Generous Terms

How to keep Neil Morton was indeed a major problem. To be honest, Thor had not thought of any good solution. After all, the man was a being on par with his father, Count Engel Dreyrosa, perhaps even stronger.

A powerhouse like that was not someone he could easily win over.

Yet even Thor had not expected it.

The way to make him stay turned out to be unimaginably simple.

It was the third day after Neil Morton woke up.

On the training ground.

Ryan was training.

Neil Morton, who happened to pass by, abruptly stopped.

After stopping, Neil Morton's gaze was quickly drawn to Ryan.

Then, a look of shock inevitably appeared on his face.

"Such dense Life Source Power!"

"This..."

Neil Morton muttered in shock.

At that moment, Neil Morton was truly stunned.

It was not as though he had never seen geniuses before. Neil Morton himself had been one of the Empire's brightest rising stars, one of its most outstanding talents.

He began practicing the Knight's Breathing Technique at twelve, condensed a Life Seed and became an Apprentice Knight at thirteen, became a Formal Knight at fifteen, a Great Knight at twenty, entered the Earth Knight realm at thirty-five, and now, at only eighty years old, he was already a Sky Knight renowned throughout the Empire, hailed as the person most likely to become a Saint Domain Knight.

Across the entire Empire, there were people with greater talent than his, but not many.

But what was he seeing now?

That incomparably dense Life Source Power was rapidly stirred with each breath the young man took.

Its immense scale astonished even him, a Sky Knight.

Not because it surpassed a Sky Knight's power, but because the Life Source Power the other party was drawing upon was clearly not something someone at his level should have been able to mobilize.

"Goddess of Life above, is this the light beneath Your blessing?"

Neil Morton murmured. His figure hesitated slightly before he finally stepped forward.

As Neil Morton approached, Ryan had just finished his training and gave him a knight's salute.

"Lord Neil."

Ryan spoke curiously.

"Knight Ryan, would you be willing to study under me?"

"I guarantee that, within ten years at most, you will become a knight capable of galloping through the skies. You may even reach the Saint Domain Knight realm beneath the Goddess of Life."

Neil Morton's excited voice rang out. His eyes were filled with expectation as he looked at Ryan.

"Study?"

Ryan froze when he heard Neil Morton's words.

But he was only stunned for a moment before quickly shaking his head.

"I am truly sorry, but I am Lord Thor's Guardian Knight. I cannot study under you."

He spoke earnestly.

"No, no, Ryan. I can speak with Lord Thor. I believe Lord Thor will agree as well. After all, you are a child blessed by the radiance of the Goddess of Life."

Upon hearing the refusal, Neil Morton hurriedly spoke.

But Ryan still shook his head.

Faced with Ryan's refusal, Neil Morton gritted his teeth and went to find Thor.

Inside the castle.

Thor had been sorting through some matters concerning the territory.

Then Neil Morton came to see him.

"Please come in!"

As he spoke, Anna soon led Neil Morton inside.

Seeing Neil Morton enter, Thor was somewhat puzzled.

"Lord Thor, I apologize for so presumptuously interrupting your work."

"However, I have something very important to discuss."

Neil Morton spoke with some excitement.

"It is no matter. Lord Neil, what important matter is it?"

Thor waved his hand and asked curiously.

"It is this!"

"Your Guardian Knight, Ryan, is a child blessed by the radiance of the Goddess of Life. His achievements will surely be as vast as the Aegean Sea. I wish for him to study under me."

Neil Morton spoke excitedly, his face slightly flushed with agitation.

Hearing Neil Morton's words, Thor was initially surprised, but he soon realized what was happening.

Once he understood, delight rose in his heart.

Yet his expression became troubled.

"Lord Neil, I am truly sorry, but that may be difficult. You should know that Ryan is my Guardian Knight. I saved him from beneath the butcher's blade of his damned drunkard father. His talent is indeed exceptional, but I cannot let him leave with you to study."

Thor spoke slowly, wearing an annoyed expression.

"No, no, Lord Thor. If Ryan stays here, it would be a desecration of the Goddess of Life's favor toward him. If you agree, I can immediately return to the Empire. I can even give you a Sky Knight to serve as your Guardian Knight, and provide you with a higher-grade Knight's Breathing Technique. Your breathing technique should not be able to break through to Saint Domain Knight, correct? I can give you a Saint Domain Knight's breathing technique right now."

Hearing Thor's words, Neil Morton grew even more anxious and could not help speaking again.

Thor's brow twitched as he listened to the man's offer.

It could not be helped. The terms Neil Morton offered were simply too generous.

So generous that Thor's heart nearly stopped.

There was no need to mention a Sky Knight, and there was even a breathing technique capable of reaching Saint Domain Knight.

Each of those things was filled with endless temptation.

As long as he agreed, he could almost immediately become one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom.

Forget becoming a Baron—even Viscount, Count, or Marquis was possible.

But he quickly suppressed that stirring in his heart.

The greater the price Neil Morton was willing to pay, the more it proved that Ryan's value was even higher than he had imagined.

Under such circumstances, there was clearly no need to trade the future for the present.

More importantly.

He had previously had no way to make the man before him stay.

Now, it seemed that he did.

"I appreciate your kindness. To be honest, this is truly tempting!"

"However, this is not a decision I can make. It still depends on Ryan's own wishes, does it not?"

Thor's gentle voice rang out, his face carrying a faint sigh.

That sigh only made Neil more anxious.

"Lord Thor, as long as you agree, Ryan will not refuse your order."

Neil Morton hurriedly spoke again.

"No, no, Lord Neil, you misunderstand. I will not force anyone. As you have seen, everything in my territory is free, even the serfs, let alone my most loyal knight."

Thor shook his head and spoke solemnly.

"This..."

Hearing Thor's words, Neil Morton froze.

Because that truly seemed to be the case.

This left him conflicted.

While he was conflicted.

Thor also seemed to sink into thought. Only after a moment did his voice sound again.

"How about this, Lord Neil? You may stay here for a while and teach Ryan. My territory is modest, but it is barely suitable for living."

"I promise that if Ryan is willing to leave with you during that time, I will agree at any time."