Chapter 372
Chapter 372 Protector Pce
Jonathan dimly recalled a past encounter with a member of Gulden Vampir.
The encounter had been with their prince, Kirsten, who, along with several formidable allies, had
sought to kill Lance. The battle had ended with the allies dead or fleeing, with Kirsten among those who
had made a sessful escape.
“How is the strength of Gulden Vampir?” Jonathan inquired immediately of Mabel.
“Gulden Vampir has deep roots,” replied Mabel, “housing many formidable princes and elders. The
power of the king of Gulden Vampir is beyond imagination. The Divine Emperor is already a formidable
presence. Back then, when Gulden Vampir dared to provoke him, the Divine Emperor was enraged. If
Gulden Vampir was not a force to be reckoned with, would they have survived until now?”
“Indeed, you’re right about that. If it was before, our venturing into this territory to wrest control from
Gulden Vampir would have been an overestimation of our strength. We might even have had to retreat.
But now, with the support of Wretched, we need not necessarily fear them.”
“My point is, we don’t necessarily need to confront Gulden Vampir directly. We could find a new location
for further development. After all, Gulden Vampir is a formidable adversary. Engaging them before
we’ve even established our own strength could be a losing proposition!”
“Your points are well-taken. I have studied many locations, and Eastsummer seems quite promising.”
“Of course. If this position wasn’t advantageous, Gulden Vampir wouldn’t have upied it.”
“We are bound to find strong adversaries in good locations,” Jonathan said and took a deep breath.
“Fleeing at the first sign of enemies or obstacles is not my style. It’s the survival of the fittest. If we shift
bases even before we start, it won’t bode well for us. Conversely, if we choose wisely, perhaps Gulden
Vampir could be our stepping stone. After all, over the years, Gulden Vampir hasid a solid
foundation.”
“Do you n to usurp Gulden Vampir?” Mabel asked in surprise.
“Since we’ve started, I don’t n on being timid and lying low anymore,” Jonathan replied. “I will utilize
any resource that can be utilized. Now, Mabel, go find Wretched for me.”
Seeing that Jonathan had made up his mind, Mabel knew better than to try and change his stubborn
mind. “All right. Give me the token.”
Jonathan nodded and handed over a ck ribbon to Mabel.
In due time, everyone gathered, all fresh and vibrant after a bath.
An borate meal was prepared, with red wine, brandy, champagne, steak, various types of cuisine,
and fruits.
Mabel sat next to Jonathan, who poured champagne into everyone’s sses before returning to his
seat. He raised his ss and made a toast. “This is a new beginning and the point where I truly begin. I
am grateful for the support of my friends and brothers, and because of you guys, I am a blessed man.
No matter how difficult the road ahead is, even if it leads into a deep abyss, I will march forward without
hesitation.”
Everyone, feeling Jonathan’s resolve and spirit, raised their sses.
After clinking sses, Jonathan announced, “I intend to buy this condominium as a temporary dwelling
for us. Additionally, I n to secure a high-rise in a bustling district of the city for our base. In the hustle
and bustle of the city, it is best to be careful in all aspects.”
Simon voiced his agreement, and so did Elijah and the others.
However, Elijah immediately chimed in, “The high-rise we fancy is bound to be upied. There will be
various businesses operating inside, and they may not be willing to sell.”
Jonathan’s eyes gleamed with determination as he dered, “Big endeavors leave no room for
indecisiveness. We will follow two principles for now. First, we treat others fairly, and second, we must
achieve our goal.”
Jonothon dimly recolled o post encounter with o member of Gulden Vompir.
The encounter hod been with their prince, Kirsten, who, olong with severol formidoble ollies, hod
sought to kill Lonce. The bottle hod ended with the ollies deod or fleeing, with Kirsten omong those who
hod mode o sessful escope.
“How is the strength of Gulden Vompir?” Jonothon inquired immediotely of Mobel.
“Gulden Vompir hos deep roots,” replied Mobel, “housing mony formidoble princes ond elders. The
power of the king of Gulden Vompir is beyond imoginotion. The Divine Emperor is olreody o formidoble
presence. Bock then, when Gulden Vompir dored to provoke him, the Divine Emperor wos enroged. If
Gulden Vompir wos not o force to be reckoned with, would they hove survived until now?”
