50: decision

Everyone in the council hall looked toward Linn.

Linn tapped his slender fingers on the table, lost in thought, then looked at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen before him.

Aivi was also observing this handsome young man with black hair and black eyes; Linn was likewise the best-looking man she had ever seen.

He was far, far better-looking than those Minotaurs and Orcs, and one look told her he was not a bad person.

Linn inwardly sighed, thinking that this young lady had likely grown up on Shattered Star Island and had never come into contact with outsiders.

Perhaps it was because the Sea God Clan had a long lifespan, and at thirty or forty years old, Aivi was only equivalent to a human of sixteen or seventeen.

Or perhaps the grace of saving her life had won her favor.

There was also the possibility that in the face of her clan's crisis, she was clutching at straws.

Upon meeting his group for the first time, she had revealed all her secrets and background.

"Young Miss Aivi, my name is Linn, you can address me by my name directly. This matter is of great importance, and the enemy is powerful, so I must discuss the deployment with everyone here. Why not rest here for a few days before making a decision."

"But my clansmen are in imminent danger, I must return to Shattered Star Island immediately." Aivi appeared extremely anxious.

Linn spoke to persuade her: "Young Miss Aivi, your Origin is injured, and returning now won't help your clansmen. Perhaps I have a way to quickly heal your injuries; I am a fourth-level Apothecary."

Linn needed time to deploy, and he could not send troops blindly. "In addition, write a letter, and I will send someone to deliver it to your clansmen. Once your injuries improve, I will send men to escort you back to Shattered Star Island."

Aivi was extremely shocked to hear that Linn was a fourth-level Apothecary. The High Priest had once told her that Apothecaries were extremely rare, let alone one as young as Linn.

Furthermore, since she really couldn't help her clansmen by returning now, she agreed to Linn's request for her to stay.

"Then thank you very much. I hope you, Benefactor, can make a decision soon. Please help us; our Sea God Clan will forever remember your kindness." Aivi said earnestly.

"No problem." Linn looked toward Elise at his side: "Elise, take Young Miss Aivi to rest first."

"Very well, Young Master. Ms. Aivi, please follow me."

After Elise left with Aivi, Linn looked at the others: "Speak up! Shall we help, or not?"

"My Lord!" Clay stepped forward first. "According to our previous plan, we were going to head to the Shattered Star Archipelago regardless of whether the Sea God Clan existed or not, especially now that we have the Sea God Clan as a potential ally."

"That's right! My Lord, Captain Clay is right. Even with the Sea God Clan, we might still be inferior to the Minotaurs and the Orcs, but it's still much better than fighting alone." Ocean chimed in from the side.

"Yes, My Lord. The Saru Archipelago is ultimately too small. If we don't advance to the Shattered Star Archipelago, we must fight Viscount Nocturne to expand. Otherwise, we have no better place to go. Moreover, the Shattered Star Archipelago is rich in resources." Hogan was also filled with Battle Intent, having been influenced by Ocean.

Linn looked at his group of subordinates and was quite pleased. At the very least, they always followed his lead in the big picture, unwavering.

"Good! Then we will send troops after I formally become a Baron. Later, I will discuss the plan with Clan Chief Aivi. Your primary task now is to train and achieve a Breakthrough in your own strength. I will provide unlimited resources to everyone present; you must all improve your strength for me."

"Yes, we will not fail your expectations, My Lord!"

While Linn was planning, in the west of the Aulai Kingdom, in the Count Ailisis Fief.

In the magnificent castle, Count Ailisis was holding a beautiful Fox-kin girl with fox ears in his arms. Below him, Allen Alistair sat in a chair.

"Father, news has come from the east that that wretch Linn is actually going to become a Baron!" Allen's eyes were filled with jealousy and resentment. "Even that piece of trash can become a Baron. Are those pirates just eating for free? Damn it."

Count Ailisis didn't care in the slightest and continued to play with the beast-eared girl in his arms.

"Allen, is such a trivial matter worth getting angry over?" Count Ailisis's tone was filled with disdain.

"A trivial matter? Father, you are too careless. Such a big event, and you didn't even notify us. Do you still have the Iris Family in your eyes? Damn it." Clearly, he was very unconvinced that the piece of trash he once rubbed into the ground could become a Baron. Even he, the legitimate son of the Count, hadn't become a Baron.

"So what if he is a Baron? He is ultimately a member of the Iris Family, and the title belongs to the Iris Family. Your older brother is performing well in the army. In the future, he will inherit my title. Rest assured, you are also my son, and I will not treat you unfairly." Count Ailisis seemed to have planned this long ago.

"Then what does Father mean?" Allen asked anxiously. His older brother had the right of first inheritance, and he currently had no merit, nor did he dare to go to the army or explore.

"Heh! Silly child," Count Ailisis looked at Allen dotingly: "I said that Linn is of the Iris Family, and his title is also the Iris Family's. After he builds up the territory, I will send someone to..." Count Ailisis made a throat-slitting gesture.

Allen's eyes lit up, and he instantly became energized: "That's right! At that time, we can just find an excuse to tell the Kingdom that Linn was killed by pirates or Sea Demons. Then I can go and inherit the territory and title. Father is truly brilliant!"

"You, oh you! Learn more from your older brother. Rest assured, there will be no shortage of benefits for you in the future. I must keep the scales balanced."

The scales in Count Ailisis's hands, from beginning to end, never included Linn.

At this moment, Linn was in the breath of life, completely unaware of Count Ailisis's schemes.

"Dolia, do you have any magic plants here that can treat injuries to the Origin?"

Dolia immediately checked with anxiety whether Linn's Origin was damaged. Feeling that Linn's Origin was not damaged in the slightest, she set her mind at ease.

"I do, Master, but you currently cannot refine my high-Rank Materials at all." Dolia sat on Linn's shoulder.

"Then can we waste a high-Rank magic plant by using it directly without refining it, to recover the Origin?" Linn asked again.

"High-Rank magic plants possess immense medicinal power even without being refined, but that would be a great pity. Besides, the magic plants I have here are one less for every one used. Unless it is an absolute emergency, Master, you should not waste the high-Rank magic plants I have here." Dolia advised Linn.

"It's fine. Give me a magic plant that can recover a mage's Origin; I have a great use for it. It concerns our future."

Looking at Linn's solemn expression, Dolia quickly plucked a shimmering magic plant from the herb field: "Master, this is Origin Grass, which possesses immense Origin power. Using it directly can only unleash one-tenth of its medicinal effect. But even this one-tenth of medicinal power is not something an ordinary person can withstand; you must use it with caution."

If Linn wanted to advance into the Shattered Star Archipelago, he had to gain the friendship of the Sea God Clan. Although this Origin Grass was precious, Linn still felt it was worth it.