Blanco froze for a moment, his eyes blinking rapidly as if he couldn't believe what he just heard. Then he suddenly shot up from his seat, his voice rising in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" he exclaimed, his tone full of shock. "You're rejecting such a big offer? Do you even understand what this means?"

Sophia and Ray both turned toward Ethan, their faces showing worry. Ethan sat still, his expression calm but firm.

"I know," Ethan muttered quietly.

Blanco frowned deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. "No, you don't," he argued, shaking his head. "Listen to me carefully. You think being a Master Knight is something great, but in the Empire, it's barely worth anything."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice more intense now. "Look at me. I'm at the Advanced stage. In a kingdom like this, I'd be considered one of the top powerhouses. But in the Empire, I'm not even part of the inner core of the Paladins."

Ethan's expression grew more serious at that. He leaned back slightly, his brows furrowing. "Is that true?"

Sophia gasped softly and looked between them. "Can you explain further?" she asked.

Blanco nodded, taking a deep breath. "I think I should broaden your horizon a little," he said, his voice steady again. "I don't know what it takes to become a noble in your land, but in the Empire, you need to be at least a Master Knight just to hold the title of Baron."

Ray's eyes widened. "A Master Knight just gets the title of Baron?"

Blanco nodded again. "Above them are the King's Knights, the Emperor's Knights, and even the Legendary Knights. Those people could destroy an entire city with a single slash if they wished."

Sophia and Ray exchanged shocked looks. Ethan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Blanco continued with confidence. "Your son has good potential. I can't make promises, but I believe he could go beyond Advanced one day. He might not become one of the Empire's strongest, but he could still earn some influence. That's no small thing."

He smirked slightly and added, "Besides, staying here will only waste his potential. If he enters the noble society through the Church or maybe even marriage, your family could gain powerful support."

Ethan's expression hardened. 'Bullshit,' he thought, wanting to curse out loud. His jaw tightened, but he stayed quiet for a moment. Then his gaze softened slightly. 'No… it's not my place. Ray should make his own decision. He's capable enough.'

He turned his eyes toward his son, who was sitting silently, looking down at the table.

"Ray," Ethan said softly.

"Yes, Father?" Ray lifted his head, meeting his father's eyes.

"I'll leave this decision to you," Ethan said firmly. "I don't want to bind you or make you regret your choice. It's your call. Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

Ray's chest tightened at his father's words. He could feel the sincerity in Ethan's voice, the trust behind those calm eyes. Sophia reached out and held Ray's hand firmly, her touch gentle yet trembling slightly. Her eyes were filled with sadness and melancholy. She didn't want her child to leave, but she also didn't want to stand in his way.

Ray sat quietly for a moment, his thoughts racing. Then he asked in a low voice, "Father, will it really make a big difference? If I stay, will there be a lack of resources?"

Blanco gave a confident, almost smug smile and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Ethan's firm voice cut through the air.

"No," Ethan said sharply. "There won't be any lack. In fact, if you stay here, you'll have access to even better resources."

Blanco's face twisted in disbelief. "Just who are you kidding?" he shouted.

Ethan's glare was cold and unwavering. "You don't need to know that," he replied flatly. His tone carried a warning. Deep down, he wanted to say more to tell Blanco to stop trying to influence his son but he held himself back.

The room fell silent for a few seconds before Ray let out a quiet sigh. He looked up at Blanco and spoke clearly, "Then I refuse."

Blanco blinked, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Are you sure?" he asked one last time, his voice softer now.

"Yes," Ray said firmly.

There was no hesitation in his tone.

Blanco looked at him for a moment, then lowered his head with a resigned sigh. The proud aura he carried earlier seemed to fade a little. "Very well," he said finally. "If that is your decision, then I can only respect it."

Ethan gave a small nod, while Sophia let out a faint breath of relief, squeezing Ray's hand gently.

...…

Ethan led Blanco toward the destroyed church site. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of burned stone. Guards stood alert at every corner, their armor clinking softly as they shifted positions. The whole area was sealed off tightly after the battle, and Ethan had made sure no one touched anything since then.

He didn't dare to move or destroy any of the remains. Instead, he waited for the Church's decision. But even after so many days, no messenger or priest had shown up. With no news or orders, Ethan had started considering restoring the place. Thankfully, Blanco's arrival saved him from acting on his own.

Blanco looked around, scanning the wreckage with a sharp gaze. His boots crunched over the broken floor tiles as he stepped carefully through the ruins. He stopped near the shattered altar, his eyes narrowing as he examined the cracks and burnt symbols.

"Ohh…" he muttered, brushing the dust off a piece of the stone. "So it's them."

"Who?" Ethan asked, taking a step closer.

"The Abyssal Cult," Blanco said, his voice low. "They worship the abyssal demons from the Abyss."

"Abyss… what's that place?" Ethan frowned.

"It's another name for hell," Blanco explained slowly. "Just like there's a heaven, there's a hell too, and demons rul—" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression freezing. He turned and looked at Ethan, his eyes wide with a sudden realization.

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