Chapter 222: Stockpiling Supplies

Chapter 222

Stockpiling Supplies

Even though Aman seemed to ignore it, Prince Jason couldn’t stop thinking about Ellie and Vida’s relationship. His brows frowned deeply in displeasure before glancing at Ryker, who stood beside him.

“How close are they?”

Prince Jason asked once they were alone. Ryker had been at the institute longer than him. While Jason spent time in the tower, Ryker chose to complete missions in various cities, gathering intelligence and finding useful information for him. Thus, if there was anyone Jason trusted to ask about outside matters, it was Ryker.

Ryker pondered this for a moment. He knew the prince was worried that the two might join forces. If Duchess Ellie became close with someone from the Jarlon family, it could affect Jason’s future stability as Emperor. The Jarlon family already held significant influence on the royal institution. If they allied with a major threat like the Setter family, Prince Jason’s path to becoming Emperor would undoubtedly face major challenges.

Despite this, Ryker, who constantly gathered information at the institute, hadn’t seen any indication that the two were close enough to openly support each other as Ellie had done.

“Your Highness, I don’t think Duchess Ellie is very close to anyone outside the Setter family. Oh, recently, there have been rumors about Young Lord Wint, an illegitimate child from the Femon family, and a scholarship student named Zoey. These two just become close and have publicly declared themselves as Duchess Ellie’s male and female guards.”

“Before this, there were rumors of Duchess Ellie having issues with another scholarship student, who was likely a former friend. This suggests they aren’t on good terms.”

“Given Duchess Ellie’s personality, she doesn’t like to meddle with others. I’ve tried to get close to her myself, but it took a long time. She has spent most of her time in the Botanical Building, studying potion concocting with Professor Medik. She even eats her lunch there and rarely comes out to eat alone.”

“Most people think she is very hard to approach. Compared to Duchess Vida, Duchess Ellie is much more difficult to get close to. She doesn’t easily accept anyone. If that person isn’t the member of the Setter family, it’s really hard to get into her inner circle. So, I believe Duchess Ellie has received some guidance from the Setter family, which is why she’s so cautious.”

Upon hearing this crucial information from Ryker, Prince Jason fell silent for a moment, pondering the situation. Eventually, clarity dawned on him.

If what Ryker said was true, it would be impossible for Ellie to be close with Vida, his fiancée. He had heard that Vida had been busy with outside missions all previous year, leaving no time to bond with Ellie. Moreover, it made sense if said that Ellie was a disciple of Professor Medik, it meant that she was the same person who won the inter-institute competition. This meant she had little free time, as potion-concocting subject wasn’t easy and required rigorous training. Even he found the subject daunting and would rather spend money on potions than make them himself!

Given this, if Ellie and Vida weren’t truly close, why would Ellie claim they were? Was it because Ellie knew he disliked Duchess Vida? With the Setter family’s information network—No! With the high society gossip, they surely knew about his strained relationship with Vida. If Ellie wanted to get close to him, she should have said she wasn’t close with Vida, right?

It was like the sycophants he’d dealt with before, who would say they weren’t close to Vida to his face but still tried to curry favor with the Jarlon family behind his back. Did they think he was stupid!?

Realizing this, Prince Jason laughed in satisfaction. This girl was just like her brother. Her brother didn’t want to get close to him either, often ignoring him. He could feel that Ellie wanted to do the same as her brother but couldn’t because of his status as a prince. She couldn’t ignore him the way her brother ignored his undercover identity! No wonder she said things to make him feel distant from her...

Jason found himself liking this sibling pair even more. Usually, people approached him for their own benefit, but these two genuinely ignored him. Their gaze was so similar it was as if they were the same person. However, knowing Ellie’s identity as a genius potion-concocting student ruled out the possibility that they were the same person.

He had heard of this botanic elemental student’s reputation but had never seen her in person. Botanic elemental students were busy with their own cultivation and faced intense, specialized training that few passed in the first year. Besides that...Ellie was also heavily busied in practicing potion concocting. How could she have the time to disguise herself as a hunter!?

"Uh, may I ask why you’re inquiring about this, Your Highness?" Ryker couldn’t help but ask upon seeing the prince’s smile. He knew the prince was planning something, but what was it?

"Mmm...I want you to keep an eye on Ellie. Report back to me on her activities and...help me see whether she has contact with a small man who looks similar to her. Their eyes are very alike."

"Are you suspicious of Duchess Ellie, Your Highness?"

"No, I’m not suspicious of her. But information about her could be useful for someone I plan to use in the future."

"Someone you plan to use?" Ryker looked at the prince in confusion. However, Jason couldn’t reveal more. His identity as a hunter, even Ryker didn’t know about it.

While the prince was busy investigating Ellie, the small girl herself was in Erel City, heading to various buildings, preparing for their mission.

Most students had been sent to Erel City to make special preparations. The institute facilitated this, and the students immediately contacted their families. By the next morning, they needed everything ready, as the institute would send them on their mission the following day.

