Chapter 407: Recruitment

Chapter 407: Recruitment

Upon sensing the activation, Ren noticed a difference from the previous attempt.

The last time he controlled the original Hellfire Golem, it nearly depleted half of his mana. But this time, having reached the Tier 3 Crystalized Wizard stage, he only consumed about a quarter of his mana, making the control much easier.

This indirectly indicated that the mana at the Crystalized stage was far more refined than the Liquid Phase.

After a moment of thought, Ren realized that his previous plan was a bit conservative. He could barely manage to control three Enhanced Hellfire Golems simultaneously.

However, upon further consideration, two would be sufficient.

With two, he could control them with more precision, but three would be a stretch.

After all, controlling three simultaneously would be far more challenging than managing two.

As the six-meter-tall, increasingly massive and heavy Enhanced Hellfire Golem stood up, a sound resembling a V12 engine roared within Mogaro's spacious laboratory.

"Cast a magic attack on the iron target ahead," Ren ordered, opting to test the magic attack power instead of physical attacks.

This was because the magic attack was the most improved aspect of the Enhanced Hellfire Golem, and it was also the aspect he was most concerned about.

At Ren's command, the thick chest armor on both sides of the golem's chest slid open, revealing two dark cannon holes, in addition to the two on its shoulders, making it a total of four.

Instantly, four cannon barrels simultaneously glowed with intense magical auras.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Overclock!" Ren continued, directly activating the Maximum Magic Attack Mode.

The buzzing sound within the Enhanced Hellfire Golem's body immediately intensified, and the pitch of the noise started to rise.

In just one second, the four dark cannon barrels fired eight fireballs and shadow arrows, and the sturdy iron target in front couldn't withstand the onslaught for even three seconds, as even its foundation was blown away.

If not for Ren's quick reaction to stop it, Master Mogaro's laboratory might have ended up with a gaping hole!

Ren was naturally satisfied with the power, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Hahaha! With this power, even facing an average Legendary, it would still have a fighting chance," Mogaro stroked his red beard excitedly.

The previous Hellfire Golem had already been a masterpiece in Mogaro's eyes.

But this time, with the help of his talented disciple, the combat power of the Enhanced Hellfire Golem had been further improved.

"Thank you, Master," Ren bowed slightly in gratitude.

"Are you sure you only want one? If so, remember to come and help these next few days. Otherwise, we might not be able to finish it in time," Mogaro waved his hand, his mood greatly improved.

"Of course, no problem," Ren nodded in agreement.

He had previously obtained thirteen Hellfire Crystals and one Abyssal Flame Crystal.

Three were consumed by the self-destructing Hellfire Golem, leaving him with eleven, which was more than enough to create two Enhanced Hellfire Golems.

Ren had intended to casually inquire about the original Steel Heart Meditation's fourth layer, but seeing Mogaro's hard work, he decided to hold off for now.

There was still time to ask after the Dragon Knight Cadets' selection.

Ren had been busy dealing with the cult's affairs until late in the evening.

As the daughter of a count, Claire naturally couldn't stay at Ren's residence.

After dinner, Raglara approached him and asked, "Want to take a walk?"

"Sure!" Ren nodded.

It was evident that Raglara seemed to have something on her mind.

"Ren, do you know why I didn't come to find you after I returned last year?" The two walked to the backyard of the manor, and Raglara looked up at the dazzling starry sky.

"Is it because of your tribe?" Ren asked.

He remembered that Raglara had mentioned the reason before.

Raglara shook her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ren. "It's not just because of the tribe. Do you know what I was thinking when I participated in the trial?"

Instead of directly answering Ren's question, Raglara started talking about the Barbarian trial.

This left Ren slightly puzzled.

However, Ren was aware of this trial, which was said to have a 50% mortality rate, extremely dangerous, yet a Barbarian tradition and the only path for them to transcend mortality.

But the issue was, upon hearing Raglara's words, Ren realized an aspect he had overlooked all this time.

Although Raglara was the first to have an intimate relationship with him, upon careful recollection, perhaps Raglara had feelings for him back then, but it was never to the extent of pledging herself to him.

It was more of gratitude.

Gratitude for saving her, for avenging her brother, and for handling the aftermath.

It was like the saying from his past life, 'A girl has nothing to offer but her body.'

After visiting the Frostwind Tundra and interacting with the Norton Tribe, Ren understood that Barbarian couples valued loyalty more than in the Dragoon Empire.

Traditionally, a partner was exclusive.

So why didn't Raglara come to find him? He was the man who had taken her maidenhood.

From another perspective, even if Raglara had various difficulties, writing a letter shouldn't have been that hard, right?

Why did she take such a huge risk to participate in the trial?

Ren realized that, for a moment, he couldn't comprehend her thoughts, let alone answer her question.

However, before Ren could gather his thoughts, Raglara continued, "At the time, I thought that if I died in the trial, you wouldn't be alone, as Anna would be there for you."

