The siblings were momentarily speechless. How could anyone ask such a blunt question so casually?
"No. We plan to go far away and live a quiet, peaceful life. We do hate the Aaron Empire… but we don't seek revenge," Lylia replied softly.
"Why not? Weren't they the ones who kicked you out of power?" Brian asked, now intrigued. Their hatred might run deep, but they could still keep a clear head—exactly the kind of quality Brian looked for in candidates for his future Guardian Beast corps.
"Because the one who caused all this… was my eldest brother," Lylia explained, her tone calm despite the heavy subject. "He disgraced one of the seven princesses of the Aaron Empire—right in our own kingdom. The Empire only demanded his execution, and the matter would have ended there. But our father refused… and so, war broke out."
"I see…" Brian nodded slowly, piecing the story together. Then he leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting into something more serious. "So, which kingdom will you live in? If you don't have a plan yet… how about joining me? I have big ambitions and a long-term goal. What do you say? Want to be part of it?"
Brian liked their composure. They were intelligent, and more importantly, they knew how to control their emotions—a rare trait.
What?"Both siblings were stunned. They hadn't expected the man before them to invite them to join him.
"I'm the son of Marquis Scoot from the Alge Kingdom," Brian said calmly. "I have a way to protect you until you're strong enough to stand on your own."
"I plan to form the Seven Beast Guardians—each with the traits and powers of a specific beast. If you have the talent and the ability, I'll grant you the Seven Beast Guardian armor and make you my protectors."
"What's the Seven Beast Guardians?" Key's eyes lit up. The thought of gaining beast-like powers clearly tempted him.
"Sorry, I can't explain more right now. But if you join me, I'll tell you everything. You won't have to worry about weapons or pills—I'll take care of all your needs. So, what do you say?" Brian was confident this offer would catch Key's interest, though he knew Lylia would be harder to convince.
"We agree!" Sure enough, Key answered instantly, not bothering to consult his sister.
"Brother!!" Lylia protested.
"Think about it, sis. If we follow Young Master Scoot, we could live safer, better lives," Key persuaded. He knew she tended to overthink things.
"I know what you want, but can you really trust him so easily? He's the son of a Marquis," Lylia shot Brian a wary glance. She wanted the kind of care he promised, but she also feared he might report their identities once they reached the Marquis' castle.
"I know you're afraid I'll turn you in. But think about it—if I wanted the bounty on your heads, I would've captured you already," Brian said, reading her thoughts like an open book.
"He's right," Key chimed in. "If he wanted us, he wouldn't need to invite us along. Besides, do you know what meat we just ate? That was high-grade Black Wolf meat."
"What? Black Wolf? I thought their meat tasted awful?" Lylia was surprised.
"That's true for the low-tier ones. But once a Black Wolf passes Stage Four, their meat becomes incredibly delicious," Brian explained.
"You… killed a Stage Five Black Wolf? What's your cultivation level?" Lylia was almost in disbelief. In her kingdom, she was considered a prodigy for reaching Stage Six before the age of twenty. She knew a Stage Five Black Wolf could match, or even overpower, Stage Six—and even Stage Seven at the base level.
Brian only gave a faint smile. "Hmm… that's a secret. So, will you join me or not?"
After thinking it over, Lylia finally nodded. "Alright, we'll join."
"Good. Now, come hunt meat with me," Brian said.'And level up while we're at it,' he added inwardly.
After their meal, they ventured deeper into the forest—where they encountered four Stage Six Black Wolves.
"That's… a Black Wolf!" Key trembled. How could there be so many that had passed Stage Four? And now they had to face four at once.
"Are they above Stage Four?" Lylia asked. She couldn't tell the difference, but she could feel the immense power radiating from them.
"Yes. Stage Six, base level," Brian replied calmly. This forest was practically a paradise for top-grade meat.
'Now… how do I preserve this meat? Can my system storage even hold things from outside? Maybe I should smoke it?' he thought.
"Young Master Scoot! They're attacking!!" Key shouted.
