Gell had actually begun investing energy, money, and connections more than a month ago, when he was training with Evan, to find him a suitable Extraordinary Trait.
If he only wanted to make do, whether Demonic Creatures or savage animals, they would not have been difficult to find. But finding high-quality demonized materials compatible with oneself was a major undertaking that required both money and luck.
The demonized heart of the Blue Flag Demon Shark was already an exceptionally rare premium item among agility-oriented Extraordinary Traits. Gell had only managed to acquire it by owing major favors and paying a premium.
Under Evan's original plan of slowly exchanging accumulated military merits, even if he eventually obtained similar materials, they would only have been commonplace goods. There was no way they could have been of such quality.
No wonder those well-informed people in the navy could not help but grow envious. They had even risked offending Gell, the former Navy Colonel and captain of a Fourth-Rate Ship, to intercept it in advance.
That was also why Gell had specifically demanded that Evan be notified to sign for the materials the moment they entered storage. The major in charge of the matter might be able to block the McNesson Family's steward, but he might not be able to block everyone.
But.
Preparing an Extraordinary Trait in advance was only the first step in preparing for Evan's breakthrough. The subsequent collection of supplementary ingredients, potion brewing, imparting breakthrough experience, and selecting the location and timing all needed to be handled carefully, step by step.
Gell had never expected Evan to move so quickly that he brewed the potion himself on the very day he received the Extraordinary Trait, then had already "successfully broken through to the extraordinary" the next day.
With his wife and child away, Gell practically lived aboard warships in Gabreid. He had only returned to the Silver Wing early this morning, and before he could even rest, Gary came running to tell him that Evan had broken through.
But unlike the other crew members, Gell's first reaction was not delight, but utter shock and even fear!
Breaking through from a first-rank Apprentice Knight to a true second-rank Extraordinary Formal Knight was a transformation from mortal to extraordinary, but it was also the advancement most likely to spiral out of control on the Knight's Path.
Although the Knight's Path dominated the civilized world and was known for being stable and safe, in reality, perhaps only two or three out of ten Peak Apprentices could advance successfully in a single attempt.
Among those who failed, the luckiest might still have a chance to make another attempt after several years of recuperation.
More people became crippled after failure, their Extraordinary Path severed forever. The unluckiest could not withstand the impact of Savage Body Transformation with their willpower and lost control, turning directly into bloodthirsty beasts that devoured people. That was not unusual at all.
Lord Nabuli, the commander of Leopold City's garrison, had reached the Peak Apprentice stage years ago, yet still lacked the courage to take that step for precisely this reason.
Thus, one could imagine just how horrified Gell was upon hearing that Evan had "successfully broken through"!
No matter how mature and steady a junior might be, in an elder's eyes he was still a child. Recklessness and ignorance of the world's dangers were labels that came naturally. No matter how well it was explained, Gell could not set his mind at ease without seeing him himself.
Bang—
A ring of air exploded beneath his feet.
Gell grabbed Gary and tore toward their quarters with the full power of a peak Formal Knight, terrified that his worries would become reality.
Fortunately, what he feared had not happened. The real situation was that Evan had given him another pleasant surprise!
Despite having just broken through, Evan was calmly enjoying breakfast, as though he had not just undergone a near-fatal Extraordinary Transformation, but had merely gone on an ordinary outing.
If not for the unmistakable Life Force Field in his Extraordinary Perception, which had grown several times stronger, Gell would have thought Evan was still merely an Apprentice Knight.
At this moment, a thousand words turned into a single sentence: "Evan, I'm proud of you!"
Afterward, Evan politely declined Gell's proposal to hold a grand celebration for him, though his reasons were perfectly sound.
The birth of a direct-line extraordinary was a major event for any noble family, something worthy of celebration with a banquet.
In fact, if the Garratt Family still existed, this might have been the opportunity for the family's revival. It truly would have been worth publicizing, and it would also have served as a tangible deterrent to potential enemies.
But Evan had his own view.
They were no longer the kingdom's nobles of the past, who valued influence and pomp. In the navy, status was determined by strength and achievements.
It was precisely because Gell was such a powerful existence—a peak Extraordinary Knight who even had hope of becoming a third-rank Grand Knight—that he could find high-quality extraordinary materials for Evan. By influence alone, he had made the logistics supervisor weigh the consequences and avoid making the wrong choice.
And all of that relied not on so-called social connections, but on strength!
Other than the few true friends one had in life, all other socializing was merely for the exchange of benefits. Without corresponding strength, one did not belong in the same circle. At a critical moment, even having the contact information of the richest man in the world would be utterly useless.
Evan had understood this point very clearly in his previous life.
"Uncle, a small celebration aboard the Silver Wing will be enough."
After hearing Evan's thoughts, Gell's eyes, originally full of delight, changed once again. Affection and pride mingled within them. After a long while, he said, "Evan, you're already an adult!"
Evan's thoughts and way of viewing things had made it difficult for Gell to continue seeing him as a teenage child.
Gell even began to assume that Evan's maturity stemmed from the misfortunes he had suffered in childhood. While feeling sorrow for his old friend's son, he gradually began to regard Evan as an equal adult rather than a young junior who needed careful protection.
Just as he himself had said, the fledgling eagle had already gained the majesty to battle the skies! What reason did the old eagle have not to let him fly?
"Cheers!"
"Captain Evan, may your martial luck be prosperous!"
"..."
The combined celebration aboard the Silver Wing for Evan's promotion to captain and his breakthrough to Formal Knight was naturally lively, so there was no need to elaborate further.
After that, Gell gave Evan a long vacation.
Although the transformation period did not require him to stay in a completely sealed house like a woman in confinement after childbirth, it truly was not suitable for drifting about at sea. At the very least, food on the ocean was far less varied and plentiful than on land.
Evan readily accepted.
Apart from his daily cultivation and training, he did nothing but eat, eat, and eat. During this special period, Evan had an excellent appetite and no shortage of money. By himself, he sampled every size and variety of food in Gabreid, and he was... binge-eating!
Yet after a week, he had not gained weight at all. Instead, his physique became increasingly balanced and perfect. Wasn't that infuriating?
"What should I eat today? It has to be delicious and nutritious too. Choosing is hard!" At dusk, Evan walked through Gabreid's streets. A week had been enough for him to try all the more famous restaurants. Cultivation and fine food did not interfere with each other, leaving Evan so delighted that he almost forgot to go home.
"Hm? That person looked somewhat familiar!"
As Evan observed the roadside restaurants, a familiar figure suddenly flashed past the corner of his eye. When he quickly turned his head, he saw a young man hurriedly enter the mouth of a secluded alley.
No need for careful recollection. Data Vision immediately informed him that this fellow was actually Zorro, the mysterious thief from that night!
He was not wearing that distinctive outfit today, but Data Vision did not identify people merely by their faces. Parameters such as build, height, walking posture, stride length, and more were far more accurate than facial recognition.
Without hesitation, Evan immediately turned around and followed him.
After becoming a Wizard Apprentice, Evan increasingly felt that this man must be hiding a great secret. Perhaps he carried Evan's opportunity to make contact with the world of wizards. He absolutely could not let it slip away.
Before you continue