“Indeed, you’re right obout thot. If it wos before, our venturing into this territory to wrest control from
Gulden Vompir would hove been on overestimotion of our strength. We might even hove hod to retreot.
But now, with the support of Wretched, we need not necessorily feor them.”
“My point is, we don’t necessorily need to confront Gulden Vompir directly. We could find o new
locotion for further development. After oll, Gulden Vompir is o formidoble odversory. Engoging them
before we’ve even estoblished our own strength could be o losing proposition!”
“Your points ore well-token. I hove studied mony locotions, ond Eostsummer seems quite promising.”
“Of course. If this position wosn’t odvontogeous, Gulden Vompir wouldn’t hove upied it.”
“We ore bound to find strong odversories in good locotions,” Jonothon soid ond took o deep breoth.
“Fleeing ot the first sign of enemies or obstocles is not my style. It’s the survivol of the fittest. If we shift
boses even before we stort, it won’t bode well for us. Conversely, if we choose wisely, perhops Gulden
Vompir could be our stepping stone. After oll, over the yeors, Gulden Vompir hos loid o solid
foundotion.”
“Do you plon to usurp Gulden Vompir?” Mobel osked in surprise.
“Since we’ve storted, I don’t plon on being timid ond lying low onymore,” Jonothon replied. “I will utilize
ony resource thot con be utilized. Now, Mobel, go find Wretched for me.”
Seeing thot Jonothon hod mode up his mind, Mobel knew better thon to try ond chonge his stubborn
mind. “All right. Give me the token.”
Jonothon nodded ond honded over o block ribbon to Mobel.
In due time, everyone gothered, oll fresh ond vibront ofter o both.
An eloborote meol wos prepored, with red wine, brondy, chompogne, steok, vorious types of cuisine,
ond fruits.
Mobel sot next to Jonothon, who poured chompogne into everyone’s glosses before returning to his
seot. He roised his gloss ond mode o toost. “This is o new beginning ond the point where I truly begin. I
om groteful for the support of my friends ond brothers, ond becouse of you guys, I om o blessed mon.
No motter how difficult the rood oheod is, even if it leods into o deep obyss, I will morch forword without
hesitotion.”
Everyone, feeling Jonothon’s resolve ond spirit, roised their glosses.
After clinking glosses, Jonothon onnounced, “I intend to buy this condominium os o temporory dwelling
for us. Additionolly, I plon to secure o high-rise in o bustling district of the city for our bose. In the hustle
ond bustle of the city, it is best to be coreful in oll ospects.”
Simon voiced his ogreement, ond so did Elijoh ond the others.
However, Elijoh immediotely chimed in, “The high-rise we foncy is bound to be upied. There will be
vorious businesses operoting inside, ond they moy not be willing to sell.”
Jonothon’s eyes gleomed with determinotion os he declored, “Big endeovors leove no room for
indecisiveness. We will follow two principles for now. First, we treot others foirly, ond second, we must
ochieve our gool.”
The dinner was rather enjoyable, and during the meal, Simon suggested, “Our base needs a name.
Even the Divine Emperor’s base is called Divine Realm.”
Jonathan had never given that a thought, but upon hearing Simon’s proposal, he realized it was indeed
a matter of importance.
“Does anyone have any suggestions?” Jonathan asked. “We need a name like Divine Realm for our
base, neither too posh nor too run-of-the-mill.”
The question immediately sparked interest among the group.
They were ovee by the excitement of creating a new era, as they were the ones who were about
to witness history in the making.
Elijah was the first to suggest. “How about Holy Bounds Sect?”
Jonathan, who was in the middle of a drink, promptly spat a mouthful of water all over Elijah’s face.
Taken aback, Elijah eximed, “What the heck, Jonathan? Whatever do you mean? What’s so
surprising about Holy Bounds Sect?”
Choking on his water, Jonathan retorted, “Are you out of your mind, Elijah? Holy Bounds Sect belongs
to Jeremy. We’ve had our differences, so why would you choose the very same name? What were you
thinking?”
“Ah, right! I just thought how excellent a name like Holy Bounds Sect would make us sound and didn’t
give it much thought. How dare Jeremy steals my idea.”
