Since from now on, I bear the illustrious title of the Southwestern Frontier, it’s only natural that I contribute to the safety and security of this region.


    With that in mind, Rhett patted his chest and made a promise:


    “Eradicating evil is a must. Rest assured, Lord Augustus, as long as I, Earl Rhett, remain in the Southwestern Frontier, peace will be maintained here!”


    Rhett’s demeanor was calm, having fully embraced his identity as an Earl.


    “Haha, with that determination, I’m relieved.” Augustusughed, showing a look of satisfaction. He then took out a map from his chest and handed it over:


    “This is a small gift from me—a detailed map of the Southwestern Frontier, identical to the one you saw earlier. As an Earl, this map may assist you in your future endeavors.”


    A gleam of light shed in Rhett''s eyes as he epted it without hesitation, saying, “Thank you, Lord Augustus!”


    Augustus waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal.


    After that, the two engaged in brief conversation.Augustus shared some important points that Rhett should keep in mind as an Earl, and Rhett listened carefully,mitting them to memory.


    The matter of his promotion to Earl concluded efficiently and swiftly.


    Then, Rhett extended an invitation at the right moment: “Duke of Blue Diamond, since this is likely your first time in Eagletown, why not visit my Deep Rock Fortress?”


    “No problem.” Augustus agreed readily, also wanting to find an opportunity to chat more with Rhett and perhaps strengthen their rtionship.


    Rhett whistled.


    A few secondster, Firew, who had been ying nearby, responded and sped towards him, diving down from a hundred meters in the sky.


    However, this time, its movements were much more restrained. As it approached the ground, it didn’t dare to cause too much turbulence.


    Firew nced fearfully at the Duke of Blue Diamond and the nearby Crystal Wing Bird, then quickly shifted its gaze and lowered its back.


    Augustus noticed Firew’s wings, a sh of surprise crossing his face, but he soon lost interest.


    The two flew to Deep Rock Fortress, one after the other, andnded simultaneously.


    On the stone path leading to the manor, Sveta stood respectfully on the stone bs, listening as Rhett said, “Today, our territory wees the most distinguished guest in its history—the Duke of Blue Diamond! I want tonight’s banquet to be asvish as possible!


    Go, pass my order: Have Tadel or Kurs go to Sun Lake and catch some aquatic magical beasts. Tonight, we’ll have a seafood feast!”


    “This is the first time the lord is butchering aquatic magical beasts,” Sveta thought to himself, bing even more serious as he slightly bowed, saying, “Understood, my lord. I’ll make the arrangements immediately!”


    After Sveta left, Rhett extended his left arm, inviting Augustus inside: “Please,e in.”


    The two of them made their way to Deep Rock Fortress, where maids in ck and white uniforms promptly served desserts, pastries, and drinks.


    Augustus nced at the offerings, noting they weren’t particrly high-end. He casually picked a piece and sampled it, then smiled and praised, “Not bad!”


    Rhett personally filled Augustus’s ss, then filled his own.


    Returning to his seat, Rhett set the bottle on the table, swirling the crystal goblet in his hand, watching the purplish-red liquid swirl inside. He then asked the question on his mind:


    “Lord Augustus, if I may, I have a question I’d like you to rify.”


    Augustus smiled warmly, “Feel free to ask.”


    “This takes me back to a few months ago when I was at the canyon defense line, participating in a major offensive against the orcs. I witnessed an officer named Somjet break through in the midst of battle, subsequently unleashing immense power and injuring the orcmander.


    Later, I learned from Officer Avn that Somjet hadprehended a wind element ‘speed’ profundity.


    In the past, I had little understanding of profundities due to my weak strength, so I wanted to seek your advice.”


    Rhett believed that Augustus, as a peak Level 8 Sky Knight who had long been famous and held the position of Duke, would surely know more than he did.


    As expected, when Augustus heard Somjet’s name, he showed an intrigued expression. After learning that Somjet had broken through to be a Sky Knight, he sighed and remarked:


    “Tsk, tsk, Somjet… I heard about him over a decade ago, someone with excellent wind element talent.


    I never expected that in the blink of an eye, he’d already broken through to be a Sky Knight.


    And evenprehended the legendary profundity…”


    After his musings, Augustus raised his deep blue crystal goblet, took a sip of wine, and said to Rhett, “Now that you’re a Level 5 Magister and interested in profundities, it’s understandable.”


