Chapter 249 — A New Family

Chapter 249: Chapter 249 — A New Family

Chapter 249 — A New Family

Valseer walked over to the couch and sat down.

At this point, nearly everyone was here. Victor, Lyra, Grace, Valkor, Benton, Sierra, and Valseer himself.

Everyone except one person.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Ah, that must be Baker," Valseer said, looking toward it.

Victor glanced at him.

"Baker? Who’s that?"

Valseer laughed.

"Your new bodyguard. He’s Rank One of the Spirit Core."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Come in," Valseer called.

The door opened, and a young man who looked roughly twenty stepped inside.

His dirty-blond hair was short and slightly messy, and his skin was noticeably tanned, something Victor found strange considering they lived inside an enormous tower. Then again, with the artificial environment on the Third Floor, he supposed it wasn’t impossible.

The man was lean, but his posture was terrible. He slouched as he walked, looking as though someone had dragged him out of bed only seconds earlier.

"Tower Master."

He bowed toward Valseer before turning his half-open eyes toward Victor.

"Young Master."

After another bow, Baker walked over and dropped onto the couch without another word. He looked ready to fall asleep.

Victor studied him.

Something about the man seemed familiar. Despite Baker’s lazy appearance, his attention never truly left Victor. His eyes remained just open enough to follow him while still taking in everything else happening around the room.

If something happened, Victor had no doubt Baker could move immediately.

He glanced toward Valseer, who wore a strange smile, almost as though he were waiting for Victor to figure something out.

Victor looked back at Baker.

Rank One Spirit Core. A lazy atmosphere. Constantly looking half asleep.

There was only one person Victor knew who fit that description.

His eyes narrowed before he turned back toward Valseer.

The Tower Master started laughing.

"It seems you’ve figured it out."

Victor nodded.

"Yeah. I got it."

Baker said nothing, remaining on the couch with the same sleepy expression.

"Good, good." Valseer’s expression grew slightly more serious. "As you already know, Baker will be staying with you from now on."

Victor nodded.

"Everyone in this room knows enough to be trusted with your secrets. More importantly, everyone here understands what you now represent for the future of alchemy and humanity."

He pointed toward Baker.

"Which means he goes wherever you go."

Victor remained quiet.

"You are not to go anywhere without him. Not the Third Floor, not the Second Floor, and especially not the basement levels."

Victor had already expected this. He’d known what he was agreeing to when he asked the Order for help.

His freedom would be restricted.

Part of him still disliked the idea. He had spent so much of his new life fighting to earn his freedom, only to finally obtain it and immediately find himself surrounded by new restrictions.

But these weren’t the chains of a slave. This was different.

If sacrificing some of his freedom meant he could grow stronger and help protect humanity, he could accept it.

"I understand. I told you before, I accepted the conditions."

Valseer watched him for a moment before nodding.

"Good."

He turned toward Lyra.

"On that note, there’s something concerning you as well."

Lyra’s ears twitched.

"I’ve already accepted Victor as my personal disciple, and Grace is also my personal disciple." He smiled. "Lyra, I’m going to take you as a disciple as well."

Lyra stared at him.

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

Valseer leaned back comfortably.

"You’re Soul Bonded with Victor. When one of you grows stronger, the other benefits. It would be foolish for me to focus entirely on one of you while ignoring the other."

His smile widened.

"Besides, how many people can say they’re the alchemy master of the first beast alchemist?"

He laughed.

"Sounds rather interesting to me."

Lyra glanced toward Victor, who smiled at her. She turned back to Valseer and bowed.

"Disciple greets Master."

Valseer nodded approvingly.

"Good."

He then turned toward Valkor and Sierra, with some of the amusement left his face.

"Now, as for you two."

Both focused on him.

"You are both officially liabilities."

Neither seemed offended. If anything, their expressions suggested they had already reached the same conclusion.

"You’re free," Valseer continued. "Don’t misunderstand me. No one here intends to put another collar around your neck."

Sierra’s hand unconsciously moved toward her bare neck.

"But because of your connection to Victor and Lyra, the Evil God Organization will eventually learn that you’re important."

Valseer’s eyes hardened.

"And once they do, they’ll try to use you against them."

Valkor nodded.

"So there will be no wandering around the Tower on your own."

Valseer glanced around the room.

"That applies to most of you, actually."

His eyes stopped on Lyra.

"Especially you."

Lyra’s ears lowered slightly, but she didn’t argue.

"I’m arranging a residence for all of you here on the Fourth Floor."

Victor looked up.

"A residence?"

His gaze shifted from Grace to Baker.

"Naturally, that includes Grace and Baker."

Victor looked around the room.

Himself, Lyra, Valkor, Sierra, Grace, and Baker.

They were all going to live together.

One big family, I guess.

The thought was strange, but Victor didn’t dislike it.

Valseer continued.

"There’s something else you and Lyra need to understand."

Victor turned back toward him.

"For the next year, neither of you will have much freedom. Your primary focus will be cultivation and alchemy."

Victor frowned slightly.

"A full year?"

"Yes."

Valseer nodded.

"And one year from now, I intend to formally introduce both of you to Third Floor society as my personal disciples."

Victor didn’t immediately understand why that mattered, and Valseer seemed to notice.

"There’s an important ball held next year. A gala of sorts. The most influential figures in the Tower will be there."

Victor paused.

"Will this require dancing?"

Valseer looked at him for a moment and continued.

"Royalty, nobility, powerful families, important alchemists. People whose names carry weight throughout the Tower and beyond."

Valseer leaned forward.

"That’s when I’ll introduce you."

Victor nodded slowly.

"You need to begin building connections of your own, Victor."

His green eyes remained fixed on him.

"Especially if you intend to become Tower Master one day."

Victor paused.

Tower Master.

The possibility still felt strange whenever someone said it aloud.

Not long ago, deciding where he wanted to sleep had felt like freedom. Now Valseer was talking about connections, royalty, and one day overseeing the entire Tower.

Apparently, strange things had a habit of becoming normal.

"I understand, Master."

Valseer smiled.

"Good."

He stood and looked around at everyone gathered in the room.

"Then that’ll be all for now. I need to get back to the project I’ve been working on."

He turned toward Victor, Lyra, and Grace.

"I expect to see all three of you tomorrow morning, the moment the artifact in the sky decides to light up."

Victor almost smiled.

Valseer turned toward Benton.

"Benton, I trust you can show them to their new home and get everyone settled?"

Benton nodded.

"Yes, Tower Master. Right away."

"Good."

Valseer started to leave but stopped after a few steps.

He looked back at Victor.

"Victor."

Victor met his eyes.

"I hope you’re ready. Because when this year is over, I’m fairly certain you won’t recognize the person you are now."

Victor was quiet for a moment before nodding.

"I’m ready."

And he meant it.

He had spent enough time saying he needed strength and realizing how powerless he still was whenever someone stronger decided to threaten the people around him.

For a moment, he thought of Jacob and the conviction he had spoken about so long ago.

If Victor was going to walk this path, he couldn’t keep doing it half-heartedly. He couldn’t constantly hesitate over how far he was willing to go.

He had already made his decision.

He needed strength.

And if becoming strong enough meant one day becoming Tower Master, then so be it.

Victor looked at Valseer.

"I won’t hold back."

Valseer smiled.

"That’s what I wanted to hear."