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

Nico flashed a wide, toothy smile, skewered a slab of rich pork fat, and shoved it past his lips, savoring the bite with over-the-top gusto.

"That's decided, then. Let me walk you to the door."

Kadir rose to his feet and guided Tristan down the steps.

At the doorway, they encountered Adelina, the devoted young servant who had lingered patiently, accompanied by a armored servant from the Greymount estate. Once he passed Tristan into their hands, Kadir ascended once more to the upper level of the Silent Goblet.

He swung the door wide. Nico, mere moments earlier stumbling and hazy with drink, now perched straight-backed, filling goblets with graceful, unwavering motions.

A pair of cups waited on the table.

"Join me. Let's raise a glass to my trusted comrade," Nico declared, his tone sharp and clear. "After all those years keeping your talents hidden in the Colosseum, your moment in the sun has arrived."

"Praise the mighty Giant King. Let his splendor light our path, brothers."

Nico lifted his cup. Kadir followed suit. As among the first humans to pledge to the Stoneheart Horde, their bond and shared thrill needed no elaborate speech.

"Praise the Giant King."

Kadir echoed the salute with true devotion before settling into his chair. He slipped a tiny, parched mana-seed past his teeth.

"So?"

It wasn't until he gulped down the seed—along with its clarifying effects—that Kadir replied, his words hushed and grave.

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

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

These stood out as the key points in Nico's assessment. His critiques cut deep and precise; such strong approval came seldom from him.

"You realize that's not the question on my mind," Kadir stated bluntly.

Nico let out a low laugh. He recognized that his longtime companion demanded more than shallow insights.

He snagged another strip of lard with his chopsticks and slid it into his mouth, relishing the slick fat through a lingering, thoughtful mastication.

"He's far too inexperienced."

Nico paused at length before swallowing and voicing his 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 to sly, glittering lines. "Whatever trials marked that vanished time forged him into the ideal choice for Guild Master of the Cross-Realm Trade Guild."

"The Greymount clan ranks as middling at best. They bring no profound roots to the Horde. The sole prize worth claiming," Nico rapped the surface lightly, "lies with our fresh ally, Tristan."

"My comrade, it's plain to see. All turns on those terms: 'Cross-Realm.'"

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

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

"The Colosseum holds more depth than you claim," Kadir rebutted gravely. "It's an enchanted creation. The more adeptly 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 murmured gently.

"I doubt they're mere tales," Kadir replied. "The comeback of the Battle Elders and Wardens seals it. The shifts in the two Princes... they signaled what's ahead."

"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 cross-realm teleportation grid had drawn supplies in part from the Colosseum's reserves. Moreover, murmurs of the Stoneheart Temple had swirled among the Giant folk for ages. All awaited the unfolding.

Bloodline evolution. Boosted aptitude. Rising to Lord, to Archlord... enduring ages.

For mortals like them, bound to a mere hundred years, such dreams tempted beyond measure.

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

It served as both nudge and ambition for Nico.

Nico oversaw the Colosseum with skill, yet missed that vital fire—a urge to ascend further. Maybe his human limits had dulled it. He appeared vibrant outwardly, but inwardly, his drive withered. "Moreover," Kadir noted, "after I assume my post formally, journeys to those distant worlds await me."

"I'm confident I'll uncover paths to elevate our limits beyond."

It formed a vow to his ally, and to his own resolve.

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

"That merits one more round."

Nico avoided misty eyes or dramatics. He just grinned and hoisted his cup.

All the unspoken truths flowed through the drink.

Stoneheart City, The Streets

Inside the coach, Adelina administered a petite crimson tablet to Tristan. Almost instantly, most of his inebriation dissolved.

Tristan massaged his brow. The redness in his cheeks had receded, though his head pounded relentlessly.

"Young Master, why skip the pill earlier?" Adelina inquired tenderly, soaking a cloth in cool liquid to cleanse the perspiration from his brow. "In previous feasts, you'd swallow one right away."

"You wouldn't get it."

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

"I stand feeble without support. Beyond the King's faith and Lilith's, those two figures unlock my path upward."

"I crave their wisdom from the Stoneheart Horde, and the colossal force of the Colosseum at my back."

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

To the everyday masses, Nico and Kadir might fade into obscurity, but among the elite circles of the land's great forces, they ranked as essential operators. They guarded the thresholds. Via them flowed reads on the Stoneheart Horde's stance and crucial secrets.

"Heh... true alliances demand honesty."

"Popping a clarity pill in advance? That's mere pretense. It comes off as condescending."

Tristan drawled his words, seizing the chance to instruct Adelina.

He had stormed into the Stoneheart Horde's ranks ahead of schedule. Now, he must hasten his aide's preparation without delay. Ambition burned in Tristan. He aimed to leverage the Stoneheart Horde in crafting a trading empire to span eras.

"Imagine they wouldn't notice? That it escapes their sight?"

"Adelina, sharp minds decipher tomes from one glance or motion."

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