Chapter 139 - Old Hank, Thunder Family

Chapter 139: Chapter 133 Old Hank, Thunder FamilyThe Thunder family was once the ruler of a large plane under the Empire—the Storm Plane—and had put up a fierce resistance during the Empire’s conquest. Each member of the Thunder family inherently possessed a stubborn temperament, so even when they were cornered and exhausted by the Empire, they continued to resist to the very end.

Only when the Heavenly God could not bear to see the Thunder family’s extinction and bestowed a divine edict did the family stop short of fighting to their last breath and refused to surrender to the Empire.

Since they had surrendered, the Thunder family could have risen again after a period of recovery had it not been for the Gold family, who coveted the Storm Plane and launched an invasion. They came well-prepared, first deceiving their way through the Storm’s gates under the guise of being the Empire’s allies and then sealing off the channels for the Storm Plane to communicate with the Empire. The Gold family dealt a heavy blow to the Thunder family before the Empire’s troops could be stationed, nearly reducing the population of the already war-torn Thunder family to a single digit.

The Gold family acted so swiftly that in less than two days, they wiped out the Thunder family’s influence and occupied a large territory in the Storm Plane.

When the Empire’s troopers assigned to station in the Storm Plane arrived, they were stunned. What was supposed to be the reception of the Thunder family’s allegiance turned into a negotiation with the Gold family.

Though the emperor of the Sacred Empire was extremely dissatisfied with the actions of the Gold family at the time, he ultimately accepted the proposal to divide the Storm Plane with them.

This incident marked the beginning of the grudge between the Thunder family and the Gold family. As for the descendants of the Thunder family, they never ceased to struggle against the Gold family over the following thousands of years, albeit with little success.

Gradually, generation after generation of the Thunder family’s offspring diminished their hatred for the Gold family. They did not experience the pain of losing their homeland and merely hoped that they wouldn’t have to live such unstable, hidden lives.

Of course, they could not forget the ancestral instruction—the homeland must be reclaimed!

Thus, the members of the Thunder family unanimously decided to prioritize development, expand the family’s power, and reclaim the Storm Plane once they accumulated enough strength to return to their former homeland.

Old Hank was the current Clan Leader of the Thunder family. As to why he was in the Adventurer Town, disguised as a weak Alchemist, it was still due to the pursuit of the Gold family.

The Thunder family no longer provoked the Gold family, but the latter, having been targeted by the Thunder family for a long time, had come to deeply loathe them. They would stab at you during peace by attacking your caravan, destroy your supply points, or ruin your newly established teleportation stations. Though these attacks were not fatal to the family, they were like mosquitoes buzzing around an elephant—irritating.

Therefore, ever since the Storm Plane was taken away from them, the Thunder family shifted from initially taking the offensive to the current passive defense.

Old Hank had been discovered by the Gold family while he was moving through the Empire, leading to a pursuit that forced him to flee to this place. It was a stroke of luck that he received help from Caesar and hid here.

Lu Hong stood at the entrance of the potion shop, pondering the situation Caesar had introduced about the Thunder family. Considering their current state, it shouldn’t be too difficult to persuade Old Hank to help, right?

He stepped into the potion shop, and a familiar voice rang out again.

"Alert! Alert! An idiot has entered! An idiot has entered!"

"Alert! Alert! An idiot has entered! An idiot has entered!"

"Alert! Alert! An idiot has entered! An idiot has entered!"

Why say it three times?

"Damn!" Old Hank was in the middle of mixing a potion, and the sudden noise caused his hand to tremble—the effort wasted.

"Who’s there?" Old Hank cursed as he looked up at Lu Hong, then paused in surprise, "Didn’t you die in the Sea of Flames?"

"Can’t you change this magical device?" Lu Hong said, clearly frustrated, "I feel like it’s targeting me."

"You’re not Second Transition?" Old Hank laughed heartily.

"I am Second Transition," Lu Hong said, slightly releasing his vigor, to which Old Hank laughed again, "Well, you are a warrior."

"... " It seemed being a warrior was really looked down upon these days!

Old Hank, wiping off the spoiled herbal powder, explained, "The first condition for this device to call someone an idiot is being below the second level. Using potions for a profession below the second level means cutting off one’s advancement, and the warrior profession is also a trigger condition. After all, the Warrior Temple has collapsed—anyone who chooses to be a warrior is an idiot, right?"

