Chapter 44 – Nip the problem in the bud. I’m rich!

Chapter 44 – Nip the problem in the bud. I’m rich!

Leaving the second catch of the day with the others, Gerhart quickly strode toward the center of the village, where he found Asher welcoming and chatting with the merchant. Gerhart recognized him as the one who brought him from Auchendale.

The two men traded merchandise brought by the villagers, trading locale produce for necessities. However, one particular merchandise was different. They were two handsome male slaves in robes. One was a well-built blond man, and the other had a slim black-haired youth.

Of course, the first thing Gerhart did was check the merchant and two slaves. The merchant was mediocre, a D-rank, but the two guests were monstrous.

Name: Calvin Alphonso La Grace

Race: Human

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Level: 2(Incomplete)

Skills: (+)

Base Stats:

SpoilerStrength: AVitality: AEndurance: AAgility: BDexterity: BPerception: CInstincts: AIntelligence: AAura: AMagic: D[collapse]

Secondary Stats: (+)Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Talents:

SpoilerInitial: None.Beginner: None.Intermediate: None.Advanced: None.Perfect: None.Unique Talents: Elite Knight(Evolvable), Battle Instincts(Evolvable), Born Commander(Evolvable).[collapse]

{Unique Talent - Elite Knight(Evolvable): Improves all physical stats and Aura, grants affinity toward Physical Skills, Aura Skills, All Weapons, Heavy Armor, Riding, and Mounted Combat. Can Evolve.}

{Unique Talent - Battle Instincts(Evolvable): Improves battle intuition, strategic fighting, terrain usage, and foreseeing enemy attacks and responding accordingly. Can evolve.}

{Unique Talent - Born Commander(Evolvable): Increases charismatic leadership, strategic thinking, and attention to detail. Can Evolve.}

That was the status of the blond one, likely from noble birth from his long name. Calvin could be said to be a perfect warrior. As for the other one-

Name: ???

Race: Human(?)

Age: 15-17(?)

Sex: Male(?)

Level: 1(?)

Skills: ???

Base Stats: Highest Stat Agility S(?)

Secondary Stats: ???

Talents:

SpoilerInitial: ???Beginner: ???Intermediate: ???Advanced: ???.Perfect: ???.Unique Talents: Analysis Block(?), ???.[collapse]

{Analysis Block(?): A talent that automatically blocks analysis talents and skills. Unknown.}

Gerhart was unable to see his full status. He had a talent that blocks analysis. Furthermore, when Gerhart analyzed him, the black-haired youth stared back at him.

"He sensed it?!" Gerhart mentally exclaimed.

It was evident that either the talent could track the one who analyzed him, or he had high perception and instincts.

Luckily, the young man didn't pay much attention and quickly lost interest.

"I'll talk with Asher later. Right now, I need to continue hunting." Gerhart thought and left.

.

.

.

After hunting two more times, Gerhart contacted Asher.

"Calvin and Ray are guests who arrived without my knowledge. I did not know they would come until they did." Asher helplessly said. "Calvin is the fourth son of a nearby knight household, while Ray is born to serfs attached to the Marquise that Calvin's family is affiliated to. They are both late-bloomers brought here without notification to protect them."

"Do you know Ray's talents?" Gerhart inquired.

"Somewhat. Ray hinted he has assassination-related talents." Asher explained.

"I see... Where will they eat tonight? Do they have a guesthouse?" Gerhart inquired.

"I arranged for them to live and eat with Thea and Fenja as their caretakers, and they will receive a warm welcome. Forgive me if you had designs over them." Asher apologetically said.

"It is fine. Thea and Fenja are both my Thralls, right?" Gerhart asked, recalling some of the names he heard from Havre doing her magic.

"Yes, they are. I specifically arranged for them for that reason." Asher reported.

"Good work. I need you to arrange something and nip a problem in the bud..." Gerhart narrowed his eyes.

If he let them grow, they would become the biggest thorn in his side. He had to deal with them NOW. And he had just the plan for it.

.

.

.

That night.

In one of the guest houses, moans and grunts came from the main bedroom. But soon, the voices stopped.

Sometimes later, Gerhart came to the window and opened the shutters. Looking at the two figures inside, sleeping while joined at the hip, Gerhart analyzed them.

Name: Calvin Alphonso La Grace

Status: Drugged(Aphrodisiac, Sleeping Drugs(High Dosage)), Fatigued, Coma.

Name: Thea Elkington

Status: Drugged(Aphrodisiac), Exhausted, Satisfied, Deep Sleep, Fertilized.

