NFBE Chapter 246: Time to talk
Chapter 246: Time to talk
"I understand," Ethan whispered after hearing Aerick’s reply.
Honestly, he didn’t have much to say to the man.
Aerick was one of the few in Goldenveil with the true ability to become a lord and govern a settlement on his own, without needing Ethan around.
With the unwavering loyalty the warrior possessed, he would hardly cause Ethan any trouble down the line.
"In any case, the new settlement will be very close to Goldenveil, and your son will continue studying here. He’ll need to be brought back every day," Ethan said, giving Aerick a light pat on the shoulder. "You can still come train the guard recruits alongside Doran whenever you want."
Aerick remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the barracks’ walls, lost in thought.
As a third-stage warrior, it was natural that his life would consist of countless phases. If he managed to reach the fourth stage, he would live five hundred years and pass through many more along the way.
Change was inevitable, and though reluctant, he knew deep down that sooner or later he would have to leave the guard.
"Doran is really going to suffer without me here," Aerick muttered, drawing a chuckle from Ethan.
"I’m sure he will, but he’s also good at fending for himself," Ethan replied, his eyes scanning the wide main avenue of Goldenveil.
"Have you gathered everything I asked for?" he asked suddenly, remembering something important.
He now had the ability to absorb and refine equipment, gold, and various other items, converting them directly into talent for the guard.
With Aerick about to leave his post, Ethan needed, above all else, to push that talent as high as possible since after Aerick left, he would no longer be able to do it through the military talent management system.
"Yes, my lord." Aerick nodded. "Just over fifteen thousand items in total, all stored in a sealed warehouse."
"Good."
Ethan smiled, and together with Aerick, he crossed Goldenveil until they finally reached the barracks.
From there, the warrior led him to one of the many warehouses.
As Ethan stepped through the door, his eyes drank in the sight before him: thousands of items and pieces of equipment scattered across the stone floor, stacked on wooden shelves, and piled high in towering heaps that nearly brushed the ceiling.
All of them far superior to the ones he had refined back in Whitefall.
Ethan took a step forward and reached out, activating his ability.
A soft light enveloped the warehouse for an instant, and when it dissipated, every item had vanished into tiny fragments of fading light.
[You have successfully absorbed 15,786 items of various ranks.
Calculating...
8x Rank A talent generated!
42x Rank B talent generated!
1,312x Rank C talent generated!
2,249x Rank D talent generated!
3,368x Rank E talent generated!
Warning: You have exceeded your monthly limit! Absorption efficiency reduced.]
Seeing the result, Ethan smiled with satisfaction.
It was a shame to have hit the monthly limit, but even so, the outcome was simply wonderful.
After thinking for a moment, he began fusing all the talents into higher ranks. When he finished, he had eighteen Rank S talents in hand.
After fusing those Rank S talents, he ended up with three Rank SS talents, which, combined with the one he already possessed, came close to forming a Rank SSS.
Just like that, he now held in his hands several talents that elsewhere were born only once every few decades or centuries.
All of this from a single battle won.
With his face lit up with excitement, he began dividing the four Rank SS talents: one for Aerick, one for Doran, one for Cain, and one for Adam, Veronica’s brother.
Next, he distributed three Rank S talents and four Rank A talents before finally clicking to confirm the distribution.
Aerick, who was standing beside Ethan, froze on the spot.
His aura rippled heavily for an instant, trembling as if an internal earthquake were shaking him from within, before slowly calming down and settling back into his body.
He brought his hands to his head, as if feeling a sharp twinge of pain, and finally raised trembling eyes to Ethan.
"M-my lord, this is..."
"I have increased your talent, just as I’ve done for Doran, Cain, Adam, and some of the other guards. Get used to your heightened sensitivity first.
Tomorrow morning, I will establish the city that, in the future, will be yours to rule."
Hearing those words and feeling the changes coursing through his own body, Aerick had a hard time containing himself.
His loyalty reached one hundred percent, and his eyes filled with pure gratitude.
"I won’t let you down, my lord!"
"I know you won’t."
Ethan smiled warmly and simply walked Aerick to the barracks’ exit.
"Rest well tonight. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow," he said, leaving shortly thereafter.
He didn’t go straight to his mansion.
Instead, he decided to walk through Goldenveil, letting his steps guide him through the streets, where the scent of freshly cut wood still lingered in the air and the sound of hammers echoed faintly in the twilight.
Tomorrow, he would establish a new city, and soon after, expand the walls so he could finally summon his High Elf mommy and plant the Tree of Life.
He was naturally very anxious about all of that, but decided to leave those concerns for the next day. For now, he had more important matters to attend to.
In silence, Ethan inspected several of the dozens of crews working throughout the city, each one busy raising a different house in Goldenveil.
By the time he finished checking all the construction sites, night had already begun to fall.
With a soft sigh, the young man set off, crossing the entire length of Goldenveil in silence until he finally reached his room, where he stepped into the bathroom and stripped off his clothes.
Naked, he turned on the hot water, letting the shower pour down over him, washing the sweat and fatigue from his body.
He closed his eyes, feeling the warm stream run down his face, over his shoulders and chest.
He was home.
Now it was time to finally have a good talk with Alice.