The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

"Heh. I've got to give it to you, Master Aeric," Delva said with a soft sigh. "You're much more ambitious than I thought you were when we met."

Aeric lifted one brow. "Glad that I have dismantled your disappointing perceptions of me, dear friend."

The two were in the Royal Institution's grounds very early that morning. The sun was barely breaking over the horizon and most students wouldn't arrive for another hour.

Aeric was seated on the curled body of Sylver, eyes on his system's interface as he spent his Beast Tokens on upgrading the Silverwolf.

Once he was done, Sylver was now a Five Star Legendary ranked Beast.

[5 Star (Upgradeable)]

[★★★★★☆☆☆] = [5/10]

[All Stats have been increased by +1]

[Tap on this arrow → to move to the Stats interface]

Aeric ignored that last part, having already mastered the stats to memory. He leaned back, arms folded, his chin resting on his chest.

"Just a few more XP is needed and I can unlock [Project Supreme]." He looked at the interface and sighed. "Mhm. Maybe a lot more XP."

His sharp red eyes flicked open to glance at the elixir bottle he held loosely in one hand. The liquid inside was shimmering faintly, the cork removed, the contents already sampled.

'I manage to graduate into a 52% Condensation rate with my Divinity. Soon, creating physical Divinity will be something I can do in a whim.'

'All thanks to this elixir.' He looked at the potion. 'Essence Condensation was much easier. But now I have to drink three sips thrice a day until my Divinity completely condenses.'

Beside him, Delva sat atop her horse, legs crossed on the saddle, her red hair fashioned today in a loose ponytail. Her bright, fiery eyes scanned the horizon lazily, and she eventually spoke again.

"You know, I'm in, right?" she asked, glancing at him.

"Of course," Aeric replied with a brief smile. "If not just for the fight, you'll want to protect me. I gather that."

Delva didn't smile. "But this is still dangerous. Mursbridge is completely overrun by Beasts. It's almost a Multi Dungeon on its own. You'll need a lot of fighters."

Aeric tilted the elixir bottle, peering into it thoughtfully. "Thirty at least." he said. "Ten Awakened Players and twenty Knights. I want people who are brave won't run the moment they see what's lurking in that town."

Delva raised an eyebrow, adjusting her position on her horse. "You've really thought this through, Master Aeric. Well, you've got me, so that's one down. But where do you plan to find the rest? I don't reckon that you can just throw up a sign that says, 'Help wanted: beast exterminators.'"

Aeric nodded, finally taking a small sip from the elixir. He grimaced, his face scrunching up as he swallowed. "Ugh. That stuff is vile." He capped the bottle and sighed.

"I was thinking of asking Alzera," he said, ignoring Delva's amused look at his reaction to the elixir. "She leads a Dungeon Squad. Perhaps they could also join her and aid in the fight."

Delva pouted. "That's a big perhaps. Why would Dungeon Challengers want to risk their lives like that?"

"The Beast Cores and body parts are alluring reasons."

Delva shrugged in agreement.

Aeric lowered his head. "I was also thinking of reaching to the branching families."

"Mhm?" Delva sat up straighter at that, her brows furrowing. "The branching families? That's a... bold move."

"Maybe," Aeric agreed. "But if I can get them to hand us their aid then they can be really useful to us. They have the money and the men. They could sponsor this mission with either of that. Grains, oil, some cooked food for Gulydurk, and knights to battle the Beasts in Mursbridge.

Delva frowned. "Yes, but... you do realize all their patriarchs are stoic, strict old men who care more about their wealth and reputation than anything else, right? They're not exactly known for generosity."

Aeric lifted his gaze to her. "Not the best of ways to speak of your father, Delva."

The red haired companion snorted. "I understand that my father does what he does to maintain our family's name."

The Branching Families were wealthy families which acted as support to the Royal Families of various Regions. They provide aid in terms of money, arms, men and food for the Region, at times when the Royal Families need them or are in a shortage.

In return, these families are given class and respect in the society, uplifted above the usual citizens.

Each region has their own Branching Families, but for the Starlight Region, they were; Archelin, Tavert, Selvadez, Dravencourt, Varnel, Kytherson, Vale, Farrentail, Zorath, and Ivermere.

These families were at the top of the food chains in different market and business sectors in the Region, and just like other Regions, they were only ten Branching Families.

If a wealthy family wants to become a Branching Family, they would have to take the place of a present one, and they could do so by surpassing that family in net worth and in the particular business type.

For example, the Dravencourt Family were the top family in the blacksmith business. They helped Starlight with high-quality armor and weapons for war.

If another family, the Morgason family for example, manages to overtake Dravencourt in the blacksmith business, they could apply to become a Branching Family, and their application most likely would be approved.

If Aeric could get to these families and convince them, they really could be of a major help to him.

"You make it sound so simple." Delva said. "Do you even know how to bargain with people like that? They're business kings and queens, doing discussions and making deals is what they do. They'll eat you alive if you go in there without a plan. And even if you agree, you might find yourself in a deal that could cause problems for the royal family in the future."

Aeric's gaze grew distant for a moment as memories of his previous life surfaced.

Delva was very right here. The Branching Families even though allies with the royal family were still self serving and would rather see their own families flourish rather than the Royal Family.

He had to be careful. Smart.

He remembered his father in his former life. Mr Ackley had been a master negotiator.

Aeric could still remember the countless phone calls and even that meeting he'd witnessed before he died.

One moment stood out in particular — a business deal that had seemed impossible, but his father had turned it around with a single principle. Your journey continues on empire

"There's always something they want," Aeric murmured, almost to himself.

Delva tilted her head. "What was that?"

Aeric snapped back to the present. "There's always something the person wants. You can either give them that, or you can give them something else... and make them believe they want it even more than their initial demand."

"Whatever the case, finding out what they want is important."

Delva looked at him with a frown. "Seems like I underestimated you, Master. Again. I'm sorry, but still, I know these families. My father has dealt with many of them. They will not make it easy for you."

Aeric shrugged, taking another swig of the elixir and making another face. "It's a test I'll have to overcome. We'll see how strong I can bargain."

He glanced up at the horizon, getting slightly annoyed. "I told Melina to come early, didn't I?"

Delva followed his gaze and squeezed her eyes, seeing something. "Looks like they're here."

In the distance, a large beast stopped on its tracks. It was Aryanne's Dreadhound. After it stopped, two figures dismounted: Aryanne and Melina.

They both looked very agitated, but Melina looked far more nervous, clutching her hands tightly to her breasts.

Aeric watched them for a while, took another sip of the elixir, made a face again and slipped the vial into his pocket, dusting off his trousers.

He stood up straight with an indifferent look on his face. Once the girls were close enough, he spoke; "You made me wait."

Aryanne crossed her arms, glaring at him. "This Crest of Obedience. It's only going to last a day, right?"

Aeric smirked. "That's what we agreed on. Unless Melina enjoys her time so much that she'd want to do it again."

Melina glanced at her sister uncertainly, her face pale. Then, nervously, she clenched her fists and shouted, "That's not going to happen!"

Aryanne grimaced.

Amused, Aeric looked at both sisters, then grew bored of it quickly. "Let us go then."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Delva jumped down her horse, causing Aryanne and Melina to look at her direction as she looked at them with curiosity and confusion.

She pointed at Melina. "Is she the one being branded?"

Aeric said, "Yes."

Delva frowned and then pointed at Aryanne. "Why not her?"

Aryanne's eyes widened in outrage. "What!?"