His gaze landed on Red Spirit.

Originally tiny Red Spirit rapidly expanded, reaching a tall stature matching Purple Vortex.

On its bone armor surface, crimson flames blazed. Its Ghostly Dark Steed mount was identical—the original ghostly flames replaced by way more powerful Fire Spirit Flames, burning like torches.

[Red Spirit Dark Knight Retainer]

[Health: 500 (Constitution x50)]

[Strength: 30]

[Constitution: 10]

[Speed: 9 (infantry state)/40 (cavalry state)]

[Skills: Redrose Variant, Redrose Shield Tactics, Fire Spirit Body, Child of Spirit Realm (Fire).]

Finally, Carlos looked at transformed Ginya.

The withering aura from her withered leaf armor was crazy dense, covering even the Ghostly Dark Steed.

Vitality and withering twisted together on each armor leaf. Sharp withered leaves on the crimson great shield's edge spun like mad, seeming able to slice through anything!

The withered yellow long lance was covered with vibrant tulip patterns—totally contradictory yet harmonious.

[Ginya Dark Knight Retainer]

[Health: 800 (Constitution x50)]

[Strength: 30]

[Constitution: 16]

[Speed: 3 (infantry state)/40 (cavalry state)]

[Skills: Tulip Strong, Tulip Shield Tactics, Withering Domain, Withering Sin Vine, Shadow Finger]

After three sublimations, retainer attributes shot through the roof. Strength hit an incredible 30 points, already entering Controller realm.

If fully firing up bonds... how insane would that strength be!

"Hell yeah! Who else!"

Carlos laughed his butt off.

Right now, Controllers were already big shots or even leaders of human city-states, kingdoms, traitor factions, and other Material Realm forces.

As for stronger Weaver powerhouses, they were rare as hen's teeth, mostly hanging out in Ember City.

It could be said that with Carlos's current deck of cards and power, he could swagger through the Material Realm.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. Even though the three retainers' power hit this level, I should take giant leaps forward!"

Carlos's mind raced.

In Dark Mist First Layer, high-tier Dark Knights could totally dominate, wrapping up Carlos's various goals, with numbers always growing.

The seriously strong three retainers were kind of wasted here.

He could totally arrange for them to tackle more important stuff.

"Right now I only have 5 Tulip Clan Swords, 12 Silver Iris Clan Swords, and 1 Fearless Shield Equipment.

But there are still 15 skeleton soldiers waiting for sublimation.

Not just 15—as spirituality climbs later, even more spirit gear will be needed."

Most urgent was shield equipment—only one left.

However,

the Ersbah ruins still had tons of Light Gold quality equipment, but required enough Ersbah ancient gold coins for exchange.

So when bailing from Rock Sand City, Carlos commissioned his sister to help buy Ersbah ancient gold coins.

Of course this was a long-term gig. Carlos didn't bank on purchasing.

He knew Dotruu Kingdom's treasury had massive quantities of Ersbah ancient gold coins.

"Originally I planned to go myself. Now it looks like only one retainer needs to go."

Who should get this mission?

After quick consideration, Carlos picked Ginya.

After all, it was a human kingdom. Ginya, with normal smarts and speech, was obviously way more suitable than the other two retainers.

Due to inherited memories, it understood human communication, could perfectly play envoy, making things way more convenient.

"Ginya, I've got a mission for you..."

Carlos briefly explained the city's location to Ginya and gave her a spatial spirit gear to store Ersbah ancient gold coins.

"Head there first. I'll personally direct specific moves when the time comes."

"You got it, master!"

Carlos whipped up a departure formation, immediately sending Ginya out of Dark Mist First Layer.

With shield equipment mission assigned to Ginya, clan swords remained.

Carlos searched his mind for intel—which set of clan swords was relatively close and easy to snag.

"Blue Iris Clan Swords won't work... too far."

"...White Misty Moon Clan Swords won't work either, too much of a pain to get..."

Carlos went through intel on the remaining 8 major clan swords one by one.

"Blue Stone Bamboo Clan Swords... in some tribe in Inco Mountains, relatively easy to snag."

Target locked, Carlos chose between Red Spirit and Purple Vortex.

After quick judgment, Purple Vortex it was—it could share vision with him, convenient for command.

"Purple Vortex, I've got a mission for you...!"

"Roar!"

Hearing this, Purple Vortex immediately beat its chest armor with clanging sounds, grabbed the spatial equipment, knowing master wouldn't play favorites.

The departure formation showed up again. Purple Vortex took off for Inco Mountains.

Red Spirit, seeing other retainers all get missions, especially spatial spirit gear, eagerly showed off.

"Wow!"

Stomp stomp, crimson flames rose, powerful aura painting the sky. Red Spirit indicated master could assign anything.

Carlos thought briefly—what else did he urgently need?

A flash of inspiration:

"Red Spirit, I've got a mission to set up for you..."

"Wow!"

Before long, Red Spirit secured the spatial ring with master's mission, also bailing from Dark Mist First Layer.

Having arranged everything, Carlos stretched lazily.

"Next comes the waiting game."

"Moo moo!"

Comfortable sounds came from the little thing on his arm.

"Sigh, only because I've got Child of Nature and Dawn Flame -

anyone else would've been sucked dry by you."

Blood Silver hugged Carlos's arm tight, greedily soaking up Carlos's life force.

Compared to when just born, faint blood-red patterns now showed up on the snow-white horn on its forehead.

Carlos had a gut feeling that when blood patterns fully showed up, the super life form would probably bail from its juvenile stage.

"Grow fast, Blood Silver."

Carlos lovingly scratched the juvenile life form's silver-white hair, seriously anticipating what powers mature Blood Silver would pack.

...

Everything rolled according to plan.

Carlos continuously sublimated new Sword Guards and Shield Guards in Dark Mist First Layer, while retainers one by one reached their destinations...

...

Dotruu Kingdom border.

Ginya sat on her Ghostly Dark Steed, quietly staring ahead.

"Master, I'm about to enter Dotruu Kingdom."

Through soul link, Ginya communicated with her distant master.

"Pretty fast, Ginya."

Carlos was surprised.

Dotruu Kingdom was in the western domain of human territories, the farthest distance. He hadn't expected it to be first to hit its destination.

"Thanks for the props, master. After entering western regions, mostly plains, the Ghostly Dark Steed could run full throttle—way faster than flying."

Ginya explained the reason.

Carlos thought about it—totally true.

The Ghostly Dark Steed's 40-point speed at full gallop was way faster than Ginya flying with it.