Your Choice

[Elijah's POV]

<<January 15, 2023>>

<<Manila, Philippines>>

As I wait for the food delivery to arrive, I suddenly remembered that I had an ongoing quest that I'd just recently completed. It completely escaped my thoughts, with all the things that happened recently. But now that everything has calmed down, I can finally check on it. Once I checked on my quest window, I noticed that a new quest has already been given out. So, after I read through my previous quest and receive the quest reward, I didn't waste any more time and began reading through my new quest.

[Quest! (Class-Exclusive)

Now that you have gained your first vassal, you will now have to increase your bond with one another. The deeper the bond, one has with his vassals, the more trust, respect, and admiration they have for you.

Increase a vassal's bond to level 1!

Vassal bond level: 1/1

Time: Unlimited

Congratulations, you have completed the quest!

Rewards: Diary of the Fallen Duke]

[Quest! (Class-Exclusive) (Part 1)

A Duke's legacy is cemented and goes down the passage of time, remembered and loved by the people.

Now that you have increased your influence and your bond with your vassal has increased, your next step to rising in power is to garner achievements and accomplishments fit for a Duke's legacy.

Start building up your legacy by accomplishing incredible feats or through successful gate raids and subjugations.

0/5

Time: Unlimited

Rewards: ???]

When reading through my new quest, I became a little bit confused by the vagueness of the first requirement. As it doesn't exactly tell me any specifics of what can be considered as "incredible feats". As for the second one, it's pretty self-explanatory. But if what I read is correct, then it would be a harder task to accomplish. The quest specifically said "raids and subjugations", which are completely different from just normal "Gate Diving". "Gate Diving" means entering gates for the purpose of leveling up or gate farming, which can only be done through "Field Type" Gates. You see, there are different types of gates.

The type of Gates are as follows:

- Field Type

- Dungeon Type

- Labyrinth Type

- Tower Type

- Kingdom Type

"Field Type" Gates are as what the name would imply. It's a vast and endless field, where different kinds of monsters would roam. This type of gate can vary from a vast meadow to a freezing tundra. This type of gate also only contains lower-leveled monsters, so that's why they are always categorized as Iron, Bronze, and Silver ranked gates. But despite being categorized as low-ranked gates, "Field Type" gates are rich and overflowing with different kinds of items, which are now being used by all kinds of people, all around the world. That is why "Field Type" gates are famous for gate farming. Hunters who call themselves "Gate farmers" have made a living through selling all the stuff that they'd gather inside the gate, for them to make a profit. Everything from the flora, fauna, tree barks, monster skin, and whatnot, as long as they would sell, "Gate farmers" would make sure that they would gather it.

Normally, once hunters enter a gate, the gate would always close, preventing anyone from entering or exiting the said gate. And for the gate to open once again, the gate needs to be cleared first by completing the requirements required by the said gate. Having said that, "Field Type" gates are completely different. These types of gates are always open for anyone to enter and don't have a capacity cap, so hunters can enter and exit as they please. With all of that said, one should still exercise extreme caution, as one can lose one's life if not careful. Countless hunters have died inside "Field Type" gates, including higher-level ones. Some would mistake entering "Field Type" gates as just a walk in the park, but if the monsters can't kill you, the environment will.

I've read a report once, that a group of high-level hunters did an escort mission inside a "Field Type" gate. Cocky and arrogantly they entered the gate, underestimating the dangers that lay ahead. The report stated that, after the group of hunters, including their employer, entered the gate, they never came out. When a rescue team was deployed, they found the remains of the group of hunters, decaying in acid. It turns out, the field would, every now and then, pour down acid rain.

Anyways, going back. The reason why "Field Type" gates can't be raided or subjugated, is because they don't contain high-rank monsters, also known as bosses. All the types of gates, other than the "Field Type" gates, contain high-rank monsters. That's why they are all ranked Gold and above. The dangers that await a person inside a dungeon-type gate, are extremely big compared to the highest-ranked field type gate; much more a kingdom-type gate. In the past year, after the catastrophe, there have been several kingdom-type gates that also appeared, but unfortunately, until now, none are still subjugated. All the attempted raids were all failures and many hunters died in the process. It has also been rumored that a legend-classed hunter also died, trying to subjugate a kingdom-type gate.

So with how I am and Jonathan right now, it would be a huge struggle to complete the quest by doing the second option. Even the lowest of the low, dungeon-type gates, are extremely difficult to clear. And please don't misunderstand. I did say that it was going to be a huge struggle, but I never said it would be impossible. With Jonathan's growth, I'm confident that we can clear a dungeon-type gate with just the two for us, although it would take us some time. Not only do we need a lot of resources, but we also need a very capable raid team if want to at least lessen the time for us to clear a dungeon-type gate.

