Chapter 98: A Fateful Step into Foundation Stage
Lordi Payne bit back a curse, his mind reeling at Carl Murphy's audacious demand.
Fifteen Legendary-level Bone Tempering Pills? The greed was beyond outrageous. Those pills, if sold through Kinson Wexford, could easily fetch more than ten thousand D-grade spirit $tones—enough to hire a Foundation Stage Inner Sect senior as a personal enforcer. Why waste such a fortune on an Eighth Layer Outer Sect nobody like this Murphy?
Feigning regret, Lordi adopted an embarrassed tone. "My apologies, Senior Brother Murphy, Legendary-level Bone Tempering Pills are rare treasures, and I've already given all I had. Perhaps we can revisit this matter another time."
Before Carl Murphy could press further, the blue-haired cultivator in a black robe, seated beside him, jumped in with a glint of earnest. "Ha, don't mind him, Brother Payne," he leaned forward, his voice brimming with camaraderie. "Shaun Zet? Pfft, a nobody. Why waste fifteen Legendary-level pills on that runt? Listen, this strong senior only asks for twelve, and I'll ensure that nuisance is gone for good—leaving you and your lover in peace. How's that sound?"
"Sigh," The blonde cultivator, surname Newman, scoffed, she raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in amusement. "Twelve? Really, you're treating Junior Brother Payne like some stranger!" She turned to Lordi, her smile saccharine and warm as she toyed with a loose strand of her gold hair at her temple. "Dear Junior Brother, we will start fighting side by side today—that makes us more than just sect comrades. We're squad allies, like a family now. And family doesn't extort family. I won't fleece you like these two. Give me just ten pills, and I swear on my honor that Shaun Zet will never trouble you or Junior Sister Kim again. You'll live undisturbed, together, as you wish"
"Ten? Tch, how generous—" The red-haired cultivator, surname Sullivon, looked ready to join the bidding, her eyes gleaming with interest.
Head spun, a headache brewing. Before the red-head lady could jump in the conversation, Lordi Payne cut in with a dry laugh. "Ah, dear Seniors, forgive this ignorant junior." He clasped his hands in mock deference. "I've yet to properly learn the names of my esteemed seniors. How should I address you all?"
Damn vultures. Inside, Lordi seethed. These so-called "sect comrades" were fiercer than scavenge vultures—circling on my flesh, sniffing profit, each more ruthless and merciless than the last.
"Huh? Junior Brother Payne doesn't know our names?" The red-haired Sullivon shot a glance at Ruru Rosa, her tone feigned indignation with false mockingly reproach. "Junior Sister Ruru, that's on you. You brought dear Junior Brother Payne here, and we assumed you'd introduced us already. How could you be so careless?"
Ruru Rosa's face tightened, caught off guard, as the squad's teasing spotlight shifted to her.
Janiyah Sullivon didn't give Ruru Rosa a chance to snap back. With a warm smile and a sweet, melodic voice, she took charge, introducing the Thorn Squad members to Lordi Payne one by one, her demeanor effortlessly disarming.