Discussion

  In the afternoon, Chu focused the training on archery. At the side of the warehouse, the whizzing of cross bolts thumping onto wooden bullseyes rang out.

  "So what is the use of us shooting these bolts at the target, Chu? My legs are tired and my arm is stiff."

  Ming complained.

  At his side, Chu struggled to latch the steel wire with trembling hands.

  "The purpose is to increase the speed of arming the crossbow. It is also to increase your focus by seeing if you can spot the flying bolt. Keep training your eyes to pick out the quarrel in flight."

  Chu replied as he steadied his hands and shot at his assigned target. He spent the next second hoping to discern the bolt in flight before it thumped into the wooden circle. His callused fingers reached for another bolt while shaking slightly.

  His strength increased enough for him to load the crossbow efficiently but fatigue after countless repetitions caused his hands to tire.

  "I think I made out a flicker. Maybe I saw the bolt for a split second in mid-air but then it went, poof. Gone. Just like that."

  Miki remarked. She practically married her first crossbow and spent her allowances on repairing the worn-out parts. Given her experience in handling a crossbow, her words probably rang true.

  "I don't doubt you, Miki. Thank the heavens this training is over because my hands are killing me. The only thing I probably earned from those Bitzers might be thick skin. After arming the crossbow for so long, my fingers should have been bleeding by now."

  Ming complained.

  After the dinner meal, Chu gathered the leaders of the various divisions as well as Jim and his first batch of recruits in the workshop. The remainder of the farm residents ventured out to either accompany the rostered guards or continue their studies and interests like knitting in the warm dormitories.

  "I am sure you probably guessed by now what we did in the warehouse last night."

  He sat on the chair while scanning the faces around him before continuing.

  "I won't hide it from you. Yes, we have successfully created a group of Sersens. I dare say, it's even the youngest batch ever since the formation of the Empire."

  The silence in the room remained unbroken except for the crackling fire, stifled gasps, and heavy breathing. For residents at the fringe of the Empire, a Sersen retained a status of legend. With Chu confirming their suspicions, their minds began to reel.

  A Sersen belonged to the upper echelons of society. They served the high-ranking nobles, occupied influential positions in the Military, and basked in fame sung by commoners. A tavern or inn might be the only place a commoner could hope to interact with one. Now over half a dozen of them sat quietly among them.

  "Let me see. I want to see the tattoo they talk about."

  "Me too. Last night I was too busy following Lucy's instruction to pay attention. I want to see!"

  Bon raised his bulky frame from the chair while talking. Halter soon followed behind as the two glanced around as if deciding who to swarm. Chu sighed as he waved a hand to Toll. The wiry man stood up from his chair with his face flushed with embarrassment. His wife, however, sprang from the nearby chair with a face filled with pride.

  "Stop acting shy like an unwedded girl and roll up your sleeves. Jim, can you help bring over that lamp so we can see it properly."

  Shine said while helping her husband fold the thick sleeves. It didn't take long for a crowd to gather around Toll out of sheer curiosity.

  "So this is the famous mark of a Sersen. I hear they keep it secret for fear of death."

  "That's an old wives tale, I saw the one on Lucy countless times."

  "Lucy is a Sersen?"

  "Haha, of course, she is a powerful Sersen. Just that most of the women who know keep it a secret."

  Ms. May boasted with pride. Her husband Jim held the lamp next to Toll while repeating the rumors for verification.

  "So Toll can you like fight ten men at a time?"

  "Rumor has it you'll be able to slice a man in two with a dagger."

  Rugol added while nodding with a sage look.

  "Forget all that. I hear you can bed ten women in one night."

  Elder Pick remarked. His words increased the chatter as Old Hodge added his input.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Oh, I heard about that. They say you can even kill a bandit party without breaking a sweat after such a night. Ho, ho..."

  "Really? Old Hodge, is this true? Chu, when are we going back to Karst? I have some pressing business to square up in the tavern."

  Ming turned while speaking with a serious, deadpan face. Nearby, Toll cursed him to the depths of hell on seeing the look of pride on his wife transform into a dragon. Couldn't he hold the topic when only the men congregated at the firepit during guard duty? Talk about throwing a buddy under the wagon!

  Chu allowed the gathering to sate their curiosity before having them settle down. All eyes focused on him but the first to speak came from an unlikely source.

  "Boss, ever since I arrived on this farm in the wilderness, you have never ceased to amaze me. Inventions, traps, weapons, even the suggestion of a Thief Guild across the Empire... I don't regret remaining on the farm to serve as your liaison with my Master."

  Jill stood up from her seat at the end of the table. During the commotion, she remained sitting while maintaining an aura of low profile. Tapping the table with her pointing index finger, she continued.

  "Boss, I don't know what you did but let me tell you something. Not even in the highest noble clans do Sersens crop up in such numbers.

  You have to keep this a secret!

  If the news spreads, not even the position as Heaven's gift can help you. Beside the Tower, every noble clan will seek to enslave you."

  The words poured a bucket of cold water onto the company.

