Chapter 17: I Think There's a Major Misunderstanding Between You Two
If one were to strictly categorize, there are actually quite a few monsters with Chaos attributes—at the very least, those cultists who worship demons and evil gods certainly count. But the difficulty lies in the fact that Joshua's mission target requires strength at the Silver-rank or above.
Silver-rank or above does not mean Silver-rank and above; it means the warrior needs to kill a Gold-rank monster. Since the original game's story characters couldn't advance to Gold-rank just by leveling up and completing quests like players could—they needed time to slowly transform their Transcendent bodies—there existed an intermediate transition level between Silver and Gold.
Moreover, under the suppression of the Church of the Seven Gods, cultists across the Mycroft Continent had nearly been hunted to extinction decades ago. Even if some remnants survived, they were mostly hiding deep in the mountains and forests, with low strength that didn't meet the requirements. Simply finding these people under layers of concealment would take an enormous amount of effort.
(A few months from now, the Abyss Terraria Worm that appeared at the Empire's frontier fortress in my past life was definitely far stronger than an ordinary Gold-rank—it might even have reached the Ultimate realm.)
Tapping the desk with the end of his pen, Joshua mused thoughtfully: (It would be a decent opponent, but unfortunately, it appears too late and is too far away. It can't solve my current problems. Besides, Alfonso should be able to acquire the oddity that summons it—whether that tragedy even happens is another matter.)
The Chaos Warden class was currently half-locked, with many class talents and traits not fully revealed. The same applied to the five class levels rewarded by the inheritance power—they could rapidly increase the warrior's strength. So for him, killing a Gold-rank monster as quickly as possible was one of the most important current goals.
"No wonder every generation of the family head had the strength of Gold Glory. I was already at Gold-rank before inheriting, yet it can still reward me with five levels. If converted into Silver-rank level rewards, that would at least double or triple."
With a shift in thought, Joshua understood something that had previously puzzled him. If the fact that each generation of the Radcliffe Family had only one heir could be explained by "the fewer people who know about the evil gods, the better," then why was every new lord at Gold-rank strength? The reason was obvious: the inheritance power.
A noble didn't need to do professional quests like he did and had the best training environment from childhood. If someone in such conditions hadn't reached at least mid-to-high Silver-rank by their twenties, ensuring they could reach Gold after receiving the inheritance power, then they were truly wasting resources. It would be better to commit suicide early and choose another heir.
"Ah..."
Thinking this, Joshua, who was recording information in his notebook with a pen, suddenly sighed. He casually clipped the pen into the notebook, set it on the desk, then leaned back and stared at the ceiling, muttering: "Boring. I really want to cut someone down. I wish I could find an enemy I could fight to my heart's content."
The sudden recollection and analysis of so many things earlier was simply because the warrior's hands were itching.
The Gold-rank beast had stirred his battle lust but wasn't enough to satisfy him. Yet Joshua racked his brain and couldn't find any powerful monsters nearby. Perhaps that Chaos Black Erosion Dragon was a worthy opponent to look forward to, but its flight speed was too fast—if it was determined to evade, he definitely couldn't catch up.
If this were still the game from his past life, when Joshua's hands itched, he could at least lead a group to farm dungeons until he was fully satisfied. That was also one of the most important sources of his over three million kill count. But now, in the real Continent of Strife, monsters killed were gone for good—there was no respawning.
Closing his eyes, the warrior silently recalled some past events.
A long, long time ago, he was merely a lone warrior, wandering as a mercenary through the jungles of the Far South. Because he often led wild groups to clear dungeons with good results, like-minded comrades kept increasing, the pace of dungeon strategies gradually improved, and his reputation grew larger and larger. The entire Far South's players knew of this powerful wild group's existence.
Not long after, these guys who had been clearing dungeons with Joshua decided to follow the trend of the times and formally establish a battle group, nominating him as the group's leader.
How could Joshua possibly agree to that? He considered himself just an ordinary warrior—what qualifications did he have to be the leader? But his comrades told him that the entire group had already decided; he was the one to be the leader.
Feeling the enthusiasm of his comrades, Joshua couldn't refuse and had to accept. And once he took the position, he held it for four expansions. From the initial purely interest-based organization to the largest battle group in the Far South, the warrior was always the leader. Although he hardly ever managed things and wasn't good at it, everyone knew the entire battle group existed because of this man.
Silently chuckling, Joshua stopped reminiscing. He opened his eyes, picked up his notebook and pen again, and began a new round of analysis.
—Outside the door.
The silver-haired head maid carried a tray of tea, walking slowly along the spiral staircase of the tower.
The Northern Lands didn't produce tea leaves, but due to the cold weather, both commoners and nobles enjoyed black tea that could generate heat and warm the stomach. Every time the dragon carriage merchant group arrived, they would bring large quantities of fully fermented black tea leaves. To make it more invigorating, the locals would add a bit of the Northern Lands' unique white-striped grass to enhance the stimulation.
Although she had been appointed as the head maid, Firefly knew she was far from being a qualified maid. But she wouldn't fret over her shortcomings; instead, she would prove her progress through action.
"Master has been thinking about something in the study all this time. I don't know if he needs it, but bringing a cup of hot tea definitely can't be wrong."
Murmuring softly to herself, Firefly's lips curled slightly into a faint smile. "I wonder if he'll praise me a little."
Ever since Feng and Kili had told her that her previous outfit was too old-fashioned, the girl had changed into a new uniform. Now, as her silver hair fluttered, one could see her wearing a single-breasted black velvet long coat, black high boots, and a thick woolen cloak for warmth. The cuffs and chest were embroidered with a gold-edged, black-backed emblem of a hand holding a sword.
When she reached the floor of the meeting room, Firefly noticed the various weapons hanging on the wall and couldn't help but recall the Divine Mechanism wreckage she had seen in the cemetery a few days ago. But now, there was no turmoil in the girl's heart—only a little envy.
Those Divine Mechanisms, though they had passed away, as weapons, their names could be inscribed on tombstones alongside their masters, sharing their fates... That kind of bond was enviable in itself.
"When will I become an indispensable arm for Lord Joshua? Right now, he doesn't need me at all."
Sighing lightly, Firefly thought with some worry: "Master is so strong; there are too few occasions where he needs to use me. Am I just destined to be a maid, serving tea and water?"
Just as the Divine Mechanism girl, somewhat concerned about her role, was moving forward, hurried footsteps came from behind her.
A few seconds later, at the corner of the spiral staircase, under Firefly's gaze, three middle-aged men appeared before her eyes.
"Oh."
Letting out a soft exclamation, Firefly recognized two of them. Because they were the ones who had told her that her uniform was exactly the same as their predecessors', prompting her to change into a new one, she remembered them clearly.
A berserker mage, a half-elf warrior who liked to wear a mask... and an unfamiliar golden-haired middle-aged man. Were they looking for Master?
Meanwhile, Zolgen and the other two also noticed the silver-haired girl standing before them.
"Good morning, Miss Firefly."
Feng was the first to greet her. The white-haired mage said, "Is Lord Joshua in the meeting room now?"
"Yes, Master is currently in the meeting room thinking about things." Lifting the tea tray in her hands, Firefly gestured. "I'm about to bring him a cup of tea. Do you have urgent business with Master?"
—Inside the meeting room.
Hearing the commotion of footsteps outside the door, Joshua couldn't help but turn his head toward the entrance.
"Knock, knock."
A gentle knock sounded.
"Come in."