Kaito let the weight of the moment settle before continuing. He gestured toward the three vials laid out on the table, their contents catching the underground chamber's soft light.
"The ten Mythic-grade potions," he said, his tone deliberate, "are for you—second Grandfather—and for you, Eldest Grandfather. You two decide how to divide them. As for the rest, I leave in your hands. Distribute them however you think best."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep between the two men before speaking again, his tone measured but firm. "If you'll take my advice, the EX-grade potions should only be given to martial artists at Rank Four or higher. Anyone below that won't be able to make full use of them, and it would be a waste. As for the Mythic-grade potions, those should be reserved for Rank Seven and above, when the body can truly absorb their full potential. But for now, I want both of you to use the Mythic-grade first to break through to Rank Five. Once you've stabilized at that level, you can continue advancing steadily with the EX-grade."
Eldest Grandfather's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't interrupt.
"As for how to take the Mythic-grade ones," Kaito continued, "I believe you should only consume them under the right conditions. The dosage is critical. For someone at your level—a Rank Four martial artist—a full vial should last five days. Two sips a day, no more."
He spoke with the certainty.
"I've gone through the potion manuals in detail," he explained. "The perfect dosage for optimal absorption is for martial artists at Rank One to Rank Three, a single sip per day is enough—the body needs time to process and integrate the energy. For Rank Four to Six, two sips. Rank Seven and above can consume an entire vial at once, but even then, there must be at least a week between doses."
Kaito's tone grew firmer, his gaze steady on both men. "Anything more than the right dose is just waste. The body can only absorb so much at once, and forcing more into it won't make you stronger—it'll just throw away the potion's value. That's why I suggested using EX-grade potions instead in most cases. For higher-level martial artists, EX-grade offers a better balance of power and absorption. As for Mythic-grade, if the body isn't ready to handle it, most of its energy will simply go to waste. It's not about how rare the potion is—it's about using the right one at the right time."
Second Grandfather leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "And the EX-grade Dosage?"
"For Rank One to Three martial artists," Kaito said, "one vial every week is ideal. Rank Four to Six can handle one every three days. For those above Rank Seven, as I said, Mythic is viable, the EX is still more efficient for long-term cultivation of those below rank 7. "
"For unranked martial artists, S-grade potions are the most effective choice—anything stronger would be wasted on them."
Even Kaito had decided to change his own nutrition cabin from Mythic-grade to EX-grade. After receiving KIA's detailed report and reading through it, only one thought echoed in his mind—Until now, I've been wasting resources.
It wasn't the potion's fault—it was a matter of compatibility. Kaito had confirmed with KIA that even though he'd already gone through marrow cleansing back at Rank One, the EX-grade still provided the exact type of energy the body needed for refinement at every stage. The process would be no different than using a Mythic potion; the only difference was that Mythic contained far more energy than the body could absorb at once. The excess was simply wasted. With EX-grade, the energy matched the body's capacity, ensuring nothing was lost and every drop worked toward strengthening.
The two elders listened in silence, the weight of his words sinking in.
"This way," Kaito went on, "we use every drop efficiently. No waste. No overconsumption. Every member of the family gets the right potion at the right stage."
Then From his pocket, Kaito produced another item—a small, flat piece of black stone, etched with spirit runes so faint they seemed to blur when stared at directly. He set it gently on the table.
"Also, This," he said, "is the Silent Soul Binding Technique."
Both grandfathers leaned closer.
"It's a mind-sealing technique," Kaito explained. "We can imprint it onto someone's consciousness to lock certain information away. They won't be able to speak, write, or otherwise reveal what's sealed. Not about this Rank Nine technique. Not about these potions. Not about anything the family needs to keep hidden. Even under interrogation or memory probes, the knowledge remains inaccessible."
Eldest Grandfather's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "A technique like this… I believe even the Federation doesn't have it."
Kaito allowed himself a faint smile.
He reached into the pocket again, this time drawing out a neatly sealed packets. The air carried a faint, bitter-herbal scent.
"This," he said, "is the advanced medicinal bath powder. We brought ten thousand portions."
Second Grandfather raised a brow. "That many?"
"They're simple to produce," Kaito said. "Grandmother—has just reached Rank One as an alchemist—can make them without difficulty. We'll never run short."
Eldest Grandfather tilted his head slightly. "And their use?"
"They allow youths to prepare their bodies for martial arts training earlier," Kaito explained. "The minimum safe starting age is still twelve. Once they begin these baths, a year or two is all they'll need before they're ready to train their martial arts. The baths temper the body, strengthen the bones, and awaken the meridians early—without risk of damage."
Second Grandfather's eyes flickered with something between surprise and calculation. "So the next generation could start training years earlier…"
"Exactly," Kaito said. "That means stronger martial artists by the time they reach adulthood—and a stronger foundation for the family overall."
Silence filled the underground room. The two elders sat back, their expressions a mixture of astonishment and dawning realization. Only moments ago, they had been reeling from the revelation of a Rank Nine martial technique. Now, they were faced with resources that could reshape the future of the family entirely.
When Eldest Grandfather finally spoke, his voice was quieter, but not weaker. "You've brought us something unimaginable."
Kaito's grandfather—sitting at his side—watched them with pride in his eyes. This was the moment he had promised long ago, when he swore to bring back the means to strengthen the family.
"Now you see," he said to his elder brothers, "what happens when we step beyond the so-called principles the ancestors bound us with. Those rules were chains—chains that kept us from reaching higher."
Eldest Grandfather didn't argue. He simply exhaled, the sound heavy in the stillness.
Seeing Eldest Grandfather Sai relent, Kaito knew his efforts had finally borne fruit. The shackles of "principle" binding the ancestral estate were loosening; from here, their rise could be accelerated instead of delayed.
He turned to the elders, voice steady. "What I showed you is only part of it. We recovered many resources from the ruins—most secured in the library. Everything the ancestral estate needs has been brought. About this technique: I suggest teach it rank by rank. Don't reveal that it reaches Rank Nine. Even with the Mind Seal, we should still move carefully."
He paused, choosing his next words with care. "There's one more matter. Even you, Grandfather, don't know this. I meant to say it privately, but since all three of you are here, I'll say it now."
Kaito set his holo-tab on the table; the surface lit softly. "Kia," he said.