《Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent》 Chapter 1 Regression Inside a spacious bedchamber, a young man could be seen sleeping on the bed. His eyebrows were furrowed as if he was experiencing a nightmare. Suddenly, his eyes sprung open and he abruptly sat up straight. Looking around, he was confused and disoriented. He clutched his head and organized his messy thoughts. I thought I died after getting shot by an arrow. How did I survive? ric could still vividly remember thest scenes before his death. Therades who died for him, the enemies he had ughtered, and the arrow that ultimately killed him¡­ He remembered it all. While he was recalling the scenes of that battle, a series of knocks on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in." ric was surprised by the young voice that came out of his mouth. A young maidservant pushed open the door. She bowed to him the moment she stepped inside the room. "My lord, it''s almost time for breakfast." When he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face, ric was shocked, disbelief written all over his face. "Nana?" His voice trembled as emotions welled up in his heart. The young maidservant was embarrassed when she heard this endearing nickname. Just as she was about to say something, she saw ric slowly approaching her, his eyes filled with a mixture of joy and guilt. "I-is¡­ it really you? You''re alive¡­" ric''s voice choked as he stared at the young girl. She was Elena. She has been with him since her parents sold her to his family. She was only six years old at that time, while he was ten. At first, he didn''t like being around with her. He felt that she was a nuisance, but Elena''s sincere and innocent heart moved him. He didn''t treat her like a servant. He cared for her like she was his real sister. However, something tragic happened. This innocent young girltermitted suicide after being repeatedly abused by his uncle. She was only seventeen when she died. He only found out the true reason for her suicide a few yearster when his uncle, with a slip of his tongue, identally mentioned it in his drunken stupor. Looking at Elena''s childish face, ric took her in his arms and embraced her tightly. When he felt the warmth of her body, he could no longer hold back his emotions as tears slid down his cheeks. "M-My lord?" Elena raised her head in surprise when she felt him trembling. And when she saw that he was crying, she was flustered. "W-Why are you crying, my lord?" Hearing her worried voice, ric smiled as he gently stroked the back of her head. "I''m just happy to see you again. I missed you so much, Nana¡­" He could still remember the days when he cried every time he visited her tomb. The remorse and the regret from his past life made him even more emotional. Elena was embarrassed and shyly lowered her head. "S-Stop saying such embarrassing things, my lord. And please don''t call me Nana in front of other people." Looking at her pouting her lips and hearing her shy voice, ric felt the warmth that he had been seeking for a long time. He wiped off his tears with his hands. "Yes. Yes. I won''t call you Nana in front of other people." He smiled as he gently brushed her hair with his fingers. "Hmph! You''re teasing me again!" Elena looked away from him, feigning anger with her arms crossed. "Alright. Alright. I won''t tease you anymore." ric squeezed her bulging cheeks which earned another re from Elena. Suddenly, ric saw his reflection in the mirror. He was stunned. In the mirror was a young face, handsome and filled with vigor- silvery white tousled hair, chiseled jawline, and a pair of golden crimson-colored eyes. It was far from the haggard and depressed face that he was used to. "Elena, what is the date today?" He asked, his voice shaking with uncertainty and confusion. "The date? Hmm¡­ It''s the third of August, Year 208 of the Astanian Calendar." "Year 208?!" ric''s eyes widened. Countless thoughts shed in his mind in that instant. He had actually traveled 10 years into the past! Just then, he remembered something important. He grabbed Elena''s shoulders and asked with a hint of anxiety in his voice. "Where are my parents?" Elena was bewildered. He was acting a bit strangely this morning. "His lordship and the madam should be at the dining hall by now." She responded. Without bothering to change his clothes, ric hastily stepped out of his bedchamber and headed to the dining hall, a mixture of excitement and apprehension settling over him. "My lord! Wait for me!" Elena called out, but he didn''t stop. The servants in the hallway were surprised to see him running in his nightwear, but ric ignored them and headed straight to the dining hall. As soon as he got there, he saw a middle-aged man with a gaunt face. With broad shoulders and visible battle scars on his arms, he looked incredibly intimidating. This man was none other than Baron Lucas Silversword, the current head of House Silversword. The baron was known as the Shield of the North because of hismitment to defending the northern border of Astania. His strong martial power also solidified his position as one of the greatest warriors in the empire. However, five yearster, in the year 213 of the Astanian Calendar, the mighty baron would die and leave the world, full of regrets. Upon his death, House Silversword fell into the hands of his uncle and ric''s mother died a yearter due to her grief.@@novelbin@@ Sitting beside the baron was a woman who looked to be in herte twenties. Her long ck hair fell over her shoulders and she had a pair of obsidian eyes that radiated with gentleness. She carried herself with grace and she had this unique charm of a mature woman. This woman was ric''s mother, Maria Keller. Maria Keller was the daughter of a rich merchant. Just like her merchant father, she was also skilled in business management. It was because of her efforts that the impoverished House Silversword was able to umte a decent amount of wealth in recent years. Seeing his parents alive and well, ric felt the urge to cry once again. Dad¡­ Mom¡­ He had so many words to say, but it was stuck in his mouth. "What are you standing there for? Sit down." The baron''s stern voice drifted into his ears. His father was just as he had remembered, strict and cold. However, ric knew that behind his stern face was a loving father and husband who would do anything for his family. ric held back his emotions and took a seat beside his father. "Why are you still in your nightwear?" Maria asked with concern as she stared at her son''s face. Lucas didn''t say anything, but it looked like he also wanted to hear ric''s exnation. "About that¡­ I woke upte¡­" ric found a random excuse. "You should sleep early tonight. It won''t be good for your body if you always sleepte." His mother reminded him. "Yes, mother." ric smiled as he nodded his head. At the corner of his eyes, he noticed Elena sticking her head out by the door, peeking at him while making a funny face. ric beckoned to her. "Nana,e and sit beside me!" Elena was so shocked by his words that she immediately hid herself. Seeing this, ric chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Dad, Mom, I''d like to invite Elena to dine with us." Lucas and Maria were already aware of the close rtionship between ric and his young maidservant. In truth, they were already nning to make her his concubine as soon as she reached a marriageable age. "Alright. She can join us to eat." Lucas nodded. He then made a hand signal to the old butler who was standing behind him. "Elena,e in and sit with us," Maria called out gently, while the old butler quietly grabbed a chair for Elena. The young maidservant who was hiding outside jolted when she heard this. Oh my god! She was screaming nervously in her heart. She never thought that ric would actually boldly ask the baron and the madam to let her join them for breakfast. Left with no choice, Elena nervously entered the dining hall. She bowed at Lucas and Maria, her eyes shifted with anxiety. Meanwhile, the old butler ced a chair next to ric and returned to his spot behind the baron. "Come here, Nana!" ric patted the empty seat next to him. He even pulled it closer to him. Elena blushed in embarrassment when she heard him calling her with that nickname. Grr!! I told him not to call me that in front of others! She timidly lowered her head and walked towards the empty seat. After sitting down, she didn''t even dare lift her head. It was the first she had sat with them at the dinner table so she couldn''t help but feel uneasy. "Rx. We are just going to eat." She felt ric''s warm hand patting her head. "Stop teasing her. You are only making her ufortable." Maria gave him a look of reproach. "I-I''m fine, madam. Lord ric isn''t making me ufortable. I''m just a little bit nervous." Elena spoke in his defense. ric smugly smiled at his mother. Watching them bicker, the baron''s lips curved upwards. A whileter, the servants came in to bring their food. Chapter 2 SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent After a hearty meal with his family, ric went to the bathroom for a quick bath. Inside the bathroom, ric wasprehending how he was able to return to the past. Were all the things he experienced just a long nightmare? He wanted to make himself believe that it was just a dream, but he knew that he had truly traveled back in time. He sighed and sorted out his thoughts. Ten years from now, the current emperor of Astania would die. His death wouldter fracture the empire because of the civil war caused by his sons who were