Chapter 126: A Better Position

Marcus Montclair arrived at Serena's office shortly before the appointed hour. He was a man in his early forties, with neatly combed dark hair and a well-tailored coat bearing the main family's crest. An assistant accompanied him to the entrance before returning to the carriage.

Serena received him with the courtesy due to a member of Montclair's main line. Marcus acknowledged her greeting before turning toward Joe, offering his hand and explaining, "I've wanted to meet you since your latest examination, Mr. Vale, but other responsibilities have kept me occupied. I've reviewed your development records and the proposed changes to your management. There's also your library application, which I believe we should address first."

His preparation caught Joe's attention. He had expected the meeting to concern Serena's replacement, but Marcus had evidently examined his broader cultivation requirements as well.

Marcus had reached the Acquired realm after decades of disciplined training, although he possessed neither a Spiritual Root nor measurable spirituality. He had spent much of his career supervising cultivation projects and earned a reputation for strict oversight. Administrators from the collateral branches considered him particularly difficult because he expected them to follow established procedures and rarely entertained exceptions.

Serena knew that reputation well. She had prepared extensive records to defend her management and expected Marcus to question the arrangements she wished to preserve. Instead, he opened his folder to the library application and examined the collections Joe had requested.

"Your application includes advanced Acquired studies, the Half-Innate research collection, and several categories of Innate records. The first is appropriate for your verified realm, but I'd like to understand why you've requested the other two."

Joe had anticipated the question and explained his approach to cultivation. "I've found that understanding the requirements of later realms helps me make better decisions during my present training. Studying Acquired circulation influenced how I approached my later Internal Organ temperings. My progress improved as I understood those relationships better."

Marcus examined the dates of Joe's breakthroughs and acknowledged that his later temperings had become progressively faster. The physicians had already drawn attention to the unusual progression in their reports.

Joe used the observation to explain what he hoped to gain from the restricted collections. "Cultivation manuals describe the recommended methods, but physician reports can explain why those methods failed for particular individuals. I'd like to study those difficulties before encountering them myself."

"That's a reasonable approach," Marcus acknowledged. "I can expand your advanced Acquired privileges without difficulty, and your examination results justify requesting access to the Half-Innate collection. The chairman must authorize it, but my office can arrange that approval."

He then explained that Montclair maintained its Innate records at the family castle rather than the library in Ashbourne. The castle archives required separate security clearance, a sponsoring representative, and permission for each category of research. Even the committee chairman's approval would not grant unrestricted access.

Joe considered the additional procedures unnecessary for his immediate needs. "I'd prefer to begin with the Half-Innate collection, particularly the physician reports. We can reconsider the castle archives when I have a clearer reason to examine them."

Marcus approved of the decision. He separated the Innate request from the application and assured Joe that he could contact the chairman's office in the royal capital directly. With the research application settled, he opened the document concerning Joe's future management.

"The main family proposes transferring responsibility for your development to my office," Marcus explained. "Your present arrangement began when your prospects were less certain. Your requirements now exceed what a collateral branch can reasonably authorize, and the family believes you would benefit from more direct supervision."

His assessment carried the confidence of a senior administrator accustomed to having his recommendations accepted. Serena maintained her composure, although she expected the discussion to become difficult.

Joe examined the proposed responsibilities before responding. "I appreciate the additional support, particularly for restricted resources and senior instructors. However, Serena already manages my ordinary affairs, and I'm satisfied with her work. I'd prefer to retain her."

Marcus did not immediately agree. He explained that the family generally favored a single reporting structure, since divided administration could produce conflicting instructions and unnecessary delays.

Joe accepted the concern but saw no reason to replace an established manager. "We can separate the responsibilities. Serena can continue handling the work she already manages, while your office deals with requests requiring main-line authority. That would give me the additional support without disrupting our existing arrangements."

Marcus studied him briefly before turning toward Serena. Rather than dismissing the proposal, he asked what additional authority she would require to continue managing Joe's affairs.

Serena opened the ledger she had prepared and presented the financial difficulties she had encountered. The family's spending limits had remained largely unchanged since Joe entered the development program, while his cultivation expenses and commercial transactions had increased considerably. Ferrow's purchasing arrangements had become particularly troublesome because larger orders required approval through several administrative offices.

Marcus examined the accounts carefully. He questioned several transactions, reviewed the terms of two supply contracts, and compared Serena's proposed limits with the previous six months of expenditure.

