"Of course I didn't!" Marshal Cesar looked around at his soldiers and felt his heart beating strongly within his chest once he saw the elevated-state of high-morale then twisted his neck to look at his old friend and Strategist as if to say : "Do you see what I'm seeing? This is what I meant earlier."

"Where then?" Aaron asked.

The old General stomped his foot on the solid rocky ground beneath him while answering : "Right here is good. The training ground is spacious enough and my people can transport whatever you send our way towards the Village directly through the Fortress's Eastern-Gate."

"Kid! Hey kid! Listen here, I can make you rich! Just tell this old fart to let me g-"

*Ugh*

"Shut your ass up!" Carson punched Gerand Specter on the face once he insulted his Marshal.

But Aaron's ears twitched a few times when the word "Rich" was said.

He actually stopped what he was about to do and looked backwards then frowned slightly when Cesar's First-Lieutenant interrupted this dude!

'So rude. So cruel. This isn't right! Even prisoners of war have rights you know.' The kid thought before saying : "Bring that man over here, hit him one more time and I'll make sure you lose that hand."

Carson's right hand immediately froze in the air and he didn't dare strike Gerand Specter anymore.

Rhinne rolled her eyes after seeing this little boy strike fear into a veteran like Carson with a few words, but she was really surprised after seeing the deep influence he has over the Elites of the Head-Reapers Army.

The Commander of the Archer unit dragged the noble over towards the location where the Marshal and Strategist are sitting with this very young and clearly extremely important guest.

Gerand Specter's eyes glowed with the brightness of hope as if he's finally seeing light at the end of the dark tunnel, "Kid I hav-"

"I get it alright! You're wealthy and you think that your life is more important than the collective lives of an entire army because you carry the name of some sort of Noble Family." Aaron interrupted the man and summarized the situation briefly but his Hero's Echo Skill was still active and his words left a lingering effect on the soldiers of the Black Army.

Rare were the ones to notice the change on the faces of the men and women in Black Armor but Cesar and Dalair were among them.

The kid shook his head once he noticed a complete lack of feelings from this Noble without a single sign of being interested in keeping his people safe.

"Whoever has a family waiting for them back in this guy's territory come forward." Aaron looked towards the Black Army and ordered them in a stern and commanding tone of voice.

The men and women looked around without taking immediate action but once someone moved away and separated from the group, more followed until almost a third of the total was standing in front of the boy.

"Kneel and swear an oath to Marshal Cesar and his men to never pick arms against them for 5 years, then you can go back to your families."

"What!" Gerand Specter was gawking at how simple this kid is making it for these soldiers to regain their freedom.

The Noble fell on his knees immediately and was about to do the same but Aaron looked towards him and gave the man a ridiculing smile before saying : "Most of them had nothing to offer in exchange for their freedom anyway and I don't see Marshal Cesar or his soldiers being ones to enjoy tormenting the helpless for fun, meanwhile you're rich and your life is so precious remember?"

"Hahaha..." The soldiers in Silver Armor laughed first while feeling amused after seeing this kid toy around with this Noble.

Even the soldiers from the Black Army struggled to hide their emotions despite being in this difficult situation.

Almost instantly the men and women kneeled to Cesar and his men just to regain their freedom and return safely to their families.

Aaron looked towards Marshal Cesar and asked : "They've swore an oath to never pick arms against you and your men for 5 years, setting them free is just like releasing a tiger back in the mountain. Do you dare let them go and risk facing them in the future?"

Dalair squinted his eyes because so far he's been having trouble getting a read on this strange kid, the way he's acting and the way he's dealing with those around him from each camp.

'This brat is so weird, mysterious, and showing superior intellectual abilities. The reports I received on his says that he's been living within Pine-Breeze Village with some orphan teenager girl for a few years now but his monumental rise only happened a week or so ago once the Whispering Sisters took the girl away to join the Sisterhood's Side-Branch in Meteor-City.'

Marshal Cesar smiled before looking towards the group of a few hundred soldiers in Black Armor then saying : "Why wouldn't I dare? My soldiers would make quick work of them any time we meet in the battlefield in the future! Not to mention that young master Ron is the one to give them his word, I wouldn't dare and try to convince you to go against your promise."

The kid smiled while thinking : 'How smart and sly of you old man, first you elevated the morale of your soldiers while diminishing theirs before carrying favor with me.'

Aaron nodded before looking at the anxious soldiers who looked towards him with beady eyes full of hope, "All of you can relax now because you're free to go back but please wait until I decide the fate of your leader, it's going to depend on his honesty and how much his life is worth in Gold Coins." Afterwards he looked at Gerand Specter who beamed with a wide smile to show his relief once he heard what Aaron just said.

"Take me to our campsite! I can give you all of the Gold Coins and Precious Stones I brought with me, consider it a small deposit of what I'm willing to pay you in exchange for my life." Gerand said before looking towards one of his Guardian-Knights and adding : "Aeona knows the location, she can tell you where to find them."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The kid looked towards the female Knight then looked to the empty side of the training grounds before saying : "Nina. Take this woman and bring everything in that campsite over for me to see the sincerity of lord Gerand Specter and the true weight of his words."

Once every eye turned towards that location they were able to see the coiled Poisonous Stone-Centipede with two men and two women on it!

Nina only revealed herself to them once Aaron exposed their location, her Illusion-Techniques were extremely deceptive and difficult to see-through.

Aeona the female Knight walked towards Nina when the Honorable Sister gestured for her to come and seconds later all of them vanished into thin air once again when Nina activated her technique to hide the direction where they're going and how her pet is able to move so quietly.

