Chapter 335: Chapter 319: Where Is the Person Who Had You Brew This Pot of Tea?

"The Continent of Southeland." Aurora Sinclair held the phone a little further away.

Even without speakerphone, Flora Guthrie’s booming voice was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear clearly.

"What are you doing in that backwater? On a charity mission?"

At these words, Augustus Colby and the four Elders flushed with embarrassment and lowered their heads.

Their Southeland Branch’s performance was always last in The Phantom Trove. They got scolded by the Grand Elder of the West Pavilion from headquarters every time.

Aurora Sinclair didn’t dare mention she’d been ambushed, fallen into the sea, and then swam in the wrong direction, accidentally ending up on the Continent of Southeland.

She sidestepped the issue, replying, "I’m hiding from people from The Shadow."

Flora Guthrie’s expression tensed. "You ran into them?"

"Yes."

"Put someone on the phone... Wait, let me look through the list for Southeland..."

Augustus Colby quickly spoke up, "Western Pavilion Lord, this is Outer Disciple Augustus Colby."

The call switched from voice to video. On the screen, Flora Guthrie wore the special mask of a Phantom Trove lord and said coolly,

"She is my direct disciple, the future master of The Phantom Trove. I had planned to introduce her to you all in a few years, but since fate has brought you together, you are to serve her with all your heart..."

Augustus Colby’s expression turned solemn as he performed a traditional formal bow to Aurora Sinclair.

Afterward, Aurora Sinclair had Augustus Colby find her some materials to remake the mask of the Snow Wolf King, which she then put on.

***

「The Prince’s Lodge, Ocrean Empire.」

Alvin Morgan sat on his bed, staring at the message from The Silver Wolf on his computer, his body frozen.

After a long moment, he looked up at Benjamin Morgan and said in a hoarse voice, "Go get Dees Oak."

His face was pale and sickly, and it seemed to take all his strength just to sit up.

Beta Morgan brought medicine for Alvin Morgan to take, saying worriedly, "Sir, you have a fever again. You can’t overexert yourself."

Alvin Morgan endured the pain in his throat, coughing a few times. "I’m fine... I just need to confirm one more thing."

Dees arrived quickly, a smile on his face, as if he’d just heard some good news.

He entered the room and said, "The Phantom Trove is holding an auction on Sunday. I heard they’ll be featuring a new piece by Master Flora Guthrie’s direct disciple, titled *White*."

"What did you say... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Alvin Morgan was so shocked he could no longer suppress the discomfort in his throat and broke into a heavy fit of coughing.

"Sir... Quick, drink some water..."

Alvin Morgan pushed the cup away, saying with a hint of agitation, "Go to The Phantom Trove... She’s... there..."

Beta Morgan nodded repeatedly, continuously rubbing Alvin’s back to soothe his coughing.

"Pip, go make the arrangements."

Just then, Alvin Morgan pushed himself up again. "Help me up."

Beta Morgan tried to dissuade him. "Sir, Sunday is the day after tomorrow. You need to rest and recover now..."

"Help me up—COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

Beta Morgan felt completely helpless. ’In this world, Aurora is probably the only one who can make the boss listen.’

Dees crossed his arms, a sharp glint in his eyes. "This disciple of Master Flora Guthrie... is she the girl you’re looking for?"

Alvin Morgan glanced at him and said lightly, "I can give you one of her paintings."

"Two."

"Only one."

"..."

Dees gave him a speechless look before placing the invitation in his hand on the table. "What did you want me for?"

Alvin Morgan shook his head. "It’s nothing now."

He had only wanted to ask for help finding Aurora Sinclair. Since he now knew she would be at The Phantom Trove, there was no need to ask anything further.

「Meanwhile—」

At The Phantom Trove’s branch, Aurora Sinclair, who was rushing to finish a painting, found herself the focus of the five Elders’ intense attention.

"Young Master, are you really going to auction this painting?"

Augustus Colby’s heart ached. Although he had been eager to witness the Young Master’s painting skills, now that he had, he found he couldn’t bear to look away.

