Chapter 48: The Assembly of True Name Bearers

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If he could successfully develop something as useful as a grape brick, it would give him a considerable advantage not only in the bootleg liquor business, but perhaps also yield further gains in the realm of True Name Authority.

Ethan looked at Clay.

Though the man was always chattering away, he never failed to bring Ethan unexpected rewards.

“If I really manage to make something that isn’t liquor but can be turned into liquor, I’ll grant you exclusive rights to it, Clay.”

“Such a thing really exists?”

Clay scratched his head, completely astonished that a casual remark of his seemed to have come true.

“I’ll prepare the things you mentioned. Where shall we meet tonight?”

Ethan now wanted nothing more than to hurry to the factory in the southern suburbs and find Walter Jones, so he could have him develop the grape bricks.

“All right. I really should be leaving too. We’ll meet here tonight.”

After tossing out those words, Clay finished his last glass of liquor and left.

Ethan did not linger either. He immediately had Anya drive toward the southern suburbs.

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These past few days, Walter Jones had been exhausting himself. For the sake of that three-percent share of the profits, he had been constantly refining his methods.

He knew all too well how profitable bootlegging could be. Even in his dreams, he found himself coveting that money.

Unfortunately, although the overall flavor had improved, the costs were becoming difficult to control.

He was worried.

That day, he was once again in the laboratory, mixing his latest formula and seeing whether he could make any new breakthroughs.

Suddenly, the laboratory door was pushed open.

He was just about to angrily demand who had dared disrupt his train of thought when, in the next instant, his back bent at once.

The big boss had arrived.

“Boss, what brings you here?”

Ethan strode into the room.

This laboratory had been built especially for Walter at Ethan’s command, so that he could develop new products as quickly as possible.

“I’ve just thought of an idea. See whether it might be possible.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Here’s the thing. Could you make something that is solid…”

Ethan recalled the grape bricks from his former life.

He did not understand the process behind them, so he could only explain the details as clearly as possible.

At first, Walter paid little attention. He did not believe Ethan was capable of coming up with any good ideas.

In other fields, perhaps this young man was someone he could only look up to. But in the field of chemistry, Walter was the genius.

That had always been his pride.

Yet as Ethan’s explanation grew clearer and clearer, Walter could not help widening his already rather small eyes.

This…

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This was practically a stroke of genius.

How had he never thought of it?!

Turn liquor into a solid product and sell it. Once it reached the buyer, it could be brewed with ease and become genuine liquor.

“Boss, how did you come up with this idea? It’s simply…”

Walter broke off halfway through his sentence and was already heading toward the laboratory bench.

His mind was racing. If he were to realize Ethan’s idea, what methods should he use?

“Can you make it? If you do, you’ll still receive three percent. That promise remains unchanged.”

Seeing Walter’s feverish expression, Ethan knew the plan would probably succeed.

“No problem, Boss. I can definitely do it.”

Walter had already been stirred to the depths by the idea, and the additional incentive of three percent made him even more excited.

“Three days. Within three days, Boss, I’ll definitely give you a satisfactory answer.”

With Walter’s promise, Ethan nodded and stopped disturbing him.

That afternoon, Ethan and Anya went out to buy robes and masks.

He intended to bring Anya with him.

It would be useful to have someone watching his back, and he could also see whether Anya needed to buy anything.

That evening, after dinner, Ethan and Anya returned to Velen’s tavern.

Clay was already waiting.

Seeing that Ethan had prepared two sets of clothes, he was somewhat surprised.

“You’re bringing her along?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s forbidden. It’s just that bringing too many newcomers is bound to attract attention.”

After saying that, Clay offered no further explanation. He had Ethan and Anya change clothes and put on their masks, then prepared to set out.

“So where exactly is the gathering?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

Clay began playing mysterious.

“Oh, and you can’t use your car. It’s too recognizable.”

Clay reminded him of that again as they left.

So they had no choice but to change into one of Velen’s cars.

Following Clay’s directions, Anya drove them to the harbor.

“We’re going out to sea?”

“That’s right. Out to sea.”

The gathering place was actually on a boat.

After parking at a relatively secluded pier, Clay led Ethan and Anya aboard a small vessel.

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Someone was already waiting aboard. This person was dressed in a robe as well, with a mask covering their face.

Without saying a word, the person started the boat.

The entire process was shrouded in secrecy.

As for who the pier belonged to, even if anyone truly investigated, they would probably only trace it back to some insignificant people.

After the boat had traveled for roughly half an hour, it finally stopped.

Ethan and the others emerged from the cabin and saw a huge yacht glowing on the sea.

Someone came to escort them aboard.

Besides the visitors, the yacht was staffed with attendants and guards. Clearly, the person hosting the gathering wielded considerable influence.

Ethan was already speculating about the host’s identity.

The first name that crossed his mind was Sandro.

“Don’t bother guessing. It isn’t Sandro. He was the one who brought me the first time I came, but he hasn’t attended a gathering in a long while.”

Clay was remarkably perceptive this time; he had actually guessed what Ethan was thinking.

“I don’t know who the host is either. They might not even be from Winston. Forget it.”

They eventually entered the yacht’s cabin.

The yacht was enormous, and the interior was correspondingly spacious. A massive long table had been set out, with several people already seated around it.

“The first stage of the gathering is conversation. Only after the discussion ends will everyone be free to move about on the lower deck. Find somewhere to sit for now.”

Clay explained this casually as he led Ethan and Anya to a corner.

He also took a glass of liquor from an attendant standing behind him.

Ethan and Anya did not drink.

Gradually, more and more people arrived.

In the end, however, they did not fill the entire table.

Ethan counted them.

If these really were most of the True Name holders in Winston, then their numbers were already quite impressive.

There were more than thirty people.

He simply had no idea what level they were at.

Perhaps because the discussion had not yet begun, no one spoke. The entire scene was silent and eerie.

A group of people dressed in pitch-black robes and wearing masks of every strange variety sat together in silence.

It truly had the air of some sinister religion.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. This is yet another gathering, and I imagine everyone has new knowledge and experiences to share. So, speak freely!”

At that moment, a figure dressed in a gold-trimmed robe and wearing a mask covered in golden patterns emerged from the darkness and took the seat of honor.

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