Chapter 39: More Functions

Jack explained a few more things about the First Branch after that. When he was done, he finally stepped back.

"If there is nothing else, my Lord, I should return to my duties."

"Sure." Caelan nodded. His head was already starting to hurt from all the information he had received for the last hour. "That’s enough for now."

"If you require anything, you may send a message to the First Branch." Jack bowed his head.

"How?"

"There is a messenger hawk kept on the balcony outside this room." Jack pointed toward the curtains covering the window.

"Messenger hawks are commonly used throughout the kingdom to deliver letters over long distances. They are trained under the organization, so they’re more advanced than others."

"Oh..." Caelan almost forgot that phones didn’t exactly exist in this world.

"The hawk outside has been trained to return directly to the First Branch. Simply attach your message to the small container on its leg and release it. We will respond immediately after receiving it."

"Alright. I’ll do that if I need anything."

"Then I shall take my leave, my Lord." Jack lowered his head once more.

"Sure."

Jack bowed one final time before leaving the room completely. Once Caelan was alone, a deep sigh escaped from his lips.

"Hah..." He sank deeper into the bed and stared at the ceiling.

That was a lot to take in.

He originally thought the Night was just some group of assassins. Instead, it was not. He became a leader of an entire organization that has so much more to it.

"And the Third Branch..." Caelan muttered the words under his breath.

That was the part that bothered him the most.

According to Jack, the Third Branch answered directly to the Lord. Their locations and even the method of contacting them were information that only he was supposed to know.

Which would have been perfectly fine if Caelan was actually the previous Lord. But he wasn’t.

"How the fuck am I supposed to contact people I don’t even know?" He couldn’t exactly send the messenger hawk and hope it magically found them.

Caelan stared at the ceiling for several seconds before something finally clicked in his mind.

"Hey System..." Caelan immediately called out the thing that he knew could help him the most right now.

[Ding!]

[How may I help you host?]

"Tell me how I’m supposed to contact the Third Branch."

[Additional information regarding the Third Branch is available.]

Another screen immediately appeared in front of him after those words.

[The Third Branch is directly connected to the Lord of the Night through Mind Control.]

Caelan’s brows furrowed. It seemed like the ability he got was far more precious than he thought.

[The Title: Lord of the Night and the acquired ability: Mind Control are currently linked since the Host acquired both.]

[Because members of the Third Branch answer directly to the Lord, the Host may establish direct communication with them through this ability.]

"Direct communication?" Caelan stared at the screen.

[Correct.The Host may send messages directly to members of the Third Branch regardless of their current location.]

"..."

Caelan slowly blinked.

"You mean I can just talk to them?"

[Correct.]

"From here?"

[Correct.]

"Even if they’re somewhere outside the capital?"

[Correct.]

"..." Caelan became silent. That was way more convenient than a messenger hawk!

"Wait. How does that even work?"

[The Covenant establishes a connection between the Lord and every member who has accepted it. Normally, the Covenant only allows the Lord to issue commands that members cannot refuse.]

[However, members of the Third Branch possess a stronger connection to the Covenant due to their direct service under the Lord.]

[Through Mind Control, the Host may use this connection to communicate directly with them.]

Caelan stared at the messages as he slowly processed everything.

[Due to the Host possessing both, additional functions as the Lord of the Night are available.]

"Additional functions?" That caught Caelan’s attention.

[Correct.]

[Would the Host like to view them?]

"Uhh...Sure." Caelan hesitated.

The previous screens disappeared before a new one appeared.

[The Night]

[Current Authority: Leader]

[Available Functions:]

[Command - Issue an order to members bound by the Covenant. Commands issued through the Covenant cannot be refused.]

[Communication - Establish direct communication with selected members of the Third Branch.]

[Summon - Call members of the Third Branch to the Host’s current location. The estimated time of arrival is based on how far the member is.]

Caelan’s eyes widened slightly as he read the last function. Summoning them meant the strongest members of the Night could all be contacted and summoned by him directly.

"That’s fucking useful." Caelan looked over the three options again before his eyes stopped on Communication.

"How do I use that?"

[The Host only needs to activate the Covenant and select the member they wish to contact.]

"Select?"

As soon as he said it, another screen appeared.

[Ding!]

[Third Branch Members: 11]

A list of names slowly appeared underneath it when he saw that, Caelan’s expression immediately changed.

"Oh." So that was what Jack meant.

He stared at the eleven names floating in front of him.

"This is interesting." A small smile slowly formed on Caelan’s lips as he continued staring at the list of names.

He had to admit, becoming the Lord of the Night was starting to sound a little better than before. He still had no idea who any of these people were, but knowing that he could contact and even summon them whenever he needed was already enough for now.

He was definitely going to test it eventually, just not right now since he didn’t need it yet.

He closed everything soon after, the screens disappearing one after another until nothing was left. Now that he was seeing real things, he let out a small breath.

There was no point thinking too much about the Third Branch right now. Besides, there was something else he was supposed to be doing before Jack interrupted them.

"..." Caelan’s eyes slowly moved toward the door.

"Now, where is Eveline?"