"Heave-ho~ Heave-ho~"
Early in the morning.
Sona and Justyna began their essential morning exercises together.
A month and a half had already passed since the Spring Major.
Although the competition was over, there were still six months until the triennial Championship. For Sona, she had half a year, but for Justyna, only three months remained. Because Sona had won the championship, she could skip the selections and advance directly to the Championship. Justyna, however, had only barely made it into the top sixteen of the playoffs. While this was quite good for a newcomer, if she wanted to participate in the Championship, she still needed to sign up for the Selection Tournament held three months prior.
The Selection Tournament was held every three years in June and was open to the public. Anyone, even foreigners, could participate as long as they had an official Knight Certificate issued by the Knight Major. However, not many spots were ultimately available for the Championship.
Due to the tight schedule.
Justyna trained extremely hard every day. And with Justyna training so hard, Sona naturally couldn't slack off. The two of them started to "roll up" (compete fiercely). You train for three hours and rest, she trains for four hours, five hours... six hours. Two people who knew each other could get this competitive; no wonder Kazimierz was such a pressure cooker these days.
Lucas Reeve injected Prayer Power into Sona gradually; it was impossible to fill her up all at once. Injecting it bit by bit while she trained was more conducive to improving her physical fitness. Besides Sona, Lucas Reeve also occasionally secretly injected some into Justyna. She would sometimes wonder, confused, why her physical strength seemed to have increased, but she didn't know exactly what had happened.
Lucas Reeve wouldn't be stingy with such a tiny amount of Prayer Power.
After all, he now had a total of 1.85 million Prayer Power. 800,000 was enough to push the current Patriot to his absolute peak. If someone of Patriot's caliber only needed 800,000, how much could ordinary little squirrels and birds like Sona and Justyna possibly need? 20,000 or 30,000 would basically max them out.
One thing had to be said.
Sona's combat talent was very high.
Under Lucas Reeve's deliberate guidance, in just a month and a half, Sona could already use the first few forms of Sun Breathing, as well as the multiple Thunderclap and Flash of Thunder Breathing. A month and a half of training had even allowed Sona to master the method of quickly entering the breathing state. Although she was still far from making it as natural as breathing, she could now autonomously enter the breathing state during combat and exercise. Compared to the previous Sona who couldn't maintain her breathing technique once a fight started, her combat power had increased by more than just a little.
To be honest.
Lucas Reeve was also a bit puzzled by Sona's talent.
Sona was just an ordinary person; her talent shouldn't be *this* strong, right?
After thinking about it, Lucas Reeve remembered his first meeting with Lin Qingyan. At that time, his soul fragment was sealed within a bracelet, and this bracelet containing his soul fragment was always carried by Lin Qingyan. The faint divinity from the bracelet could enhance a mortal's comprehension.
Back then, his divinity was far from being as strong as it was now, and just a soul fragment already had the effect of improving comprehension. Now, his soul was residing in the necklace, and the necklace was always worn by Sona. Under the influence of his powerful divinity, Lucas Reeve would be shocked if Sona's comprehension *didn't* have a qualitative leap.
Lucas Reeve would occasionally ponder a tricky question.
Why did it feel like he had really become a 'golden finger' old grandpa? Not only could he impart techniques and perform enlightenment-style infusions without any side effects, but he could even increase comprehension.
This wasn't a 'golden finger' old grandpa; this was a 'golden finger' great-ancestor.
Sona used a sword, so she needed a good one. Since they were already at Raythean Industries, Sona and Justyna decided to have weapons custom-made for each of them at the Raythean Industries weapons center. At first, when Sona told Justyna to come along and that she would pay, Justyna refused.
She felt that a custom-made weapon would definitely be extremely expensive. How could she let Sona pay for her? But she didn't have any money right now. As an archer, a proper crossbow was too important. Without a proper weapon, all her training would be in vain, and she couldn't go far.
Ultimately, after a barrage of Sona's persuasion.
Justyna guiltily went to the Raythean Industries weapons center with her, promising to pay Sona back with interest in the future.
However.
The president had already given orders: Sona and the girl with her were to receive custom weapons free of charge.