Raglara's words left Ren stunned.

It was an answer he never expected.

'If I die, Anna will be there for him,' what did this imply? It showed that Raglara always considered herself a third party. Although she had feelings for him, in the simple values of the Barbarians, she believed she shouldn't interfere in his relationship with Anna.

That intimate encounter was mostly out of gratitude, and after leaving, Lagre probably never thought of returning.

For the first time, Ren realized that he had never truly understood the inner world of the barbarian girl before him.

Yes, since the day he crossed over, his strength had been increasing almost daily with the help of the system, and now it had reached a level beyond his previous imagination.

Strength, power, and wealth continued to grow, but he had neglected the emotions of those around him, even those closest to him.

They were all living, breathing individuals with their own joys, sorrows, thoughts, and beliefs.

"Today, this Claire, should have a special relationship with you, right?"

"Also, Anna probably doesn't know about her."

Lagre spoke two sentences in a row, but Ren naturally understood her meaning.

"What about you?" Ren didn't answer Lagre's question but asked in return.

"Me?" Lagre was also a bit surprised by Ren's question.

"I don't know. I thought you only had Anna, and I..." Lagre shook her head.

At the same time, in the study of a noble mansion in the second ring of the Imperial Capital Tamriel, two middle-aged nobles were discussing something.

If Ren were there, he would immediately recognize the middle-aged noble sitting in front of the large desk as Viscount Hamadi from Myester, far away, said with a slight smile.

Naturally, one would wonder why he was in the Imperial Capital.

"Hamadi, this time, you've been transferred from Myester to the fourth ring trade district of the Imperial Capital as a sheriff. Do you know why?" The noble with a shaved head behind the desk asked.

"I... I don't know, my lord." Hamadi faced Marquis Rois, who held a higher rank in the Dragoon Empire's nobility and was a high-ranking official in the Federation.

Marquis Rois was in charge of the intelligence network in the Empire, including the Minster Province.

In other words, he was Hamadi's superior's superior.

Hamadi had received a secret order two days ago and had just reported to the Imperial Capital's sheriff's office. That evening, he arrived at the mansion, unfamiliar with the situation.

"Ren, you know him, right?" Marquis Rois mentioned a name.

"Ren? If it's Ren, the Swordmaster from Myester, I know him." Hamadi immediately pictured a young man in his mind.

In an instant, Hamadi understood why he had been transferred to the Imperial Capital.

About two months ago, he received news that Ren had been transferred to the Imperial Capital as a Swordmaster.

Could it be that Ren had done something extraordinary?

"These are some of his recent activities in the Imperial Capital. Take a look, and then we'll talk." Marquis Rois pointed to a stack of intelligence reports on the desk.

Hamadi nodded and quickly flipped through the pages.

But after reading just one page, Hamadi's heart was filled with shock and awe!

These achievements!

If he remembered correctly, Ren had only been in the Imperial Capital for two months!

Marquis Rois wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he stood up and poured tea for himself and Hamadi.

Half an hour later, Hamadi's expression was dazed.

If he hadn't flipped back to the first page to confirm the name, Ren Calan, from Myester's Shiny Town, he wouldn't have believed that the Ren in the report was the same person he knew.

The achievements listed were simply too exaggerated.

They were not something a twenty-year-old could accomplish, and even for a top-tier legendary strong individual in the Empire, these achievements were exceptional.

"Marquis Rois, what do you need me to do?" Hamadi calmed his shock and asked.

"His potential has risen from the seventeenth to the third place in the Federation's talent recruitment list." Marquis Rois smiled slightly.

"What?!" Hamadi exclaimed.

Although he didn't know the specific recruitment list, especially the top hundred which was top secret, as a handler, he understood the evaluation criteria.

As a horizontal comparison, the Earl Elliott, the governor of the neighboring Rosby County, wasn't even in the top hundred.

This meant that even the important coastal county governor wasn't on the list.

But Ren was ranked third!

The value was self-evident.

"It's not just his potential, but his current strength has also reached a level that requires utmost attention. Additionally, he has another identity as an official member of the Bishu Armament School's Metal School."

Before Hamadi could ask, Marquis Rois explained.

"The Bishu Armament School specializes in puppets and golems, right?" Hamadi understood immediately.

No wonder Ren's importance was so high.

Unlike the Dragoon Empire, the Federation didn't have dragons.

Instead, they focused on giant war golems, large airships, ironclad ships, improved cannons, and steam engines to face the impending or ongoing crisis.

"Yes." Marquis Rois nodded.

"Also, he participated in the Dragon Rider Reserve Camp's assessment. If nothing unexpected happens, within a few years, he might become one of the youngest Dragon Riders in the Dragoon Empire."

"Well, one of the youngest." Marquis Rois added.

This left Hamadi completely stunned.

This was like a top-tier talent tailored for the Eagle Federation.

The Federation had long coveted the Dragoon Empire's Dragon Rider training system.

