“Obviously I want you to build ties with them.” Owari answered as if it truly was obvious.

“Why would I do that?” Kent was confused.

“It’s important to have connections even if you don’t want to be tied down. As someone with an aquila not to mention such a young gold rank, they would be ecstatic to make your acquaintance.” Owari chuckled.

“Wouldn’t they just want the aquila for themselves?” Kent wasn’t entirely naive.

“Not if they aren’t stupid. After all it’s Noel and me who are introducing you. With us at your backs they’d be even more excited to get you on board. They may even flat out invite you into the family.” Owari smiled.

“Isn’t that overly optimistic?” Kent couldn’t help but smile awkwardly at the thought. Not too long ago he was a nobody.

“Actually it’s entirely normal for high ranking families to accept promising talents and adopt them into the family one way or another. Some adopt them as children, others as contracted mercenaries, and others they even try to marry into the family. I’m not sure which the Aquila family will use, but it is likely they will at least try.” Noel explained calmly.

“So I should expect offers?” Kent decided to just accept that this was real.

“Of course. And you should seriously consider them. Having someone at your back will help you to grow. It will also act as a deterrent from others who wish to harm you.” Owari continued the explanation.

“So should I accept?” Kent wasn’t sure. After all he didn’t know how that would affect his future, he was just a country kid.

“If they offer to adopt you then it depends on your familial situation. If they wish to contract you then it depends on if you want to be nothing more than a mercenary for however long they hire you on. If they marry you in then it’s up to you whether you can handle the responsibility of an arranged marriage.” Owari went over each option.

“My father is dead and my mother is sick. I send her home money every month so obviously I don’t want to betray them.” Kent said decisively.

“If they offer you that option tell them the same.” Noel advised. “It may change their method up, and may even improve their opinion of you.”

“Alright.” Kent seriously considered things.

“Just keep in mind this will have certain ramifications down the line. After all this makes a direct connection between them and us. Meaning we will be more invested in their interests and they in ours. This also includes the Silverblood family as well.” Owari warned him.

“So my choice could affect everyone?” Kent started to feel pressured.

“Don’t worry so much. If worse comes to worst we can decide for you. After all we could have done so from the start. We just want to give you control of your own fate.” Owari explained.

“So just do what feels right?” He asked.

“Right. Just don’t forget what is at stake as you do so. Don’t let it guide your actions, use it to temper your decisions and help you make the right call.” Owari gave him the best advice he could.

“Alright, I’ll do my best.” Kent said seriously, he had faced many near-death situations by this point and had grown some since he met the two of them. This much shouldn’t bother him, or so he told himself.

Soon the group of three, plus Morgana, made their way to the local Aquila residence. It was about the size of two city blocks, and all the buildings were built with bird decorations adorning them. As they had made their way over they picked up Kent’s aquila. It was currently holding onto the back of his shirt and holding onto him with its head over his shoulder while glancing around. It seemed endlessly curious about everything, especially the bird decorations.

As they walked up to the gates the two guards glanced at each other and one of them stopped them. “Excuse me, but who are you?” He looked at the aquila uncertainly.

“We’ve come here to meet the representative of the Aquila family.” Noel flashed her hunter’s license showing her identification and rank at the same time. She had already upgraded to high gold rank. The shock on their faces was clear and they quickly rushed as one of them went to tell the one in charge.

Soon he came back and walked over to Noel directly ignoring the other two. “He says he wishes to see you.” Noel looked at him for a moment not responding. “Is there something wrong?” He asked unsure of what to say.

“Oh I’m sorry, I just thought you had yet to tell my friends here as well. Considering you so rudely ignored them. Unless you think they aren’t important enough to talk to. Or is that how the Aquila family sees them?” Noel said sharply.

“Of- of course not.” The man stuttered. “The representative wishes to see all of you.

“How interesting. You should probably fix that way of thinking. Unless you’re dumb enough to think a Silverblood would ever accept such a way of acting. Next time you may not meet someone as forgiving.” Owari warned him with a calm smile.

Noel looped her arm into Owari’s with a smile. “Next time I think I should just ignore the slight and sell out the one who did it.”

“I apologize for my friends behavior. He meant no offense.” The other guard stuck up for his friend.

“How admirable. Relax, he’s learned his lesson, and I assume you’ve learned to.” Noel walked forward with Owari followed by the stunned Kent. He was shocked that these people who could look down on any independent hunter were acting so respectfully towards Noel. It was only now that her position in society really sunk in for him.

They carefully traveled to the appointed location, a two-story building designed in a simplistic manner, clearly meant for business affairs and not like the other buildings around which focused on aesthetics. When they walked inside they were led to a room with a gentleman in his thirties sitting behind a coffee table. He was relaxing in an armchair, with a set of three more on the opposite side of the table clearly meant for them.

