Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

Calbhach, who had been making sarcastic comments earlier, fell silent, his gaze shifting to Glaucus, waiting for him to speak.

"The only safe place now is Calbhach's mansion," Glaucus said, his tone somber. "That's why I've called you all here today."

With those words, the last remnants of hope vanished from the gathered patriarchs. Their faces changed, the atmosphere in the room growing heavy. Calbhach, however, looked especially sour, scanning the faces of the other patriarchs, his internal frustration growing. Although Glaucus' words sounded like a compliment, Calbhach couldn't shake the feeling that they were also a jab at him. Yes, he was a nouveau riche without an ancestral home like theirs, but seeing them all nodding in agreement only fueled his anger. "According to the latest intelligence from the Martial League, Matthew plans to convert that neighborhood into a martial arts academy. Graduates with exceptional performance will be offered positions directly within the Martial League."

Glaucus' words hit the room like a bomb, exploding in the minds of everyone present. These families had maintained their dominance in Dewsbury for years because they monopolized certain resources and privileges.

In the past, the commoners who entered the Martial League were relegated to the sidelines, pushed into poverty while the families thrived. Even the most talented among them couldn't compare to the children of these families. Then Matthew came along and shattered that system. While they couldn't sever the funding pipeline to the Martial League, Matthew's reforms hadn't caused significant disruption-yet. The number of commoners able to enter the Martial League remained small, and the elite families stayed largely unaffected.

But if Matthew successfully established this martial arts academy and began uncovering Dewsbury's hidden talents, everything would change. Graduates would secure positions in the Martial League, bypassing the usual gatekeepers. The best and brightest, once overlooked, would now have opportunities they couldn't refuse. And if that happened, the balance of power could shift dramatically.

A kind-looking elderly patriarch stood up, his voice heavy and labored. "Gentlemen, I'm sure we all... cough, cough... understand. If Matthew builds that academy... cough... the crisis we'll face."

Despite his halting speech, the

patriarch's words didn't annoy the others. Instead, they only heightened the sense of looming disaster. No one could be sure if they themselves would be replaced in the near future.

All eyes turned back to Glaucus, hoping this man, renowned as a brilliant strategist, would offer a solution.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Glaucus' eyes lowered as he saw their expectant gazes. In a deep voice, he spoke, "There are no clever tricks left. Only a desperate counterattack."

He slammed his hand on the table,

his voice rising with intensity. "If Matthew intends to make our lives difficult, then we'll do the same to him! He wants to convert that neighborhood into a martial arts academy, doesn't he? We'll just sabotage it from the shadows. Replace the construction materials, quietly cut off their electricity, or even... create an accident."

His eyes gleamed with animosity as he continued "The academy will need teachers, right? Contact every martial arts instructor we can find and offer them ten-year contracts. Even if Matthew succeeds, if we can't touch him, we can at least control the students."

Glaucus' plan garnered the full support of the other patriarchs. They were fully on board with his idea to disrupt Matthew's academy project.

For Glaucus, Matthew's delay in taking immediate action was an opportunity-a window to create chaos.