both vying for the throne. However, this wasn''t the most important thing in ric''s mind. He had to prevent the death of his family and the downfall of House Silversword! His main priority was to observe his uncle. That guy was the main culprit for the fall of House Silversword! He secretly plotted to take over Lucas''s position to rece him as the new head of the household. To achieve this, he bribed one of the servants and asked them to poison Lucas''s food. Even though Lucas was a powerful warrior, his body gradually weakened under the influence of the potent poison. That was how the mighty Baron Lucas Silversword fell. I should observe my Uncle''s movements discreetly. ric''s face turned cold as he recalled the image of that kind-looking middle-aged man. He might looked like a harmless guy from his outward appearance, but beneath that kind facade was a venomous beast of a human! Just the thought of him filled ric with profound rage. Out of nowhere, a transparent cyan screen suddenly appeared before him, almost making him jump up in surprise. [Loading system.] [Scanning the host.] ric Silversword [Knight Apprentice] EXP: 70/100 Potential: B Talent: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (D), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 17 Stamina: 18 Agility: 15 Vitality: 17 Endurance: 17 Mana: 3 Battle Points: 0 [You received a newbie gift pack.] An image of a golden gift box appeared on the screen. [Do you want to open the newbie gift pack?] [Yes] [No] ric was baffled by what he was seeing. He even thought that he was hallucinating. He closed his eyes, but when he opened them, the translucent cyan screen was still there. He reached out his hand and tried to touch the screen. [Yes] He identally clicked [Yes]. [Opening newbie gift pack¡­] [You received x1 SSS-ss Talent Card.] [You received 1000 Battle Points.] [You received x1 Elite Knight Card.] ric took his time to understand what was happening, but he was still perplexed. The screen disyed what seemed to be the quantification of his physical abilities. It also disyed his set of skills and even the progress of his training. Is it showing my abilities? His brain spasmed as he tried to understand what the letters represented. I''ll deal with thatter. Now what''s this newbie gift pack thing? From the newbie gift pack, he received two cards and 1000 battle points. One of the cards was golden in color and with a sword drawn on it. The other one was a blue card with the image of a knight. [Do you want to use the SSS-ss Talent Card?] [Yes] [No] The words on the screen were written in anguage that he couldn''t recognize, but strangely enough, his mind automatically tranted them into thenguage of Astania. After some hesitation, he clicked [Yes] [You awakened the SSS-ss Swordsmanship Talent.] Suddenly, his mind shook as if he had experienced enlightenment. The sword moves that he found difficult to execute in the past seemed to have be simple and easy to understand. He could even recall the subtle movements that he failed to notice before. He was in this magical state ofprehension for almost ten minutes. When he regained his senses, he finally realized what that sword talent thing was. What the hell?! It actually helped meprehend those difficult sword movements! What is going on here?! He was dumbfounded. I think I stumbled upon an immortal relic! This thing might be left behind by an immortal. My return to the past might be rted to this as well. He absentmindedly stared at the cyan screen. [Do you want to use the Elite Knight Card?] [Yes] [No] I wonder what this card will do¡­ It won''t summon an Elite Knight, right? ricughed, but his smile suddenly stiffened when he realized that it was possible. Thinking about this, he hastily stepped out of the bathroom and headed to his bedchamber. He didn''t dare use the card while he was still in the bathroom. After changing into a new set of clothes, he focused his attention on the screen and clicked [Yes]. In that instant, a blinding light forced him to close his eyes. When he opened them, a middle-aged man fully dressed in leather battle armor was already standing before him. He exuded a mighty aura unique only to those who had gone through numerous life-and-death battles. He had long wavy ck hair and a pair of brown eyes that seemed to have seen through the darkness of the world. Seeing this person, ric''s widened in shock and he couldn''t help but take a step back. "My name is Gnar. I swear my eternal loyalty to you, my lord!" The middle-aged man half knelt as he swore the knight''s oath. I really summoned an Elite Knight! No way! ric couldn''t believe that his guess turned out to be right. To be an Elite Knight, one had to umte enough mana and train their physical body to a certain extent. Before his death, ric was an Elite Knight and it took him years of arduous training to be one. If his training time from childhood was to be counted, it took him more than twenty years to be an Elite Knight. "Rise," ric muttered as he observed the middle-aged Elite Knight. Hearing his words, Gnar stood up. ric was a tall guy himself. He was at 196 centimeters, but he was still a head shorter than Gnar. This guy might be as tall as his father, or probably even taller. Now, how should I exin this to my parents?@@novelbin@@ ric paced around the room, thinking of a good excuse that wouldn''t make his parents suspicious. At this moment, he heard a series of knocks on the door, followed by Elena''s cute voice. "My lord, it''s time for your training. His Lordship wants you to head to the training grounds as soon as possible." "Alright. I''ll be there!" Looking at the still Gnar, ric didn''t know what to do. What should I do with this guy? I can''t let him stay here. ric sighed helplessly. From the looks of it, his only choice was to bring Gnar with him to the training grounds. Leaving him inside his bedchamber might cause chaos especially if the servants or guards would find him. "I''ll bring you to the training grounds. It''s best if you don''t speak when someone asks you things, but in the off-chance that you have no choice, this is what you should tell them¡­" ric taught him how to respond in case his parents asked him some questions. Gnar was silent the entire time so he couldn''t tell if the guy had remembered his words. "Follow me." ric shook his head. He could only make an excuse on the spot. Whether his father would believe it, he couldn''t care less anymore. As they headed out of the mansion, Gnar''s presence quickly attracted attention. "Who is that guy? I haven''t seen him before." "He''s so tall!" "Is he a knight?" ric ignored the curious servants and brought Gnar directly to the training grounds. When they arrived, everyone turned their gazes and looked at them. Lucas stopped his training and turned his gaze. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the man walking respectfully one step behind his son. "Father." Lucas nodded indifferently. "That man is?" Here goes nothing¡­ ric put on a calm look as he responded. "This is Gnar. He is an Elite Knight. He is now working for me." Hearing this, Lucas was inwardly surprised. It was difficult to hire Elite Knights. Even the allure of money couldn''t move them. This is because most knights didn''t like to work under someone. House Silversword only had three Elite Knights. One was themander of the guards. The other one was the old butler, and thest one was ric''s uncle. As for Lucas, he was already a Transcendent Knight, the realm beyond the Elite Knight. The fact that ric managed to invite an Elite Knight to work for him made Lucas quite pleased. "I see. He can stay here and practice with you. I will process his identificationter. As long as he doesn''t have aplicated background, I will ept him as one of us." ric was secretly relieved that his father didn''t ask more questions. "Don''t worry, father. Gnar is a wandering Elite Knight. He doesn''t have any issues with his background." Lucas nodded upon hearing his words. "You are already eighteen. As someone who will inherit my position, it is necessary for you to have your own trusted subordinates. You should start gathering more people on your side. However, their allowances and sries will be your problem. Do you understand?" Chapter 3 Daily Mission "Yes, father! I will find a way to earn money. I won''t touch our family''s treasury." As someone from the future, he knew many locations where he could find valuable things that were worth a lot of money. He also knew which businesses they could invest in. "You don''t need to feel pressured. If you need help. Don''t hesitate to ask for my help." Lucas said before he went back to his training. ric bowed gratefully to his father. He then turned his head to Gnar. "Gnar, you can train on your own here. You can find the equipment there. Just be careful when you are swinging your sword." Gnar nodded. "Yes, my lord." He cupped his fists and went to grab some training equipment, to begin with his training.