Chapter 56: Meeting
Raven jolted awake in his room.
"What the hell…?"
He looked at his weapon.
It wasn't iron anymore.
A silver gleam caught the candlelight.
"It evolved…?"
Zera's voice chimed in.
[What happened, lad?]
'I ranked up in spearmanship and entered the next illusion. It felt real. Pain. Breathing. Everything.'
[Nothing strange. Past-Time spells recreate history. Add a touch of Dream Law, and illusions can become indistinguishable from reality. My owner must have his own reason to pave a path for you in spearmanship.]
Raven gripped the spear and checked it with his monocle.
…
Frozen Ender (Updated)
Name: Frozen Ender (Sealed)
Rank: Uncommon (Evolve)
Experience Comprehension: 0.2%
Unique Skills:
• Rank-1: Frozen Lance – Unlocked (Cooldown: 1 hour)
• Rank-2: Ice Dome – Locked
Restriction: Reach Basic Intermediate Spearmanship
…
'Oh? A new skill… but locked? When do I get to use this?'
[It will unlock once you fully wield the Intermediate Aura. Your comprehension needs around twenty percent before that happens.]
Raven nodded at Zera's explanation. A quick glance at his status confirmed it—his Spearmanship had officially reached Intermediate Rank.
He went straight to the training room. The rhythmic echoes of his spear slicing through the air filled the chamber for the next two hours, each thrust sharper, each step more refined.
Later, freshly washed and dressed, Raven descended for breakfast and found Jacob waiting in the main hall. The fireplace cast warm, flickering shadows across the walls.
"Jacob," Raven said, settling into his seat, "I need you to visit potion shops in the Capital and purchase one thousand sets of Mind of Insight ingredients."
Jacob's jaw dropped.
"A… a thousand sets, My Lord?"
He'd just brought sixty batches two days ago.
"Yes," Raven replied, voice firm. "Visit multiple shops. Avoid attention. Pay whatever they ask."
Jacob hesitated, understanding suddenly dawning in his eyes.
"It seems… someone else is also trying to recreate the potion."
"Ravenshield?" Raven asked.
"Yes, My Lord." Jacob nodded.
'They must have found a path using the list of ingredients we brought." Raven said coldly.
"There will be a change of plans," Raven said. "Be cautious when you're out."
Jacob stiffened. "W-What happened, My Lord?"
"I'm planning to sell Mind of Insight potions to every reputable shop."
Jacob froze.
"W-Won't the Ravenshield family be offended?"
Raven's expression chilled. "She broke trust first. I never said I'd sell exclusively to the Ravenshields."
His gaze sharpened.
"In six months, they will produce a similar potion. When they do, our profits diminish sharply. So we must take advantage of this opportunity now."
Jacob grimaced with guilt.
"We should've bought ingredients randomly… so no one could trace it."
"Don't worry," Raven said, rising. "I'll make sure you have funds."
He left the mansion immediately. Within the hour, he returned from the Royal Bank with two hundred thousand gold coins withdrawn. He handed Jacob a fortune—four hundred thousand gold.
"Take Selene and Quincy for safety. Marcellus, Reece, Leona, and Felicity will remain here."
"Yes, My Lord." Jacob bowed deeply and hurried out.
Raven returned to his room and drank another Mind of Insight potion before diving once more into the Mind Eye spell model.
By evening, Emanuel guided him to the Administrative Office.
The Will transfer took barely thirty minutes—Emanuel had already prepared all the paperwork. George Amell and Sara Wills glared with thinly veiled displeasure, but Raven ignored them completely.
He returned home and secluded himself in training.
…
One Month Later
December 15th, Year 1420 — Rune Era
Raven appeared in the Illusionary World at dawn.
Ten seconds later, he was dead.
Back in his room, he exhaled heavily.
The same arrow… always that arrow.
It descended from the sky like a thunderstrike, wrapped in a yellow aura. Even with 93.4% comprehension of the Mind Eye spell, he couldn't follow its speed.
