MTL - The Book of Troubled Times - Chapter 82 Swords have souls

This is a time of great powers: The vast Persia, Sparta that is founded by force, Athens with its trade and business, Thebes the rising star, The ambitious Macedonia, The twin heroes of the Western Mediterranean, The rising Rome and so on.

This is an era of brilliant stars: Agesilaus II – the last king of Sparta, Epaminondas – the Rising General of Thebes, Philip II – the founder of Macedonian hegemon, Dionysius – the tyrant of Syracuse, Camillus – the Roman dictator and savior…

This is an era of contention among a hundred schools of thought: Plato – the great philosopher, Antisthenes – founder of cynicism, Pythagoras – school of number, Democritus – the encyclopedia scholar, Hippocrates – the father of western medicine, Aristophanes – the great dramatist…

What will the hero bring to the world when he comes to this age as a humble mercenary through rebirth?

- Description from Novelupdates

In the mystical land of Teyvat, where elemental forces collide and secrets of ancient gods remain buried, an ordinary traveler awakens to an extraordinary destiny. Armed with unparalleled ambition and a mysterious system, they embark on a quest to become the Supreme Arbiter—the ultimate authority over all creation.The world of Teyvat is no stranger to conflict, but its hidden truths are more treacherous than any battle. Beneath the veneer of harmony lies a struggle for dominance among divine beings, and the enigmatic Heavenly Principles rule from the shadows. Yet, this traveler defies fate itself, determined to shatter the chains of divine control and reshape the world.Guided by a unique power to harness and manipulate the essence of Teyvat’s elements, the protagonist builds alliances with heroes from every nation—Mondstadt’s free-spirited knights, Liyue’s calculative sages, and Inazuma’s thunderous warriors. However, their journey is far from peaceful. Ancient enemies, forbidden truths, and the ever-present gaze of Celestia test their resolve at every turn.As they ascend in power, unraveling secrets that defy the understanding of gods and mortals alike, one question looms: What does it mean to be the ultimate authority?Will they bring salvation to Teyvat, or become its greatest threat? The skies tremble, the earth stirs, and destiny itself bows before the rise of the Supreme Arbiter.

Knox is an omega – poor, orphaned, weak, and bullied. He was the unluckiest human being alive – according to his own.Burdened by debt, he has no choice but to stop school and work to pay off his loans all the while hiding the truth and pretending as a beta to save himself from harassment. He accepted all legal jobs he could get to make ends meet.Including a contractual relationship with an alpha who’s suffering from a pheromone disability. He gets paid – enough to free him from all of his debts. All he has to do is help the alpha stabilize his pheromone…not until that night happens…The contract was breached. Knox has to pay the price. Afraid of his circumstances, he ran away.Years later, Knox became a capable man. He has a nice job and a kind boss. When his boss got invited to an engagement party, as his secretary, Knox had to come with him. However, he was shocked to find out that the man to be engaged was none other than the spitting image of his son!How will Knox keep the truth from him, when after their eyes met at the party, the alpha had already marked him as his property, claiming him as the payment of the contract he breached?Will Knox hide and run away again? Or will he choose to pay off the debt to be free? Will he be able to push away the alpha whose vices are hidden behind his attractive mask or will Knox abandon his virtues and embrace the dangerous father of his son?