Reborn As Noble Chapter 1184: From Doubt to Determination ( 1184 )

Javier clenched his jaws tightly, his knuckles flushing stark white.

Garius only offered a smirk, casting a brief glance in his direction.

"Hold onto that rage for later. Right now, prioritize what truly carries weight. Your fury belongs to the moment we unmask the culprit responsible."

Garius paused, resting his cheek against his knuckles. "Now, Javier De Armand."

"Yes, esteemed Father." Javier’s agitation began to wane, his gaze shifting downward toward the floorboards.

"Your strategy involves performing surgery to fully restore her and purge the curse from within, is that correct?"

"It is, Father."

"Hmm. Regarding the facility you requested, I trust it would be most efficient to utilize the one contained within your dimensional storage." Garius smirked, head still propped on his hand. "The mobile chamber you previously deployed back in Arjam."

Javier exhaled a soft breath.

Does Father truly possess total omniscience thanks to the Eyes of Truth? Or perhaps the Armand intelligence network simply fed him information during the Arjam crisis. Maybe he has been aware of every device I’ve designed and stored all along.

Javier offered a fleeting glimpse upward before fixating on the ground once more.

Garius went on. "Given that the curse parasite was most likely surreptitiously planted by someone inside the Mathrias estate—be it staff, a servant, or an unknown party—it is imperative we ensure no opportunities remain for this individual to interfere further."

"Understood, esteemed Father." Javier inclined his head.

Garius looked toward him again.

"Do not burden yourself with the hunt for who afflicted Gracelle, their ulterior motives, or who orchestrated the act. Concentrate your entire being on the surgery."

Garius’s right eye flickered with a glow. "If you adhere to my guidance, the probability of success is, shall we say, certain. Though, naturally, even with top-tier healing, success hinges heavily on the patient’s vitality and inner resolve."

"I grasp that, Father."

"Excellent. Leave the task of tracking down the perpetrator and ensuring their reckoning to us. Your focus must remain on the paramount task."

Javier began to speak, but Garius cut him off.

"I am well aware of what you intend to voice. Ensure this operation succeeds, and I shall hand over the right to punish that person and any who conspired with them directly to you. That is my promise."

"Thank you, esteemed Father." Javier emitted a sigh of relief, his demeanor shifting into one of composed assurance.

"Good... now depart. Select an area in the courtyard to deploy your portable room without delay. Ensure every preparation is complete."

Garius locked eyes with Javier’s face.

"Time is unforgiving, and fate waits for no one. Make haste."

"Yes, esteemed Father." Javier bowed, turning toward the exit with Liana and the others trailing behind.

Garius, still leaning his cheek against his knuckles, called out, "Javier?"

Javier halted by the handle and turned back.

"Yes, Father?"

"Once the surgery concludes successfully, I expect comprehensive documentation, manuals, and records of every tool and innovation you employed for Gracelle. This includes your mana defibrillator, specialized medical gear, advanced monitoring rigs, and the portable surgical theater. Submit full technical specifications, operational guides, and prospective applications."

His eyes narrowed. "Seeing as you are incorporating Myra and her team into this procedure for their professional development, I believe it is time we elevated our standards in magical recovery and medicinal advancements."

Javier nodded firmly.

"I will see it done, Father."

"Good. Now leave. We cannot afford to squander another moment. We shall hold a definitive debriefing once this ordeal has reached its end."

After Javier departed, Francesca offered a gentle smile.

"I am so proud of our youngest son~"

Garius smirked. "Indeed. That is precisely why I grant him his autonomy, while maintaining strict standards. It ensures he remains grounded and sharp, preventing him from succumbing to complacency."

"Ara~" Francesca shot him a sidelong look. "Yet you never once voice praise or acknowledge his feats openly."

Garius chuckled under his breath. "No... you understand the reasoning. While validation is meant to foster self-belief, excessive or improper application can lead to several adverse outcomes."

He leaned into his chair with a faint smile. "Dependence upon constant external approval creates 'praise junkies.' Instead of finding fulfillment in the task itself, they grow to perform only for recognition. This drains their intrinsic drive and renders them beholden to others to feel a sense of worth."

He sighed. "I refuse to let any of our children, or those from my other households, fall prey to such tendencies."

"If I showered them with praise for every step, they would likely grow terrified of failure and shy away from challenges. When a child is constantly praised for being 'gifted' or 'intelligent,' they begin to dread the prospect of struggle. They might shun difficult paths for fear that failure would strip them of their labels, causing them to lose the admiration they crave."

He let out a rare, soft laugh and gazed at Francesca.

"Look at our youngest now—or any of our children—none have grown soft or entitled. Do you believe Javier would be the formidable, proactive leader he is today, capable of acting with such tactical foresight, had I coddled him with praise at every juncture?"

Francesca beamed as Garius went on.

"He knows no fear of failure. He anticipates, he evaluates his own progress rather than waiting for a parent to grade his life. He recognizes when his knowledge has reached its limit and seeks assistance. He possesses superior judgment and self-awareness because he was taught to assess his own efforts rather than begging for affirmation."

Garius turned his gaze toward the door and leaned his face onto his knuckles once more.

"Even now, facing doubts about the operation, he sought my counsel. Yet he did not blindly accept it; he scrutinized it, weighed his options, parsed the logic, and arrived at his own ultimate decision."

"That is the nature of the children I intend to raise. And it shall be the same for our grandchildren."

He smiled. "And I can see it now—his uncertainty has vanished. Nothing remains but his grit and determination."