"The cultivation ceiling can be raised," he decided, "but your proposed commercial allowance is excessive. The medicine business should have its own limits. I won't expose the main family to unnecessary financial obligations merely to give a merchant greater purchasing freedom."

Serena had expected that objection. She directed his attention to the completed contracts and explained that Ferrow was already conducting transactions within the proposed range. She wanted authority to approve ordinary purchases without repeatedly seeking permission from administrators who had little involvement in the business.

Marcus reviewed the records again before marking two entries. "I'll approve a higher operating range based on these contracts. Purchases beyond that amount will require my authorization, and I expect complete monthly reports. Your requests can come directly to my office, provided you submit the necessary documents."

The revised limits fell below Serena's original proposal, but they would eliminate most of her routine delays. She accepted the conditions and corrected her ledger, privately surprised that Marcus had accommodated her request at all.

Her father had spoken to her the previous evening after learning that Marcus would personally attend the meeting. As head of their collateral branch, he had received information unavailable to most junior administrators and understood why the main family was becoming increasingly attentive to Joe.

Montclair's physicians had identified several characteristics that invited comparison with the Martial Ancestor's early cultivation. Joe had advanced through increasingly difficult stages at an unusual pace, while the refinement of his Acquired Energy exceeded what three publicly recorded Internal Organ temperings should ordinarily produce.

The similarities were incomplete and proved nothing about his constitution. Nevertheless, they had attracted attention from senior family members who rarely concerned themselves with newly advanced Acquired practitioners.

Her father had also mentioned Prince Corvin. Joe's medicine business already supplied recovery medicine to the prince's guards and selected martial prospects, creating commercial connections that could become more valuable as Joe advanced.

The main family therefore had good reasons to strengthen its relationship with him. Marcus had come to secure that relationship, not to protect the standing of Serena's collateral branch.

Her father had warned her not to mistake the appointment for a promotion of her own position. She understood his reasoning, but she had still expected Marcus to insist on replacing her. His willingness to accept Joe's preference revealed how much importance the main family placed on retaining the young practitioner.

Marcus finished reviewing the expenses and returned the ledger. Having satisfied himself that Serena's management had produced acceptable results, he presented his decision to Joe.

"Your present manager understands the operation, Mr. Vale. If you're satisfied with her work, I can recommend retaining her. My office will oversee restricted cultivation resources, senior appointments, and major commitments involving the main family's interests. Lady Serena can continue handling ordinary administration under the reporting arrangements we've established."

Joe accepted the proposed division. Marcus possessed authority Serena lacked, while her familiarity with his affairs would save the older man considerable administrative work.

They spent the remainder of the meeting clarifying their responsibilities and preparing a joint recommendation. Marcus would supervise requests requiring senior approval, while Serena retained control over Joe's daily arrangements and routine business affairs.

After reviewing the completed document, Marcus closed his folder and explained that he would submit the recommendation that afternoon. He preferred direct oversight but saw no reason to disrupt an arrangement Joe considered satisfactory. If the division caused delays or conflicting instructions, he reserved the right to reconsider it.

Joe expressed his appreciation for the cooperation, and Marcus acknowledged the thanks before adding, "The family has invested considerable resources in your development, Mr. Vale. I would prefer that you concentrate on cultivation rather than spend your time negotiating with administrators. My office will provide the support appropriate to your progress."

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He gathered his documents and departed after promising to pursue the library authorization personally.

Serena accompanied him to the entrance. When she returned, she found Joe examining the revised spending limits and admitted that the meeting had gone considerably better than she expected.

"Marcus has a reputation for refusing much smaller changes," she explained. "I suspect he would have replaced me without hesitation if you'd accepted the original proposal. My father warned me that the main family wanted greater control over your development."

Joe considered her observation. Marcus had made his preference for direct oversight clear, but he had also demonstrated that he could accept reasonable adjustments when they served his objectives.

"He still has authority over the decisions that require it," Joe replied. "You can continue managing the work you already know, and he can obtain resources we couldn't access before. I see no reason to complicate that arrangement."

Serena agreed. She had secured greater spending authority and direct access to a senior administrator without losing her position. Whatever Marcus's reasons, the outcome gave her considerably more freedom to manage Joe's affairs.

