"It’s been a while since I last saw you this happy," Daedalus commented after Leone’s guests had finally left.

"Well, it’s been a while since I last had something to be this happy about," Leone replied as he looked at the obsidian crystal in his hands.

"If you want, I can store that inside my pages," Daedalus answered. "That way, you can use it anytime, even if I’m not around."

"Eh? How does that work exactly?"

"It’s like how Construction Mode works. Whenever you build or demolish something, the materials go in or out of my pages. Likewise, you can summon the obsidian crystal from anywhere and return it to my pages. Think of it like a storage ring."

Since a convenient ability was within reach, Leone did not hesitate to give Daedalus the obsidian crystal for safekeeping.

"Now, let’s talk about something important," Leone said in a serious tone after that. "You got a good look at Hassan earlier, didn’t you? Can you show me his status page?"

"That I can." Daedalus opened its pages before showing a projection of Hassan’s Status page.

When Leone saw Hassan’s information, he couldn’t help but sigh. The masked man was really strong.

————

[Hassan]

Race: Human

Prestige Class: Shadow Reaper

Strength: 534

Agility: 622

Dexterity: 460

Vitality: 300

Intelligence: 229

Skills: Dagger Mastery [Level 5], Weapon Throw [Level 5], Coup De Grace [Level 5], Stealth [Level 5], Shadow Step [Level 5]

Signature Ability: Wraith Form [Level 5]

— Transforms into intangible shadow mist at will.

— Completely negates all non-magical damage.

— Can phase selectively, allowing simultaneous offense and defense.

Prestige Class Ability: Reaper’s Mark [Level 5]

— All attacks completely ignore Physical and Magical Defense.

— Each successful strike applies a Reaper’s Mark to the enemy target.

— Each stack of Reaper’s Mark increases damage received by the target by 5%, up to a maximum of 200%.

— The first strike against a target deals 300% increased damage and instantly applies 5 stacks of Reaper’s Mark.

— Reaper’s Mark lasts for 1 hour, allowing the Shadow Reaper to sense the location of marked targets.

————

"If he’s your mother’s subordinate, your family must have more experts you are not aware of, Leone," Daedalus said after the young man was done checking Hassan’s status page.

"Mother helps father manage the paperwork and the affairs of our territory," Leone replied. "I guess I need to ask Hassan if there are others like him who are working for my mother. Though having him around makes me feel safe, I’d rather have him protect my family than stay with me here in the Borderlands."

"You really care about your family, Leone." Daedalus hovered beside its Master. "But I believe your mother has a good head on her shoulders.

"Since she has sent Hassan here to guard you, she must’ve also arranged something similar for your family. Then again, you’re right. It’s best to ask Hassan directly so you can stop worrying."

The young man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at the gauge that stated Hassan’s favorability rating.

[Favorability: 55%]

However, this was grayed out.

In simpler terms, even if Hassan’s favorability rating had reached 100%, he was not meant to become Leone’s vassal.

But Leone felt genuinely relieved rather than disappointed. Why? Because at the bottom of the favorability rating, a line stated whom Hassan had sworn his fealty to.

[Master: Helen Frontera]

This proved that Hassan was truly one of his mother’s most trusted subordinates.

It also meant that Leone could trust him. After all, his mother had directly ordered Hassan to protect him.

The Shadow Reaper’s lodging was right beside Leone’s own home, allowing him to constantly monitor the young man and ensure his safety.

This also put the minds of his vassals at ease.

Now that Leone had a dedicated protector who had no reason to leave his side—not to mention much stronger than they were—they could more easily focus on the tasks that would help the growth of the Aslan Tribe. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

—————

Meanwhile, in the residence of the Warclaw Tribe’s Chieftain...

"Father, please allow me to return to Grimjaw Mountain. I want to learn from the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe!" Vlad declared as soon as he saw his father.

The Chieftain of the Warclaw Tribe, Godwin, glanced at his youngest son with amusement.

"You just got back from your journey, yet instead of greeting me, the first thing you do is ask for my permission just so you can leave again?" Godwin asked in an amused tone. "Tianna, this is the result of you spoiling your little brother. I hope you teach him properly from now on."

"I apologize, Father," Tianna replied with a helpless smile. "I’ll talk to him later."

"Talk?" Ragnar, Godwin’s oldest son, scoffed. "You’re too soft on him, Tianna. Look. He looks more like a scholar than a warrior. Instead of training on combat, he buries his face in books. Does he even look like a barbarian to you?"

"Brother, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a scholar," Vlad said with a face filled with injustice. "Who will handle miscellaneous tasks like logistics if all the warriors only know how to fight?"

"Even so, you should at least learn to wield a weapon. That way, you can protect yourself," Ragnar stated. "It’s for your own good."

"Brother, have you not heard that the pen is mightier than the sword?" Vlad replied proudly.

"Sure. Why don’t you hold your pen while I hack you with my sword?" Ragnar replied. "Let’s see how your pen will save you."

A chuckle escaped the lips of Godwin’s second oldest son, Wayne.

"Brother, don’t tease Vlad too much," Wayne commented. "But brother is right, Vlad. You should at least know how to use a weapon so you can defend yourself. Father, you should make this mandatory for him. Otherwise, he’d slack off."

"That sounds like a good idea." Godwin nodded before shifting his gaze back to his youngest son, who was now pouting and hugging his sister, Tianna.

"Looks like my son has a good impression of the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe. Zed, report everything that happened during your trip and do not omit anything.

Zed nodded and told the story of how the Bloodtusk Tribe and their allies were defeated by the Aslan Tribe.

Godwin, Ragnar, and Wayne’s expressions turned solemn as they listened to Zed’s report.

Meanwhile, Vlad looked very proud as his Protector told everyone how great Leone was.

On the other hand, Tianna hugged her brother from behind and listened quietly to Zed’s story.

Unlike her father and brothers, Tianna had already foreseen that the Aslan Tribe would triumph against their enemies.

In fact, she was even the one who had asked their father to send Vlad to Grimjaw Mountain.

She had done it so that Vlad could learn more about the outside world, and in turn help him grow into a man who would walk the path of greatness.