Applause resounded in the staff’s waiting room of the Gilded Snow. This was the first time they had heard Relestia sing, and, such a song!

Kairos, who thought that combat is the only way to form a spirit contract, looked at the princess in utter shock.

It was an unexpected way of victory, but it jolted a vague memory of the first time he summoned the greater spirits.

Each of them had displayed a fondness for magnificent beauty, and some even exhibited their art, like Tempest’s music and Boreas’ permafrost crystals.

The Elementals’ love of art is something Relestia used to win Triteia over, but more than so, she had won every listener’s heart.

While Kairos had an appointment with the craftsmen to catch, the two girls busied themselves with getting acquainted with their new partners.

The baby Kirin, especially, were overjoyed at finding a new home. Its species needed a parent to nurture until it is fully grown and Ling’er had fitted the role it desperately needed.

The process had been exceptionally easy. In fact, it was because how the young Kirins would become affectionate so easily that the mother Kirin had to be especially protective.

“Let’s name it!” Relestia said excitedly as the mythical beast jumped from thigh to thigh. The playful little fellow had started a game of make-believe logs crossing.

When it heard the princess’ suggestion, it turned its face to its new owner. The soul bond between Ling’er and the baby reverberated, and without words, the tamer could hear its thoughts.

“What’s a name mommy? Is it yummy?”

“A name? It is a word we can use to call you…. Hmm….? Ouuu… I can speak!”

“Aaaah! Ahh…! …. Speakh… I… I… aaa…”

“OHHH!! You can speak through your soul link!” The princess immediately guessed what Ling’er is trying to say.

She looked at Kairos and smiled thinking, “Hehe. As expect, you’re amazing.”

Snapping herself out of her thoughts, the princess held Ling’er’s hands, “Why don’t you ask what name does it want?”

“O…kay…”

It has no idea what names are for, but if mommy thinks it’s a good idea, it’s definitely a good idea.

Ling’er bounced off a few of her thoughts to her new pet, but the Kirin did not seem interested.

“Those names are no good?... wuuu what should I call you then?”

“Something that is… good? Tasty is good! Name me tasty~.”

Ling’er giggled at the suggestion. Since her plight, she couldn’t converse with anyone. She patted the little fellow, and in return, it nuzzled its head against her and plopped down on her lap.

…..

Within the common room, the masters of each craft were gathered.

As the last one to arrive, Kairos took a look at their faces and gave them a nod.

There are Siegfried, the master smith, Helena the pill master and herbalist, Laksa the master chef, Xuan Xian who had recently picked up sewing and became their clothier in addition to managing their finances, and the apprentices.

He motioned for them to have a seat, then began explaining the purpose for their meeting.

“It has been a while,” he smiled, and the room burst into noisy greetings of ‘welcome back, young master!’ Kairos was also filled with delight to be among friends. He continued, “I’m sure most of you have already heard that somehow, on the way here, I managed to disrupt our business, so I’ll make this meeting quick that you may have an early rest today.

I called for this meeting basically because I haven’t had a chance to speak to everyone for a while now, and there had been many great changes.

Especially, the news that we have sided with the Dark Gods must have been a tremendous shock.”

The staffs murmured their agreements. It had created quite a large stir, and there was plenty of dissatisfaction among them when they were told to work with the superior of the Devilheart family.

Kairos knew of their unhappiness and thought to address it before disgruntlement had time to fester.

“The business partnership with the Dark Gods family was indeed formed from mutual beneficial needs, however, despite what I first believed, the Great Noble family had proven herself trustworthy.”

The uproar he received was instant.

“Trustworthy? Bullshit. We were imprisoned because of their greed. They will turn their heads the moment it benefits them!”

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“Watch your tongue when speaking to the young master!” Someone else chided immediately.

“But what he said was true! Those lying scoundrels will do anything to gain your trust, then chew you out.”

“I agree, the nobles cannot be trusted. They are all afraid to lose their power, their control, over us. They won’t give us a real fighting chance, no matter what they say.”

Kairos lifted his palm, motioning silence. Only because of their great respect to him did the old masters curbed their tongues.

“For his subordinates acting out of line before, Lord Yue had given us proper remunerations. At the start, I rejected him, but I found out that everything was done by the Devilheart’s discretion. A master is only one when his followers consider him so, and that bunch had been treacherous at heart.”

The employees looked at each other without knowing what to say. If what their young master had concluded was true, then that means the Devilheart family had intentions to betray one of the three great families?

“Young master, is this why the Dark Gods have contacted you?”

“Indeed.”

“And, you will assist them?”

“You’re only half right,” Kairos said with a smile, “The Snowdrifts is in fact in more than a simple business partnership with the Dark Gods. They will become the umbrella to shield, and nurture us.

But, we will also become their pillar support.

The Devilheart wishes to throw off its yoke, and naturally, the Dark Gods want to restrict them. Although we are not strong enough to destroy them, for now, we will be the chains.”

