Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1430 Sincerity as a Weapon

Nico flashed a toothy grin, skewered a slab of rich pork fat, and shoved it past his lips, munching it with over-the-top relish.

"That wraps it up, then. Let me walk you to the door."

Kadir rose to his feet and assisted Tristan in descending the staircase.

Down at the doorway, they encountered Adelina, the devoted young servant who had lingered patiently, accompanied by a armored servant from the Greymount estate. Once Kadir transferred Tristan into their hands, he ascended once more to the upper level of the Quiet Chalice.

He swung the door wide. Nico, mere moments earlier slouched and mumbling with hazy vision, now perched straight-backed, decanting wine with graceful, unwavering motions.

A pair of goblets rested in front of him.

"Join me. Let's raise a glass to my loyal companion," Nico declared, his tone sharp and clear. "After all those years keeping your talents hidden in the Arena, your moment has arrived at last."

"Hail the mighty Giant King. Let his splendor bless us brethren."

Nico lifted his cup. Kadir mirrored the gesture. As among the first humans to align with the Stoneheart Horde, their bond and shared elation needed no elaborate explanation.

"Hail the Giant King."

Kadir echoed the salute with true devotion prior to settling into his chair. He slipped a tiny, parched mana-fruit into his mouth.

"So?"

Merely after gulping down the fruit-along with its clarifying effects-did Kadir reply, his words hushed and grave.

He had included Nico for dual purposes: to forge a commercial tie between the Arena and the emerging guild, and to allow the plump man's sharp gaze to evaluate Tristan Greymount.

"Zealous. Honest. Driven. He possesses foresight, and his character stands firm."

These stood as the key points Nico had noted. His assessments were stern and precise; he seldom bestowed such strong approval on others.

"You realize that's not my real question," Kadir stated bluntly.

Nico let out a chuckle. He recognized that his longtime ally wouldn't settle for

shallow insights.

He pinched another strip of lard with his utensils and slipped it between his teeth, relishing the oiliness through a leisurely, thoughtful gnaw.

"He's far too inexperienced."

A considerable pause passed before Nico swallowed and issued that conclusion.

Kadir held his silence. He bided his time.

"From what our sources reveal, Tristan vanished for a full decade. His ascent began only upon his homecoming," Nico pondered, his gaze sharpening into sly, sparkling lines. "I can't say what trials he endured during that vanished period, but it clearly forged the path for him to claim leadership of the Cross-Realm Trade Guild."

"The Greymount clan ranks as minor nobility. They lack substantial roots to benefit the Horde. The sole asset of worth," Nico rapped the tabletop, "lies with our fresh acquaintance, Tristan."

"My comrade, it's plain as day. All of it revolves around those terms: 'Cross-Realm'."

"It opens a vast, unprecedented avenue. Its promise dwarfs even my Arena."

Nico lacked the details, yet he sensed the shifting currents.

"The Arena holds more depth than you claim," Kadir rebutted gravely. "It's an enchanted creation. The more effectively you manage it, the richer the gains. They'll surpass your wildest dreams."

"You greedy oaf, your destiny could well depend on that battleground."

"You've caught wind of the whispers, right?" Nico inquired in a murmur.

"I doubt they're mere gossip," Kadir replied. "The comeback of the Battle Elders and Wardens serves as confirmation. The shifts in the two Princes... they signaled the dawn."

"Provided we stay true and fulfill our roles, the divine favor will descend on us in time."

Kadir phrased it obliquely, yet Nico grasped it fully.

Building the inter-world portal network demanded resources drawn in part from the Arena's reserves. Moreover, murmurs about the Stoneheart Temple had echoed among the Giant folk for ages. All awaited the revelation.

Bloodline evolution. Talent amplification. Rising to Lord, Archlord status... extending one's years.

For mortals like them, enduring scarcely a hundred years, such dreams represented the supreme lure.

"I've yet to visit foreign realms, but I recognize the Stoneheart Horde dominates them," Kadir pressed on. "Should the Arena thrive sufficiently, won't the Horde extend it across those conquered lands?"

It served as both a nudge and a target for Nico.

Nico oversaw the Arena with skill, but he missed that vital fire-a urge to ascend further. Maybe it stemmed from awareness of his human limits. He appeared vibrant outwardly, yet inwardly, his drive withered. "Furthermore," Kadir noted, "after I assume my post formally, I'll journey to those distant worlds."

"I'm confident I can uncover means to elevate our capabilities there."

It amounted to a vow to his companion, and to his own resolve.

"Old pal," Nico guffawed, easing the mood. "I never realized you harbored such a heartfelt streak."

"That merits another round."

Nico avoided misty eyes or overt sentiment. He just chuckled and hoisted his cup.

All the essential words flowed through the vintage.

Stoneheart City, The Streets

Inside the coach, Adelina administered a little crimson tablet to Tristan. In an instant, most of his inebriation dissolved.

Tristan massaged his brow. The redness in his cheeks had receded, though his head continued to

pound.

"Young Master, why skip the pill earlier?" Adelina queried gently, soaking a cloth in liquid to cleanse the perspiration from his brow. "In previous feasts, you always consumed one ahead of time."

"You wouldn't get it."

Tristan grimaced against the ache, yet his expression glowed with triumph.

"I'm powerless alone. Beyond the faith of the King and Lilith, those two figures form the cornerstone of my ascent."

"I crave their wisdom from the Stoneheart Horde, and the colossal force of the Arena supporting me."

"Forging bonds with them spares me missteps, setbacks, and needless foes."

Nico and Kadir may not ring bells for ordinary citizens, but among the elite of the land's great forces, they ranked as essential operatives. They guarded the thresholds. Via them, one could sense the Stoneheart Horde's stance and obtain crucial knowledge.

"Heh... true alliances demand authenticity."

"Swallowing a clarity pill in advance? That's mere pretense. It's

condescending."

Tristan articulated deliberately, seizing the chance to instruct Adelina.

He had gained entry to the Stoneheart Horde much sooner than

anticipated. He had to hasten his aide's preparation without delay. Tristan harbored grand designs. He aimed to leverage the Stoneheart Horde in crafting a trading empire enduring across eras.

"Do you suppose they'd miss it? That they couldn't detect it?"

"Adelina, skilled individuals discern tomes from one glance or motion."

"Authenticity cuts deepest in alliances," Tristan murmured, shutting his lids. "At times, it sways even adversaries."