Chapter 173 - 164.5 - Interlude Eugene

Some days, Eugene truly regretted returning to Floria. Oh, he loved his family. He would do it all over again just to spend the rest of his life with Elena and the kids. But there were moments when he was genuinely tempted to grab them and leave this cursed little town. How was it possible for problems to keep piling up when the position of frontier Captain was considered basically retirement for anyone at his level? How was it that even now, after all he had been through, he needed to train himself to the bone to be taken seriously? "Alright, enough whining," he muttered to himself, lifting his sword again. Today was supposed to be a rest day for him, one of the rare monthly ones that Darien bullied him into taking to spend time with the family. Considering that both of his kids were out of town and his wife was currently hacking at a boulder a hundred feet away, he could have technically taken it easy. Unfortunately, duty and pride forced him to return to the training field. It wouldn't do for the patriarch of House Crowley to be bullied into silence within his own territory. While Marthas hadn't taken any further action after his stunt, Eugene knew better than to believe he didn't have some other nefarious plot brewing. No one who orchestrates a silent takeover will ever feel satisfied with a job that is only half done. With Sashara's domain now encompassing half of Floria and enabling him to directly influence people in their homes, the next step must be to prepare for total conquest. A larger domain didn't necessarily mean that he could tell people what to do, but the goddess would now have a much easier time manifesting, especially in everyday life. An old man finding his fireplace already crackling merrily in the morning, a mother watching over her child, feeling warmer despite the winter chill. Those were all minor effects of Sashara's domain—things that didn't require any active intervention but that would only stoke people's faith. It would solidify Her hold over Floria, and there wasn't anything he could do. [Aura] blazed around him as he focused his frustration on his sword. He didn't move, but there was no need. The ground trembled at his mere presence, unable to withstand the weight of his power, and his wooden training sword sharpened until it could cut through a tower shield effortlessly. He'd know—he had used the same skill in training with the older guards to great effect. They hadn't even managed to make him move, as their every tactic failed when faced with the terrible lethality [Aura] granted him. But it's still not enough to get to the next level. I'm close; I can feel it. I just need to try something different. That was easier said than done, but he still tried. He'd promised Nick he would have something to show when he came back, and to be honest, it had become a matter of pride. He hadn't minded being the second strongest in town, considering that Arthur was only rarely around, and pushing himself to Prestige would have meant abandoning his duties for months. But now, things were different. Marthas' arrival and the dungeon's events had ignited a fire in his soul, and the power play he had been forced to endure only made that flame burn brighter. A single step forward saw him bring his sword from stillness to a thrust. He didn't use the skill, as this exercise wasn't about causing as much damage as he could. Instead, he focused on crystallizing his desire. He wanted his sword to strike true. It didn't matter that the straw dummy was twenty feet away. It didn't matter that [Aura] wasn't known to allow long-range attacks. Master Xander had been able to cut through a swarm of [Greater Blood Mantises] without moving an inch, simply projecting his sword-will. Back then, Eugene was a simple level thirty, barely strong enough to brave the tamed wilds and certainly nowhere near capable of handling a hundred level eighty monsters. But while he knew he wasn't as strong as his master, that didn't mean he hadn't come a long way since then. The thrust completed, yet his desire failed to shatter reality. The straw dummy stared back as if in mockery. Eugene returned to his starting position, doing his best to clear his mind of his failure. Evidently, he was still missing something. [Aura] was a keystone skill for martial classes, and if he couldn't bring it to Expert, he doubted he'd reach Prestige anytime soon. Nick was right; I've been slacking when it comes to those skills that don't involve my fire. "Captain!" a voice called from afar, and he turned to see Thomas running toward him, one of the more promising recruits from the latest batch. Eugene sighed. I guess this will have to wait. It's not as if simple repetition will help me figure it out anyway. "Captain, sir! Commander Darien sent me to inform you that a stranger has taken residence at the Golden Horn!" The kid—and it was just a kid, barely older than Devon—reported, breathing heavily, though Eugene noticed that he was already recovering. His physical stats must have outpaced those of his batchmates. They wouldn't have been able to run from the barracks in their armor and still speak. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The canonic.al@ s@ou-r+ce for t%h#is c@ont$e*nt%: M-|V|@L-2^EMPY.R^. "And why is the Commander interrupting his rest day just for that?" Elena interrupted, having abandoned her own practice. Thomas visibly composed himself, swallowing under her intense gaze. Occasionally, townspeople overlooked that Elena was a formidable warrior in her own right, but she took great delight in reminding them by appearing unexpectedly or pinning them down with a predator's gaze. "He said he looked too rich to be a regular traveler, especially since he came alone," the boy squeaked, and Eugene lost all his amusement. "So they have finally started arriving," he muttered. With a sigh, he threw his wooden sword, watching as it arched in the air and fell, slotting precisely into the weapons' rack. "Alright, thank you for informing me. You are dismissed; return to your duties." Snapping a salute out of instinct, Thomas then inclined his head to Elena and began marching away, this time at a more sedate pace. Eugene, on the other hand, was already moving back toward the house, deep in thought. He knew that the more powerful local nobles would hear about the dungeon sooner or later and that they would send people to gather information, but he had hoped to have enough time to cross the last boundary. Oh well, it is what it is. "How intimidating do you want to be when you confront him?" Elena asked slowly, already moving to take a fresh outfit from his wardrobe. Removing his training clothes, Eugene considered his options. Given how quickly he had arrived, he suspected the man was from Alluria. The other cities would have just heard about the dungeon by now, and while it was always possible that an Archmage had heard and teleported immediately, he doubted it. Such a powerful