This was clearly not due to the Breathing Method, leaving only two other reasons.
Either it was due to individual physiological differences,
or it was because of differences in the main ingredient of the advancement magic potion.
"After all, the differences between people can sometimes be greater than anything else!"
"And bear-like Transcendent creatures definitely aren't limited to just one or two types; there should be many varieties."
Moreover, Rein then thought of something related to what Hamilton had just mentioned about the 'special transcendent characteristics of mysterious side energy particles'.
"That... Sir, the ferocious werewolf we hunted down last time, was the light blue airflow around it what you were referring to as some special transcendent characteristic of mysterious side energy particles?"
Hamilton looked at Rein with approval and said, "Smart! Indeed it is."
"That werewolf possessed a special innate ability named 'Rift.'
"The innate abilities of monsters are the same as our human Knights' Transcendent characteristics, just termed differently to distinguish between humans and other creatures."
"This innate ability not only enhances their movement speed but also strengthens their slashing effect, a desired Transcendent characteristic for those specializing in assassination and scouting."
"Um... Lord Hamilton, since there are people who have awakened two Transcendent characteristics, are there people who have awakened three?" Rein asked again.
Given Hamilton's interest, Rein naturally took the opportunity to ask more.
"Haha, of course there are, but most often it is because the Breathing Method they practice is extraordinary, and these Breathing Methods are usually possessed by deeply-rooted noble families."
"Perhaps, in the entire Meister County, only the Habus Earl Family might have them."
"However, Rein, the widespread dissemination of Breathing Methods also means that the difficulty of finding or buying advancement magic potions is greatly reduced, which isn't really a bad thing for most people!" Hamilton said seriously, looking at Rein.
Isn't it better for the Breathing Method to be rarer, more powerful, and harder to practice?
What kind of logic is this?
Rein felt a bit confused after hearing this.
Hamilton didn't keep him in suspense and continued explaining:
"For example, there was once a powerful Breathing Method called the 'Thunderbird Breathing Technique,' which was a hereditary Breathing Method of a certain hereditary Marquis family in the empire. But do you know? The main ingredient required for its advancement magic potion is 'Thunderbird Wings.'
"Over the past thousand years, as Thunderbirds gradually became harder to find, naturally, 'Thunderbird Wings' also became unobtainable. Thus, the family's stockpile of 'Thunderbird Wings' has continually been depleted for advancing this Breathing Method."
"Several hundred years ago, as the stockpile of 'Thunderbird Wings' ran out, no one has been able to successfully advance in this Breathing Method since."
Hamilton showed a hint of regret as he spoke.
"So it is, the higher the level of the Breathing Method, the more stringent the requirements for the advancement magic potion."
"Whereas the more common Breathing Methods, though less powerful compared to higher-level ones, have a high substitutability for the main ingredients of their advancement magic potions, making them easy to find." Rein pondered for a moment and then summarized.
"Exactly, that's right!" Hamilton nodded.
"So, for the common folk's offspring aspiring to achieve Transcendence, practicing a common Knight Breathing Method isn't a bad thing at all."
[Ding! Host has listened to Transcendent secrets, triggering the advanced job change—Knight (Transcendent)!]
[Prerequisites for advancing to Knight (Transcendent) include: one, any Knight Breathing Method lv5 or above; two, strength 12 points or more, agility 12 points or more, constitution 12 points or more; three, any Riding Technique lv3 or above, Shield Defense lv3 or above, any Archery lv3 or above, any Close Combat Skill lv4 or above; four, corresponding advancement magic potion...
current conditions not met! Advancement to Knight (Transcendent) failed!]
"What! This works too?"
Rein read through the sudden system prompt several times, feeling both surprised and delighted!
He hadn't expected that merely listening to Hamilton's explanations about advancement magic potions and transcendence could yield such a discovery.
It had directly triggered his job advancement information!
"Looking at the conditions, advancing my job change to Knight doesn't seem to require having the Knight Attendant job panel."
"I had been worried that I would need to change my job to Knight Attendant first before triggering the Knight job change. Now it seems like I was worried for nothing."
The primary condition is Knight Breathing Method lv5, right?
Indeed, with successful practice of the Breathing Method along with advancement magic potions, advancing to Knight does seem logical.
Hamilton, seeing Rein staring blankly on the spot, couldn't help but tease with a smile:
"Could it be that you've heard too much about transcendence and are having a hard time accepting it?"
I hope you would talk even more!
But those words Rein could only think to himself.
"Haha, of course not, Lord Hamilton. I'm very grateful for your guidance today. I hope you can continue to mentor me in the days to come."
Rein bowed slightly to express his gratitude.
Today, Hamilton's explanation resolved many doubts in Rein's mind.
Just as Hamilton was about to say something,
suddenly, urgent knocking sounds came from the door.
"Please come in!" Hamilton straightened his face and looked towards the door.
"Lord Hamilton, Viscount Hamadi, the sheriff of the County Town, requests your immediate presence in the County Town," a Messenger came in and reported.