@@novelbin@@ Meanwhile, ric went to the weapon rack and grabbed a steel sword. He now had the SSS-ss Swordsmanship Talent so he wanted to find out if it wasn''t a mere fluke that he hadprehended all those sword movements. Some of the guards curiously looked over. ric rarely came here to practice so they wanted to see what he would do. Normally, people in the training grounds do simple physical training to work on their muscles and strength. Some also hone their weapon proficiency with repeated exercises. As for the knights, other than physical training and weapon proficiency training, they also do mana training. ric was only a Knight Apprentice so he still couldn''t control the mana in his body. Before starting with his sword training, ric did some light exercises to warm up his muscles. However, before he could start, the translucent cyan screen appeared before him. He looked around and checked if the others could see the screen, but no one showed any reaction. So I''m the only one who can see this thing? ric was no longer surprised. He already believed that this thing was an immortal relic and he was nning to make full use of it. Why wouldn''t he use it when it''s already handed to him on a silver tter? Only fools would do that. ___ Daily Mission: 100 pushups 100 sit-ups 100 pull-ups 10 km run 100 vertical shes 100 diagonal shes 100 horizontal shes 100 stabs Rewards: 10 Battle Points, 1 EXP, and 1 Stat Point Penalty for failure: - 1 random stat point ____ This¡­ What is this? ric stared at the tutorial for the weird training exercises on the daily mission. Each exercise had a tutorial so he quickly understood them. So if I do these exercises, I will be rewarded. There is even a penalty¡­ ric still had no clue about the specifics of the translucent cyan screen. However, his instincts told him that something good would happen if he followed the weird exercises. So that''s how you do a push-up. I just need a hundred, right? After watching the push-up tutorial, ric followed the posture and started doing push-ups. The guards stared at him in confusion. The exercises they normally did were lifting heavy objects, wall climbing with weights, or sparring with training weapons. "What is Lord ric doing?" "Is that a secret exercise to train the body?" Lucas also noticed his peculiar exercises. He rubbed his chin and observed ric. That exercise puts pressure on the arms and the shoulders. Every movement also squeezes the core muscles. Where did he learn that from? ric ignored them and focused onpleting the mission. At first, he thought that it would be easy, but he realized that it was actually very tiring. Just doing 100 push-ups alone made his shoulders and arms feel a bit sore. 100 push-ups ?? ric rested for half a minute before he proceeded with the next exercise. 100 sit-ups ?? 100 pull-ups ?? 10 km run ?? After an hour, he finallypleted half of the exercises. So it''s finally time for the sword exercises. He muttered after seeing the tutorial for vertical shes. It was just a simple sh with no shy movements. ric grabbed the training sword he had temporarily put aside earlier. Swish! Swish! He followed the posture of the tutorial. The posture was differentpared to what he normally did duringbat. The vertical sh on the tutorial looked swift, urate, and graceful. "Wow! Is that a sword technique?!" "It looks like a normal sh, but the movements are more stylish and sophisticated." As a Transcendent Knight sword user, Lucas discovered something more in the vertical shes that ric performed. That posture looks more natural than the orthodox stance. It also uses less arm strength since the force is drawn from every part of the body. The more Lucas observed, the more astonished he became. 100 vertical shes ?? 100 diagonal shes ?? 100 horizontal shes ?? Half an hourter, only one exercise was left. ric was covered in sweat. He wasn''t used to all those exercises so his muscles were sore. Afterining inwardly, he watched the sword stab tutorial. His SSS-ss Sword Talent helped him to quickly grasp the movements of the exercise. He didn''t even need to rewatch the tutorial. Ten minutester¡­ 100 stabs ?? [You received 10 Battle Points.] [You received 1 EXP.] [You received 1 Stat Point.] ric Silversword [Knight Apprentice] EXP: 71/100 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 17 + Stamina: 18 + Agility: 15 + Vitality: 17 + Endurance: 17 + Mana: 3 Battle Points: 1010 Stat Points: 1 ric saw the changes on the screen which disyed the quantification of his physical abilities. What is this EXP thing? Will I be a Knight once it reaches a hundred? A look of anticipation shed in his eyes as he thought of this. In hisst life, he only became a Knight when he was in his twenties. What do these battle points do? Unfortunately, there was no tutorial on these things so he could only temporarily put it aside. Suddenly, he noticed that there were plus (+) symbols on his stats. These symbols weren''t here thest time I checked it. Out of curiosity, he clicked the ''+'' symbol on his strength. + 1 Strength A message appeared on the screen, followed by his Strength going from 17 to 18. The Stat Points also turned to 0. It finally dawned on him. So the stat points can increase my physical abilities! What a pity! I only got one from the daily mission. He tried testing his strength by lifting some weights. It wasn''t much, but he did feel a slight increase in his strength. Sweet! "ric!" Lucas'' voice interrupted his thoughts. "What can I do for you, father?" Lucas approached him and said. "Those exercises you performed¡­ Where did you learn them?" ric scratched his head as he thought of a random excuse. "I learned them myself." "By yourself?" Lucas was surprised to hear that. ric nodded. "Yes. I thought that doing those exercises could help me develop my body." "Then what about those sword techniques?" Lucas sensed the fluctuations in his eyes, but he didn''t expose his son. "That¡­ I felt that the orthodox sword stances put way more emphasis on strength. This is good, but in the battlefield where stamina is important, you need to preserve as much strength as possible. That''s why I made some adjustments with the postures to make them less draining to the muscles." This was ric''sment on the orthodox sword stance. He felt that the ones shown in the tutorials were better. He didn''t know why he felt that way. He guessed that it was rted to his SSS-ss Swordsmanship Talent. After awakening that talent, it was as if he could see through the mistakes in any sword movements with just one look. Lucas became silent. He felt that ric wasn''t saying the whole truth. There must be some kind of secret rted to those exercises, but why did he perform them in front of the others? I should ask him again next time. "Alright. You may go." Lucas waved his hand. ric bowed lightly. He then left the training ground with Gnar. After they left, Lucas grabbed his sword. It was a two-handed heavy sword that was simr to the one Gnar had. Lucas closed his eyes and recalled ric''s posture when he performed the sword shes. Seeing this, everyone immediately gave him some space. A momentter, Lucas opened his eyes and abruptly swung his heavy sword. SWISH!!! The sword made a sharp humming sound and even caused a violent fluctuation of the wind. Lucas was stunned by the unexpected power behind that sh. Chapter 4 Becoming a Knight 2nd of September, Year 208 on the Astanian Calendar. It has been a month since ric returned to the past. He spent the whole month of August adjusting to his younger body. He also familiarized himself with the people and the environment. Everything was happening exactly like how it had yed out in his past life. Other than doing his daily training, ric also ventured into business with the help of his mother. Even though he knew about the future, he was still aplete newbie in business. He realized how awesome his mother was when he started his own business. Today my EXP will reach a hundred after Iplete my daily mission. ric headed to the training ground as he inspected his profile. ric Silversword [Knight Apprentice] EXP: 99/100 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 18 + Stamina: 18 + Agility: 15 + Vitality: 17 + Endurance: 17 + Mana: 3 Battle Points: 1290 Stat Points: 28 He had already umted 28 stat points, but he had no ns to allocate them for the time being. "Good morning, my lord!" "Sir Gnar is also here!" Lucas wasn''t there so ric immediately started his training. 100 push-ups ?? 100 sit-ups ?? 100 pull-ups ?? 10 km run ?? 100 vertical shes ?? 100 diagonal shes ?? 100 horizontal shes ?? 100 stabs ?? [You received 10 Battle Points.] [You received 1 EXP.] [You received 1 Stat Point.] [You have umted enough EXP to advance. Do you want to use 1000 Battle Points to advance to the next realm?] [Yes] [No] I finally seeded! ric was thrilled when he saw the system prompts. So that''s what the Battle Points are for. ric thought as he clicked [Yes]. - 1000 Battle Points [You have been promoted to the Knight realm.] ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 0/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 18 ¡ª> 28 + Stamina: 18 ¡ª> 28 + Agility: 15 ¡ª> 25 + Vitality: 17 ¡ª> 27 + Endurance: 17 ¡ª> 27 + Mana: 3 ¡ª> 13 + Battle Points: 300 Stat Points: 29 All his stats increased by ten points after his advancement. It was a qualitative leap in strength! Just then, a burst of mana leaked out of his body. The nearby guards who were in the middle of their training were stunned when they sensed the fluctuations of mana. Although mana was invisible, trained fighters like them were sensitive to it. "Lord ric has be a Knight!" Someone shouted. Hearing this, everyone immediately turned their gazes to ric. The normal guards could hardly detect it, but the few Knights among them sensed the mana coalescing within ric''s body. "An eighteen-year-old Knight! Unbelievable!" One of the older Knights muttered in disbelief. Knights were individuals who had adapted to mana after tempering their bodies to withstand this invisible energy. They were fearsome warriors who could take on tens of normal soldiers at once! To be a Knight, one had to temper a body capable of withstanding mana. This process would normally take a long time. In the empire, the youngest to ever be a Knight was from over a hundred years ago. He was sixteen at that time. He was also the current emperor of Astania, Emperor John Phillip Astania! He was already more than a hundred years old at this moment, but because of his high level of attainment in martial arts, he managed to live a long life. I really became a Knight! ric clenched his fists in excitement. In his past life, he only became a Knight when he was 24 years old. "What''s going on here?" Lucas rushed here when he heard themotion. When he caught sight of his son, he immediately sensed the fluctuation of mana in his body. "ric, you''ve be a Knight?" He muttered in disbelief. Even for himself, he only became a Knight when he was 22! "Good! I knew you would do better than me!" Lucas couldn''t help but feel proud of his son. "You deserve a celebration! We will host a party for you next week to celebrate your advancement!" Lucas couldn''t conceal the smile on his face. He was happy for his son''s advancement. "That''s too much, father. There''s no need to celebrate it." ric scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed since he didn''t advance the normal way. "How can you say that? In Astania, only His Highness the crown prince achieved a simr feat! You should be proud of yourself, my son. I have already decided. We will have a party. I will also invite my friends over to join the celebration!" It was the first time he had seen this side of Lucas. In ric''s past life, his father was already gone when he became a Knight. Looking at how happy his father was, ric smiled and nodded. "Alright, father. I''ll leave the preparations to you. I still have to visit the shop to see how everyone is doing so I''ll take my leave first."@@novelbin@@ "Hold on. Are you talking about the workshop you recently opened?" "That''s right. My workers just started with the production two weeks ago. The products should be ready by now. I want to check them myself." ric replied. "I see. In that case, you should invite your workers to join the celebration." Hearing this, ric''s eyes lit up. "Alright. I''ll make sure that they wille." Lucas smiled and waved his hand impatiently. "You may go. I still have to send the invitation letters to my friends." "Yes, father." ric bowed and watched him leave. Looking at his father''s excited figure, he couldn''t help but shake his head. So he can also smile like that. After Lucas left, the guards immediately surrounded ric and congratted him again. ric spent another ten minutes thanking everyone before he left the training ground with Gnar. The workshop he opened was outside their territory. It was located in a nearby city, Vale. It was a ce with hundreds of thousands of residents! To get there, ric took a horse-drawn carriage. They traveled for almost an hour before they arrived. Looking at the tall walls that surrounded the city, ric''s eyes burned with passion. I will make our territory bigger than this ce. With the help of the immortal relic and his knowledge of the future, he was confident that he could build an even more prosperous city than Vale! A momentter, their carriage finally entered the city. ric''s workshop was located at the heart of the city. There was a lot of traffic there so he bought an old workshop and rebuilt it. "We''re here, my lord!" The coachman''s voice drifted into his ears. ric stepped out of the carriage and looked at the newly refurbished two-story building. It was far from the decrepit building that it was before. "Stay here, Gnar. I''ll go in by myself." "Yes, my lord." Gnar bowed his head. ric entered the workshop and the first thing that greeted him was the fragrant scent of lilies and jasmine. This is it! This is the smell that I was familiar with! As soon as he entered the shop, the two female shop attendants were stunned. "My lord! You should have told us that you are visiting today! We could have waited for you outside¡­" One of thedies, a young woman with average facial features but a bombshell of a body, eximed as she bowed her head deeply. "Why would I make you wait outside? It''s too hot out there." ric shook his head. "By the way, where is the manager?" He asked. "The manager is inspecting the products in the production room, my lord. He didn''t want us to go in so we can only wait here." The one who answered was the otherdy, a woman in herte twenties. She had fair white skin and above-average facial features. "I see. Are there anypleted products?" "Yes, my lord! The manager brought them in this morning. Would you like to see them?" The woman with a bombshell body replied. "Yes. Let''s have a look." ric nodded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. The twodies walked to the cab and took out five rectangr boxes. They then carefully ced them on the table. "Please inspect them, my lord. The manager worked really hard to make them." The fair-skinned woman remarked. Nodding his head, ric opened the boxes one by one. Soon, the fragrant scent of different kinds of flowers assailed his nostrils. Inside the boxes was an item called scented soap. This thing was used to cleanse the body and rid it of dirt. In his past life, it was a very popr product among women, especially to the nobility. Before it was created, people used the older version of soap wherein they used animal fats and wood ashes mixed with water. It had an unpleasant smell, but it could remove dirt. The scented soap was created by a middle-agedmoner. When it was released to the market, it quickly became famous. The man who created it also became rich overnight, but the value of his product attracted the attention of a corrupt official whoter ordered his arrest. His wealth was confiscated and even the recipe of his product was interrogated out of his mouth. He waster executed by the official. ric heard about it since it became the talk of the town in his past life when the official''s corruption was discovered. This will be my source of money in the future¡­ ric could already see money rolling in his pockets. Chapter 5 Visiting the Orphanage ric entered the production room after inspecting thepleted products. "Didn''t I tell you that you''re not allowed in-" "Eh? My lord! Why are you here? This ce is dirty!" A middle-aged man with shaggy hair and a messy beard was startled when he saw ric. "Vince, you look like you didn''t sleep for a few days." ric smiled wryly at him.@@novelbin@@ This man was the creator of soap, a talented individual with an innovative mind. The only bad thing about him was that he only takes a bath once a week. It was very ironic since he was the man who brought soap into the world. "It''s fine. I slept two days ago." Vince waved it off as if it was a normal thing. ric could only shake his head helplessly. This guy was so obsessed with his inventions that he would even go as far as skipping rest and meals. He was truly a peculiar man. "You should stop that unhealthy lifestyle, Vince. It won''t be good for your body. You''re not young anymore. You shouldn''t overdo it." Vince stared at him weirdly. "Sometimes I think that you are not a noble, my lord. Nobles don''t care about their servants'' lives. You are different. That''s why I decided to work for you." Hearing this, ric smiled and shook his head. "Enough about me. Are the products ready to be put up for sale?" When he mentioned the products, Vince eagerly showed off his creations. "These are all the soaps I made, my lord. They only need to be packaged in boxes and they will be ready to be put up for sale." "How many have you made?" ric asked. Vince rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "I think I made around six hundred pieces." "Six hundred? That''s not enough." ric shook his head. This was far from the ideal amount he was looking for. "If you want to increase the production, we will need more people, but there is a high chance that our recipe will be leaked," Vince muttered. "Don''t worry about that. I''ll take care of the personnel issue. Just take some rest for now. You can begin with the production after I send the new workers over." ric knew where to find trustworthy people. "Ugh. Fine. You''re the boss. I''ll listen to you." Vince clicked his tongue. ric chuckled when he saw his expression. "By the way, there will be a celebration in the mansion next week. You guys better be there. I''ll send you the invitation cardster." "A celebration? Is it for a birthday?" Vince raised an eyebrow, a curious look hung on his face. ric smiled mysteriously. "You''ll know soon." Seeing that he had no intention to tell him, Vince shrugged his shoulders. "Close the shop and go home. I''ll take my leave first." ric patted his shoulder and stepped out of the production room. ric also informed the twodies about the celebration. After some small talk with them, he left the shop. "Let''s go," ric said to Gnar who was waiting outside the shop. He entered the carriage while Gnar sat beside the coachman. "Let''s head to the orphanage," ric muttered with his arms crossed. "Yes, my lord!" The coachman acknowledged. He then whipped the horses and urged them to move. In Vale, there existed a ce for homeless kids. It was a small orphanage founded by an old couple. In his past life, he befriended a few soldiers who came from that ce. They called it their home. Fifteen minutester, they arrived in front of a rundown three-story building. It was surrounded by different kinds of nts and fruit trees. Even from inside