Cursed Immortality

'… Immortika also told me I would find a way very soon…'

Jacob connected the dots as he felt like Immortika probably knew about the Art of Nature's true effects, but it didn't bother to say anything, nor did it comment on it when Jacob inquired about it.

Nevertheless, this also strengthens his belief that he should keep practicing this technique and not slack off.

As his heartbeat increased with more and more oxygen entering his body, Jacob was fully focused on his heart rate and didn't dare to miss a single heartbeat.

After over ten minutes, Jacob's heartbeat was at four BPS when he felt the sensation suddenly staggered while the gravity also vanished.

Jacob's eyes snapped open and frowned, 'Even over million-gallon water can only sustain water mediation over 2HH:10MM? What about the 24-hour limit?! Didn't I need to enter a vast river at that time?'

His expression was grave as the liquid suddenly started to turn vapors again.

'Although, with my current capacity, I might hold on for over two and half hours, but I required over 300-meter-deep bore, and the aquifer is over a mile deep, according to Harrison.

'A mile-deep bore should be enough to cross a three hours mark, but it would also put me in danger since the gravity would be 30-G at that time, and this stone pillar might not be able to spot me and brake. Well, I let them reinforce this pillar with metal, but I required more labor for it if I want it to be done quickly.'

Jacob looked toward the round platform he was sitting on, which was only deep enough to cover his head with water. But actually, it was a pillar connected to the bottom, which was formed by digging around it.

Jacob had given the command, and those mercenaries didn't dare to make any mistakes.

But it turns out, even this hundred-meter pool wasn't enough.

Jacob suddenly thought about the raging border river between the uncommon and rare regions, and he knew that was the perfect place for practicing water meditation.

But he won't have this pillar in that river, and he might really drown within that river's depth. So, until he was absolutely sure of his ability to swim under that pressure, he won't try it no matter what.

Instead, this method was far safer as long as he could reinforce this pillar and have those mercenaries dig just half of the surface from now on, just enough for more water to fill it.

While the other half can be easily reinforced with iron, he won't have to worry about this pillar's breaking at that time.

But he required some laborers and forgers to start the reinforcing process, and if possible, he wanted to fill the half pool with iron to create a solid iron platform. At that time, he just let them dig as deep as he wanted.

As for finding people who were up for the task, Jacob knows where to find them, and he was the most powerful person in the Humane Kingdom, so no one would dare to reject him.

Jacob finally stood up and looked at the gorgeous woman in maid attire which revealed her voluptuous figure, holding a towel in her hand with a bewitching look on her face as saw the water dispersing at an alarming rate in astonishment.

Jacob paid little attention to her attractiveness and jumped toward her and landed on the poolside, snapping Alice from her stupor.

She instantly looked down when she saw bare-chest Jacob walking over her with a tingle of red on her pale white face. She didn't dare to look him in eyes anymore.

Since Jacob had turned her into a slave as a war trophy, she thought Jacob was after her body like others and would rape her and torment her by any means possible because of the tyrannical image he displayed that day.

She simply could not resist and didn't want to die either after reaching this point. So, she thought it in another direction. If Jacob was attracted to her and if she could seduce him, who would dare to mess with her?

Jacob differed completely from Samuel, she acted normally around Samuel since he wanted to play a gentleman to win over her heart and he was also aware of her talent and required her help once she entered the B-rank so he didn't dare to force himself on her.

However, Jacob didn't seem to care about her beauty status or talent, and by his looks, he was probably younger than her as well.

That's why she had to use another approach with him, so she decided to willingly become his slave and do anything he wanted her, even warm his bed and slowly earn his goodwill.

Although this situation looked disadvantageous and disgusting, for her, it was a tremendous opportunity to exchange her body for the most powerful man in this kingdom.

Not just her, but all those ladies were sure that Jacob was a debauched man like others because he has every woman living 'with him' and wore maid clothes.

But everyone was surprised because they didn't even see Jacob's shadow, much less summon them or come into their quarters.

Even Alice, who had complete confidence in her looks and was ready to spring into action that night, was never called, which made her uneasy.

As for approaching his room on their own, they didn't have the guts to even look at him, much less barge into his room without his order.

Only today, Jacob emerged when Harrison reported the news of pool completion, and he didn't summon Alice here either.

But she took the initiative to come here and wait for him obediently.

Yet, it surprised her when she comprehended what Jacob was doing when he didn't pull his head out for breath for over an hour.

At first, she thought he was dead, but then she shook her head since it would be too foolish. Nevertheless, if she hadn't noticed small bubbles appearing occasionally, she might've believed it.

Then she thought of another possibility, could it be the secret method to enter the A-rank?

Alice felt she stumbled upon an enormous secret when she thought of how Jacob was so serious about this pool and covering it.

She even thought of slipping away, but then she thought about how Jacob had already killed eight mercenaries who tried to escape every time!

He could really hear everything as he said, so now no one dared to escape!

So, she also didn't dare to move and stay there and pretend to be an idiot and hope Jacob would believe it because if it was Jacob's secret of power, then he will kill her to make sure she won't reveal it ever!

However, when she saw the water turning into vapors, she was completely stunned and felt this was really the secret of Jacob's power!

Now, he was coming this way, so she did her best to act shy and attractive so, he won't notice anything.

Jacob looked at the alluring Alice, and his lips curled up. "You know how to adapt. I don't mind, but if you think for a moment that you could escape your fate of being a slave by this, then you're dead wrong."

Jacob's eyes turned cold, which made Alice shudder and thought he was going to kill her. But to her surprise.

"If you truly serve me well, I won't mistreat you, either. Even making you an A-rank within one day is a possibility. But…" Jacob smiled meaningfully, "Can you prove it?"

Alice finally looked up with shock and disbelief about what she just heard, and her lips parted. "Y-you can make me A-rank in on-one day?!" She didn't dare to believe it.

Jacob merely chuckled mysteriously, took the towel from her hands, and, without caring about her expression, moved on while saying, "Summon Harrison."

Alice's heart was almost in her throat as Jacob's words rang in her head continually like a broken record.

But she quickly calmed down, and her eyes shimmered with resolved, 'I just have to prove it then.'

Although she didn't completely believe Jacob's words. While he didn't kill her despite her comprehending his 'secret', which meant Jacob didn't care at all.

Now, more doubts grow in her head, and when she thought about what Jacob just offered her, she now wanted to see if he could make her an A-rank mercenary.

Besides, it wasn't like she was losing anything, so she quickly followed Jacob's order and headed to summon Harrison, who was the only one Jacob called by name.

Thereupon, Jacob calmly sat on a table full of dishes. He looked at perturbed Harrison, and said, "I want you to call the Guild Leader of the Gunsmith Guild as soon as possible."

"As your command, my lord." Harrison quickly left to complete this mission as if his life depended on it.

At this time, Alice quickly picked up a dish and started serving Jacob without even him telling her.

As she served, she suddenly looked into his cold amber eyes deeply and said in a dreamy tone, "I'm yours from now!"