"You’re the idiot, your whole family are idiots!" Lu Hong retorted fiercely. Insulting him personally was one thing, but he couldn’t stand it when his profession as a warrior was under attack. If he weren’t in need of Old Hank’s help, Lu Hong might have just rolled up his sleeves and gone for it.

"Forget it, let’s not argue about that. What potion do you want to buy this time?" Old Hank asked, knowing there was some connection between him and Caesar.

The magic device at the entrance caused such a commotion that Lu Hong’s original plan was completely disrupted, "I didn’t come here this time to sell medicine, but to ask for your assistance."

"Assistance? What kind of assistance?" Old Hank was startled and then said, "I’m just a low-level Alchemist, I can’t really help you with anything significant. If it’s that you can’t pay, I could give you a few potions as a gift."

"I know you’re the Clan Leader of the Thunder family."

"Did Caesar tell you that?" As soon as the name of the Thunder family was mentioned, Old Hank’s face suddenly darkened.

"Yes, Caesar also told me about your family’s origins with the Gold family."

"Origins my ass." Old Hank cursed angrily: "That’s a bloody grudge!"

Alright, it seemed this Clan Leader held significant rage towards the Gold family.

"Since it’s a blood feud, I wonder if you would be willing to help, to utterly extinguish them?"

Old Hank was taken aback, not having expected that this seemingly young lad had come to discuss such a major issue with him, and given that it was on Caesar’s account, it likely wasn’t a joke.

But Old Hank didn’t directly answer Lu Hong’s question, instead he countered with, "Can you enter the Mandarin Duck plane?"

"I can, this is the mandate given to me by Great Emperor Konstantin." Saying this, Lu Hong took out Konstantin’s decree and continued, "I can conscript a hundred soldiers to accompany me into the Mandarin Duck plane."

Old Hank didn’t even glance at the mandate and said indifferently, "Then you should go and conscript soldiers. Why come to me?"

Facing Old Hank’s feigned ignorance, Lu Hong directly said, "The Thunder family is the most suitable candidate, so I want to ask for your help."

"Why should I help you?" Old Hank chuckled: "Now that the Gold family is trapped in the Mandarin Duck plane, even if the empire loses, they wouldn’t dare to step out of the Mandarin Duck. Isn’t the Thunder family perfectly fine without having to lift a finger and the Gold family being firmly choked at the throat? Isn’t that a great thing?"

"Don’t you want to avenge this blood feud?" Lu Hong said with a deep voice, "This is the best opportunity to annihilate the Gold family!"

"Avenge now? With just the hundred people you can conscript? Are you joking?" Old Hank scoffed coldly: "When the Thunder family reclaims the Storm plane and grows stronger, then we can obliterate the Gold family trapped in the Mandarin Duck in one fell swoop. Wouldn’t that be a better choice?"

There it was, Old Hank had this in mind. It seemed the chances of persuading Old Hank were slim. Lu Hong frowned tightly and thought hard about how to convince Old Hank.

"Alright, I have to make potions, I won’t keep you for lunch." Old Hank began to shoo him away.

Lu Hong knew his opportunities were dwindling and took a deep breath, "The empire’s military expedition to the Mandarin Duck will undoubtedly be successful. If you choose not to join me in seeking revenge this time, then you will never be able to avenge it."

"Hahaha, you think I don’t understand the current situation of the Mandarin Duck?" Old Hank scoffed, "Now that the Silver-White family has voluntarily aligned with the Gold family, their combined strength has the empire’s army struggling. Soon, if the other two remaining families make the same decision, the empire will have no chance of winning."

"There’s no need to consider so much. As long as I go, the empire will surely win!" Lu Hong build up his courage, his words filled with confidence.

"You? Just you? A trash warrior?" Old Hank looked at Lu Hong with cold eyes: "Are you joking with me?"

"Yes, just me. Once I enter the battle of the Mandarin Duck, it will certainly turn the tide." Lu Hong said with a firm voice, "I believe I have that strength."

"If just you can turn the tide of battle, then what does it matter whether the Thunder family goes or not? Please, as you wish." Old Hank waved his hand dismissively, no longer wanting to continue the conversation with Lu Hong.

"I only wanted to give you an opportunity to seek revenge. Since you’re unwilling, then forget it." Lu Hong no longer lingered and turned to leave.

Just as Lu Hong pushed the door and stepped out, Old Hank suddenly spoke, "Wait. If you can demonstrate your strength to me, I will consider forming an alliance with you."

"How should I demonstrate?" Lu Hong asked.

"Defeat me."

"Alright."