Chapter 329 - 329 Marcels Desire

"I'm relieved," Marcel said, filling his glass, and taking a swig that emptied it in a single second. "I was afraid you would've accepted that." Marcel sighed, leaning back on the chair and relaxing.

'Didn't I tell you?! It was a clear trap. What a dumbass," Lilith said in a tone Noah could imagine her roll her eyes. After all, he himself didn't quite get why the whole test or whatever even happened in the first place. But there was no point in blabbering about it. So he didn't even answer, and just waited for Marcel's next words.

"I just wanted to know whether you'd just settle for a stable position instead of doing what you told me before," Marcel dropped his hads to the sides. "Do you know how lovely it feels? To be the only one who strives for actual strenght and greatness, and not just settle after reaching a comfortable place?"

'... Is this guys just gonna complain about his rich people problems?' Lilith annoyedly asked, coiling herself up while resting her head atop her body.

'I guess so. Damn it, I wanna go home and sleep... And I don't even have a car now,' Noah joined her on complaining as the two stared blankly at Marcel, who was still blabbering about something.

"—So, in the end, I want to get you some stuff to help you in becoming stronger even faster. I can probably get around to find you some good armor but it would take some time, and yours is already pretty good. I can get you some money and stuff but for now the stuff I have set around should suffice." Marcel stood up while talking walking towards a painting at the side of the room.

Noah and Lilith stared at each other, drained after listening to his soliloquy for several minutes, where nothing could be taken from his words other than his... issues.

'You know, if this wasn't such a high profile place, I would've snuck to the bathroom and left after an emergency,' Noah told her in his thoughts, watching as Marcel finally grew silent while opening a safe.

'So, you think he's gonna give us anything useful?' Lilith asked, as she saw the young Head turn back towards themselves with some small things on his hands.

'Wait and see,' Noah cut her off, waiting for Marcel to come up to him about what he was gonna give them, since he just wanted to get this over with.

"You just gonna stay there and say nothing?" Marcel asked, as he put the things on the armrest before before turning. "Are you?"

'',

"Oh, you're asking me? Sorry, I was thinking about something," Noah answered him, after finishing talking to Lilith inside his head.

"You know, some people say I tent to go overboard when I start talking," Marcel said, sitting back down.

'Yeah, and they are right,' Lilith jeered, making Noah hold back from laughing once again.

"But everyone always puts up with it because I'm 'important', or so they say." Marcel shrugged. "By the way, I got some stuff for you. I'm sorry that I can't give you what you want most right now but, I can promise you that on the long run,"

"What I want most?" Noah was cetic, but Marcel's confidence made him wonder whether he actually knew something.

"Well, Essence. Isn't that your goal lately?" Marcel smirked at him, "Ever since you joined the Family, every contribution point you got was turned into Essence without fail. I'm guessing you really want to get stronger or something." He shrugged once again, smiling at Noah. "B Rank Essence isn't a thing we come by all the time, but I can get you some as we come by, say, every month."

Noah was left in awe, just staring at Marcel, as he spouted something he hadn't even thought was an option.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, I'll get you some C Rank Essence too... But for now, aside from those, here." Marcel grabbed one of the things on the armrest and extended his hand across the table. As he caught it, Noah recognized the small bank token, but Marcel started talking before he could say anything. "Not sure you ever saw this before, but that's a token to a bank vault. This one will get you some five million and a few shares of the Khan Conglomerate. That's your reward for becoming an Elder. You would've known it beforehand, but since I appointed you in such a rush, you are not that familiar with the Family. Keep it, by the way. You also get your salary delivered straight into there." Noah was silent, surprised at all of this, and thinking about how far he'd come. "But here's the most important thing," he said, givign Noah a small round yellow thing, just like the one the woman from the XXXX Family had given him yesterday. "This is a Blessed Pearl. It works as a key. Inside some of the B Rank or higher Fortresses, there's sometimes temples. If you put one of these on the statue, it'll unlock the blessed equipment inside. It's a rare thing to find one of these, so high rank Blessed always carry a pearl with them in case they find it."

"Is there anything else to it? Like, can I use it in any other way?" Noah asked, seeing he had now two of them.

"Not as far as I know. There are some rumors about being able to forge blessed weapons coming from the drawings in some Fortresses, but nobody has proved it. If you ever find one of these inside a fortress though, you can always sell it. They are worth quite a lot. Anyhow, I'll get in touch to you whenever the next equipment auction is held."

"I see, thanks man," Noah said while nodding, happy at the proposals.

"You..." Marcel pressed his temples, closing his eyes. "You're aware this is supposed to be a negotiation, right? Like, really," he said while holding down his laughter. "Well, there's the main reason I took a liking to you in the first place, you are not greedy. I'll throw in some Mana Pills and Potions because I know you'll not buy them. Also—" he stopped mid sentence, putting his hand into his pocket, "Come on, where did I put it... Oh, there it is—Here's a car for you, take good care of it," he threw the keys at him, making Noah catch them before getting hit in the face. His hand felt a little numb from the force with which he threw them. "And also, get yourself some clothes and a house in the capital, you'll be spending a lot more time there from now on."

'',

Noah nodded at him, before looking down at his hand. The brand of the car was instantly recognizable. It was one of the most expensive ones out there. "Wait, you're giving me your car?" he asked, surprised, at Marcel.

"At least until we fix yours. But I'm considering leaving it to you, since I need to buy a new one anyways." Marcel shrugged smiling at Noah. "If you want, you can go now, but we can stay and talk a bit more."

"I'll take that as my cue to leave, thanks." Noah heard Lilith laugh her ass off in his mind, but paid her no attention, as he to smiled. "I only slept for three hours. I wanna finish things quickly so I can get some rest," Noah gave an excuse, without stading from the couch he was sat in, as if making a statement.

"Oh, Right. Sorry we took so long over all this. If I recall, Michael said something along the lines of taking a few days' rest, so you can rest assured. I'll contact you through the app if I ever need you, but you've already gived me a massive help today. Need me to show the way out?" Marcel asked, holding his hand out towards the elevator, and stretching the other towards him.

Noah shook his hand, "No need, I'll get myself on my way now. Thanks for everything," he said, before standing up.

"I'll ask for my receptionist to find someone to show you the way to the car. Send Carlos my best regards, and don't worry about taking him to our side, he's probably got a lot on his hands now," Marcel's words made Noah turn back with a frowned expression.

"Oh, don't worry. I just sent word to him and his parents about our... colleague you warned me about." Marcel raised both his hands in surrender, trying to clear Noah's doubts away. "I wish in the future you'll be as protective of me as you are of that friend of yours."

"I look forward to that day. But also, be careful not to stand in his or my way. Even though I enjoy working with you and the Khan—"

"We are only means to an end, I know that already. Don't worry. That's the main reason I am able to trust you so much, enough to appoint you as an Elder despite knowing you so little. Be careful on your way, the Hyu Family doesn't give up that easily." Marcel finished his sentence off, before giving him a warning. While there was always some worry involved, Noah could see Marcel was worried about him, even if it was just because he feared losing him after investing so much.

"I'll keep that in mind. Lilith, let's go," Noah took steady steps towards the elevator, watching Marcel with pyakugan just in case, and saw him pick the phone up.

"Take him to the car, it's part of his payment. Also, bring Michael over." Noah heard in the background as he entered the elevator, turning around to face Marcel one last time before leaving. The young man nodded to him, before the doors closed, and Noah was left to thing alone in the company of Lilith.

'Don't speak in words yet.. We can talk like this for the time being," he warned her, as he felt the snake would start up a conversation.