Chapter 650: Of Course I Accept!

The New Years banquet proceeded relatively uneventfully after Elizabeth Carlson’s big reveal, though the Supreme Elder certainly had to answer a few questions and exchange a number of toasts.

It wasn’t until about an hour after midnight, when the crowds had mostly dispersed, that a serious expression finally found its way onto the recently rejuvenated Supreme Elder’s face as she quietly commented, "I heard from Simon what has been happening recently."

The big grin that seemed to have been permanently plastered on Mathias’ face the whole evening instantly cramped before he managed to collect himself and mutter back quietly, "En, the frequency and intensity of the attacks from the beast hordes have been increasing recently."

"Can Iron Rock hold?" Elizabeth, never one to beat-around-the-bush or avoid difficult conversations, asked the critical question flat-out.

In response, Mathias replied affirmatively, "Thanks to all the precautious Marquess Balfour insisted on implementing before she left, the city is not in any immediate danger; however, if things continue escalating..."

"I understand," Elizabeth nodded, a solemn glint flashing across the depth of her eyes even as she maintained her calm outer appearance.

The estimates for how long it would take for the South-West Province to recover from the previous disaster had varied quite a bit, but no one thought it would take less than 10 years to return the it to its previous level of prosperity.

That, however, was before anyone witnessed how effective the 3 farming machines were, and before Second Queen Natasha implemented her Economic Cultivation Initiative.

These two factors, as well as a few smaller ones, had greatly accelerated the recovery process, which had come as a pleasant surprise to everyone in the Rockwell Kingdom.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the Heavens were fair in all things. Since they had received some unexpectedly positive news and developments, it was only natural for unexpected and difficult problems to crop up as well.

"I take it that’s why Dale returned to the capital," Elizabeth continued after bidding farewell to a couple of guests who had come up to the head table specifically to wish her a long and healthy life.

"Yes," Mathias nodded, "The situation in the capital is still a bit complicated, so General Larson thought the best possibility of obtaining more support would be for him to make an appeal directly to the Royal Council in person, rather than simply sending a formal letter."

Resisting the urge to furrow her brow, Elizabeth Carlson couldn’t help cursing to herself, Damn that Imperial Envoy! What the hell is he even still doing here?

Elizabeth wasn’t the only one wondering why Lord Alexandros Ateo of the Rising Sun Empire was still occupying the Golden Guest Palace, the one reserved for only the most important of visitors, in Rockwell City, everyone was.

It had been over a year since the Imperial Overseer, Lord Rafael Jeremiah, had declared the empire’s interest in the explosion in the Great Western Forest satisfied, yet one of the man’s subordinates still remained. This was highly unusual, and more than a little unnerving.

Having a man capable of randomly executing anyone he pleased for any reason he deemed necessary living in the royal palace had been an incredible burden, made all the more complicated by Lord Ateo’s extreme disinterest in everything.

At least Lord Jeremiah could be... ’appeased’ with beautiful women.

Lord Ateo, on the other hand, seemed to want nothing from the Rockwell Kingdom other than to leave it and never return.

The king, queens, ministers, generals, and high nobles all wished for that as well, but wishing clearly wasn’t enough to change reality.

"Will... will you be staying after the New Years celebrations are over, Supreme Elder?" Mathias asked, trying very hard not to sound like he did when he was still a child pleading with Elizabeth to play with him after his parents fell in the last war.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth was going to have to disappoint her grandson.

Although protecting Iron Rock and the Carlson County was naturally a very high priority for the Supreme Elder, Elizabeth still felt that returning to Misty City to continue her work on Project Ascension was more important.

Besides, a single additional powerhouse, even one at the Low-Rank Martial Adept Realm, wouldn’t be enough to properly secure the city.

Perhaps I should ask Celestina for help, Elizabeth mused to herself, thinking that it would probably be more reliable to ask her old friend rather than to hope for help from the capital.

Second Queen Natasha had been able to carry out her Economic Cultivation Initiative because the Imperial Envoy didn’t care what state the Rockwell Kingdom’s tax laws and infrastructure were in, but trying to move significant military forces from the Royal Province towards the Great Western Forest would definitely draw objections from Lord Alexandros.

As she mulled over this option, Elizabeth shook her head and declared, "I can’t. There is work waiting for me back in Misty City that I need to attend to, so I’ll be leaving in a few days."

"Is that work really more..." Mathias began, but then stopped himself.

Elizabeth had practically raised him and taught him how to be both a leader and a noble, so if she was telling him she had something she needed to do, he trusted her.

Before the Count could let out a sigh, however, Elizabeth dropped another shocking revelation on him, "Before I leave, however, I intend on taking Audrey as my True Disciple. As such, she will naturally be accompanying me when I depart; assuming she agrees to become my Disciple, of course."

"Huh?" Mathias failed to control his expression this time and openly gawked, as did a few others nearby who were quietly listening to the conversation, Audrey included.

A few seconds of stunned silence later, Audrey leapt from her seat and bowed deeply, "Of course I will accept!"

Smiling warmly at the smart little girl, Elizabeth nodded, "Good."

It took a moment for the rest of the members of the Carlson Family to recover, but as soon as they did, they began showering the young girl with congratulations.

As they did so, they also turned curious looks towards the Supreme Elder, wondering why she had suddenly decided to take a Disciple after having declared many years ago that she would never do such a thing.

"My recent breakthrough has given me a new perspective on what the future may bring, so I’ve decided to take a more active role in training the younger generation," Elizabeth answered before anyone could ask, not that she had to as no one at the head table had the right to question her decisions.

As for the real reason...

Celestina and Lucas had told her to bring a junior from the Carlson Family into Project Ascension, someone Elizabeth could trust and was of good character and talent.

As the brightest star in the Carlson Family’s younger generation, who at the age of 14 had reached the Fourth Step Vein Opening Realm and was well known for her righteous and generous heart, Audrey was the obvious choice.

It also helped that she was already good friends with Lucas, Eris, and Christina, which would make moving from Iron Rock to Misty City a little easier, especially seeing how her parents would not be able to accompany her given their respective positions.

From this series of announcements and events, it now seemed obvious that there were many big changes coming for both Iron Rock and the Carlson Family in the new year.