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Julian avoided his gaze, lowering his head to look at the teacup on the saucer in front of him. Petals floated in the tea, slowly unfurling in the warm liquid. He picked up the cup, took a sip, and savored the rich floral aroma mixed with a subtle sweet and sour taste—a new experience for his palate. He took another sip before setting the cup down.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but what I\'m about to say may disappoint you," Julian said, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. "I am deeply grateful for your invitation, which is both recognition and affirmation of me. I am truly thankful."

This last statement held a hidden meaning. Among the Guar, there was a proverb: "Give food to the poor, and you\'ll earn gratitude; give it to the nobility, and you\'ll earn resentment." Poor people, often starving due to poverty, might find a meal helpful in filling their stomachs, enabling them to go out and work. To them, this is an act of kindness.

But offering the same gift to nobility is not seen as help—it\'s an insult. When did nobles ever need handouts to fill their bellies? If not an insult, what else could it be?

By speaking this way, Julian not only rejected Heidler\'s offer but also made his stance clear: he would never become anyone\'s subordinate.

Heidler sighed with regret. Had he extended the invitation sooner, would things have ended differently? He didn\'t know, and neither did Julian. When Julian had first arrived in Ternell, it was impossible to predict whether he would have rejected Heidler\'s offer. But the past was now in the past, and there was no use pondering it.

Besides, at that time, Heidler had no way of knowing where this young farmer from the countryside had come from. Now, Julian had spread his wings. While he might seem like an aggressive fledgling to the powerful, he held boundless potential. Sadly, it was too late to make him fight for Heidler.

After the rejection, Heidler didn\'t bring up the association again. He now understood that the association was only significant with Julian\'s involvement; without him, it would just be an empty shell. Though Julian wouldn\'t become Heidler\'s follower, it didn\'t prevent potential collaboration between them.

They then shifted to light conversation, and Heidler casually mentioned a recent event in Olodo. While rallying support for the midterm elections, processions from the New Party and the Old Party clashed unexpectedly. The result was an unplanned, violent brawl. In the scuffle, four people died, over thirty were injured, and more than ten were left in critical condition.

The governor quickly issued a statement, declaring that unstable, malicious forces had incited the conflict, and he promised to find evidence and bring those responsible to justice. While this was just small talk, Julian gleaned insights about Heidler\'s political stance.

Though Heidler\'s description seemed neutral, it was worth noting that Heidler was an Old Party man; his father had pledged loyalty to the nobles and the emperor. Heidler\'s neutral account of the conflict raised questions about what he was implying.

Since taking office, the new governor had little influence or recognition in Kanros State. In this stronghold of the Old Party, the new governor had clearly been sidelined. Although he had made slight progress over the past two years, the situation remained dire.

The Old Party dominated Kanros State\'s various cities, with only three out of nine cities in New Party control—a number so low it was almost frightening.

The bedridden governor retained most of the state\'s power, controlling significant authority and its distribution, leading people to call him the "invisible governor."

Perhaps that was why Heidler had shared this story, and in an instant, Julian understood.

In business, there are many ties that can\'t easily be broken, and forcibly severing them only leads to harm—for example, the bond with a mentor.

In this world, the relationship between a teacher and disciple, while not as formal as in the dream world, still serves as a measure of one\'s morality. It fulfills the expectations people have for ethical behavior, especially in those who don\'t adhere to strict moral principles themselves. There is another type of relationship: the political mentor.

During the Old Party\'s feudal rule, the tradition or phenomenon of political mentorship had existed for a long time. One noble would introduce another into a political interest group, allowing the mentor to gain political benefits regardless of the disciple\'s future achievements.

Now, with both the New and Old Parties coexisting, this phenomenon hasn\'t faded with the New Party\'s rise; instead, it has become a core element in political interactions.

If Julian guessed correctly, Heidler wanted to become his mentor, introducing him to a political figure and establishing a connection between them.

Among the Guar, there are extremists who strive to make the old traitors pay for their actions. Many of those traitors are long dead, but their descendants have become new targets for these people. Heidler, for instance, had received numerous death threats, warning that he\'d face ultimate judgment.

Once Heidler and Julian had a mentor-mentee relationship, Julian would have to stand by Heidler\'s side if he faced threats—unless he no longer wanted to advance politically.

The irony is almost laughable: these shameless people, who readily discard anything for personal gain, also yearn for others\' loyalty. Perhaps it\'s precisely because they lack it themselves that they value and desire it so intensely.

This wasn\'t the outcome Julian wanted. He didn\'t want Heidler\'s friendship, nor did he want him as a mentor. Deep down, Julian harbored a dangerous thought—he planned to personally send Heidler to face judgment if necessary, gaining more support from the Guar. Agreeing to Heidler\'s offer was out of the question.