Chapter 59 - 60: Master and Disciple Reunion!

Chapter 59: Chapter 60: Master and Disciple Reunion!

Early the next morning.

Nathaniel opened his eyes.

Noctis was curled up beside his pillow, its four little paws tucked beneath its body as it slept soundly.

Nathaniel reached out and poked its head.

"Noctis."

"Time to work."

Noctis’s ears twitched. It slowly opened its eyes.

"Meow..."

It looked completely reluctant.

Nathaniel sat up.

"Use Shadow Harvest."

Noctis raised its little paw and waved it casually.

A faint ripple of shadow energy spread through the room.

The next second, a notification appeared.

[Shadow Harvest Successful]

[You have obtained 1,300,000 Shadow Energy]

1.3 million!

Nathaniel’s eyes lit up slightly.

Yesterday, Noctis had gathered one million.

Today, the amount had risen to 1.3 million.

Clearly, the merger of Rowan Trading Consortium’s commercial channels had expanded the influence under his control.

He glanced at the little black kitten settling back onto his shoulder and reached out to rub its head.

"Not bad."

"You’ll get an extra meal today."

Noctis immediately opened its eyes.

"Meow!"

The corners of Nathaniel’s mouth twitched.

How practical.

...

By morning, Nathaniel had finished arranging the last few matters.

Uncle George had been following close behind him. His expression was more solemn than usual.

As noon approached, Uncle George finally broke the silence.

"Young Master."

Nathaniel looked at him.

"What is it?"

Uncle George hesitated for a moment.

"Will it be dangerous for you to join the High Command?"

Nathaniel fell silent for a moment.

Uncle George did not know the true weight the High Command carried within the Aurelian Alliance.

He only knew that Nathaniel was joining an extremely special organization and would be leaving Westmere.

Nathaniel did not explain further.

"There may be danger."

"But there will also be more opportunities."

Uncle George nodded and took a deep breath.

"Young Master, if the Master and Madam could see you now, they would be proud of you."

"What they wanted most was not for you to spend your entire life managing the trading consortium."

"They wanted you to walk your own path."

"The farther you go, the better."

He paused.

"It’s just..."

"Young Master, you must protect yourself."

Nathaniel looked at him.

After a moment, he nodded.

"I will."

...

At noon.

Ripples suddenly spread through the space outside the villa.

Instructor Malcolm Rook stepped out of the void.

He was still dressed in black. His expression remained calm, and his aura was as unfathomable as ever.

Nathaniel had been waiting at the doorway.

"Senior Rook."

Instructor Malcolm Rook glanced at him.

"Have you settled everything?"

Nathaniel nodded.

"More or less."

Instructor Malcolm Rook spoke calmly.

"Before we leave, there’s someone you should meet."

Nathaniel’s heart stirred.

"Senior Dorian?"

Instructor Malcolm Rook nodded.

"Yes."

He raised his hand and waved.

Space twisted.

In the next instant, Nathaniel felt the scenery around him shift.

When his vision cleared, the two had appeared outside an independent courtyard behind the City Lord’s Mansion.

Instructor Malcolm Rook did not enter at once.

Instead, he looked at the courtyard gate. His gaze softened slightly.

Nathaniel noticed the change.

"Does Senior Rook know Senior Dorian?"

Instructor Malcolm Rook answered calmly.

"He was my teacher at the academy."

Nathaniel was taken aback.

Instructor Malcolm Rook’s strength was unfathomable. He clearly stood far above Level 400 Dorian Kessler.

Yet when he spoke of Dorian, his voice carried a rare note of respect.

Instructor Malcolm Rook glanced at Nathaniel.

"If he hadn’t guided me back then, I might never have reached my current level."

Nathaniel gained a new understanding of Instructor Malcolm Rook.

The man seemed cold, but he had never forgotten the person who had guided him.

The two pushed open the gate and entered.

Dorian Kessler was standing in the courtyard, loosening his muscles and stretching his limbs.

He slowly threw a punch.

A deep vibration rippled through the air.

Compared with the previous night, his aura was far more relaxed.

