107: The protection of Mother Nature

"I'm so tired!"

Dora flew back unsteadily. Ryan caught her and let her sit on his shoulder.

"You're amazing, Dora!"

"This stone life flower has become more lush!"

Hearing Ryan's praise, a smug expression appeared on Dora's little face.

"Of course! Dora never lies. I said I could make the fruit taste better."

"It's a pity Dora was only born recently and isn't strong enough yet; otherwise, I could make the fruit taste even better."

Hearing this, the look in Ryan's eyes as he watched her grew even brighter.

"Alright, human, where are the fruits you promised me?"

Beside them, Anatolis waved a paw, and thirteen stone flower fruits flew from the branches into his grasp.

"The energy within the stone flower fruits has increased by about twenty percent. This little thing is indeed impressive."

Anatolis gave six stone flower fruits to Ryan and one to Dora.

Holding her stone flower fruit, Dora voiced a protest.

"I told you, Dora isn't a 'little thing,' Dora is a Spirit of Nature! And you're being unfair! Why does he get so many fruits while I only get one?"

"It's unfair!"

Anatolis gave a light glare, and the protesting Dora flew to Ryan's shoulder with her fruit and fell silent.

"Big meanie, always scaring Dora!"

Dora grumbled as she held the stone flower fruit and began to munch on it.

Ryan carefully put away the six stone flower fruits.

"Thank you for your generosity, Senior Anatolis."

"You're the only one left of the Derrick Family; this is only right."

"The first three stone flower fruits provide the best effect. After three, the effect diminishes significantly, and once you reach the Gold Rank, they basically have no effect at all."

"Six fruits are enough for you and this white wolf."

"It's rare for a Wasteland Wolf to have such a fine appearance as this white wolf. It might have awakened some of its ancestral lineage, though I don't know which one."

After saying that, Anatolis took all the stone flower juice from the stone trough under the stone life flower tree and handed it to Ryan.

"There are ten portions of stone flower juice here. Keep them safe, young Ryan."

"I originally intended to try and raise one of my offspring to the Gold Rank this year, so I've been saving this stone flower juice for ten years."

"The effect of the stone flower juice is similar to the fruit, but you can use more portions of the juice. As long as it's not used at the Gold Rank, its effectiveness won't decrease too much."

"With the help of the stone flower fruits and juice, I believe it won't be long before you break through to the Gold Rank, young Ryan."

"Your talent is the strongest I've seen besides Big Brother Derrick. You're much stronger than the previous Derrick Family heads I've met. I believe that with you, the Derrick Family can become prosperous once again."

"Thank you, Senior Anatolis!"

Ryan bowed sincerely to express his gratitude to Anatolis. The gifts from his ancestor's battle brother were truly precious.

"You can return to your territory now. It's not good for a lord to be away for too long."

Anatolis looked at Ryan with great appreciation. After interacting with him over the past two days, he had a very good impression of the young man.

"Thank you for your hospitality!"

"I will visit you again after I break through to the Gold Rank, Senior Anatolis."

"Mhm."

"By the way, take those miscellaneous items in the cave before you leave. They're things I've collected over the years. My children and I have no use for them, but they might be useful to you."

Having said that, Anatolis lay down under the stone life flower tree and closed his eyes to sleep.

Ryan bowed to Anatolis and left the center of the grotto. Wayne and the others were waiting for him in a corner.

"Dora, since you like magical plants so much, how about coming back to my territory with me?"

"My territory has a large magic botanical garden with all kinds of magical plants. I'll let you manage all of them."

Perched on Ryan's shoulder, Dora had already finished the stone flower fruit in her hands.

"A magic botanical garden?"

Dora looked at Ryan with wide eyes.

"You have the scent of Order on you, so you probably won't lie to me, but Dora doesn't just go to other people's homes easily."

Dora turned her head away, ignoring Ryan.

Seeing that Dora hadn't left his shoulder, Ryan knew the little thing hadn't completely rejected his proposal.

"Little Dora is so amazing. If you go to big brother's magic botanical garden, the plants there will surely have a bumper harvest. I'll give you a bigger share then, how about it?"

Dora pretended to think, rubbing her chin with her tiny hand, then glanced at Ryan.

"I can go, but you have to let me drink that tasty stuff from earlier. Then I'll go to your home."

"You mean the stone flower juice?"

Ryan hadn't expected the little one to set her sights on the stone flower juice.

"Yes! Yes!"

Dora drooled at the thought of that drink that smelled so, so delicious.

"Alright, I'll let you drink it once you come back with me."

"Really?"

"Of course. Just like you, I never lie."

"Okay!"

"Let's go, let's go home now!"

Dora, who wanted to leave with Ryan immediately, suddenly stopped.

"Wait, no, no. What if I go to your home and you sell me?"

"mother nature told me I'm very valuable."

Ryan felt like laughing when he heard Dora say that.

"Don't laugh! Dora is very valuable, hmph!"

"Let's sign a contract. You have to protect me, and if I feel like I'm in danger, I'll run away on my own!"

Saying this, Dora reached out and placed her hand on Ryan's forehead. Ryan then felt a gentle power enter his mind and communicate with his consciousness.

A contract mark appeared in Ryan's mind.

The contract was mostly in Dora's favor. Essentially, as long as Ryan protected Dora, she would follow him. If he couldn't ensure her safety, she could terminate the contract and leave him.

If Ryan violated the contract and harmed Dora, he would suffer a cruel punishment.

Without any hesitation, Ryan accepted the contract mark delivered by that power filled with the breath of nature.

The contract was complete!

Ryan felt an indescribable connection with Dora, one that was deeper and more profound than his link with Reck.

Upon completing the contract, Ryan suddenly felt a close connection to nature, as if the plants and trees in the mountains were welcoming him.

"It even has such a magical effect!"

Ryan caressed the ground beneath his feet. He felt that just by standing there, the surrounding mana continuously surged toward him, and the recovery rate of his battle qi and mana increased by thirty to forty percent.

Watching Ryan touch the ground one moment and the plants the next, Dora pulled at him, telling him not to waste any more time and to hurry home.

"Stop playing around. It's common knowledge that you receive the Protection of Mother Nature after signing a contract with Dora. What's so interesting about that?"

"Let's go, let's go home. Dora wants to drink that tasty stuff."

"Protection of Mother Nature?"

"What a powerful effect. Dora, you really are amazing."

Ryan was delighted to receive such a powerful protection effect for free. He showered Dora with praise, making the little spirit feel a bit bashful.

After studying the Protection of Mother Nature for a while, Ryan prepared to head back with Dora, Wayne, and the others.

Since Ryan had to return to Bright Moon Castle, he had a Wolf Knight lead the Wolf Pack that Anatolis had allowed him to take back to the Red River Territory first.

Meanwhile, Ryan set off on the journey back to Bright Moon Castle with Wayne and the others.