027. Crucible - 4

027. Crucible - 4

We didn't talk much for the rest of the way. After finished bragging about his martial potential, he fell silent, mulling on my offer. And, I was lost in my thoughts, wondering whether the mention of a familiar divine name meant anything.

My conclusion, it probably did, but nothing that would actually matter in the short term. Instead, I turned my attention to his mention of the Promotion.

His offhand mention of gods and being chosen implied that they believed that it was some kind of divine process, where people needed to prove themselves to gods, and in return, they received some abilities.

And, since I didn't actually believe gods to be some mysterious altruistic beings even as I started to realize they existed, even in a different concept than what I defined it I immediately assumed that they were getting some kind of benefit from the process.

Probably some kind of cost for them as well, if they were as selective as the explanation of my young friend implied.

So, it made sense that a class like a farmer had to beg for an opportunity, while during my Promotion, they were offering me a lot to get my cooperation. That crimson monstrosity was the strongest likely due to the skill of creating some kind of connection but I remembered feeling hundreds of other beings, each whispering seductive offers.

I wondered what the significance of rejecting every single offer meant, but I didn't ask Jertann about what would happen if someone rejected the blessing of the gods, though I doubted any of them actually rejected it. It was silly to assume a random farmer knew the truth.

Even questioning it explicitly was risky. Panic was much more likely, assuming that I was just a heretic.

I wanted to ask more questions about the topic, as idle chatter about the System, however inaccurate, was precious. Like how their class first awakened, what exactly was the promotion mission, names of the gods, and many other interesting details

But I stayed focused on the more urgent issues. "So, tell me, did you come to a decision, about the situation?" I asked.

"I don't know. It feels dishonest," he said, clearly out of his comfort zone.

"Don't worry about it," I said to him. "Think of it as finding a secret weapon to protect your group. Imagine if the Blacks actually decided to escalate the situation into violence because they wanted to be the only voice in the camp " I started.

"They wouldn't" he interrupted with a gasp, his voice determined. A determination that didn't last long under my sharp gaze. God, I missed my lieutenants, and them handling the new blood before they could get on my nerves with their absurd expectations. "Right?" he added a while later, though his confidence was quick to disappear.

"Are you willing to bet the lives of your friends on that conclusion?" I said to him, watching him flinch, his eyes wide as he realized what was at stake.

"No"

"Good, then, let's talk about our situation and our strategy, what we will say."

"How much do you know about farmers," he finally asked.

"A bit, I didn't deal much with them. Why don't you give me a general breakdown so that I don't miss anything," I said.

He nodded before starting. "Well, there's not much to tell that's relevant. Before our first promotion mission, we only received Vitality as a default stat, and nothing else, unless we managed natural awakenings, but it's rare for us. It's lucky few that could awaken one "

"Maybe," he muttered.

"Good, about the level," I said.

"Maybe we should say you are level thirty, but you didn't receive a second promotion mission. It happens a lot for the farmers. Only a few actually manage to get a second promotion."

"Tell them that I'm level twenty-eight," I said. "In case I need to level up further in an emergency."

He shuddered. "I wouldn't recommend that. They have forbidden leveling up in the wilds due to the crowd. A few tried, but the knights just executed them. "

"Why can't we level up?" I asked.

"I don't know. I heard there was some kind of ward at one of the other camps, and you can rent it to level up, but they are asking for a lot of money to use."

"How much?" I asked.

"Something like twenty denicas," he said, his tone clearly indicating it to be a great treasure. I nodded, not pushing him about the topic too much. I had already asked a lot of questions, and I didn't want to hit the limit and trigger his suspicion.

"Good, let's go to the camp, then," I said, and we started walking once more, the decision made.

When we arrived at the camp, we were greeted by one of the skulking types. "Hey, look everyone, great Jertann comes from his recruiting mission, and bringing a small army with him," a middle-aged man said as he looked at us, his tone vindictive, but too loud to be actually targeted at Jertann.

The glance he threw to the camp, making sure he had people listening to him confirmed that it was the kind of show to weaken any power he might hold.

Not a bad strategy, I had to admit. I kept my mouth shut. Intervening before understanding more about the group was not a good idea. "Shut up, Gert," Jertann growled.

"Oh, scary," Gert answered. "What are you going to do, throw the corpse of your newest recruit," Gert answered as he looked at me. "Really, though. That's the best you can find, a geriatric farmer wearing garbage. Maybe we should just kick him out rather than bother to carry his corpse around."

"Shut up!" Jertann shouted, looking frustrated at the insults as he looked at me, no doubt wanting to brag how he found a warrior to join them. I shook my head subtly, and luckily, he accepted that.

"Great comeback," Gert smirked. "Are you sure you want to bring him in just because you want to avoid the shame of failure?"

"Yes," Jertann answered.

"Good, then I'm assigning him to your combat patrol, and you're leaving right now," Gert said smugly, which didn't survive for long as Jertann didn't give him the panicked response he was expecting. "Let's see how you'll beg me to change the schedule tonight," he growled before leaving.

"You see," I said with a chuckle once Gert walked away, leaving a dazed Jertann behind. "Keeping it secret is paying off already."