Chapter 64: A Friendly Reminder
“I want to continue following Asker,” she replied.
Appius keenly noticed that she didn’t say “I want to be a mercenary,” but “I want to follow Asker.” He raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile:
“His strength is not bad, but he’s on the wrong path.”
“Being a mercenary is a dead-end job, wandering around with no fixed abode, relying on wars in various places to make a living. Sooner or later, you’ll be unwelcome by the local lords.”
“Lords only treat mercenaries as a temporary source of military strength. Once the military construction in their territory is complete, they will regard mercenaries as a threat to public order, a serious problem.”
“The magic tide is about to rise, and Transcendents will soon take to the world stage. According to the historical precedent of each era, the lords and nobles will merge with high-ranking Transcendents, eventually forming a stable Transcendental ruling class. At that time, mercenaries will have even less of a place.”
“What you should do is settle down as soon as possible, use Olympia’s influence and resources, and steadily improve your own rank. This way, even if the magic tide rises rapidly, and new powers constantly emerge, you can still maintain your existing power and status with your own strength.”
“Instead of following a wandering mercenary, dying in some desolate corner, unknown to anyone.”
Asker listened, his expression noncommittal, secretly amused.
Appius’s idea represented a very popular school of thought among players in his previous life, the “farming” type.
The essence of the “farming” type wasn’t exploring ruins and anomaly dungeons, or going to the battlefield to absorb transcendental power and improve attributes, but interacting with NPC factions, increasing reputation and faction strength, and ultimately reaping benefits by leveraging their improved status.
Compared to the traditional sword and magic adventure style of players, the farming type, although weak in the early stages and only becoming powerful in the later stages, was also very popular among RPG fans.
However, starting from Version 7, the game company intended to shift towards e-sports, so various gameplays encouraging in-game PvP were introduced, and PvE gameplay was greatly weakened.
The most typical example was the demigod rank. In order to encourage everyone to quickly level up and improve their skills, the designers created a setting where “the intensity of this magic tide is unprecedented,” resulting in a significant enhancement of the demigod rank.
The famous forum saying “Below demigod, all are mortal flesh” came from this, meaning that once you reached the demigod level, it was basically very difficult for ordinary people below the demigod realm to kill you.
So the flaw of slow progress for farming-type players was exposed: you painstakingly farmed, developed your forces, and others had already advanced to demigod.
You had thousands of troops and horses, and they could destroy them with one punch.
You had a high position and great power, and they could destroy it with one punch.
You ruled the world, and they could destroy it with one punch.
Of course, “destroy with one punch” was just an exaggeration, but that was the general idea. Similar sayings included “Murder and arson lead to riches, while farming leads to elimination.”
“Grandfather.” Thira said calmly, “If I stay here, can you help me revive the Eastern Solomon Empire?”
Appius was stunned and speechless.
With the recent emergence of the Seljuk Empire’s strength, any discerning person could see that even with the return of the magic tide, the Eastern Solomon Empire had little chance of revival. The number of Transcendents and demigods on the other side was no less than that of Siris.
Unable to recapture Constantinople, clinging to the Achaea Peninsula and calling themselves the “Eastern Solomon Empire” was simply self-deception.
“Even if the empire has lost its future, at least Grandfather hopes you can have your own life.” Appius said slowly.
“So, Grandfather, I have chosen my own life.” Thira looked at him seriously.
Appius was somewhat lost in thought.
In Theodora’s eyes, he vaguely saw the shadow of his daughter, Helena.
As a child born from a demigod suppressing her bloodline, his daughter Helena was naturally frail, and childbirth would cause great harm to her body.
However, as the Empress of the Empire, she couldn’t be without an heir. Therefore, when Appius tried to persuade her, she just stared at him with firm and stubborn eyes and said seriously:
“Father, I want to have a normal family.”
That expression made it impossible for Appius to refuse. Now, in Theodora’s eyes, he saw the shadow of Helena.
His children and grandchildren had their own paths, he couldn’t choose their lives for them.
Appius took a deep breath and said with difficulty:
“Alright.”
He turned to Asker, his expression gradually turning cold:
“Asker, the thing I regret most now is not killing you at the Netherworld overlap point.”
“Since things have come to this, I won’t attack you again. However, if you dare to let Theodora down one day, I will let you experience what it means to ‘not even find peace in death’!”
Thira: ???
Asker: ???
“Grandfather!” Thira exclaimed in embarrassment.
Asker was also completely dumbfounded, but he quickly realized that Appius’s “let down” had a double meaning, it could be letting down in terms of feelings, or betrayal in terms of ideals.
Whether you are lovers or like-minded companions, if you dare to make Theodora sad, you’re dead, that was what Appius meant.
What could Asker say to this? He could only smile politely.
Fortunately, Appius wasn’t forcing him to make a statement. Facing Thira’s embarrassed and angry shouts, he immediately put on a stern face and said:
“What? Are you unhappy that your grandfather is teaching him a lesson for you?”
Thira, being an intelligent girl, immediately understood. Appius didn’t know what her relationship with Asker was, so he used vague rhetoric to warn him.
Even so, she still felt a little embarrassed and said persistently:
“Then you can’t use such ambiguous wording.”
“Hmph.” Appius flicked his sleeve. “I don’t care about the love and hate between you young people. But you are my granddaughter, Appius’, you can’t be bullied outside.”
“If you ever feel tired, come back to Olympia as soon as possible.” He looked at his granddaughter’s pretty face, his gaze softening again.
…
Asker went downstairs with the two girls.
“Phew.” Thira let out a long breath, clasped her hands together, and smiled brightly. “It’s so great to be reunited with Grandfather.”
“Thira.” Asker chuckled. “When we settle the military merit and exchange for things in a few days, can you ask your uncle to give us a discount?”
“Hey!” Thira exclaimed. “That’s my family’s wealth! You actually want to take advantage of my family?”
“Don’t put it so harshly, the money will be used on you, okay?” Asker argued.
“Okay.” Thira said, “Since you want my family to give us an extra discount, I’ll count the subsidized portion towards the team’s equity ratio.”
“Do we really have to be so meticulous about the calculations?” Asker complained.
“Peggy?” Thira suddenly noticed that Peggy’s face was a little pale, wondering if her reunion with her family had triggered her sadness over the loss of her parents. She quickly put her arm around Peggy’s shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Peggy said sullenly, her right hand unconsciously rubbing the hilt of her sword.
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