“Come on, Mr. Barnes," Octavian replied casually.

“I've bought at least ten medical secrets from you over the years. Highwyn has so many ancient medical techniques. A few more in my hands won't make a difference, right?" Octavian retorted.

Mr. Barnes felt embarrassed. He had sold medical secrets to Empire before, but those were his own findings, not from the Association of Healthcare Professionals' database.

Octavian pushed further, “If you give me twenty of your medical secrets, I'll give up accessing the association's database."

“Well... It's a bit too more..." Mr. Barnes was torn. Those medical secrets were his alone, not something he'd even share with his family.

Mr. Barnes started to think about Octavian's offer. Anthony had demonstrated great potential in marital arts medicine. If Octavian could finish Anthony, the Wilson family would be kept from rising in the world of martial arts due to the lack of a proper leader like Anthony.

If that was the case, it was worth giving Octavian access to the association's medical secrets only once. That way, it would secure the Barnes family's position in the world of martial arts medicine for a long time. The loss to the Association of Healthcare Professionals seemed insignificant compared to his family's gain.

Octavian changed his tactics.

"If you're having trouble with that, there are others in Highwyn who could eliminate a powerful family's heir for a lower price. You're a smart man. Think it over."

Octavian's words alarmed Mr. Barnes. Mr. Barnes immediately declined that idea. Hiring someone within the country would risk exposing his involvement. Only foreign forces could do it without tracing it back to him.

Mr. Barnes finally made up his mind.

"Deal. Octavian, you must handle ending Anthony well. Please do your job well.”

"Very well." Octavian chuckled and said, "I'll arrange a team of professionals to come to Highwyn and fulfill your request with the best service as always."

Mr. Barnes felt relieved. He then inquired, "So, I get to keep all of Anthony's stuff after his demise, right?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Barnes. You agreed to the reward's terms. I'm not asking for more. All of Anthony's possessions are yours after his end."

Thoughts of the acupuncture therapies Anthony had adopted and the research institute Anthony once mentioned had excited Mr. Barnes.

"Those are all mine in no time! This is such a great deal," he muttered to himself, now brimming with confidence. With those resources Anthony possessed, Mr. Barnes was sure that within a year, he'd become a medical master after apprehending martial arts medicine.

“Mr. Barnes, it's a great pleasure doing business with you," Octavian said with a smile.

“What? Oh! Yeah, the pleasure is mine, too. Next time, I'll get you into the Association of Healthcare Professionals' database."

Octavian relaxed, enjoying his wine during the smooth transaction.

Octavian figured it would take a couple more hours for Joelle to move to the room he had arranged for her to transfer.

Meanwhile, Joelle was lying unconscious on the floor in the room she had been hiding in lately.

Several black-clad individuals had stormed in, led by a tall figure.

"The other party didn't seem to suspect it was us who sent the messages," one of them whispered quietly.