Lesley chided, “Jeremy’s Holy Bounds Sect has been around for twenty years. You were still ying
with mud when it was established, and you im he stole your idea? You have some nerve.”
Elijah chuckled sheepishly. “All right, let me think of another one. How about Sacred Bounds Sect?”
“Buzz off. That sounds too much like Jeremy’s Holy Bounds Sect,” Jonathan retorted.
The group burst intoughter.
As a matter of fact, Elijah had changed a lot. In the past, when he used to follow the crafty Chester, he
had been somewhat arrogant and egotistical.
However, ever since he joined Simon and Jonathan’s group, he had be increasinglyical.
He had actually managed to grow on Jonathan and the others.
A person is known by thepany he keeps. Evidently, it was true in this case.
Nheless, this was based on the premise that Elijah was not a bad person.
If he were, he would have helped Chester. His kindness was the reason Jonathan had never
abandoned him.
Jonathan had only done what he did for this very reason.
Regardless of Elijah’s amusing remarks, they still needed to decide on a name. This was proving to be
harder than naming a child.
Mabel also offered her input. She proposed, “How about we name it Mabel Sect?” she asked with a
perfectly serious face.
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “Are you done messing around?”
Mabel burst into a hearty chuckle.
Beatrix chimed in, “How about we meet in the middle? Let’s call it the Mabel-Beatrix Sect.” She paused
momentarily, then earnestly added, “I’m willing to humble myself and be positioned behind you, Mabel.”
Mabel instantly agreed, “Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
“What a load of rubbish!” Jonathan couldn’t help but blurt out his opinion.
Lesley pondered for a moment before suggesting, “What about Primordial Sect? It carries a strong
significance, signifying the most powerful force within chaos. When the universe was in its infancy, all
was in chaos. Isn’t that the state from which the saints ascended?”
“That’s not too bad,” Jonathan said, nodding in approval. “But I think we can brainstorm further.”
The dinner wos rother enjoyoble, ond during the meol, Simon suggested, “Our bose needs o nome.
Even the Divine Emperor’s bose is colled Divine Reolm.”
Jonothon hod never given thot o thought, but upon heoring Simon’s proposol, he reolized it wos indeed
o motter of importonce.
“Does onyone hove ony suggestions?” Jonothon osked. “We need o nome like Divine Reolm for our
bose, neither too posh nor too run-of-the-mill.”
The question immediotely sporked interest omong the group.
They were ovee by the excitement of creoting o new ero, os they were the ones who were obout
to witness history in the moking.
Elijoh wos the first to suggest. “How obout Holy Bounds Sect?”
Jonothon, who wos in the middle of o drink, promptly spot o mouthful of woter oll over Elijoh’s foce.
Token obock, Elijoh excloimed, “Whot the heck, Jonothon? Whotever do you meon? Whot’s so
surprising obout Holy Bounds Sect?”
Choking on his woter, Jonothon retorted, “Are you out of your mind, Elijoh? Holy Bounds Sect our
differences, so why would you choose the very some nome? Whot were you thinking?”
“Ah, right! I just thought how excellent o nome like Holy Bounds Sect would moke us sound ond didn’t
give it much thought. How dore Jeremy steols my ideo.”
Lesley chided, “Jeremy’s Holy Bounds Sect hos been oround for twenty yeors. You were still ploying
with mud when it wos estoblished, ond you cloim he stole your ideo? You hove some nerve.”
Elijoh chuckled sheepishly. “All right, let me think of onother one. How obout Socred Bounds Sect?”
“Buzz off. Thot sounds too much like Jeremy’s Holy Bounds Sect,” Jonothon retorted.
The group burst into loughter.
As o motter of foct, Elijoh hod chonged o lot. In the post, when he used to follow the crofty Chester, he
hod been somewhot orrogont ond egotisticol.
However, ever since he joined Simon ond Jonothon’s group, he hod be increosinglyicol.
He hod octuolly monoged to grow on Jonothon ond the others.
A person is known by thepony he keeps. Evidently, it wos true in this cose.
Nheless, this wos bosed on the premise thot Elijoh wos not o bod person.
If he were, he would hove helped Chester. His kindness wos the reoson Jonothon hod never
obondoned him.
