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Path to Prosperity - B2 Chapter 59
🕑 Added 2024-10-08 10:00:09 +0000 UTCThe Capture Card was still empty, but Percy used it to occupy his last Monster Card Spot. Maybe it was better to put something else there first, but Percy knew that if he picked something else first, he would struggle to remove it again.
The Gnoll Warrior and Blueflame Hawk are too closely bound with me to remove them again. Ego-enhancing Cards – adding Augmentations and improving their Potential – also strengthened my connection with them. In the first place, that is how the Blueflame Hawk could reach me from a long distance and inform me of the others’ arrival in the royal forest.
He could have done a few things differently, but it didn’t matter too much. Adding another Monster Card with three to five Augmentations would be over the top. At least for the time being. He’d just upgraded several Augmentations, with some requiring quite a bit of practice to adapt to. In the first place, Percy’s body would probably need the most time to adapt to the changes. His Strength, Agility, and vision had improved tremendously, but his senses and other physical characteristics improved a lot by reaching the Master Tier.
He would have to work hard to get used to his body’s changes. Adding another Monster Card with similar physical boosting Augmentations would be a little bit over the top.
Then again, Percy might find something interesting to catch with the Capture Card.
Should I upgrade the Capture Card right away? No, I better wait a little bit longer to put more Prosperity aside for emergencies and heavy investments. But then again, who’s going to attack me, let alone overwhelm me, forcing me to use more than thirty million Prosperity? Well…I can never know for sure. Let’s be ready for the worst case. It’s not like I need to upgrade the Capture Card right away in the first place.
Once he finished contemplating, Percy washed up, changed into a neat set of clothes – prepared by the royal tailor a few days ago – and left for breakfast.
Percy found his sister, parents, the Old King, and the revolutionary Alchemist at the royal dining hall. The latter was something Emilia Dark called herself. Percy was unsure what to think of that, given that he’d seen and used her ‘revolutionary’ potions, but he decided to give the elderly woman what she wanted. And she sure wanted to be called a revolutionary Alchemist.
Breakfast was simple. The tension was higher than Percy was used to at the breakfast table, but that was mostly owed to the royal couple. If gazes could kill, the Old King would probably be covered in gaping holes. Fortunately, Phillip Kain and Reina Kain didn’t have an Augmentation, which transformed their eyes into deadly weapons.
“What are you planning to do now that you have returned to the royal family?” The Old King looked up from the plate and asked Percy.
Phillip was ready to launch into a tirade of snarky comments, but the Queen held him back. She glanced over to her son in interest.
“That’s a good question, and I’m not certain yet,” Percy sighed deeply, “I don’t know if everyone is aware of the shop I opened in the capital a few weeks ago, but I don’t want to close it. That, I do know already.”
“Because of the Blacksmith you have been training and the Demi-Human siblings?” His grandfather asked, earning everyone’s attention. However, the Old King merely shrugged, “I am just doing my research thoroughly.”
Percy nodded, but he shook his head after a second. “It is partially because of them, but I cannot deny my selfish reasoning. The shop is something that will inevitably help me grow much stronger. It will support the expenses of my Ego and help me accumulate more wealth, which can then be transformed into more power.”
“We can help you with that. How about we transfer you the ownership of a few buildings in the center of the capital. The customer flow will help you support the expenses of your Ego. Your Ego is powerful, so we might as well help you grow. That way…nothing can happen to you, no matter who’s coming after you,” The Queen glared dangerously at the Old King, who ignored his daughter-in-law.
“Lil Ray, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Emilia Dark said, speaking up for the first time, “Are you going to spoil Percy to death? How is he supposed to grow if you give him everything he needs? He is supposed to be challenged by the numerous trials awaiting him and can only grow stronger, better, as he endures the challenges and overcomes them.”
“Yes…but…”
“I agree with Grandmother. I was already given a lot, but if I accept even more…I don’t know how I will turn out. I…hope to be better than the snobby nobles I’ve encountered in the Wintermoon Estate. Maybe it doesn’t seem like a big problem from your points of view, but to commonbirth Egos, a Gifted without extraordinary background, most nobles is a pain in the…” Percy shook his head, “I apologize for my choice of words, but nobles are a hassle. That’s also what Old Greg always told me. They’re scheming behind each other’s back and betray each other the moment you make a mistake. I really don’t like this. You never know where you’re at with certain people, and that’s just not what I want.”
He sighed again. Being the crown prince is something he had accepted at this point. However, that didn’t include the responsibilities. All that meant was Percy being ready to accept that the King and Queen were his parents, that Sophia was his sister, and that the Old King was his grandfather.
But what about his responsibilities as the crown prince? What about ascending the throne in the future?
Was he ready for that? Definitely not.
Still, Percy had to find out what kind of human he wanted to be once he ascended the throne. What kind of King did he want to be?
Everyone at the table looked at Percy, myriad thoughts flashing through their minds.
They’re thinking I’m crazy. But so be it. I was raised as an ordinary child in a small settlement far away from the capital. The people there weren’t rich, but they were still nice and helped me without expecting anything in return. They haven’t been raised in the hopes of playing their enemies out with nasty schemes or to plot other people’s demise… That’s not what I want.
Percy recalled the helplessness of the Raewood’s townspeople when the Archyeas had been discovered, and the struggles of Erik and Tarlek. To put it in simple terms, the brothers’ childhood had been a mess. There had been too few defenders who moved too slowly to do something about the struggles of those who couldn’t protect themselves.
“I want to help those who have never been given the opportunity to grow. The people in the capital are already in a much better position than the townspeople and villagers of the Kainesh Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any poor and unfortunate residents. In fact, I found far more struggling residents in the capital than elsewhere. You either rise high or get trampled upon in the capital.”
“You wish to use the money I gave you to help others? Do you want to give them a place to sleep and food to get through the day? I think you underestimate the costs you’re going to have to shoulder. Phillip tried it once but used up most of the fortune he’d acquired during his reign. I know you saw the wealth accumulated in the treasury, but that is not Phillip’s money. Most of it is mine, while the rest belongs to the kingdom. It is used to protect the kingdom, by granting the strongest of the new generation to grow stronger as fast as possible. We have to prepare for a war with the Devil and his pawns, after all.” The Old King pointed out
Phillip winced twice when his father commented on his failure to help the poor and the possible war with the Devil. He was still angry at his father, but that didn’t change the truth. The Demon sightings were still increasing, yet the next Imperial wouldn’t be graduating anytime soon. It would take another six months to finish their training, half of that if the kingdom’s fortune would be used to accelerate the training, which was necessary.
“I never said I would give anything out for free,” Percy shook his head.
“My plan is to give the poor opportunities to change their lives,” He said, “I’m going to give them jobs and the means to trod down one of many golden roads to success.”
A smile blossomed on Percy’s face, but it wasn’t a nice smile. It was a crafty smile.
“I’m going to become their employer!”
