Chapter 615: Elliot Reborn
Northern had not been expecting such a differential upgrade to his goals. What he had only planned for was riches-with the influx of resources that he had in the rift, he would be able to create an endless flow of wealth for himself.
While being in the academy to better his knowledge and grow expeditiously, Hao would be gathering riches for him, continuously.
Eventually, when he comes out into the world, he wanted to have purchased a standard mansion for himself-one with an enormous compound, several land gardens, and stables too.
'I wonder if they have horses... I've never really seen a horse before...'
Most of the contemporary animals that Northern knew from his previous life, he had never seen. Or worse, they were strangely mutated by the adaptation and coexistence of rift monsters from shatterings that somehow were able to escape death.
Northern wanted to have a home to return to. Well, he did have a home, with a father and a mother. But he wanted a house.
A literal house. One with several rooms, that only he would live in.
His lips slowly curled into a satisfied smile as the thoughts brandished his face. Then he averted his eyes for a minute and rested them on the clone before him.
He was about to use the clone ability again. He would put his memory into the clone and make it become a sentient, independent existence.
This time, it won't be as complicated as when he created Bairan. He just wanted to create someone who would be intelligent enough to learn from Hao and also be of tremendous help to himself in the future.
Hence, Northern chose a certain kind of memory to fill the clone with.
The buried memories of earth, before his death.
It was like bringing himself back but in a dispensable shell. Although, Northern hoped the clone would live long enough to be of actual help.
He thought of using Bairan, but it was too much of a hassle.
Any of the summons were bound to cause a problem. Generally, there would be problems in this endeavor. Northern needed an assistant that would reduce the problems, not add to them. Bairan did not seem like a suitable choice.
After he was done, the clone looked the same, recognized him and spoke the same way he did. They even had the same face and hair, and he was equipped with the Twilight Dawn.
"It's time I let this armor go... it does hold a lot of memories..."
It reminded Northern of his days as a war general. The way he fought like a maddened monster on the battlefield.
Fighting for his life and mind at the same time, without even realizing it. The damned castle master, Koll.
Remembering all of it again made Northern curse internally and hope that weed of a being was finally dead.
After he was done with the clone, he returned to the surface world to meet Hao.
His head rose from the table as his consciousness resurfaced.
Hao's eyes were still glittering.
"How did it go? Are the preparations complete?"
"Yes." Northern looked towards the bartender and asked Hao, "Have you settled the bills?"
"Of course. I did that a few seconds ago."
"Okay then." He stood up.
Hao watched Northern stand with a slightly dazed expression on his face.
"What are you doing?"
Confused, Northern responded, "Standing...?"
"What about these?!"
"What about it?"
Hao raised his voice a tad higher.
"You are telling me you will abandon this expansive plateau of delicacies? Just like that? Do you think money for food is that easy to come by?"
Northern's brows furrowed. "I've had something little to eat for breakfast already. I didn't expect them to bring so much. Don't bother me."
He shrugged off and walked away from the table. Hao, by the way, signaled to the waitress that served them.
She approached him, her smile as vibrant as ever.
"Please, can I get something to package all these... hmph, hmph." Hao spoke and cleared his throat.
"Of course, sir. Definitely." She bowed her head and left.
Then came back a few minutes later with thick white nylons. She helped Hao carefully pack all the leftovers. The old man glanced away, clearing his throat intermittently as she packed it
for him.
"Here, sir. Thank you for your visit."
"Ha ha... thank you too. The customer service of this place is top-notch. You know, one has to make sure resources do not waste. Hehee..."
The lady smiled and bowed her head slightly, then she walked away.
Immediately, Hao headed for the door and came out of the building.
Upon coming out, Hao received a scare that made him almost stumble back.
"What? Is that your clone?"
The two Northerns smiled sweetly. Then Northern said to the clone-who could be
distinguished by the armor he was wearing-"Introduce yourself."
The clone bowed slightly, scratching the back of his head with a shy chuckle.
"My name is Elliot. My master told me to serve you very well."
Hao examined the clone with an obstinate expression on his wrinkled face. He put his hands
behind his back and cleared his throat.
"Hmph, hmph, he told you that, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did."
"That was rhetoric." Northern input.
"Oh." The clone, with an innocent expression, exchanged glances between Hao and Northern.
Then he brought his face back to Northern and chuckled awkwardly.
"I'm very sorry, Master Hao. I am sometimes slow-witted. With time, I'll make sure you like
me."
Hao felt his judgment of the clone freeze in his throat. With the clone not being able to recognize a rhetoric, he had almost wanted to complain to Northern that it would be of no
use.
But the clone at the same time was able to instantly discern his dissatisfaction with it.
That is not something a doll would be able to do. It allowed Hao to think, perhaps it was not because of its inadequacy that it was unintelligent enough to recognize a rhetoric but its
nature of person.
For some reason, there was a timidness and naivety that attached itself to the clone like a
plague.
He cleared his throat again. "Uhmm, hmph, I'm sure you'll learn. With my tutelage, you will become the best! I've done it again, and I can do it again. Consider yourself lucky... Elliot."
Elliot raised his head, sparks lighting in his eyes as he heard Hao call his name.
Then he bowed again and chorused, "Yes, sir!"
Northern looked at the two of them. He was satisfied with what he was seeing.
Of course, the nature of person he was, he felt would be a hindrance in shaping the clone's
personality.
But he had used his former self's intelligence, hard work mentality, his nerdy mind that made him very willing to stay up multiple nights and study, that made him extra interested in his
field of study.
He would go out of his way to find things out and equip himself with knowledge and technical know-how even when it wasn't in the school syllabus at the time.
People in the university, of course, hated him because of this. But it was one of the many things that undoubtedly made him the best engineer in his time.
If only he had been a bit wiser, or at least had a social life experience early enough that love
wasn't worth giving a shit for.
Perhaps he was just an unlucky piece of crap.
But all that did not matter anymore. A very funny thing was, the knowledge of the experience
might have closed his heart, but it wasn't even a core factor in shaping the person of his
character today.
With all those dreadful experiences in his past life, the dark continent made way and showed him double of what a cruel life could offer.
And the two don't compare. Such was life: if one was to think he had experienced the most
cruel life one could possibly live, another, even more cruel and vicious one can pop up and
decide to deal with them. Whether it is with sufferings or enjoyment, it is best to just be
humble with it all.
'Imagine going around boasting that you have seen the worst of life there can be, only for you
to get trapped in a dark continent with no way out.'
Northern scoffed at his own thoughts and shook his head.
Hao left the clone and brought his eyes to Northern.
"You good?"
Northern released a smile, "Never better." He paused for a brief beat and asked.
"So, where to from here?"
Hao glanced at the clone. He had abandoned the nylon with the clone-Elliot was humbly
standing behind the short trader.
He finally responded to Northern's question.
"Hmmm. There are a lot of places for me to visit. But I want to go to the banks and do
necessary registrations and licensing to prevent complications in both the near and far future.
After which I will commence fully."
Hao glanced at Elliot again.
"Are you sure he is all I need to access the goods?"
"I have briefed him on all that he needs to do. Don't worry and just pass the command."
Hao grinned in satisfaction. "So what about you? What are you going to do?"
Northern shrugged. "Go to some damn school and teach."