"So, your task is to do your utmost to win over this young Lord Ren." Marquis Rois revealed the reason for Hamadi's transfer.

Hamadi contemplated for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Marquis, to be honest, as long as the Swordsmen Headquarters isn't foolish, a talent like Lord Ren will likely be valued by all."

Marquis Rois understood the implication in Hamadi's words.

The imperial higher-ups weren't fools when it came to top-tier talents like Ren; they would naturally show extra consideration.

Moreover, Ren would also consider the risks of switching allegiances, making this recruitment mission an extremely challenging one.

"Under normal circumstances, it would indeed be very difficult. But the problem is, there are some people and powers within the Empire who don't want Lord Ren to continue growing."

"That, in a way, creates an opportunity for us."

"Oh?" Hamadi's eyes lit up at the prospect.

With this, the mission seemed feasible.

To successfully recruit the third person on the list to the Federation would be a significant achievement.

Hamadi knew that if he could accomplish this task, he would have done enough for a lifetime. Once completed, he could return to the Federation and live a comfortable life.

Safety, a comfortable life, women, and money—as long as he didn't overspend, he wouldn't have to worry for the rest of his life.

"Hamadi, there's still some time for this matter. Don't rush. Think about which angle would be best to approach it from."

"Here's the latest intelligence. Take a look and tell me your thoughts in two days." Marquis Rois instructed.

"Yes, Marquis Rois."

Soon, Hamadi returned to his own manor and went to his study.

He placed a piece of paper on the desk and then picked up a quill, writing down the words 'Ren' first.

After some thought, he wrote 'women' and 'wizard'.

Hamadi focused on the women first. His initial impression of Ren was that he had good luck with women, and several females seemed to have a close relationship with him.

For instance, Baroness Crowley Jennifer, who was still in Minster Province, had an extremely close relationship with Ren, though Hamadi had known her much longer than Ren.

There was also the genius female knight, Claire, from the Habsburg family.

Additionally, he remembered seeing two women in Shiny Gold Town a long time ago; one was named Anna, but he couldn't recall the other's name. However, she seemed to be a barbarian girl, and it wouldn't be difficult to investigate.

The intelligence also mentioned Olena, an administrative staff member recently transferred to the Swordsmen Headquarters in the Imperial Capital, who was originally Ren's contact in the Minster Province.

That made five women.

Clearly, women were something Ren favored.

Or, at the very least, it showed that Ren didn't reject outstanding and beautiful women.

Furthermore, the age range of these women, from their twenties to around forty, indicated that Ren didn't have a preference for a specific age group, which further supported this point.

At this thought, Hamadi's eyes lit up.

If he could find a woman who interested Ren, the recruitment would be much simpler.

After realizing this, Hamadi turned his attention to the last word he wrote, 'wizard'.

After some contemplation, he furrowed his brows slightly and added 'magic' and 'mana' after 'wizard'.

This was another area where he could put his mind to work.

Although metal-element magic was rare, with the Federation's support, obtaining a few models of metal-element magic wouldn't be a problem.

Additionally, there were potions or special items that could enhance mana.

These were the areas he could focus on.

However, it had been some time since he had last seen Ren, so he needed to meet and chat with him to determine his next steps.

The next morning.

An unexpected visitor arrived at Ren's doorstep.

In the reception hall.

"Lord Ren, it's been a while."

"Viscount Hamadi, it's been a while," Ren smiled politely.

He was surprised to see Viscount Hamadi, who was based in Minster Province, visiting the Imperial Capital Tamriel.

Additionally, Hamadi's unique status as either a Federation spy or an Empire noble with Federal leanings made Ren take him very seriously.

Hamadi, in turn, admired Ren and, after sizing him up, couldn't help but exclaim, "Recently, I heard about your achievements in the Imperial Capital, and I must say, I'm amazed."

"Thank you, Viscount Hamadi, you flatter me," Ren smiled slightly.

"By the way, when did Envoy Trena return to the Federation? I didn't get a chance to thank her for the last time." As Ren spoke, he thought of the high-ranking, voluptuous beauty, Envoy Trena.

And the three soul energy crystals she had sent through Hamadi.

Just as Hamadi was about to say something, he noticed a look on Ren's face when he mentioned Envoy Trena—a look of appreciation rather than gratitude.

This instantly made Hamadi think of something.

Beautiful women, Jennifer, Trena...

Could it be that this young man had taken a liking to Envoy Trena?

"Ahem... Envoy Trena stayed in the Imperial Capital for about a week, finalizing some matters with the Empire, and then led her delegation back to the Federation."

Although Ren was a bit surprised by Hamadi's sudden pause, he didn't think much of it.

Additionally, Ren didn't inquire about Hamadi's purpose, as he assumed that Hamadi would get to the point since he had come unannounced.

Sure enough, after some small talk, Hamadi's expression turned serious, and he said, "Lord Ren, I've come to deliver an important message."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end