"Now. You people must be regretting not coming forward earlier with the rest of them." Aaron looked to the remaining soldiers of the Black Army which answered his words with a few nods while helplessly smiling.

"The way I see it... you guys are the lucky ones actually!

Seeing confusion and frowns on the faces of these men and women the kid smiled before adding : "Don't tell me... this is the sort of guy you'd really like to serve for the rest of your lives?" He pointed at Gerand Specter and shrugged while giving him a ridiculing smile.

Behind him Marshal Cesar and Strategist Dalair's eyes widened in realization while Rhinne gawked once she figured what he's trying to do so openly.

"Unlike these sorry bunch... you don't have true attachments to this sorry fellow.

"But I'm offering you not only your freedom, but also a chance to live your life doing more than you ever imagined.

"I don't care if your dreams are simple like settling down and having a family.

"I don't care of your dreams are simple like getting rich and not having to feel hungry ever again.

"I don't care if your dreams are simple like having more partners than you can ever satisfy.

"Do you know why?" Aaron asked before smiling while spreading his arms wide then adding : "Because this world is simply not enough to contain my dreams! That's why I know that I can make all of your dreams come true, all you need to do is watch me make it happen."

*Thud*

One soldier was gaping his mouth so wide like many others around him in this training ground but seconds later he woke up to the realization that his knees were already touching the rocky ground because his feet were no longer capable of supporting his weight.

Many followed him and the only ones left standing were the ones famous for being strong both in will and mentality, most of them had experience with life and death in many encounters before which is kind of the reason why they weren't so influenced by the kid's words.

"Of course I'm not a person which runs his mouth without backing-up his words with actions, that's why you're all welcome to see a demonstration of mine and I promise you many more in the future to prove my true worth." The kid's eyes brightened once he saw more than 200 men and women left standing in the Black Army because he understands what it means to being able to resist his Hero's echo Skill while being their situation.

The only thing that was stopping these people from actually resisting Rhinne back in the Village after their Leader was captured was their loyalty and responsibility for the safety of Gerand Specter, however... that image was thoroughly dismantled once Aaron clearly revealed their true worth in the eyes of this selfish Noble.

He attempted to activate Mystique-Door and link it with the new diagram he created in the balcony at his backyard since linking the diagrams in Marshal Cesar, Chief Chadrion, and Phyllia with either of the three diagrams he created before might cause the Fuzzy-Phosphorus Mice to find an exit somewhere he doesn't like them to enter.

System : Maximum pre-set destinations reached.

'Is four my current limit or is it the Neutral-Skill's maximum limit? Let's raise it to Level 2 and see.' Aaron thought before using the remaining Neutral-Skills Skill Point, he felt proud of himself afterwards because the diagram started forming underneath his feet once he attempted to activate the Mystique-Door Skill once again.

Simply because he was tempted to raise either Recovery or Nimble-Feet especially the latter but he refrained from being impulsive and saved this Skill Point until now, so far his decision turned out to be the right one.

'But this Skill is becoming more and more costlier in both Mana and Magic Rocks!' He thought while checking the details on the Skill menu.

Mystique-Door Uses Mana to generate a Magic-Door which leads to a pre-set destination.

Enables one to enter and exit until it disappears.

Other can use the Magic-Door with one's permission. Mystique-Door Level 2 Mana Points Cost 600 Requirements 4 Magic Rocks Duration Spawns a Magic-Door Portal for 3 Minutes Proficiency Points 1/100

'Thankfully it lasts three-times longer at Level 2, now I wouldn't have to worry about having a short opening of time once I'm transporting products or sending people from one place to another! Maybe I should open this service to the public in the future and collect some money while I'm at it.' The kid started imagining controlling all public transportation in the area but his thoughts were interrupted once the diagram was completed.

"Come everyone. Allow me to welcome you to the humble place I call my house, I invite you to come live with me for one week! Afterwards you can decide whether to stay or not, but I urge you think it through beforehand because I'm not going to make that offer twice." Aaron said so before taking a step backwards and vanishing from the training ground but everyone could see him taking a seat on the table on the other side.

Marshal Cesar and Carson were gawking from shock because yesterday they were sitting on the same table and having probably the best meal of their life!

"This gate only works for a few minutes, so you guys better hurry and come over." The kid relaxed in his seat and pulled the fruit basket towards him and started munching away without caring about their decision then looked towards the old General and added : "Let's discuss the details of our deal and the schedule of transporting the products everyday over a late snack, you can invite your friend but make sure to have your men keep the order on the other side before you do."

Marshal Cesar nodded before looking towards his First-Lieutenant and saying : "Carson. You're in command, Commander Rhinne. Follow us. The rest of you... your future is in your hands, choose wisely or choose regret." Afterwards the old General entered the diagram and disappeared from the training ground but he appeared on the other side walking towards the table and taking a seat.

Dalair hesitated for a split-second before entering the diagram and disappearing too, he stood on the other side looking around then looking back towards the training ground before taking a step back and appearing within the training ground then gawking at the miraculous action of jumping from one place to another!

The soldiers of the Black Army which were hesitating earlier after hearing Marshal Cesar's advice, were eager to experience the old Strategist's wonderous feeling after seeing him go back and forth a few times.

The ones to actually try going to Aaron's house were the minority which resisted the tempting-influence of his words, then the rest followed and two minutes later the training ground only had Carson and the Elites of the Head-Reapers Army on one side and the soldiers which Aaron choose to bestow them their freedom on the other side.

Meanwhile Gerand Specter was standing in between feeling not a shred of being welcomed on either side!