"Alright, young master."

John nodded, knowing the gravity of the situation, and then asked, "But young master, about that mineral vein earlier..."

Purple Fluorescent Crystal Vein!

The largest known Purple Fluorescent Crystal Veins come from two places, one belonging to the Marquis Anyu of the Gula Kingdom, and the other to the Bandel Tiger Tribe of the Holy Life Alliance.

However, given Lin Ke’s relationship with the Holy Life Alliance, contacting the Bandel Tiger Tribe would be very difficult.

Yet the Marquis Anyu of the Gula Kingdom... is the grandson of the Deep Blue Duke!

The Marquis Anyu is not only the grandson of the Deep Blue Duke but also one of the noble alliances of the Blando Clan.

In fact, not just Marquis Anyu, but the bloodline of the Deep Blue Duke has connections with many families in the Gula Kingdom and even throughout Naseng.

Either like Azanen, who makes loans, or like the Blando with marriage alliances, or new nobles with distinct bloodlines...

It’s known that the bloodline of the Deep Blue Duke’s family is indeed prosperous.

Unlike some families, either strong but barren, or populous but without strong figures.

For example, the Marquis of Ice is strong, but has only the one heir, Laplace.

But the Deep Blue Clan not only has the Deep Blue Duke but also over a hundred descendants and the descendants of those descendants...

Even why the eldest daughter of the Blando Clan, Antova, married Azanen, and why my aunt wanted to kill him...

The more Lin Ke thought about it, the more cold sweat prickled his skin.

Thankfully, later his aunt truly fell in love with Garoce and genuinely treated him as family!

"Phew..." Lin Ke exhaled slowly and, after some thought, said, "The Purple Fluorescent Crystal Vein... Hmm... Just go and trade directly with the Deep Blue Duke."

John thought he heard wrong, his expression shocked: "Trade directly?"

"That’s right, trade directly..." Lin Ke squinted his eyes, "Just tell the Marquis Anyu that we’re all family, we’ve been in touch often, I respect Count Blando, I respect the Deep Blue Duke, and such..."

John immediately understood Lin Ke’s intention and nodded slowly: "Yes."

Lin Ke waved a hand: "Go then, I’ll go find my aunt now."

He went to the tower top, called for Little Lucky, and then flew to the big marketplace.

Recently, things have been exceedingly busy, and Great Wilderness City is extremely lacking in managerial talent, so Lin Ke had no choice but to enlist volunteers—bringing Antova to help.

Arriving at the "mount riding bay" atop the big marketplace, Lin Ke quickly made his way to the trading center.

The trading center was bustling with people. Apart from the staff, most were sapient beings coming to trade and buy or sell.

Ranging from the Mengtan Giant Beast to the small Risby Hamster People, each was browsing what interested them in front of the Memory Stone screens, contacting staff either to buy or sell.

The essence of the big marketplace lies within this trading center.

And Antova was directing everyone to process trade data in an orderly manner.

Though Fulon’s disappearance affected her greatly, she did not completely break down but held strong.

Perhaps she was using busyness to numb herself.

Just as Lin Ke entered, Antova seemed to sense his presence and lifted her head to look at him.

Her originally stern and tight face tried to smile.

Putting down her tasks, she came over with a smile: "What’s up, Little Lin Ke?"

"Aunt." Lin Ke looked at the white strands hidden within Antova’s black hair and sighed: "Don’t overwork yourself..."

"It’s nothing." Antova seemingly laughed easily, the once fair and lucid corners of her eyes now wrinkled slightly, whispering of years gone by: "Shall we talk outside?"

Lin Ke nodded.

They went to their usual place, the milk tea shop.

This milk tea shop was named Lucky Milk Tea Shop, currently with over a hundred locations in the Gula Kingdom, more than ten in just Great Wilderness City alone.

The key was the healthy ingredients, using either milk from the Gula Ranch or tea leaves and sweet flowers cultivated by the Fernwood Golden-eyed Wolf Packs in Great Wilderness City, a very popular taste.

Lin Ke also loved dairy products.

When they entered the shop, Antova ordered a cup of lucky flower pop milk for Lin Ke, while she got a sweet milk for herself.

Sitting in a corner, Lin Ke set up an air pressure shield and an optical shield, then spoke solemnly: "Aunt, I’ve discovered a secret."

Seeing Lin Ke’s demeanor, Antova immediately grew serious too: "What?"

She glanced around, seeing no one paying them any attention, and continued to ask: "Do I need to know? Perhaps you should discuss it with His Majesty Insomnia and the others?"

In Antova’s eyes, Lin Ke had long been an upright man, the pillar of the family.

Also the rising star of the Gula Kingdom.

If even Lin Ke had to take something seriously, could she really help him as just a Marchioness?

She would spare no effort, but feared affecting Lin Ke’s major issues!

Sensing Antova’s worry, Lin Ke shook his head and looked directly at her: "It’s related to the Blando Clan."

"The Blando Clan?" Antova frowned deeply: "Does the Blando Clan leader want to use you?"

Antova, aware of her father’s character and methods, instinctively thought the clan leader wanted to use Lin Ke, leaving him in a dilemma.

"No, it’s related to the Deep Blue Clan and the Blando Clan." Lin Ke immediately shared John’s discovery with Antova.

Then he watched Antova’s eyes closely.

"What?!" Antova slapped the table fiercely: "How dare he!? I’m his daughter!"

Seeing Antova didn’t lie, Lin Ke felt relieved inside and started comforting her: "Perhaps Grandpa Blando just..."

"That’s outrageous!" Antova grew more infuriated the more she thought: "No wonder they used me like that back then! I just thought it was mysteriously easy to escape to Azanen, I just wondered why Garoce easily borrowed money from the Deep Blue Duke... Damn Blando!"

Antova gritted her teeth, her eyes full of anger.

Lin Ke was taken aback.

But it was understandable.

Lin Ke knew Antova was used as a political pawn cultivated by the Blando family leader since childhood.

As a child, Antova’s mother was just a maid, overlooked, but when the clan leader saw Antova’s beauty, he began to groom her.

Unfortunately, already somewhat insecure, Antova became somewhat arrogant after encountering many nobles, desperately wanting to prove herself as a noble.

Until later, a chance encounter with Garoce and Fulon revealed how happy, simple, and blessed one could feel.

Thus she decided to flee, escaping with Garoce!

Looking back, she always found it amazing, considering a young woman without enlightenment managed to escape the Rock Clan, which was the Blando Clan!

And when she wrote the letter to the Blando Clan leader, stating she had an heir, Lin Ke, and needed money to repay the Deep Blue Duke.

At that time, the clan leader had no intention of lending money at all!

Instead, he was keen on having her bring Lin Ke to the Blando Clan.

Thinking back now, perhaps bringing Lin Ke was sending him into a trap?

"Despicable..." Antova clenched her fist, perfectly manicured nails digging into her palm until Lin Ke reached over with his warm, strong hand to hold hers.

"Aunt, I’ll handle everything." Lin Ke showed a smile.

Antova was momentarily dazed.

Her "son" had grown so much?

A wave of reassurance and exhaustion washed over her, and Antova fainted from it.