The Female CEO's Personal Bodyguard

Am I being watched?

Will he recognize me?

Carson Flores worried internally, but outwardly maintained a curious appearance, looking around and avoiding Crispin Valentine’s gaze.

Crispin Valentine’s gaze lingered on Carson Flores for about a second before moving away.

He indeed sensed a trace of familiarity on Carson Flores’s face, but that was it. After all, Carson now was vastly different from before. Moreover, Carson’s identity had nothing to do with the Valentine Family Retainer’s identity, making it difficult to associate the two.

Just a Valentine Family Retainer, not worth the mental effort to ponder where that familiarity came from.

Carson Flores noticed Crispin Valentine turning his gaze away from the corner of his eye and breathed a sigh of relief.

Passed for now.

Hopefully, contact with him will be minimal or, better yet, nonexistent.

Cyprian Valentine and Darius Aarav finished their pleasantries, and everyone was ushered into the manor, with Carson and others being assigned their accommodations.

After resting for half a day, a maiden came to the door.

”Mr. Carter, the Family Head requests your presence.”

He followed the maiden across several courtyards to a spacious guest courtyard, where he met Cyprian Valentine in the living room.

”Greetings, Family Head.”

Cyprian Valentine chuckled, ”Finnian, have a seat. There will be a welcome banquet later, and I’d like you to join me.”

Carson’s heart sank; wouldn’t that mean encountering Crispin Valentine again?

”Yes!”

Cyprian Valentine pointed to the nearby seat for Carson to sit down and then continued, ”Let me give you a heads-up. There might be some alchemy-related competitions at the banquet; I need you to assist me then.”

”Yes, I will do my utmost and give it my all.”

Since he was already here, refusal was out of the question. Carson agreed readily.

Cyprian Valentine explained, ”As you might know, our Valentine Family has a good relationship with the Aarav Family. However, there’s a matter requiring an alchemist, and although the two families are close, both want their people to handle it. So, I hope you can win.”

After pausing briefly, Cyprian Valentine added, ”Although the matter is important, don’t stress about it. Just perform at your usual level and give it your best. Even if you fail, you won’t be blamed.”

”Okay!”

Carson agreed straightforwardly, then asked cautiously, ”It’s related to the Valentine and Aarav Families, so it must be important. I’m quite anxious internally; may I know what it’s about?”

Cyprian Valentine pondered for two seconds, then smiled, ”Since you’re curious, I’ll tell you in advance. We’ve discovered a previously unnoticed small world and within it found Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water...”

Carson’s eyes suddenly lit up, ”The purest Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water?”

Cyprian Valentine nodded, ”Yes, the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water we discovered is not in finished form but gathered within a lake. To obtain it, special means are needed to refine and extract it from the entire lake.”

”We’ve prepared the magical treasure needed for lake refinement, but operating the magical treasure to extract the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water requires a skilled alchemist to manage.”

”This small Secret Realm was discovered jointly by the Valentine and Aarav Families, with skilled individuals from both sides. The general agreement is a fifty-fifty split, but there’s disagreement over who should send people to collect it. Through negotiation, we decided each family would send an alchemist to compete; the winner will collect, taking sixty percent while the other takes forty percent.”

”If you can help the Valentine Family win the competition and successfully collect the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water, you’ll have achieved great merit for the Valentine Family, and I will reward you handsomely!”

Hearing this, Carson felt a stir within; the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water is exceedingly pure and surpasses the essence of water, hailed as the source of the Five Elements.

As he practiced the Primordial Profound Water Technique, this Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water would indeed be beneficial. If he could acquire some, perhaps he could use it to aid in the crystallization process, complementing the Primordial Profound Water Technique.

However, stealing the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water under the supervision of many skilled experts from both the Valentine and Aarav Families is no easy feat and could cost him his life if he’s not careful.

”Understood, I’ll do my best.”

Cyprian Valentine laughed, ”Your alchemy experience might not be as extensive as Howard’s, but Howard mentioned your skills are more stable and impressive than his, which is why he recommended you. After all, in extracting the Heavenly Secret Profound Divine Water, skilled technique is what’s most required.”

Carson laughed, ”Steward Howard overpraised me.”

Cyprian Valentine waved his hand, ”No need to be modest in front of me. I understand Howard’s nature; if he says so, then it indicates you’re indeed remarkable. Besides, even if I don’t know alchemy well, I can still tell the success rate and quality of pill refining in the Valentine Family Alchemist Garden. Not many can compare to you there.”

As they were talking, a maiden came in to invite them to the banquet.

Cyprian Valentine stood up, smiling, ”Come with me to the banquet, and meanwhile, I’ll help you obtain the Hidden God White Jade Stem you wanted. Haha, don’t overthink it; this has no connection to your assignment. It’s unrelated.”