However, before he could dial out, the phone vibrated, indicating an incoming call.
It was Egbert Vaughn.
After a pause, Ethan Scott pressed to answer.
Ethan said, "Vaughn."
"Congratulations, you really finished on ti."
The voice from the phone was deep, slightly hoarse, with a hint of cheerful laughter.
Ethan replied with a "Mhm," saying, "I didn’t expect it either."
"Did you find so capable helper?"
With this question, Nora Scott’s face instantly flashed in his mind, along with the scenes at Virtue Retreat, experiences so awkward they were suffocating, inevitably transmitting to his brain. Ethan imdiately frowned with displeasure.
Unwilling to praise Nora, he said, "I found a few experts through a friend’s introduction."
"Experts?" Vaughn seed quite surprised.
"Yeah."
Vaughn paused, then laughed lightly, "I thought you found Master Sliver."
Ethan chuckled politely, "If you couldn’t find him, then there’s no way I could."
"That might not be certain. After all, your old man in the family studies chanical Techniques, so maybe he has a connection."
"Really not. I admit Master Sliver’s chanisms are impressive, but..." Ethan pondered for a mont, still asking, "Is he really as amazing as you say?"
A few months ago, Ethan acquired a chanical object through Vaughn.
A small toy, intricately designed but quite expensive, with auction starting prices in the six figures.
At that ti, Ethan was worried about creating the chanical Lotus, unable to find suitable people to perfect his drawings. Upon knowing this, Vaughn recomnded the owner of the chanical object—Master Sliver.
It is said that Master Sliver is particularly famous in the northwest region, especially with speculation about his mystery, connections, and influence; all his chanical objects are sold at an underground auction market in the northwest, held once a quarter, showing a few purely on his mood.
His works are especially popular at auctions, easily fetching high prices.
Master Sliver never appeared, and no one knew his age, appearance, identity, or even gender.
Many people are curious about him, including celebrities, renowned scholars, and even a mix of various factions... However, no matter how they investigate, they can’t find a single clue about him.
The more mysterious, the more powerful, drawing an increasing number of curious minds.
With various rumors surrounding him and Vaughn’s repeated recomndations, Ethan was tempted to invite him to join, even staying in Anchel for half a month... But he could only perceive the ingenuity of the chanisms and couldn’t discern the specific level of the creator.
Just like an eighty percent excellence and one hundred percent excellence, the twenty percent difference in between isn’t sothing soone with four years of undergraduate knowledge could feel.
"Just take ’irreproducible’ as a point; what do you think?" Vaughn casually retorted.
"..."
Ethan was speechless.
Right, Master Sliver’s works only exist as originals; without the blueprints, they can’t possibly be reproduced...
Vaughn leisurely added, "As far as I know, he’s the only one among the ’erged’ masters of chanisms."
His words were so certain that it startled Ethan.
The only one...
Such a high evaluation?
*
The Scott family mansion.
The day before Aaron Scott’s birthday banquet, the mansion began bustling with activity from morning till night, arranging the mansion, preparing food, various points of attention, always busy without stopping.
Approaching seventy, Aaron Scott was lively and robust, with jet-black hair, full of vigor, walking with great energy.
There were friends from afar attending the birthday banquet, visiting in advance, and Aaron Scott graciously entertained them, personally seeing them to the door after lunch.
But as soon as the guests left, the kind and friendly smile on his face instantly disappeared without a trace.
"Where’s Ethan?"
Entering the hall, Aaron Scott knocked his cane used for show, inquiring of Ouyang Qiu.
Ouyang Qiu hurriedly stepped forward, "Ethan just called, still busy with your birthday gift, likely only able to return by morning."
Aaron Scott frowned but didn’t inquire further, only nodded slightly, "Mhm."
The butler by the side slightly dropped his gaze.
They all knew what Ethan’s "birthday gift" was.
Aaron Scott’s blueprints wouldn’t just be left around, coincidentally seen by Ethan? And if Ethan secretly took the drawing paper, how could Aaron not say a word, not pursue it after discovery?
Letting Ethan get the blueprints was a pre-arranged plan.
Aaron had intentions of nurturing Ethan, as long as Ethan could create the chanical Lotus, showcasing himself before nurous noble families, scholars, allowing Ethan to shine brightly, everything would go more smoothly.
Besides, Aaron already found a new direction for Ethan...
As long as Ethan seizes this opportunity, he can make a good impression at the birthday banquet.
"Where’s Nora?"
After walking a few steps inside, Aaron suddenly recalled sothing and turned back to ask Ouyang Qiu.
"Nora? Haven’t seen her around." Ouyang was slightly startled, furrowing his brows, slowly stepping forward, cautiously saying, "Dad, are you really planning to acknowledge Nora’s identity at the birthday banquet?"
"Hmph."
ntioning Nora, Aaron’s brows knitted tightly, his expression dark, traces of anger appearing.
Antonio Easton’s granddaughter, in the past, he absolutely wouldn’t have allowed into the Scott family, if not for Ernesto Scott...
"Dad, Nora grew up outside, knowing no manners, lacking family education, not having the deanor of a Scott family lady—"
Ouyang, holding great prejudice against Nora, couldn’t resist criticizing her once he started speaking, highlighting her faults.
But halfway through, caught by Aaron’s cold gaze, Ouyang tactfully fell silent.
Her eyelids drooped slightly, and after a mont, she lifted them slightly, Aaron stood with hands behind his back, coldly asking, "Rumor has it she’s helping Ethan?"
"This..."
Ouyang hesitated.
Aaron frowned, his voice deepening, "Don’t beat around the bush. Just because you keep it hidden, doesn’t an I don’t know?"
"There is such a thing." Startled by him, Ouyang quickly said, "Ethan is working on a chanism... um, he couldn’t handle it alone, so he sought help from so experts and professors. This Nora, it’s said she studied chanical engineering at Capital Tech, a junior of Ethan."
After a perfunctory introduction, Ouyang shifted the topic, "Dad, you don’t know, relying on her looks, Nora has so unclear relationship with their Professor Duncan, who forcibly inserted her into Ethan’s team..."
In the end, under Aaron’s sharp gaze, the words Ouyang had planned to criticize Nora with gradually swallowed back.
Aaron let out a light snort.
Idle woman’s chatter.
Only speaking useless nonsense.
Growing up under Antonio Easton, Nora picking up so of Antonio’s skills is understandable.
As long as Ethan is capable of taking Nora’s skills for himself, no matter how skilled she is, it’s not an issue.
In this world, having skills alone doesn’t an rising above others!
"Have her co by tonight; I want to see her." After a long pause, Aaron coldly instructed.
"Yes."
Ouyang, despite her bitterness, had no choice but to nod obediently with Aaron’s orders.
*
As night fell, the weather suddenly changed. The originally sunny day rapidly shifted to turbulent clouds, heavy clouds blanketing the sky, and soon, a heavy rain poured down.
The decorations in the courtyard were swayed by the wind, the slanting rain soaking the eaves and ground, creating chaos everywhere.
After dinner, with Aaron’s mood gloomy due to the weather, he once again inquired about Nora.
"Called her phone, it’s been off, can’t get in touch." Ouyang said nervously.
"What about Ernesto?"
"Also asked him; he hung up after saying a few words, ntioning Nora had sothing urgent, definitely not making it tonight."
Aaron’s brows locked tightly, he flared up in anger, "Tell him, if Nora keeps this attitude, she shouldn’t even think about entering the Scott family!"
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