Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

As Zedbar returned to the banquet scene, his demeanor had noticeably changed. Having strategized with Zedran, he had already mapped out his future actions. The face that once haunted him now served as his guiding light. "Your Highness, the main objective of today's banquet is to bring down Matthew," Zedran reminded Toby before flashing a warm smile and joining the bustling crowd.

The dazzling lights and abundant wine painted a picturesque scene, but Toby knew too well that luxury didn't always equate to honesty. Behind the facade of celebration lurked a world of deceitful transactions. Toby used to enjoy attending grand banquets, where he would search for potential romantic interests among the many admirers. However, his enthusiasm has waned.

Toby glared at Arabella in her designated seat, a soft smile gracing his lips as he remarked, "Life is made up of diversity."

He then politely declined a dance invitation from a female celebrity before joining his presumed father in the social circle.

As the music faded into silence, Toby grabbed a golden spoon and tapped lightly against his wine glass. Its delicate tap instantly captured the attention of the entire banquet hall.

"Thank you all for gracing my banquet. In case I have failed to meet your expectations in terms of hospitality, I humbly ask for your forgiveness," he began, though it was clear these were mere formalities. Under the watchful gaze of the attendees, Toby cleared his throat and commenced his official address.

"I assume you are all aware that Matthew instructed the Stubber Family to cause disruptions in the market and baseless accusations against credible merchants."

He intentionally avoided mentioning Night Vine, let alone denouncing it. However, many in the room understood the implications of his words, and their brows furrowed slightly as they absorbed the gravity of the situation. One attendee muttered disdainfully, "Hmph! He's just a brat, relying on the Martial League to act recklessly."

"It's like a fly trying to stop a speeding car. If he dares to set foot in Seraphis, I'll ensure he finds no resting place!" another declared with a cold determination.

"If I come up empty-handed, I'll hire assassins to ensure that brat remains in Seraphis for eternity!" a third vowed.

Those who voiced these sentiments benefited from Night Vine's operations and made huge profits.

However, the market suffered a significant profit loss due to Matthew's strict measures, especially in the Seraphis market, which was thrown into chaos.

The act of depriving someone of their source of livelihood could be likened to leaving them orphaned, which fueled the deep-seated hatred towards Matthew.

Amid the heated discussion, Tyga was about to chime in but was quickly interrupted by Gadel. "They're just howling like feral dogs. We don't need to worry about them."

Even Toby held back from impulsive actions, clearly mindful of Matthew's status as a Summit Warden. The wealthy merchants seemed to overestimate their influence, acting more like aggressive dogs than savvy businessmen.

"They're merely mean mutts under Toby's command. Let's sit back and see what he has to say," Gadel remarked with an ironic smile. He shut his eyes again, paying no heed to the commotion around him.

After a brief uproar, Toby raised his hand to signal for silence. He stated, "Everyone, please calm down. I called this meeting for a specific reason. Matthew has disrupted the market without any reason, and those of us in commerce cannot ignore it."

As his words settled, the tension in the room instantly heightened. All eyes were fixed on Toby, awaiting his next move. After surveying the audience, his expression turned steely as he declared, "This time, I plan to send a battalion of troops to the Seraphis Province border to prevent Matthew from transporting construction materials."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell into stunned silence. Everyone exchanged surprised glances while pondering whether sending just one battalion was sufficient.