The painting before him was just too lifelike.

He had never seen anyone capture a portrait with ink wash in such a vivid and realistic way; it was as if the person in the painting could come to life at any moment.

It was a portrait of a man in a white shirt, leaning lazily against a sofa while reading a book. His eyes were gentle, the corners of his lips turned up, exuding an aura of quiet, clean-cut confidence.

Aurora Sinclair’s expression was completely focused. Without answering him, she continued to meticulously outline with the tip of her brush, occasionally standing up to check her work.

Not giving up, Augustus Colby asked again, "Young Master, how about we auction that painting of feeding the chickens instead?"

But this time, Aurora Sinclair finally shook her head. "We’re auctioning this one. Take note of the two parties who bid most aggressively."

Augustus Colby could only suppress his reluctance, thinking, ’I’ll have to ask the Young Master to paint a couple more for me later to keep as the branch’s prized treasures.’

Only when Aurora Sinclair had finished the final stroke and put down her brush did Yara dare to enter the room from outside.

She was the woman who had recognized Aurora Sinclair as the Young Master back in town. She was also an Elder’s niece; otherwise, she would not have recognized the rhythm Aurora tapped out as the one used to strike the opening bell at The Phantom Trove’s annual appraisal convention.

"Young Master, Prince Oak is here. Mr. Colby says he’s here to see you, and he’s keeping him occupied for now."

Aurora Sinclair gave a slight nod and slowly walked out.

She slipped over to the room next to the reception hall and looked through the peephole. A flash of anger soon appeared in her eyes.

Alvin Morgan, sitting next to Dees, clearly had a fever. Although his face was covered with who knows how much concealer, the exhaustion in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"Yara, brew a pot of ginger tea and send it over."

***

In the reception hall, although Augustus Colby was chatting with Prince Oak, his gaze kept drifting to the man beside the prince.

He realized this man looked very much like the one in his Young Master’s painting.

His heart tightened. ’From the sound of her voice, the Young Master is quite young, but this man looks much more mature. If the painting really is of him, doesn’t that mean the Young Master has feelings for him?’

’And now Prince Oak is beating around the bush, trying to get an introduction to Master Flora Guthrie’s disciple. Could it be that this man and the Young Master really are... involved?’

As he was thinking, there was a knock on the reception room door.

"Elder, Prince Dick has arrived..."

Dees’s brow furrowed instantly.

Dick was his paternal uncle. He usually led a reclusive life in The Royal Palace and was an avid enthusiast of Veridian culture. His lodge was filled with items he had won at The Phantom Trove’s auctions. He was most likely here for the painting.

Augustus Colby immediately stood up and had someone show Prince Dick in.

Soon, a man who bore some resemblance to Dees walked in, followed by a Royal Palace guard for protection.

"Uncle Dick."

Dick was surprised to see Dees. He walked over with a smile. "What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re planning to fight me for the painting."

Dees laughed. "Don’t tell me you’re also here for the painting by Master Flora Guthrie’s disciple, Uncle?"

"Of course! Only a limited number of Master Flora Guthrie’s paintings ever make it to the Continent of Southeland, so this is a rare opportunity. And I won’t be letting you have it, young man."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries with a laugh before Dick Oak got straight to the point. "Mr. Colby, I was wondering if the master who painted the piece for auction has come here? Would I be fortunate enough to meet them?"

Augustus Colby pretended to consider it for a moment. "Master Flora Guthrie’s disciple is indeed in Southeland at the moment. However, she prefers not to meet with outsiders."

Dick’s eyes lit up. He turned to Augustus Colby with a look of reverence. "Mr. Colby, could you please help make an introduction? I have some questions about painting that I would love to ask her."

Just as he spoke, Yara walked in carrying a pot of ginger tea.

The faint scent of ginger filled the air. Dick couldn’t stand the smell, and a look of disgust immediately crossed his face. "Get that away—"

The guard behind him immediately stepped forward, but another figure snatched the ginger tea away even faster.

"Where is the person who had you brew this tea?"