After confirming that the elders were ready, Kaito gave a small nod to Kia. She responded immediately, projecting a series of charts and images into the air above the table. Lines of data and glowing points of reference began to take shape, the kind of visuals that left no room for misunderstanding.
"These," Kaito began, gesturing toward the floating graphs, "are the spiritual index readings taken since the day we uncovered the ancient ruins."
The elders leaned forward slightly, eyes following the rising curve displayed in front of them.
"As you can see," Kaito continued, "the spiritual index has been climbing without pause. This isn't the same as the usual fluctuations we've seen in past decades—those rises that spike for a short time and then fade back to normal levels. No, this is different. This is a steady, gradual climb… one that shows no sign of slowing. I believe something triggered this surge, and it will continue to rise until it reaches a much higher point than anything we've seen before."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of those words settle before adding, "According to my hypothesis, when it reaches that point, cultivating and advancing in martial arts will become much easier for everyone. The conditions for breakthroughs will improve, and bottlenecks will loosen."
The three elders exchanged surprised glances at this revelation, but Kaito wasn't done.
"This increase in the spiritual index," he went on, "will also change the land itself. Wild herbs—those rare or even unique varieties that we struggle to find now—will start appearing more often. Their growth rates will improve, their maturity times will shorten, and cultivating them will be easier. For the first time in decades, it might even become practical to farm high-grade herbs on a large scale rather than hunt for them in dangerous places."
That thought brought a flicker of genuine excitement to the faces of the elders. The idea of steady access to rare herbs and faster martial advancement was more than appealing—it was transformative.
Kaito noticed their growing anticipation, and in that moment, he knew it was time to temper it. His expression grew more serious as he spoke again.
"But this rise in the spiritual index is not without its dangers."
The light in the elders' eyes dimmed slightly as they turned their full attention to him.
"With more spiritual energy in the world, it's not just humans who will benefit. The monsters out there—the higher-tier ones that the federation had managed to keep dormant and contained—will also feel it. Just as we will find opportunities to break through, so will they. And when that happens…" He let the words hang for a second before finishing, "I believe they will once again turn their attention toward us."
The room grew tense. Kaito could see the shift in their expressions, from excitement to a more sober, calculating focus.
"If the higher-tiered monsters awaken and grow stronger," he said gravely, "we may face threats far greater than anything our generation has encountered. We will not be the only ones seeking to expand our strength—our enemies, both human and beast, will seize the same opportunities."
He let that warning settle in the silence that followed. In their eyes, he saw the exact mix of urgency and determination he had hoped to ignite. This wasn't just a chance to grow—it was a race, and only those who prepared now would survive to see the end of it.
After hearing Kaito's words, the elders' expressions turned grim. The weight of his warning settled in the air like a heavy shroud.
If what Kaito was saying was true, then it wasn't just their family at risk—it was all of humanity. The entire Federation could be staring down the same nightmare they had faced once before. Each of the elders had lived through those years, when the monsters roamed free and humanity was driven into an age of constant fear. Back then, the attacks came again and again, wave after relentless wave.
The result had been catastrophic. The world's population had fallen to less than five billion. Cities had burned, farmlands had been abandoned, and entire family lines had been erased. Now, the population stood at nearly twenty billion, and society enjoyed a fragile peace. The difference between a world under constant siege and one free from the monsters' oppression was something they understood far too well.
Kaito could see from their faces that they grasped the gravity of the situation. That was good—it meant his words had struck the right chord.
"And not only that," Kaito continued, "I believe that as the Spiritual Index rises, the Federation itself will face a major reshuffle."
The elders gave him their full attention.
"There will be breakthroughs—many of them. Martial artists who have been stuck at their limits for years will finally push through. And when that happens, power will shift. New Gold-rank families may rise… perhaps even a new Platinum-rank family. The number of Silver-rank and Bronze-rank powers will grow to unprecedented levels. The balance that has held until now will be shaken."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice firm. "That is why I believe we must stop hiding. We must strengthen ourselves—not just to defend against what's coming, but to seize our own place in the future."
The room fell silent again, the only sound the faint hum of the holo-display still active between them. Eldest Grandfather studied Kaito for a long moment before finally speaking.
"So," he asked evenly, "what is your plan?"
Kaito paused for a heartbeat, organizing his thoughts before answering.
"First," he said, "we will not expose all of our strength."
His gaze swept across the three men, making sure they understood this was non-negotiable.
Inwardly, Kaito reflected on the lessons of his previous life. Back then, the ancestral estate's true strength had been forced into the open because the Soelerin family—the ruling Silver-grade family over their region, during the call up had insisted on knowing the exact capabilities of every power under their jurisdiction. It hadn't mattered if you were unranked, Bronze, or higher—every family had been compelled to bare their cards. The Ren family's ancestral branch had been no exception, and that exposure had brought nothing but trouble.
But this time, things were different. The world was still peaceful. The Ren family's ancestral estate posed no obvious threat to the Soelerin family, and as a result, they were largely ignored. Their strength remained hidden—and Kaito intended to keep it that way.
Out loud, he continued, "For now, the outside world should see only the strength of our Silvercrest City branch. That will be the face we present. The ancestral branch's capabilities must remain our secret."
His tone softened slightly, though the conviction in his words didn't waver. "I've always believed that keeping a low profile is the best approach. Among all the ancestral policies, this is the one I value most. Quiet strength is the hardest to counter."
He let the point sink in before outlining the next step. "We will apply for Bronze Family status using only the Silvercrest branch's strength. That will give us legitimacy, access to better resources, and a stronger public position—without drawing unwanted attention to our true power."
Kaito leaned back slightly and said, "Not only will we gain access to more resources, but we'll also be granted our own land where we can build our strength."
In his mind, the reasoning was already clear. Every Bronze-rank family had the right to claim and govern their own land—territory roughly the size of a small town in the old era. This land came directly under the control of the Bronze-rank family. In theory, it was their domain to develop, manage, and defend as they saw fit.
But in reality, most Bronze-rank families didn't take that route. Instead, they chose to remain under the jurisdiction of a more powerful Silver-rank family's city. Cities under Silver-grade powers were bustling, prosperous, and well-defended. The advantages were obvious—steady trade, easy access to resources, and the security of living under a stronger banner.
A Bronze-rank family might be the lowest recognized power status within the Federation's hierarchy, but they were still considered part of the Federation's structure. Their towns were technically their property. The problem was that not every Bronze-rank family could rule over their town peacefully. Some lacked the strength to protect it; others didn't have the wealth to develop it. For many, remaining in a city made far more sense.