Two days later, the main family confirmed the agreement. It appointed Marcus as Joe's senior liaison, approved Serena's revised authority, and retained her as his principal manager.

The following day, Serena arrived carrying a sealed case and an authorization bearing the committee chairman's signature.

"Marcus obtained the approval," she reported with evident satisfaction. "Your advanced Acquired research privileges have been expanded, and the chairman has authorized access to the Half-Innate collection. The Innate request remains deferred, as you wanted."

Joe examined the authorization before opening the case. It granted him access to Montclair's research collections in Ashbourne, including physician reports and historical studies concerning incomplete transformations. He could consult the documents and obtain approved copies without visiting the family castle.

The case contained his first selection of Half-Innate research reports. Joe began studying them that afternoon, concentrating on the complications practitioners had encountered during bodily transformation.

Unlike cultivation manuals, the documents recorded actual experiences, including failed approaches, unexpected reactions, and the measures physicians recommended to correct them.

One practitioner had experienced deterioration in his transformed tissues during an extended recovery period. Another achieved greater stability by developing neighboring structures together rather than transforming isolated regions.

A third report examined a practitioner who had successfully transformed numerous regions without establishing sufficient coordination between them. His altered tissues possessed greater individual strength, but their inconsistent responses impaired his circulation and movement.

The physicians had eventually recommended transforming supporting structures before attempting further advancement. Their patient achieved better results after changing the order of his cultivation.

Joe compared the observations with his own records. His earlier experiments had exposed similar weaknesses, and the physicians' conclusions offered several explanations for the difficulties he had encountered.

Other reports described practitioners who deliberately allowed unstable transformations to regress before attempting a different approach. They sometimes sacrificed months of cultivation to prevent further complications.

Joe could not rely on that option. No Regression preserved his completed transformations, making the choice of each new target particularly important. He therefore concentrated on cases where practitioners had corrected their foundations without abandoning earlier progress.

The collection offered no universal sequence. Different constitutions and cultivation foundations produced different responses, but the reports identified several recurring problems that Joe could investigate before continuing.

He spent the next few days comparing those observations with his experiments and revising his cultivation schedule.

At 23.64% Innate Transformation, his body already contained several developing networks of altered tissue. He began strengthening the connections between them, prioritizing structures that supported circulation and transmitted force across larger regions.

His first successful sessions produced measurable improvements. During demanding movements, several transformed regions began functioning together with less strain on the surrounding mortal tissues.

Other attempts required additional preparation, particularly when neighboring structures could not adequately support the intended changes. Joe recorded those difficulties and adjusted his targets rather than forcing unsuitable transformations.

His subsequent progress accelerated as the revised sequence produced more consistent results. Over the following weeks, Innate Transformation passed twenty-five percent, then twenty-eight, before advancing beyond thirty.

During one of his recovery periods, Joe received a letter from Green Hollow. His father confirmed that the inscription had arrived safely and now hung in the main room of their new house.

His mother had chosen a prominent place opposite the entrance, where the family could see it whenever they entered. His father mentioned that the inscription had become one of her favorite additions to the house, particularly because its words concerned the safe return of family members who lived elsewhere.

Joe read the letter with satisfaction. He had originally intended the inscription as a personal gift, and knowing that his parents appreciated it was enough.

He continued practicing calligraphy during his recovery periods, occasionally selecting passages from books or writing about his own experiences. Since reaching Return to Nature, he had become more attentive to the intention behind his writing, although ordinary exercises still produced little beyond technically excellent characters.

He also noticed that concentrating too deliberately on expressing a particular emotion often made the writing less natural. Rather than repeatedly attempting to reproduce his breakthrough, he continued practicing without expecting every completed passage to become an extraordinary inscription.

Master Deren had warned him about the expenditure of soul strength, and Joe saw no reason to create additional inscriptions merely to test his attainment. He had already confirmed that his first work possessed unusual properties. Further experiments could wait until he had a purpose worthy of the effort.

His cultivation remained his priority.

After another successful transformation session, Joe examined his panel and found that Innate Transformation had reached 31.42%.

He tested his progress through controlled spear exercises, paying particular attention to how force traveled through his transformed tissues. The improved connections allowed him to perform demanding movements with fewer irregularities than before.

Substantial portions of his body remained mortal, but the changes had begun improving his overall coordination rather than merely strengthening individual regions. Joe recorded the results and selected his next targets according to the same principles.

