Chapter 118: Counter-Blackmail

[RESPONSE: OPTION THREE: SECURE A SIGNIFICANT INCOME BOOST. THIS WOULD STABILIZE THE ESTATE’S FINANCES AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR REPAIRS.]

Emeric frowned. "What kind of income boost?"

[RESPONSE: THE MERCHANT GUILD IS RETURNING TOMORROW. WITH LAWYERS. WITH DOCUMENTS. WITH THE INTENTION OF SEIZING YOUR ASSETS.]

"I know."

[RESPONSE: A PLAN IS BREWING.]

Emeric was quiet for a moment.

"What are you suggesting?"

[RESPONSE: USE THEM. THEY HAVE ENEMIES. THEY HAVE VICTIMS. THEY HAVE SECRETS. FIND THEM. EXPLOIT THEM. TURN THEIR OWN WEAPONS AGAINST THEM.]

Emeric stared at the notification.

Use the Guild against itself.

He thought of the countless houses they had ruined. The families they had destroyed. The secrets they had buried.

If he could find proof, witnesses. He could use it. Force them to back off, renegotiate the debt and even save the estate.

But it was easier said than donez

He closed the notification.

"Alright. We use them."

Gaius approached and his face was grim.

"What now?"

"We’ll be having some unwelcome guests tomorrow. I war you to be ready to make them feel welcome."

Gaius studied him.

"You have a plan?"

"Not yet. But I will."

Gaius nodded slowly.

"Then I’ll make sure the men are ready."

He turned and walked away.

Emeric stood alone.

The sun had set and the sky was getting dark. The village was quiet.

He looked at the ruins, remembering the children who had cheered for him.

I promised them. I can’t back down now.

It would all be clear tomorrow.

Two hours later.

Emeric stood alone in the dark.

The village was quiet. The people had retreated to their homes—what was left of them. The knights were stationed around the perimeter and Gaius was organizing patrols. The night was still.

He reached for the system.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[MONSTER WAVE — REPELLED]

[LOCUST SWARM — REPELLED]

[CALCULATING REWARDS...]

[COMBAT EXPERIENCE GAINED]

[TIER PROGRESS: 24% → 89%]

[STATUS: TIER 6 — 89% → TIER 5]

[SYSTEM NOTE: KEEP PUSHING]

---

Emeric stared at the numbers.

Tier 6. 89%.

Almost Tier 5.

A month ago, he was Tier 8. Barely surviving D-rank rifts. Now he was on the verge of Tier 5. One of the strongest Vessels in the region.

He closed the notification.

—

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[SKILL UPGRADES — AVAILABLE]

[THE FOLLOWING SKILLS HAVE REACHED REQUIRED EXPERIENCE FOR UPGRADE:]

DEVOTION LEDGER — A → S

REGEN — D → C

STEADY HANDS — E → C

EMPATHIC RESONANCE — E → C

DEDICATED HEALER — D → C

EMERGENT BOND — E → C

SOCIAL FORTITUDE — E → C

DUELIST’S RESOLVE — C → B

SHARED RESILIENCE — D → C

BEAST SENSE — E → C

PREDATOR’S INSTINCT — E → C

POISON RESISTANCE — D → C

EMPATHIC LINK — E → C

STORM WHISPER — E → C

HEALER’S GRACE — E → C

SHADOW STEP — E → C

KILLING INTENT — E → C

IRON WILL — E → C

BARRIER OF DEVOTION — D → C

BOND LINK — E → C

SUMMONER’S CALL — E → C

BLADE DANCE — D → C

PHANTOM STEP — D → C

COMBAT FRENZY — D → C

TERRAIN SENSE — E → D

[SYSTEM NOTE: ALL SKILLS UPGRADED. EFFECTIVENESS INCREASED. NEW CAPABILITIES UNLOCKED.]

---

Emeric read the list.

He had stopped reading after a while.

There was a perk he had gotten after hitting Tier 6. The ability to merge skills together. Maybe he should try that.

There were a lot of skills he didn’t need.

He felt it. The warmth in his chest. The power in his blood. The sharpening of his senses.

He was stronger now. Almost there, he told himself.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED]

SKILL: MONSTER SLAYER (PASSIVE)

RANK: C

DESCRIPTION: When facing magic beasts, you gain +15% to all stats. This bonus increases to +25% if the beast is of a higher Tier than you. Scales with skill rank.

SKILL: HERDING INSTINCT (PASSIVE)

RANK: C

DESCRIPTION: You can now sense the movement patterns of large groups of creatures within 500 feet. This skill allows you to predict stampedes, swarms, and coordinated attacks. Effectiveness scales with Tier and familiarity with the species.

SKILL: EMERGENCY HEAL (ACTIVE)**

RANK: C

**DESCRIPTION: You can now heal moderate wounds on yourself or others with a single touch. Costs moderate mana. Cooldown: 5 minutes.

[SYSTEM NOTE: THESE SKILLS ARE RELEVANT TO YOUR CURRENT SITUATION. USE THEM WISELY.]

---

Emeric closed the notification.

That night, he returned to the estate.

Isolde was waiting. She was in their bedroom. The candles were lit. She was reading. She looked up when he entered.

"You’re back."

"Yeah, how’re you?"

She studied him. Read the exhaustion in his face. The tension in his shoulders. The blood on his tunic—not his own.

"You look terrible."

"I feel terrible."

She set her book down. Reached for him.

"Come here."

He crossed to her. Knelt beside her chair. Rested his head in her lap.

She stroked his hair.

"Tell me."

He told her everything that has transpired and she listened without interrupting.

When he finished, she was quiet for a moment.

"You promised to rebuild."

"I did."

"Can you?"

He looked up at her.

"I don’t know. But I’m going to try."

She smiled, a reassuring smile.

"Then I believe in you."

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[DEVOTION LOGGED: SHARING BURDENS — TRUST AND VULNERABILITY]

[DP AWARDED: +5]

---

He climbed into bed and snuggled into her embrace.

---

The morning was grey.

Emeric stood at the gates of Greyfell Estate, watching the column approach. Wagons. Horses. People. A company of thirty, maybe more. Dust rising from the road behind them.

At the front—a familiar figure. Short, broad with rusted hair and arms ike anvils.

Bjorn.

Emeric crossed to meet him as soon as they pulled into the estate.

"You’re late."

"I’m not late. You’re impatient." Bjorn swung down from his horse. Grinned. "You look like shit."

"Good to see you too."

They clasped arms. Held. Then Bjorn pulled back and looked at the estate, assessing every bit of the details. He stopped on the ivy creeping up the stone.

"This is it?"

"This is it."

"It’s... big."

"It’s falling apart."

"Same thing." Bjorn turned. Gestured to the column behind him. "I brought who I could. Twenty-eight. Some dwarves. Some elves. Some humans. All good at what they do."

Emeric looked at them. The dwarves—short, broad, their beards braided, their hands calloused. The elves—tall, slender, their eyes sharp, their movements precise. The humans—weathered, practical, their tools slung across their backs.

"What do they do?"

"You’ll learn them. Eventually." Bjorn clapped him on the shoulder. "Now. Show me what’s wrong."