Hearing their footsteps, he turned around.

When he saw Instructor Malcolm Rook, Dorian raised an eyebrow.

"Well, look at you."

"All dressed up."

Nathaniel was speechless.

This was nothing like the master-disciple reunion he had imagined.

Instructor Malcolm Rook showed no sign of annoyance.

Instead, he lowered his head slightly.

"It is all thanks to your guidance, Teacher."

Dorian snorted.

"Save it."

"You brat have grown wings now. You walk around with that long face every day. Anyone who didn’t know you would think the whole world owed you money."

Instructor Malcolm Rook’s expression remained calm.

"I’m used to it."

Dorian looked at him and shook his head with a smile.

"Still wearing that deadpan expression."

After speaking, he turned to Nathaniel.

"Kid, how did you sleep last night? Feeling sad about leaving the place where you grew up?"

Nathaniel replied,

"Not bad."

Instructor Malcolm Rook had been calm until that moment.

But the instant he sensed something, his gaze snapped toward Dorian.

For the first time, his expression changed.

"Teacher."

"Your injuries..."

Dorian smiled.

"They’re healed."

Instructor Malcolm Rook’s pupils contracted.

"Healed?"

With his strength, he could tell at a glance.

The Abyssal Corrosion that had plagued Dorian for years had vanished completely.

It had not been suppressed.

It was gone.

Instructor Malcolm Rook looked at Dorian in disbelief. Dorian, in turn, looked at Nathaniel.

Following his gaze, Instructor Malcolm Rook stared at Nathaniel.

A few seconds later, he drew a sharp breath.

"Don’t tell me he healed you?"

Dorian nodded.

"Yes."

"Last night, this kid noticed my abnormal status and insisted on trying."

"Somehow, he actually managed to cure it."

Dorian spoke as if it were an ordinary matter.

Instructor Malcolm Rook fell silent.

He knew better than anyone how difficult Dorian’s injury had been to treat.

Before he had grown strong, he had personally witnessed his teacher suffer under the effects of that injury.

Later, after joining the High Command, he had tried to find a high-tier Healer for Dorian.

He had also searched for rare purification items.

But every attempt had failed to remove the corruption. At best, they could only suppress its effects.

And now...

A young man who had only recently completed his first class advancement had done what all those efforts could not.

Instructor Malcolm Rook looked at Nathaniel with disbelief.

"You can clear high-tier Abyssal Corrosion?"

Nathaniel answered,

"I happen to possess a skill that can clear abnormal statuses."

Seeing Instructor Malcolm Rook’s stunned expression, Dorian suddenly laughed.

"What?"

"Is this the first time you’ve been surprised by something, you brat?"

Instructor Malcolm Rook ignored the teasing.

After taking a deep breath, he looked at Nathaniel and spoke with solemn sincerity.

"On behalf of myself, I thank you."

Nathaniel was taken aback.

Instructor Malcolm Rook continued.

"The person you healed is my teacher."

"I will remember this favor."

Nathaniel shook his head.

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

"Senior Dorian guarded the front lines and protected Westmere."

"I’m only doing a small thing for a hero."

Dorian’s eyes flickered.

Instructor Malcolm Rook also looked at Nathaniel. He remained silent for several seconds.

"Good lad."

Dorian waved his hand.

"Alright."

"Don’t waste any more time here."

"Take him away."

He looked at Nathaniel.

"Kid, the High Command is no easy place."

"But since you’re going, don’t bring shame to Westmere."

Nathaniel answered with a firm expression.

"I won’t."

Dorian smiled.

"I’ll wait for the day you become a powerhouse, perhaps even one of the pillars of the Aurelian Alliance."

"Don’t disappoint this old man."

Nathaniel cupped his fists in salute.

"Take care, Senior Dorian."

Dorian nodded.

Instructor Malcolm Rook also bowed slightly.

"Teacher, take care."

Dorian waved his hand.

"Get going."

The next instant, Instructor Malcolm Rook raised his hand.

Space twisted around them.

He took Nathaniel with him and soared into the sky.