While he still processed the information, he couldn't seem to help but ask, "I can't believe out of all the reason I met you was because you needed money. How did you of all people need money?"

"That's exactly what I asked too!" Kyoko added as she sipped on some tea Myra brewed in the meantime.

"Were you not paying any attention? I've already explained it over a million times by now," Aleister said, his tongue clicked, "I'm not going to clarify it again."

"No, I understand," Luo Yun said, "It's just funny to me how you out of all people also needed money."

"Haha, yes, laugh at how poor I am," Aleister said.

"What I meant—"

Aleister cut him off after taking a sip of the milk tea. "I know, I was just making a joke."

"What I meant was," Luo Yun picked up from where he left off, "It isn't just funny, but hilarious, how you needed money. I'm laughing so hard on the inside that it's causing me physical pain."

"Your welcome."

"How is it?" Myra asked as she stood still, arms crossed behind her.

"Tastes like some of the tea from the leaves my mom has paid unimaginable amounts for," Kyoko said.

Luo Yun agreed. "I'm shocked that you brewed such an excellent cup from the mediocre leaves I had on hand."

Aleister might have missed it if he blinked, but he saw Myra express a smug look. A face that he hadn't seen her display before. "It's good, but she's brewed better."

"That's not true," Myra said, wagging her hands as she tried to deny his claim.

"Don't be so humble now," Aleister said. "Like Luo Yun said, his leaves are shoddy at best—"

"So not what I—"

"You brewed such a good cup from his fourth-rate leaves, it would only make sense that when you use Master's first-rate leaves, it turns out better."

"I would have accepted second-rate, and maybe, even third-rate leaves, but fourth-rate," Luo Yun shook his fist, "That was the line you shouldn't have crossed!"

"Fine, the leaves aren't that bad," Aleister groaned.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Luo Yun wagged his finger. "I won't let you get off that easily."

"Too bad, I'm not interested in what you have to offer."

"But, you see, you have already accepted. Backing out now, is no longer an option."

"Very well. When do I begin?"

"Soon. I will expedite the process, as I don't want to be held culpable for any misgivings."

"Next month?"

"What does two weeks sound like to you?"

"I will manage."

"You better not disappoint."

"I can say the same to you."

"Then we are in agreement?"

"Correct."

Aleister and Luo Yun both look satisfied and took a sip of their tea at the same time. However, Kyoko looked at Myra, perplexed at the exchange that occurred.

"Do I even want to ask about what in the Nine Hells you two were talking about?" Kyoko asked.

"It was about business," Luo Yun said.

"The kind that I cannot discuss in front of the crown princess of Lillium Empire or else my head might find itself severed from my body," Aleister added.

"It's not illegal!"

"Yeah—obviously not."

"Saying all of that only made this situation even more suspicious," Kyoko said as she rubbed her chin.

"Luo Yun realizes Aleister will become a Weaver sooner than later, so he's going to sign Aleister up as fast as possible and schedule the maximum amount of matches he can before that happens," Myra said as she sipped on her own cup of tea. "This benefits them both as having Aleister fight through the ranks and reign as the champion and then set his sights on a higher stage makes for a wonderful story that will keep people supportive and engaged."

"Let me thank you for running the fun first, and you're right, but you read way too much into it," Aleister said. "However, that actually is a good idea."

"Sounds good—in theory," Luo Yun said. "The problem is that if you want to become the champion, you will need to beat Brilnia in a fight."

"I've heard of her name before," Kyoko said, now following along thanks to Myra's explanation.

"That doesn't sound like much of a problem to me," Aleister let out a yawn, "After all, I did tie with her in that arm wrestling competition."

Kyoko looked at Aleister with squinted eyes. "Really now?"

"No, he admitted defeat."

"Exactly! She didn't beat me. Instead, I conceded."

"I'm going to ignore your backwards logic and continue," Luo Yun said. "In that competition, there were actually a lot of limiting factors. One, she was drunk out of her mind, even for a dwarf, two, was purposefully limiting herself to use her pure body strength alone."

"Uh-huh."

"That would explain it," Kyoko said. "Saying you tied with her did seem pretty suspicious to me in the first place because if I remember correctly, she's almost a Rank Two Weaver."

"Eh?" With a confused look, Aleister asked Luo Yun, "Is this allowed."

"Technically, yes," he said. "Nothing like this has happened before, but when she became the youngest ever champion of the Unranked Osetia Showdown, she wasn't a Weaver. It was only a few years later that she manifested her Heart Loop. The only way the reigning champion can lose their title is if they forfeit it or if someone beats them."

"She's just holding the position even though she's a Weaver?"

"Yes."

Aleister grumbled some incomprehensible words. "Shameless."

"Can't disagree with you there," Luo Yun said in agreement.

"What's the longest anyone has held that title?" Myra asked.

"Seven years, and yes, that is how long she has held onto her title for," Luo Yun answered. "The only reason she even holds onto it is because there is nothing that can stop her from doing so, as she is still able to take part in the Ranked Osetia Championship."