They all call me Great Master

Hayes directly refused the breakfast invitation from Jimte and Kalal.

It's not that Hayes doesn't have the habit of eating breakfast, it's just that the breakfast offered by Storm Inn truly doesn't interest him.

Fried fish, fried chips, and fried potato chunks are all fine.

But what is fish-eye cream coriander chowder?

At the moment he saw this soup, Hayes's 'Spirituality' was almost distorted—on the thick, green soup floated spheres of eyeballs.

The number of eyeballs was overwhelming, densely packed and layered.

The cream-infused broth was still bubbling over charcoal fire.

That scene, in an instant, made Hayes completely lose his appetite.

This nephew of Count Bert expressed refusal toward the chef's meticulously prepared cuisine.

Which left the inn's chef quite dissatisfied—

"Your excellency doesn't like it?

Then you've missed the earthly delight!

Let me tell you, my two apprentices have opened their own restaurants on the busiest street in South Los!

They've told me their business is excellent, with guests constantly coming and going!"

The chef's rhetoric did not manage to win back Hayes's heart.

On the contrary, this nephew of Count Bert walked away even faster.

In the carriage, Manta pulled out a sandwich and a jug of orange juice.

"I borrowed the inn's kitchen to make it.

The chef even gave me some tips. He thinks the sandwich I made is too conventional, and should have bold breakthroughs."

At this, Lady Manta laughed.

She recalled the chef's suggestion of putting fresh, living octopus into a sandwich, letting the ravenous diner feel the satisfaction that combat brings when their mouth is completely filled by octopus, surpassing mere taste satisfaction.

Lady Manta did not refuse this suggestion.

Of course, she didn't make it either.

She only made a simple egg sandwich.

As for the octopus sandwich?

She noted it down, but won't make it.

At least not for Hayes right now.

"Thank you, Manta.

Don't listen to that chef's advice, he's a nice person but his culinary skills are... lacking.

I think he needs to correctly understand the meaning of food.

Food, first and foremost, should fill your stomach!

Only through extension and building of characteristics can it be called specialty, otherwise, it's just futile work."

Hayes said as he ate the sandwich and sipped the orange juice.

Manta watched Hayes.

It's not just because Hayes is eating the breakfast she made, but because she enjoys listening to Hayes's analysis—she finds him most charming at these times.

In fact, he is.

Unlike Count Bert's three sons, who hail from different backgrounds.

Hayes is certainly handsome, especially the concealed contempt in his eyes and the corners of his mouth, which inadvertently attracts attention from the opposite sex.

Manta is captivated in this way.

Of course, she won't admit it.

What she admits is that Hayes caught hold of her weakness, and after secretly competing with him seven times and losing every time, she chose Hayes.

Propping her chin, tilting her head, Manta responded softly.

"Hmm."

No more words.

For Manta, this is the happiest moment.

She wishes for time to halt here.

Yet she also knows.

At this moment...

It's merely the calm before the storm.

Soon enough, everyone will be swept into the invisible vortex, some will soar, sitting on the clouds, while others will be torn apart, leaving no remains.

What will happen to her and Hayes?

She doesn't know.

The turmoil in her heart made her breath slightly quicken.

Hayes immediately noticed, and this nephew of Count Bert laughed—

"Concerned?"

"Hmm."

"No need to worry, we're safe, or should I say... facing Depro, Diliven, Peigi, we've long stood undefeated.

They maintain a surface of harmony,

but beneath, their struggle has exceeded imagination.

Depro wishes for Diliven and Peigi to die.

Diliven and Peigi also wish Depro dead.

Just one spark, and they'll fight to the death."

Hayes laughed.

"Little Lion?"

Manta guessed.

"Yes, Little Lion!

During his several encounters with Depro, Diliven, Peigi, Gleisa had begun promising things, this is the seed, and now it's time for it to take root and sprout.

Otherwise, he wouldn't stay in Rondohart Port.

His target has always been Rondohart Port!

So, surely Depro, Diliven, Peigi are doomed to die!"

Hayes nodded, and when mentioning Little Lion, the long-held contempt in the eyes of Count Bert's nephew disappeared immediately—though those meet-ups were secretly arranged by him and were very successful, Hayes never doubts that Little Lion sensed something.

Little Lion was merely going with the flow.

Moreover, using it as leverage, preparing to manipulate him at the critical moment.

It's precisely because of this, that he was able to woo away Lemo and seventeen other maidservants from Little Lion.

Otherwise, even Little Lion would not be so generous.

It's only when the purpose is clear that Little Lion's generosity is truly generosity—Little Lion needs Depro, Diliven, Peigi dead, so he can take over Bert Territory.

At the same time, pin their deaths on Arthur.

Let his uncle strike against Arthur.

And then?

Little Lion naturally benefits from the chaos.

Hayes turned over Little Lion's plans in his mind, and also considered his point of entry once again.

For this, Hayes never struggled.

Long before he confessed the 'plan' to Arthur, Hayes knew exactly what his point of entry would be.

"Given Little Lion's sailing speed, he should return to Inner Bay by the afternoon.

The master should rest today at Port Pult, departing tomorrow morning.

So, Manta, please help me invite Alvis Hamlet to my manor's dinner banquet, alright?

When being manipulated and coerced by Little Lion, I will definitely need an observer—Alvis's presence is truly appropriate.

Only he can be the most suitable person to inform my uncle of the real cause of Depro, Diliven, Peigi's deaths."

Hayes said, looking at Manta.

At this moment, the contempt in Hayes's eyes emerged again.

That strong sense of disdain made the lady instantly guess what Hayes intended to do.

And this filled the lady with worry.

"Will it be too dangerous?"

Manta hesitated.

"Dangerous?

Everything comes with dangers!

Yet nothing must be dangerous!

Because—

We are not betting on the goodwill inside human hearts, but the evilness!

Bet on good, I lose.

Bet on evil, and I win every time."

Hayes laughed.

Manta nodded, then disappeared inside the carriage.

Hayes took a deep breath, gently patting his cheeks, and whispered to himself—

"I'm truly eagerly awaiting to see your performance."