Chapter 70: A Winning Hand

A voice came from outside the door, yet Marlon showed no trace of surprise. The moment the sound reached his ears, he had already recognized the speaker: it was none other than Master Conchita Bowbowen, the Clawed Druid.

Even if Marlon had failed to identify the voice, the master’s very actions left no room for doubt. Before the words had even finished echoing, the Clawed Druid had already crossed the threshold, his presence alone confirming his identity.

“Dear friend Marlon, it seems you’ve forgotten one place—a location not only filled with a vast quantity of stored mana crystals, but also staffed with specialized mages who can cut and reshape them,” the Clawed Druid announced with a cheerful smile as he strode confidently into the room.

“What place?” Marlon asked, curiosity piqued.

To Marlon, the words of the Clawed Druid were like the rarest celestial music, resonating deep within him.

“The surplus military supply warehouse,” the Clawed Druid master replied directly, revealing the secret location brimming with mana crystals without any pretense.

“Ah! Of course! How could I have forgotten the surplus military supply warehouse?” Inspector Bernard slapped his thigh in sudden realization. He had genuinely overlooked this option.

“Come on! You little rascal, I’ll take you to the city ‘government’ right now. With your connections to the mayor, getting an official permit won’t be a problem. At worst, we just grease the palm of Major Coleman, the military representative in charge of the warehouse, and we’ll have access to mana crystals of every grade! After all, this isn’t the first time you’ve pulled off a stunt like this.”

Having been reminded by the Clawed Druid Master, Inspector Bernard could no longer contain his excitement. Without waiting a moment, he dragged Marlon toward the door, practically yanking him along so fast that Marlon nearly stumbled in surprise.

Just as Bernard had mentioned, Marlon had once employed a similar method to secure food for the orphanage: obtaining a permit from the mayor and then giving a small rebate to Major Coleman, who oversaw the surplus military supplies. That plan had successfully brought back heaps of flour, sausages, canned goods, and other provisions.

“Old Kang, thank you for the reminder!” Marlon managed to say in hurried gratitude before being pulled into the patrol car waiting in the courtyard by the impatient Inspector Bernard.

Over an hour later, Marlon finally found himself standing in the mayoral residence of White Sand City, facing the mayor, who clearly seemed ready to step out for an engagement.

Upon seeing Marlon, Mayor Kachibu did not lead him into the parlor as might be expected. Instead, he guided Marlon directly into his study.

“Our little Marlon, you’ve come to request a permit, haven’t you?” the mayor asked, speaking before Marlon could even raise the topic himself, after a senior maid had served tea.

Huh?

Marlon blinked in surprise. Could this mayor truly have some way of foreseeing events? He stared at Mayor Kachibu, trying to fathom how the man had caught wind of his intentions.

“Don’t be surprised. It’s actually quite easy to guess. Besides, the place I’m about to attend—a banquet at the Dan Feng estate of the Von Stein family—will surely have Major Coleman there as well,” the mayor explained, picking up an ink-dipped pen and writing a formal permit for Marlon on a blank sheet of paper. The document authorized him to purchase mana crystals from the surplus military supply warehouse at a reasonable price.

“Go quickly, our little Marlon. I suspect the Von Steins’ banquet tonight will host Major Coleman. If you arrive too late… well, you understand,” the mayor said, passing the still-wet permit to Marlon with words brimming with subtle suggestion.

Even though Marlon had never faced such circumstances before, the mayor’s message was clear enough that he couldn’t possibly misunderstand. After hastily thanking the mayor and promising future recompense, Marlon hurriedly took his leave.

“Damn it!” Once outside the mayoral residence, Inspector Bernard couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “You little rascal, you’ve really stirred up trouble this time. The Von Stein family will stop at nothing—they intend to ruin you! If you can’t resolve tomorrow’s problems, a flood of malicious schemes will follow in quick succession!”

With a sharp slam of the car door and furrowed brows, Bernard immediately pushed the patrol car to near its maximum speed. The distance from the mayor’s residence to the surplus military warehouse was not insignificant, but time was of the essence.

Meanwhile, back in his study, Mayor Kachibu, having subtly warned Marlon with his earlier words, adjusted his pristine bow tie and pulled a golden cord.

A crisp, ringing chime sounded from the far side of the house, signaling the senior maid’s entrance. Moments later, the same maid who had served tea to Marlon quietly opened the study door.

“Master, what are your orders?” she asked respectfully.

“Casha, go tell Dalton he may now repair that troublesome, temperamental carriage, and then escort me to the Dan Feng estate for the evening banquet,” Mayor Kachibu instructed, finally withdrawing his gaze from the window.

“Yes, Master. I’ll notify Dalton at once,” replied the maid Casha. Yet she lingered a moment longer, asking with practiced subtlety, “Master, you seem to hold that boy in high regard. Does he truly deserve to risk stirring conflict with the Von Stein family? They exerted considerable effort to smooth over the aftermath of the previous… incident.”

“Heh, it’s not that simple,” Mayor Kachibu replied candidly, revealing no intention to hide his thoughts. “The Von Steins are helping not out of altruism, but to block other families from taking advantage and to expand their control over White Sand City. For me, as mayor, their influence poses far more of a threat than their assistance. Betting on this extraordinary boy—someone willing to share gains with others—will yield far greater returns than aligning with the Von Steins, who act only in their own family’s interest.”

“That child truly is exceptional,” Casha nodded, evidently approving of the mayor’s judgment. Yet she added, “But he is still inexperienced. Major Coleman’s carriage might not ‘break down’ at the opportune moment like yours, Master.”

Though vague in phrasing, if Marlon had been listening, he would have understood the underlying truth: the Von Stein family intended to crush him, to ruin his reputation, but the mayor saw him as an investment. Hence, the mayor’s own carriage conveniently ‘malfunctioned’ at this critical juncture, whereas Major Coleman’s carriage—or any other obstacle—might not wait until Marlon arrived to be repaired.

Mayor Kachibu gave a nod, acknowledging Casha’s points, and calmly returned to straightening his bow tie.

“Not necessarily, Casha. Our little Marlon now holds… a full hand of winning hand.”