The medicine business also developed during this period. Near the end of the month, Ferrow reported that the competing tonic had become more consistent. Complaints had declined, and its producers had raised their prices, although the preparation remained cheaper than Joe's medicine.

Serena had already reviewed their sales figures and found no significant decline in established orders. Their production standards and supply contracts continued serving them well, so Joe left the commercial response to Ferrow.

The earlier investigation had nevertheless encouraged him to examine another branch of medicinal research.

The imitation tonic had demonstrated that a preparation could retain harmful attributes even when its principal ingredients provided nourishment. Joe wanted to understand how physicians distinguished such reactions from ordinary cultivation complications and whether similar problems appeared in other medicines.

He began collecting medical reports concerning poisoning, adverse medicinal reactions, and complications involving damaged spiritual materials.

One report concerned a practitioner who experienced discomfort after receiving a restorative medicine. The physician suspected that the preparation contained harmful remnants, but his examinations could not establish whether those remnants caused the reaction or merely aggravated an existing condition.

Several other reports described comparable complications. Their symptoms and circumstances varied considerably, making it difficult for Joe to identify a consistent explanation.

He organized the cases according to the patients' cultivation levels, constitutions, and recorded reactions. His existing medicinal knowledge helped him evaluate the physicians' observations, but he lacked sufficient information to draw reliable conclusions.

Joe therefore asked Serena to inquire whether Montclair maintained specialized medical records concerning poisonous spiritual materials and their effects on martial practitioners.

He had no immediate plans to develop a medicine from the research. For now, he wanted a stronger foundation in identifying harmful medicinal attributes, particularly those that ordinary examinations might overlook.

The following week, Marcus sent three offers through his office: access to a restricted training ground, a consultation with a senior martial physician, and an invitation to a pre-Decennial martial exchange at the North Ashbourne training estate.

The exchange would bring together promising practitioners from several families and development programs. It was not an official tournament, and participation would not affect Decennial rankings. The organizers had arranged supervised sparring, martial demonstrations, and training sessions where candidates could observe one another before the formal competition.

Serena joined Joe while he examined the invitation and explained why Marcus recommended attending. Several participants were expected to compete in the Decennial, including candidates whose achievements Joe already knew from earlier discussions. The gathering would last three days, with separate sessions for different cultivation levels.

Joe studied the list of participating families. Some possessed established martial traditions, while others had produced talented candidates through their development programs. He recognized several names but knew little about their actual combat abilities.

He was willing to observe the gathering, although he wanted to understand the participation requirements before committing himself. "Are the matches compulsory, or can participants attend without sparring?"

Serena had already reviewed the arrangements and assured him that the organizers permitted candidates to choose their sessions. Most would likely participate in supervised matches, but observation alone was acceptable.

Joe considered the opportunity carefully. Publicly, he remained an Early Acquired practitioner whose recent advancement had attracted considerable attention. Privately, almost a third of his body had already undergone Innate transformation.

Experienced martial artists might recognize unusual qualities in his movements if he displayed too much strength. Nevertheless, his control had improved considerably, and he had become accustomed to limiting what others could perceive.

The gathering also offered an opportunity to examine candidates who might become his opponents in the Decennial. Their cultivation records revealed their achievements, but he wanted to observe how they applied their techniques during actual exchanges.

Before confirming his attendance, Joe asked whether Marcus could arrange the physician's consultation during the same visit. He preferred to complete both appointments without making another journey to the estate.

Serena considered the schedule and agreed to contact Marcus's office. The consultation remained separate from the exchange, but the physician might already be attending the gathering.

"Then confirm my attendance for the three days," Joe instructed. "Leave some time available for the consultation if the physician agrees. I would also like to know which sessions involve Acquired practitioners before deciding whether to participate."

Serena recorded his preferences and prepared the necessary registration documents. She would obtain the detailed schedule from Marcus's office and arrange transportation once the organizers confirmed his attendance.

After she left, Joe returned to his cultivation records. His recent experiments had improved the coordination of his transformed body, while the Half-Innate reports had provided new directions for his continued advancement.

The Decennial was approaching, and the exchange would bring him into contact with several of the kingdom's promising young practitioners. He intended to observe their abilities before deciding how much of his own strength to reveal.

For the remaining days, he continued his cultivation according to the revised schedule, leaving Serena to complete the arrangements for North Ashbourne.