(MNIBP)Chapter 44 - Asking for cultivation resources

The Highlands, New Jersey, USA.

Ben's P.O.V.

As soon as the words 'Low Heaven Rank' popped up, a thought came to his mind. 'So it's true that my Perk can increase my affinity Level... That's a relief. It'd have been annoying if I became stuck at a certain cultivation Rank, just because my affinity was too weak.' Pondering for a second, the middle-aged man added. 'So, May should be able to benefit from that increase as well... I need to keep that under wrap, or we might be in even more danger.'

Shaking his head lightly, he also considered another problem. ' It'd also be best if we could find a way to get some resources to boost our cultivation. After all, with how quickly I increase my strength, there's no way the others would be able to fight alongside me. Only May would be able to keep up since we're bonded...' The thought elicited a small frown from the muscular man, prompting him to make a decision.

'I'll just ask Nat if she can procure some. I'm sure Fury would be all in for it.' Feeling himself relax slightly, Ben started moving upstairs, joining the group sitting at the dining table. Throwing a quick glance around, he noticed the absence of Kate, Andrew, and Flint, prompting him to ask, curious. “Where are the others?”

Madeline responded while grabbing the salt from the middle of the table. “Kate said that she wanted to spend more time with her mother now that she's cured. Since she stays here the whole day, she can only spend time with her during dinner time.” Nodding his head, he replied. “It's a good thing. I'll tell her that she can give her mother the Basic Technique. It'd be a good thing if she could reach the Novice Rank, whether in terms of safety or lifespan.”

Since the blond woman had a good talent in cultivation, her mother had a great chance of having something similar, so it was not crazy of him to think that the older woman had a decent chance of reaching the Novice Rank. And with a total lifespan of around two hundred years, it would give her more time to try reaching the Elite Level. That would be much further in the future, though.

Shoving that thought aside, he added. “What about the guys? Did they follow her?” The older redhead nodded and responded. “Andrew said he'd follow her in case she encountered some threats outside and Flint was brought along by the former without having the time to say the word 'dinner'.” When Ben started picturing the situation in his mind, a few chuckles escaped him, mirrored by the others around.

After that brief interlude, the family, plus Natalia, had a pleasant dinner which lasted around an hour before Madeline started bringing Gayle to bed while the two older kids went to their respective bedrooms. “Don't stay up too late, you two.” Ben said to the two teenagers before bidding them goodnight. As Peter and MJ were about to leave, the silver-eyed man heard Gayle exclaim.

“Mom! Let me down for a second. Pretty please?” The curvy redhead looked intrigued but did not ask any questions. “Sure, sweetheart.” As soon as her feet touched the ground, she ran back to the living room and jumped on the couch where Ben sat, before kissing him on the cheek. “You forgot my goodnight kiss, Uncle Ben!” She stated, with a mischievous grin on her chubby little face.

Chuckling slightly, the tall man replied while exaggeratedly facepalming. “You're right! How could I forget the goodnight kiss?!” After which he grabbed her and gave her a big wet kiss on her cheek, eliciting loud protests from her. “Bah!! My face is dirty now!” She yelled melodramatically while running toward her mother amidst everyone's laughter.

“I'm ready for bed, Mom!” The little chipmunk said while giggling as she reached the older redhead's side. “Let's go, then.” Madeline claimed while picking her up from the ground. She then swiftly walked upstairs, leaving Ben's sight. Shaking his head amusedly, the older man turned back toward the two other kids, who for some reason had not left yet.

“Weren't you kids going to your room?” Looking a bit awkward, Peter fumbled a bit with his words. “I... I mean...” Despite feeling intrigued by his reaction, he chose to wait without commenting. What made him surprised was that it was actually the silently blushing MJ who approached him and gave him a brief peck on his cheek before mumbling. “Goodnight, Uncle Ben.”

He froze for a second at the unexpected display of affection from the usual distant little girl before a warm smile surfaced on his face as he replied after kissing her on her forehead. “Goodnight, princess.” The young teenager had a joyful smile on her beet-red visage as she quickly dashed upstairs, leaving Peter standing stiffly in front of his uncle.

Now that he understood the ins and outs of the situation, Ben chuckled slightly before invitingly spreading his arms. “Come here, Pete.” As if the middle-aged man's words gave him back his courage, the young boy instantly dived into the hug, his relatively short arms unable to surround the older man's muscular torso.

Stroking Peter's head, Ben asked gently. “You alright, son?” A muffled grunt came out from the boy but he did not move from the silver-eyed man's embrace for a while. With a warm smile on his face, the muscular man stated. “Take your time.” A few minutes went by before Peter finally let go.

Looking at the boy's face, Ben noticed the apparent relief in the other's gaze. Wearing a childish smile, the brown-haired boy exclaimed. “Thank you, Uncle Ben. Good night!” Before he left for his own bedroom since he had bid good night to the others previously.

“I'm glad little Pete is opening up more and more to you.” May claimed with a caring smile adorning her face, mirrored by Madeline who was back from upstairs. “I feel the same about my girls. They've really taken a liking to you, Ben.” She remarked teasingly. Chuckling at her words, he retorted. “They have, haven't they?” Pausing for a second, he added. “I feel like the three seem... happier, I guess?”

The two 'mothers' nodded their heads with May commenting. “They've been a bit strung up since we found you in the hospital two weeks ago and seeing them put down their worries makes me relieved.” Looking at the two women, with each possessing their own charms, discussing in such a motherly tone the three children, made the middle-aged man's heart unwittingly flutter with warmth.