“Greetings. I’m sorry if anything untoward happened while you were brought here.” He seemed to read the negative atmosphere around the three of them and started with an apology.

“As sharp as expected.”Owari smiled as the three sat down, Morgana stood behind as always nearly invisible.

“I do my best.” He chuckled. “My name is Richard Aquila. You’re Noel Silver blood, and this must be Owari I presume?” He immediately identified Owari with ease.

“I am, it’s a pleasure.” Owari smiled calmly as ever, not shaken in the least. He had made his presence known at the last geniuses gathering and by this point he expected most people who was anyone would know him.

“So who is this?” Richard didn’t let his feelings show at all, making it impossible to determine how he felt about Owari’s calmness.

“This is the reason we are here. His name is Kent.” Noel answered lazily.

“Could you please not introduce me to someone so important as if I was an afterthought?” Kent whined like usual. However after realizing who he was in front of he straightened up and shut his mouth.

“An interesting fellow. He seems to be the naive and sincere type.” Richard accurately guessed Kent’s personality from so little.

“Sounds about right.” Owari nodded in confirmation. Kent dared not say anything.

“So what about him is it that brings you here?” He spoke to both Noel and Owari making sure not to show preference to either. Both of them caught this and smiled imperceptibly.

“Well I figured you’d be interested in the bird resting next to him.” Noel was referencing the aquila which was looking around curiously.

“Of course I am. So I take it this is his?” Richard didn’t dare to assume the meaning behind her statement. It could mean many things and it would be a mistake to make any assumptions.

“Yes. He tamed it himself a few days ago.” Owari drummed his fingers against the armrest.

“Himself?” Richard’s expression shifted slightly, however he quickly reigned it in. “So he is a gold rank?”

“Of course.” Owari smiled.

“So what is it you wish to accomplish bringing him here?” He asked hoping for clarification.

“We are merely here to introduce you and act as support for him. It’s up to you what you wish to do with him. After all it’s rare to meet someone like him.” Noel gave the initiative to Richard.

“Then I’d like to recruit him into the family. He seems to be a talent and he was able to tame an aquila. That in itself deserves respect, especially at his age.” Richard showed no hesitation in his decision.

“What do you think Kent?” Owari asked for his input.

“I would need to know the terms and conditions first.” He spoke a bit awkwardly and nervously, but he got his point across.

“Of course. Ideally we would adopt you into the family directly, though that would require the head’s permission.” That was out of Richard’s hands.

“I would refuse.” Kent said a little less awkwardly with conviction. “My current family is too important to me to think about jumping ship.”

“How admirable.” Richard nodded. “Then the next option would be to hire you as a contractee to our family.”

Kent seemed to mull over it for a while. “I wouldn’t be totally against it. But it is a big decision to make.”

“You didn’t think about it before you came here?” Richard was surprised.

“We are leaving tomorrow and only had this chance to introduce you two. Otherwise he would be at a disadvantage dealing with your family.” Noel let him know.

“So I take it he is important to you? What is your relationship to him?” Richard needed to know this going forward. After all it was important to stay on their good side. Especially after hearing about what happened to Lin’s agency after she pissed him off. They suddenly fell through on a mining deal and the Silverbloods even showed some signs of distancing themselves from them. Of course it wasn’t too bad, but it sent a message.

“He’s our student. We’ve imparted a great deal of our knowledge on him and he has followed in our footsteps.” Noel answered.

“I see. So he has a lot of your secrets?” Richard was surprised they would allow such a person to join another group.

“The secret is simple. I can even tell you myself.” Owari chuckled. “Just throw yourself into danger over and over. You either succeed and grow or die.”

Richard was shocked hearing this, to the point that he couldn’t help but show surprise on his face. Of course he knew that method worked, and some in his family used it. However here were three people who had succeeded in this method. This meant he was facing three people who could stare death in the face and smile, let alone him. There was nothing he could do to shake this type of person.

“I see. I think I get it now.” Richard hid his surprise with a smile. “So if he were to join our family in some capacity it would give us direct ties to one another?”

“Of course.” Owari answered.

“Then I’d like to propose that he marry into the family. It would allow him to keep his family and join ours smoothly.” Richard decisively answered. This would tie his family closer to the Silverbloods and the Orion Tradecenter. Not only that but it would specifically pull their family closer to the two geniuses in front of him.

“How interesting. If you can’t make the decision to adopt him, how can you so confidently say you can arrange a marriage for him?” Noel asked curiously, Richard seemed confident he could achieve this.

“Simple, I’m offering my own daughter.” He shrugged.

“Your daughter?” Kent was shocked.

“Of course. This would tie me closer than the rest of my family, and more importantly it ensures my own daughters prosperity. If she were to be your wife then that means she is important to them which means she has even more security.” He seemed to think on a totally different level from the other three.