So in short, Gate raid and subjugation can only be done through entering dungeon type to kingdom type gates.

Deciding to think about the quest requirements much more after eating, I then checked the bound item that was rewarded, by completing my previous quest.

[Item: Diary of the Fallen Duke (Bound)

A book that records all of the important findings, discoveries, and events of the Fallen Duke.]

Catching my curiosity, I couldn't wait to crack open the previous Duke's diary. But as I was about to, my phone pinged, letting me know that my order has successfully been delivered to my front door. After picking up all the food that I ordered, I then started preparing the table. As I was preparing, Jonathan came down, after his much-needed soaking and relaxation. Now, wearing a loose tank top and shorts, Jonathan looked exceptionally fresh with his still-damp hair.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as Jonathan walked over and started helping me with putting out food from the paper bags.

"Good," Jonathan answered with a soft smile on his face, but his eyes were like a maelstrom of emotions that he was trying to hide.

"That's good," I nodded in an approving manner, but deeper inside, I started becoming concerned.

After we finished setting up the table, we both took our seats and began eating. There were veggies, different kinds of ulam, and of course a ton of rice. Jonathan and I chatted while eating, and as we were doing so, I mentioned something to him that quickly turned his bright mood to be somber.

"I've transferred your allowance to your account," I informed him

"Yeah, I saw," Jonathan said in a low voice, looking very somber and serious. Jonathan must've seen it before he came down.

"Why are you so down all of a sudden?" I asked in concern.

"It's just that, when I first saw the amount you gave me, the first thing that came to my mind is that I could finally fully pay the loans that my family took. Then I realized, that money came from you and I was afraid that you'd be disappointed in me if I were to use that money to pay off my family's loans," Jonathan said with his head lowered, and his voice laced with embarrassment.

Finally hearing what's brewing inside Jonathan, I understood why Jonathan felt so conflicted and troubled.

"It's your choice, Tan. I gave you that money and whatever you do with your money is entirely up to you. If paying off your family's loans is what you want to do, then I will support you. I just want you to know that, even though you became my vassal, you still have the freedom to choose," I told Jonathan with every ounce of sincerity I could muster.

Hearing what I said, Jonathan finally lifted his head.

"Thank you," Jonathan said gratefully, but it was clear in his eyes that he's still conflicted.

The rest of the dinner passed by in silence, and I honestly think that it's for the best, so that Jonathan can concentrate on what's troubling him at the moment. After dinner, Jonathan went out on the balcony and sat on one of the couches placed out there. There, he just stared at his phone in silence, debating in his mind which road he should take.

Leaving Jonathan to himself, after I cleaned up the table, I headed to my room upstairs and took a quick shower before soaking in the tub. There, I then started flipping through the Fallen Duke's diary. And let me tell you; what's inside this diary is something that should never be made known to the world. Every word that's written on each page of this book contains information, that could flip the entire world on its head. Also, if people know about me having this book, it would just give them one more reason to hunt me down.

I was stunned, frozen, and shellshocked out of my mind when reading the words in the diary. It contains information about priceless treasures hidden inside the gates. It contains detailed information on gates that I've heard of and some that I still haven't. The diary is so concise and detailed, that every needed information is written down. The terrain of the gate; the exact monsters it contains; when one would encounter said monsters; it even gives out the weakness of the bosses. Truly, this diary is a priceless item that needs to be kept hidden from wicked hands, i.e. the world.

***

[Benjamin's POV]

<<January 15, 2023>>

<<Manila, Philippines>>

Work is literally killing me. It's f*cking Sunday, for goodness sake! I should be resting! But what am I doing right now? watching and reviewing the video that was taken from the gate break.

I was in the middle of watching said video when Lucas suddenly barged into my home office, looking like he ran just ran a mile.

"What's up?" I asked with a deep frown of confusion on my face. Confused as to what could make the normally super composed and uptight Lucas be so disheveled.

"You have to see this," Lucas stated in urgency as he passed me his tablet.

"Isn't this just another report of the gate break?" I asked, more confused than ever when I scanned the contents of the tablet. But then, a different kind of frown appeared on my face, as I kept reading the report. The report was lengthy but extremely detailed, not leaving a single piece of information unwritten.

"Who made this report?" I asked, looking up at Lucas.

"You'd be surprised to know," Lucas replied, sounding still surprised himself. "It's the 'Nurturer'."

"Nurturer? You mean-" Finally realizing who Lucas is referring to, what Lucas said was right. I was completely taken aback in surprise.

"Yes, him." Lucas nodded in confirmation.