'I really need to do something about Mady... Once May breaks through to the Novice Rank, I'll talk to May about her. I know she told me that she was okay with me making her my second lover, but I still feel weird about it.' He pondered for a moment before noticing his lovely wife looking toward him. As if she could read into his mind, she smiled warmly at him and gestured discreetly in the older redhead's direction.

Her gesture made him chuckle briefly, thinking in a daze. 'How can a woman be this great?' After a few seconds when May went back to chat with Madeline, he shook his head slightly and turned toward Natalia before asking. “Nat?“ Gazing back at him with a curious look, she questioned. “What's up?”

“I've got a favor to ask of you.” While scratching his short beard absentmindedly, he continued. “I wonder if you could get us some cultivation resources. Especially for those below the Novice Rank. I'm asking because the girls and kids are too far below our strength and that bothers me a bit.”

Nodding her head, the young woman replied. “I get it. Mmmhh... I should be able to get some in the next few days. But you'll have to wait for the Novice Rank resources.” Cocking his brow, he queried. “Isn't there any?” At his words, she nodded her head once before shaking it. “It's not exactly that there isn't any. We've got plenty of the right plants but it's just that mixing them correctly is complicated.”

Feeling confused, the middle-aged man retorted. “You're telling me that with all your advanced technology, you can't do a simple mix?” With a look of helplessness, she replied. “We should be able to, right? But it's not that simple. Because, from what I've been told, not only do you have to pay attention to the 'material' components of the plants, which change from one to the next, even among the same type, but you also have to balance the energy in each of them. The former would not take that much time to 'master', but the latter is a whole other beast.”

A feeling of realization surfaced in his mind as he asked. “Wasn't there something in the Asgardian knowledge that could help?” Nodding her head, she replied. “Yes. But understanding and creating that kind of technology takes time. Also, there is a cap on the quality of the finished product.” Noticing his unasked question, she explained. “Normally, high-quality pills and potions are made by Alchemists and not purely by machines. I'm not sure why, though. You'll have to check on the Holo's database about it.”

Pondering for a second, he stated. “So it'd be the best if we had one of us take on the Alchemist profession, right?” Nodding her head, she replied. “Yeah. And the higher the level of the Pills and potions you want to create, the higher your cultivation Level and talent in the field need to be. It's the same for every profession.”

Ben knew that if needed, he could do it. After all, his physiology perk would surely help him become better and better as long as he stick to it. However, he never really felt attracted to the medicine/healing sector and he did not think that putting a magical tag on it would change his preference.

No, it would be best for someone else to do it in his stead. Maybe someone like Kate who seemed to have some affinities with it. 'Once she reaches the Novice Rank, I'll ask her if she's interested.' He thought while thinking of his own 'career possibilities'. A vague idea came to his mind, but he would have to check if it was possible.

Shoving that thought aside for the moment, he resumed chatting with the young redhead before the two joined the other two's conversation. It went on for around an hour, after which the female agent left the house while the other three went to bed, Madeline to sleep and the other two to 'cultivate'.

Before their cultivation session, however, May sat on the bed, fully clothed, before gesturing for him to sit with a serious face. Feeling curious, he sat and asked. “What did you want to talk about, Love?” In a solemn tone, the raven-haired woman replied. “Madeline. You need to soul bond with her quickly.”

Her words made him speechless for a few seconds, he replied hesitantly. “I know you told me you were okay with it, but why the rush now?” Unlike during their previous conversation, the emotions transmitted through the bond were not jealousy or hurt, but instead impatience and anticipation, with some slight worries, but the latter were minimal.

With her head lifted slightly to gaze into his silver eyes, she responded with a small grin. “A few reasons. The first one is because I know you like her and it's reciprocal. The whole sexual atmosphere between you two without any of you doing anything about it is grating on my nerves.” The exaggerated helpless look she sported made him understand that she was not that bothered about it at all.

He thus did not comment on it but instead asked with an amused smile adorning his face. “What's the second reason?” She had a thoughtful look on her face at his question. “I think... I think that soul bonding with her would boost your cultivation speed even more. Like it does with me.” Struck by realization, he retorted. “You're talking about the resonance that happens when we cultivate in the same room?”

Nodding her, she continued. “And in return, it'll probably boost both mine and her cultivation speed. It's a complete win-win.” Pausing for a second, she added. “Of course, it's because it's Mady we're talking about here. If it was someone else I didn't like, I'd say no right away.” Her words prompted him to pull her gently against his chest before claiming. “Have I ever told you how amazing you are?”

Soft giggles came from her as she answered. “You did, but I don't mind hearing it again. A woman needs her dose of compliments from her husband, you know?” Kissing her tenderly on the top of her head, he stated. “You, Maybelle Parker, are the most amazing woman I've ever met. Incredibly beautiful, smart, humorous and open-minded. I'm really lucky to have you as my wife.”

As soon as he finished, he noticed her trying to hide the small blush on her face. “You're not bad yourself, Mr. Parker.” Chuckling briefly, he retorted. “Only not bad?” Lifting her head from his torso, the mischievous smile on her face, the slight red on her cheeks, and the amorous look in her gaze made his heart skip a beat.

“More than not bad. But I think I need a reminder of how good you are, my dear husband.” With lust in his heart and a hungry look on his face, he replied. “If my insatiable succubus asks me, how could I have the heart to refuse her demands?” Ben then proceeded to display how good he was as a husband for a few hours afterward, until May fell into a blissful sleep.