Chapitre 81: Chapter 81: The Peak of a Tier-3 Mage

Actually, he had sensed something was off in the afternoon.

Why would a girl with such dreams only express her desire to become a retainer when she met him? Clearly, with her connection to Vanessa and Tack, she could have conveyed her wish in a more natural and subtle way, without needing to declare her resolve so strongly in front of him.

It wasn't until Vanessa's brief words just now that Rhett's doubts were dispelled.

Perhaps it was Vanessa's interference as her elder sister that caused Ellie to feel pressured, stuck in a difficult dilemma?

Rhett patiently explained, "Vanessa, I know you're worried about your sister and want her to have a stable life. But have you considered that taking away her right to choose might be even more tormenting for her?"

Reilly, standing nearby, nodded thoughtfully.

Vanessa, on the other hand, remained mostly silent. Even she felt that her father's words were reasonable and hard to argue against.

A few minutes passed.

After Rhett's thoughtful words, Vanessa unconsciously clenched the tablecloth hanging before her, reflecting her inner turmoil. Finally, she sighed, a bitter smile forming at the corners of her mouth. "Sigh, I was wrong. Perhaps Father is right. Ellie should be allowed to walk the path she truly desires. My interference only clouds her joy, preventing her from truly being happy. As her sister… I've failed miserably, pushing my own ideas onto her."

Tack wrapped an arm around Vanessa and gently patted her shoulder in comfort.

"To me, it seems like your care for your sister is a sign of love and responsibility. It's only because you care so much that your actions may have been a bit misguided," Rhett said with a smile, offering some reassurance. "I'm sure that together, you two sisters will move forward."

Vanessa took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and stood up. "Father, I'll drink to that."

"Sir Rhett, I'll join her in a toast!" Kelina, who had been quietly listening, also lifted her glass, her eyes shining. "Your words were wonderful. They remind me of what my grandfather used to say—'Even if you're a girl, your spirit should be stronger than anyone else's. Strength knows no gender.'"

Rhett's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. Scout Rocky, huh? That's quite a remarkable thing to say...

He stood up with a smile. "In that case, let's all toast together."

As everyone raised their glasses, Rhett took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over each face—Tack, Reilly, Taylors, Vanessa, and Kelina.

"The Falcon's flight requires courage in the face of adversity and the unity of our spirits. I believe that with our combined efforts, that day will come soon."

"To our dreams!" Rhett smiled.

"To our dreams!" everyone echoed.

Their faces glowed with smiles, their eyes filled with hope. The clinking of glasses rang out, intertwining their hopes for the future.

After the dinner ended, everyone gradually returned to their rooms.

Rhett sat alone by the window, without turning on the lights. The stars and moon outside provided enough light for him to see everything in the room. He was thinking that the last simulation might not have produced the most optimal outcome. Perhaps he could take it even further, guiding events toward a more perfect conclusion?

Just as Rhett was refining his plans, he noticed the moon in the sky being obscured by a cloud. Before he knew it, the night had deepened.

He also thought of Reilly, who at this moment was likely engaged in the noble task of expanding the family's lineage. Rhett's room was on the fourth floor, and as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he vaguely sensed some activity below.

But he quickly pushed such thoughts aside! He had no inclination for eavesdropping or peeping, especially when it concerned his own son. That was a line he wouldn't cross.

The next morning.

The door to Reilly's room creaked open, but the figure that peeked out was not his—it was a blue-haired girl in a nightgown. After checking that the coast was clear, she sneaked into the adjacent room.

Yes, it was Kelina. Her room had been arranged on the fourth floor. The night before, the two had only intended to cuddle and chat in private. But neither of them had anticipated that once the forbidden fruit was tasted, it would be so irresistibly tempting. They had ended up spending the whole night together.

As Reilly leaned against the headboard, savoring the lingering fragrance of the room, he felt a tinge of melancholy. Yet, when he recalled the previous night's wonders, a smile crept onto his face.

He quickly got dressed and made his way down to the hall on the first floor.

"Good morning, Father."

Rhett glanced at Reilly and nodded calmly. "Sit down. We're just waiting for you and Kelina. How did you sleep last night?"

"Ah… ah?" Reilly nearly fell off his chair, startled by the question.

Suppressing a smile, Rhett raised an eyebrow and said, "I meant, how was your rest last night? Why such a big reaction?"

"Oh… oh, I spent the night meditating. It was very... refreshing." Reilly quickly took a sip of milk, relieved that his father hadn't noticed anything amiss. He realized he had been too sensitive.

Not long after, Kelina came down the stairs, elegantly dressed and with a delicate touch of makeup that added a new level of grace. Reilly glanced over and couldn't help but be filled with warmth.

Kelina caught his gaze, blushing slightly, and quickly sat down beside Vanessa, across from Reilly.

"Sorry for being late," Kelina said with a hint of apology.

"Kelina, you seem even more gentle today," Vanessa observed. As a woman, she was more attuned to the subtle changes in others, and she noticed something different about Kelina compared to the night before.

Feigning surprise, Kelina replied, "Really? Maybe it's just the makeup. I added a bit more blush today."

Suppressing a nervous flutter in her heart, she added, "I'll be heading back to Dam Town today. It's my first time traveling far from home, and my father won't let me stay away too long. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, but I hope next time we can spend more time together."