entity wouldn't have bothered taking up space in the inn and likely would have already gone to check the crystal forest. This was probably a man from those noble families whose holdings didn't hold enough prestige for them to reside there, and who lived in Alluria. Yes, they would be greedy and desperate enough to come first without waiting for confirmation. "I might see an important person today, so I ought to greet him properly." He finally replied, turning to find his wife had laid out his battle armor. Crossing the room, he embraced her and kissed her passionately. To be loved is to be understood. The Golden Horn was Floria's finest inn. It was one of two options available to travelers, and since the other one was located next to the adventurers' guild and catered to that crowd, offering low prices and basic services, it made sense that an agent of a noble house would prefer to stay there. He could have easily gone into the forest to check for him, given that such a lofty position was usually only assigned to those who achieved either C-rank as an adventurer or full Knight rank within the army. His failure to hide his presence indicated that he had come to negotiate. I will give him something, but I doubt he will like it. The dungeon is broken, and he can check for himself if he doesn't believe me. Entering the inn, the receptionist greeted him with an elegant bow, though he noticed her eyes lingered on his armor. "Lord Captain Crowley, what a wonderful pleasure!" The young woman was very pretty, and she stood out even more in a remote town like Floria. With her milky skin, fiery red hair, and bright blue eyes, she was a rare beauty. If that wasn't enough, her generous cleavage was on full display, and she had no problem showcasing what the gods had given her. She also used his full official address, which no one in Floria did. Her fluttering eyelashes and inviting smile suggested it was an attempt to flirt. As if she could compare to my love; she looks as though she'd break if I sneezed next to her. Eugene knew from town gossip that the girl had little interest in hard work, but she was blessed with beauty and high CHA, and so the inn owner had snapped her up, if only to make guests more likely to stay just a bit longer. The opulent surroundings only made her stand out more. Plush crimson carpets were laid over perfectly smooth elder wood parquet. Golden candle holders adorned the walls, alongside rich tapestries depicting scenes of Floria's history. In the place of honor, sitting behind the girl, was a massive pair of horns that had been dipped in gold. Eugene knew it came from a particularly impressive specimen of Alpha Thunderhoof that had reached level 60. He'd know, given that he had hunted it himself. "Thank you, Gemma. I've been told you have a new guest," he replied. The girl suddenly wore a much slyer look. "Ah, indeed. A gentleman of great taste has booked our top suite for the foreseeable future." "I'm glad business is going well," he said, knowing that anyone willing to drop that much gold was likely to be liberal with their tips, especially if they went to pretty girls. "I would like you to inform the gentleman that I will be taking my tea in the private room, and if he wants to join me, I will gladly host him." With that, he turned away and headed toward the left wing of the building, where the restaurant was located. Occasionally, families with enough cash on hand came here to celebrate, and for a moment, he regretted not taking the opportunity with his kids before they left, but he quickly dismissed that thought. Devon and Nick weren't the types to prioritize expensive dinners over heartfelt goodbyes in the privacy of their home. As soon as he stepped into the room, he was met by a well-dressed butler who bowed in greeting. "Lord Crowley, shall I set up the tea room?" "Thank you, Julius. I am expecting a guest." He replied confidently, walking in the direction of the room. He had a longstanding agreement with the inn's owner to keep a single private room always empty for his needs, no matter the time of day and general availability. He didn't make use of it often, but for circumstances such as these, it was the perfect battleground. By the time he arrived, the table had already been set, and the tea was brewing. Julius, as always, demonstrated precisely why people from the Butler class were so sought after. His choice to remain in Florida, despite being able to earn a much better living in Alluria, only made him more respectable in Eugene's eyes. He took a seat at the head of the table, opposite the entrance, and settled in to wait. Sometimes, people who worked for nobles could be very prickly, but he expected the man would show up sooner or later, given that he had announced his presence so openly. The twentieth minute had just passed when the door finally opened, letting in a portly man in extremely fine clothes. Everything, from his boots to his bowler hat, was enchanted, and Eugene didn't even want to think about what it must have cost. Probably as much as a spatial pouch. When the man took off his hat, revealing a platinum blonde bob, Eugene finally recognized him. A slow, amused smile spread across his lips before he could suppress it, and he noticed the instant the other person realized who he was. "You! THIEF!" shouted the man he knew had once been a guard of the Marney Household, who had been fired after Eugene stole the drake's heart under his watch. "Good sir!" Julius exclaimed in shock. "You are speaking with the ruling Captain of Floria! Have some decorum!" Ebenezer Greene—look at that, Eugene even remembered the name—seemed caught between sputtering and anger. For a moment, Eugene thought the man would regain his composure and swallow his anger, considering how important the mission was likely to be for his standing, but to his surprise and delight, the outrage appeared to be too overwhelming. As Ebenezer gripped his sword, starting to cast what appeared to be a powerful sharpening spell while stepping into the room to get ready for a lunge, Eugene finally understood what he had been missing. [Aura] was a powerful tool when combined with martial skills and weapons. It allowed knights to cut through monsters' scales and hides that would have normally been beyond their reach. But that wasn't its true purpose. No, its purpose was to materialize his intent to fight. That was what he had been missing. His anger and frustration served as powerful aids to the skill, but they were not enough. He had to want it—to want to fight, to hurt. It had to be all he could think about. The mere idea of an arrogant toad like Ebenezer threatening him in his territory awoke something in Eugene. He didn't even need to move for his will to become reality. Between one blink and the next, the hand holding the rapier aimed at his throat was cut off, all while he remained in his seat. CONGRATULATIONS! Your skill [Aura] has ranked up from [Proficient] to [Expert] +2.450.000 ExpLevel up!