pEzra kept the mana cube, determined to understand it as it could be very helpful to cultivation.

The remaining mana stones would go into the cultivation of himself, his mother, and his vassals.

\'Hmm…\'

The snake eggs came to mind.

Couldn\'t he give one to his mother for nurturing?

\'I think a pet would do nicely. But I don\'t how she views snakes\'

There was a possibility she wouldn\'t like them, but he\'d make the effort.

So he took back an egg, keeping two in total.

All was soon settled, leaving Fredrick with more than enough resources for the coming years.

They stared at each other, before Ezra sighed.

At this stage, he was unable to do much, so if Fredrick turned his back on him, he\'d lose the entire investment.

Still, at this point, there wasn\'t anything he could do. He had already revealed too much of himself.

All he could do now was hope Fredrick never became an enemy, or become strong enough to repel him even if he did.

Now he had another reason to get stronger, faster than ever.

Having given Fredrick the communication tools, they might not have this sort of meeting in the coming years.

Ezra sighed once more.

\'How pathetic. I\'m now at the whims of the one I armed\'

He left, deciding whatever happens, happens.

Getting to the castle, he shifted his mind to other priorities.

He summoned Isabella to his mom\'s room to inform both women about his close door cultivation.

"Isabella, have a full set of uncooked food items ready, and in large amounts"

"Yes" she nodded.

As the head maid, it was easy for her.

She left afterwards, obviously happy about her abrupt promotion, but also tired.

His mother sighed.

"So now, my boy is going to become even scarcer. I\'d be glad to dissuade you from such a venture, but knowing you, your mind is already set"

"So…?"

"Just promise you\'ll take breaks and visit.

She rubbed his hair as he nodded.

"There is far more to life than just training, you know. And if you grow up like this, I\'m afraid you\'ll have trouble talking to girls"

"Eh?"

She sighed again.

"You grew up too fast. And it seems you\'re only going to grow even faster, but if this is what you want, then go ahead"

"Thank you! Oh, and you look even prettier than before" he hugged his mom.

She had a light smile on.

"Of course I do"

He gave her a space ring, among those he took from the Missionary, with the snake egg within and some combat manuals and a mana technique.

The count had apologized and promised a new instructor. How long it would take though, they didn\'t know.

When asked of the snake\'s origin, his mom could cook something up.

"I\'d best be going now" and so Ezra left.

Packing his necessities in his space ring, he met his vassals in Bolton\'s quarters with five others.

The hired adventurers had arrived.

\'What sh#t is this?\'

A few days ago, he was withdrawn from the war proceedings to answer a royal summons.

He met the other four also summoned as they speculated the reason behind the summons.

Right now, he was on the verge of exploding in fury.

\'Of all things, to be called for babysitting!\'

Worse yet, the Royal Advisor wasn\'t informed about it.

\'I\'m not doing this sh#t\'

While debating whether to leave, a boy with silver hair came in.

Ezra had his gaze pervade the adventurers.

Like his vassals, he chose three men and two women respectively.

Thankfully, they didn\'t look too shabby.

His vassals, as the children they were, quivered slightly.

His gaze of nonchalance caught the attention of the adventurers.

Ezra had turned to Bolton.

"These are adventurers well versed in my vassals choice of weapon, I had them summoned to teach my vassals for as long as the war continues"

Bolton spoke calmly…

"Your highness, it will never happen. Having Master-ranks as mentors are privileges granted only to a few, you will n-"

Ezra ignored all he said, scoffing in turn. Could Bolton\'s suppression not be so obvious.

"Everything has a price"

So he turned to the adventurers.

Three were guilders while two were mercenaries and they were all B-rank Masters.

"Apologies for the late introduction, I\'m Ezra Miller, the one who summoned you"

They made no obvious reactions to his introduction.

"What do you say to a pay of a thousand gold coins every month?"

Now this sparked their interest as eyebrows were raised.

"Paid to do what exactly?"

He gestured to his vassals at the side.

"Impart your experience into my vassals. Train them to master the very weapons you use"

"A thousand? I could be earning more at the war front at this very moment"

Ezra gave them \'the look\'.

"Is that so? Then I\'ll have to apologize and ask that you head back to the war front. But do not worry, a new stead shall be prepared"

The speaker was dumbstruck.

As a Master, the Empire paid them 50 gold every month, which was nowhere enough to meet their needs.

Contribution points could be traded for money - which was another fact many were counting on - but not the other way around.

A thousand gold wasn\'t out of this world, but it would drastically help cover their expenses.

For more money meant better resources - another reason causing many to halt in cultivation progression - or the expansion or creation of guilds, clans, and noble families.

Bolton became alert.

"And who shall be providing this monetary compensation?"

"Whatever do you mean? \'All fees incurred in the aspect of nurturing my vassals is shouldered by the Empire\'. I hope that reminder clears up your concerns"

"Yes. But you cannot just-"

"Sir Bolton, has the Emperor given word on the matter?"

"None"

"Then you have no right to stop me. Duly report my actions to the Emperor for judgment. Until then, this matter is over, any other obstruction will be held as insubordination"

Bolton changed his tone…

"With all due respect, I serve the Crown, not the prince"

"Is that your justification for intruding into my matters? Let this be the last of it"

\'This boy..!\'

He was neutral to the successors of the throne, but he couldn\'t help but resent Ezra, who seemed damned on resisting his corrections.

He could have the royal vault closed, and the money withheld, but that would reveal him as a non-neutral party.

And such would put his position in jeopardy.

Servants of the Crown were to steer clear of succession battles and faction wars in every way.

? He felt like pulling his hair out.

Ezra had turned to the adventurers, the last speaker not having left.

Another spoke…

"Make it two thousand and you have a deal"

"A thousand two hundred" said Ezra.

"A thousand nine hundred"

"A thousand three hundred"

"A thousand eight hundred"

"A thousand five hundred"

"Deal" the man jumped at it.

"Deal" Ezra confirmed as he faced the others.

"And the rest of you?"

"I\'m okay with it" a woman said.

Like so, everyone steadily agreed.

With a nod, Ezra turned to Bolton.

"I\'ll be going into close door cultivation, is there anything I have to know?"

"The keys to the chamber\'s are in the hands of those guarding them"

Ezra then bowed slightly.

"I take my leave"

He then motioned for the adventurers and his vassals to follow him.