Chapter 27: Marcus

"Cha-ching! I'm gonna make some bank now!" Ethan thought, his heart racing as he headed back to his room. This was his first time wheeling and dealing, despite having lived two lifetimes. Those seemingly casual chats with Alan had him mentally sweating bullets!

He had to play it cool, making Alan believe that the mighty Blackwood was still backing him, all while pretending he couldn't spill any beans about Blackwood. Plus, he had to dangle some juicy profits in front of Alan.

If he had lost his cool, things could've gone south real fast. Alan might've figured out he was flying solo and nabbed him on his way to school to grill him about where he got his stuff.

It was like walking a tightrope without a net!

But hey, it turned out alright.

"Wait, what?" Ethan suddenly realized something crucial. "On my way to school? Heck, I ain't going to school, I'm out here starting my own gig!"

No more worrying about that stuff.

He'd handed it off to Alan. As long as there was money to be made, Alan would hustle for him.

Ethan quickly shifted his focus to gaming!

No matter what.

He had to keep tabs on the game's dynamics. Although Blackwood was still in Iron Will, the stuff they produced had a unique market in the current Iron Will world, especially the beast blood fruits from the beast blood fruit trees, which were his ticket to riches!

[Nathan, along with Blackwood members and Gratitude Village villagers, went hunting and brought back a ton of loot.]

[Caught a wild beast: Berserk Tiger]

[Acquired special ability herb: Gather Energy Grass]

[Acquired...]

In the game, Nathan and the Blackwood crew were returning with their prey.

Ethan watched as the Blackwood base grew stronger.

He saw that Blackwood could now sustain itself and even had a thriving ecosystem!

The villagers of Gratitude Village farmed and raised livestock, which supported the current fifty special ability beasts in the beast park, gradually meeting their needs.

Every day, Amelia drew blood from the beasts, which was now enough to support the growth of first-stage beast blood fruits from the beast blood fruit trees, which bore fruit once every ten years, yielding about 80-100 fruits each time.

Now, Amelia, after years of research, had started planting another beast blood fruit tree.

"To have more beast blood fruit trees, we need more people to plant more crops and raise more livestock," Ethan realized.

He clearly understood the importance of the beast blood fruit trees. Not only could they sell for a good price, but as long as he had enough Spiritual Tribute points, they could even help him break through his current limits!

Ethan quickly called Nathan over.

"Please, Forebearer, guide us!"

Nathan bowed devoutly to the shimmering purple cards, not believing in gods or Buddhas, only in the Forebearer.

As the Purple Thunder Solar Python hissed,

Luna quickly translated, "Boss, the Forebearer commands that we need more people. Only then can we plant more fields and use my beast-taming skills to raise more special ability beasts!"

"Nathan understands, Forebearer is wise!"

Nathan's eyes lit up as he knelt before Ethan's cards, "Wife, I get what the Forebearer means now, he's not as simple as you said!"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Both Luna and Ethan on the screen were momentarily stunned.

Then Nathan said, "The Forebearer wants more than just fields and special ability beasts! He sees the blockade from Forest Town and knows that once we have more people, we can develop even more prosperously than Forest Town!"

"That way, we can attract merchants, attract powerful guests, and we... can dominate the region, and soon, completely crush Forest Town!"

Nathan looked almost crazed, "All hail the Forebearer, long live the Forebearer!"

"..."

Ethan just popped a peanut into his mouth, but as he opened wide, it fell right out. He smacked his lips and muttered, "Eh... it's not totally out of the question."

The sound of keyboard clacking filled the air.

The Purple Thunder Python let out a low growl again, and a 'Forebearer's Love' hit Nathan, showing Ethan's appreciation.

Nathan got moving quickly after that.

He sent elders from Gratitude Village in all directions. In these times, just having a meal to eat could make countless disaster victims grateful.

Ethan figured it wouldn't be long before Gratitude Village saw a population boom.

Not much later, another piece of good news came from the game!

"Karen has given birth to a boy after being pregnant for nine months, named Marcus!"

"Congrats! You've earned Spiritual Tribute +10."

Ethan noticed that as the Blackwood power grew stronger, he was getting more Spiritual Tribute each time!

A third-generation member of Blackwood was born.

The whole Gratitude Village threw a huge feast to celebrate, and the entire Blackwood was decked out in lights and decorations. Everyone gathered around Marcus in his cradle, joyful for the new Blackwood member.

Ethan was joyful too.

This newborn had a Psychic Constitution better than anyone in Blackwood—three Psychic Constitutions!

Though it was still a mixed Psychic Constitution, the speed of cultivating psychic powers was multiple times that of a five-element mixed Psychic Constitution!