CH341 Unexpected Response

***

"Alex Fury, will you like to join the Order of Valour?"

Of all the possibilities Alex had deduced for why the two royals summoned him here, this was one of them he had thought of. Even so, Archilles's sudden offer caught him slightly off guard.

He had dismissed this scenario because it made little sense that someone would personally invite an Intermediate-ranked professional to a realm—or subspace—where even Legends were known to fall.

Surprise aside, Alex immediately knew what his answer would be.

"I'm sorry," he said calmly, "but I cannot accept your invitation."

Archilles blinked in surprise.

"I think you misunderstand," the man said after a moment. "I'm not asking you to fight for the Order immediately. The Order of Valour takes in young talents and nurtures them. Only after you've become a Saint will you have any formal obligation to serve."

"Ah, I see…" Alex nodded slowly, realising his misunderstanding. "But still, my answer remains the same."

Archilles frowned. "May I ask why? This is a great opportunity. I became a Legend at my age because I took advantage of one like it. With your talent, I'm certain you could do the same."

It was clear the man was genuinely confused as to why anyone would refuse such an offer.

By Archilles's side, Caesar merely sighed and shook his head—not at Alex, but at Archilles.

'So he's the type who thinks his organisation is heaven on earth?' Alex thought with a mild realisation.

He recalled something someone had once said in his previous life during a similar exchange.

'Even heaven itself—there are those who turn away from it. What makes you think your group is greater than heaven, that others would never refuse it?'

The parent had said that to one of Alex's former company recruiters when they tried to sign the person's child before they'd even entered college.

That remark had rippled through the company, shaking up the elitist mindset of many who believed everyone wanted to join them.

Archilles's expression now carried that same disbelief Alex remembered from his past life coworkers.

"This is no doubt an extremely valuable opportunity," Alex said evenly. "However, it doesn't align with what I want—or with my goals. You may think this is arrogant, but I firmly believe in my ability to reach Legendary and beyond, eventually. But before that happens, there are things I must accomplish.

"While the Order can help me gain power faster, it is, by nature, restrictive—and that restriction would stop me from achieving the things I truly need to achieve."

Archilles narrowed his eyes slightly. "So you're saying you don't want the power the Order can provide… because of its restrictions?"

"I'm saying the cost of that power outweighs its benefits—for me," Alex replied calmly. "The way I see it, there are many other paths to power besides the one the Order offers. Sure, they may take longer, but raw cultivation strength isn't my ultimate goal. There are other ways I can supplement my strength until I'm where I need to be."

"Then… can I ask what your goal is?" Archilles asked after a pause.

"You cannot." Alex shook his head without hesitation.

Archilles blinked again, caught off guard for the second time.

"Haha!" Caesar suddenly burst into laughter. "You need to see your face," he told Archilles between chuckles.

Turning to Alex, he grinned. "This guy was raised with a diamond spoon. He's not used to being turned down. And with all the years of training the Order dumped on him, he's barely had time to experience life outside its walls. At this point, the number of people who can speak to him like you just did can be counted on one hand. Guess I was right about you."

"I'm not that special," Alex replied. "I only speak to you both like this because you asked me to. If you hadn't, I wouldn't be any different from anyone else."

"Even then," Archilles said with a faint smile, "not everyone has the guts to do so."

He looked at Alex then, his gaze lingering—deep, heavy, and filled with unspoken emotion.

'It's lonely at the top, huh…' Alex thought quietly as he met the man's eyes.

"Life is a balance of loss and gain," Alex said calmly. "If you gain something, you'll have to lose something in return. That's just the price of power... of anything.

"That said, I don't think it's much of a cost. Even if you were weaker or held no title, there's no guarantee people would be honest with you. Most people put on a front. Only true friends can speak to you the way you're hoping for.

"And it seems to me you already have one of those."

Archilles nodded slowly, his expression serious. "I see…"

"Pff!" Caesar suddenly burst out laughing again. "I never thought I'd see the day when the great Legend of Dominating Force would not only get rejected by a kid who just came of age—but also be lectured by him—and then accept the lecture!"

"What does age matter?" Archilles replied calmly. "He makes a valid point, doesn't he?"

"You're not wrong," Caesar admitted with a smirk. Then, turning back to Alex, he asked suddenly, "Are you really sure you just came of age? Did you maybe receive memories from a past life or something? Or are you an old man who took over a kid's body through some nefarious ritual?"

Alex's heart skipped a beat at the beginning of that question—but by the end, he had already calmed down.

Instead of responding to Caesar, he turned toward Archilles and asked, "Is he always like this?"

"Sprouting nonsense?" Archilles asked jokingly.

To their surprise, Alex nodded without hesitation.

Both royals blinked at him—stunned.

Then Archilles broke into laughter. "Haha! Essentially, yes. People don't realise it, but the Caesar they call the Feet of the Imperial Sun is just a façade he puts up."

"Hey! I take offense to that!" Caesar protested immediately.

Alex looked between the two of them, a small smile tugging at his lips.

'I doubt either of them is pretending for the public,' he thought. 'It's more like they show the side that fits the moment. Serious and composed in public—but when it's just the two of them… well, boys will be boys.'

The smile on his face deepened as he decided.

'Titles and station aside, they're good friends to have. I shouldn't lose this opportunity.'

***

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