He did not explain further. There are some things best left unsaid, like the identity that Lord Yue is actually working under the Emperor’s orders, and the Devilheart family is suspected of plotting a rebellion.

He moved on to the second part of this meeting, knowing that the dark air shrouding them would eventually clear itself when given time.

“Besides the matter of the Snowdrifts and Dark Gods’ partnership, the only other reason I gathered the craftsmen to this meeting is that I’ve gained some knowledge that I believe might be helpful.”

Although he announced it rather humbly, the eyes of the masters still shone an almost-covetous glow.

The apprentices were less excited. They had never worked with Kairos before and did not understand what the hype was all about.

The young earl continued, “Hopefully you will allow me to work with different crafts in the following week. I promise to do my best and stay out of the way.”

He didn’t say out that he is planning to convince them to take him in as their apprentice. The craftsmanship classes in the academy just couldn’t compare to the ones who hailed from the extinguished north kingdom.

The master artisans laughed heartily when hearing his words, describing how impossible it would be for their young master to get in their way in the first place. It’s no secret that Kairos knows how to handle delicate work. The boy might be deemed inept for cultivation, but he wouldn’t trip around in a workshop.

His lack of aptitude lies in harnessing ambient energies, which cripples his cultivation speed. Not only so, but he also lacked the natural flair in a fight, forcing him to register every detail that is happening, and processing it mentally. He needs to make an effort to control his body instead of how better fighters could move by instinct.

Fortunately, his intellect had been altered since he started cultivating the unbelievable techniques from his old tome of Origin, and he was capable of more than overcompensating for his lack.

He was so efficient that until now, using his eidetic memory, unparalleled intellect, and a daringness to create, he stayed far ahead of his peers.

Strangely, Kairos has successfully made himself. The. Most. Untalented. Prodigy. Period.

Of course, there is only so much he can cover up using his intelligence over his non-existent combat, cultivation, and bloodline inabilities. Jones for one, easily outmatched him no matter what he did.

One could get from A to B instantly, like an afterthought. The other, although fast, had to first understand the entire process and derive the way to get from point to point.

But, taking away the blood and the violence and replace it with chisels and irons, the latter promises ground-breaking new heights in any field, and for this very reason, the masters were all thrilled to have Kairos working with them.

They looked at him as though he would be the harbinger of a new age in their field.

No researcher could resist the allure of a breakthrough. If they know someone with radical ideas that ordinary people dared not think and the ability to succeed in applying those thoughts, it wouldn’t matter if that person is a complete amateur in their field. In a short time, such a talent would turn into invaluable help.

Not only Helena and Laksa who had to do countless trial and errors to test out different concoctions but for Siegfried who mainly pounds red-hot irons flat it was exciting news.

Others may feel surprised that a six-foot-tall blacksmith with muscles thick like body armour would be interested in a good old dose of studying and testing, but the truth is the complete opposite.

Every strike of his arm, the master smith is using the accumulated research of previous masters and his grasp over the craft, to shape the metal.

The folding of iron, the composition of steel, each part of the process is filled with knowledge and wisdom. Upon reaching the top of metal-wielding, if not for his body of muscles, Siegfried would look no less scholarly than a wiry old professor in the academy.

Now if Kairos could advance their fields as he promised, it is a far better for them than a decade’s pay without work.

Hell, if they didn’t have passion, they wouldn’t have become masters of their crafts in the first place.

Therefore, instead of closing up shop for a good rest, before the meeting even ended, people already are trying to convince Kairos to go to their workshop first.

Some, more successful than the others.

Uncle Laksa, for example, had a plethora of unbelievably delicious food that he shamelessly used as a bribe.

“If you guys loan the young master to me first, I will make the most delectable dish you ever tasted! They will be made from the ingredients I’ve saved up in my Time-Space rings.”

Helena protested loudly, in the most unladylike manner, not that she cared at this moment, “Haahh… This old fox! He really has secret stashes around. But no deal, I’m going first no matter what. That recovery perfume I’ve been working on is so close to success; I could smell it! Young master, you must come to my lab first.”

“Calm down girly. You will get your turn. Are you sure you want to miss out on my legendary dishes out of haste? Hmmm? You know that rumour that I caused that old King Thorrin to grant me a noble title with a single dish? It’s true.”

“WHAT?”

The two other northerners cried out simultaneously.

That famous scrooge-fingers monarch of the old kingdom had given out his limited land, wealth, and power, for a meal?

What kind of demonic attraction did Laksa create? Suddenly, the whole room quietens down. No matter what project they are looking forward to finish, their curiosity won them over.

The young master isn’t going anywhere right?

Suddenly letting the chef first doesn’t seem so bad.

Kairos rolled his eyes. Other boys his age is hoping that there will be plenty of admirers.

Not only did he succeed, there are people trying to snatch him, but all of them happened to be men and women older than his father. Before he realised, his popularity seemed to have gone down towards the wrong directions.