Sky-Splitting Giant Bear Slate

Ron originally thought that the greatest danger in going to the border would be facing the orc attacks. That kind of danger, he figured, was within his tolerable range. But what he didn't expect was that even at the Empire's frontier, he would still have to face the most dangerous threat of all: humans.

And now, to face the dual assault of both orcs and humans? This is practically a death sentence.

"I understand! Thank you for being honest with me! May I ask, do I have any other options?"

"Of course!" Feli responded with a faint smile. "Whether you go or not is entirely up to you. We would never force you to go. However, if you choose not to go, I can't guarantee what might happen to you if you stay in Lane Town.

For example, The Night Performer, or Baron, or even the assassin you hid in the brothel. Since you are unwilling to contribute to the Moore family, there's no reason for us to offer you protection.

But, I must say, I'm impressed with how you handled that assassin. Both your decisive counterattack and your cool-headed decision to leave him alive were excellent. Very thorough planning! But I believe the next assassin they send won't give you another chance to fight back."

"Heh," Ron chuckled bitterly. "So, everything I've done has been under your watchful eye. I suppose Baron showing up at the gladiator training ground that day was your doing too? And Kahn not giving me the bounty right away—your orders as well, to keep me from running off, right?"

"Please don't misunderstand," Feli replied calmly. "It was just a coincidence. We just happen to know both Baron Knight and Kahn. We watched the match together and invited Kahn over for a chat. It's perfectly normal that he might have forgotten a few things."

"Normal! Absolutely normal!" Ron chuckled again. "I'm more than willing to serve the Moore family, with my life if necessary!"

"That's wonderful! The family needs strong and clever young men like you, willing to step up and take on responsibilities!" Feli flashed a sweet smile.

Though the smile was sweet, it struck fear in Ron's heart. He had once been critical of Christie, but now, he felt that even though Christie was somewhat promiscuous, she was a far gentler and more beautiful woman compared to the one before him—a true dream woman for any man. Christie might have had a few lovers, but this woman before him could get you killed.

Suppressing his thoughts, Ron asked, "So, what's the other reason?"

"The other reason is a bit more complex."

Feli elegantly smoothed her wind-blown hair and continued, "Many believe that my only talent is in magic, but I also have a special talent for languages. I've mastered the orc language, and if you can secure that outpost, I will personally travel there."

"If possible, I want to establish trade relations with the orcs. This would be an unprecedented achievement. And you might not know this, but the Raging Wastes, where the orcs reside, is rich in resources."

"Though the land is barren and unsuitable for agriculture, it produces many rare minerals and even the purest Magic Crystals. If we could establish trade, it would be immensely profitable."

Feli spoke with great enthusiasm, but Ron found it all rather dull.

"Treasures? More like a funeral," Ron silently mocked the absurdity of the reason. He regretted asking—he should have asked for more favorable conditions instead. That would have been more practical.

"Wow! That's truly remarkable!" Though bored, Ron offered verbal praise. "If Miss Feli can pull this off, I can hardly imagine the glory and wealth it would bring. For that, I'm willing to go first and secure the territory for you. I just hope that Miss Feli can provide enough support for this mission."

Hearing this, Feli smirked slightly. "Sir Ron, I hope you will be honest with me, just as I have been with you! Rest assured, every condition I've promised will be fulfilled!"

As she spoke, Feli took out a document and handed it to Ron. "This is the deed to the territory. Once you sign it, the land will be yours. However, there are some additional conditions. Our family will have the right to pass through your territory without paying any taxes. Also, if you should die, we will reclaim the land. Please review the document carefully, and if you find the terms acceptable, you may sign it."

As Ron read the document, he couldn't help but smile. It included a clause stating, "If Ron dies, the territory will revert to the Moore family." That clause was truly something.

Unable to accept it as is, Ron said, "I'd like to add a time limit to that clause. For example, if I survive for three years, the territory will become irrevocably mine, and it will pass on to my descendants."

"No problem! I'll have it revised and brought back to you for your signature," Feli replied nonchalantly.

She then took out a small box, about a dozen centimeters long, and handed it to Ron. "Inside is your second request—a Qi Force training tablet."

"The tablet is engraved with the Sky-Splitting Giant Bear's Qi Force frequency, a symbol of our Moore family."

"I understand you haven't practiced Qi Force and know little about it, so I'll briefly explain the principles and how to use the tablet. First, you need to understand that Qi Force, like magic, is a way to exercise mental strength."

"The human body has limits, but the mind is limitless. If mental strength resonates at a specific frequency, it can transform into various forms of power. Your task is to synchronize your mental strength with the frequency in the tablet, allowing you to harness the Sky-Splitting Giant Bear's Qi Force."

"Our family's Sky-Splitting Giant Bear Qi Force is one of the most powerful in the world. Once awakened, your strength will increase by at least fifty times. In a sudden burst, your power could even surge to over two hundred times."

"Naturally, as your strength increases, so will your speed, as they are interconnected. You're a skilled melee knight, so you should understand what I'm saying."

"Additionally, the Sky-Splitting Giant Bear Qi Force grants other attributes. For example, the Sword Roar: when drawing or swinging your sword, it will emit a roar that can disturb your opponent's Qi Force frequency, potentially paralyzing them."

"Another example is Berserk mode, which puts you in a state of uncontrollable rage, where your strength continuously grows with no upper limit, and you feel no pain. Unless your head is cut off, you could single-handedly take on an entire army. The longer Berserk mode lasts, the more powerful it becomes."

"And there are minimal side effects—just a temporary loss of consciousness due to mental exhaustion, which can be recovered with a few days of rest. Besides these two well-known attributes, the Qi Force has many other abilities. But since the first two are the most famous and well-documented, I'm sharing those with you first."

"Of course, if you fully master the Sky-Splitting Giant Bear Qi Force, you could become an unstoppable knight."

"That said, it's incredibly difficult. Even the two famous traits I mentioned haven't been fully developed by any knight in our family for hundreds of years. Otherwise, our family wouldn't have been downgraded to a barony."

"I hope you can master our Moore family's Qi Force, my dear Ron Moore!"

"Now, back to Qi Force itself. Once you've awakened it, you'll need Magic Crystals."

"Magic Crystals provide a unique energy that, when channeled through your Qi Force frequency, can be absorbed into your body to enhance your mental strength, much like how mages do."

"The higher the purity of the Magic Crystal, the better the results."

"However, be careful—Magic Crystals have attributes. Once you've chosen an attribute, do not switch or absorb other types, or you risk driving yourself mad."

"But the most important thing, of course, is first to awaken your Qi Force. No one can help you with this; it's all up to you."

"Some may sense the Qi Force frequency immediately, while others may never sense it in their lifetime."

"I had intended to provide you with better tools to help you sense the Qi Force frequency, but those are buried deep in the family's treasury, beyond my reach. I hope you understand."

"To be honest, the Qi Force tablet you have now was obtained only after I argued my case at the family council."

"This tablet is a very important asset of our family, so please don't lose it, and you must not take it with you."

"From now on, you have three days. In three days, you will board the ship bound for your territory. You must reach it before the sea freezes over."

"The reason we're rushing to hold the engagement party is, in fact, this. I hope you understand. Of course, during these three days, we will fully support you. I'll even have my sister attend to you exclusively during this time, no matter your special preferences or requests—she will do everything to fulfill them."