Lucas could undoubtedly describe the events of the past few weeks as a great upheaval in his life. ‘What on earth am I experiencing?’
After the war ended, Chris gathered the soldiers.
At first, veterans like Lucas questioned why they should train under Chris, but they gained blind trust after witnessing him defeat the 3-star inspector, Janson.
Roman and Chris were not ordinary individuals, and Lucas felt certain that training under them would yield results.
However, that day, Chris's statement was so unbelievable that he could hardly trust his own ears. “From now on, I plan to teach you the Mana Heart Technique and the sword techniques that utilize it. This is a gift from your lord, so you must practice with all your heart and soul.”
Truly, it was an absurd statement.
What was the Mana Heart Technique? It was a systematic method for handling mana, a treasure whose value could not be measured unless it was genuine and not just some shabby imitation.
Even the lower-tier Mana Heart Techniques were worth enough gold coins that ordinary people rarely had the chance to encounter them.
To be told that such a treasure would be revealed was utterly ridiculous.
Lucas could only interpret it logically. ‘He must be talking about some trash that’s been tossed around the market.
The Mana Heart Technique is a treasure that even a father wouldn’t share with his son.
If knowledge spreads indiscriminately, the rarity of the Mana Heart Technique decreases, so there’s no reason for him to share something good with us.
Even if he is a soldier who swore loyalty to Roman Dmitri, we haven’t been following Roman long enough to have built the trust necessary for him to reveal such a treasure.’
Once, Lucas had been obsessed with the Mana Heart Technique.
Unable to challenge the A-rank mercenaries due to lacking special abilities, he had invested all the money he earned in an attempt to manifest an aura.
The result was losing all his wealth.
He knew the Mana Heart Techniques sold in the market were worthless, yet he had no choice but to invest, and despite experiencing various Mana Heart Techniques, he had never once felt the presence of mana.
He was frustrated.
It was the moment he realized the limits of his efforts, and from then on, he began to doubt his life as a mercenary.
Based on past experiences, he thought that Roman Dmitri would surely show them some shiny trash, pretending to be generous.
And then, his expectations were beautifully shattered. “This is called the Shura Heart Technique.”
Shura, the ghost of the battlefield.
Following Chris's explanation, Lucas operated the technique and was left in shock. ‘This is insane.’ This was a treasure.
Just by following the instructions of the technique, he felt his body heat up, and his senses became extremely sharp, fully embracing even the wind that tickled his skin.
It was on a different level from the trash he had experienced before.
Lucas had completely given up on the possibility of becoming an aura inspector after continuous failures, but the Shura Heart Technique gave him hope that it might be possible.
It was not just that.
The Shura Sword Technique, which organized 108 ways to fight against enemies, was a perfect technique that utilized the power of the Shura Heart Technique.
It was a series of continuous admiration.
Roman Dmitri was a far greater person than he had imagined. ‘What exactly is Roman Dmitri’s true identity? Just a short while ago, he was called the fool of the Dmitri family, yet he defeated the 4-star inspector, Homeros, and now he is revealing incredible techniques and sword skills just because we are soldiers.
Did he gain some kind of fortune? No, even if that were the case, his actions cannot be understood by the common sense of an ordinary person.
If I were in possession of the Shura Heart Technique and the Shura Sword Technique, I would keep it a secret not just from the soldiers but even from my own kin.’
He was bewildered.
An unexpected fortune.
Lucas and Roman’s soldiers were all filled with enthusiasm.
They understood the immense value of the Mana Heart Technique, and from that moment on, they showed such fervor that they trained through the night.
It was a moment that changed their lives.
If he could awaken as an aura inspector through the technique, a new life that he had never even imagined would unfold before him.
For the past few days, he had been happy.
It was a great upheaval in his life, and Lucas enjoyed his transformation fully, training happily day by day.
Therefore, when he heard Roman’s proposal, he did not hesitate at all. “I’m sorry, but I want to stay with my lord.” The order to leave was something he could never accept.
While contemplating the information guild, Roman searched for the right person.
Chris was the core of the power.
Since he was not a talent that could be siphoned off to the information guild, Roman did not consider him from the start.
Kevin, on the other hand, given his experiences at the bottom and his unique venom, would fit quite well into the information guild he was about to create, which would take the form of the “Hao Clan.” However, he soon withdrew that thought.
Kevin was perfectly growing into a combat force while learning the Demon Soul Magic, and the head of the information guild needed the experience to respond to various incidents.
Kevin, still just a boy, lacked experience and was not a suitable candidate.
After much contemplation, Roman chose Lucas. ‘Lucas is a veteran who has experienced all the ups and downs as a mercenary.
Just as he showed realistic adaptability during the soldier test, he has excellent abilities to respond to variables, and having lived as a mercenary for so long, he has a wide network.
Above all, Lucas is someone who can make realistic and practical judgments.
