Dinner was delightful. Frank and Victoria were wonderful company, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. We shared updates on our lives post-graduation, and Victoria inquired about Sara's reaction to Robert's impending departure. With a heavy heart, Robert confessed, "There have been many tearful nights. We're putting on a brave front for the children, but the uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on me." Victoria, her face etched with sympathy, replied, "I can't imagine the pain Sara must be enduring. It's clear you're struggling as well." Frank nodded in agreement, then posed a curious question, "You mentioned a System arriving in over 400 years, and that you'd return with it. How is that possible?" A knowing smile spread across Robert's face. "Well, I suppose I haven't delved into the specifics. As you progress and enhance your attributes, you unlock certain perks. For instance, my Constitution stat is at 100, which alone grants me a lifespan exceeding 500 years. Additionally, I've ascended to a higher racial tier, further extending my potential lifespan to over a thousand years, assuming I don't meet an untimely demise."

Frank's jaw dropped. "Wait, you're telling me you could live for over a thousand years? And what do you mean by 'increased your racial tier'?" Robert chuckled, "Yep, and even by the System's standards, that's not an extraordinary lifespan. The multiverse is teeming with ancient, powerful beings who've existed for tens, if not hundreds of thousands of years. Scary, right? While it's possible to achieve such longevity, it's not exactly common. The key lies in your stats, or attributes. When you're granted a class and profession, you're given a specific number of stat points to allocate at each level-up. Most people receive common or uncommon classes and professions, which yield around 5 or 6 stat points per level. Some of these points are automatically assigned to specific stats based on your class and skills, leaving only one or two as free points. Unless you've chosen a combat class, you'll primarily use your free points to boost your Constitution. This is a common strategy, as everyone desires a longer life. However, most people opt for non-combat classes and professions, prioritizing stats relevant to their occupation. A weaver, for instance, would focus on Dexterity. While working can earn you experience and level-ups, it's a much slower process

Robert took a sip of his drink and continued, "Most people, with an uncommon non-combat class and profession, will reach the end of their lives around level 60. With about 50 free stat points to allocate, they can't afford to invest them all in Constitution. So, they typically allocate around 15 points, ensuring a full lifespan of roughly 200 years. Adventurers and soldiers, on the other hand, level up more rapidly. Many combat classes automatically allocate points to Constitution. Even an uncommon combat class can allow someone to reach a Constitution of 40 or 50, extending their lifespan to around 400 years. However, as you might imagine, there's a significant drawback to this lifestyle." Frank nodded, "The risk, of course, is the constant danger. Sooner or later, every adventurer's luck runs out." Robert agreed. "Precisely. Adventurers possess immense power, but they often don't live long enough to succumb to natural causes."

Frank was curious. "So, what level did you reach to attain a Constitution of 100?" A knowing smile spread across Robert's face. "I reached level 54. I possess both a Mythical class and profession. Not only do I gain a point in Constitution at each level—a total of 44 points—but I also receive 5 free points per level. As far as I understand, my situation is quite rare. As the Forerunner of this universe, I've been granted unique feats and traits that no one else can obtain, allowing me to attain such high-level classes and professions. It's estimated that there are only tens of thousands of dual Mythical holders across billions of trillions of beings in each universe, making me part of a very exclusive group."

"As for my racial tier," Robert explained, "every human in this universe is Tier G, the baseline. I was fortunate enough to upgrade to Tier F, essentially doubling my potential. No offense, Frank, but that makes me twice as capable as you." Robert playfully poked Frank, who retorted, "That's not funny, and no, you're not twice the man I am. You're... well, I'm not sure what you are." Victoria, intrigued, asked, "But what does being Tier F actually mean?" Robert did his best to explain. "While it might sound impressive, the benefits aren't as significant as you'd think. Yes, it doubles my natural lifespan, allowing me to live a very long life. It also grants me certain perks and abilities, and will open up more powerful classes and professions in the future. However, the real advantage lies in the next generation. If I were to marry another Tier F human, our children would start at Tier F. Currently, there's only a 20% chance of that happening if I were to have children with a Tier G human. Being born Tier F means they'd start with increased stats. For the first ten levels, a Tier G human earns one free stat point per level, while a Tier F human earns two. Additionally, their initial class and profession would be of a higher tier. A level 10 Tier F human has a better chance of acquiring higher-tier classes and professions, as well as feats and traits."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Victoria chuckled, "Should I call Sara and let her know you're already discussing your next wife?" Robert smiled. "No, she and I have already discussed the whole Tier system. In fact, she was the one who figured it all out. As for my next wife, I have no plans, and honestly, I'm not sure if I ever will." Victoria spoke softly, "Robert, you can't spend a thousand years alone. You'll need someone to share your experiences with." He replied with a somber look, "We'll see what happens. But I've already found the love of my life. How can I top that? Besides, I've got a feeling this journey will be filled with unexpected twists and turns, and who knows what kind of people I'll meet along the way." The conversation grew quiet, and soon after, dinner ended. Victoria promised to reach out to Sara, offering her support and understanding. Robert thanked her and wished them both a good night, returning to his hotel room.

Later that night, Robert recounted the details of the dinner to Sara, who was pleased to hear about Victoria's call and agreed that having someone to confide in would make things easier. They continued their conversation for another hour or so before Robert retired for the night. The following morning, Robert initiated his next dungeon run, but he simply wasn't feeling it. Without even a glance at the System Shop, he plunged directly into the dungeon, only to confront another fiery level teeming with giant lizards. He mechanically went through the motions, listlessly completing the run, his mind far removed from reality.

Dungeon run complete. Rare chest awarded.

Chest contains:

* Ten Gold coins

* Two Standard Skill Points

* One Epic Shop Token

Items added to user inventory.

Thank you for visiting The Training Dungeon!

Later that day, Robert phoned Frank to inform him of his departure plans the following day. He suggested that when the time came to send trainees, they should simply reach out, and he would meet them either at his home or a nearby location. After a few more minutes of conversation, Robert ended the call. The next morning, Robert was taken aback to find an escort waiting for him. He was informed that his plans had been altered. Instead of returning home independently, he would be escorted to Andrews Air Force Base and flown back to MacDill Air Force Base. From there, two FBI agents would drive him home.

Unhappy with the sudden change of plans, Robert called Frank to inquire about the situation. Frank explained, "Robert, you need to understand that you're now considered a National Resource. It's to be expected that the government would want to protect you." Robert chuckled and replied, "Frank, as it stands, you could probably drop a bomb on me and all you'd do is annoy me. You can't harm or kill me, you can't kidnap me, and if I wanted to vanish, you'd never find me. This level of security is unnecessary." Frank simply responded, "It's not my decision, and let's be honest, would you rather stand in line at one of the busiest airports in the country or bypass the lines and take a quick flight home?" Robert conceded, "Fine, but someone will need to go to Tampa International Airport and drive my car home." Frank assured him that he would arrange for someone to take care of it, so the car would be waiting for him upon his arrival. Frank wished him well and invited him to visit again before his final departure. With that, Robert's trip to DC concluded, and he returned home.

After returning home, Robert spent some time sharing the details of his trip and the decisions made with his family. John was filled with excitement about the future, while Stacey found the world of politics intriguing and began to consider it as a potential career path. Richard, ever the curious one, inquired about the possibility of his father securing him a position with the FBI. Spending quality time with his family was exactly what Robert needed, and by the end of the day, he felt relaxed and rejuvenated. As the sun set, Robert spent the evening enjoying his wife's company not knowing that the next day would end his happy mood.