Chapter 914
Chapter 914
"The only way for you two to retain access to my family's bloodline legacy is to become part of our family," Anton told Paul and Eric. "That means returning to Ormunda and serving as retainers. You don't need to worry—we're very wealthy, and my family treats its retainers generously. After you've received the necessary training, we may assign you responsibilities that could earn you a tremendous amount of wealth."
"What kind of responsibilities?" Eric asked.
"As you know, the cinema business is our family's most profitable enterprise. We're planning to open cinemas throughout the Gale Continent, including in New Drennor, the newly established Kingdom of Mendoza, and several other kingdoms. The best part is that you won't have to relocate permanently. You can continue living with your families in Ormunda because we'll provide all the Portal Scrolls you need, making travel effortless."
"If we accept your condition, what happens to your plan to test your family's bloodline magic against the Izmortans' Rebirth Process?" Paul asked.
"You'll still go through with it, since that's the entire reason I granted you access to my family's magic in the first place. Based on my research, completing the Rebirth Process is only the first step. Applicants still have to undergo numerous evaluations before they're accepted as full members of an organization in Izmorta.
"Once you've completed the Rebirth Process and I've confirmed that my family's bloodline magic remains unaffected, you'll have two choices. You can continue your application to join one of the magical organizations, at which point I'll retrieve my family's magic from you. Or you can withdraw your application, travel through one of the portals I'll establish to our family manor in Ormunda, and retain your access to our bloodline magic.
"Not only that, you'll still be able to study the standard wizardry system in Ormunda alongside the group of mages my family is nurturing. You'll eventually possess two separate systems of magic—the Diablo II System from me and conventional wizardry. I'll give you a few hours to decide."
After saying that, Anton asked them to leave his room so they could discuss the matter privately without his presence influencing their decision.
He had given them only a few hours because the Melinda was expected to arrive in Izmorta in less than forty-eight hours.
Anton understood that the real issue wasn't his offer.
It was their families.
He didn't know the details of Paul's and Eric's relationships with their fathers or why they were so determined for their sons to join one of Izmorta's magical organizations.
Nor did he need to know.
That was a matter for Paul and Eric to resolve.
If they chose to become retainers of his family, Anton would gladly welcome not only them but their families as well. The Rose Family was still expanding and could always use more loyal people.
While waiting for their decision, Anton found himself unable to concentrate on anything else.
His excitement over finally reaching the Continent of Izmorta in just a few hours made it impossible to focus.
Instead, he wasted time mindlessly watching short videos on the Internet.
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A few hours later, Paul and Eric knocked on his door.
"We've made our decision," Eric said. "We'll become retainers of your family. We simply can't give up the power we've gained through your family's bloodline magic."
"The fact that your family has become one of the wealthiest in Ormunda because of the cinema business also helped us make that decision," Paul added.
"What will you tell your fathers?" Anton asked.
"Since we'll still go through the Rebirth Process, we'll simply stop our applications afterward. We'll stay at one of the taverns near the organizations and tell our fathers that we failed the entrance process. They already know that's a possibility. Once they learn that your family has accepted us as retainers and will compensate us generously, their disappointment will probably disappear."
Anton gave Paul an amused look.
After hearing their decision, he told them about the four young mages from New Drennor whom his family had been sponsoring.
He explained that the family had spared no expense in providing them with every resource necessary to help them advance through the ranks of wizardry as quickly as possible.
"We estimate they'll reach the rank of Archmage within three or four years. Once they do, we'll begin assigning them responsibilities within the family's businesses. Of course, working for the family won't prevent them from continuing to pursue greater magical power. They'll still have plenty of opportunities to advance."
Anton also shared one of the family's greatest secrets.
One of the most valuable magical items he had ever crafted was a spear that dramatically accelerated a mage's cultivation.
If news of it ever spread, he was certain powerful factions would target the Rose Family.
He assured Paul and Eric that once they officially joined the family and began studying conventional wizardry, they too would be allowed to use that legendary artifact to accelerate their own advancement.
The item he referred to was the Insight Spear, which granted the Meditation Aura.
At present, the family possessed two of them.
The first had originally been given to Anders.
The second belonged to Anna.
However, Anders no longer needed it after Anton granted him the Paladin class, while Anna's non-ladder Diablo II character was also a Paladin.
Both of them now possessed the Meditation Aura naturally.
Even Anton's stepmother, Sonya, had chosen the Paladin class for her non-ladder multiplayer character.
As a result, Kirk, Omar, Mesono, and Abdul continued sharing the first Insight Spear during their training, while the second would eventually be entrusted to Paul and Eric once they began studying wizardry.
The addition of two more loyal mages pleased Anton.
Once Kirk, Abdul, Mesono, and Omar were assigned to oversee businesses in different regions, they could decide among themselves how to rotate the use of the Insight Spear during their continued training.
Paul and Eric visibly relaxed after making their decision.
Knowing they would be able to keep access to Anton's Diablo II non-ladder multiplayer system lifted a great burden from their shoulders.
Anton also reminded them that if they ever grew tired of playing the Barbarian and Amazon, they could simply delete those characters and start over with different classes.
The idea immediately intrigued both of them.
They looked ready to delete their characters on the spot until Anton stopped them.
"Wait until you've completed the Rebirth Process and arrived at Rose Manor," he said. "Your current high-level characters will provide valuable protection while you're still here."
"We don't really need protection," Paul replied. "The territories governed by the magical organizations are fairly safe."
Anton shook his head.
"Fairly safe isn't the same as completely safe. At most, it'll only take about a month before you both reach Rose Manor and officially join the family. Until then, I'd rather you keep every advantage you have."
The conversation gradually shifted to the Rose Family's businesses.
Anton explained that the family currently operated three cinemas, one of which was dedicated exclusively to television series.
He proudly told them that each cinema building had been modeled after architectural designs from Earth, making them magnificent landmarks in their own right.
He also described the large Events Hall the family had completed, which hosted Cosplay Conventions and other major gatherings, including fashion shows.
Paul and Eric admitted they knew almost nothing about fashion, so Anton spent some time explaining the industry to them.
After a while, however, he noticed their interest fading.
Neither of them seemed particularly fascinated by the subject.
Anton simply smiled and moved on.
He finished by telling them about the building adjacent to the Events Hall, which had been converted into the headquarters of the family's fashion magazine.