“Wouldn’t she object to being married off to someone she had never met?” Kent couldn’t help but feel it was wrong somehow.

“There’s no need to worry about that. She was prepared for that her whole life. At least this way I get to make the decision and not someone else.” Richard said bitterly. “Though I was in an arranged marriage and me and my wife love one another very much.”

“How old is she?” Noel asked, this was important.

“Currently 14.” Richard answered without hesitation. “Obviously the marriage would be held off until she is officially an adult.”

“I don’t know how to feel about all this.” Kent said uncertainly.

Owari reached over and grabbed his shoulder. “Just make the decision you feel is best.”

Kent took a little while to consider his options. After looking at Owari and Noel he saw their supportive gazes looking back at him. He gave an awkward smile. “I think it would be best for everyone here if I accept your offer to be married into the family. I don’t understand a lot of what everyone was saying just now, but based on what I do understand it would be best for everyone including myself to accept it. Even if I don’t fully agree with it.”

“How admirable.” Richard said with respect. “To throw yourself out of your comfort zone for the sake of yourself and your friends. The Aquila family prides itself on loyalty more than anything else. It is through loyalty that we ensured the secrecy of our ancestral home.”

“He’s too simple-minded to betray others.” Noel dampened the mood. “Though Owari is the same.” She smiled.

“It’s because he’s like me that I took such an interest in him.” Owari laughed lightly.

“That was a compliment, I think?” Kent couldn’t tell fully. He didn’t know how much he wanted to be like Owari after all.

“It was.” Noel assured him.

“Now that that’s over, I supposed our business here is done. Have fun you two.” Owari stood up along with Noel surprising both Richard and Kent.

“You aren’t staying?” They both asked practically simultaneously.

“How nice, you’re getting along already.” Owari laughed. “The rest of the talks should be private conversation after all. You have to deal with the whole marriage thing.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Richard nodded.

“So we bid you adieu.” Owari waved as he, Noel, and Morgana left the other two in the room and made their way out.

“That was interesting.” Noel said as soon as they were out of the building.

“To think he would offer his own daughter. What should we do?” Owari asked Noel’s opinion.

“Hopefully Kent has met her by the time of the party so he can tell us his opinion of her. We will take it from there.” Noel decided.

“Agreed.” Owari felt it was reasonable.

The two of them chatted a bit more and went to buy their tickets for tomorrow before they changed their minds. With how thrifty the two had ended up becoming they wouldn’t waste the tickets even if they had to force themselves. After all it was true that they were traveling via express train which was more expensive. It was for the sake of convenience and increasing the range of travels for the vacation.

The next day came uneventfully until they met up with an exhausted Kent. When they knocked on his door he came back and sighed as soon as he saw them. “You sold me out.”

“How so?” Owari asked with amusement.

“Do you know how intimidating it is to talk to the father of your apparent future wife? He asked so many questions.” Kent sighed again.

“It went fine for me.” Owari chuckled.

“You’re you though.” Kent smiled a bit forcefully.

“What does that mean?” Noel asked with interest.

“It means he’s reliable and calm. He doesn’t panic, it’s like he’s always in control.” Kent looked at the sky as he spoke.

“I’m glad you have such a high opinion of me. But I just got lucky.” Owari still remembered the time when her mother hounded him. He had been ecstatic because he knew it would give him leverage.

“Lucky how?” Kent asked hoping to steal some of that luck. However after hearing what happened he smiled bitterly. “So basically nothing that will help me.”

“Maybe you should just do what I did and search for valuable resources.” Owari suggested.

“I’m not nearly good enough at the skills needed for that.” Kent sighed.

“You sure sigh a lot.” Noel laughed. “If you aren’t any good just learn. Of course it might take years to become good enough. All you really need is a skill that is in high demand. Find something that suits you and perfect it.” Noel gave suitable advice.

“Alright I’ll try my best.” Kent could only promise this much.

The group chatted amongst themselves before they separated for the final time for a while. It wouldn’t be for a few months before they met again. Noel and Owari boarded their train and sat next to one another as usual. Noel seemed to be lost in thought for a while before Owari finally asked her. “Is something on your mind?”

“I was just thinking what it would be like to raise a kid.” Her answer caused Owari to sweat a bit.

“Why would you be wondering that?” He asked somewhat curiously.

“Well I was just thinking, it was fun to be a teacher. It was like having a little sibling. So I was wondering what it would be like to have to raise a child.” She answered calmly.

“Hopefully it’ll be awhile before we get that answer.” Owari replied calmly.

“What, you don’t want to have a kid when we’re still in our teens? How shocking.” Noel said sarcastically.

“Don’t pick on me, I’m not ready for that kind of responsibility in my life.” Owari sighed.

“Fine fine.” Noel pouted. It was rare for her to find something to tease Owari with.