The information guild I envision needs someone like Lucas, who is faithful to results.’
He was the right person.
So, he made the proposal.
To organize the information that Morcan had discovered and to gather information from across the continent.
The answer was NO. “If I take charge of the information guild, I will surely have to leave my lord’s side. To uncover all the information on the continent, I cannot stay in one place until that system is established. So, I refuse. I want to stay by my lord’s side. Watching my lord’s back as he slaughtered enemies in the war against Barco truly moved me. I thought it was worth sacrificing my life to be with such a person, so please do not send me elsewhere.”
It was a desperate voice, as if he were a loyal subject.
Lucas earnestly expressed his refusal.
Seeing that, Roman thought to himself, ‘He’s quite the actor.’ He could see right through him.
Loyalty? That was not the reason.
Lucas was completely absorbed in training the technique and simply did not want to waste time on unnecessary matters.
The dream of becoming an aura inspector.
He instinctively knew that to achieve that, he had to stay by Roman’s side.
Roman said, “Let me ask you one thing. Why do you think I taught you the Shura Heart Technique and the Shura Sword Technique?”
“I’m not sure.” It was still a question.
He didn’t understand why Roman would make a choice that would diminish the rarity of such a treasure, but since he was a beneficiary, he kept his mouth shut.
“I gave you a gift as a reward for your loyalty. And there are not many people in the world who would give their all as a gift. Lucas, what do you think of me? Do you think Roman Dmitri would give his all to reward the soldiers’ loyalty?”
“That means….” Lucas immediately grasped the core.
The soldiers thought the Shura Heart Technique and the Shura Sword Technique were great treasures, but Roman was saying they were not everything to him. “I do not seek blind loyalty from you. The Shura Heart Technique and the Shura Sword Technique hold only enough value to be given as a gift, so I rewarded you, who risked your lives on the battlefield following me, with the price of loyalty. Then, what do you think I would give to someone of greater value than a soldier?”
To Chris, he gave the island.
To Kevin, he gave the Demon Soul Magic.
To the soldiers, he gave the Shura Heart Technique and the Shura Sword Technique.
Roman shared his knowledge.
He did not worry about the variables that would arise from it.
Those who had experienced a part of the great sea either held awe for Roman’s limitless abilities or, like Lucas, sought clear rewards for various reasons, and they could not leave his side.
It was a quagmire from which they could not escape.
A being too fearful to turn into an enemy, yet possessing enough ability to provide more than they could wish for.
That being was none other than the Celestial Demon, Roman Dmitri.
To Lucas, who thought his life had been turned upside down by a bit of knowledge, Roman’s words were truly shocking.
In that moment, Lucas instinctively knew how to act. “I will follow my lord’s command and strive to create the greatest information guild on the continent.” The calculations were complete.
If he were to receive something even greater, Lucas was ready to do anything.
This was a perfectly reasonable deal.
The situation had roughly settled.
Now, it was a matter of time.
By ensuring safety, the efficiency of the work would increase, and as a result, when the budget came in, Roman’s people would slowly form a massive network.
Just as the Hao Clan built the greatest information network in the martial world with the words of thousands and tens of thousands of people.
Though it may be weak at first, Roman believed that the method he chose would return meaningfully.
The next day, Roman headed to the iron mine.
He did not immediately cut off his visit, believing that he needed to observe the changes ahead and planned to work for at least another week.
However, upon Roman’s arrival, the workers at the iron mine were ecstatic. “It’s Lord Roman!” “My lord!” “Thank you so much, my lord!” Countless people rushed out to welcome Roman.
They had heard the news.
Roman Dmitri not only rescued the workers but also promised to actively resolve safety issues through a meeting with Baron Romero.
Though it was just one day, the news struck Dmitri hard.
Those who had held prejudices against Roman on the first day now looked up to him as a hero.
Among them was the father of the man who had been injured. “My lord. Thanks to you saving my son, my only child has been able to survive. I do not know how to repay this gratitude. Thank you so much. If you ever need our strength in the future, I will dedicate my life to repay this gratitude in any way possible.”
He was an ordinary man.
His face was sunburned, and deep wrinkles filled the area under his eyes.
One of the many people living in Dmitri, someone who had never had any dealings with Roman, looked at him and sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Roman looked at the man and smiled silently.
The Celestial Demon.
The evil spirit that stained the martial world with blood.
Yet, he was also a person.
He had to reign to survive, and he accepted the fate of being the son of the Celestial Demon, achieving the feat of conquering the martial world.
In that process, it was the people who followed him that sustained the spirit of Baek Jung-hyeok.
When faced with pure goodwill, devoid of calculating benefits, Baek Jung-hyeok realized that his choice had not been wrong. “Thank you.” For some reason, he wanted to say that now.
From that day on, the hearts of the people of Dmitri turned towards Roman.
And this atmosphere plunged Baron Romero into deep contemplation.