the carriage, ric could already hear the sound of the childrenughing. ric stepped out of the carriage and observed the building. It looked like an abandoned house. On the surface of the building were traces of repairs that lookedpletely out of ce. With a nce, one could tell that it was done by an amateur who had no knowledge of carpentry. Outside the building, ric saw a few children dressed in dirty linen clothes running around the vegetable garden. "Gnar, you better stay here. You will only scare off the children if youe with me." ric stopped Gnar from following him. The guy was too intimidating for the children. They might cry if they saw him. "Yes, my lord." Gnar didn''t show any reaction and bowed his head. At this moment, the children finally noticed their presence. They were scared when they saw Gnar''s towering height and ferocious appearance. They stopped ying and quickly hid behind the trees. They stuck their heads out and nervously watched ric who was moving towards them. "Hey! Who are you!? What''s your business here!?" ric turned his head and saw a young man who looked to be in histe teens. Behind him was an old couple walking side by side. "You rude, kid! Stop shouting at our guest!" The woman who seemed to be in her fifties scolded the teen and beat him with a broom. "Grandma, that guy looks suspicious!" The teen pointed at ric with a look of defiance. Seeing this guy, ric couldn''t help butugh. So this is what you are like as a kid, Rasmus. This rebellious teen was one of the few people he had befriended in his past life after he was conscripted by the crown prince. Rasmus was abandoned by his parents at birth and he was raised by the old couple at this orphanage so he was extremely protective of them. The old man was just calmly observing the situation when he took notice of the insignia on ric''s clothes. His eyes shed and he immediately pulled Rasmus behind him as he asked cautiously. "My lord, are you perhaps from House Silversword?" "House Silversword?!" Rasmus was stunned when he heard this. Even though he was amoner, he had received some education from the old couple. He was told that House Silversword was the biggest reason why Vale was able to stand firm despite the continuous attacks from outside forces. Those stories made Rasmus admire them. "That''s right. My name is ric Silversword. I hope you are not offended by my unannounced visit." ric cupped his fists- a standard salute of the knights. Seeing this, the old man returned the salute. From his snappy posture and resolute eyes, ric sensed the valor of a veteran knight. "You honor us with your presence, my lord! I am William Dominic, a former knight of Astania." After exchanging some greetings with the old couple, ric extended his hand to Rasmus and smiled. "Hello! I''m sorry if I had offended you. Can you tell me your name?" It''s good to see you again, my friend¡­ ric''s eyes shed with emotion. Memories of Rasmus appeared in his mind and yed like a movie. After knowing that he was from House Silversword, Rasmus was no longer hostile. "I should be the one apologizing. You can just call me Rasmus, my lord." He scratched his head, feeling embarrassed by his earlier behavior. "Rasmus is it? We should be of the same age. There''s no need to be formal." "Let''s head in, my lord. We can continue our conversation inside." The retired knight, William, invited him to their humble home. Chapter 6 Alarics Generous Offer "My lord, can you tell us why you have decided to visit our humble home?" William asked with a serious look as soon as they took their seats. "There''s no need to be nervous. I came here because I was made aware of your tough financial situation. Your orphanage takes in children who have no home. You give them food, and clothes, and even provide them with basic education." "You have my respect." "However, it must have been tough raising the children without sufficient funding. I believe you guys have already tried asking the officials for some donation, but you were rejected." William sighed and shook his head. "It is as you have said, my lord. We tried asking the officials for financial support, but they didn''t even bother to speak with us. We also tried reaching out to some merchants, but they actually wanted to get the young girls in exchange for funding. How could we agree to their ridiculous demands?" He looked agitated when he mentioned that. "Since then, we started growing our own food. We also raised some livestock. We then sell the extra vegetables and fruits at the market for money. That''s how we managed to survive until now." The old woman, Josephine, cried, probably saddened by their difficult situation. Rasmus held the old woman''s hand as he held back his tears from falling. ric felt sorry for what they had experienced. "How about this?" "I will give financial support to the orphanage. I will also send some teachers to give the children a proper education." The faces of Josephine and Rasmus brightened when they heard his words. Only William remained calm in the face of his tempting offer. "What''s the catch, my lord?" There was no free lunch in this world. "In exchange, the orphanage will send some children to work for my shop." William''s expression changed so ric quickly exined. "It''s not a difficult job." "They just need to make something for me. They will also get paid daily for the job." ric took out a small box from his pocket and showed it to William. "This is the product of my shop." William and the other two curiously looked at the item inside the box. When William opened it, the fragrant scent of lilies pped their faces. "This is!" "How fragrant!" "It smells like lilies." ric smiled when he saw their reaction. "That thing is called scented soap. We haven''t released it in the market yet since we don''t have a lot in stock. Once we get enough manpower, we will begin with the production and sell it as soon we have enough supply for the market." William closed the box and put it on the table. "What does this thing do, my lord?" He asked. "It''s simr to the soap we use to clean the body. The only difference is that we don''t use animal fats, but flower oils and some other ingredients. Using it will make your body smell nice." ric had already memorized his spiel. "That good?" Josephine looked interested in this improved product. "Yes." "To tell you the truth, this is my first business so I want it to seed." "What do you think?" William frowned, seemingly in deep thought. "How long do the children need to work? And how much are you paying them?" ric was thrilled. It looked like he had already agreed. He only needed to give the old man a satisfactory response to get his approval. "Hm¡­ we can''t let the children below twelve years old work since they are still too young and clumsy for the job. They will have to work for six hours a day and they will get two rest days every week. As for their sry, I will give them 20 copper coins per day and four copper coins for every extra hour of work they do." "That much? I''m in! I''ll do it!" Rasmus eagerly said, but he immediately shut his mouth when he saw William giving him a stern nce. Two copper coins are already enough for a decent meal. The average sry in the city is only ten copper coins per day. He is actually willing to give the children 20 copper coins for six hours of work. It''s a generous offer, but I''m still worried about the children''s safety. His product seems like it will be a hotmodity once it is release in the market so there is a high chance that it will attract unwanted attention from shady characters. William was in a dilemma. ric''s offer was very generous and he was even willing to offer financial support to the orphanage. The only thing that he was worried about was the safety of the children. "Can you guarantee their safety?" William stared deeply at ric. "I know what you are worried about, but you can rest assured. I will station one Elite Knight and four Knights at the store. If there''s a troublemaker, they will be taken care of right away." ric knew the value of the scented soap so it was necessary to ce some countermeasures. "An Elite Knight?! You''re willing to station someone that powerful in your shop?" William widened his eyes in disbelief. "That''s right." ric nodded. He didn''t want to repeat the tragedy that happened in his past life. To ensure the safety of Vince and the rest of the workers, a deterrent force had to be deployed. William was silent for a moment. After what seemed like an eternity, he looked deeply at ric. "We ept your offer, my lord, but if the children are harmed, we will take them back right away." Hearing this, ric joyfully agreed. "Great! I look forward to working with everyone!" With that, ric finally secured the workforce he needed. All that was left was to teach the children how to make scented soap. "When will they start working?" William asked. "They still need to learn how to make the product." "I will send someone to pick up the children tomorrow. You can also go with them if you want to know where they will be working."