They all call me Great Master

Jimte pointed to a tea canister placed by the fire pit, on a makeshift shelf — upon learning that Arthur would be having tea and reading in the afternoon, Westbron, the police chief of Mount Gale Town, had "bought" all the tea from the general store in town.

Then, he sent it over.

There were five blocks of whole bricks of tea and more than two kilograms of loose tea.

Arthur had placed the tea bricks into the Atos's Box.

As for the loose tea, he found a huge pottery jar to store it.

Tea is light, and a small jar can usually hold about a tael, but with two kilograms of tea, the temporary shelf could not support it, so it had to be placed aside.

Looking at where Jimte pointed, Arthur looked puzzled.

He was somewhat uncertain whether Jimte was really proposing a tea competition.

In the world before him, because the "God of Potions," Hercules, favored drinking tea, this beverage had seen considerable development.

There were not only different kinds, but there were also corresponding teaware.

Of course, most of the time, people still preferred to brew tea.

It was like the tea bought by Police Chief Westbron, which was the dark tea very suitable for steaming and boiling, also the mainstream tea in this world, while some less common teas served as luxury goods — the "Lion's Tea" that the Old Lion of Inner Bay had recently favored had a saying, "One Tael of Tea for Ten Taels of Gold".

As goes the leader, so goes the pack, and in Inner Bay, tea tasting and tea duels had become trendy in recent years.

However, that was only in Inner Bay.

Other places had not yet popularized it.

This is why Arthur was puzzled.

"Tea!"

"Let's have a tea competition!"

"My aunt loves tea, and Mr. Charlie is also very good at it, I am sure that apart from swordsmanship, Arthur, you must have also inherited Mr. Charlie's tea expertise."

Jimte fixed a piercing gaze on Arthur.

'Heh, heh, right, right, your aunt likes tea, so Old Charlie is good at tea! Do you believe if your aunt liked eating, Old Charlie would excel in cooking, or if she liked astrology, Old Charlie would be the best astrologer?

This handsome (fraud) man!'

Arthur internally ridiculed Old Charlie wildly, but on the surface, he remained composed.

"Tea expertise, you say?

I have some understanding."

Arthur nodded slightly.

Tea, he really didn't know much; he didn't even know what terms like skimming the foam, rolling the tea, shaking the aroma, the diving, butterfly dance, spreading the tea, and butterflies returning meant.

He didn't understand what was meant by "spring water autumn fragrance," nor did he comprehend the premium picked before the spring rains or just randomly enjoying tea that was sufficiently roasted or seeking the elusive sublime fragrance.

What could he understand about tea?

It was merely about thickening his skin and mooching off others everywhere.

But...

'Jimte, if you want a tea duel, then I guess I have to show you some tough moves!'

With a decision made in his heart, Arthur kept watching this current Baron Norvia's son, Marquess of West Berlin's son-in-law, waiting for the crucial part.

A competition would naturally involve stakes.

Even if it was about tea, it was the same.

There were unsaid rules among nobles.

"I've set the contest, the stakes will be proclaimed by you, Arthur."

Jimte's round face wore a warm smile, looking just like the older boy from next door who would take his younger siblings to buy candy, the kind that immediately endears himself to everyone.
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"If I may say so, how about...

When my fleet passes through the Marquess of West Berlin's territory's ports in the future, let them be tax-exempt."

Arthur revealed a slightly embarrassed smile and shyly scratched his head, just like the naughty little boy from the neighborhood, caught in his mischief.

"Sure!

As long as you can beat me, Arthur, I promise that your fleet will be tax-exempt whenever it passes through the ports in the Marquess of West Berlin's territory."

Jimte nodded honestly, then continued.

"It's my turn again; how about tomorrow afternoon for the time?

Tea tastes more delicious in the afternoon!"

"Great, the location can be right here, how about it?"

"No problem."

Between their questions and answers, the so-called tea duel was agreed upon.

Afterward, the son of the baron, the marquess' son-in-law, bid farewell to Arthur and turned to walk into the ravine.

Shadows instantly enveloped the other's departing figure.

