They all call me Great Master

Arthur looked at Marinda as she squinted her eyes and watched the light that flickered within her deep blue eyes. He immediately shrugged his shoulders and said—

"The 'Bounty Tavern' we just acquired should be related to the 'Bounty Tavern' of Inner Bay, right?

I didn't say you'd use our newly obtained 'Bounty Tavern' to communicate with the 'Bounty Tavern' of Inner Bay and launch any excessive bounties on Joel Colman.

I certainly didn't say you might use the 'Bounty Tavern' to infiltrate Inner Bay's underworld.

I absolutely didn't say you could also use the 'Bounty Tavern' to eliminate those who have been troubling you in Inner Bay or elsewhere."

As Marinda listened to Arthur's words, she glanced at him lightly, and the corners of her mouth began to curl up slightly.

That's precisely what she had been thinking just now.

Joel Colman's situation wasn't important.

What mattered was infiltrating Inner Bay's underworld and using this opportunity to get rid of those who were always leveraging local advantages to trouble her.

In Inner Bay, she owned only two stores.

It wasn't that she didn't want to open a commercial enterprise or even a guild.

But she faced layer upon layer of obstacles.

Obstructions, both overt and covert, ensnared the lady like a spider's web, to the extent that even the professional managers she had sent were already two fewer in number.

These two professional managers were trusted confidants that the lady had painstakingly cultivated.

Unlike those followers who only knew how to fight and kill, these two confidants were smart, knew the ways of the world, and had unique insights into business management, playing a critical role in the lady's schemes.

However, before these two managers could fulfill their roles, one was stabbed in the back, fell down the stairs, and died on the spot, while the other was attacked by robbers during a carriage ride, got shot with a firearm that riddled him and the coachman with bullet holes before even reaching for his wallet.

This blatant provocation made the lady smash cups numerous times into the deep of the night.

Due to helpless rage.

The lady simply couldn't send anyone there.

That place was Inner Bay. If the lady sent someone there, she would be playing right into the hands of those who had been eagerly waiting, escalating the situation to a point that shouldn't be reached.

For instance, a struggle between the Old Lion and the Mother Tigress.

This was not speculation.

It was highly likely.

Because too many people were looking forward to this day.

There would definitely be a horde of people stirring up trouble when that time came.

So, Marinda endured.

But such repression was unbearable, especially for someone like Marinda who concealed a strong personality; it felt as uncomfortable as being punched and not being able to punch back.

And now?

There was no need to hold back any longer!

She hadn't used 'one of her own.'

And this certainly wasn't South Los's 'invasion' of Inner Bay.

It was just...

The allure of money!

The lady thought to herself, unable to help but look at Arthur again, and said involuntarily.

"You really are a bad guy!"

"So, do you like this kind of bad guy?"

Arthur asked, smiling.

"Hmm," Marinda nodded affirmatively without hesitation.

The unexpected straightforwardness made Arthur pause for a moment.

You see, Arthur hadn't been expecting Marinda to answer.

The young Spirit Medium had only used that retort to 'shift' Marinda's focus slightly.

Because he had achieved his goal.

Arthur certainly knew a thing or two about Marinda's commercial empire.

And he was all too clear about Marinda's 'business acumen.'

So, upon learning about Joel Colman, Arthur was prepared to use Marinda to test the man and, if possible, to dispose of him once and for all.

As for recklessly charging into Inner Bay and waiting for the opponent to make a move?

Don't make me laugh!

The Spirit Medium always took the stage fully prepared.

A Spirit Medium who isn't fully prepared is no different from streaking, right?

Arthur had a strong sense of shame.

Streaking? Absolutely out of the question!

However, Marinda's response had taken Arthur by surprise, but soon enough, "Insight" and "Eagle Eye" flickered within him, allowing Arthur to see the cunning hidden in Marinda's deep blue eyes.

Clearly, the lady was toying with him.

Or perhaps...

```

Testing!

Facing this test, Arthur harbored no resistance.

He even felt like laughing.

Since this test was completely different from the previous ones.

The basis of this test was...

Marinda was flustered.

The lady was a bit confused about their 'collaborative status,' a series of events had led her judgment astray.

The lady realized this.

While she worried about her own problems, he was having issues too.

That was the reason for this test.

'With that attitude, you still dare to fancy women?'

The young 'Spirit Medium' from South Los revealed a smile that was one part scorn, one part contempt, and another part disdain, mixed with a touch of indifference.

Arthur was certain that if the world before them didn't involve the Mystic Side, with miracles akin to 'magic,' then with Marinda's mindset, she would absolutely have half her fortune snatched by those women, maybe even more than half; after all, in an unfounded marriage, you can lose 170,000 out of 200,000, let alone considering being together for more than 8 hours a day qualifies in a way as 'cohabitation', which makes dividing your house, company, and fortune seem natural.

But Arthur was different.

As a qualified 'Spirit Medium,' Arthur viewed Marinda, his important collaborator, with considerable importance.

So, Arthur stood up and reached towards Marinda's forehead with his hand.

Marinda froze slightly but did not dodge.

The lady was affirming her inner feelings.

Then—

Ugh!

"No fever, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Sounds of retching and Arthur's voice rang out simultaneously.

Watching Marinda rush to the bathroom, Arthur continued eating his beef.

That's all you got?

Arthur rolled his eyes at Marinda's retreating back.

About five minutes later, Marinda came back.

She had washed her face.

The cold water had completely sobered her up.

"You did that on purpose!"

The lady protested loudly to the now-empty dining table.

It was, of course, an excuse to avoid embarrassment.

Arthur saw through it but didn't expose her.

After all, he truly had eaten, and moreover, he had witnessed Marinda's discomfited moment.

So—

"No choice, Lady Mary's cooking is just too astonishing, I couldn't help myself."

Arthur wore an innocent face.

Marinda, however, raised a middle finger.

"Do the dishes! I'll get them when I'm done!

And...

No 'Barrier Oil' allowed here!"

Pointing at the Barrier Oil under the door of the 'Spirit Medium Parlor,' Marinda said, and then she stepped forward and scraped a notch in it with her foot.

Next, she lit her pipe, blew a large smoke ring, and vanished into it.

Inhaling the lingering hint of mint, Arthur couldn't help but stretch lazily.

"Sigh, women."

Muttering such a sigh, the young 'Spirit Medium' laid back down on his bed.

As for doing the dishes?

Impossible, he would never do the dishes in this lifetime!

Sitting at the desk silently flipping through books was Ms. Anna. She looked at Arthur as he fell asleep instantly, a hint of helplessness appearing on her impassive face. She gently closed the book, hopped off the desk, and made her way to the dining table.

Moments later, the sound of running water echoed from the kitchen.

Arthur turned over and slept even more soundly.

Meanwhile, Marinda, who had returned to Caesar Manor, summoned her coachman Edwin and issued her orders—

"Through the South Los Bounty Tavern, issue a bounty at the Inner Bay Bounty Tavern—

Whoever can bring me Joel Colman's head, I'll give them 100,000 Gold Coins!

Plus, they will have access to all the treasures from the Lady of the Eternal Night's auction, with the choice of any three items they please, even the 'Entry-level Atlas'!"

```