Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the grandfather clock within the hall rang eleven
times, signifying that it was now 11 in the morning. "Is Hogg at home?" A clear voice rang out. The
Baruch manor had no guards, so clearly, this person had already arrived within the manor grounds.
Hogg frowned, placing down the thick tome in front of him. "Linley, today we'll come to a stop
here." Revealing a wisp of a smile, Hogg turned around and walked towards the guest hall.
"Ah, Hogg, my dear friend! Just the other day, I heard the clothspinner bird's cry, and I just
knew that something good was going to happen. Indeed, by noon, I received your missive, and as soon
as I read it, I was overjoyed." "Dear Philip, I am very happy to see you as well. Hillman, quickly
go and bring me the stone sculpture, 'Fierce Lion'. Philip, come, let's go to the main hall and
wait. The sculpture will be here shortly." Hearing these words, Linley felt his heart twinge.
"We're selling off more family belongings?" Linley knew that the 'Fierce Lion' sculpture was one
which his father deeply liked. But the Baruch clan, which took very little taxes from Wushan
township, really was in dire economic straits. Fortunately, the Baruch clan was an ancient one, and
by virtue of its age, had stored many rare and precious items. Unfortunately, even the vastest of
hoards could not withstand so many years of auctions and sales. By this point in time, the number
of valuable items within the clan was very few. Linley couldn't help but turn to stare at the
grandfather clock. "I wonder how long it will be before even this clock has to be sold off."
A middle aged man with long, golden hair and a nobleman's aura strode into the hall by Hogg's side.
Linley immediately was able to guess that this middle-aged man must be 'Philip'. "Oh, this adorable
child must be your son, right Hogg?" Philip smiled very warmly at Linley. "Linley Baruch, right?
May I address you as Linley?" "It would be my honor, sire." Linley placed his right hand against
his breast and respectfully bowed. "What an adorable child." Philip seemed very pleased. By his
side, Hogg laughed. "Philip, stop wasting time with the child. Look, the 'Fierce Lion' you have
desired for so long has arrived." As he spoke, Hillman easily carried in the large sculpture into
the hall, and then easily set it down. It was a nearly thousand-pound stone sculpture, but in
Hillman's hands, it seemed like naught but a toy, clearly showing Hillman's strength. "Mr. Hillman,
your strength amazes me. My own manor doesn't have anyone as fierce as you, guard captain, even
though I control twelve towns." Philip smiled as he spoke, but the implicit meaning in his words
was quite clear; he wanted to invite Hillman to work for him. Hillman said coldly, "Wushan town is
my home, sire." "Forgive me." Philip quickly apologized. Philip turned to look at Hogg. "Hogg, I
must say, although I like this stone sculpture very much, the artisanship of this 'Fierce Lion'
sculpture cannot be considered to be top tier, much less the masterpieces of those grandmaster
sculptors." "Philip, if you don't wish to buy it, then forget about it." Hogg was quite succinct.
Philip's eyes couldn't help but narrow, but then he laughed. "Haha...Hogg, don't be angry. I'm
not saying that I don't wish to buy it. I'm just telling the truth. How about this. I'll buy this
sculpture for five hundred gold coins. What do you think?" "Five hundred?" Hogg frowned.
This price was much lower than what Hogg had hoped for. He had been hoping for at least eight
hundred. In the Yulan continent, one gold coin equaled ten silver coins equaled a thousand copper
coins. The average commoner would be able to earn twenty or thirty gold coins in a year. Even the
average army soldier would only earn a hundred or so gold coins. "The price is too low." Hogg shook
his head.