Watching his retreating figure, Arthur's face kept the same smile—

Was the other person one of those noble offspring who had been brainwashed by his aunt since childhood, whose worldview had been twisted, and who yearned for a romantic knight's life?

It was only when he had grown up that he discovered his aunt had already seized great power within the Inner Bay territory. To avoid being forced into suicide, he reluctantly "followed" his aunt's suggestion to leave the territory and develop elsewhere, preparing to one day reclaim all that belonged to him as a noble scion.

It was not important.

It didn't matter which Jimte it was.

After all, the Norvia Territory would not be left to him.

What he needed to focus on was how Jimte's 'Tea Duel' brought changes to his original plan.

In his original plan, he was to engage with the nobles amicably before launching into battle, then strike with the sword move 'Song of Death. Flower Sky Mad Bone. Severance'. His condition had not recovered, yet he would achieve a Pyrrhic victory—by this means attracting more people to the cause.

But with Jimte's appearance...

Things naturally had to change.

For example, Jimte, who had admired Old Charlie since childhood, realized after executing 'that sword strike' that his body had not yet recovered, and voluntarily gave up the duel, instead proposing a 'Tea Duel'.

Even more so, to allow him more time to recover, he rescheduled it for the next afternoon.

It was definitely not to signal to the outside world 'he needs time to recover after executing that sword strike', prompting the envoy of the Marquis of Ainhars to attack him, to witness his strength firsthand.

No, definitely not.

How could someone with such a warm smile be so sinister?

So, Arthur hastened to follow him.

As Jimte was about to step out of the gully, Arthur swiftly hooked his shoulder, clearly feeling Jimte's body stiffen abruptly.

But then, this son of a baron and son-in-law of a marquis did not struggle; instead, he took two steps forward, walking out of the gully.

The moment they stepped out of the gully, the two seemed to read each other's minds, one withdrawing his arm, and the other stepping sideways.

Under the evening sunset, the two once again became distant companions walking side by side.

But that was enough!

For everyone had seen that, in the gully, they were arm in arm.

At this moment, everyone was convinced that Arthur and Jimte shared a special relationship, especially the envoy of the Marquis of Eshas, Kalal, who clenched his reins tighter still.

As the nephew of the Marquis of Eshas, Kalal knew some of Jimte's foolish affairs.

The latter had boasted more than once in private salons about a commoner named 'Charlie Credos', to the point that he had become a laughingstock in the young noble circle of West Berlin. Kalal wondered what the Marquess of West Berlin was thinking, agreeing to his second daughter's engagement with such a fool.

"Even eagles have moments of dim sight!"

Kalal spoke thus.

The envoy of the Marquis of Ainhars did not conceal his voice; those around heard such a comment.

Then, as he directly spurred his horse to confront Arthur and Jimte, just as he was about to speak, he saw Arthur suddenly frown—

"Shadows of death are enveloping you. Be cautious."

These sudden words startled Kalal, and then the envoy of the marquis became furious, instinctively about to rebuke Arthur.

But before he could speak, Jimte intervened.

"Arthur's 'Spirit Medium' Bloodline comes from Mr. Charlie, you must be cautious, Kalal."

This explanation did not calm Kalal.

On the contrary, it added fuel to the fire.

"Enough, Jimte!

You who tarnish your own Noble Bloodline!

I don't want to say another word to you!"

Kalal shouted at Jimte.

Immediately, a look of grievance surged on the face of this son of a baron and son-in-law of a marquis.

Arthur saw it and immediately stood in front of Jimte.

He looked at Kalal and softly said—

"If your lordship cannot understand the maxims of destiny, then I, too, am somewhat skilled in swordsmanship."

"Somewhat skilled in swordsmanship?

Humph, who do you think I am?

Don't think such tricks can deceive me!"

Speaking thus, Kalal had already dismounted his warhorse, striding towards Arthur.

"Draw your sword!"

The envoy of the Marquis of Ainhars drew his twin swords, muttering as he rapidly moved his feet, apparently preparing some formidable sword technique.

But, only Arthur could clearly see that the envoy of the Marquis of Ainhars rushing at him…

Quickly blinked an eye.

Immediately, Arthur understood.

Without delay, the young 'Spirit Medium' softly said—

"Wait."