Chapter 256 - 243: Follow-up Arrangements, Elven Support
Chapter 256: Chapter 243: Follow-up Arrangements, Elven Support
After confirming Jon’s identity, Leona naturally hoped he would return to Apollonia to meet his birth mother.
But Jon flatly refused her offer.
To begin with, his entire foundation was here in Birch Town, and his future plans made it impossible to leave the Harvia Empire. On top of that, the two major events he was shouldering—"The Turmoil of the Scepter" and "Comprehensive Counterattack III"—were still far from concluded.
Under these circumstances, how could he possibly drop everything at hand and travel from the northern to the southern tip of the Harvia Empire just to meet some mother and grandfather he’d never known?
And to take it a step further, he was a Transmigrator. He barely felt any real connection to the original body’s adoptive parents, so how could he feel anything for a birth mother he had zero memory of?
’I have my own parents, damn it!’
So, even though a damn personal quest of his own called "Lost Radiance I" popped up in the system, telling him to go to Apollonia and complete the follow-up process of acknowledging his ancestry, he pretended he didn’t see it.
Leona was frustrated by his refusal, but she understood.
In her eyes, her nephew had grown up in this bitter, cold land and must have suffered a great deal. Now, through his own efforts, he had finally managed to build this great enterprise.
If she were in his shoes, she would also be unwilling to abandon everything here to return to an unfamiliar homeland.
But she had no intention of giving up. Instead, she planned to use a softer approach to help Jon develop a sense of connection to his homeland.
Her method was simple: stay here and help Jon grow bigger and stronger!
Although Apollonia was only a Duchy, it was rich in resources and had deep ties to the Sun Church. As such, it was considered one of the wealthiest nations on the entire Yino Continent.
’So what if it costs some resources?’
’As long as the Prince feels the support of his nation and the care of his elders, how could she possibly fail to win him over in the future?’
She didn’t voice these thoughts, however. After her conversation with Jon ended, she privately dispatched one of her Knights to the Sun Church. Her Knight was to request use of the Church’s channels to deliver the good news—that the Prince had been found—to her home country, and to send her own proposal along with it.
After Jon arranged for Leona and her party to take up temporary residence in the manor, he looked at his two mentors in the drawing-room, finally letting his somber mask fall away with a long, soft sigh.
"What a mess this is..."
’The title of Prince of Apollonia sounds nice, but it’s like a magnificent robe—beautiful, but heavy. It clashes completely with the foundation I’ve built here in the Northern Territory.’
The Old Dwarf, leaning back against the heavy oak chair, saw Jon’s expression. His drinker’s nose twitched, and he let out a dismissive chuckle.
"Bah, kid, don’t take it to heart! You’re a Divine Favored of an Ancient God—what’s some worldly title compared to that?"
He slapped his knees, sending a few specks of hearth ash flying.
"Just stick to your original plan! With me and Claudio helping you, who can possibly stand in your way?"
Hearing Sutton’s words, Claudio, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"Indeed. Sutton speaks the truth."
He tapped his fingers unconsciously on the armrest.
"You are more than a Divine Favored; you are the ’Enlightener’ who bears the weight of this world’s future. A title is merely a form of worldly recognition. You need not be troubled by it."
After a brief pause, his tone shifted, a glint of light flashing in his silver eyes.
"Furthermore, given that you have now officially reached a new realm and possess some ability to protect yourself."
"Therefore, I will use a secret Elven communiqué to inform Her Majesty the Empress of your existence and request a contingent of personnel to support your endeavors."
His words were like a stone tossed into a deep pool, sending ripples through Jon’s heart.
’That’s right,’ Jon thought. ’A title is just a form of worldly recognition. It doesn’t change what I need to do: build my own foundation of Power, establish a firm foothold in this land, and prepare for the unforeseen crises of the future.’
The upcoming expansion of his territory was the first step in this grand vision. Every bit of support was precious, and the assistance of the Elf Race would naturally be a huge boon.
He sat up a little straighter and nodded solemnly at Claudio.
"Thank you, Mr. Claudio! This support is crucial to me."
However, the moment Jon finished speaking, Sutton, seated next to him, reacted like a snow fox whose tail had been stepped on, slamming a hand down on the armrest of his chair.
"Hmph! You’ve got some nerve, you beanpole! Shameless!"
"Copying us Dwarves, are you? You saw this old man here helping him forge metal and build a Workshop, and you got jealous, didn’t you?"
His drinker’s nose was flushed red with anger, and his eyes were wide as saucers, boring into Claudio.
"Since when did Elves become so... so..."
The Old Dwarf, momentarily choked with anger, couldn’t find the right word. He settled for a loud "Hmph!" to express his intense displeasure and the frustration of being one-upped.
Claudio sat as straight and still as a pine tree, his dark green robes unmoved, as if the Dwarf’s accusations were merely a gentle breeze passing through the mountains.
He lifted his teacup, took a delicate sip, and spoke in a placid tone.
"Sutton, mind your words. This is not a matter of ’copying’ anyone. It is a necessary measure based on Jon’s current circumstances and future potential."
"You Dwarves offer your full support out of friendship and your respect for him. We Elves have likewise recognized his value as the ’Enlightener’ and his potential to combat the chaos of the future."
"Is offering support a privilege reserved only for you Dwarves? Are we Elves not allowed to do the same?"
"You! You’re twisting reason!"
Sutton was so incensed his beard trembled. He pointed a finger at Claudio and roared.
"You clearly saw that I, this old man, paved the way, and now you want to swoop in and reap the rewards! You cunning long-ears!"
"Dwarven stubbornness and shortsightedness are as reliable as ever."
Claudio shook his head slightly. His tone remained placid, yet his words struck precisely at his old friend’s sore spot.
"Who are you calling shortsighted?! You beanpole! If you’ve got the guts, let’s take this outside!"
"A brutish provocation. Utterly meaningless."
For a moment, the small drawing-room was filled with Sutton’s booming roars and Claudio’s calm, yet piercing, retorts.
Watching the fuming, glaring Old Dwarf and the Elf Mage who was as immovable as a mountain yet wielded a razor-sharp tongue, Jon felt the weight and absurdity that had been building for days finally find an outlet, escaping as a resigned chuckle.
This "intense" yet "harmonious" atmosphere was a familiar part of daily life at Grent Manor.
At the same time, it served as a reminder: no matter how his status might change, his foundation here and the people around him who genuinely cared for him were the true source of his Power and the anchor for his path forward.
Just as he was about to intervene to mediate his mentors’ "dispute" and discuss the specifics of the Elven aid—
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
Three clear and restrained knocks on the door instantly brought the bickering in the hall to an abrupt halt.
Rosalind’s cool, clear voice came from behind the heavy oak door.
"My Lord, an Envoy from Lord Paris Manola has arrived at the manor. He requests an audience to discuss an urgent military matter regarding a joint campaign against Heta County City."