Discussion & a glass of wine

"Alright, sorry... sorry, my mistake." He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I know Alan was brought up in an entirely different scenario. I was just joking, Helen," John clarified.

His tone shifted to a more serious one. "James, how would you evaluate yourself at the peak of your adventuring career?"

James pondered for a few seconds and proudly asserted, "I might have been among the best A-Class Adventurers in Green Town and considered one of the top 10 adventurers in the entire Winden region. After all, I am the son and nephew of the two best and most eccentric adventurers of their time." He smiled.

All three ladies exchanged smirks. Before John could bask in the praise from his son, James continued, "I thought the lunacy ended with my father, as I turned out to be a decent one. Alas, then came Williams, the biggest lunatic in our family."

Laughter echoed in the room, with James joining in himself.

Amid laughter, Helen turned towards Alan and noticed a slight change in his face's color. She stood up abruptly, checked his forehead, and then turned to announce, "He is getting better. The body temperature is improving slowly, and by tomorrow evening, he shall be up and about as usual."

Everyone beamed happily.

James then reminded John after a few moments, "Back to the topic then?"

"Where was I...? Oh yes."

"Then, James, what are the chances of you facing an S-Class adventurer?" John asked.

"If I were to face off with an entry-level or even a middle-grade S-Class adventurer, I might come out victorious. But would definitely not be coompletly fine after the battle. You know very well that many of us don't upgrade classes once we reach the peak of A-Class, just like Uncle Alec and you," James explained.

John nodded proudly. "That's true. Alec and I never took tests for S-Class promotion, even though everyone in the guild knew that we were more than eligible."

Both Helen and Elizabeth nodded fondly.

"Now, what would you say if I tell you that you can't stand even for 5 seconds in front of Alan?"

"What!!!!" James was flabbergasted. "You mean... he can... but how is that...?"

Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances, their expressions filled with awe.

"Yes, my son. He is incredibly powerful. He can bring down a fully grown wild boar with a single punch, using less than half of his strength. He can outmatch the 2 S-Class adventurers we have in this region and the only peak S-Class adventurer here. He even can give the only Z-Class adventurer, the Guild Master of Wilden region a tough challenge, even if they use their full strength," John concluded.

"Does anyone want some wine? I think I can't digest this news without it," James suggested, and everyone nodded in agreement.

He summoned a maid and asked her to bring a bottle of their best wine and glasses. Then he turned towards John, "Father, are you exaggerating, or is this one of those pranks you always pull?"

"What do you think, Helen?" John turned to Helen, seeking her opinion on James' question.

"Well, I can't speak for S-Class and other adventurers, but I can confidently say that even Alec and John together at their prime couldn't have taken down Alan."

The revelation left everyone speechless.

A knock on the door snapped everyone back to reality. James opened the door, receiving the bottle and glasses from the maids. After learning that Williams had already gone to bed, he thanked them and closed the door.

Pouring a generous amount of wine for everyone, James took his glass and gulped it down in one go. "I think I might need one more glass," he spoke softly, refilling his glass and settling back in his chair with a sigh.

"I can't even imagine how much this child can grow in the future," James wondered aloud.

John chuckled, "Not only does he have the strength, but he's also one of the most sensible, thoughtful, caring, and responsible children I have ever seen. I might have met my match when I was at his age." Four pairs of eyes glared at him. He gulped down the wine and continued with a sheepish smile.

"To say he's good would be an understatement. He excels in every field – trade, history, geography, economics, arts, weapons, herbs, healing, minor surgery, anti-venom medicine."

"Pzzzzzt..." James, Jane, and Elizabeth, who took a sip of wine at that moment, spat it out, coughing.

"You mean to say he's well-versed in various subjects, medicine, and even combat arts?" Elizabeth asked John seriously.

John nodded, "Even though his exposure to the subjects is at a basic level now, his understanding, thirst for knowledge, and the speed at which he grasps everything indicate that he'll be a formidable person in less than a decade."