"Oh, wow... Atta go, lad, you did it in one go." Gerhart muttered, somewhat impressed.

Shaking his head, Gerhart walked inside the house unimpeded and entered the room.

Calvin Alphonso La Grace has converted successfully.Ray has converted successfully.

That night, Gerhart received four crates filled with 2,000 magic stones each, placed next to the Statue of Conquest. Unlike himself, Calvin and Ray received 2,000 additional Magic Stones from level 11 to 30.

"Havre, begin the offering," Gerhart said.

"Yes." Havre nodded and began operating the Statue, offering the Magic Stones.

Gerhart looked as many strands of black energy seeped out of the Magic Stones and entered the Statue.

"How fast is the rate?" Gerhart curiously asked.

"Approximately 10 points a second, my lord," Havre said.

"Hm." Gerhart nodded and waited.

A bit later, he saw black energy flowing from the Statue and into himself.

"Hey, can you two see the black energy thing entering me?" Gerhart pointed at the energy in the air.

"I can see it because of my connection to the statue," Havre said.

"I can't see it." Hope shook her head.

"So, to outsiders, they wouldn't perceive the energy?" Gerhart curiously asked.

"Most won't. However, some exceptionally talented individuals might have the means to sense it." Hope said.

"Noted." Gerhart nodded and turned to Havre. "Do you need to stay there to continue operating it?" Gerhart curiously asked.

"No. Once I designated the offerings, the Statue will continue absorbing energy until it is full. However, there are certain exceptions. The energy will go to a higher grade Statue if connected. If not, it will go to you if in range." Havre explained.

"But what happens if it absorbs beneficial talents we don't have yet?" Gerhart curiously asked.

"I believe you will receive a warning, questioning if you wish to absorb it. After all, you will be incapacitated once the blessing begins. If you are not in range, it will go to the Envoy if they don't already possess the talent." Hope said.

"Hm... I see..." Gerhart muttered. "Oh, well. Let's go to sleep and let it finish by itself."

And so, the trio went to sleep.

.

.

.

The next morning-

Gerhart woke up to a naked Mousey kissing him, so he got into the mood and had a quick morning session with her.

After the steamy act, Gerhart checked the gains from the night.

Energy: 297,303

"HAHAHAHA! I'm rich! Fucking rich!" Gerhart maniacally laughed in his mind.

Even if he deducted the points needed to raise Calvin and Ray to level 50, Havre's talent repair, and subjugate the village, he would easily have over 200,000. That was more than enough for many things!

"Perhaps I can grant their talents to myself..." Gerhart thought.

The talents of late-bloomers were bound to be powerful, and he was especially interested in Ray's analysis blocking.

Smirking to himself, Gerhart and Hope got up from bed, quickly dressed, and went outside the village where Hauke, Greta, and Heiner were waiting.

"Well, you took your sweet time," Hauke smirked with a knowing look, the other two having similar expressions.

"Hahaha... Sorry." Gerhart awkwardly laughed.

They then headed out and continued hunting in the inner forest for food.

Not all monsters in the inner forest were desirable foodstuff, one of them being a humanoid ape-like creature known as an Antler Troll, a D-rank monster with fast regeneration rates. Its three eyes and blood are expensive alchemical ingredients used for healing potions.

Usually, the hunters would extract the ingredients if they killed one. But this time, Gerhart absorbed it all, gaining two much-coveted talents.

{Intermediate Talent - Natural Regeneration: Improves the speed at which the body regenerates injuries and blood.}

{Unique Talent - Limb Regeneration: Allows the body to regenerate lost body parts but not vital organs and improves regeneration rate.}

"Finally! Losing so much blood has made me dizzy as hell." Gerhart sighed in relief.

Just then, Hope suddenly alerted Gerhart. "Gerhart, I feel something dangerous is approaching!"

"Something dangerous?" Gerhart immediately became alert. "How dangerous?"

Until now, there was nothing Hope considered dangerous. It was a first. This made Gerhart immediately serious.

"It is slightly dangerous. I feel we might suffer injuries." Hope said.

"Oh," Gerhart uttered, his tension lowered.

"Woof! Woof!" [Master! I smell a group of goblins!] Farus warned.

"Goblins? The danger you sensed is goblins?" Gerhart was taken aback.

"It might be a goblin warband. If one forms, it means one of the goblin tribes gained enough power to support it, or perhaps several." Hauke said.

"Well, that's not good... We should destroy it before it becomes a mega tribe." Gerhart decided. "We will fight the warband.