Chapter 364 - 350: Recruitment

Chapter 364: Chapter 350: Recruitment

Hearing Gloria’s question, Roland raised his eyes, truly appraising the princess before him for the first time.

Her signature long, golden hair seemed to have been artfully pinned up for ease of movement, revealing a slender neck and the clean lines of her profile.

Her face was as exquisite as a classical sculpture, and her azure eyes held their usual calm and decisiveness.

Yet, in the depths of that familiar azure, Roland caught a glimmer of something he had never seen before.

An indescribable, fiery, and endless desire seemed to dance within them.

He couldn’t immediately tell if that light stemmed from the thrill and joy on the eve of the final battle, or...

...if a deeper craving for power was quietly burning in the depths of her heart.

But Gloria didn’t notice the fleeting scrutiny in Roland’s eyes.

She took a shallow breath. Her tone remained as clear and methodical as ever, but if one listened closely, they could detect a slightly faster pace than usual.

"My father, the King, spoke with me just now..."

Her gaze met Roland’s steadily.

"He believes my performance in handling this crisis was... commendable."

Gloria paused for a moment, as if to choose her words precisely.

"He even mentioned that when it comes to the succession of the throne, he will give serious consideration to my abilities."

As she said this, Her Imperial Highness the Princess’s fingertips unconsciously brushed against the hilt of the sword at her waist, betraying an inner turmoil.

"Roland, I value your talents. You possess both wisdom and courage. When the dust settles and the Kingdom must be rebuilt, we will need pillars of the state. Someone like you should not go unrecognized."

She leaned forward slightly, the light in her azure eyes intensifying as her burning ambition transformed into a direct invitation.

"I hope you will stay by my side and assist me. Your abilities deserve a grander stage."

The lamps in the tent flickered, stretching her shadow long.

Before her words had faded, Teresa, who had been standing as still as a Shadow, showed a subtle reaction.

Her gaze first fell upon Gloria.

She saw the pinned-up golden hair that symbolized a noble bloodline, the flawless profile, and that innate majesty and bearing, made all the more dazzling from being steeped in power.

A flicker of imperceptible gloom passed through Teresa’s eyes, as fleeting as a crack melting on a frozen lake.

She subconsciously averted her gaze and turned to Roland, looking at his calm profile as he received the princess’s scrutiny.

Then, her fingers silently caressed the cool hilt of the Foil at her waist, her fingertips tracing the familiar patterns over and over.

It was a subtle, unconscious habit she had when she was lost in thought or emotionally stirred.

She remained standing silently in place, like a statue melting into the Shadows, without a word.

But the brief shift of her gaze and the subtle movements of her fingertips revealed the turmoil and reluctance in her heart more clearly than any words could.

Roland did not notice this subtle change in Teresa.

His entire mind was absorbed in weighing the implications of the offer Gloria had just made.

’Gloria’s offer seemed like an excellent opportunity on the surface.’

’Backed by the princess who would likely soon ascend the throne, resources and status seemed to be within easy reach.’

’But what Roland saw was the bottomless vortex hidden behind the opportunity.’

’His greatest asset was his Professional Panel.’

’To say nothing of the already revealed Wanderer and the mysterious Warlock paths, the countless unlocked Professions signified that he possessed nearly limitless potential for growth.’

’What he needed wasn’t temporary power and influence, but a stable environment where he could peacefully accumulate Power and improve at a steady pace.’

’After King Morne’s return, could the Golden Valley Kingdom truly provide such an environment right away?’

’Even if Morne suppressed Anno, purged Lucius, and retook Golden Ears City with an iron fist...’

’...it was foreseeable that a bloody purge and a power shuffle sweeping through the entire Kingdom would follow.’

’The old chains of interest would be forcibly severed, and a new order would be established amidst the turmoil. This process itself would be fraught with uncertainty and danger.’

’As an outsider with no roots, valued only temporarily for his battlefield achievements and strength, he would be nothing more than a lone boat in a political storm of this magnitude.’

’If he only had Gloria’s favor, he might be able to find a moment of peace under her wing.’

