Chapter 521: Birds (1/2)
“You want to enter right now? You sure you don’t want to wait?” Zac asked with surprise. ”You might die, you know. As I told you in the letter, the masters of the Inheritances all seem to be eccentric characters. Why not wait until you’ve reached level 75?”
Zac had gifted them each a shot at an Inheritance as thanks for protecting Port Atwood while he was away. So he wasn't surprised to hear her bring it up, but he was a bit confused that she already wanted to take the trial. They knew they only had one chance, so he had assumed that the two would wait until they reached peak F-Grade. After all, that came with a set of powerups, such as titles, bonus attributes, and skills.
Their efforts had slowed down the approach of the invaders by hours, which was the whole reason he could complete the climb without worry. He didn’t know what he would do if he suddenly got the prompt of the invasion while he was inside the tower, but he most likely would have left early. He would have lost out on so much if that happened, including the Shard of Creation.
Not only that, the two had actually completely missed out on the quest for defeating the Undead Incursion because of their wounds. Thea and Billy should have been two of the highest contributors in the battle against the undead except himself and the Abbot, but they never got the quest as they were stuck in sickbeds on his island.
Giving them each a shot at an inheritance along with some of the things he had gotten during the climb was the least he could provide in return. The inheritances were limited, so any spot he gave out might mean that some descendant of his missed out in the future. But he figured that he would be powerful enough to be able to provide even better things to his grandchildren if it ever came to that.
Better use the inheritances now while they still could provide a lot of value.
His sister had already claimed the Invoker inheritance, and Adran was keeping his eyes on the craftsmen who had started perusing the Celestial Artisan Heritage. Someone might be worthy of taking on the inheritance as well.
As for the last two inheritances, Zac wasn’t sure. It would depend on which inheritances Thea and Billy decided upon, though he had a pretty good idea what they would go for.
“We’re sure,” Thea nodded. “We can’t keep playing it safe. I feel we’re not powerful enough to help out as we are. We won’t be able to reach level 75 in thirty-six days, there’s just no way. We’ll enter in a day or two after I've confirmed a few things here.”
“Billy wants the Titan,” Billy said from the side. “Billy doesn’t know why, but it feels familiar..?”
“It does?” Zac asked with interest.
Was it perhaps his bloodline calling to him?
“Billy thinks he dreamt being a big giant that was called a Titan?” Billy muttered with a frown. “Can’t remember…”
“Well, I think it suits you,” Zac said. “I’ve seen the statue of the master of the Titan Inheritance. He looks just as strong as you, so you should be able to get things that make you stronger as well.”
The Titan felt like the given choice for billy, though Zac also felt that the Undying Fiend might be able to provide Billy with means of shoring up his lacking defenses. But the Inheritances were ultimately a matter of compatibility rather than what people needed, and Billy was definitely the most compatible with the Titan inheritance.
“Good!” Billy fervently nodded. “Billy has slept too much. Last fight hurt, Billy needs to get better at thwonkin’.”
“What about you?” Zac asked as he turned to Thea.
“I’ll take the Blade Emperor if that’s okay,” Thea said after a few seconds.
Zac nodded, feeling inwardly relieved. There wasn’t really any standout in Port Atwood that could benefit from that Inheritance. The only one using a sword of the core forces was Sap Trang, but he wasn’t really a sword master, but rather a water mage or beast tamer. Besides, Zac also had the heritage for the Blade Emperor, which probably contained half of the value that the old master left behind.
“What kind of test was there?” Thea asked. “Is it based on strength or suitability?”
“Suitability,” Zac said after some hesitation. “It got a bit dangerous for me because I kind of cheated a bit, and Ogras was only in danger because the master he chose was a lunatic. But the trials should be achievable by normal talented people, as they were meant as gifts for the descendants of Brazla, the tower’s creator.”
“Good,” Thea said with some relief.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone this time while looking for the cultists. Just have my sister lead you in if I’m not around. Oh, the tool spirit is slightly insane as well, so don’t try to anger it. It might mess with your trial out of spite,” Zac said, drawing an even stare from Thea.
“Anything else…?” she asked.
“No, that’s it,” Zac with a shake of his head. “Or well, just compliment it a bit and it might make your lives easier. I need some help from your family with the teleporters, but I’ll just grab someone from your intelligence office.”
“Good luck,” Thea said as she quickly scribbled a letter. “What we can do is limited, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I don’t think anyone over at the Intelligence Bureau will cause any trouble for you, but take this letter just in case.”
Zac nodded and left, and he walked over to the building that housed the intelligence department of the Marshall Clan. Charles Marshall immediately met up with him, and Zac couldn’t help but snort when he saw that he looked at the shadows with some worry. The demon had apparently left quite an impression during his last visit to the Bureau.
“Ogras isn’t here,” Zac said with a smile. “I need to be teleported to Main Paris without anyone finding out.”
“Main Paris…?” Charles repeated with a calculating look. “You’re not…?”
“I’m not planning on taking out the New World Government,” Zac snorted as he handed him Thea’s letter. “At least not yet. I am looking for the base of operations of the cultists. You don't happen to know anything else?”