Life at the Top

At almost the same time, far away in Harbor City.

Conrad sat on a skerry at the Dammer Fishing Grounds with a fishing rod in his hands as he stared with focus at the fish maw that danced in the waves.

Waves smacked against the skerry and wet the leg of his pants, but the man remained frozen in place.

He had lived this lifestyle for around a week.

Behind him stood his confidant, Valentine.

“The tide us rising, Mr. Monty. We should return soon.”

Valentine told Conrad softly.

Conrad waved his off and replied, “I haven’t caught a single fish today, I can’t leave yet.”

Valentine sighed gently at how stubborn Conrad was.

“I don’t like seeing you like this, Mr. Monty, it feels wrong to me. I’d rather you vent about it,” Valentine said sincerely.

Conrad smiled and replied, “I know what you want to say, Valentine, but you worry too much. What is there for me to vent? Victories and losses are common in war, and it’s not the first time I’ve lost to Jasper anyway. After a few losses, you start to get used to it.

of that fighting and aggression, and

told me that I was being too hasty and that I should learn to calm down and have some patience. I didn’t understand him then, but now that I look at it, Father knew me too well. After these past few days of peace, I’ve finally realized where I went

“I was too impatient.”

to refute but did not

knew that there were some things someone of his status and identity could not say. He should never touch on the topic of the Monty’s

an invitation two days ago. Are we really not going to

in Jasper, and we could potentially work together to defeat him. Not to mention that Mr. Atticus isn’t someone we can easily afford to offend,” Valentine brought

for me. It’d be too cheap of me and unbefitting of my person to seek him out because of

Conrad right, a yacht sped toward them from not too far out in the

was clear as it made a beeline for Conrad’s skerry. The yacht stopped around a few dozen meters away as a speedboat pulled out

atop it. He spoke

replied calmly,

you’re welcome to go fishing on Mr. Atticus’ yacht if you wish, Mr. Monty. There are larger fish in deeper waters,

“Since Mr. Atticus is already here, then it would be disrespectful of me to not take his offer. Bring me over,

speedboat pulled up to the skerry and Conrad got on. At the same time, Valentine made an instinctive

his hand to halt him. His tone was polite but firm as

Valentine looked at Conrad.

a good day

to the yacht alongside the

…