’But the reality was, his victories over Leonard and then Anno had already pushed him into the eye of the storm.’

’His name and his strength were not only known to Gloria, but had surely also come to the attention of all the major powers within the Kingdom.’

’With such conspicuous strength and the label of "outsider," could he really stay aloof during the inevitable turmoil, without being pulled in different directions, used, or even feared by the various factions?’

’The scene before Rift Rock Pass emerged in Roland’s mind.’

’Even when faced with King Morne’s absolute Power, which was like that of a god or demon descended to the mortal realm, nobles like the Harrington family still chose to act like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, all because of orders from their family’s higher-ups.’

’This was enough to prove that great personal martial strength might win a war, but it could not easily untangle the complex web of interests and the treacherous depths of the human heart.’

’King Morne’s strength was the greatest he had ever witnessed, but even so, he couldn’t make the entire Kingdom monolithic.’

’In times of war, Power was the only measure. But in the "peaceful" period of post-war reconstruction and power distribution, the value of a "sharp weapon" like him—a commoner lacking a noble bloodline or family backing—would likely be greatly diminished.’

’He might even attract unnecessary suspicion and restrictions for being *too* sharp.’

’By then, if he wanted to extricate himself, it would likely be out of his hands.’

’What’s more, the truly powerful and rare hidden Professions, like Dragon Descendant and Spiritual Master, could only be unlocked by adventuring across the vast world and encountering specific, opportune moments.’

’The Power of these Professions far surpassed that of conventional paths. But if he remained sequestered in a corner of the Kingdom, tied down to the chessboard of politics, he would likely never again find such fate-altering encounters.’

’Therefore, rather than tying himself to a great ship that was about to face violent storms and an uncertain future, it was better to remain free and observe cautiously from the sidelines.’

His decision made, Roland looked up, meeting Gloria’s azure eyes, which were filled with expectation and ambition. He spoke in a calm yet firm tone:

"Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for your generous offer. However... this is a matter of great importance, one that concerns the path of my future. Please forgive me, but I cannot make a decision immediately. I need some time to consider it carefully."

His words were tactful, but his intention to refuse was clear.

The atmosphere in the tent quietly changed because of his response.

The faint radiance on Gloria’s face, born from her vision of the future, froze for an imperceptible instant.

She seemed to have never anticipated receiving a reply that required "consideration."

An invisible string in the air seemed to have been gently plucked, letting out a faint hum.

She did not speak immediately. The light that had been burning so brightly in her azure eyes seemed to dim, as if a thin veil had been gently drawn over them.

Her slender fingertips, which had been resting lightly on the edge of the table, now unconsciously tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white before she quickly forced them to relax again.

A brief silence filled the tent, speaking more to her inner turmoil than words ever could.

It was the kind of disappointment that was difficult to completely conceal after a carefully prepared invitation had been tactfully set aside.

It was like enthusiastically unrolling a grand blueprint, only to find that the most important partner had not joined in with the expected eagerness.

However, this display of emotion was extremely brief and strictly controlled.

The next moment, she had already straightened her back, her expression returning to its usual calm and propriety.

The corners of her mouth even held the faintest curve of understanding.

"Of course."

Her voice was still steady, betraying little emotion, though it was a fraction deeper than before.

"A decision like this does indeed require careful thought. I understand."

She gave a slight nod, her gaze shifting away from Roland as if she were merely handling a routine matter of business.

But the fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of regret was like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending tiny ripples across the seemingly placid surface of her eyes.

They vanished as quickly as they appeared, returning to deep calm.

She was once again the composed and calm Princess Gloria; only the expectation from a moment ago had been quietly withdrawn.

Gloria gave a slight nod, and without another word, she turned and lifted the tent flap to leave.

In the instant her figure vanished, Roland caught a glimpse of the army camp outside through the opening.

The soldiers’ faces were filled with the relief and anticipation of impending final victory, and a restless energy filled the air as they hurried about.

He silently withdrew his gaze. ’I just hope this conflict ends soon,’ he thought.

However, in stark contrast to the surging optimism in the allied army’s camp, a suffocating oppression now permeated Golden Ears City.