Chapter 164: Recommendation

Elham and his group were settled into the Old Rooster Inn. As a regular customer of the Old Rooster Inn, Tixiang arranged ten luxurious rooms for them in the west wing at a very favorable price. Elham, who was short on money, did not mention the cost of the rooms, and Tixiang was happy to play dumb.

Sitting in the warm pavilion where Lin Qi had won two million Gold Coins that day, Tixiang stretched out smugly on the sofa.

“That’s it. Let them owe me favors. Make them feel they can’t take a single step in the Imperial Capital without me. Then those two beauties will obediently submit to me!”

Thinking of Ya and Ling’s pretty faces and slender figures, Tixiang’s pale little face glowed.

“So beautiful, and twin sisters too! I want to thank the hero who robbed No.1 Shenghui Street. If he hadn’t broken the Empire’s laws, I’d definitely thank him!”

Shrugging, Lin Qi leaned back on a sofa. He continuously stuffed strawberries, which were extremely rare in winter, into his mouth while mumbling a response to Tixiang: “Even if he broke the law, you can still thank him. If he gets arrested, if he gets sentenced, and if you can give him some benefits to let him leave the awful prison early, he will surely be grateful to you!”

Tixiang’s eyes lit up, and he began to seriously consider Lin Qi’s suggestion.

After a long time, Tixiang finally nodded firmly. “Lin Qi is right. Let him get arrested. If I can recruit a Celestial Knight, oh God, I’ll definitely be able to take over my father’s and grandfather’s positions. Becoming the future Family Head of the Hualishi Family wouldn’t be difficult either. Having a Celestial Knight pledge loyalty at my age? Simply wonderful!”

He sighed heavily, then called over a personal guard. “Take my grandfather’s name card to the Garrison Office and the Dragoons. Tell them to secretly investigate the case of No.1 Shenghui Street carefully. They must give me an explanation. Also, tell the masters behind those people present today to give me face and not spread these things around!”

Looking through the warm pavilion’s glass toward the main building of the west wing, where Elham’s group was staying, Tixiang smiled smugly. “It’s basically settled. Those two beauties are mine. Oh, their guards are such trash. They got knocked out and didn’t even see what the enemy looked like. Aha, if they want to establish themselves in the Imperial Capital, they must rely on me!”

Lin Qi ate a full plate of strawberries in big mouthfuls, then let out a satisfied burp.

These strawberries were a luxury grown in small quantities during winter at great cost, using natural hot springs combined with a Magic Array and large-scale greenhouses. In season, strawberries weren’t worth much, but one strawberry in winter was worth ten Silver Coins! Lin Qi had just eaten a full large plate of strawberries—he had devoured at least thirty Gold Coins!

Thinking that what he had eaten were shiny golden Gold Coins, Lin Qi felt waves of pleasure in his heart.

Satisfied, he stretched his legs straight and looked happily at Tixiang. “Master Tixiang, I wish you success in achieving your wish!”

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qi shook his shoulders and smiled mysteriously. “As for tomorrow’s party you mentioned, that’s the betting match, right? I have a very good candidate to recommend to you—an incredibly terrifying gambling expert I met at a gambling house.”

Tixiang’s eyes lit up. He sat up straight on the sofa and looked seriously at Lin Qi.

“Frankly speaking, tomorrow’s betting match is a personal grudge between me and a few bastards. Originally, I could only take part myself, but seeing how skilled you are with cards, Lin Qi, I wanted you to play for me. Is there really someone even more proficient with cards than you?”

Lin Qi laughed inwardly. A freak who practiced Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts, with his massive mental power, what card game could escape the scan of his mental power? Coupled with his strength as a Celestial Knight, not only could he remember all the cards, but even if he swapped cards right at the table in front of everyone, no one would notice his tricks. Having Long Cheng replace him was a guaranteed win.

Tixiang had already said that all the money and items won would belong to Lin Qi. This was a huge windfall.

Lin Qi, grinning extremely proudly, nodded repeatedly. He bragged that Long Cheng’s card skills were the best in the world. He fabricated a story on the spot, saying he had gambled against Long Cheng in some small tavern in the Imperial Capital and ended up losing thousands of Gold Coins and so on.

Tixiang still placed some importance on tomorrow’s betting match, as it concerned his face.

Hearing Lin Qi describe Long Cheng as so formidable, Tixiang immediately decided to let Long Cheng and Lin Qi together play on his behalf.

“Win all their pocket money for me! Those damned guys!” Tixiang instructed Lin Qi indignantly. “Don’t worry about their status. Win all their pocket money; all the money you win is yours, Lin Qi, all yours. If you have the ability to win their fiefs or mansions from them, those will be yours too!”

Lin Qi smiled and nodded repeatedly. Such a wonderful request—he couldn’t possibly refuse it.

Just as Lin Qi and Tixiang settled the matter, they both saw through the warm pavilion’s glass that Elham, looking gloomy, was walking toward them. Tixiang immediately began straightening his slightly disheveled clothes and sat up properly on the sofa.

Not long after, Elham entered the warm pavilion. He and Tixiang exchanged greetings and then Elham sat on the sofa next to Lin Qi.

“Master Tixiang, today’s events have truly troubled you!” Elham’s words were very polite. “About these matters, I must offer you some explanation. Perhaps you have already guessed part of it. I have some enemies, enemies from within my own family!”

Lin Qi was overjoyed inside. It was best if Elham was willing to think that way.

Tixiang smiled at Elham. “I can understand, really, I can understand these things. Enemies within the family—yes, which major family can avoid such things? To be honest, I have such enemies too!”

Elham glanced at Tixiang, then lowered his head and crossed his hands over his abdomen. “I came to the Gaul Empire to expand my family’s business.”

Tixiang nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.

Elham sighed and shook his head gently. “But now I realize that to develop well in the Gaul Empire, I cannot do without the help of certain powers.”

He looked deeply at Tixiang and narrowed his eyes. “My family mage, Tolin, is a very powerful ice mage. Could you secure a good official position for him in Borelly? I mean, a position with real power that can protect my business!”

Lin Qi raised his eyebrows and let out a soft “Wow.”