Chapter 215: Preparing for the Worst
After listening carefully, Jasper nodded.
"Is there anything else you require, Baron Luke?"
Luke shook his head.
The remaining supplies weren’t needed in such massive quantities, and the smaller merchants were more than capable of meeting that demand.
"Very well."
Jasper smiled confidently.
"I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Everything you’ve requested will be delivered as quickly as possible."
Luke nodded in satisfaction.
Just as he was about to stand and take his leave-
"Baron Luke."
Jasper called out with a meaningful smile.
Luke paused for a moment before calmly sitting back down on the sofa.
Then he gestured for him to continue.
Jasper inclined his head before speaking calmly.
"Baron Luke, our families who own the Silver Exchange have conducted business across Regnum for more than five hundred years."
*Regnum—the Human Continent of Valtharion.*
Luke gave a slight nod, silently listening.
Jasper folded his hands together and finally reached the true reason for stopping him.
"Because of that..."
"The Silver Exchange wishes to invest in you, Baron Luke."
Luke’s eyebrows rose slightly.
He understood exactly what Jasper meant by investment.
Rare elixirs. High-grade potions. Secret techniques. Powerful equipment.
Connections that stretched across the entire continent.
In short...
The Silver Exchange was offering to back Hero Luke’s rise.
Luke was already familiar with arrangements like this.
Merchant families rarely invested without expecting something in return.
If the Silver Exchange backed his rise, then as Luke’s become famous, so would the prestige and influence of the Silver Exchange.
It was a mutually beneficial partnership.
He also understood why they had approached him now.
His reputation had skyrocketed over the past few days, and the infamous "talentless" label had quietly disappeared from public opinion.
At least...
That was what the world believed.
To everyone else, he was a rising Hero with extraordinary potential but no major faction supporting him.
Naturally, they wanted to establish ties before someone else did.
Luke fell silent, carefully weighing the proposal while Jasper patiently waited for his answer.
’Resources won’t help my cultivation.’
’My Titan transformations already provide me with armor and weapons.’
’Gold isn’t an issue anymore, at least for now.’
’And I already possess combat power far beyond my actual realm.’
The more Luke thought about it, the more he realized just how much he had gained in a little over twenty days since arriving in Valtharion.
Back then...
He had been nothing.
An insignificant ant who could have been crushed by almost anyone.
Now, however.
He possessed enough strength to contend with the weakest among the world’s true powerhouses.
’Even so...’ Luke leaned back against the sofa.
’The truly high-level beings could still kill me without much difficulty.’
On the surface, he had the protection of the Holy Church. And the Saintess was also an previous hero of light, meaning few human forces would dare openly target him.
But Luke knew better than to believe that guaranteed his safety.
’Demon Whisper... demons... the other races... hidden assassins...’
One name after another surfaced in his mind.
The more he considered the threats lurking beyond the public eye.
The more he realized that his earlier confidence had been somewhat hollow.
Against ordinary enemies, he was undeniably powerful.
But against the beings truly standing at the peak of Valtharion.
He was still far from strong enough. So all his strength now seems like fake.
A single Platinum Knight. That was all it would take.
Someone at that level could kill him before he even realized what had happened.
With that thought, Luke leaned forward once more and looked at Jasper with renewed interest.
"And how exactly does the Silver Exchange intend to invest in me?"
Jasper smiled, as though he had been expecting that question.
"Within our capabilities, Baron Luke, we can provide almost any resource."
"Gold, Rare elixirs, Secret techniques, Ascension Series, Artifacts."
"Even soldiers, if necessary."
Luke listened quietly.
The more Jasper listed the benefits, the more convinced he became that his initial assumption had been correct.
Everything being offered was certainly valuable. But none of it addressed what he actually lacked.
After a brief pause, Luke shook his head.
"Manager Jasper..."
"I appreciate the offer, but I don’t have a need for those things."
Jasper was visibly surprised by Luke’s response.
A moment later, however, a look of realization crossed his face.
’The gifts from those wealthy merchant houses.’
’And perhaps the Holy Church has been supporting the Hero all this time as well.’
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.
If that were true, then it wasn’t strange that Baron Luke lacked neither wealth nor resources.
But that left Jasper with a difficult problem.
’Then... what exactly can the Silver Exchange offer him?’
He fell silent, carefully considering every possibility.
Unfortunately, nothing came to mind.
They didn’t possess forbidden techniques.
Nor did they have legendary treasures such as high-rank Origin Fruits.
The greatest strength of a merchant family had always been its vast fortune and access to resources.
Yet, for the first time in many years...
Jasper felt that those very strengths held surprisingly little value in front of the young Hero.
So he looked directly at Luke before speaking with complete sincerity.
"Then allow me to ask you instead, Baron Luke."
"Is there anything you truly need?"
"If it is within the Silver Exchange’s capabilities, we will do everything we can to provide it."
Luke fell silent.
His eyebrows drew together as he carefully considered the question.
Instead of thinking about wealth or treasures.
One name surfaced in his mind.
*The Demon Whisper.*
Their previous attempt in Stormveil County had ended in failure.
But who could guarantee they wouldn’t strike again?
’What if next time they send a Platinum Knight Or even a Diamond Knight...?’
Against opponents of that level, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
Worse still-
Their objective might not even be limited to kidnapping him.
They could simply slaughter everyone standing in their way.
As images of Aurielle’s smile, Aurora’s cheerful face, and the others flashed through his mind, Luke slowly came to a realization.
Blackstone still wasn’t safe enough.
’Even in the worst-case scenario. I might be able to escape with my Titan abilities.’
’But they can’t.’
Luke’s expression turned grim.
Of course, that was assuming he even had the chance to flee.
If a true powerhouse appeared without warning, survival itself would be uncertain.
After a long silence, Luke leaned forward.
The smile on his face had completely disappeared.
Looking Jasper straight in the eyes, he calmly stated the one thing he truly needed.
"I need..."
"A Diamond-rank powerhouse stationed in Blackstone Territory."
That was the most practical solution he could think of.
If the enemy sent an overwhelming expert. Then only another overwhelming expert could stop them.
Even if that person couldn’t win, buying a little time would be enough.
Enough time for Luke to gather everyone...
And escape.
But it seems he thought Diamond ranks are cabbages who could be found anywhere.
"What?!"
Jasper shot to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Luke blinked in confusion.
’Brather? why are you reacting like that?’
’You’re acting as if I just asked for your daughter’s hand in marriage.’
If Jasper could somehow hear those thoughts...
He would probably agree to the marriage without much hesitation.
But a Diamond-rank powerhouse?
That was another matter entirely.
After several moments, Jasper finally composed himself.
Taking a slow, deep breath, he eased back into his seat before looking at Luke with an unusually serious expression.
"Baron Luke..."
"Do you truly understand what a Diamond-rank powerhouse represents?"
There wasn’t the slightest trace of mockery in his voice.
He was asking a genuine question.