Chapter 231: Silver Fox’s Charm

"No."

The single word immediately silenced the room.

Gideon’s voice remained calm, but the coldness behind it made the hunter unconsciously straighten his posture.

"We’re already working with Greenwarden, and I believe White Veil is more qualified to handle the medical side of this." He turned toward the woman dressed in white. "If your organization is willing to cooperate."

She gave a small nod. "We don’t mind. It’s our duty to begin with." A gentle smile appeared on her face. "Helen, by the way."

’Finally,’ Gideon thought. ’Someone reasonable.’

The hunter clicked his tongue while Greg looked equally unconvinced. Only one person remained completely silent.

Lin Yue.

She simply watched the conversation unfold, her eyes never leaving Gideon.

"Gideon."

Her voice was gentle enough to soften the atmosphere inside the room.

"Is that everything?" She folded both hands neatly on the table. "If there’s more information you’re unwilling to disclose, the Merchant Guild may still be able to help."

"You’re one of our most valuable business partners, after all. The more we know, the easier it becomes for us to find a solution."

Gideon didn’t answer immediately.

Beneath the table, Jade’s fingers quietly pinched his thigh. A warning.

Don’t say anything more.

He understood immediately. Lin Yue wasn’t pressuring him. She was fishing.

Every word she spoke sounded sincere, yet each sentence invited him to reveal just a little more than he intended. Her calm voice was almost a weapon in itself, making people lower their guard without realizing it.

Unfortunately for her...

He wasn’t interested in her words. Only in her body and that mysterious face she hides, obviously.

"That’s everything for now, Mrs. Lin," Gideon answered with a polite smile. "Once we’ve confirmed additional information, you’ll hear it from us before anyone else."

He looked around the table before adding, "Until then, I’d advise all of you to reduce unnecessary physical contact, even with your own families. The parasite appears to remain inside the host long before obvious symptoms emerge. Be careful."

Finally, his gaze settled on Greg. "And have a little more faith in Jade."

The old builder let out a long sigh before rubbing his forehead.

"...Fine."

He slowly stood up.

"I’ll tell my workers to limit contact with outsiders. Winter’s here anyway. Construction projects are scarce, and we don’t exactly have customers lining up."

Without another complaint, he walked toward the door.

The next person to stand was the broad-shouldered woman representing the Artificer Guild.

"Well, the blacksmiths aren’t going anywhere." She folded both muscular arms across her chest before looking directly at Gideon. "Jacob is still working for you, isn’t he?"

"Yes, he is."

"Good."

She pointed a thick finger toward him. "But if anything happens to my husband, I’ll choke both you and Jade to death."

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of humor in her voice.

Gideon simply nodded. "I’ll do everything I can to make sure he comes home safely."

Satisfied with the answer, Irene finally left.

Helen stood up next. "I’ll transfer every doctor and nurse I can spare from the nearby settlements. Some still need to remain at the hospitals, but White Veil will support Climber Rift as much as possible."

Jade smiled with visible relief. "Thank you, Helen. I owe you one."

Helen shook her head. "No, you don’t. We’ve known each other for years."

She smiled warmly. "This is simply one friend helping another."

Not long afterward, Helen and the hunter representatives also excused themselves, leaving only three people inside the room.

The Regional Guild Master slowly rose from her chair, her eyes never leaving Gideon.

"The Merchant Guild remains open for business should you require anything," she said with an elegant smile. "Naturally, provided the price is right."

Jade rolled her eyes. "You really can’t stop thinking about money, can you, Silver Fox?"

Lin Yue laughed softly. "Of course not."

She walked around the table until she stood directly in front of Gideon.

"Without money, caravans stop moving. Without trade, settlements starve. Without oil cores, people freeze to death during the Eternal Snow."

She smiled. "Everything has a price, Jade. The only difference is whether someone can afford to pay it."

The faint scent of jasmine drifted through the air as she leaned slightly closer to Gideon. With one slender finger, she gently lifted his chin just enough to meet her gaze.

"Don’t forget our banquet." Her eyes curved into playful crescents. "I’ll make sure it’s an evening worth remembering."

Gideon smiled back. "I’ll be there once this crisis is over."

"Hm." She seemed pleased by the answer.

"And if you happen to finish earlier..." she added teasingly, "...the Merchant Guild’s doors are always open. You’re far more entertaining over a drink than these stiff old men and women."

Not long afterward, Lin Yue finally left the room.

Before closing the door behind her, she gave Gideon one last graceful wave, leaving behind nothing but the lingering scent of jasmine that still filled the room.

He let out a long breath and shook his head. "That’s a tough one."

Jade slowly turned her head toward him, narrowing her hazel eyes. "The negotiation or the Silver Fox?"

Gideon couldn’t help grinning. "Honestly? Both."

He leaned back against the chair before adding with a shrug, "Though I think she’s interested in me."

Jade snorted. "She’s interested in your money and your influence. You’re just another puzzle she wants to solve."

"Then let her." His grin only widened. "I like solving puzzles too, and I happen to have money. I think we’ll get along just fine."

Jade pinched his thigh without warning really hard.

"Stop trying to expand your harem." She glared at him before grabbing his wrist. "Five women are already more than enough."

Gideon laughed quietly while rubbing his sore leg.

"I was joking."

"I wasn’t."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence was far more comfortable than the tense atmosphere during the meeting. Jade finally leaned back against her chair, the frustration on her face slowly fading as she stared at the wooden ceiling.

"At least we managed to calm them down for now," she murmured. "But they’ll keep pressuring us if we can’t improve the situation soon."

Gideon nodded. "We will. We’ll destroy the Scions of the Lord and every plan they’ve prepared."

Then he glanced sideways at her with a faint smirk. "Although you still owe me quite a lot of money."

Jade groaned dramatically before covering her face with one hand.

"Damn it! Stop reminding me. If Freebound’s expenses keep increasing like this, Kanna is going to murder me before the Scions ever get the chance."

Gideon chuckled. "Now that’s a threat worth worrying about."

Jade rolled her eyes before looking at him again.

"Anyway, why were you late?"

The amusement immediately disappeared from Gideon’s face.

He told her everything. From the civilians suddenly surrounding them in the market, the tear gas, the coordinated restraint by the Pathfinders, to the man from the Eagle Union who had been directing the infected before trying to escape.

He even told her about his conclusion. There was still one more Eagle Union hiding somewhere inside Climber Rift.

By the time he finished, the color had completely drained from Jade’s face.

She stood up so abruptly that the chair scraped loudly across the wooden floor.

"We’re going back to the containment camp. If one of them is still inside my territory, every minute we waste gives them another chance to spread that parasite."