Emery and his companions, Klea, Chumo, and Ashaka, arrived at the Nephilim, responding to Jinkan’s invitation. Unlike the vibrant celebrations of the previous night, this reception was an exclusive affair with Emery and his group as the sole guests. Accompanying them was Eeshoo, but an hour had passed with no sign of Jinkan, their host. Klea, not one to overlook such discrepancies, voiced her concern. “What is going on?” she inquired, her curiosity mirroring the growing tension in the room.

Eeshoo, forthright and transparent, didn’t attempt to conceal the situation. “Yes, she’s late, which is unusual,” he admitted, adding a layer of mystery to the unfolding events.

As minutes stretched into an hour, questions lingered in the air until Jinkan, the Nephilim princess, entered the room. Her expression, a delicate blend of a smile and a troubled mind, signaled that something unexpected had occurred. With a certain seriousness, she addressed the lingering concerns, “I am sorry for the delay… my father is here.”

The revelation cast a shadow over the room, and Jinkan’s tone hinted at a matter of significance. “He wanted to see you,” she specified, her gaze fixed on Emery alone. Klea, eager to be included, made her case, but the gravity in Jinkan’s expression prompted Emery to reassure her, “Don’t worry, I will explain later.”

Jinkan led Emery through the intricate corridors of the palace, the hushed ambiance heightening Emery’s curiosity. The air was charged with anticipation as they finally reached a specific room. Upon entering, Emery was greeted by the sight of Ajax Nephilim, the authoritative head of the Amarhiks family and Jinkan’s father. Grand Magus Serafina stood beside him, casting an imposing presence.

While Emery had caught glimpses of Ajax at the banquet before the expeditions, this encounter marked their first direct confrontation. Emery’s understanding of the man stemmed from fragments of memories he had probed from the Nephilim princess, portraying Ajax as someone both revered and feared by his people and enemies alike—much like his daughter. The tension in the room was palpable, and Emery couldn’t shake the feeling that this meeting held significant implications.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the grand magus of three cosmos emitted a formidable aura, his serious countenance casting a palpable suspense.

Maintaining his composure, Emery offered his respectful greetings. An attentive silence hung in the air before Ajax Nephilim spoke, “I’ve heard many great things about you—an impressive young magus.”

The source of this ᴄontent ɪs NovᴇlFire(.)nᴇt

Emery acknowledged with gratitude, “Thank you, Elder, for your kind words.” The exchange carried an unspoken weight, leaving Emery curious about the purpose of this meeting with the formidable head of the Amarhiks family.

At a subtle gesture from the faction leader, Grand Magus Serafina gracefully retrieved three small wooden chests from her storage ring, placing them delicately on a nearby side table.

“These are the rewards we’ve prepared for your outstanding contributions,” she explained, her voice carrying a tone of respect.

Emery approached the first chest with a composed demeanor, unveiling a metallic card upon lifting the lid. As his fingers brushed over the surface, a mental notification seamlessly entered his consciousness.

[Spirit card: 30,000,000 spirit stones]

Although the amount was substantial, Emery maintained his composure. He moved to the second wooden chest, finding a [Spatial Pouch]. It was a high-grade apothecary storage pouch, often used by master apothecaries to store their precious ingredients.

The female grand magus explained, “It’s filled with 100 precious high-grade ingredients. We believe a talented apothecary like you would make good use of it.”

As Emery peered inside the [Spatial Pouch], a delightful surprise awaited him—a dozen Tier 6 plants adorned the pouch’s interior. A simple gaze allowed Emery to discern the extraordinary value of these ingredients, some of which were so rare that they couldn’t easily be found. Considering the scarcity of these ingredients, Emery estimated their combined value to be well over 10 million silvers.

Emery couldn’t contain his smile as he gazed upon the two boxes. The additional rewards, coupled with the tier 6 weapons he and his friends received before the expedition amounted to a fortune that most magus could only dream of accumulating in their entire lifetimes.

As Emery carefully opened the third box, revealing a scroll adorned with golden laces, he sensed the gravity of its significance. Such scrolls were usually reserved for royal announcements. Upon unraveling the parchment, he found a writing that bore his name.

[With his excellent contribution, the Nephilim Royalty grants Emery Ambrose the title of Count of the Amarhiks family]

It was a fourth-rank title which accompanied by an array of enticing benefits. The female grand magus proudly elaborated on the privileges: vast lands spanning tens of thousands of acres, a retinue of hundreds of staff, multiple facilities, and a generous monthly wage.

What caught Emery’s attention even more was the mention of a privilege’s opportunity to utilize the Nephilim special facility known as “the Divine Instrument.” This facility held the promise of assisting a magus of Emery’s caliber in cultivating the power of cosmos, potentially paving the way for a breakthrough into the grand magus realm.

“Congratulations,” exclaimed the female grand magus, concluding her explanations.

The rewards startled him. It was a remarkably generous gift, yet it only fueled questions in Emery’s mind, especially considering Jinkan’s earlier demeanor. Something seemed amiss. One thing was certain: such a prestigious title would come with responsibilities, and Emery couldn’t accept it without understanding the full scope.

Emery turned to face the faction leader, gratitude in his tone as he said, “Thank you for such generosity. This is very kind indeed. Unfortunately, I am not sure if I could live up to such a title.”

The clan leader responded with a stern gaze and a decisive statement, “It is given.” Without allowing Emery an opportunity to reply, the man abruptly stood up, shifting his attention to the grand magus, commanding, “Explain his duties.” With that, he exited the room, leaving Emery bewildered.

“What has just happened?” x x x