Even when I anticipate it… It's useless.
He shook his head.
My Mind Eye needs to be at least ten times faster.
Alchemy progress wasn't much better, yet also far better than expected.
Over thirty days, he had brewed 180 Mind of Insight potions.
His success rate?
50%.
Anyone else would faint at the thought—Raven had consumed 100 of them solely to understand one spell model.
Worth 1.2 million gold.
Just yesterday, Jacob had departed for the capital with eighty potions to sell and orders to purchase another thousand sets of ingredients.
Good thing these ingredients are cheaper than typical potions… or I'd be broke.
Zera's soft voice chimed in.
[Your alchemy improvement is abnormal. At this rate, you might reach a hundred percent success by the end of May.]
'The Ravenshields will have reproduced the potion by then,' Raven muttered.
He tied his robe just as a knock sounded.
"My Lord!" Emanuel called from outside.
Raven opened the door. The butler stood with a file clutched in his hand.
"What happened?"
"You have visitors, My Lord!" Emanuel said, scanning the room.
"Visitors?" Raven frowned and checked his pocket watch. "It's only eight in the morning. I didn't schedule anything. Who are they?"
"The parents of Spade Knights' Academy graduates."
"Oh?" Raven's brows rose. "I've expected them for a month. Where are they?"
"In the guest hall, My Lord."
Raven quickly dressed in a black tunic and trousers, then descended the grand staircase.
The chatter inside the guest hall quieted instantly as he entered.
Fifteen visitors—men and women—rose respectfully. Some looked anxious. Others hopeful.
"Be seated," Raven said, taking his place at the head of the long table. Emanuel stood beside him, file in hand.
A tall man with a neatly trimmed beard stood.
"My Lord, thank you for receiving us. We represent the parents of the recent graduates of Spade Knights Academy. Headmaster Ares mentioned you intend to sign long-term contracts with our children."
His voice lowered hesitantly.
"We wish to confirm the terms directly with you. How long will they serve under the Holmes Household?"
Raven leaned back slightly.
"Twenty years initially. During this period, their monthly salary will be three gold coins. They will also receive training in our Uncommon Knight Technique and Uncommon Spirit Technique."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Commoners rarely had insight into Walker's techniques.
A woman asked nervously, "What happens after twenty years, My Lord?"
"If they advance to Radiant Knight within that period," Raven said, "the contract extends to eighty years. Salary increases to ten gold monthly."
An older man with calculating eyes raised his hand.
"And if they advance further?"
"If they reach Expert Knight during the extended period, the contract becomes one hundred fifty years, with a twenty-gold monthly salary."
Silence spread.
Hope, fear, and astonishment blended in their expressions.
A younger man asked timidly, "And after the contract… will they be free?"
"Yes," Raven said. "After it ends, they may leave—or renegotiate to continue serving under my banner."
The bearded man frowned.
"My Lord… a twenty-year contract stretching to one hundred fifty—it feels excessive."
"Excessive?"
Marcellus, standing guard near the door, stepped forward.
"If a commoner wants to join a Noble House with Uncommon Spirit Techniques, they must sign a lifetime contract. Lord Thomas is offering far better terms. An Expert Knight can live over five hundred years. A one hundred fifty-year contract is nothing."
Raven lifted a hand, stopping him gently.
"I understand your concerns. But the extensions reflect progress—your children gain immense benefits in return. And remember… none of the graduates you represent are top-of-class. Such opportunities are exceedingly rare."
Another woman leaned forward anxiously.
"But if they lack talent and fail to reach Radiant or Expert levels… will they be pressured to stay?"
"No," Raven said. "If they fail to reach Radiant Knight, the contract ends after twenty years. They may leave freely—with training, pay, and experience."
The tension eased visibly.
Another parent asked cautiously, "The techniques… the Uncommon Knight and Spirit Techniques. How powerful are they? And can our children pass them down?"