@@novelbin@@ Suddenly, Rasmus asked with a cheeky smile. "My lord, are we also paid during the training?" Josephine immediately pulled him and forced a smile. "Please don''t mind him, my lord. We didn''t properly teach him manners so he developed this kind of behavior." ric chuckled. "It''s fine. Just let him be. I like his attitude. Anyway, to answer your question¡­Yes, the children will receive payment during the training. It''s part of the job so they will be properlypensated." "However¡­" "I don''t n on letting you work at the shop, Rasmus." "Huh? Why? Is it because of my attitude?" Rasmus''s face fell when he heard this. He was only a year away from bing an adult so he wanted to start earning some money. Josephine and William also stared at him curiously, wondering what this was all about. ric shook his head. "It''s not about that. I have a better proposition for you, but you will need to get your guardian''s approval." Rasmus looked confused. "I n to bring some talented children to the estate and train them to be Knights." There were plenty of talented individuals among themoners, but because of theck of opportunity, their potential was buried. In his past life, there were some people who had revealed their enormous potential after they were forced to join the civil war. Unlike most people who struggled to control mana, they were able to control this energy with ease. They progressed faster than the others and quickly rose to power. If he could gather those people, ric would have enough manpower to stop the civil war. That was his ultimate goal. He didn''t want to go through that hell again. That war caused devastating damage to the empire and it brought misery to a lot of people. Rasmus felt his blood pumping when he heard this. It was his dream to be a soldier. As for bing a Knight, that was his lifelong goal. How could he not be excited when a chance to be one was presented to him? "That¡­" Rasmus stared at William with a pleading look. "Grandpa, please I want to be a Knight!" Seeing him like this, William sighed helplessly. "Alright. Alright." "Are you sure about this, Rasmus?" ric spoke with all seriousness. "Once you begin with the training, there is no turning back anymore. You will have less freedom and you will have to serve House Silversword." Josephine and William didn''t say anything. They were Rasmus''s guardians, but the final decision was still in his hands. "You should think it over before you make a decision. Your choice will affect your future so you should discuss it with your guardians." ric didn''t want to force him. William and Josephine stared gratefully at him upon hearing his words. "I will take my leave first. You can give me your response tomorrow." ric stood up and bid them farewell. Watching the departing carriage, William patted Rasmus''s shoulder. "You should follow your heart, Rasmus. This might be the opportunity that you have been waiting for. I know that you want to be a Knight. House Silversword is a good choice and Lord ric seems like a good leader as well." "I made a promise that I would protect everyone, but I barely know how to wield a sword. I hate how powerless I am! If I had the power, my brothers and sisters wouldn''t have to suffer anymore!" "Grandpa, I have already made my decision!" Chapter 7 Dragon Tail Fern ric returned to House Silversword''s territory after he visited the orphanage. The first thing he did upon his return was to gather the money he had saved up over the years. This should be enough to pay the children for two weeks, but I still need more money to fulfill my promise to William. ric promised that he would donate funds to the orphanage. However, his savings were far from enough. He didn''t want to use the household''s money since he had promised his father that he wouldn''t touch it. It would be embarrassing if he went back on his words. He had to gather funds as quickly as possible. In his past life, there were rare items discovered by wanderers. Some of them were of great value and they even caused major upheavals when they were found. ric suddenly thought of one particr item found on the eastern side of Vale. It was a miracle herb called Dragon Tail Fern. It got its name from its whip-like features that made it look like a miniature dragon tail from certain angles. This miracle herb was capable of tempering the human body, but this wasn''t its most important function. Consuming this herb could also aid the Knights in their mana training, speeding up their progress twofold! It was also because of this that this herb was sold at sky-high prices. The only problem was that it was so difficult to find them since they only grow in certain conditions. ric knew where he could find this herb and it wasn''t just a single stalk. From what he could remember, the number of Dragon Tail Fern found in that ce was in the hundreds! If he could gather all the Dragon Tail Ferns from that ce, he would have enough money to fund the orphanage for the next three years and he would still be left with a decent amount for himself. However¡­ There was a minor problem. That ce was the home of a ferocious creature with a threat level ssified as ''Fatal''. Monsters were graded based on their threat levels- the degree of danger they posed to the civilians. Fatal-grade monsters were already capable of harnessing mana and they also possessed intelligence far greater than normal animals. A normal warrior or even a Knight Apprentice would be helpless when faced with such a creature. Usually, a team of Knights would be dispatched when a monster of the Fatal-grade was causing havoc. ric had to thoroughly prepare for his trip to that ce. I need to bring more people with me. Although he had Gnar who was an Elite Knight, he nned to bring more Knights with him in case the information he had was wrong. His information about that ce was only based on the rumors he had heard in his past life so it was better to take some precautions. ric wore his battle armor and equipped the reinforced steel sword he got from Lucas as a gift. After making sure that he didn''t miss anything, he stepped out of his room. "My lord, where are you headed to?" Elena was startled when she saw him inbat-ready attire. Looking at her worried expression, ric gently smiled at her. "I will hunt some wild animals for dinner." He didn''t tell her the truth. Telling her would only make her needlessly worried. Elena looked around. After making sure that no one was there, she shyly grabbed his hand. "You must be careful out there, my lord. I heard from the Knights that there''s a Fatal-Grade monster lurking outside the territory." Feeling her soft and warm hand, ric squeezed it gently. "Don''t worry. I''m not going out alone. I will bring Gnar and a few guys with me." After reassuring her, he told her to stay close to his mother while he was gone. He didn''t know when his uncle would return to the mansion so it was better for her to stay with Maria for the time being. Elena would be safe as long as she was with her. After sending Elena to his mother, ric went to his father''s study room. He needed Lucas''s permission to mobilize the Knights. He also didn''t n on keeping this from him. The Knights were loyal to his father so he wouldn''t be able to hide the details of this trip. Since that''s the case, he might as well tell him the truth. Soon, he arrived at his father''s study room which was located at the topmost floor of the mansion. He knocked on the door. "Come in." Lucas''s stern voice echoed from inside the room. ric pushed the door open and stepped inside. He saw Lucas writing on a piece of paper, looking incredibly focused. Standing behind him was the old butler, Bastian, who bowed upon seeing that the visitor was ric. Noticing this, Lucas put down his pen and raised his head. When he realized that it was his son, his face broke into a smile. "Do you need anything from me?" Lucas pointed at the seat in front of his desk, gesturing for him to sit down. ric nodded to the old butler before he bowed to Lucas. He then took his seat. "Father, I heard of rumors that a Dragon Tail Fern was found in the eastern side of Vale." "I would like to investigate the area to see if it''s true." Hearing this, Lucas chuckled. "And here I thought it was something serious." "You don''t need my permission for this. You can go there if you want, but you need to be careful. There are reported sightings of monsters in that ce so you must exercise caution." "I know." ric nodded. "The reason I came here is because I need your permission to mobilize the Knights." Lucas raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why will you bring them there? Gnar should be able to handle the monsters there." "It''s just for precaution." ric shook his head, thinking of a good excuse that wouldn''t make his father suspicious. "After all, we still haven''t investigated the credibility of the rumors. I would like to bring them there since there is a possibility that this is a trap." He added. Lucas nodded his head. "You have a point. The rumors you heard might have been intentionally spread by someone to attract the public''s attention." "Since that''s the case, I will give you the authority to mobilize the Knights, but¡­ "¡­how many do you n to bring with you for this trip?" ric raised his hand. "I only need three." The household had a total of eight Knights. Three of them were stationed outside the territory, protecting the key businesses of the household. Only five were at the territory, waiting for their next missions. Lucas thought for a moment before he gave a nod of approval. "Alright. You can take this opportunity to sharpen your skills." "You just became a Knight and you stillcked practical experience in field operations. Whether the Dragon Tail Fern exists or not, this will be a good learning experience for you."@@novelbin@@ "Yes, father." Lucas gave him a few more reminders before he sent him out. Chapter 8 Henry, Rigor, and Aldrin ric gathered the Knights in front of the mansion after getting his father''s permission. The five Knights curiously stared at ric who was standing in front of them, wondering why he had gathered them. When they noticed his serious expression, they didn''t dare joke around. ric quietly studied them one by one.