Diego's eyes lit up. "Tim, so you mean… We wait and see?"

Timothy nodded, then shook his head, looking very much like a master strategist. "Not just wait and see! If Andrew turns out to be a useless waste who gets crushed by the Driscolls in just a few moves, then we need to strike fast to show our loyalty and earn merit!

"But if Andrew really is as formidable and troublesome as they say, then we will pay lip service while secretly preserving our strength! Our people aren't cheap, and we're not stupid enough to lead the charge for someone else."

Diego chuckled. "That's my boy. We'll do it your way."

Timothy's thin lips curved into a half-smile. "That said, I do want to meet Andrew face-to-face someday. The Hopkinses rarely get involved in Blumedale affairs, so I've never had the chance to size up this so-called rising star. Honestly, I doubt he's as amazing as the rumors say. These days, most so-called prodigies are just hype, nothing worth mentioning."

Diego appreciated his