Zera's voice whispered in his mind.
[Add restrictions. Or they'll leak it to every commoner and break the social order.]
Raven nodded mentally and responded aloud:
"They may pass the techniques down only to their direct descendants. No one else."
The parents exchanged glances—some relieved, some deeply thoughtful.
Raven rose.
"That will be all for today. I trust you now have the information needed. Once the contracts are prepared, my butler will inform you."
The parents stood and bowed deeply before departing.
After the parents left, Raven returned to his bedroom and entered the Memory Library. The vast hall of endless shelves welcomed him with its familiar silence.
Zera materialized beside him, her elven form wrapped in shimmering blue.
[So? What's your plan?]
"I'm going to separate the graduates by their affinities," Raven said, walking between towering shelves. "Then train them with help from the Sepoy Mercenaries. I'll form my first elite squad—twelve Knights, four Mages, two Rangers, two Healers, and two Rogues."
[Healers?] Zera blinked. [This continent has no healing spells other than potions.]
"But the Memory Library has them," Raven said firmly. "Spells that can heal severed limbs, reattach hands… even rebuild flesh in seconds. If I don't use them, it would be my loss."
His voice softened, though his expression remained steady.
"I want to increase their survival chances. And yes… I'm still thinking about Aunt Shirley."
Zera's gaze softened.
[So that's it.]
"She smiles like nothing's wrong," Raven murmured. "But I saw the sadness. She's a Knight—her hand matters. I saw in Charles Nightwind's memories that Runeth even created clones using knowledge from Charles's home world. If they can create bodies from scratch, regrowing a hand is possible."
His eyes hardened.
"And Charles's Soul Flame and Rebirth Flames can heal damaged souls. I'll use everything."
Zera sighed.
[You're nothing like the Rulers I've met. I wonder why the world chose you for the Ruler's Domination skill.]
"What's different?"
[Most emperors would sacrifice family for the empire. You… you'd sacrifice the empire for family.]
Raven shrugged lightly. "If I consider the entire empire as my family, the problem solves itself."
Zera stared.
[…Your mouth is too slick for your own good.]
Raven ignored her grumbling and walked toward the shelves lined with Knight Techniques. One by one, he memorized the strongest techniques among all elements, then moved to Weapon Arts and Wizard Circlets.
Heavy Blade for Pierce… Wind Serpent for Lorelai…
Technique after technique burned into his memory before he exited the library and began transcribing them into notebooks.
…
When he finished, he found Emanuel in the hall.
"Is it possible to accommodate twenty graduates in the mansion? And train them?" Raven asked.
"No, My Lord. But there's half an acre of empty land behind the mansion. It belongs to the Count, and it's been unsold for a long time."
'There's land behind the mansion? I never even checked.'
"How much?"
"Four to five thousand gold coins."
"Buy it," Raven said immediately. "We'll clear it and make a training ground. Convert the second-floor rooms into temporary dorms."
"Yes, My Lord."
"And hire an architect. Build quarters for Knights and servants. Prepare everything a training hall needs."
"How long will it take?"
"With a large workforce… eight to twelve months."
'Too long.'
He eyed the window.
I'm not staying in Giaris for a decade. Once Azmar Town is reclaimed, I'll shift everything there.
But for now, he needed a base.
"Hire Official Walkers as construction workers. Pay double. Finish in six months."
Emanuel straightened. "Yes, My Lord."
Zera's voice floated in.
[You should increase one of the mercenaries to Expert Rank.]
'Expert? You're saying Azmar might have an Expert?'
[We know nothing about that town except the Falcons' involvement. And think, how many Experts does Count Spade have? That silver-armored Knight wasn't the only one. Why didn't the Count help when the Holmes Family was attacked?]
Raven's eyes narrowed.
Be cautious. Understood.
After giving more instructions, Raven returned to his room to continue copying techniques.