Chapter 71: Wisdom lies in learning from others

Chapter 71: Wisdom lies in learning from othersWhat Is a Gathering Encampment? This concept actually goes beyond the usual idea of Creature Dwellings. Under normal circumstances, the creatures that spawn from Creature Dwellings only operate around their own dwelling. Even if multiple Creature Dwellings exist close to each other, the creatures from different dwellings typically don’t gather together... Except in one special case. That’s when a hero emerges among them. "Exactly," Elynn nodded and said. "In this Gathering Encampment of the Treants, His Highness Cicero discovered Treant heroes—two of them, in fact!" "Two Treant heroes?" Ethan’s eyes flickered with interest. Emerald Castle had grown far stronger than before, but this strength had also exposed a serious issue—a shortage of capable heroes. Seraphina was a pure warrior, not suited for management. Cicero was still young and inexperienced. Because of that, most responsibilities fell on Elynn’s shoulders. She never complained, but Ethan knew very well how much pressure she was under. "If possible, we should recruit both of these Treant heroes and bring them under Emerald Castle’s banner," Ethan said, his gaze sharp. "Treants have incredibly long lifespans. Time grants them wisdom, which is why they are known as some of the greatest thinkers in the Forest faction." He turned to Elynn and added, "If we can get their help, it’ll take some of the burden off your shoulders." Elynn froze for a moment, then her eyes softened with understanding. Without hesitation, she said, "It is my honor to dedicate everything to my lord!" Ethan smiled, then continued, "Did Cicero find anything else in the Gleaming Forest?" "In the area His Highness Cicero explored, we also found a Tier 11 Unicorn recruitment dwelling—Unicorn Glade," Elynn reported. "We were planning to take it over immediately, but... we ran out of funds, so we had to put that plan on hold for now." "Unicorn Glade, huh..." Ethan murmured. "Yeah, money is definitely a problem. Otherwise, we would’ve already recruited that Tier 13 Green Dragon from Emerald Castle’s Dragon Cliff by now." He had considered saving the funds meant for recruiting Tier 12 Wyvern Monarchs and using them instead to recruit the Green Dragon from Dragon Cliff. But after thinking it over carefully, he had ultimately abandoned that idea. Because, in terms of cost-effectiveness, it just wasn’t worth it. Sure, a Tier 13 Legendary Unit like the Green Dragon was undoubtedly stronger than two Tier 12 Wyvern Monarchs. But with Seraphina holding the line, Emerald Castle wasn’t exactly lacking in high-tier combat power. What they really needed right now was a solid mid-tier force—units that could take on crucial roles in battle. And in that regard, two Tier 12 Wyvern Monarchs were far more valuable than a single Tier 13 Green Dragon. But at the end of the day, the real issue was simple—he was broke. Seriously short on money! If he had the funds, of course, he’d take everything. Why choose when you can have it all? Making tough decisions? What a joke... "Grugrugu..." Just then, Cicero suddenly spoke up, muttering a few words. The moment he did, Seraphina, Ethan, and Elynn all froze. Then Ethan’s expression changed sharply. "A familiar presence?" "Cicero, did you find a Green Dragon in the Gleaming Forest?!" What Cicero had sensed was the presence of his own kind. And what was Cicero’s kind? A Tier 13 Legendary Unit—Green Dragon! This was huge news! Because whether it was Cicero’s Green Dragon Affinity talent or the fact that both Cicero and Seraphina were Crimson Ultimate Heroes, they both had an incredibly strong natural bond with other Tier 13 Green Dragons. Under these circumstances, it was almost as if a true dragon king had revealed his presence, unleashing a powerful aura that could not be ignored. It was like the legendary call of a sovereign, compelling mighty warriors from all directions to answer. Ethan couldn’t help but wonder—would they witness such a grand spectacle? And if all things were equal, a Tier 13 Green Dragon would undoubtedly be more inclined to join Seraphina and Cicero... "Grugrugu..." Cicero spoke again, clarifying that he hadn’t actually seen a Green Dragon—he had only sensed some lingering traces of one. How long had those traces been there? He wasn’t sure. It could have been a recent presence, or it might have been there for a long time already. After a brief pause, Cicero continued speaking in his dragon tongue, telling Ethan that deep within the Gleaming Forest, there was something dangerous lurking. "So, the secrets of the Gleaming Forest might not be any less significant than those of the Fury Wasteland..." Ethan murmured, his eyes flickering with thought. Then he turned to Elynn. "Elynn, what do you think our next move should be for Emerald Castle’s development?" This was the second time Ethan had asked Elynn such a question. But it wasn’t a test—it was about delegating decisions to the right people. As someone who had originally been just an ordinary person on Earth, Ethan knew that whether before or after his arrival in this world, his abilities were nowhere near as refined as those of Elynn, who had lived in the world of Glory Lords X her entire life. Because he understood this, he had learned to delegate authority, seek collective wisdom, and listen to others’ advice. Wisdom lies in learning from others. There was definitely some truth to that. And honestly, this was probably one of Ethan’s few strengths. "My thoughts?" Hearing Ethan’s question, Elynn paused, falling into deep thought. Her eyes flickered as she considered the situation. After a moment, she