"Alright, come here, meat!" Brian snapped back to focus and charged forward.
"Thunder Punch!"His fist smashed into a Black Wolf's skull. The beast convulsed as if electrocuted before collapsing lifeless.
'Feels like my strength's equal to a Stage Five Spirit… and that was with a light hit,' Brian mused. He decided to try without martial arts.
Leaping forward, he struck the next wolf in the neck—killing it instantly. Even without martial arts, his physical power alone matched Stage Three Spirit. With Golden Thunder, he could take on Stage Five.
"So strong…"The siblings' jaws practically hit the ground. They'd never imagined Brian could be this powerful.
...
System: Congratulations! You have slain a Stage 6 Black Wolf and gained 200 EXP.
System: Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 9 and received 1 Random Teleportation Item (500m).
System: Congratulations! You have slain a Stage 6 Black Wolf and gained 200 EXP.
System: Congratulations! You have slain a Stage 6 Black Wolf and gained 200 EXP.
System: Congratulations! You have slain a Stage 6 Black Wolf and gained 200 EXP.
System: Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 11 and received 1 Random Gift Bag.
System: You have unlocked the Teaching and Granting functions.
Brian wiped the blood off his blade, breathing steadily despite the carnage around him. "Let's see my level first. System!" he muttered.
Name: Brian ScootLevel: 11 (Spirit Stage 1)EXP: 200 / 1000Title: First Son of the Scoot FamilyRace: HumanMartial Arts: Golden Thunder, Blue Lotus BodyTechniques: Divine Eyes, Forging (Basic 0/5000), Alchemy (Basic 0/5000), Runes (Basic 0/5000)Equipment: Common Silk Robe
'So, I need 1000 EXP to level up again,' Brian thought. His eyes drifted toward the new notification."What's this 'Teaching and Granting' feature?"
Teaching and Granting: Allows you to teach or grant techniques from the system's shop to others.
"Oh… so without this, I wouldn't be able to pass divine techniques to them," he murmured.
"You're so strong, Young Master Scoot!" Key exclaimed, still brimming with excitement after the hunt.
"Yeah," Brian said with a small grin. "Let's clean the meat and head back to the Marquis' castle."
"Yes, Young Master Scoot," the siblings replied in unison.
The afternoon sun dipped low as they entered the castle gates.
"Brother, where have you been? And… who are those behind you?"Adre, Brian's younger brother, rushed over. He had clearly been waiting all day.
"Ah, I went hunting. These two are my followers now," Brian replied casually. Then, with a knowing smile, he added, "And I brought you a gift. This meat is delicious—have it cooked, you'll love it."
He handed the Black Wolf meat to Adre, who eyed it curiously.
"What meat is this?"
"Just cook it and eat. You'll know soon enough. I'm going to rest," Brian said. Then he turned to the siblings. "You two, go find Nia in the kitchen. Tell her you're my followers—she'll arrange your accommodations."
Without waiting for a reply, Brian slipped into his room, his thoughts already on the random gift bag.
System: Do you wish to open the Random Gift Bag?
"Yes."
System: Congratulations! You have obtained Blood Fire.
Blood Fire: One of the most powerful flames in the world. (Can be used for forging and alchemy. Increases success rate by 40%.)
"Hahaha… just the right reward at the right time."
Without hesitation, Brian lit the forge. The room filled with the glow of Blood Fire as he began working.
System: Congratulations! You have forged a Basic-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +100.System: Congratulations! You have forged a Basic-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +100.System: Congratulations! You have forged a Basic-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +100.
…
"I've made ten basic-grade weapons already. Time to try something more advanced."
Success!
System: Congratulations! You have forged an Advanced-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +1000.
Failure…
Success!
System: Congratulations! You have forged an Advanced-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +1000.System: Congratulations! You have forged an Advanced-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +1000.System: Congratulations! You have forged an Advanced-Grade Longsword. Forging EXP +1000.
…
System: Congratulations! You have advanced to Intermediate Blacksmith!
Brian exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his brow."Finally… I've reached the intermediate stage."