Ethan's idea was straightforward: use his Falconry skill to summon more spirits to guard the territory. After all, granting the skill to one or several wasn't much different. They seemed innocent and pure, making them ideal candidates. Due to the nature of the Bow Mastery skill, any new spirits who wanted to learn it would have to follow the same process as Aphra. In addition to guarding the territory, they could provide extra magical artifacts, which would be a lucrative income source.
However, the number couldn't be too large. If one of them were to die, the others, including Ethan, would lose Bow Mastery. If lost, the controlled falcons would become uncontrollable. Although Ethan could use skill points to regain Bow Mastery, others would need to rely on the Usury skill, which has a cooldown of one day. Quantum Fund could expedite the process, but it required a Force deposit. Ethan wasn't willing to waste Force on this, so he decided to recruit only three spirit archers. If something happened, he could restore the skill within a day or two, which was manageable.
Ethan also considered that three spirit archers might not be enough to secure the territory. He needed some close-combat fighters, especially those skilled with long axes and spears. He wouldn't need many—just one of each. By passing on their respective Mastery skills, he could elevate their abilities without additional cost.
With the plan set, Ethan awaited Aphra's return. He intended to send her back to her homeland to recruit two more spirits. This timeline would align with spring or summer, allowing Ethan to handle other matters without being tied to the territory.
However, things didn't go as planned. For several days, Ethan waited for Aphra, but she never returned. Sensing something was wrong, he sent Little Yellow to scout the Anji Mountains, but there was no sign of Aphra. He also had Little Yellow check the tree where the swift blade leopard resided, but the leopard was gone too. Realizing he might have been deceived by Aphra, Ethan reflected on their interactions. She had always appeared innocent and naive but occasionally revealed a deep understanding of humans. Entranced by her beauty and the reputation of her kind, Ethan had prematurely fulfilled their agreement.
Ethan chuckled bitterly but wasn't overly upset. Being deceived was normal; who hadn't been tricked? He recalled a high-rated TV series where even the President of the United States was manipulated. If a nation's leader could be deceived, it was perfectly normal for someone like him to fall for a trick.
Moreover, it wasn't entirely a scam. Ethan had left a backdoor. While the Usury skill had no time limit, he could impose one. When he granted Aphra the skill, he set it to expire in a year. If things had gone well, he would have extended it indefinitely. Now, this fallback proved useful. The trade was essentially a one-year Bow Mastery for a Duel Cage. It wasn't a total loss, but missing a helper disrupted his plans.
"So, you were deceiving me from the start. You seemed pure and innocent, but you're incredibly cunning. The spirits aren't as honorable as the legends say," Ethan murmured. He stood inside a large tree hole in the very tree where he had met Aphra. The interior was spacious and naturally warm, with hot springs nearby. Despite the setback, he found a valuable hideout.
Seeing the hot springs, Ethan's first thought was to invite Angelina for a bath, and he did. Angelina's eyes lit up when she saw the hot springs. Without hesitation, she stripped and jumped in, and Ethan followed. The contrast between the outside snowstorm and the warm springs made them both drowsy.
"How did you find this place?" Angelina asked.
Unwilling to mention Aphra, Ethan lied, "Little Yellow found it."
"Little Yellow is amazing. The trees here are so dense, yet it spotted this place from the sky," Angelina praised sincerely.
Ethan could only smile awkwardly.
"By the way," Angelina continued, "I haven't seen Aphra these past few days. Where could she be? She'd love this place."
Ethan's lips twitched. "Maybe. You know how spirits are—always mysterious. You've seen how Aphra rushes about; she probably had something urgent."
"That's a shame," Angelina said with a mischievous smile. "If Aphra were here, we could invite her to join us in the hot spring."
Ethan knew where Angelina's mind was going but didn't mind. At least she didn't have malicious thoughts. "If she joined us, you wouldn't be jealous?"
"Of course not," Angelina replied firmly. "Ethan, you deserve many women as long as you still have a place for me in your heart. I promise not to be jealous or cause trouble and to remain loyal to you."
"I have high standards for women. Beauty isn't enough! But let's not dwell on this. Let's relax a bit more before heading back. We have guests coming," Ethan said with a smile.
Angelina, thinking enemies were approaching, panicked. "We should go now before something happens."
"Don't worry," Ethan reassured her. "They're real guests."
"Who could be visiting this desolate place?" Angelina wondered.
"You'll see soon enough. It's an important guest, though perhaps not the most polite one," Ethan replied.