Chapter 126 - Petty Tactics (1/2)

Myron choked on his words and descended into a violent coughing fit, arousing the attention of others around him. Goran didn't bother to wait for him to calm down and turned to leave.

”Wait! *cough* big -”

”Clan Leader,” Goran corrected as though it were second nature, which essentially was the case for him by now. The interjection didn't help Myron's recovery and exacerbated his frenzied coughs.

”Tsk! Act more appropriately, will you?! You're embarrassing the clan!” Goran reprimanded, eliciting a malicious, red-eyed and tear-filled stare from his hunched over brother.

”You're in the Core Condensation realm for goodness sake!” Goran reminded. Myron caught on to this hint, surprisingly, and immediately activated his mana circulation. After a short half-minute, he calmed down and exhaled loudly to regulate his breath.

”Clan Leader,” Myron started, eyeing Goran with a hateful gaze. ”Ah! Is this the little artist?” He exclaimed and shifted his gaze towards Kano. Noticing the man's hostile intentions, Kano slowly slid behind Goran.

”This is the artist whose work is taking the centre stage today, Artist Lang!” Myron turned and commented. From behind him, an elderly looking individual, with an imposing aged-silver coloured beard and a haughty gaze, walked forward with his hands clasped behind him. The man called Artist Keegan Lang looked towards the little child and observed him with great intensity. Within a short second, the man had already inspected the boy from top to bottom using his mana sense and, after finding nothing of value, snorted derisively.

Myron wore a proud smirk and glanced at Goran. Goran realised that Myron had taken his earlier ”advice” quite seriously, and went out of his way to bring in an expert. Well, calling Artist Lang an expert would be an understatement; the man was a veritable master in his craft. He currently held a 6-star license, evidence of the fact that he could create artworks at the fifth level consistently. Goran actually owned a few paintings of Artist Lang, including the man's very first fifth level painting, and they hung within a secure vault in the Rasmus Clan's territory.

”Artist Lang! What a wonderful surprise,” Goran greeted as he stepped forward with a jovial smile. Kano observed that there was an undertone of respect and adoration in Goran's voice - he truly meant it when he said that - which was in contrast to his attitude earlier when meeting others. And this was because Goran actually admired the talent of the man before him.

”Clan Leader Rasmus,” Artist Lang replied with a smile filled with a contrast of emotions. Kano sensed reverence and respect, as well as a tinge of animosity in the man's tone. The resentment didn't seem like it was directed towards Goran, though, which confused Kano even further.

”Kano come, greet Artist Lang,” Goran instructed and moved the meek boy forward. Kano, in turn, walked up with a lowered head and bowed profusely.

”It is an honour to m-m-meet you, Artist L-L-Lang,” the boy said in a low voice. In response, the boy simply received a curt hum from the man. It was then that Kano realised that the earlier hostility was directed at him! The resentment was so telegraphed that even Goran picked up on this minor interaction and immediately moved forward to shift the topic.

”I apologise for cutting this meeting short. We were planning to peruse the works in the exhibition, so we shall be taking out leave,” Goran said and bade Artist Lang a hurried farewell. They had arrived right just a few hours before the exhibition opened. Being a VVIP, Goran had the privilege of appreciating the artworks peacefully before the common riffraff.

”Why don't we join the Clan Leader and the little artist, Artist Lang?” Myron said in a feigned suggestive tone. He didn't wait for the recipient's affirmation and immediately started to follow Goran.

Goran sighed in annoyance and walked in. Right as they entered the hall, Goran noticed a bizarre scene with the employees of the guild moving around frantically. He observed them and realised that they were replacing the signs reading ”Main Exhibition: Artist Keegan Lang” with ”Main Exhibition: Kano Reva”.

He then tuned in to the conversations bubbling amongst the visitors in the hall and heard the full story.

”*Tsk* What's wrong with the guild? They moved Artist Lang's works to a lower slot in place of a complete novice! Who even is this Kano Reva?”

”Shh! Apparently, they're in bed with some bigshots...”

”Who?”

”I shouldn't say...”

”Just spill it! Damn it!”

”Alright, alright! It's the Rasmus Clan!”