Chapter 75 - Conflict

The echo of the Soul of the Legendary Warrior once again came into play, bestowing Gaven with an additional warrior feat.He chose Agile Movement, possessing enough agility and speed that it’s always a benefit, whether for a warrior or a spellcaster.

Evasion, Agile Movement, and Jump Attack—these form the set of early-stage feats for an agile warrior.

Upon collection, they unlock an invisible perk: Jump Slash, which is a magical skill that nearly mimics teleportation in its striking.

This is not the same concept as the Jump Spell Gaven currently uses with his Boots of Jumping.

With one more additional warrior feat, Gaven would have the full set, but that would be a matter for level four.

Name: Gaven Nort

Age: 16 years old

Height: 1.72 meters

Attributes: Strength 13, Constitution 14, Dexterity 16, Intelligence 18, Perception 16, Charisma 16

Profession: Level 2 Psychic Sorcerer

Psychic Points: 10 points

Psychic Skills: Psychic Blast, Vigor

Life Dice: 20 (1D10+1D4+4+4)

Saving Throws: Fortitude +4, Reflex +3, Will +8

Skills: Concentration +5, Autohypnosis +7, Balance +5, Heal +5, Psicraft +7, Knowledge Spirit Ability +7, Ride +4

Feats: Toughness (provides 2 extra hit points per professional level), Evasion (a powerful sense of danger and an ability to dodge), Affinity for Spirit Crystal (the ability to attune to spirit crystals and create a Spirit Crystal Servant), Iron Will (+2 advantage when it comes to willpower), Agile Movement (helpful in dodging), Alertness (easier to detect danger when a Spirit Crystal Servant is nearby)

Equipment: Gnome Hand Cannon, Keen Edge Longsword, Boots of Jumping

What Gaven now values is the increase in level, which brings enhancements to soul and psychic powers.

The most significant indicator is that his maximum limit of Psychic Power Points received each day has increased significantly, reaching ten points.

From now on, he could infuse twice as many Spirit Crystal Stones each day.

From this point forward, the Spirit Container would be their strategic resource, the more stocked up, the better.

Besides, the number of Psychic Abilities he could unearth increased.

This can only be considered potential, since he hasn’t fully unearthed the Psychic Abilities the Magic Network infused into him even at level one.

This level-up was just a beginning.

As the forty-nine Gnolls complete the Dragon Seeking Ritual Ceremony, it will also bring Gaven a considerable sum of Experience Value, at least enough to fill one-third of his current level.

Just as Gaven said previously, he changed their destiny, and he would also grow stronger because of them.

Such impact on fate is always bidirectional.

This matter solidified Gaven’s determination to continue on his path—a unique path that was also the correct one.

If he had followed the old paths of Legendary Warriors, he would probably still be struggling at level one and a half, facing all sorts of dangers.

Unlike now, when he can simply sit and wait for experience to rain down from the sky.

The waiting time is the slowest, especially when filled with anticipation.

The duration of the Dragon Seeking Ritual Ceremony went on far longer than Gaven had anticipated.

The forty-nine Gnolls’ deep meditation alone continued for over seven days.

It wasn’t until Susie told Gaven that the longer the Dragon Seeking Ritual Ceremony lasted, the better.

Not only did it mean a greater possibility of successful dragon seeking, but the abilities obtained from it could also be more powerful.

Gaven’s mood shifted on the spot, wishing that their ceremony would go on longer—the longer, the better.

After all, the Dragon Seeking Ritual did cost money.

The Spirit Container used to arrange the Dragon Seeking Ritual Ceremony was not only depleting its internal Psychic Energy, but the Spirit Crystal Stones themselves were also slowly dissolving.

Whether their dragon seeking was successful or not, the Spirit Crystal Stones had been consumed.

“What do you mean?

Why are you stopping us from entering?

We are friends of your leader, you know.

All the food you eat, we’ve brought to you.

Damn little worms, how could you have grown to this point without Gaven Nort?

Tell him to roll out and see me…”

“Hanson, keep it down, we’re here to do business.

They’ve asked us to wait, so we’ll wait a little,”

“You can wait, but I can’t…

Just think about it, how much have you invested here?

Every day we’re working to death, transporting food and supplies for them, and now we can’t even enter the gates, they don’t treat us as one of their own…

If they dare stop us today, they will dare to renege on the deal tomorrow and stop doing business with us.

There has to be an explanation for today’s incident, otherwise, I’ll pull my investment, and everything they ate from me, they’ll have to spit it all out…”

By the time Gaven hurried out, the situation outside the Blackwell Tribe had escalated to swords drawn and bows bent, the relations extremely tense.

