Free Web NovelChapter 500: Delegation and Decisions
"I might need you two to head to the Radiant Star Cluster ahead of me"
The brothers glanced at one another before Theron put a question forward.
"Might I ask why?"
Ezra goes on to explain that his need for new galaxies to integrate into the Sovereign Universe so as to strengthen his soul as it would be strained and ultimately destroyed otherwise.
But he doesn’t tell them of his ability to increase his cultivation through the subordination of powerful followers, leaving a scant few secrets to himself.
"Ezra" Valentine calls out for the first time in this meeting, upon the completion of his explanation.
"Wouldn’t it be better for you to go to the Radiant Star Cluster yourself?" she continues. "Theron and Johan would be good as scouts. But this is a matter that concerns all of the Sovereign Universe, it wouldn’t do for you to treat it as a lesser priority"
"I agree" mouths Johan.
"So do I" Theron concurs as well.
"And if it’s establishing AlphaNova’s branch you’re worried about, leave that to us" Valentine proposes, looking over her compatriots.
"Roxanne, Velora and Myself will handle the funneling of goods into AlphaNova" she pauses. "So long as you have us accepted as outer members of the clan, it would simple for us to take over your duties posing as your assistants"
"Hmm, would it not be better for Theron, Ashton and Johan to do that instead?" Ezra queries with genuine concern. "In the case where they are threatened with violence for whatever reason—which I believe is an inevitable event—I would simply hate to see any of you come to harm"
"In that case" Theron interrupts. "Allow Johan and I to accompany them as a measure of security"
"Hmm..."
"Ezra" calls Roxanne, grabbing his attention.
"I find this a much better arrangement than the previous one. Having three of us stay beside Sidal is too much, because it limits his actions to a high degree"
"Rather than surveillance" Roxanne continues. "He will feel suffocated by our presence. So I would advise that only one person to stay with him. That person being me"
"Okay...but." Ezra stares at her squarely. "You truly wouldn’t mind staying?"
Roxanne nods. "Valentine is more capable than you realize, she would lead them just fine"
"Oh?" Surprised, Ezra turns his attention to Valentine.
"Yes," Valentine nods. Staring at her legs. "My mother tutored me in aspects of management"
"That’s amazing" Ezra praises, causing the girl’s face to take a red hue.
"Thank..you.."
"Welcome" Ezra replies. Facing the table proper. "We seem to have covered all matters of concern, or is there anything left to address"
"Here Ezra" says Ashton, palm raised.
"Go ahead"
The room’s attention shifts to Ashton.
Remaining largely silent throughout the meeting.
Most of the discussions regarding scouting, security, and expansion rarely required his input, and he seemed perfectly content allowing others to take the spotlight.
Ezra leans into his seat.
"I would like permission to pursue alchemy" Ashton announces, voice echoing.
A bewildering silence descends upon the room.
Apparently, no one had seen this coming.
Even Johan looked surprised.
"Alchemy?" Theron asked. "Since when?"
A faint smile appeared on Ashton’s face.
"Since my meeting with Mr.Kelan"
Recognition flashed through Theron’s eyes.
About three weeks earlier, Ashton had been assigned to supervise a delivery of resources destined for the renowned alchemist.
A routine task at the time, but it had caused significant change in Ashton.
"What brought about this change?" Ezra asked curiously.
As far as he was aware, Ashton enjoyed combat second only to Johan, so this was astonishing to say the least.
Ashton laughed softly. "Nothing dramatic"
"When I arrived, Lordim Kelan was in the middle of refining a batch of medicinal pills"
His eyes brightened as he spoke.
"I was expecting an old man pounding away at a mix in a cauldron"
Several people chuckled.
"Instead, I witnessed something completely different"
Ashton’s voice turns wistful.
"The precision of his movements he and the way the ingredients interacted with one another...it felt more like art"
"...It was beautiful" Ashton pauses.
"I don’t know how to explain it. But for the first time in my life, I saw something and immediately thought..."
He smiled.
"I want to do that"
"Cultivating and perfecting my techniques is nice...but I always assumed fighting was simply something I had to become good at"
"But when I watched Lordim Kelan work, I realized something"
His fingers unconsciously traced patterns across the table. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"I’ve always enjoyed creating things more than destroying them"
Ezra listened attentively.
Ashton continued.
"When I was younger, I actually considered becoming a blacksmith"
"Oh?" Roxanne remarked, wide-eyed. "I never knew that"
"I never told anyone"
A self-deprecating chuckle escaped him.
"I tried studying metalworking for a short period, but it never quite fit"
He searches for the proper words.