@@novelbin@@ These Knights were from his father''s generation so they were incredibly loyal to him. When Lucas died in his past life, they even wanted to follow him in death. If it wasn''t for Lucas''sst words telling them to protect ric, they might havemitted suicide when he took his final breath. These Knights were mostly simr in strength and skills, but there was one particr Knight who stood out from the rest. It was an older Knight who seemed to be in his fifties. He had short, graying hair and visible wrinkles on his forehead. He wasn''t that tall and was shorter than ric at around 180 centimeters. This man was Henry. He was the oldest Knight serving under the baron. He was also ric''s sword instructor when thetter was still a young boy. Among the five Knights, Henry was the most experienced so his presence was necessary for the trip. For thest two spots, he already had someone in mind. He turned his head to a bald, middle-aged Knight with a thick beard. He was as tall as ric, but his frame was bigger and he was also more muscr. The left side of his face had a tribal tattoo and he had piercings on his ears. This person was Rigor. Before he served as a Knight for House Silversword, he worked as a mercenary. He was a kind man, but he was cruel to his enemies. Thest person that ric would bring was the youngest of the five Knights. He was only in histe twenties so his potential was enormous. This man''s name was Aldrin. He was a bit shorter than ric at 189 centimeters. He had an ordinary face and tanned skin, but he had a well-built physique. In his past life, Aldrin joined him in the battle between the crown prince and the second prince. At that time, he was already an Elite Knight. After observing them, ric finally spoke. "Three of you will being with me for a trip to the eastern side of Vale." "I heard some rumors that a Dragon Tail Fern was found there." Upon hearing his words, their eyes shed with a glimmer of surprise. They were aware of how valuable that herb was. "For this trip, I will bring Henry, Rigor, and Aldrin." The faces of the three Knights whose names were called suddenly turned serious. "The ce where the Dragon Tail Fern was said to be found is in a cave at the end of the Red Toad Gorge." "ording to the rumors, there is a Fatal-Grade monster inside the cave. Our objective this time is to investigate the authenticity of the rumors and if it''s proven to be true, we must get our hands on those Dragon Tail Ferns!" There was a moment of silence before someone spoke. "My lord, if it''s just a Fatal-Grade monster, bringing Sir Gnar should be enough. Is there a reason why you are bringing us for the trip?" Henry asked, his eyebrows furrowed. A Fatal-Grade monster was stronger thanmon Knights, but it would be powerless against an experienced Elite Knight. They knew that Gnar wasn''t just a normal Elite Knight. Even the baron was full of praise for him. ric stared at the old Knight and replied. "You are right. Gnar is strong enough to handle a Fatal-Grade monster. However¡­" "¡­we still don''t know if there is only one monster inside that cave. Bringing you three is just for precaution." Hearing this, Henry nodded in understanding. "I see. I was thoughtless." ric waved his hand. "You three should prepare your equipment. We will depart as soon as you''re ready." "Yes, my lord!" The three chosen Knights responded in unison. As for the two who weren''t chosen, ric told them not to spread rumors about the trip before sending them away. Less than thirty minutester, the three Knights returned, already in their full gear. Henry wore leather armor with a metal breastte. His sword was tied to his waist and he also brought a small bag filled with rations and medicine. Meanwhile, Rigor who boasted strong physical strength was in full-body heavy steel armor. He had a diamond-shaped steel shield strapped on his back and his sword was tied to his waist. On the other hand, Aldrin looked rtively normalpared to them. He wore a simple leather armor that wouldn''t hinder his speed and movements. He was holding a spear in his right hand and he had two short swords strapped firmly on his back. "We are ready to go, my lord!" Henry reported after inspecting their equipment. ric nodded. "Alright. Let''s go!" Everyone jumped on their respective mounts which were a special breed of war horses called Wind Horse. Unlike ordinary horses, these horses were stronger and more agile, hence their name. Among them, Rigor''s war horse was the biggest. It was measured at more than 25 hands and weighed over 4000 pounds! Horses are measured in ''hands''. This has been the traditional method of measuring the horses even before Astania was established. One hand is equal to four inches, which is the average span of a human''s thumb and outstretched fingers. Even with Rigor''s massive weight which was further pronounced by his heavy armor, his Wind Horse didn''t seem to be greatly affected. "You should lose some weight, man. Don''t you feel pity for your horse?" Henry shook his head when he heard Rigor''s horse neighing in protest. Rigor gave the old Knight a sidelong nce before he snorted in response. "Mind your own business, old man." Aldrin chuckled when he heard their conversation. Just as they were about to leave, a cute voice suddenly drifted into their ears. "My lord, you must be careful out there!" Feeling surprised, everyone turned their heads. Standing at the mansion''s main door was Elena. She looked visibly embarrassed when she sensed everyone looking at her. ric didn''t expect this shy girl to say such things in front of the other Knights. "Don''t worry, Nana. I will be back soon." He promised as he gave her a reassuring smile. Hearing him call her ''Nana'' in the presence of other people made Elena''s cheeks blush. She harrumphed and stomped her foot before she sprinted inside the mansion with an abashed look. Seeing this, ric and the Knightsughed. Chapter 9 Heading to the Red Toad Gorge House Silversword''s estate was located at the heart of a small town called North Pine Town, a ce further south of Vale. Before the baron became the lord of the town, it was just a small vige with a few dozen families who earned their living from farming and hunting wild animals. It was only when House Silversword was established that this ce was developed into a town and gained some semnce of prosperity. Now, North Pine Town has over six thousand residents. When ric''s group passed by the town''s central square, they encountered some residents who greeted them enthusiastically. These people respected the baron and House Silversword. They believed that it was because of the presence of the baron and the household that North Pine Town managed to grow into what it is now. To the residents'' enthusiastic greetings, ric simply smiled and waved his hand. They were in a hurry so they didn''t linger in the town to chat with the residents. Approximately a thousand meters outside North Pine Town was the Evergreen Forest. It was a forest filled with tall evergreens that towered above the ground. ric and the Knights were familiar with the forest since it was their hunting ground. No one spoke along the way and their faces turned increasingly serious the moment they stepped inside the forest. Thin rays of sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, lighting up the forest with an ethereal glow. From here, the group had to follow a narrow path which was just barely enough for a carriage to pass through. This trail was a shortcut that led to the eastern side of Vale. It was a rarely used route so the road was uneven. However, to the trained horses, this jagged path was just like a walk in the park, not troubling them in the slightest. The reason why this particr trail was rarely used was because of the presence of monsters. They were creatures more attuned to mana, making them more powerful than normal wild animals. With the presence of these creatures, only a few brave residents and groups of hunters dared to travel here from time to time. Following this narrow trail, one would soon hear the violent sshes of a nearby river. It was the main source of freshwater in North Pine Town, a medium-sized river called Butterfly Creek. This river was connected to a hugeke called Silent Lake which was further east of the Evergreen Forest. ric''s group had to pass through the periphery of thiske. They had to be careful here since theke was inhabited by powerful predators like the Iron Back Crocodile and the Gold Spotted White Anaconda. Both monsters were at the Fatal-Grade during maturity. The good thing was that they rarely attack humans since they mostly stay in theke. With an experienced Knight like Henry leading the group, they didn''t encounter any of the said monsters when they passed by the side of theke. By the time they arrived at the Red Toad Gorge, two hours had gone by and the sky had already turned crimson with the sun about to set. "We''re here, my lord," Henry reported while observing the shallow stream in between the steep, rocky hills. ric nodded his head, feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation at what they would find in the cave. Even now, he was still uncertain about what was inside that cave. Were there really Dragon Tail Ferns inside? If there was none, he would be disappointed. He erased the random thoughts from his