    Rhett sat across from him, prepared to listen intently.


    Augustus cleared his throat and began, “Ahem, you can simply understand profundities as thews of the elements.”


    “Thews of the elements…” Rhett subconsciously repeated.


    “Indeed.” Augustus thought for a moment, then picked up his ss, gently swirling it. “Let me give you an analogy. It’s like the liquid in this ss. Although most people wouldn’t notice anything unusual, in reality, this simple water contains various profundities.


    The most straightforward one is liquefaction. Extending further, there’s vaporization and freezing—these all involve profundities.


    I once heard from a Water-element Saint that there are indeed other profundities within the water element, like ‘flow’ and ‘extreme cold.’


    As for myself, I’veprehended a trace of the ‘extreme cold’ profundity.”


    “Hmm, I see.” Extreme cold? Can it freeze people into popsicles…? Rhett thought with admiration and then asked the most pressing question on his mind:


    “So, if oneprehends a profundity, does that mean they’ll be able to advance to the Saint-level?”


    After all, he was about toprehend an earth element profundity. If it lowered the threshold to reach the Saint-level, that would be ideal.


    “Heh, of course not.” Augustus chuckled, shaking his head. “In fact, there’s no direct cause-and-effect rtionship betweenprehending profundities and advancing to the Saint-level.


    It’s just that after bing a Saint, I’ve heard one gains a deeper understanding of elementalws, which makes it easier toprehend profundities, thereby greatly enhancingbat power.”


    “I see.” Rhett’s eyes revealed a look of realization, though he felt a slight sense of disappointment that profundities didn’t directly aid in advancing to the Saint-level.


    However, the significant boost inbat power was still a good thing! “So, Lord Augustus, do you know what other earth element profundities exist?” Rhett asked.


    Previously, he had only heard from Avn about the gravity space profundity in the earth element. The other earth element profundities were unknown to him.


    “You’re asking about earth element profundities…” Augustus touched his chin, pondering. “In our kingdom’s history, and even now, no earth element Saint-level experts have emerged, so I don’t know much.


    Aside from the gravity space profundity, which can manipte gravity and repulsion within a certain range, I know of two others: ‘Scatter’ and ‘Condense.’ The former allows the body to turn into sand, which is highly effective for defense. Thetter condenses extremely hard objects, integrating both offense and defense.”


    After a pause and some contemtion, Augustus added, “That’s about all I can tell you about profundities. After all, I’m not a Saint, so I can’t fully exin the essence of profundities.


    In short, aside from Saints, who can steadilyprehend profundities, it’s all about talent and luck for those below the Saint level.


    If you manage toprehend a profundity, it just means you have good talent and a slightly higher chance of advancing to the Saint-level, but it’s not guaranteed.


    In fact, most Saint-level experts neverprehended a profundity before reaching the Saint-level.”


    So that’s how it is… Rhett nodded in understanding and thanked Augustus, “Thank you, Lord Augustus!”


    Although the exnation wasn’t exhaustive, it provided Rhett with significant insight.


    Moreover, he finally figured out that the ability to turn into sand belonged to the ‘Scatter’ profundity.


    Scatter? Although it’s just one word, it contains infinite mysteries to Rhett.


    Among the various elements, only earth seems to possess the unique property of dispersing into fine dust and solidifying into rock. It shifts between stability and dispersion, remaining elusive.


    This… could very well be a manifestation of thews of the universe. Although he had heard about the ice profundity of the water element earlier, which also turns into a solid, it fundamentally differed from the way earth elements operate.


    He was also curious about what the ice profundity could do. For now, it seemed he would have to wait until he encountered someone else or until Rayleigh had some good fortune and, with Nina’s help, managed toprehend it in the future.


    Over the next three days...


    As indicated by the simtion, Rhett invited Augustus to stay in his territory, and Augustus dly epted.


    During this time, Rhett could sense the goodwill Augustus was extending through their interactions and conversations.


    After all, as a Duke, Augustus usually didn’t bother with most Earls.


    But with Rhett, not only did he patiently exin profundities, but he also stayed for three days.


    To be honest, Rhett felt a bit embarrassed to reject the Duke’s proposal for a marriage alliance.


    Perhaps… he should agree? Just as this thought crossed Rhett’s mind, he quickly dismissed it.