Hamilton nodded, then turned to Rein and said, "Rein, it seems our talk will have to wait until next time."
"By the way, you should join Weilun's squad first, he'll arrange your daily tasks."
"Weilun has complained to me several times, asking why I haven't processed your onboarding yet."
"Yes, Lord Hamilton. Captain Weilun and I are also quite familiar. I'm delighted to be able to join his squad." Rein stood up and said with a smile.
After leaving Lord Hamilton's office, Rein found Weilun at the training ground behind the administrative hall.
When Weilun heard that Rein had officially joined and was even assigned to his squad, his face lit up with joy.
He slapped Rein heavily on the shoulder and said with a laugh:
"Haha, excellent! I've finally waited for you!"
"Rein, you have no idea how many times I've talked to Lord Hamilton!"
"Captain Weilun, when do I join your night patrols? Do we start tonight?" Rein proactively asked.
"No need to rush, let's start tomorrow. Go home today, get ready, and give your family a heads up."
"Eh... Okay!" Rein nodded.
Back at home, Rein was alone in his room, deeply contemplating.
His initial idea of joining the Night Watchman was to have protection in his weaker hours.
But now, as one of the imperial official forces, the Night Watchman was like a great tree.
What he needed to do now was to enhance his authority or post within the Night Watchman, thus gaining access to more resources and secret knowledge.
To achieve this, he had to continually complete related missions, carry out valuable deeds, and accumulate enough Merit Points.
These tasks were not the general duties of the Night Watchman's night patrols.
The Merit Points brought by daily duties were far too insignificant for Rein.
Only those unexpected and more dangerous missions could bring considerable Merit Points, like the previously participated missions to suppress the ferocious werewolves and to eliminate evil finfolk.
"So, next, I need to do two things: one, continue to train hard to enhance my strength. Two, take on as many unexpected or urgent Night Watchman missions as possible to earn high Merit Points."
As for Bounty Hunting?
The bounty tasks that Bounty Hunters undertake for money are basically a different matter from the Night Watchman's duties.
However, Rein did not mind completing some easy bounty tasks during the daytime when he rested.
After all, those absolutely wicked criminals in the bounty tasks were, in Rein's eyes, walking 'human Experience'.
If there was a fight, it meant that there was a chance for Rein to increase his Profession Level as a Night Watchman, naturally a good thing.
Of course, the prerequisite was that he could win!
So, after going full circle, he returned to focusing diligently on training and improving his strength.
At the same time, Rein carefully analyzed the four requirements for promotion to a formal Knight.
First was any Knight Breathing Method at level 5 or above. This was not a big problem; as long as he advanced one more level in any profession, he could elevate his Breathing Method from level 4 to level 5.
Next, it was the three basic attributes of strength, agility, and constitution. He was only one or two points away, and considering that the Giant Bear Breathing Technique prominently enhanced strength and constitution, Rein had to think about prioritizing adding points to agility after leveling up.
Last was achieving level 3 in riding and archery. These points were also not difficult; more practice at John's Farm for riding and some additional practice in the administrative hall's training ground for archery would suffice.
Shield defense was a bit troublesome. That either required spending Merit Points to exchange for Combat Skill or finding someone to teach him.
Rein, accompanied by 'Cookie', began his first night patrol.
His night patrol partners were Captain Weilun and the short Matteo, both acquaintances, which made the atmosphere relaxed and led to constant casual conversation. The topic soon shifted to Rein's Greyhound, 'Cookie'.
"Rein, this is a Greyhound, right? It looks like it should be about half a year old," the short Matteo said, glancing at 'Cookie,' who had sleek fur, long limbs, and increasingly visible muscles.
"Eh... not really, 'Cookie' is just over three months old," Rein recalled the time and said.
"What? How long did you say?" Matteo was immediately startled, and Captain Weilun also turned his head.
"Just over three months."
"Rein, really? Are you pulling my leg?" Matteo looked suspiciously at Rein's expression, seeming to confirm something.
"This... not at all." At that moment, Rein came to understand why Matteo might doubt.
Recently, under the 'nourishment' of Rein's nutritional meals, although money was spent lavishly, 'Cookie's growth speed had entered the fast lane, visibly growing taller and stronger every day.
This forced Rein to begrudgingly spend twice the money of his family's meal budget to buy raw materials to feed 'Cookie'.
"Well then, Rein, you're really lucky to have bought such a 'uniquely talented' Greyhound."
Once Matteo confirmed Rein was not joking and thought about it, he attributed 'Cookie''s rapid growth to some kind of innate talent in the dog.
Captain Weilun couldn't help but give 'Cookie' a few more looks, marveling.
"Haha... indeed, my luck has been pretty good lately," Rein could only agree with a smile.
"By the way, Rein, I'll tell you a dog food recipe later that might help 'Cookie' grow faster; it's just mixing a raw egg into rice," Matteo said enthusiastically.
Rein was taken aback!
"Matteo, you're too kind. I'll thank you on 'Cookie's' behalf first."
Just then, 'Cookie' suddenly started barking wildly towards a small alley on the right.