On one side naturally were the Gnoll guards of the Blackwell Tribe, and on the other side were the human trading caravans.

As the Gnolls performing the Dragon Seeking Ritual Ceremony were at a critical moment, Gaven had further strengthened the entire tribe’s defenses and specifically instructed that the human trading caravans could not be let in, after all, this matter was a secret of the Blackwell Tribe.

Unexpectedly, the temper of these business owners turned out to be hotter than imagined.

It was quite clear from what they said in and between lines, they considered themselves Gaven’s financial backers, practically co-owners of this Gnoll Tribe.

Now the owners themselves were being kept out, and it made no sense.

Gaven discerned their intentions just from the bits and pieces of the argument he heard halfway through his approach.

He stopped abruptly, whispered a few instructions to the Maiden Priestess, lingered for a few more minutes to listen to the human merchants rant a bit more, then walked out unhurriedly and expressionlessly.

“Gaven, what are you trying to do?

Planning to burn bridges now that your power has grown?

You don’t take us seriously anymore?

We’ve come from so far away and now can’t even enter the gates.

Do you still want the food or not?”

Before Gaven could open his mouth, a barrage of questions landed on him.

“Where’s Uncle Bede?

Why haven’t I seen Uncle Bede?” Gaven looked around, not seeing the familiar rotund figure, and he didn’t respond to the lead merchant’s interrogation either.

“What do you mean?

I’m talking to you!

What does it have to do with Bede?” the challenging merchant stepped forward, questioning aggressively.

“I’m looking for Uncle Bede because I want to know if the viewpoint just now represents you personally, or represents all the business owners of the entire caravan?” Gaven looked expressionlessly at the merchant named Hanson.

“Of course, I represent the entire caravan…”

“Wait a moment.” Before Hanson could finish, several merchants behind became anxious, stepped forward, and pulled Hanson back.

Another merchant came forward, laughing heartily: “Brother Gaven, don’t take it to heart, don’t take it to heart.

You’ve known Hanson long enough to know his bad temper.

Once he gets stubborn, he doesn’t recognize anyone.

He’ll come around after cooling off.

There’s no need to look for him now; Bede didn’t come this time. The source of this content ɪs NovᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt

He had a little problem with his business in Sambia and went to deal with it.

He’ll probably be able to come personally next time.

But regarding today’s incident, you did come across as a little insensitive.

We’ve all been partners for a long time, transporting your goods from afar, and now we can’t even enter your door.

It’s a bit…”

“Wait a moment.” Gaven rudely interrupted the merchant mid-sentence, “There is one thing I need to correct.

From the beginning, our relationship has been a mutually agreed business association.

To say you’ve helped transport goods here is incorrect.

Every grain of food you brought, I paid for.

I’ve also honored the promise I made at the start, and we’ve been in a relationship where neither party owes the other.

It has never been about who helps whom.”

The merchant choked at Gaven’s words, his expression visibly sour, though he clearly didn’t agree with what Gaven was saying.

However, Gaven’s attitude was quite firm, and engaging in a dispute over this matter would lead to a face-losing situation for both parties, especially when Bede, who had the best relationship with Gaven and was most skilled at stirring up issues, hadn’t come.

“What do you mean?” Hanson, who had just been forcibly dragged away, flared up instantly, shaking off his companion’s hand and charging back, “I hadn’t seen it before, but you’re a wolf, a wolf that likes to eat alone.

You’ve got a bit of power and are ready to kick us all out of the game?

Believe it or not, we can withdraw our investments collectively, and no one will bring you food again, then let’s see what you’ll feed these little worms with.

Without food, will these little worms still listen to you?

Maybe someday, all you’ll have left is bone!”

Gaven had no intention of getting into it with Hanson; he expressionlessly swept his gaze to the other merchants and said, “I’ve already asked earlier, whether this represents your personal view or the collective view of your entire caravan?”

The other merchants averted their gaze from Gaven, and those who came out to pull Hanson back this time hesitated.

Although Hanson was somewhat extreme in his remarks, they all felt there was a problem with Gaven’s attitude.

They needed to come together to exert some pressure; otherwise, his attitude towards them could get increasingly out of hand, which would not be conducive for future trade.

“Very well, very well, very well.” A smile appeared on Gaven’s face, but no matter how one looked at it, the smile wasn’t benevolent, “Since this is your collective view, then let’s clear up all our accounts today.

I have kept a clear record for you.”