Chapter 16 The God War Begins

Hill understood why Boen was so pained; he had always thought his parents' loyalty was unshakeable, yet it completely dissipated when faced with interests. To avoid putting Hill in a difficult position, he had no choice but to leave.

In fact, Hill wasn't upset by this at all. Boen always thought Hill was too naive. But Hill, who had been circulating through construction sites for over a decade, had seen too many entanglements of interest and feuds of gratitude and resentment.

Hill simply didn't care.

Modern people don't believe there is such a thing as eternal, unchanging sincerity and emotion. The absence of betrayal simply meant that the bargaining chip was placed wrongly.

He treasured the many years of companionship with Boen, so he wouldn't test it. It would be foolish to make his friend struggle between his parents and himself.

He nodded and said, "Go and hand over your duties to List; I won't revoke your access to the territory."

Boen bowed deeply, turned, and entered the tower.

Hill turned around to see Adrian looking at him with an inexplicable expression and couldn't help asking, "What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Adrian curiously asked him, "I thought you had deep feelings for Lina?"

Hill scoffed, "Uncle Adrian, my own birth mother would abandon me for some inexplicable reason, and my father would rather that I didn't exist. How could you think I'd wholeheartedly trust anyone?"

Adrian said without hesitation, "It's all too common in noble circles. Most children like you grow up investing their emotions in their nannies. Not many can be as good to Boen as you have been."

"Boen is Boen," Hill said, "but I'm only slightly better towards Lina's mom and her family. After all, they did indeed make many sacrifices for me."

Adrian commented, "So, sincerity for sincerity, and feigned interest for pretense?"

"After I taught Boen magic, they decided to postpone having children," Hill said as he led Adrian toward the grass, "but since they said it was to take care of me and truly did so wholeheartedly, I appreciate it."

"Teacher and I are always worried that you care too much about them; being soft-hearted isn't a problem, we can always protect you. We're just afraid you'd consider them family!"

Hill laughed and replied, "I realized that eventually, but I couldn't say anything. It's Boen who's truly simple-minded, but he's capable and obedient, which makes him suitable to work for you."

Adrian nodded in agreement, "I'll take care of him, give him more to do, to train his magic power and prevent him from overthinking!"

Hill chuckled, "Just remember to bring more young apprentices in the trade caravan, that's what really matters."

Adrian regretfully said, "That's all we can do. Let Boen teach them the basics for a few years. Hopefully, there will be a few that are useful."

Adrian's other task for this visit was to replace the communication box in Hill's study.

Fran could direct it straight to the Archmage in the Capital with whom he was good friends, but Hill couldn't. When Fran left the Capital, he destroyed the box there.

Now that they were so close, the consumption of Elemental Crystals would be much less. Hill would be able to communicate with Fran at any time.

Hill had List bring out an Alchemy Carriage, which had better magic channeling effects, making it easier for Adrian who was floating. Otherwise, he was worried that Adrian would just use ropes to drag Boen's family through the air.

It wasn't long before Lina's family showed up with a huge amount of luggage.

Hill instructed them to load their luggage themselves, then he went upstairs.

As he passed the third floor, he stopped to say a few more words to Boen.

Boen had already packed his belongings and was sitting in a chair, lost in thought.

Hill tapped lightly on the door, and Boen immediately sprang up, "Young master!" It was the address he had used for more than a decade. In an instant, the call transported both of them back to times past.

Hill suppressed the sourness rising in his heart, "I won't say much more. Take good care of yourself. Grandfather won't say much to you, and Uncle Adrian will take care of you. But you need to understand, it's different from being with me. I've already spoken with Grandfather, Lina and the others will live on the merchant caravan's side."

Many words reached his lips only to be swallowed back—proximity doesn't breed closeness. At most, Lina and Locke would just seek resources from Boen for their children's cultivation; he only hoped Boen could maintain his bottom line.

Boen nodded silently.

Hill looked at him, "Lina and the others have gone down. You should also get ready quickly. Adrian will have to leave soon."

Boen picked up the suitcase beside him, "Don't worry. I'll try to stay in the Magic Tower. Visiting them once a month is good enough."

Feeling reassured, Hill went upstairs. He stood by the reception room's bay window, looking down. Lina and Locke were loading luggage into the carriage, while the two children stood aside. After Boen went down, he didn't rush to help as he used to; instead, he first asked a few questions, then used magic to levitate the large trunks onto the carriage roof.

Hill felt at ease, knowing it was good to keep just a bit of distance.

Adrian came out and looked at Hill, "Everything is loaded. I'll take them back now, and we'll get in touch after everything is settled. Oh, you mentioned building a small village outside the valley, do you want me to build it for you or will you build it yourself?"

