Chapter 213
When vin returned to his kin, it was deep into the night.
Mari was under the diligent care of Helna, who was treating her as if she were already a future
daughter-inw, much to the amusement of Oda and the others, who could barely contain their
laughter.
Mari was at a loss for words and rather helpless; the more she tried to exin, the more
confused the situation became, until she no longer knew what to do.
She couldn''t very well give Helna the cold shoulder—Mari''s icy demeanor was no match for
Helna’s warmth.
Upon seeing vin''s return, Mari found him more agreeable than ever and hurried over to him,
scolding in a low voice, "What took you so long to get back!"
Helna observed Mari''s anxious manner and nodded in satisfaction. "Look, just look, she’s cooing
to our dear boy. Even the coldest, proudest girl changes when she''s in love. Our boy is blessed
indeed.”
Oda murmured, "Helna, you might be mistaken."
"You''re still young, you don''t understand these things. I have experience. I know."
vin was dragged by Mari into a nearby stone cottage, the door shutting behind them with a
thud.
N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
Helna smiled knowingly, her expressionden with implications. "Our boy has grown up."
Oda stuck out her tongue yfully and giggled behind her hand.
Mari, with a stern face, said, "You''ll have to exin things to Helnater."
"Exin what?" vin was puzzled. Had Helna upset her? She seemed quite happy chatting away.
"Exin your rtionship with me!"
“Helna mistook you as...?" vin suddenly realized.
Mari rolled her eyes at him. "The situation is resolved, and I''m going back to the Organization."
"I was hoping you could help me with something."
Mari deadpanned. "You''re really not shy about asking for favors, are you?"
vin gave a wry smile. "There aren''t many willing to help me. I have no choice but to trouble you."
"Out with it."
"You''ve seen what''s been happening these past few days. The Grand Elder defied the
Commander''s orders, not only to execute me but also the entire Mallister family. Does someone
with such a malicious heart deserve to be the Grand Elder of Cobalt Strike?"
"What can you do about it? You want to impeach him?"
"I''m hoping you could subtly bring this up to the Botanic Haven Elder. If possible, help me restrain
the Grand Elder, even if just for a few months." vin knew that after wiping out Vandill''s group, the
Grand Elder wouldn''t leave things be, and he might concoct something even more dreadful. Without
the power to confront him head-on, vin needed to contain him indirectly.
Cobalt Strike wasn''t solely under the Grand Elder''s control. The Commander and the Botanic
Haven Elder were other titans of power. If either of them would, they could indeed give the Grand
Elder a hard time, holding him at bay for a while.
"The Grand Elder has indeed gone too far. If I tell my mentor, he certainly won''t stand by idly."
The Grand Elder''s actions were indeed frightening, but even more so was the fact that over three
hundred Protégés were willing to carry out his will. Were they all under the Grand Elder''s control?
Elder Connas, who knew full well that the Commander had pardoned vin, still sought to execute
him on the Grand Elder''s behalf—this was no longer ''friendship'' but... loyalty!
What about the other Elders who ''befriended'' the Grand Elder like Connas? Were they also loyal?
The more influence the Grand Elder wielded, the weaker the Commander''s authority became—a
grave concern for an Organization with centuries of legacy. If her mentor knew, he would no longer
remain silent.
"That''s wonderful! If you do this for me, I''ll be in your debt," vin said excitedly, finding Mari
increasingly pleasing to the eye.
"Are you moved?"
"Of course."
"Forget it. I don''t need your gratitude. I want a tangible return."
"What do you want?"