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Chapter 228 - Choose Your Reward
Chapter 228 - Choose Your Reward
Shortly after Polemos asked, Albion grinned and hollered, "Xiao Hua, come out!"
"Here!"
Xiao Hua quickly popped her head out from the crowd and made her way over to Albion's side before asking curiosity, "Do you need something from Xiao Hua, Big Brother Albion?"
"No, but Polemos here would like to reward you," Albion shook his head and said.
Xiao Hua's eyes quickly brightened.
"Is that true, Your Majesty?! We still get prizes?" Xiao Hua asked excitedly.
At the same time, Polemos's lips twitched, not expecting the godly talented person he imagined to just be a child.
Nevertheless, rewarding one person was much better than going back on his word to avoid rewarding a thousand people.
As expected, the Lord was very thoughtful and considered his predicament.
"Of course!" Polemos nodded and calmly said, "This Emperor does not go back on his word. However, you are quite young."
Polemos furrowed his brows slightly.
Even without seeing Xiao Hua's face hidden behind the mask, he can tell she was young due to her small build.
"However, do you have a guardian or parent with you, to whom I can speak with?" Polemos asked.
Xiao Hua shortly turned in the direction of her father before Xiao Pipi made his over and said politely, "I am her father, Your Majesty."
"Oh? And you are?"
"I am Xiao Pipi, Your Majesty. My family has some business cooperations with Future Tech," Xiao Pipi introduced courteously while removing his mask for Polemos to see.
"Ah, so it is Mr. Pipi from Silvercove city," Polemos recalled before greeting him a handshake, "Well met, Mr. Pipi."
"You know of me, Your Majesty?" Xiao Pipi's widened with surprise.
"Of course," Polemos nodded and said calmly, "This might have been our first official meeting, but I do have a habit of looking up and remembering the faces of all my business partners and cooperators."
"This must be your youngest daughter then," Polemos shifted his attention back to Xiao Hua before asking, "What kind of reward do you want, Xiao Hua?"
"I…"
Xiao Hua hesitated for a moment as she threw glances back and forth between Polemos and her father before she asked, "Is it possible to transfer my reward onto my father, Your Majesty?"
"Of course," Polemos acknowledged.
"Then, I would like my father to decide on the reward in my stead, Your Majesty," Xiao Hua said decisively.
"Very well," Polemos nodded and turned back to Xiao Pipi before he smiled, "You have a good daughter, Mr. Pipi. Now how do you want to be rewarded?"
"The Xiao family won't ask for too much, Your Majesty. We do not need a high position or anything like that—but If possible, I would like you to grant an opportunity for the Xiao family to serve under your banner, Your Majesty." Xiao Pipi said.
"Interesting," Polemos uttered with amusement before he asked, "Are you sure want to serve under me and not the Lord directly?"
"This… is this not the same thing?" Xiao Pipi asked with surprise.
"I'm afraid only the Lord can answer that question for you."
Shortly after Polemos shifted the attention to Albion on the topic, Albion impassively explained, "I am setting up a new power called the Blackthorne Group with its headquarters situated in Silvercove city."
"This will be an independent power from Polemos's faction, which only deals in business legitimately. The Blackthorne Group will be involved in both legitimate and illegitimate business operations—but mostly illegitimate businesses, of course."
"Now, take your pick. You can serve under me, or you can serve under Polemos," Albion stated calmly.
He did not care which side the Xiao family chooses.
However, if Xiao Pipi was smart, he would know that even if the Xiao family served under Emperor Polemos's faction, the faction might still be under the Dark Lord.
Still, the status would differ significantly from being a part of the Blackthorne Group.
Xiao Pipi naturally understood that, but he still had a dilemma over the two, considering whether to select the safer and cleaner option of two or not.
As he was struck with indecisiveness, Xiao Hua suddenly raised her hand and said, "On second thoughts, Xiao Hua still wants to decide on the reward. Xiao Hua wants Xiao Hua's family to join the Blackthorne Group so Xiao Hua can stay with Big Brother Albion!"
"Xiao Hua, you—!" Xiao Pipi was shocked.
However, he had no say as Emperor Polemos quickly clapped his hands together and said, "It's decided then. Still, the final say rests with my Lord whether he will accept the Xiao family into the Blackborne Group."
"Accepted," Albion nodded.
"Yeah—!"
Xiao Hua quickly cheered as Albion smiled and reached out to rub her head with his greasy hand while Xiao Pipi felt weak in his knees.
His lucky star had quickly turned into the calamity star.
He had a foreboding feeling that the Xiao family would be thrown into many dangerous situations in the future.
But what has been decided, has been decided.
Xiao Pipi could only lament in his heart and pray that his Xiao family will make it through without losing anyone.
"By the way, Big Brother Albion. Why does she get to keep holding your hand? Can Xiao Hua also hold your hand?" Xiao Hua suddenly mentioned with her gaze glued to their hands.
"Hmm, there's a reason for this," Albion said before saying, "Nevertheless, since you joined my Blackthorne Group, you must address me as Boss or Young Master Albion, understand?"
"Oh… I mean—Yes, Boss!" Xiao Hua gave a cute military salute before pressing the matter, "But what kind of reason exactly, Boss?"
"This kind of reason—"
As Albion spoke, Fenriri, who had been happily eating without Albion, suddenly had a terrible feeling that caused all her hair to stand up.
"W-Wait, Master! Don't—!"
Fenriri's face turned green instantly as her body dropped to the ground like a dead log after Albion let go of his hand.
"This kind of reason," Albion casually said.