  "Ah! I agree with Jill! I traveled across this Empire from within a slave cage but I have met and seen countless people who have fallen because of greed. Boss, we can't boast about this on the outside, or else the entire farm will face ruin!"

  Elder Pick shot up from his chair as if sitting on a board of nails. The words of the two people, one from the Capital, the other from the eastern shores of the Empire sobered the gathering.

  Old Hodge rose from his chair and paced a couple of steps while thinking. The others followed his movements without interrupting, not because of his experience with the world but because of his methodical mind.

  "I don't think anyone in my division will run their mouths. Mind you, the two children working with me are not present but I know those on the farm won't blab. What do you think?"

  He turned to Dareck sitting nearby who scratched his chin before replying.

  "I came here as a novice blacksmith and have a token of Grandmaster from the Blacksmith Guild. The Boss has me and my apprentices busy constructing new inventions. Even if the Boss is a Sersen it only adds to our status since the fellows working with me are too busy trying to earn their own Grandmaster token."

  Bon nodded in agreement. Halter stood up next.

  "Boss, my family owes you a life debt which cannot be repaid. Nobody, not even my apprentices would dare to open their mouths without your permission. So what if we have a group of Sersens? They're ours and we don't have to share anything with anyone."

  One by one similar thoughts rang out across the table. Old Hodge cleared his throat before turning to Chu.

  "Boss, I think your secret is safe with us. As for the method of creating a Sersen, keep the entire process to yourself. It's best if we only can speculate on the pieces we know. As for jealousy, I don't think anyone on the farm possesses time to waste on such a trivial emotion. If you can share a coveted gift with Toll then it means we can all one day become Sersens. The family life and freedom on this farm are what makes everyone want to protect it..."

  The words of the white-haired man caused the group to nod their heads in agreement. As Old Hodge said, this farm created an environment where the sky was the limit. With the open knowledge that Chu and the others had become Sersen, the news would only serve to fuel added pride and zeal.

  Instead of having to worry about someone leaking his secrets, he might have to prevent the hot-blooded ones from seeking out demon beasts.

  "Then it's settled. I'll keep the process a secret since this will count as one of our farm's trump cards. Jill, I leave it to you to help train those who travel out from the farm to hold their tongues. There are plenty of things to talk about without revealing our secrets."

  Elder Pick exhaled a long breath in relief.

  Yesterday, when Lucy explained the reason for the screaming, he spent the time sweating buckets. The old miner prayed to the Heavens while hoping his ink potion concoction was not the cause. Only after all the children, the wolves, and Toll who came later opened their eyes did he breathe in comfort. He cast a glance at the little redhead dozing on a chair.

  Who knew this young girl now held a status equivalent to nobles? A voice interrupted his thoughts.

  "Haha, I know what you're thinking Pick. Anytime we have to travel to the town or city, we'll be strutting around like nobles. Imagine being accompanied by Sersens..."

  "I don't think you have to worry about anyone leaking information, Boss. The men will be busy hunting for their own interest while the women will be sashaying around in furs and jewels."

  Halter said with a wry smile.

  The meeting ended late into the night.

  Before sleeping, Chu summoned his housemates together. The focus of this meeting lay in outlining the concept of lightning and electricity. Harnessing his memories, he tried to explain his vague understanding of the phenomenon to the best of his ability.

  "When you carry a bucket of water upstairs you work right? Well to move that bucket of water from the well to the top requires energy. Electricity is a special type of energy that can only move in a closed circuit..."

  In the end, he used some sticks and blocks to construct a circuit to aid his explanations while having them imagine a bolt of lightning moving around it. When the circuit is broken, the bolt disappears.

  "Think instantaneous burst of power and speed like a bolt of lightning. The Bitzers' ability to paralyze the opponent also comes from electricity. By releasing that bolt on contact, they shock their enemy for a brief moment."

  "So are you saying I can shoot lightning bolts like the heavens Chu?"

  Ming asked. The paralyzing skill of the demon beast attracted his attention and remained the foremost thought in his mind. This explanation about lightning piqued his imagination.

  Chu paused for a minute while trying to recall a suitable explanation. He didn't know that the electricity he once took for granted could be so hard to describe. What made it even more difficult, however, lay in describing this phenomenon to an audience who never witnessed a lightbulb.

  "No, only on contact or through metal like clashing swords in a fight. The archery practice is to increase our agility and also see if we can follow the crossbolt in flight. Since Bitzers could evade arrows and crossbolts from a distance, we may also unlock such a skill..."

  Chu felt the speed ability of the Bitzer to be the most simple and basic ability. Since the horse utilized it during the experimentation, it should be the one ability easy to activate. As for the Bitzer's affinity and similarity to electricity, Chu believed the demon beast possessed a variety of skills waiting to be unlocked.

  With nine lifestones powering a modified ancient talisman, who knows what might act as the limit? One thing he did know, however, was that he grasped a foundation to defend himself.

  Later at night, he meditated while igniting the star field.

  The universal law remained supreme.

  One needs to work hard to achieve a lofty goal.