Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Mr. Black White’s Request
The Stargazing Room today was different from usual.
The black and white design gave it the feel of a modern villa in Han Dong’s previous world.
“The Stargazing Room can change according to my will…come with me.”
Han Dong led the team through the shifting monochromatic corridor and up a spiral staircase to the second floor.
At the head of a grey, marble dining table sat Mr. Black White, looking proper and wearing a friendly smile behind his mask.
As everyone took their seats, Abe, trying to suppress his nervousness, handed a delicate gift box to Mr. Black White.
“Sir! This is a gift my grandfather asked me to bring to you…”
Today was Abe’s first encounter with Mr. Black White, as well as his first time stepping onto the academy’s most mysterious area – the Stargazing Room.
His excited yet nervous demeanor caused his snowy fur to ripple slightly. His hands nervously intertwined below his belly, his fingernails scraping anxiously against each other.
When the gift box was opened, a stunning seven-coloured glow radiated from it.
“Oh! Source Crystal… Captain Kaimon is too kind.”
“My grandfather has always wanted a private audience with you, sir.”
“We’re here to discuss your matters, not mine today… Sit down.”
The sudden change in Mr. Black White’s tone made Abe sweat. He ceased speaking unnecessaries, retreated to sit beside Han Dong, and hung his head low.
Clearly,
Mr. Black White was much stricter than usual, as if he had a critical announcement to make.
“My initial requirement for Nicholas was to choose a Fate Event with at least Four-Star Difficulty.”
“Four-star!” Winry immediately covered her mouth, astonished by the high standard of difficulty.
“However, I’ve been thinking recently…
Since Nicholas chose you as his team, and you are among the top apprentices in this year’s cohort,
I will raise the bar for you.”
“Hmm?!”
Even Han Dong was surprised, he had assumed that Mr. Black White’s summon was for providing important reminders or assisting the squad in devising battle strategies.
He didn’t expect an escalation in expectations.
“Abe… I presume you have a ‘not so friendly’ ‘Fate Card’ with you?”
Abe, taken aback that Mr. Black White knew about it, momentarily lost control of his human-like ears, which transformed into fuzzy triangular animal ears.
“Yes!”
Then Abe explained, “I actually don’t plan to use this card… it’s okay to act like I never had it.”
“Wasting such a high value card is a shame, introduce the ‘Fate Card’ in detail to everyone.”
“Okay!”
“Fate Card (Scepter)”
“Effect: Allows a chosen Fate event to ‘Deeply Alter’, completely changing and twisting the Fate scene without changing the background and main storyline. (Side and hidden plots might dramatically change (possibly increase or decrease), overall difficulty index increases, but doesn’t exceed Five-Star (Seed Period).) ”
“An event-enhancing Fate Card?!”
Han Dong had suspected as much long ago.
If the Fate Card gives choices, shouldn’t there be changes as well? Changing the foundationally selected events of fate was also a kind of power, wasn’t it?
“Such a card, for you who have yet to break the breed, is the highest value ‘Fate Card’.
You must try to complete as many high difficulty Fate Events as possible before becoming a Formal Knight, to gain maximum returns, thereby strengthening your foundation!
Only then, when you become Formal Knights, will you have more development and a smoother future.
You should all understand the reasoning here.”
“Understood…”
It’s clear to Abe how crucial foundation is.
While still in the Seed Period, it is important to maximize benefits.
But it is just about ‘maximizing benefits’ and not about maximizing difficulty… The rewards from an entirely decoded and explored Three-Star event are certainly higher than the rewards from passing a Four-Star event in an ordinary way.
Abe has also asked his grandfather about this difficulty-boosting Fate Card.
Captain Kaimon remained neutral, neither encouraging nor discouraging Abe from using the card.
He only asked Abe to aim for maximizing benefits in every Fate Event. Therefore, Abe didn’t actually plan to… until he was directly addressed by Mr. Black White right now.
Mr. Black White continued looking at Abe while speaking:
“‘Maximize benefits’ is indeed correct,
But Abe, you overlooked a key point.”
Abe felt as though his thoughts were fully exposed under Mr. Black White’s gaze, which made him scrunch up his fluffy ears in fear.
“What Fate Space provides you isn’t just points, equipment… but also a crucial thing – Crises.
The crises brought forth by high-difficulty Fate Spaces are as formidable as those outside the city.
When faced with a real crisis, how many people can remain calm? When the apparent ‘escape routes’ are blocked, how can one find a way out?
Think about what you were thinking and doing when you were being chased by the ‘Old King.’”
Indeed.
Faced with the sudden appearance of the ‘Old King,’ the Apprentice Knights inside the carriage lost 50%-80% of their analytical capabilities.
Moreover, everyone in the carriage never thought about how to survive; they placed all their hopes on the Behemoth Knight Group, hoping that their seniors could protect them and help them escape.
Only a very few people thought and took possibly useful actions.
Mr. Black White continued, “In a crisis, how to instantly come up with the most effective response… that is a skill you must learn beforehand.
You must get ‘accustomed to crises’ in advance, which will be one of your most important hidden abilities when you venture outside the city in the future.
For those of you who are already at the peak of your level, it’s important to complete as many high difficulty Fate events as possible to gain maximum benefits.”
“Thank you for your guidance, sir.”
Han Dong felt that this conversation had been very enlightening. Moreover, this ‘Fate Card’ was quite interesting.
“That’s all I have to say, whether you take it or not is up to you.”
Similarly, after hearing this speech, Abe’s eyes hardened, “Thank you for your teachings, sir! I believe my grandfather will agree with you.”
“So that’s all. Spend the last day relaxing, buy some necessary replenishments and items, get ready.”
Mr. Black White waved his hand, and everyone subsequently exited the Stargazing Room.