Swallowing a bite of mashed potatoes, Rhett nodded. "It's a pity, but Sir Galray's concerns are understandable. Coincidentally, I have some business to attend to as well, so I'll be able to escort you part of the way."

"Thank you, Sir Rhett!"

"Father, you're going out? Where are you headed?" Reilly asked.

"I'm going to visit Dam Town and Twilight City," Rhett replied, tearing into a piece of meat. "The lord of Dam Town left me a letter last time. Now that I'm back, it's only polite to respond."

"What? Father, you're going to Twilight City?" Taylors, who had been quietly eating his breakfast, suddenly perked up, gripping his knife and fork excitedly. "Could you check if the third volume of the sequel has been released? There were rumors last year that it would be out in the first half of this year!"

Rhett thought for a moment. "The third volume? Isn't that the gift Mina is planning to give you? I don't want to ruin the surprise."

But outwardly, he replied casually, "Sure, I'll keep an eye out for it."

"Thank you, dear father!" Taylors beamed with anticipation.

Rhett chuckled.

After breakfast, Rhett departed from Falcon Town with Kelina's entourage. He escorted her to the vicinity of Dam Town and then continued on his journey, traveling through grasslands, wastelands, and a stretch of soft black sand.

Ten days later, Rhett finally arrived at Twilight City.

Yes, his first stop wasn't the closer Dam Town, but the more bustling Twilight City!

They had left on February 25th, so if they had gone directly to Dam Town, they would have arrived by the end of the month. However, Rhett chose to visit Twilight City first, as he had more pressing matters to attend to there.

He patted the pouch at his waist, which made a slight clinking sound—inside were twelve bottles of Moonlight Potion.

"This time, I must reach the peak of a Tier-3 Mage," Rhett thought to himself. "With just twelve more bottles, I'll have the full twenty-four Moonlight Potions I need. After that, I can perform another simulation and save a considerable amount of Destiny Points."

As he became more experienced with using Moonlight Potions and recalling his breakthrough from Tier 2 to Tier 3, Rhett realized the importance of conserving his Destiny Points. The last breakthrough had cost him several hundred points.

Opportunities like the Dark Pattern Eagle branch, where low-level magical beasts gathered in large numbers for him to harvest, were rare. Cherishing such conditions was crucial.

After identifying himself to the guards at Twilight City, Rhett was granted entry. He walked along a path paved with ancient stone bricks, making his way toward a specific area.

After taking several turns, he finally arrived at a quieter street.

"Violet Flower Trading Company…" Rhett murmured as he looked up at the large sign, lost in thought.

There were many places in Twilight City that sold Moonlight Potions, and there were even larger and more prestigious trading companies. But Rhett had a personal reason for choosing this one.

He remembered that when he and Nicole had first started seeing each other, this small trading company had been where they shopped together. Back then, it was just a modest shop, fitting for their humble circumstances.

He vividly recalled how Nicole had been captivated by an alchemic ring engraved with violet flowers. Though she didn't say anything, her eyes lingered on it for a long time. But at that time, Rhett was only a Tier-1 Mage, with most of his earnings going toward his training. He didn't even have enough savings to replace his broken staff, let alone buy a new alchemic item.

His heart had been heavy with frustration and helplessness. In the end, Nicole had settled for a simple crystal ring, and he never forgot how she had playfully shown it off to him, despite not getting what she truly wanted.

Later, when he had the means to buy it, the ring was no longer available, as the alchemist had left the city. It became a regret he carried with him.

This time, he had already looked into it and found that the Violet Flower Trading Company had grown considerably. They even sold Moonlight Potions now, so he decided to pay them a visit.

"Hello, sir. How may I assist you?" A middle-aged woman in a floral dress greeted him as he entered.

"Do you have Moonlight Potions available?" Rhett asked.

"Certainly! We have a skilled alchemist who can provide a steady supply of Moonlight Potions. How many would you like?" Seeing that he was asking about such a valuable item, the woman's smile grew even brighter.

"How many do you have in stock?" Rhett inquired cautiously.

The woman glanced at the large sack Rhett was carrying, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. This is definitely a big customer!

Clearing her throat, she replied, "We currently have forty-one bottles in stock, more than enough to meet your needs."

"Forty-one bottles? That's more than I expected," Rhett thought, nodding. The Violet Flower Trading Company was indeed stronger than he had anticipated. After all, alchemic concoctions had a failure rate, and it was common knowledge that higher-level potions required large quantities of rare plants.

Even with a trading company's resources, it was difficult to maintain such a large stock.

"And the price? How much per bottle?" he asked.

"The market rate here in Twilight City is fifty gold coins per bottle," the woman replied respectfully.

Rhett nodded. "I'll take them all."

"Excuse me? Could you say that again?" The woman was stunned.

"I said, pack them up. I'm buying all of them!"

Such a bold declaration left the woman beaming with excitement. Customers like this didn't come around often.

"Understood, sir! I'll get them packed up right away," she said enthusiastically.

"Hold on, I may not have enough gold on me," Rhett said, pointing to the burlap sack. "Besides gold, I have crystals, magic crystals, and gems with me. I'll need you to appraise and exchange them."

No trading company only sold goods—they also bought items such as crystals, magic crystals, and gems.

The woman, surprised but still excited, nodded quickly and called for help to assist with the appraisal.

After exchanging the crystals, gems, and magic crystals Rhett brought with him, he received 1,129 gold coins. Combined with the gold he already had, he had more than enough to purchase all the Moonlight Potions.