuable asset in the future.

"I'll send a letter if I need anything more down the line," I reassured him, appreciating the relief of not having to sweat the small stuff.

"...but don't make it too costly," Alver cautioned as he straightened himself.

Well, what's considered expensive for someone who's acquiring vast expanses of land worldwide as if it's pocket change?

"Oh, one last piece of advice before you go," I added with a smile, remembering something important.

"Hmm?" Alver raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"If you ever come across anyone associated with the Reva Kingdom's slave contractors, I strongly suggest you distance yourself," I warned.

"Okay," Alver agreed promptly, displaying a surprising readiness to heed my advice.

"Good luck," I said, offering a parting nod of encouragement.

However, I still couldn't shake the feeling that this guy was hiding something, and that lingering suspicion left me wary.

Alver reciprocated with a smile. "Thanks. And I'll keep an eye out for that S-tier Convergence Amulet for you."

With that, we bid each other farewell, and I continued my walk into the academy, aware that my interactions with Alver had opened a door to potential benefits in the future.

I was keenly aware of how this favor might benefit me down the line.

'What do you think Adam and his friends would be doing right now?' Blaze questioned.

I yawned as I altered my course, heading toward the dorms.

Well, he might be mourning the loss of his friend. The knight's purge marked the end of the first war,

Amelia Clay is dead.

'What changed by her death?' Blaze asked,his voice calm.

It gave Adam a slap right across his face and woke him up from his fairy land of the world.

***