Hill replied, "Don't bother, I'll just call a few Earth Elementals to build it. Just a few houses along the mountain and a circular wall will do."

"Do you need me to send some merchants?"

"Send me a few young people who can read, write, and count, preferably those who are married."

"A few people will be enough, huh!"

"I'm thinking of setting up a general store, an inn, and a pharmacy. I'll also have the servants who have families in the territory move out and live on their own."

"You really believe the Undead Tribe will come!"

Hill laughed, "If you listened to me, you would build a library on the road reserved for the Undead Tribe, stock it with plenty of low-level magic books, and make a good profit."

Adrian said without hesitation, "Since we are going to take on apprentices anyway, we'll have them copy books. And then set up two general stores selling low-level alchemy products."

He glanced at the family downstairs who had finished packing up, then turned to Hill and said, "I'm heading out now. You focus on your training, and try to reach Archmage status sooner, so we can worry less about you. I'll contact you if there's any news."

Hill nodded and escorted him downstairs.

After watching Adrian swiftly fly away with the carriage, Hill handed all the miscellaneous tasks to List and immersed himself in his training.

It was only when Adrian contacted Hill a month later that he realized how fast time had flown by.

Adrian told him that the God of Nobility had indeed begun the summoning for the God War, but while his faithful nobles were still gathering their forces, the God of Time and Space directly summoned 100,000 people.

He remarked ruefully, "All professionals. It's likely that Saral doesn't even have that many. When the teacher contacted the Capital, they were practically in a frenzy. It's said that among the first arrivals, there are already Grand Knights and Archmages, and Bishop Level Priests have appeared too."

Hill asked, "Are there any Sky Knights?"

"No one has seen any thus far. But those people can't possibly have advanced to Archmage within a month, right? No one knows how many high-levels they're hiding."

Hill listened to Adrian's concerned words and pondered how His Majesty had managed to do this.

Adrian said, "The teacher couldn't contain his curiosity and went to look again. He felt the Elemental Power in the air over William's Territory had thinned."

In a meaningful tone, he said to Hill, "At this rate, the world is going to change!"

Hill silently considered: If William's side develops well and attracts more and more people to this game, hundreds of thousands or even millions of players could be possible. What would this world, where the air is almost solid with elements, become?

The world consciousness surely must be aware but still allows it, which is strange! Does it hope to reduce the elemental content?

The powerful elements are what enable the deities to extend their influence into the Lower Realm, even as they remain suspended beyond the world.

Their power is so great that the world has long forbidden deities from tearing through the realm's membrane to enter in their true forms. Is the plan now to restrict even their influence?

Hill looked up at Adrian and said, "Then Elemental Ore will become even more precious."

Adrian replied, "No one knows about the mine here. The teacher hasn't told anyone, and those in the Capital think it was built here just to protect you. We mustn't say anything in the future. Be careful with your leopard!"

"There are only three servants in my territory now, one cook, and two manor guards. All menial tasks are handled by the Alchemy Golem. Merkel basically just goes to the Wood Spirit Forest to wait for me to get some meat boards, hardly ever leaving the house."

"Is your village complete?" Adrian asked, "I didn't see it when I was building the road past there recently."

"The Tower Spirit directly communicated with the Earth Elementals, and the houses just grew out of the ground. The most it took was some extra time to sort out the drainage. I've turned those few servants into vassals, giving them land and houses. Once their fields produce enough taxes to cover my food, I'll set these two from the territory free as well."

"How much land have you enclosed?"

"I calculated it, there are a thousand acres along the mountain range. Giving away half of it will be enough."

"I'll send people over tomorrow. I've already prepared everything, three pairs of newly married young couples who can read and write. Staying with me they could only be assistants, so I'm sending them to you."

"Thanks, I'll also allocate land to them, and they can hire others to farm it."

Adrian laughed, "You're not at a loss at all."

Hill replied, "I'm only taking a 10% tax on commerce."

"Do they have anywhere else to get supplies besides from you?"

"From your place! My alchemy products are not that comprehensive."

Adrian had nothing more to say.

Fran finally couldn't hold back and interjected, "Why all this idle talk!"

Hill said, "Grandfather, with things as they are, is the God War still likely to happen?"

Fran replied, "Deities who need a sense of crisis and faith will only get more involved!"

He instructed Hill, "Don't you get dragged into it. Those two foolish princes from Saral are planning to join the Rose Faction. They've already announced their intention to close the borders."

He sneered, "William's side is bursting at the seams with no place to go! With such a good excuse, let them wage war!"

Adrian said, "I have already purchased enough supplies to last for 10 years, and I've taken on more than 30 apprentices. I've also sealed off the road from Saral to us, so don't go out unless necessary. If you need anything, come here and take it."