Chapter 58 - 59: A Welcome Gift for the Junior!

Chapter 58: Chapter 59: A Welcome Gift for the Junior!

Chapter 59: A Welcome Gift for the Junior!

Dorian Kessler could clearly feel the Abyssal Corrosion that had lingered inside his body for many years beginning to loosen.

It wasn’t being suppressed.

Instead, its roots were being severed by an overwhelming force!

The grayish-black corruption seemed to encounter an irresistible rule. It was being pulled out, bit by bit, from the depths of his flesh, meridians, and bones.

"This..."

Dorian’s pupils contracted.

He lowered his head.

Wisps of grayish-black energy were escaping from his fingertips. The moment they touched the flowing Shadow Energy, they quickly dissipated.

The heavy pressure that had weighed on his chest for years began to fade.

Dorian’s breathing stopped for a moment.

Then his chest rose and fell.

That long-lost feeling of freedom left his entire body motionless.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

The dark light slowly faded.

The living room returned to silence.

Dorian stood there without speaking.

He raised his hand and carefully examined the changes inside his body.

It was gone.

The Abyssal Corrosion that had tormented him for years was truly gone.

It hadn’t been temporarily suppressed.

It had been completely removed.

Dorian’s gaze trembled.

"You..."

"Did you really cure it?"

Uncle George stood frozen.

An injury that even Level 500 Healers couldn’t cure...

The young master had removed it with a single use of his skill?

Dorian’s expression as he looked at Nathaniel was no longer one of simple appreciation.

It was shock.

A young man who had only recently completed his first class advancement had removed the high-tier Abyssal Corrosion inside his body.

This was beyond common sense.

Dorian took a deep breath and solemnly cupped his fists.

"Nathaniel."

"You deserve this bow."

Nathaniel quickly raised his hand.

"Senior Kessler, there’s no need for that."

Dorian shook his head.

"You don’t understand what this injury has meant to me."

"Over the past few years, although I’ve remained alive, it has constantly weakened me."

"Every time I used my power, I had to endure its backlash."

"If not for this injury, I wouldn’t have withdrawn from the front line so completely."

He looked at Nathaniel, his voice growing softer.

"What you’ve cured isn’t just my injury."

"You’ve also removed the last regret of an old soldier."

Nathaniel remained silent for a moment.

"I’m glad I could help, Senior."

Dorian looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Originally, I was wondering what kind of welcome gift I should prepare for you."

"Now, it seems I have just the thing."

Nathaniel was about to speak.

But Dorian had already raised his hand.

An antique medal appeared in his palm.

It was made of dark gold, with signs of age along its edges.

The front bore the emblem of the Aurelian Alliance.

A shallow crack ran across its back.

Even so, the medal carried a solemn weight that was hard to ignore.

Dorian looked at it, and his expression softened.

"This is the greatest honor I’ve received in my life."

"The Aurelian Alliance awarded it to me after the Northern Frontier Rift Battle."

"It’s been with me for many years."

Nathaniel’s expression changed.

"Senior, this is too precious."

Dorian shook his head.

"Let me finish."

"This medal represents honor."

"I’m giving it to you not because I want you to carry the weight of my past."

"I hope it will encourage you."

Nathaniel’s heart stirred.

Dorian continued.

"Of course, it isn’t merely a symbol."

"It also contains a one-time defensive skill."

"Once activated, it can block an attack from a Level 500 powerhouse."

Nathaniel immediately shook his head.

"Senior Kessler, I can’t accept this."

"This is both your honor and your life-saving trump card."

Dorian placed the medal directly into Nathaniel’s hand.

"From now on, I’ll be guarding Westmere."

"Keeping this with me won’t serve much purpose."

"But you’re different."

"You’re going to join the High Command."

"One day, you’ll visit far more dangerous places and face much stronger enemies."

"This medal will be more useful in your hands."

Nathaniel still wanted to refuse.

Dorian’s voice became firm.

"Accept it."

"This is a welcome gift from an elder to a junior."

"It’s also an old soldier’s expectation for someone who may one day become a pillar of the High Command."

Nathaniel looked at the medal in his hand.

After a few seconds of silence, he carefully stored it.

Then he cupped his fists.

"Thank you, Senior Kessler."

"I won’t forget this gift."

Dorian smiled.

"No."

"I’m the one who should be thanking you."

Dorian didn’t stay much longer.

After the Abyssal Corrosion had been completely removed, the years of exhaustion weighing on his body seemed to disappear.

When he left the Beaumont estate, he stood tall and looked full of energy.

He seemed several decades younger.

With a single step, he disappeared into the night.

The living room became quiet again.

Uncle George stood to one side. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Young Master, someone like Senior Kessler deserves our respect."

Nathaniel nodded.

"Yes."

He looked out at the night beyond the window.

His mind felt much more at ease.

With Dorian Kessler guarding Westmere and Uncle George managing the Beaumont Trading Consortium, he wouldn’t need to worry too much about what happened back home after leaving the city.

Just then, his communicator rang.

Nathaniel lowered his head.

Caleb Rowan.

He answered the call.

Caleb’s voice soon came through.

"Nathaniel."

"The matter involving the Rowan Trading Consortium has been settled."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

"That fast?"

He had originally thought he might still need to visit the Rowan Trading Consortium before leaving Westmere the next day.

Caleb’s voice carried a complicated tone.

"It’s because news about Senior Kessler reached us."

"Everyone learned that Westmere had received a new Level 400 Pillar."

"They also learned that Senior Kessler went straight to your home after arriving."

"So... the attitudes of many people inside the Rowan Trading Consortium changed completely."

Nathaniel was slightly surprised.

So that was what had happened.

Dorian hadn’t needed to do anything.

The mere fact that people believed he had a close relationship with Nathaniel was enough to stop the Rowan Trading Consortium’s senior executives from suppressing Caleb.

That was the influence of a Level 400 Pillar.

Nathaniel let out a breath.

"Good."

"Then there’s no need to waste time tomorrow."

Caleb: "..."

Silence fell on the other end for a moment.

Clearly, that simple remark had dealt him a small blow.

Caleb gave a wry smile.

"I’m finding it harder and harder to understand you."

Nathaniel replied calmly.

"That’s normal."

"Focus on securing control of the Rowan Trading Consortium."

"For future cooperation, contact Uncle George directly."

"Uncle George will handle coordination on behalf of the Beaumont Trading Consortium."

Caleb immediately became serious.

"Alright."

"I understand."

Nathaniel gave him a few more brief instructions before ending the call.

Uncle George stood nearby. After hearing the conversation, his expression became even more serious.

"Don’t worry, Young Master."

"I’ll personally handle communication with the Rowan Trading Consortium."

Nathaniel nodded.

"Uncle George, I’ll be relying on you from now on."

Uncle George quickly shook his head.

"Looking after the consortium for you is my duty, Young Master."

Nathaniel said nothing more.

That night, many people in Westmere struggled to sleep.

The Beaumont Trading Consortium had undergone a major change.

A new Level 400 Pillar had arrived.

The Rowan Trading Consortium’s attitude had changed overnight.

One event followed another, forcing Westmere’s influential figures to realize that a new era had begun.