Chapter 52


    vin chuckled and shook his head. "You''ve got the wrong man. I''m not the right investment for


    you, and I don''t need your money."


    "Don''t rush off. Let''s talk this through. I''m not asking you to be a mere guard in my household; I


    want to be friends, really good friends."


    "I''m a walking cmity, mixing with me won''t do you any good."


    "Am I the sort to shy away from trouble? You underestimate me."


    "What''s this really about? Just because I''ve be a Novice Mage, you think I can go further,


    be stronger?"


    "The key to investing is foresight! It''s about having a feeling!"


    Balder was brimming with confidence, for he was bold enough to gamble and had the foundation to


    back it. "If I see potential in you, and believe you can bring me good fortune in the future, I''ll invest


    in you. And I''ll do it before you''ve made your mark, that''s a true gesture of faith. Otherwise, what''s


    the point of investing after you''ve already seeded, or are on the brink of sess? The impact is


    entirely different."


    vin pped Balder on his sturdy shoulder and chuckled. "I get your drift. If I do make it, your


    investment pays off. If not, you''ve lost nothing."


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    "I''vee with honest intent today; I truly wish to forge a friendship with you."


    "I''d advise you sincerely, that I''m not worth your efforts. That''s all. Farewell, it was a pleasure


    meeting you."


    "Wait, don''t go, why leave again? I''m set on making you my friend, and I''m quite persistent. From


    now on, whatever you desire, just ask. Whatever help you need, I''ll do what I can. A nod of the


    head? Just give me that, and we''re kin. Should the daye when you''re wronged, signal us, and


    my people will be there in a sh!" Balder had secretly signed on many followers at Cobalt Strike


    and was training them sessfully.


    vin waved and turned to leave, then paused.


    Balder thought he might have a chance and approached with a beaming smile. "Second thoughts?"


    "You truly wish to help me?"


    "Of course."


    "I want to visit home; can you help with that?" vin had been at Cobalt Strike for eight years


    without once returning home.


    "Well... that''s not out of the question," Balder stammered.


    "Pleased to have met you, goodbye." vin waved and departed.


    "Think it over, I''ll be waiting for your word," Balder called out. His visit today was merely to meet


    vin and build a rapport. The matter of investment would take time; he had his steps and


    observation process.


    Word of vin taking the Goliath Force quickly spread, reaching the ears of Galos. He shook his


    head with a chuckle, finding vin na?ve. Did sheer brute strength make one think they could


    master the Goliath Force? Cobalt Strike had scores of strong men, yet only Brunn had seeded.


    Goliath Force was not onlyplex but also incredibly challenging to train, with stringent demands


    on one''s physique. A single misstep, and the surging power could shatter one''s Channel of Energy.


    Galos wasn''t the only one unimpressed; others shook their heads and murmured. If Celesse cared


    for vin, why not offer guidance instead of letting him fumble about? Forget challenging Galos


    with the Goliath Force; they thought vin would be lucky if he didn''t end up crippled within a


    month.


    vin paid no mind to the gossip. Apart from his regr deliveries, he devoted all his time to


    mastering Goliath Force. The first three segments were already perfected; he just needed to refine


    them like standard Combat Magic. His focus was now on the fourth and fifth segments, the most


    formidable and challenging parts.


    With the aid of the Restoration Mantra, vin was full of confidence.


    The initial ten days went smoothly. With Goliath Force as his focus and the Restoration Mantra as


    support, vin trained tirelessly day and night, feeling his strength surge, and increasingly


    bing infatuated with the power the Goliath Force brought. But after those ten days, the


    atmosphere in Cobalt Strike grew eerie. Each night, Botanic Haven would erupt with roars that


    lasted for hours on end.


    The roars unsettled many, and the Protégés wondered why the Elders did nothing. If it was a


    monster, why not y it outright?


    The howls troubled vin, their summoning growing stronger, instilling an urgency within him. Was


    it truly calling for him? Was it... bing impatient?