Night had fallen, but Kelan Manor remained brightly lit. All eyes were focused on the young man standing at the center of the courtyard, holding a secret letter in his hand. He was the key figure behind this astonishing victory.
At this moment, no one dared to look at him as a "good-for-nothing" or a "blind man" anymore. Their gazes carried only reverence, admiration, and a trace of genuine fear.
Kael ignored the stares from those around him. He tore open the crimson wax seal on the envelope and unfolded the high-quality parchment. The text on the letter was not written in a common language but in encrypted symbols and mystical runes. No one present, not even the well-experienced old steward, could make sense of it.
"This is the Scarlet Covenant's code," Viks' voice echoed in Kael's mind, laced with a hint of astonishment. "It's an ancient language that's been lost to time, used only by the upper echelons of the Scarlet Covenant. The sender of this letter must hold a significant position. Can you read it, kid?"
Kael did not respond. In his previous life as an elite agent, decryption had been as essential as combat skills. Though the languages of this world differed fundamentally, the underlying logic of all encryption methods shared commonalities.
He slowly activated his "Etheric Vision." To his eyes, the distorted symbols ceased to be mere patterns; they transformed into etheric lines, each imbued with unique energy frequencies. He began examining the flow of energy, searching for flaws and deciphering the logic behind the encryption.
Time ticked away, and the surrounding clansmen held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Finally, Kael spoke, his voice soft yet resonating clearly in the silent courtyard.
"…The 'Seed'…has already been sown…"
He read haltingly, evidently decoding the message in real-time.
"…Wait for…the 'Silver Tower'…to chime…"
Silver Tower? Everyone froze. Throughout the entire kingdom, there was only one place referred to as the Silver Tower—the sanctum located at the heart of the royal city, a place young cultivators dreamed of entering: Silver Tower Academy!
"…Buck, secure…the Storm Vein…at all costs…"
"…Secretly transport…the 'Void Ore'…to Outpost No. 3…"
"…The 'Seed'…requires…nourishment…"
The letter concluded there. While the contents were fragmented, the information revealed sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, including Viks.
"Void Ore?" Viks' voice now carried shock for the first time. "The legendary, forbidden ore that can warp space and corrode minds? What are they planning to do with it? And the 'Seed Project'—it doesn't sound like anything good."
Kael carefully folded the letter, his mind already in turmoil. Previously, he had thought the Scarlet Covenant's objective was merely the Ether Crystal mine owned by the Kelan family. But now, it was clear their ambitions went far beyond that. Their reach extended to the kingdom's power core—Silver Tower Academy.
He realized that staying in Storm City, this small corner of the world, would never allow him to uncover the full truth. He would only see a narrow sliver of the bigger picture. If he wished to thwart the enemy's schemes and seek vengeance for his father and himself, he needed to leave this small world behind.
He needed to head to the royal city and to Silver Tower Academy.
"Young Master…" The old steward, Ron, broke the silence with a trembling voice. "What…what should we do now?"
Kael did not answer him. Instead, he turned to face all the clansmen.
"For this battle, all the participating guards will receive double their bounty and a one-rank promotion," he announced steadily, his voice calm yet brimming with authority.
"All the clansmen who bravely wielded weapons against the enemy shall also be rewarded. Starting today, the resources you receive monthly from the family will be doubled."
"As for the spoils of war," he pointed to the towering pile of weapons and armor, "they are all yours to keep."
The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted into uncontrollable cheers. Wealth and resources were the most direct and effective means of winning hearts. In the face of such immense benefits, all prior fears and hesitations melted away.
"Long live the Young Master!"
"We pledge our lives to serve the Young Master!"
Looking at the excited and fervent faces, Kael felt no emotion. He knew this kind of loyalty was cheap and unreliable. But for now, he needed this cheap loyalty to stabilize the situation.
When the cheers died down slightly, he dropped another bombshell.
"From today onward, I will no longer serve as the acting head of the Kelan family."
His words plunged the entire courtyard into a stunned silence. Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend why he would relinquish such accessible power when his prestige had reached its peak.
"The family's affairs will temporarily be managed by Steward Ron and Captain Ed," Kael continued, ignoring their shock. "As for me, I will head to the royal city as an ordinary student to participate in Silver Tower Academy's entrance trials."
"You mustn't, Young Master!" Ron was the first to protest. "You are the anchor for all of us. If you leave, what will we do? Moreover, the journey to the royal city is long and fraught with danger. You going alone—"
"I will not be alone." Kael interrupted him, scanning the crowd with a firm gaze. "The enemy is powerful, and their schemes are far beyond our imagination. If I stay here, the Kelan family will eventually be devoured by them. Only by entering Silver Tower Academy, growing stronger—strong enough to make them tremble—can I truly protect this family."
"This is not an escape; this is an attack. To crush their schemes, one must dive directly into their den. Your role is to guard this home, build up strength, and await my return."
His words carried a compelling force that silenced further objections. Everyone understood the truth in his statement. Against a colossal entity like the Scarlet Covenant, the small Kelan family was akin to an ant that could be crushed at any moment.
All eyes turned to him, filled with silent complexity and anticipation.
Three mornings later, Kael donned a simple traveler's outfit made of linen, carrying a modest pack, and quietly made his way to the manor's back gate to leave unnoticed.
Yet, just as he reached the gate, a small figure was already waiting for him. It was Amy.
She also carried a faded, overstuffed pack, its contents a mystery. Her face was tense, but her gaze was resolute.
"Young Master, please take me with you," she pleaded, mustering her courage to look up at him.
"No." Kael refused without hesitation. "The outside world is dangerous. If you come with me, you'll only drag me down."
"I won't be a burden!" Amy exclaimed desperately, pulling out items from her pack like treasures—a stack of neatly packed dry rations, a water pouch, and several healing salves. "I can cook, mend clothes, and dress wounds! Please, Young Master, don't leave me behind…"
Tears welled in her eyes. In this world, Kael was her only remaining family.
Kael fell silent, looking at the girl before him, her eyes filled with pleading and dependence. Something soft shifted within his heart.
In his previous life, he had walked alone through the shadows of life and death, never burdened by ties. But now…
"Alright." He finally nodded.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Amy's tear-streaked face lit with a smile, dispelling the last trace of morning chill.
"Remember," Kael said, his tone gravely serious, "once we step through this gate, I am no longer your Young Master, and you are no longer my servant. We are partners, comrades. In the face of danger, I may not…always be able to protect you."
"I understand!" Amy nodded fervently, her eyes brimming with newfound determination. "I'll take care of myself—partner!"
Kael looked at her and finally allowed himself a faint smile.
He pushed open the heavy gate, letting the morning sunlight flood in and illuminate the path ahead.
The royal city, Silver Tower Academy… the Scarlet Covenant. A new journey began.