After successfully convincing karn, Ian instantly moved towards the next step of his plan, If he can't fight on his own, he might as well make someone capable enough to fight for him.
"How about it, as a thanks for saving my life, I'll help you grow stronger, you'd be able free yourself and your parents from this life as a serf.
Ian gave a convincing look towards Karn, before adding " With my guidance and help, even attaining a nobility title is possible." Ian replied with a pretty assured and confident look on his face.
Ian didn't mention anything about his plans for rebellion, Since it didn't matter whether Karn accepts his proposal or not, since he has already made up his mind to help this family out.
Ian was pretty confident as Karn had no reason, to reject his proposal, In this class driven society, who would possibly refuse a chance to attain higher status. In this Empire,even the life of tens of thousands of diligent and hardworking Commoners dwindles in comparison to a single useless nobleman, even if that said person is considered the biggest scum of the continent.
But contrary to Ian's expectations, Karn gave a very apathetic look towards him, as if the very thought of it repulsed him.
"So you want me to become the very thing that massacred my entire tribe." Karn responded in a were calm manner, but Ian's experienced eyes could easily see the inner turmoil this young child was going through right now.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Ian immediately replied with a sorrowful look on it's face, With his current look of a black cat hunching his head down with a pitiful look in it's face, no one could possibly tell that this thing was once the god of this entire continent.
"Wait didn't you say you're just an ordinary black cat, now how come you're here talking about making me strong and even going as far as talking about granting me a nobility title and whatnot." Karn questioned while giving a sharp glance towards Ian.
Ian felt flustered, as his half baked truth immediately were exposed 'Damn,although he looks like a naive brat,he is actually pretty sharp lad' Ian thought inwardly as his evaluation of karn increased a step further.
"Well you see I have lived for quite a long time in this continent, so I know lot's of inner secrets and it's mysteries." Ian replied nonchalantly,as he kept telling the truth while hiding the most crucial bits of information.
"No matter how I look at it, it feels like some sketchy deal you make with a demon in exchange for your soul." Karn murmured to himself while squinting his eyes.
"Ha..ha..ha, I have nothing more to say" Ian answered while rolling his golden eyes, trying to avoid making any kind of eye contact with Karn.
Karn felt suspicious, but didn't probe much into it since through his earlier conversation he has already concluded Ian as someone with no malicious intent towards him or his family.
"So the answer to the offer you made me earlier, I'd like to politely decline" Karn responded while looking straight into Ian's eyes.
There was no hint of hesitation from his voice, as if it was a pretty obvious option to choose. Honestly Ian was pretty shaken by this response, it went completely opposite form what he expected, rather than embracing the opportunity that was presented in front of him, Karn outright rejected him.
"Can I know the reason for your refusal ? " Ian questioned, it's not like nobility is the only reason for him to grow strong, he can choose to become an high ranked adventurer or a mercenary and live a luxurious and unrestrained life.
"You see, a few years ago when I was just five years old, Crune Empire invaded all the tribes living here,while massacring and pillaging , including the one me and my parents belong to, , Luckily we were amongst the very few hundreds of survivors amongst tens of thousands of people who managed to stay alive ."
Ian didn't give much of a response to Karn's sad backstory, as fight for land is something that happened since primordial times, and he has already seen humanity at it's best, as well as it's worst, so this much is not even close enough to phasing a god who lived for more than millions of years, but it seems a bit too much for a young human child to handle. this incident has left a deep scare on the heart of a five a year old child who was living a peaceful life all his life with his family friends and relatives.
"I've seen my friends as well as my relatives getting slaughtered right in front of me, people I have known my whole life getting killed while they were running for their lives, but thankfully through some god's grace my entire family survived."
"I see now, so that's what the problem is" Ian could help but let a sigh out of his mouth "You're too afraid of losing what you have right now."
Karn made a bitter expression on his face, as Ian hit his sore point "Yes, I was lucky enough to still have both my parents with me,I don't dare to risk it. I don't mind working my entire life as a serf, if it means I could protect them,while keeping the current peace intact."
Ian gave a slight nod as he completely understands Karn's reasoning, a person who almost lost everything he has, will always protect those important to him over some superficial benefits.
'You two raised a pretty good son' Ian though while looking outside the window, glancing a few hundred meters away with his exceptionally sharp vision he inherited after turning into a cat, his sight reached keisha and garud who seem to be toiling hard while working in the field along with other serfs and slave labourers.
'But there is a big flaw with your thinking, In couple of years you will find that flaw on your own, there's no reason for me to meddle and point it out yet' Ian though while giving a meaningful glance towards Karn.
'Now I am pretty confident on pulling him into my side, but it's just not the right time yet. he still needs a little bit more time' Ian thought.
"Fine, if that's your intention then I won't probe you any further, but since you insist on living as serf, there's no harm in training a little." Ian responded with a hopeful tone.
Karn immediately shook his head "I told you didn't I, I have no intention on taking revenge, I prefer how things are right now, although we have to work really hard to survive, as long as they are here with me safe and secure, I'll be content, I don't wanna risk it by being too greedy."
"I didn't tell you to pick a fight or something now did I ?" Ian looked at karn with a slight smirk on his face "All I am telling you is to train, won't you feel more assured of keeping your family safe if you knew how to fight."
Listening to Ian's explanation, Karn fell into deep thoughts while contemplating something, he was having an extremely conflicting thoughts as it seemed he had no reason to refuse Ian's offer, before he finally seems to have given up on resisting as he finally made up his mind. he raised his head looking towards Ian, before giving him a slight nod.
"Fine, I'll train under you if you insist, but can you really teach me like that ?" Karn questioned while looking at Ian. No matter how knowledgeable Ian might seem to be, overall he is just an ordinary black cat.
"Ah!, you don't need to concern yourself with that, I have my own way of imparting knowledge, we will start from tomorrow onwards, all you need to do is to find an isolated place to train and carry a plain wooden stick on your waist." Ian said with a confident and smugful look on his face.
Karn gave a slight nod, as neither of those two conditions seem difficult to fulfill.
"How about the backyard of that abandoned hut behind our house." Karn suggested.
Ian nodded head slight before replying "Tomorrow 6 AM in the morning, don't be late on the very first day."
"Isn't that a bit too early" Karn questioned with a confused look on his face.
Ian's face twitched a bit, as if he just heard something absurd and preposterous.
"Early?,Haah!, I went easy on you cause it's your very first day, you'll find out soon enough what in the hell you just signed up for." Ian said while giving a devilish smile. Although Ian tried to look as intimidating and Cruel, as he possibly could it gave a completely opposite result to what Ian was expecting
"You know you look kinda cute when you smile." Karn said while trying to resist the urge of petting Ian's head.
"SHUT UP" Ian roared, as he felt displeased of getting teased by this new disciple his.