"The feeling wasn’t there. It felt like I was forcing myself down a path because it was the closest thing available"
His expression became thoughtful.
"Alchemy is different"
"The moment I saw it, everything simply clicked"
"At that I thought; I could spend decades doing that and never grow bored"
Velora smiles while Roxanne looks faintly amused.
The excitement in Ashton’s voice is impossible to miss.
"I’ve been thinking about it ever since"
He turned toward Ezra.
"And after a great deal of consideration, I decided" His posture straightened.
"I wish to walk the path of an alchemist"
A brief silence followed.
Then Ezra let out a genuine smile. "Is that all?"
Ashton blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I thought you were about to request something difficult"
Muffled laughs and chuckles filled around the room.
"Ashton" Ezra folded his hands together. "If you’ve found something you’re passionate about, then I see no reason to stop you"
Relief immediately washed across Ashton’s face.
"Thank you"
Ezra shrugs. "It won’t be easy"
Ashton nods firmly. "I won’t disappoint you"
"I know" Ezra’s response comes with a smile.
The confidence in those words struck Ashton hard.
"Once AlphaNova’s situation stabilizes, we’ll arrange for you to study under Lordim Kelan, I have a prior agreement with him regarding tutoring, so you’re in luck"
Ashton’s breath caught, eyes widening in clear surprise. "Really?"
"Really" Ezra nods.
The room erupted into congratulations at this, happy for Ashton.
While the others teased and congratulated Ashton in equal parts, Ezra was chuckling inwardly.
After all, he had negotiated the terms of tutorship expecting to begin assembling a personal group of alchemists for Orion.
Never had he imagined it would be used in this manner.
What a path the future takes.
For the remainder of the meeting, a lighter atmosphere prevailed.
Plans had been finalized and responsibilities assigned.
The small matters needing final deliberation are sorted out in the manner of minutes, and thus the meeting ends.
Moving directly onto the next pressing matter, Sidal is called in.
"You mentioned to me that you have found the location of the individuals causing us trouble" Ezra gestures to Sidal to sit. "Is this still the case?"
"Yes, it is" Sidal replies, fixing his monocle in place.
Ezra leaned forward slightly.
"Explain"
Sidal nodded and produced a small projection device from his coat.
With a tap of his finger, a three-dimensional star map unfolded above the center of the table.
Several illuminated routes appeared throughout a nearby sector.
"These" he began, "are the transport lanes used for distributing AlphaNova products throughout the local region"
Thin blue lines stretched between numerous inhabited systems.
"Over the past three months, we have suffered twenty-one attempted hijackings on our deliveries. Of those, only four were safeguarded and safely delivered"
The relaxed atmosphere that had settled over the room faded.
Ezra chuckles darkly. "It seems our products have attracted the wrong audience"
He straightens his posture. "And the losses?"
"Manageable" Sidal replied. "For now"
His expression darkens.
"Every successful interception damages confidence in AlphaNova’s ability to deliver goods safely. If this continues during our current phase of expansion, losses will pile up regardless of product quality" Sidal continues. "Merchants will begin seeking alternative suppliers if this issue isn’t dealt with"
"Then let’s get to it"
The projection shifts.
A series of investigative reports appeared alongside cargo records and financial transactions.
"We initially believed these attacks were ordinary piracy. However, the evidence gradually suggested otherwise"
"Organized?" Ezra asked.
"Very" Sidal highlighted several attack sites.
"The pirates consistently targeted AlphaNova shipments while ignoring all other vessels, sometimes those carrying more valuable cargo. That’s not normal pirate behavior"
Sidal enlarged several data files.
"Furthermore, among the few hijackings we were able to stop we found the pirates possessing route information that should have been unavailable to outsiders."
"Information leaks?" Ezra asked.
"Most likely"
"Internal?"
"Possibly"
"And what has been done about this?" Ezra questions.
"I apologize. We have been unable to make much progress on that end"
"Hmm...I think I have a proper understanding of what needs to be done now"
"These hijackers, I would guess are measures by competitors to slow down our growth" Ezra looks to his compatriots, enunciating his words slowly.
"Evidently, AlphaNova’s products have inevitably attracted their greed, but the lack of information on the entity backing it has left them hesitant to dig their claws in"
"And so instead" Ezra gestures to the holograph. "They are taking small shots to test our limits. Hehe, should we fail to give a satisfactory response to their actions, you can be sure that they might gather their arms and let themselves in"
"And that satisfactory response would be...?" Johan asks.
"Destruction" Ezra curtly responds, his gaze washing over them. "Utter Annihilation of them and their habitat. Nothing less will do"