This urgency highlighted the reality that, in wartime, time waited for no one. To declare war, some soldiers had already been dispatched to protect various cities in the Ares Kingdom. The noble families had to safeguard themselves and send soldiers to aid in the fight as well.

The Setter family’s people also felt the impact. However, they had special privileges and didn’t need to send soldiers to aid in the fight because they had their own cities to protect. Given their manpower and the number of cities they managed, the Setter family didn’t have to send any soldiers at all. Nonetheless, the military force was one thing, they still had to supply resources to the palace.

Thus, when Ellie and the Setter family students arrived in Erel City, the busy Setter family’s people had no time to prepare for them. Although Ellie’s requests would be considered the most important thing, she preferred not to disturb them and chose to handle her preparations herself.

Not knowing what lay ahead, Ellie prioritized preparation. She went to find various herbs, buying numerous types in a large amount, storing them in her secret dimension. In case of emergencies, she could take them out and use magic power to make them grow.

In addition to herbs, Ellie bought large quantities of vegetables from a plant-related shop. She also stocked up on delicious beast meat in her dimensional ring, despite the high prices due to the war...Meat was essential, and as a meat-eater, Ellie ensured she was well-prepared.

After securing her food supplies, she headed to an equipment store. She bought numerous weapons for backup, not knowing how long the battles would last or what unexpected dangers they might face, like the Seven Night Poison group from before. Preventing problems was better than fixing them afterward since by then, the damage would already be done.

Ellie went in and out of many shops, including equipment stores, pet food shops, clothing stores, resource shops for stratagems, wood shops, bookstores, and many others. In just one day, she spent more than 200,000 gold coins, an amount beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Once her preparations were complete, she returned to the Setter family mansion. She heard that the eldest young lord had been summoned by the Emperor along with the Setter family head, probably to request their support or discuss war resources. Thus, Ellie didn’t get to meet them. Only Selin was always available to assist her whenever she needed...

The next day, Ellie and the Setter family members gathered at the institute’s arranged teleportation point. Each carried large bags. Upon hearing that Second Young Lord Aman planned to set up a camp, they prepared tents and other shelters. Aman was also well-prepared in this matter, and he was now wearing new, sturdier clothing. If Ellie didn’t already have a negative view of Aman, she might have said he looked quite handsome in his flaming red armor.

"I’m ready. Are you?" Aman asked, smiling confidently. Ellie shrugged in response, saying nothing.

She, too, wore new clothes provided by the Setter family. These clothes were better tailored, and when paired with the light armor they gave her, it fit perfectly, unlike the oversized clothes she usually wore. Well...the outside stores had to make clothes for the average person, so tiny Ellie, who looked like a small child, wasn’t their target group, so she often had to wear much larger clothes. If the Setter family hadn’t made her new outfits, she’d still be wearing those ill-fitting garments.

“Today I’m wearing armor that matches my new power. I really appreciate the Pure Flame Dragon herbs you gave me. This time, I’ll show you my new abilities. I’ve heard you’ve been training with weapons, right? Let’s see whose progress is greater!” Aman smirked, looking like a villain challenging a young girl.

Koross sighed. Although he put on that facade, deep down, he felt quite envious of the second young lord. The other party had suddenly received herbs that significantly boosted his power overnight. Their abilities were once very similar, but now the other had far surpassed him...

“Duchess Ellie, you don’t need to participate in the hunting this time. The head of the family has entrusted us to ensure your safety,” Koross said earnestly, completely contradicting Aman’s earlier challenge.

Aman pouted slightly in annoyance. He had just issued a challenge, only for Koross to shut it down so easily. Despite his irritation...Aman couldn’t argue. He had heard his father’s orders as well. But then, his words had only been a playful challenge; he hadn’t meant to be serious!

“Actually, I didn’t really want you to join in the fight. Especially not in front of that prince and his people. It’s obvious they want to cozy up to our Setter family. And...I heard the prince’s question about whether Ellie is close to anyone from the Jarlon family. He’s probably worried that our Setter family might align with the Jarlon family. If that happens, it would be troublesome for the royal family!” Aman spoke with displeasure, thinking about the third party.

Ellie nodded, watching Aman with his white hair under the flaming red outfit. It was clear Aman had speculated extensively about the prince’s intentions. However, he didn’t realize that Prince Jason’s interference was to get close to Ellie. He didn’t know Ellie had another identity as the hunter the prince was interested in. Now, the prince mistakenly believed Ellie to be the hunter’s younger sister. It made sense for Aman to think the prince wanted the Setter family’s support to counterbalance the Jarlon family’s power.

Otherwise, why would Prince Jason make such efforts...?

“I won’t let you show off too much, and unless necessary, I won’t work on their tasks. Let them carry the meat for their mission themselves. We’ll focus on our 10-person group mission only!”

“And...you shouldn’t have to show yourself much either. I heard from my eldest brother that you like reading. It’s better to let you read as you wish. So, you should stay in the tent. Understand? I’ll have someone guard the entrance and won’t let anyone disturb you,” Aman said seriously.

If it’s an order from his brother...he couldn’t neglect it!