    Joking aside, Nicole was still a knot in his heart, one that Rhett had not yet untied and found difficult to let go of.


    So, he couldn’t bring himself to ept the idea of spending his life with another woman.


    This was an extremely important matter! He couldn’t just settle for less…


    By the shores of Sun Lake, Augustus, who had just been rejected after proposing a marriage alliance, stared silently at the fire-patterned fish swimming in the water and let out a long sigh:


    “Sigh, Earl Rhett, are you sure you won’t reconsider?


    My granddaughter has excellent talent. Although not as remarkable as yours, she would easily advance to the rank of Earth Knight.”


    Rhett observed Augustus’s back, smiling bitterly. He had to refuse, but considering Augustus’s status, he couldn’t be too blunt about it.


    “Firstly, Lord Augustus, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied with your granddaughter.


    But I’m not ready to wee a new partner into my life.


    Being responsible for myself also means being responsible for your granddaughter. You wouldn’t want to see her in an unhappy marriage, would you? I believe her happiness is important too.”


    Aplex expression shed in Augustus’s eyes as he turned to look at Rhett, sizing him up as if truly seeing him for the first time. He chuckled and said:


    “Heh, how interesting…@@novelbin@@


    Among nobles… there are few people like you.”


    Then, he whistled.


    The Crystal Wing Bird skimmed across theke’s surface, leaving a straight ripple that spread outward from the water.


    Augustus climbed onto the Crystal Wing Bird’s back, gently stroking its neck, and in an instant, they transformed into a beam of light that shot up into the sky.


    Only a faint, drifting voice remained:


    “Until we meet again.”


    Momentster, Rhett stood with one hand behind his back, watching the light on the horizon turn into a distant ck dot before finally disappearing.


    He sighed and shook his head.


    It wasn’t until that powerful figure, who had exerted immense pressure on him, had left that Shirin, her orange hair fluttering in the wind, cautiously approached. Staring at the lord’s handsome profile, she curiously asked, “Was that the Duke of Blue Diamond just now? I heard that in the Kingdom of Giln, he’s practically invincible among those of the same rank.


    Even from far away, I could feel how terrifying he was.”


    “Really? I didn’t feel anything.” Rhett touched his nose, thinking that perhaps Augustus had deliberately restrained his aura in front of him.


    He nced at Shirin, choosing his words carefully, and said:


    “Invincible at the same rank is hard to say, but he’s definitely at the pinnacle of his level.”


    After all, Augustus was a genius who hadprehended a water element profundity—Extreme Cold.


    Bing a Duke wasn’t something any Sky Knight could qualify for…


    “Oh…” Shirin obediently stuck out her tongue.


    After admiring the scenery by theke for a while, Rhett mounted Firew and left the shores of Sun Lake.


    He flew in circles above his territory.


    This was also a way to assert his authority as a lord.


    To ordinary people, simply seeing someone riding a magical beast and flying in the sky was an awe-inspiring sight.


    As Rhett looked down, seeing the countless buildings and the dense crowds of his subjects, a unique feeling rose in his heart.


    After circling for a few dozen minutes, Rhett was about to head back when he suddenly spotted Rayleigh and his caravan on the road, just a few hundred meters from the town gates.


    And they were returning fully loaded. Rhett noticed the ores, magical nts, and other goods in the rear carriages.


    These were all items he had instructed to be collected in preparation for building a new alchemyboratory and crafting alchemy instruments, as well as for Hank to brew the ck Raven’s Grief potion.


    Judging by the timing, their return was just right. Rhett thought to himself, “I’ll finalize the ns today and begin the relocation tomorrow…”


    Once the territory was relocated, construction would proceed smoothly, with most of the resources being self-sufficient.


    The only challenge would be finding experienced architects to build the new castle.


    However, Rhett was already prepared for that.


    At that moment...


    He looked further back and spotted a dozen or so unfamiliar figures, all tall and muscr, including both ordinary people and low-level knights.


    These were the experienced estate and castle construction teams that Rhett had instructed Rayleigh to find in Twilight City.


    Seeing these unfamiliar faces and the professional tools they carried, Rhett realized they were exactly who he had been looking for.


    A smile curled at the corner of Rhett’s lips as he gently patted Firew’s head, and the creature immediately folded its wings and dove down.


    “Chirp!”


    A familiar call echoed from the sky.


    Rayleigh looked up, then signaled the caravan to stop.