This made Sona feel a bit bad. She had money now. Even after spending a lot on supplies, she still had tens of millions. Tens of millions should be more than enough for a custom weapon, right? However, the price quote from the weapons center stunned Sona. A top-specification, special-quality knight's longsword was quoted at one hundred million... and the crossbow was even more expensive...
Weapon customization would take a long time, but it would definitely be ready before the Selection Tournament.
And after a busy month and a half of teaching Sona, Lucas Reeve finally received the good news from Raythean Medica.
The second batch of [Purification] 1.0 medicine was partially produced. Due to the special nature of this drug, it couldn't be truly mass-produced by machines; key steps still required human assistance, so the production speed wasn't fast. Over at Rhodes Island, Jessica had already coordinated with Kal'tsit and Amiya. Rhodes Island had also taken on a portion of the [Purification] 1.0 production work and engaged in deeper technical exchanges.
Unfortunately...
Lucas Reeve wasn't present at the time.
Otherwise, he really would have loved to see Kal'tsit's expression—trying to remain cold, but unable to hide her shock.
A massive problem she had worked on for so many years without a solution had seen consecutive, excessive breakthroughs at Raythean Medica. Anyone would lose their composure.
After the medicine arrived in Kazimierz.
A bombshell piece of news rocked the city where Sona was.
Raythean Industries' Raythean Medica had developed a medicine that could alleviate Oripathy! And Lucas Reeve, the director of the documentary "The Infected", along with the Kazimierz Spring Major champion, the Infected Knight, had spent an exorbitant price to buy a large batch of the medicine from Kazimierz to give to the Infected for free.
As soon as this news broke.
It instantly caused an uproar throughout Kazimierz.
A medicine to suppress Oripathy!!
How is that possible!
None of the Infected believed it. After all, they had never heard of such a drug; it was treated as a mere legend.
However, while everyone was skeptical, Sona and Justyna arrived in the slums with transport vehicles and unloaded box after box of medicine.
In reality.
Anyone would be skeptical of such an unfamiliar medicine.
However, because the Infected already saw Sona as a guiding light, many courageously stepped forward, volunteering to be the first to inject it.
And when the first person slowly injected the medicine into their body.
A miraculous scene occurred. The Originium crystals on this person's body actually shrank by a tiny, visible amount. Although it was just a little, it was enough to make people ecstatic.
It's real!!
It's real!!!
We Infected are saved!!
Almost all the Infected burst into tears of joy, hugging each other and weeping. For the Infected, the disgust from those around them was one thing, but the Oripathy that could claim their lives at any moment was the top priority. And now there was medicine! Didn't this mean... they could live!!
This was tantamount to giving these Infected a second life.
"Excuse me, Miss Sona, where is Director Lucas Reeve? We want to thank Director Lucas Reeve..."
An Infected person asked, and the others also looked at Sona with confusion. Because, so many supplies and the documentary were all from Lucas Reeve, but he had never appeared.
Sona smiled slightly. "Mr. Reeve isn't able to show his face, so he entrusted me to come here."
"Director Lucas Reeve and Miss Sona, you are truly good people!!"
Almost every Infected person was deeply grateful to Lucas Reeve and Sona from the bottom of their hearts. A medicine that alleviated Oripathy was different from daily necessities. This was genuinely life-saving. After everyone had successfully received a dose, Sona announced another thing: all subsequent medicine would be sold at a price of eighty Lungmen Dollars, with one injection needed every half month.
When Sona said this, the Infected became even more grateful. They weren't stupid. There were so many of them; even if Sona was rich, it wouldn't be enough. And the price of the medicine moved many of them deeply. Eighty bucks... They didn't believe such an important medicine was worth only eighty...
Sona and that Mr. Lucas Reeve must be subsidizing a lot of the cost...
The gratitude from so many people made Lucas Reeve rake in the Prayer Power.
This massive cluster of Prayer Power was huge. It was almost certain that many of the people in it were expressing heartfelt gratitude.
When Lucas Reeve absorbed this Prayer Power, it amounted to a full six hundred thousand.
+600,000
The dilution of Prayer Power increases as the amount grows. An individual maxes out at five thousand, but a group of people together is far less efficient.
