Chapter 117


    "If you secure a spot for me, I''ll consider you a friend."


    Balder spoke with a gentle tone, "The Eight Orders of the Nortnds hold The sh of Eight


    Orders in high regard; they always bring their most skilled Protégés to the tournament. Moreover,


    casualties are amon urrence during thepetition. vin, it''s not that I''m unwilling to


    help, but your current level..."


    "I am now at Novice Mage Stage VII. Give me another month and a half, and I''ll do everything


    within my power to reach Stage VIII."


    "Stage VII?" Balder was taken aback.


    vin summoned lightning, elevating his presence to its peak. "Stage VII, already at the pinnacle."


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Balder''s gaze shifted again, twinkling with recognition. If he remembered correctly, it had been


    merely half a year since vin advanced to Novice Mage, and now he had already reached Stage


    VII? As one''s level increased, progress typically slowed, especially the leap from Stage VI to Stage


    VII, which was a significant hurdle. Yet, vin had been at Stage V just a month and a half ago.


    "How did you manage this?" Balder knew of vin''s talent and his fierce determination, but to surge


    to Stage VII in half a year seemed almost unnatural.


    "I will advance to Stage VIII in a month and a half. Help me secure a spot in The sh of Eight


    Orders."


    Balder quickly regained hisposure, not rushing to answer. vin''s talent and rapid growth truly


    astonished him. However, Balder didn''t have the influence to vie for a spot in the tea gathering.


    After all, the Mollen family wasn''t powerful enough to allow Cobalt Strike to bring a ''weakling'' to The


    sh of Eight Orders and face embarrassment.


    vin didn''t pressure Balder and waited for his decision.


    After a long hesitation and a light chuckle, Balder said, "I''d truly like to help you, but... you might not


    understand The sh of Eight Orders. It''s where the strongest of the new generation of the Eight


    Orderse to spar, almost exclusively Stage IX prodigies, and some even as exceptional as


    Celesse. It''s not that I doubt your strength, but..."


    "I''m not going for the experience of The sh of Eight Orders. I''m going to secure a spot and


    leverage it for my standing in Cobalt Strike." vin wasn''t fighting for himself; he was fighting for


    the 200,000 people of Stormcast. He hadn''t had the strength topete before, but now that he


    did, he was determined to fight for it.


    Balder was sharp and grasped the gist of vin''s intentions. "May I be so bold as to ask if you...


    hate Cobalt Strike?"


    "I am not a rabid dog; I don''t bite without cause."


    Balder was quite pleased with this response, and his smile deepened involuntarily. The Mollen


    family didn''t want to offend the entirety of Cobalt Strike, but if it was just about angering one Elder,


    that was worth considering. However, terms would need to be negotiated. "I personally would like to


    help you, but to persuade the Commander, I need my family to step in. How can I bring them on


    board without some sort of assurance?"


    "I willpete for a ranking, and if I seed, we shall be friends. If I fail, I will sell myself into the


    service of the Mollen family." vin shouldered his water barrel and left the dense woods.


    Balder stood still, silent for a long time. If it were anyone else, he would have taken their words as a


    jest, but vin''s character and the talent he''d shown in reaching Stage VII in just half a year were


    enough for Balder to take him seriously.


    Investment... Investment was about taking risks! It relied on foresight and vision.


    "My lord." A few attendants entered the grove.


    Balder uncharacteristically subdued his smile, and his eyes narrowed with a sharp glint. The


    attendants were quietly perplexed; they had been with Balder for many years and had never seen


    him exhibit such a demeanor.


    After a while, Balder raised his head, his smile returning. "Summon my father here!"


    ...


    vin trusted that Balder would seriously consider the proposition. For the Mollen family, this was


    like a high-stakes wager, betting that he could achieve a notable rank in The sh of Eight Orders.


    If he seeded, his status would change dramatically. The first thing to be reversed would be his


    servitude; with freedom from control, he would essentially gain his independence. A potentialden


    free man with the background of the young lord of Stormcast was a trade the Mollen family would


    likely be pleased with.


    With the Mollen family''s cooperation, vin would find it easier to support his own kin.


    This was the decision vin had pondered over the entire night, involving a series of strategic ns


    for the future. Once the Mollen family agreed to his proposal, they would inevitably be closely tied to


    vin for a long time, working for him and realizing their greater interests.


    But the precondition was that vin needed to secure a rank in The sh of Eight Orders - this


    was the crucial point.


    "Stage VIII! A month and a half to reach Stage VIII!" vin set a strict order for himself.


    From that day on, he adopted an unprecedented low profile, ignoring all provocations from the


    outside world and all humiliations. He spent his mornings making deliveries and dedicating all other


    time to training.


    The Protégés of the Grand Elder''s faction sought trouble but found no opportunity to act. They even


    wanted Adirich to lead them, but Adirich had been taken away by an Elder for special training.