Chapter 50: the new proposal

Jacob saw that Smith on the other side remained silent and did not push for a direct answer. He elaborated instead.

​"Smith, you might not know this, but ordinary players who want to add another queen usually do so after being promoted to the next rank. That frees up a slot so they can add another queen. For example, if you are promoted from the Novice rank into the Intermediate rank, you get another free chance to bond with a queen, which happens automatically without needing special items. However, you still have to take another trial. After completing it, you gain the chance to bond with another queen, just like in the first Awakening Trial."

​Jacob paused, his expression turning grave. "But as you know, a trial is a one-way road—there is no quitting midway once you enter. Just like the first Awakening Trial, the casualties in these promotion trials are extremely high. If your former queen dies in the process, even if you complete the trial and get a new queen, you still end up on the losing side. That is why most people choose not to take queen summoning trials; the casualties are simply too high, and you have no extraordinary abilities during those trials, just like the first one. Most people refuse to gamble with their lives."

​He continued, "However, that is not the only way to get another queen. The maximum number of queens a person can bond with in their lifetime is nine. In this world, a person with a full quota of nine queens is exceedingly rare—rarer even than having a legendary-titled queen—because the methods of obtaining queens outside of trials are so scarce."

​"The other way to get queens," Jacob explained, "is through other dimensions, which attach themselves to the main timeline after a trial is completed. That is one primary way of acquiring them. For a dimension to have more than one queen is not very rare, but for a dimension to have more than one high-titled queen is truly extraordinary. You might not realize it now, but in the early stages, the more queens you have, the faster your growth will be and the more solid your foundation becomes."

​Jacob smiled warmly. "That is why I asked you that question. I have no malicious intent—I am asking out of goodwill. If you manage to bond with additional queens, you will gain immense benefits. For example, certain dungeons restrict the entry quota to a single person. If you have more queens at your side, you can easily clear those dungeons on your own."

​"Another scenario," Jacob added, "involves Large-Scale Linked Dungeons. These special dungeons have multiple entrances. Upon entering, you will encounter players from various locations, and you won’t know if they are friend or foe. If you have multiple queens on your side in those rank-restricted dungeons, you will hold a massive upper hand over everyone else—especially in resource gathering. That is why many go by the philosophy: The more queens, the better, and the more powerful the player becomes."

​Jacob looked intently at Smith. "This is why I asked. Your answer will determine how we plan your future. We can schedule our plans according to your situation and provide you with the most suitable growth strategy."

​Jacob then fell silent, waiting for Smith’s response.

​Smith remained quiet, reflecting on what he had just heard. From the moment they had entered the room, Jacob had shown genuine care, treating him like one of his own people. Even though Smith was merely an honorary guest, Jacob had taken the time to explain these crucial details when he had no obligation to do so. It was an act of pure goodwill.

​Smith also realized that this world was far less peaceful than he had initially assumed. His mindset needed to change immediately. He had originally thought he could simply live in peace and enjoy life, but judging by Jacob’s words, this world was far more dangerous. To live peacefully, he needed strength—absolute strength—so that no one would ever dare entertain the thought of harming his family or friends.

​With great determination and resolve in his eyes, Smith looked Jacob in the eye. "Yes... I have a way to get an other queen."

​"Good! Excellent," Jacob said, visibly relieved. "Thank you for telling me this, Smith. It shows that you truly trust me. Because the other six families have already seen your potential, I promise you this: even though you are not our direct relative by blood we will cultivate you under the best possible conditions."

​Jacob leaned forward. "We have already discussed your situation with the other elders and reached a conclusion. If you agree, we will grant you the position of Grand Elder across all seven families. You will enjoy every privilege that comes with the title, including complete transparency regarding our information on dungeons and resource allocations. So, Smith, do you agree to this proposal?"

​Having already made up his mind, Smith did not object. The proposal brought only benefits with no downsides. He knew the seven families were trying to tie him to their side, but he didn’t mind.

​"You don’t have to worry," Smith replied smoothly. "You have already shown me immense sincerity, and I have no reason to disagree. I accept the proposal."

​Jacob grinned, delighted that he had secured Smith. To tell the truth, while Smith’s potential was immense, it was his attitude that had truly won the favor of the elders. From the very beginning, Smith had been humble, grounded, and possessed good character.

​"Okay, now that we are one family," Jacob said, "the other elders and I have discussed maximizing the number of queens you can bond with right now before proceeding with our long-term plans. From your reaction, it seems your dimension has an another queen available. Can you tell me how you bonded with your second queen, and how we can help you bond with the others? Speak freely so we can discuss it."

​Smith nodded. "When I finished my Awakening Trial, I received an SSS evaluation, which yielded four rewards. The first was successfully awakening. The second was an item called the Extra Queen, which allows me to bond with an additional queen. The third was an Access Key to the trial ground, allowing me to enter without undergoing a trial."

​Smith continued, "I used the Access Key to enter the trial ground and gave Brenda the Extra Queen item. After I returned to the main timeline, I summoned her, she agreed to the contract, and we bonded. That is how my second queen, Brenda, was contracted."

​Jacob was shocked. The method Smith used was incredibly bizarre. Jacob knew about Access Keys, but they usually offered only brief visits. Normally, a player would use an Access Key to establish a partial connection to the trial ground, and then use other items to link that trial ground directly to the main timeline, allowing free travel between dimensions.

​"Did you also receive a Dimension Binding Stone?" Jacob asked.

​"Yes, I did," Smith replied.

​"What you did when contracting Brenda was quite unconventional," Jacob explained. "An Access Key offers only temporary access. Normally, you use the Dimension Binding Stone while on the other side to directly anchor that dimension to the main timeline, creating a permanent portal so the two worlds can interact freely. That is the standard way to use the stone, especially since the origin worlds of queens often hold deep memories for them."

​Understanding dawned on Smith. He felt a bit foolish in hindsight—he had known the Dimension Binding Stone was meant to anchor dimensions, but he hadn’t considered using it that way at the time. Since it was already done, however, he didn’t dwell on it.

​Jacob smiled reassuringly. "If there are still potential queens in that dimension, I will provide you with all the necessary resources so you can bond with them as quickly as possible to maximize your potential. So, tell me: how many queens are left on the other side?"

​Jacob relaxed in his chair, feeling confident now that his main objective was accomplished. He acted with the air of a wealthy noble, ready to fulfill whatever request Smith made on the spot.

​Smith smiled faintly. "I have five other queens waiting to be contracted."

​"Okay, if it’s just another one, that will be very simple—" Jacob began smoothly talking with trying to take something from his inventory, before suddenly freezing.

​His eyes went wide, nearly popping out of their sockets as he stared at Smith.

​"H-How many did you say?!" Jacob asked, his voice trembling.