Nathan's eyes welled up with tears, his voice choked.
“Your Majesty, you.......”
Rhode smiled kindly.
“Go do it.”
Rita had some guesses about Rhode’s seemingly absurd actions, but she was also incredibly confused.
Rhode gestured with his eyes for her to wait for an explanation later. He was no fool who liked to suffer losses.
After obtaining a list of the troops from Nathan, they left the spot.
Nathan bowed deeply with respect, remaining in the bow for a long time.
“Dad........Dad?”
A boy's voice rang out, breaking Nathan's complex and excited mood.
The boy looked at his father's strange expression and asked in confusion.
“Dad, why are you here? Mom asked me to bring you dinner. I looked for you for a long time. What are you looking at?”
Nathan came to his senses. Seeing his son arrive, he smiled gently.
“Dad is looking at the future of the country. Perhaps...... the peace your mom hopes for will be brought by that little Majesty.”
The boy stood on tiptoe and looked in the direction Nathan was looking, but he could only see two figures, one big and one small.
“Majesty......?”
Nathan smiled and stroked his son's head.
“The Majesty is a wise ruler who is hard to come by in a thousand years. He’s as old as you but knows how to show compassion for soldiers.”
“You must pledge your allegiance to him, assist him, protect him, and in my place, witness the future prosperity. You know, Derek?”
Derek Retbart was unable to fully understand what his father was saying, but he secretly kept it in his heart and nodded vigorously.
He clenched his small fist and waved it, his expression serious.
“I understand. I will work hard to become someone useful to the Majesty!”
“Haha, then you have to study hard! Come on, I'll check your magic from yesterday!”
“Ah...... this, uh, Mom is still waiting for me...... I'll go home first!”
“Hahaha, slow down, you little rascal!”
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
Rhode’s steps suddenly stopped.
【Congratulations, Host, on collecting A-Rank character: Derek Retbart】
【Tags: Child/Politician/Guardian Mage】
【Reward: A-Rank Summoning Card!】
Huh?
Derek Retbart?
The same surname as that Captain Nathan just now?
When did I recruit him?
And he's an A-Rank character? How come I don't have any memory of this at all?
“.......”
Rhode racked his brains before finally recalling the relevant plot involving this name from his memories.
In the original plot, Derek graduated from the Asra Magic Academy with excellent grades and became a senior mage. Through his own efforts, he successfully joined Princess Ariel's guardian mages.
In Rudy's timeline, Derek, in order to protect Princess Ariel, desperately held back the monsters that were transported to the palace due to the Great Transfer event, eventually sacrificing his life.
Derek's notebook after his death also played a crucial role, enlightening Ariel, finally allowing her to clarify her own awareness, gain the recognition of the dragon lord, Perkius, and eventually ascend to the throne.
In the timeline where Rudy doesn't exist, Derek personally persuaded the dragon lord to support Ariel. He was one of the three necessary forces that led Ariel to become queen, and he eventually even became prime minister.
“.......”
So, Derek is Nathan's son?
Darius, in order to target Arcadia, continuously seized power within the country, persecuting political enemies, ultimately leading Nathan to the battlefield of conflict.
And Nathan pledged his allegiance to me, ultimately leading to Derek also pledging his allegiance to me?
Did I trigger a hidden plot?
Rhode’s expression was a bit subtle.
The gods tried to use pawns to harm Arcadia, but due to various reasons, they ended up sending talents to strengthen Arcadia?
He essentially got a future prime minister for free!
However, although Derek wasn't an immediate combat power worth looking forward to, he was indeed the kind of talent Rhode most needed in the future!
Rhode had confidence in obtaining various high-end combat powers through summoning, but he wasn't confident in obtaining talented individuals with management skills.
After all, in the two-dimensional world, wise men who don't go crazy are indeed rare.
However, this guy in the original work was someone who appeared and then died. Could he really reach the level of A-Rank?
【Answering Host's question】
【Derek is a necessary factor in guiding Ariel to become queen, and Ariel becoming queen is a key precondition for successfully defeating the gods.】
【Therefore, Derek is the cause that triggers a turning point in the fate of the world. In terms of importance, he is indeed A, or even A+!】
Rhode finally understood.
That makes sense. After all, the system's judgment is not based on strength but on the power of fate within the characters.
But no matter what, he’s made a huge profit!