Chapter 25: Clay's Lesson on True Names

“Friend?”

Weilun snorted coldly upon hearing this.

“Is a friend someone who does nothing?”

He said this as he turned and entered the tavern, though he left the door ajar.

“What do you mean by doing nothing? I... you know my status, I...”

At first, Clay felt anger rise, but after following him inside the tavern, he muttered a few words, then slumped onto a stool at the bar, falling silent.

Weilun, despite his harsh words, took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet behind the bar, poured a glass for Clay, then one for Ethan, saying, “Young master, you can trust this guy. He’s a friend of Al’s. He helped broker the ceasefire, and it was he who risked everything to retrieve Leonardo’s body.”

Ethan came over, picked up his glass, and gently tapped it against Clay’s cup. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I truly am someone who can do nothing.”

He smiled wryly and downed his drink.

The tavern door was closed, dim yellow light filled the room. After refilling Ethan’s and Clay’s glasses, Weilun left the remaining liquor and stepped away, joining Anya in a silent corner, leaving Ethan and Clay alone facing each other.

“On the day of the negotiation, I was supposed to go, but an urgent matter pulled me away. I understand Sandro’s intention—he didn’t want me meddling in this anymore.” Clay took another sip of his drink. “He assured me you’d be fine. Do you know what I thought?”

“What did you think?” Ethan poured him another drink.

“In those days outside, I was uneasy. I always felt something was going to happen. I thought, if you really got into trouble, when I came back I’d kill everyone in the Cabrera family, then go to Sandro and take my own life.” Clay finished his third glass.

Ethan silently poured more liquor.

“I know you still don’t believe me, but it’s okay. You’re alive—that’s what matters.” Clay stopped drinking and wrapped his arm around Ethan’s shoulder, giving it a firm pat.

---

“Ethan, kid, kid, you did such an amazing job. I don’t even know what else I can do for you. Tell me, let me do something for you.”

“You don’t have to do anything for me,” Ethan shook his head.

“No, I have to do something for you. Otherwise, what kind of friend am I?” Clay fell into a brief silence.

Ethan sensed the guilt and helplessness emanating from him.

“Let me think... Money? Protection through force? You don’t need those for now. Allies? You’ve got that covered yourself. Oh, I know! Your true name! You only recently inherited your father’s true name, and he left so soon—you must have many unresolved questions, right?”

Clay’s eyes brightened as he looked at Ethan.

Ethan said nothing, merely took a sip of his wine.

“I’ll assume you want to hear it.” Clay took a sip and began a long explanation.

Ethan had heard most of this before; it wasn’t much different from what Anya had told him that day.

It was only when Clay spoke about the inheritance of the true name that Ethan’s interest sharpened.

“...A true name can be inherited, as you probably know since you inherited your father’s. But what you might not know is that a true name is exclusive. Having your father’s bloodline doesn’t guarantee you can inherit his true name. The inheritance of a true name is a complex matter. From what we know, the most important factor is compatibility.”

Clay seemed thirsty after talking too long and tapped the table. Ethan poured him another drink. Satisfied, Clay continued.

“Compatibility means you must be highly synchronized with the true name you inherit. Take your older brother Leonardo, for example. Since childhood, he was involved in the family business, participated in numerous operations, and was deeply immersed in the underworld. You could say he was tailor-made for your father’s true name—a violent unifier. Yet he still had problems with his inheritance; he wasn’t compatible enough. So until his death, he remained at the bandit stage.”

“So you’re the real genius. You never managed the family business or immersed yourself in the underworld, yet you inherited your father’s true name directly. Incredible. I can feel that you might even be stronger than your father. Someone like you could be the legendary Chosen One—with 100% compatibility.”

Ethan remained silent, unable to speak. He couldn’t very well say that he hadn’t inherited, but rather created a new true name.

“Now, about granting. Inheritance is directly obtaining part of a true name. Granting is different; it’s sensing the aura of a true name, which might awaken it. For instance, Fred and Joan—they were granted their true names by your father as rewards for outstanding performance. Just to add, Fred is a traitor, and Joan is about the same. He left the Polata family over a decade ago, went solo, and later returned to fight back.”

Hearing this, one of Ethan’s doubts was resolved: why he could counter Fred and Joan with the ‘Name of the True God’ but it was ineffective against others with true names—because their origins are the same.

Also, granted true names are too weak, unlike those granted to people like Anya, which are genuine true names.

Clay rambled on with bits and pieces of information, but none of it touched on what Ethan wanted to know—the plundering of true names.

After killing Fred and Joan, Ethan had clearly felt a sensation of plundering, gaining part of their power and strengthening his own true name.

But Clay said nothing about this. Could it be that among normal true name bearers, such plundering doesn’t exist?

“Well, that’s all for today. Regarding other true name systems, my ancient language knowledge is zero, so I can’t explain them to you. Next time, I’ll bring you the latest issue of the Truth Report. It has detailed information.” Clay hiccuped from the drink and stood, preparing to leave.

“Truth Report?” Ethan finally spoke.

“Oh, you probably don’t know. It’s a newspaper circulated only among true name bearers, available for purchase at true name gatherings. Oh, the true name gathering... Next time there’s one, I’ll take you. You’ll understand then.”

The true name gathering—a new term yet again.

Clay staggered out of the tavern. Before closing the door behind him, he suddenly turned back and looked at Ethan.

“Ethan, kid, listen. No matter what you think, I want you to know that I will always be your father’s friend and your friend. Whenever you need me, you can find me. I will help you, okay?”

He shut the door. Ethan poured himself another glass of wine.