And now, Lucas Reeve's total Prayer Power had already reached 2.45 million, enough to condense a physical body.
——————
Chamber of Commerce.
"What?? That little squirrel hauled a huge batch of Oripathy-alleviating medicine to the slums??"
Director Barton was shocked upon hearing this news and immediately called the other Directors for a video conference.
Oripathy-alleviating medicine? They had never even heard of it. And according to their informants, this medicine *actually* worked. Now, the Infected in the slums of the entire mobile city practically worshiped the little squirrel. Although it was just a group of Infected, a large number of people gathering together could still be a problem... What on earth were this little squirrel and Raythean Industries trying to do?!!
"Who approved their medicine?!!"
Suddenly, Director Barton seized on a loophole. This was a clear Kazimierz law; they should be able to make an issue out of this.
Suddenly…
Czarny hesitated for a moment and said, "Director Barton, the Supervisory Commission... already approved the import and sale of the relevant medicine..."
Director Barton's face turned green with rage.
Fuck you, Supervisory Commission!!!
Endure...
Endure...
Since the Spring Major, the Chamber of Commerce had been much quieter. The excavation work on the Knight King's Tomb had also been ongoing for a long time. It was now basically confirmed that it was the Knight King's Tomb. However, the Knight King's Tomb was different from an ordinary tomb; it was more like a giant underground labyrinth. As soon as they obtained the Knight King's Holy Sword... the one who controlled the sword would become the new Knight King of all Kazimierz.
Director Barton licked his lips, his eyes filled with greed.
In this day and age, who was willing to be suppressed forever? Who didn't want to be the one calling all the shots...
———————
"Everyone! I have an announcement to make."
In the evening, in Jessica's villa, Lucas Reeve actually flew out to make an announcement. Everyone looked at Lucas Reeve, especially Nian.
"Why did you steal my line?"
Nian asked, puzzled.
No one responded to Nian; they were all waiting to see what Lucas Reeve would announce.
"My power has accumulated enough. I should be able to condense a physical body, so I'm telling you in advance."
Having learned his lesson from awakening the Rule last time, Lucas Reeve gave a heads-up, afraid that some mishap might occur while condensing his body and scare everyone who didn't know what was happening.
"Physical body???"
A question mark flashed over Jessica's head, and then, her cute face lit up with ecstasy.
"Really?!! Mr. Reeve!!"
Jessica hadn't expected it to come so quickly! She originally thought it would be next year at the earliest, but it had only been two months...
It was so sudden.
Nian and Dusk also exchanged a surprised glance.
They knew Lucas Reeve didn't have a physical body. If he did... how strong would he be...
"Mhm..."
"So, everyone, I'm off. I don't know exactly how long it will take, but anyway, nothing bad will happen to me, so please don't worry."
After a simple farewell, Lucas Reeve went to Kazimierz to tell Sona, then to Siracusa to tell Lisa, and to the Reunion Movement to tell Alina and the others. Then, his consciousness descended upon his main soul far away in Sargon.
"Condense a physical body..."
[Confirm condensation of physical body? This will consume 2,000,000 Prayer Power. You have sufficient Prayer Power.]
"Yes."
[Confirm again: Do you wish to condense? You will spend 2,000,000 Prayer Power. Once confirmed, the Prayer Power will be deducted immediately and cannot be refunded.]
"Yes!"
After Lucas Reeve confirmed again, he instantly felt his soul empty out. Two million of his 2.45 million Prayer Power was drawn away in an instant, leaving 450,000.
[Received. Condensation of physical body beginning. This condensation will take a relatively long time. Please wait patiently.]
"Relatively long?"
Lucas Reeve was stunned for a moment. Good thing he had told Jessica and the others beforehand, otherwise he might have been out of contact for a while again. And he didn't know exactly how long "relatively long" was. Please don't let it be several years... Luckily, before leaving, he thought of this possibility and asked Jessica to keep an eye on Sona's and Justyna's safety. Without him around, Sona's safety could only be entrusted to Raythean Industries.
Lucas Reeve's mind started to wander. After a while.
He felt as if he was about to undergo general anesthesia. One second his mind was racing, the next, he had fallen completely asleep.