Inside the command room.
The Count and his subordinates were still discussing here. After Kana left, the room became somewhat quiet.
Everyone seemed to be pondering something.
"Do you think what my nephew said can be trusted?" The Count looked at the woman sitting in the corner and asked.
Yara looked up: "Even you, a member of the royal family, don't know, how can I possibly know?
Since he said so, why not send someone to try and ask around?"
The Count thought it was reasonable; it wasn't a difficult matter: "Go bring one of the mercenaries he mentioned earlier and ask him."
Then he looked at Yara again: "I remember having someone capture a few Blood Race for you?"
Yara nodded: "Don't worry, I still have two alive, I'll bring one over."
Saying so, she got up and left the command room.
"This matter is likely true, but the question is, given the Fourth Prince's abilities, could he escape all the way from the Royal Capital to here?"
The Count's adjutant, Jordan, asked. He had been to the Royal Capital with the Count and had seen princes of different ages.
Similarly, much intelligence from the Royal Capital passed through his hands.
In his impression, the Fourth Prince had the least presence and was also the most incompetent.
According to the Count's understanding of the royal family, someone like the Fourth Prince wasn't even worthy of knowing the true intentions of the royal family.
Yet now the Fourth Prince had fought his way from the Royal Capital to here, even under pursuit.
"He's not strong, but he has a warrior's aura." commented Nado, the Knight Guard Captain.
The Count couldn't help but nod: "Compared to a few years ago, he has changed so much now that I hardly recognized him."
"Haha, that's men for you, growing amidst blood and fire." the bearded Udo laughed heartily.
But no one paid attention to him.
Soon a knight brought Nickn to the command room. Even before the questioning started, Yara also returned with two guards, who were using chains to bind a Ghoul.
"Soldier, your name?"
Nickn seemed very nervous, lowering his head as he said: "My lord, Nickn, my name is Nickn."
"I heard you came here with the Fourth Prince?"
Hearing this, Nickn hurriedly said, flustered: "I don't know, forgive me, I really didn't know he was a prince.
I was too rude, forgive my offense!"
Although he didn't actually offend the prince on the road, it was evident he wasn't respectful either. In fact, when he discovered they were after Kana, he immediately wanted to flee.
If not for several Ghouls also coming after them, they would've actually escaped.
"Alright, look up, soldier, muster your courage; I'm not here to punish you."
The Count's voice was full of expected authority.
Nickn hurriedly nodded, grateful.
"Tell me, how did you encounter the Prince, and what did you experience along the way?"
Then the people in the command room listened as Nickn recounted his encounter with Kana and the experiences that followed.
From time to time, everyone asked questions about certain details.
After hearing the story, the Count nodded with satisfaction: "You are a brave soldier, I admire you.
I allow you to join my army, you will be given the position of Soldier Captain and the ability to lead a small squad."
Afterwards, he turned to his Guard Captain: "Give them one gold coin, this is a reward for their courage and duty."
"Thank you, thank you, my lord."
"Alright, you may leave now."
After Nickn left,
everyone turned their gaze to the Ghoul that was tightly bound.
The Ghoul looked at the people in the room, still wearing that expressionless, pale face.
Yet it was clear that its condition was very poor, looking fragile, almost like just skin and bones.
"How did he become like this? I remember when I caught him, he didn't look this bad." the bearded Udo asked, puzzled.
"He needs blood and flesh, which I don't like, so I starved him." Yara said nonchalantly.
Then she opened her hands, holding in one a dagger appearing freshly cast from silver.
In the other, she held the half bottle of pointed grass juice from Nickn.
She sliced the Ghoul's arm with the dagger.
With one cut, the wound, like butter cut by a hot knife, began to unfold and the flesh around it melted.
It seemed that such attacks were highly effective against the Blood Race, as the Ghoul's eyes widened, its stiff expression becoming animated.
"Ahhhhh!"
The painful, hoarse screams filled the room as it struggled, shaking the chains tightly binding it.
Yara dripped a little juice from the bottle onto her finger and smeared it on the Ghoul's other arm.
This time, the skin seemed to react to acid, instantly blistering and looking rotten.
Using just a little juice, the damage was only skin-deep.
But the Ghoul cried even more miserably, struggling all the more fiercely.
"It seems this effect is much more powerful than we imagined. It's the first time I've seen these fearless, pain-immune Ghouls wailing like this."
The facts were now laid before them; the information Kana brought was indeed very useful.
The Count, after some thought, said: "Coat all the knights' swords with silver, and have the people below collect pointed grass to extract the juice."
"What are your plans for the Fourth Prince?" adjutant Jordan asked.
"Send him to Riverbend Town."
He explained: "If he is without issues, then being away from the frontlines is a good thing for him.
If he is problematic, then being away from the frontlines is even better."
...
On the other side, finally, there was a secure resting place.
In his room's bathroom, Kana finally experienced a hot bath.
Washing away all the grime, he lay on a normal wooden bed.
Lying on the bed, he felt exhausted. After all this traveling, he could finally take a break.
Personal Attributes Panel.
[Character: Kana Safro Sat]
[Level: 1]
[Status: Normal]
[Blood Volume: 13/14]
[Magic Power: 10/12]
[Constitution: 7]
[Agility: 6]
[Spirit: 6]
[Evaluation: Experienced Militia in actual combat.]
Constitution improved by one point, and correspondingly, so did Agility.
In the absence of Experience Value, Kana could clearly perceive what these improvements came from.
After realizing that his body, thanks to datafication, was extremely vigorous, he often traveled at a brisk pace, even jogging.
Otherwise, it would've been impossible for him to reach the Count's land in the southernmost part of the Kingdom from Rubble Village in about two days.
His physical strength was so good that even Alyris was considering whether Kana had hidden some of his capabilities.
Sometimes, Alyris even thought Kana's physical endurance might surpass hers.
Using Level 1 attributes but keeping up with Alyris' pace brought a high-intensity workout effect.
Further combined with some battles along the way, his attributes saw improvement.
"I didn't expect that having a panel would still require my own efforts. I wonder if gaining another small piece of the Stone of Creation could add Experience Value.
Or is it that Experience Value cannot be gained through the Stone of Creation?"
With these thoughts, Kana fell into a deep sleep.