Chapter 473

The celebrations ran long into the night, with Ajax meeting friends at a nearby restaurant that he had reserved for the entire afternoon. The invite list included their entire Academy class as well as their professors, Luna, Hatchet even a few members of the royal family had made an appearance.

“You’ve done a lot better for yourself than I thought you would, and I thought you’d go far.” Anthony Gatecrasher praised Ajax, his former physical combat teacher nodding in approval. “Congratulations on your engagement.” 

Both Ajax and Lexi were swarmed by well wishers. As the center of the celebrations the two of them didn’t have a spare moment for anything else, though the same couldn’t be said for the rest of the attendants. 

“I hear both Benedict and his friend Rick will be joining the delve.” Professor Silvertongue mentioned it to the crown prince. “My father sent me over with a recommendation.” 

“This is purely an attempt to see if it is possible.” the crown prince sighed, he had been prepared for this conversation and many like it. “The group going as it is now is the one best equipped to survive as many floor bosses as possible.” 

The prince wasn’t lying, with the start of the fight taking most of the group’s Mana and Stamina they would be left as all but sitting ducks. People with the highest Endurance had been given priority in an effort to not just provide as much power to the opening attack as possible but also because they had the highest chance to survive and wide area of effect attacks as Ajax killed the floor boss.

“How about the other Achievement, will the kid be going for that as well?” The crown prince frowned at the question. 

“What other Achievement?” the crown prince asked. 

“According to Richard the highest he managed to clear was level one hundred and forty.” Abbot Silvertongue had a gleam in his eyes, as a combat enthusiast this was something his family very much did not approve of. “But he’s gained a few more stats since then, do you think it’ll be enough for him to take on a level one hundred and seventy before he gets past level fifty six?”

Now the question made sense to the crown prince. Defeating a monster more than three times your level. He had to admit while there had been a few people in the past who could with a good matchup defeat something twice their level there was nobody who could win against anything three times their level, much in the same way nobody defeated a floor boss twice their level before Ajax could be the first to find out what the rewards for something like this was. 

“He won’t be trying it now.” The oldest prince joined the conversation. “He was still a ways off and he first needs to get used to his increased stats, not to mention there are more stats out there for him to gain. But I believe he’ll manage it before he reaches level seventy.” 

The risks increased the higher Ajax needed to delve, even now it was ill advised for him to delve anywhere outside of a capital without a boosting team simply because any sort of dungeon break he causes would cover the surrounding areas in monsters above level one hundred.

By the time the party ended it was late into the evening. News of the engagement had spread throughout the capital like wildfire and members of noble Houses or their representatives showed up throughout the day to offer their congratulations. Depending on how good a relationship said House had with House Manashaper a few of them even came with gifts.

“How long do you think we have to stay in court tomorrow?” Ajax asked Lexi as the two of them snuggled together before going to sleep, despite the drain on his social reserves Ajax was still feeling great riding the high he had maintained throughout the day after she said ‘yes’. 

“I’m sure the royal family will have a more private meeting to discuss our upcoming delve.” Lexi reassured him. “We’ll be able to head towards Lessis once it's done.” 

While Lexi hadn’t yet involved herself with any of the plans Ajax had made for his duchy she had been there every step of the way as he made them during their dungeon trip and provided her insight. Now that she was officially part of his House she was eager to step in and help turn them into reality, she was especially eager to implement a standard schooling system. 

Unknown to Ajax, the royal family was planning an engagement present for him to be presented tomorrow during open court. The decree removing the title of Baron from House Nestor would be official and he would be given the duty of seeing it through on account of them being on his land.

News of the engagement weren’t taken as a good thing by everyone. Some Houses saw the engagement as their connection to the new ducal House, their alliance with House Manashaper being the link they needed to further their own position in their dealing with House Hearthbound. Others like House Smithmade saw the union of House Manashaper and House Hearthbound as a threat to their position regarding the crafters of Gryndor, especially considering the rumors surrounding a discovery made by the Duke himself.

While Ajax and Lexi got to sleep peacefully, Lexi’s father was wide awake going over the reports from his informants. He had alerted them beforehand that things would change today and they had been on the lookout for any piece of information that might affect House Manashaper or House Hearthbound.

“How bad is it?” Lexi’s mother asked as she entered the room. 

“Better than I had even dared to hope.” Lexi’s father answered with a surprising smile. “Elija Hearthbound was smart, he tied himself as a middle man for a number of foreign goods, it's hard for merchants to try and cut them off from anything without risking their own supply lines.” 

“So it’s just the underhanded tricks they’ll have to look out for.” Duke Manashaper said with a grin. “That’s good, knowing that boy, anything they try won’t do more than slow him down a little.” 

With the protection of the royal family and good relations with all three archdukes the only way left to target House Hearthbound in the short term was to create civil unrest in their territories. This was something that was especially easy to do at a time like with the changes the commoners were going through but it was something House Hearthbound would have had to deal with anyway as they established themselves in their own duchy. 

“They might not even have to deal with all that much.” Lexi’s father said as he looked over the reports. “A lot of it rides on the outcome of their delve in a few days, but if it’s a success I doubt anyone would be willing to antagonise Duke Hearthbound and risk not being granted a spot on a delve.” 

“I wish she’d just wait.” Duke Manashaper grumbled as he thought about Lexi joining the delve. “She’d be able to make a better choice on what type of trait she gains if she does.” 

There was no worries about her getting a chance to delve, despite this Lexi was eager to gain her trait as quickly as possible. They would even be bringing along bonds to see if they are affected in any way by the Achievement. Both Benedict and Anna would be bringing their respective bonds. 

“The question still remains, who are we sending with Lexi?” Duke Manashaper asked. “I unfortunately can’t make a trip to their duchy until Summer when the Academy takes its yearly break.” 

“I’ll go.” Lexi’s mother volunteered, they all knew her father couldn’t leave the capital on such short notice. “I’ll take a few of our more capable people to ensure nobody gets any ideas.” 

“Speaking of ideas, what do you think Ajax is planning on doing with his garden?” Lexi’s father asked. “The crown scooped up every patch surrounding it but the increased mana potency is becoming noticeable. I know of a few friends who would be delighted to plant some of their more exotic plants in such an environment.” 

“I’m sure you can ask him in the morning.” Duke Manashaper said with a grin. “I doubt he thought about that garden too much, no matter how many stat points he gains in his mental attributes he’s always focused on the next idea.” 

“Must mean he’d fit right in with this family.” A pair of teasing smiles turned towards the duke. 

A few choice words rang out in the room as the duke defended himself while claiming ignorance of any similarities between himself and his new grandson-in-law.