"Do you think bringing them here to do something valuable and crucial is a waste of time? Compared to what? Asking them to go and hide?" Even if he was faced with the pressure of such a formidable figure, William didn't show any sign of distress as his words came out quite calm.
"You…" against what the fourth elder expected, the lad in front of him remained calm as if he was a grounded mountain.
But that fourth elder wasn't shocked as he should be.
William didn't know, but this specific elder was present when he went to meet the academy headmaster. He saw it all, stood on the side in silence watching the show unfolded in front of his eyes.
And to be honest, William left a good impression on him when he dealt with his accusations. And when that ruckus occurred about the food incident and that nasty poison, that impression deepened.
The fourth elder didn't watch the entire incident from the start, and just jumped with others later on. Yet just from the fact that William was adept in recognising and discerning poisons was indeed enough to make him have a good impression about this lad.
One had to know that poison stuff was a very hard and tricky field in this spirit world. Not to mention a bronzed spirit master, even someone like him, a dark gold spirit master, wouldn't dare to call himself an expert at poisons.
Yet William managed to do something unexpected and dealt with a poison that neither he nor the academy headmaster seemed to recognise.
And on top of that, this lad was still eight years old! Which made him wonder about where and when he learned all this.
When he got back, he got to learn about the news spreading inside the higher up circle. He heard about William's deeds, and that mysterious master backing him up.
So even if William was laying low in the academy, which was the only reason the knowledgeable fourth elder would think about, it didn't mean he wasn't without a formidable backing.
"William, he is our fourth elder, one who is famous for his unorthodox method of cultivation and fighting, and he is known as the clan's professor and tutor," from the side, Berry didn't know about any of what was inside that elder's head, mistook his silence to be a sign of rage.
He wasn't mad, he was just testing this lad. But Berry's kind heart couldn't take that her benefactor would end up getting mistreated by everyone when he was trying to help.
Making problems with other spirit masters in her age was something, and a conflict with an elder was something else. Especially at such a hard time, when her father, uncle, and grandfather were all busy with many grave things.
"So, you are saying that what they are making here is much more important than saving their lives?" The fourth elder didn't show any angry expression on his face.
Instead, he waved his hand to silence Berry and stop anyone from interrupting him, while his gaze fell on William like they were penetrating through him.
"Fourth elder, he went to the extent of saying that what he asked us to do here is going to save the entire clan."
"What?!" this time, the fourth elder couldn't control his surprise and doubt. He heard Claine's words, and when he turned to the others, they all nodded fervently to confirm what Claine just said.
"Are you saying that our clan is going to fail in defending this monster tide?" Without showing any sign of rage, the fourth elder turned his entire focus over William. And yet the pressure he exerted seemed to grow by several folds.
Even if he didn't show it on the surface, he was truly mad!
Saying these words meant one simple thing; that lad was saying that his clan wasn't able to defend itself. And such a statement would be considered an insult anywhere anytime it'd be said at. Not to mention it was said right in the heart of the clan's homebase.
"Sigh! I know if I explained you won't get it," unlike what others expected, William didn't prostrate himself, didn't kneel down and apologise. He simply shook his head and spoke as if he was speaking to a foolish kid.
"Lad! I can mind anything but rude words filled with arrogance and ignorance! My clan isn't weak! My clan is strong enough to fend off monster tide grade three alone!"
Just like how Claine and Lang reacted, the fourth elder showed the dignity of such a strong clan.
And amidst the elder's words, the pressure coming at William became even worse.
"What if I told the elder that the incoming monster outbreak isn't as simple as tier three?"
Yet William spoke as calmly as he could, while gritting his teeth and enduring such insane pressure, as his veins popped up from face.
"Not grade three? Are you even doubting the assessment done by our patriarch?" The rage inside the fourth elder was slowly getting out of control.
This rude kid in front of him wasn't just insulting his clan, but he also dared to insult the greatest figure in it!
"Can I regain my freedom and get a chance to explain things to elder?" William knew he wouldn't be able to talk if this crazy elder kept pressuring him.
So first he had to free himself from this insane pressure, or else he'd not be able to speak another word.
"And?" The elder didn't show any change over his reddened face as he simply placed both hands behind his back. Yet he slightly withdrew his pressure, allowing William to heave a sigh of relief momentarily.
"If I'm wrong, kill me on the spot. If I'm right, not only will you stop harassing me, but you'll also ask to help me in doing my business here."
William knew the little group he had was going to be barely enough to execute his plan. And it'd be better if he got more spirit masters to help.