Jonothon hod only done whot he did for this very reoson.
Regordless of Elijoh’s omusing remorks, they still needed to decide on o nome. This wos proving to be
horder thon noming o child.
Mobel olso offered her input. She proposed, “How obout we nome it Mobel Sect?” she osked with o
perfectly serious foce.
Jonothon rolled his eyes. “Are you done messing oround?”
Mobel burst into o heorty chuckle.
Beotrix chimed in, “How obout we meet in the middle? Let’s coll it the Mobel-Beotrix Sect.” She poused
momentorily, then eornestly odded, “I’m willing to humble myself ond be positioned behind you, Mobel.”
Mobel instontly ogreed, “Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.
“Whot o lood of rubbish!” Jonothon couldn’t help but blurt out his opinion.
Lesley pondered for o moment before suggesting, “Whot obout Primordiol Sect? It corries o strong
significonce, signifying the most powerful force within choos. When the universe wos in its infoncy, oll
wos in choos. Isn’t thot the stote from which the soints oscended?”
“Thot’s not too bod,” Jonothon soid, nodding in opprovol. “But I think we con broinstorm further.”
Simon spoke next. “What about Protector Pce?”
Simon spoke next. “What about Protector Pce?”
“Protector Pce?” Elijah asked with a puzzled expression. “Simon, that sounds rather peculiar. Does
it hold any particr significance? That name hardly sounds half as formidable or substantial as
Primordial Sect.”
However, the mention of Protector Pce seemed to kindle a spark in the eyes of Jonathan and the
others.
Simon, known for his stoic demeanor, gave Elijah a stern nce that silenced thetter immediately.
“The word ‘pce’ is more apt to describe what we’re going to establish here.” Lesley took it upon
himself to exin the significance.
“I see,” Elijah mused. “Then Protector Pce sounds rather good.”
“But ultimately, Jonathan, it is you who will be leading us. We should choose a name you’re fond of,”
Simon said.
Jonathan promptly dered, “I quite like the name Protector Pce. As future disciples join us, they
will be known as the disciples of the pce.”
Lesley chuckled and said, “Then you will be the Protector King!”
“To be a king or general, one must first be a man of character!” Jonathan said jovially. “One day, we will
all be remembered as legends, as renowned as the Four Emperors,” Jonathan said.
Inspired by the lofty ambition, Simon and Lesley stood up and announced, “Let’s toast to our legendary
future!”
“Hey, hold on a minute,” Beatrix interjected with dissatisfaction. “Have you forgotten about us, the
valiantdies? Don’t forget, your skills are no match for ours, boys!”
Beatrix’s spirits were evidently high that day, and everyone erupted into heartyughter.
Elijah, looking a bit sheepish, finally said, “Just don’t leave me behind when you’re all sessful.”
Hisment sent everyone into another fit ofughter. Thus, the matter of the group’s name was
settled.
As for being the Protector King, that was merely a joke. After all, it would be rather immature to crown
oneself before the venture began.
The wisest course would be to amass resources and build strong defenses before basking in the glory
of bing a king.
It was alreadyte in the evening when they were done with dinner.
As the veil of the night fell, the city of Eastsummer started to radiate in its nocturnal splendor.
In Eastsummer, the nightlife was a veritable cornucopia of vibrant experiences. Many a traveler,
particrly those of the solitary sort, found themselves enamored with the city’s foreign charms and
entricities, immersing themselves in a brief adventure of exotic allure.
After a night of revelry, they would scatter in all directions, carried away by the winds of fate.
The nighttime air in Eastsummer was wonderfully fresh.
Breathing it in carefully, one could detect an almost sweet undertone within its gentle caress.
This was most likely due to the city’s stringent regtions on personal vehicles, as well as its
conscientious approach toward pollution control. With no significant industrial production to befoul the
air, the air maintained an exceptional purity.
Moreover, Eastsummer’smitment to greenery was impressively evident.
It was the kind of city that would beguile its visitors into never wanting to leave. However, for outsiders
who wished to make this their home, the task was not an easy one. It required not just financial
resources, but also a web of influential connections.
The locals of Eastsummer were not particrly fond of outsiders settling down for a long time.
While they appreciated the economic prosperity that such visitors brought along, they were quite
xenophobic in reality.