“You can pick on me later, but my heart is still weak from that sudden declaration. You should have eased into that more.” Owari chuckled.

“That wouldn’t have been nearly as fun. You should have seen your face.” Noel laughed lightly.

“I don’t think it changed that much.” Owari became self-conscious.

“It didn’t, but I can tell.” Noel sat back in her chair and began to meditate leaving Owari sitting there shaking his head before he joined her.

They took a total of three days before they decided to hop off the train. They were in a relatively sleepy town similar to Owari’s own hometown. It had a number of similarities, but there were enough differences to make it feel somewhat fresh. When they got off the train they had to have the tiger unloaded too which was a pain. After that it was smooth sailing.

Or it would be if there wasn’t a car-sized tiger following them around town. There were two reactions to this scene from the people in town. Fear and interest. Fear came from those who weren’t used to tamed beasts as strong as this one, and interest came from children who didn’t know better and people who were more knowledgeable about tamed beasts.

It didn’t take long for someone to approach them as they looked around for an inn. It was a woman in her early twenties. “What are you here in town for?” She asked guardedly.

“To sightsee.” Noel answered back casually.

“There isn’t nothin to see out here.” She responded. She wasn’t being very welcoming.

“There is plenty to see.” Noel refuted her. “The stars in the night sky that you can’t see in the city. The beautiful plains which stretch as far as the eye can see. The lush forest. Even the sunrise and sunset. All of these things are wonderful sights to see which aren’t available in a big city.”

“I wouldn’t know nothin bout that.” The woman wondered if that was really true.

“Why would we stop here otherwise?” Owari jumped in.

“Why here?” The woman looked at him with sharp eyes.

“It was on our way.” Owari shrugged, unbothered by her stare. It was then she recalled the massive tiger he was casually walking near.

“Well I’d appreciate if you took in the sights and leave. You’ll scare the children and even some of the adults.” The woman turned around and left like that.

“What a brave woman.” Noel chuckled.

“I bet my mom would have done the same. She was always unafraid of anything.” Owari got some of that from her. The rest was from his dad.

“I bet so.” Noel agreed. Even after hearing she could punch a boulder into chunks his mother had still grilled her with questions.

After that the two of them, followed by Morgana as always, found the inn and rented two rooms for the three of them. After that they went out into the field outside of town where Noel looked at her big tiger and wondered what to do to bond with him. It wasn’t like she was good with animals after all.

“Why don’t you get a massive ball of yarn for it to play with?” Owari joked getting a chuckle out of Noel.

“I doubt a proud beast like him would play with yarn.” Noel denied him.

“Watch this.” Owari walked over to the apprehensive beast and started scratching under its chin. Soon it started to close its eyes in satisfaction. Owari then started to pet and scratch its cheeks and it started to push him around a bit with its head before flopping to the ground.

“What are you doing?” Noel was shocked.

“I used to play with a cat in my neighborhood back home. It always loved having its chin and cheeks played with.” Owari continued to be pushed around by the tiger while maintaining his scratching.

“But it’s a tiger.” Noel couldn’t see the connection.

“They’re both cats.” Owari shrugged.

“But it’s not the same at all!” Noel was indignant, how could a proud white tiger, an apex magical beast, act like a common housecat?

“Even Hebi likes to have its scales cleaned. He also likes when I brush between the scales. As for Garm, he loves belly rubs. Mirra is just Mirra” Owari explained as he continued. “You try it.” He gestured for Noel to join him.

“Fine.” She reluctantly agreed and soon the tiger was enjoying double the scratches and it went crazy for it. At some point Owari left the owner and beast to play and watched from the side. He pulled out some basic sketching materials and began drawing out the picture of Noel petting the tiger’s belly. It was quite picturesque.

When they were both done they decided to talk about what to do after their trip back was over. “What do you think?” Noel asked Owari.

“Why don’t we go visit your family?” Owari suggested.

“Why would we do that? Don’t you dislike them?” Noel didn’t like it but she couldn’t help but admit they were in the wrong from before.

“Nah, they were forced to do it. They should know better now. Why not have a fresh start? Besides I was thinking we should spend appreciation day with your family and it would be nice to let them know in person.” Owari didn’t hold a grudge against them mostly because he knew Noel cared about her family even if she wasn’t particularly close to any of them.

“Why are we spending the holiday with them?” She asked curiously.

“Last year we spent it with my mom, it’s only fair.” Owari chuckled.

“I guess that makes sense.” Noel nodded. “But what about my father? You don’t seem to get along with him.”

“Maybe he’ll be calmer next time we meet. After all, last time was his first time meeting me so he was overly emotional.” Owari gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“I hope so, I want you two to get along.” She said hopefully.

“Me too.” He also nodded. The two talked a bit more about the details and eventually went to sleep.