spoke slowly. "My lord, my suggestion is to avoid war and focus on recruitment and persuasion." "Recruitment and persuasion?" Ethan repeated, nodding. "Go on." "In my opinion, the growth and rise of a faction isn’t always about fighting to the bitter end. Sometimes, a softer approach—drawing people in, winning them over—can lead to even better results." Elynn’s confidence was noticeably stronger than before. After laying out her general idea, she didn’t pause and continued, "The forces in Gleaming Forest are mostly aligned with the Forest faction. For us, that’s not just an opportunity—it’s a huge advantage!" "Because whether it’s Her Highness Seraphina or His Highness Cicero, both of them are among the strongest in the Forest faction. That kind of presence is bound to be incredibly appealing to them. So, if we aim to bring them under our banner, our chances of success are pretty high." "But... is it necessary?" Seraphina suddenly spoke, her brows slightly furrowed. "They’re not that strong." The moment she said this, the room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Seraphina. Elynn, however, glanced at Ethan, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but held back. Noticing this, Ethan smiled and said, "Elynn, don’t hold back. Just say what’s on your mind." Even if Elynn didn’t agree with Seraphina’s opinion, she didn’t dare to openly contradict her. First, because of their difference in status. Second, because of the deep, instinctive suppression that came from the Tier system. In the world of Glory Lords X, the most terrifying force was Tier suppression. If a Tier 15 unit—or even a Tier 16 unit—truly existed, then even the Mythic Units of Tier 14 from any faction would feel a deep sense of dread, maybe even fear. Elynn’s fear of Seraphina stemmed from the same principle. But now, Ethan wanted to help Elynn break through that fear. Because they weren’t enemies. They were allies, fighting side by side. They were on the same team. Besides, Seraphina couldn’t rely solely on her overwhelming strength forever... Well, technically, she could, but from Ethan’s perspective, he wanted her to grow into someone more mature, someone with a broader vision, someone with the depth and presence of a true leader. After all, when raw power is evenly matched, the deciding factor is strategy. And Seraphina’s strength, while formidable, was far from making her invincible in the world of Glory Lords X. So, in Ethan’s eyes, some of her views—some of her overconfidence—needed to change. At the same time, hearing Ethan’s words, Elynn still felt a lingering fear deep inside, but she took a deep breath, forcing it down. Then, she turned to Seraphina and said slowly, "Your Highness Seraphina, you are incredibly strong. But if possible, please don’t rely too much on that strength." Seraphina was momentarily stunned. She looked at Elynn in silence—and, surprisingly, didn’t refute her. At the same time, Elynn spoke up again. "For any faction, having powerful leaders is essential. But the foundation—the countless individuals at the base—are just as important. Everyone has a role to play. Especially as Emerald Castle grows stronger, we’ll eventually expand, claim more territory, and rule over a vast world. When that time comes, we’ll need countless people to sustain Emerald Castle’s rise and dominance." "Besides, there are many seemingly insignificant people in this world, but even they have a future—a tomorrow. Just because someone is weak today doesn’t mean they’ll still be weak tomorrow." "Time and hope... those are the most miraculous things in this world. I didn’t understand this before, but thanks to Master’s wisdom, I’m starting to grasp the meaning behind these words." Seraphina opened her mouth slightly as if to say something, but then fell silent again. Still, deep down, she had taken Elynn’s words to heart. At the same time, Ethan smiled and said, "Elynn, let’s get back to the main topic." Changing someone’s mindset doesn’t happen overnight. It’s impossible to expect immediate results. But they had time. So, they could take it slow. As long as a seed was planted in Seraphina’s mind, letting it grow at its own pace—that was enough. "Understood..." Elynn nodded and continued, "Aside from Gleaming Forest, the Behemoths of Fury Wasteland follow the same principle. The Stronghold faction’s orcs worship strength—power is everything to them. Right now, Emerald Castle may not have the numbers, but in terms of top-tier strength, we’re definitely above them." She paused for a moment before adding, "So I was thinking... if we can completely overpower them in battle, wouldn’t that mean we could bring the Behemoths of Fury Wasteland into Emerald Castle’s ranks as well? If we succeed, then the day we conquer Sylvanwood might not be far off!" "This plan is solid!" Ethan agreed without hesitation. Fighting all the way to the end might sound thrilling, but it came with serious risks. First, the cost would be enormous. Even if they won in the end, they might be left with nothing but an empty shell. That was not an outcome Ethan wanted to see. Second, the difficulty and risk were simply too high. To him, an all-out war was like a double-edged sword. One wrong move, and they’d be plunging off a cliff with no way back. Unless absolutely necessary, there was no reason to take that route. Sometimes, a balance of force and diplomacy was far more effective than brute strength alone. "Besides that..." Elynn hesitated for a moment before finally gathering her resolve. "Master, I have an idea. I think we should consider actively exploring Dungeons." "Dungeons?" Ethan blinked, looking at Elynn in surprise. "You’re serious?"