mind. "Let''s go. The cave is at the opposite end of the gorge." Hearing his words, Henry nodded and squeezed his legs, urging his horse to move forward. Closely following behind him were ric and Gnar, while Rigor and Aldrin were at the rear, cautiously eyeing the surroundingndscape with their dominant hand resting on the handle of their weapon. If they sensed any form of danger, they were ready to cover ric and protect him from harm. The sound of the horses'' footsteps as they stepped on the shallow stream was the only sound that they could hear. The surroundings were eerily quiet, making the group feel a bit tense. At this moment, the roar of a beast suddenly broke the silence. ric and the Knights turned their heads simultaneously in the same direction. The loud roar came from the end of the gorge. "It must be from the cave!" Aldrin eximed with a stern look. That beast-like cry sent a chill down his spine. His instincts were telling him that whatever it was, it was definitely no ordinary creature. "My lord, I think the monster inside the cave is not your average Fatal-Grade beast," Henry remarked with a grim look after hearing the beast''s roar. ric nodded. ording to the rumors he had heard from his past life, the beast living inside that cave was a Spiked Grizzly Bear. It was a wild beast bigger than the average bear and it had sharp spikes on its back. "It sounds like the cry of a Spiked Grizzly Bear." Rigor suddenly said with his eyebrows furrowed. Hearing this, ric was a bit surprised. He could actually identify the monster based on its sound. "What makes you so sure, Sir Rigor?" Aldrin asked. Rigor shook his head. A gloomy look shed in his eyes as if he had remembered a dark past. "I had a few encounters with them when I was still a mercenary." Aldrin no longer asked when he saw the former mercenary''s expression. Even Henry who usually joked with him didn''t say anything. "Rigor is right. Inside that cave is a Spiked Grizzly Bear. I''m just not sure how many of them are inside." ric confirmed this. A gloomy atmosphere cast over them as soon as they heard ric''s confirmation. Spiked Grizzly Bears were difficult to handle. They have thick hides that are almost imprable to des. They also possessed overwhelming physical strength that could even tear apart a Knight! However, the most fearsome feature of these creatures was the sharp spikes on their back. Henry turned his head to Gnar and asked with a stern voice. "Sir Gnar, can you handle an adult Spiked Grizzly Bear?" Everyone looked at the tall figure. He was the only Elite Knight in the group so they would have to rely on him to take care of the monster. Facing everyone''s scrutinizing eyes, Gnar remained calm as he nodded his head. "If it''s just alone, I don''t have any problem dealing with it."@@novelbin@@ The Knights were relieved by his words. They feltforted that ric brought Gnar on this trip. They would have been powerless on their own. Even a veteran Knight like Henry wasn''t confident enough to fight against a creature like the Spiked Grizzly Bear. "From this point forward, keep your eyes peeled." ric reminded them. "Yes, my lord!" Chapter 10 Fighting the Spiked Grizzly Bear The horses were getting restless as they moved closer to the cave. They made faint snorting noises and their bodies tensed up. It looks like we have to walk by ourselves from this point on. ric gave a hand signal, telling everyone to dismount. The entrance of the cave was narrow and the pathway was filled with sharp rocks that weren''t ideal for the horses'' hooves so leaving them outside was the best option. As soon as they stepped inside the cave, the temperature noticeably went up. The smell of the air inside reminded ric of a musty abandoned house. There was also this distinctive smell of urine mixed within, making him scrunch his nose. There was no lighting inside so everything was dark. "Light up the torch," ric whispered. Aldrin who was holding the torch nodded and lit up the torch. The flickering me lit up the cave and revealed what was inside. Sharp stctites hung above them with pointed tips dripping with water. The walls near the entrance of the cave were covered in green moss, giving it an ancient and untouched impression. The group carefully treaded the cave. This time, Gnar was positioned at the front. The Elite Knight''s eyes were narrowed into slits as he warily observed the dark path ahead. Meanwhile, ric''s hand was already on the hilt of his sword. His feet were positioned in a way that he could easily react to any situation. This was a habit he had formed during his days as a soldier under the crown prince. At that time, his life was always hanging by a thread. He was in a constant state of danger that he had unconsciously created this habit. At this moment, a violent roar shook the cave and made the group flinch.@@novelbin@@ They were a bit startled by the sudden noise. Gnar slowly took out his weapon, a broadsword that was five-foot long and a width of about two feet. From a nce, it looked like a huge chunk of metal. He then made a series of hand gestures, informing the group that he had sensed the presence of the creature. "Aldrin, give me the torch." ric stretched out his hand. Aldrin didn''t know why he asked for the torch, but he handed it to him without asking any questions. Once he got the torch, ric made a throwing motion, aiming for the direction that was pointed by Gnar, before throwing it. Everyone watched in surprise as the torch flew across the other side of the cave and revealed the huge creature hiding in the darkness. The torch struck the beast''s body before it fell to the ground. The beast opened its huge mouth and issued another ear-piercing roar. ROAR!!! "Prepare for battle!" ric shouted. "Yes, my lord!" Everyone answered in unison, their eyes shing with seriousness. It''s indeed a Spiked Grizzly Bear. From its size, it looks like an adult male. ric furrowed his eyebrows as he took in a deep breath. With his current strength, his sword wouldn''t be able to prate deeply into the beast''s skin even if he used all his might. His battle experience would be useless here because of the overwhelming difference in strength. The Spiked Grizzly Bear didn''t immediately attack them. It sized them up as if it was studying its prey. "When I count to three, we will attack the bear," ric muttered, his eyes narrowed as he firmly gripped his sword. Everyone nodded silently as they adjusted their posture. "One¡­" The air seemed to grow heavy as ric started his countdown. "Two¡­" Everyone tightened their muscles in preparation. "Three!" As soon as ric''s voice fell, the group moved simultaneously, lunging at the bear in different directions. Startled by their sudden attack, the Spiked Grizzly Bear was half a second slower to react. Gnar took this opportunity to swing his massive broadsword in a diagonal cut that made the air produce a keening sound. Swoosh! The bear was struck by his sword, leaving a deep wound on its chest that made the bear emit a pained sound. Grr!! The others were a bit slower, but their attacks also connected, creating small wounds on the beast''s huge body. We are barely wounding it! Only Gnar''s attack was able to deal substantial damage. ric frowned. The huge bear was furious after being wounded. It pounced at the nearest person which was Henry and swiped its sharp ws at the old Knight. Seeing this, Henry immediately lifted his sword to deflect its ws while moving away from its range. What a strong monster! Now that the bear was preupied with Henry, Gnar sent another attack, stabbing the creature''s neck with the pointed edge of his sword. The bear didn''t die immediately after having its neck stabbed with the broadsword. It wobbled and walked a few more steps before it fell to the ground with a heavy ''thud''. "Move away! Be careful with its spikes!" Rigor shouted at the group as he pulled ric to the ground and lifted his shield to cover him. The Knights quickly dove to the ground when they heard his words. Just then, the sharp spikes on the bear''s back suddenly shoot out in all directions. Suu! Suu! Suu! One of the spikes missed Aldrin by a few inches. A little bit more and his stomach would have been punctured. "Is everyone alright?" Henry rose to his feet and looked around. ric was about to respond when he felt something warm dripping by his face. Feeling rmed, he hurriedly grabbed Rigor and saw a spike sticking on thetter''s left shoulder. "Rigor, you''re injured!" "Argh!" Rigor dropped his shield and groaned in pain. "Are you alright, my lord?" "How can you ask me that when you''re the one who is injured?" ric helped him carefully remove his armor. He then grabbed his medicine kit and took out some bandages and herbs. ric handed a cloth to Rigor and said. "Bite through it. I will make it quick." Rigor nodded and put the cloth in his mouth, sweat trickled down his face. With a quick pull, ric removed the spike. A pained groan leaked out of Rigor''s mouth who was biting on the cloth. After pulling out the spike, ric chewed the herbs and spat it out. He then smeared the herb paste on the open wound before wrapping it tightly with bandages. The Knights watched ric''s practice movements with surprise. His hands moved like he had done this over a hundred times in the past. Not even a minute had passed when hepleted the first aid. "Thanks." ric patted Rigor''s injured shoulder which made thetter hiss in pain. Chapter 11 Inside the Cavern Henry squatted down and patted Rigor''s shoulder with a grin. "Good job, fat-ass." "Argh!" "Damn you, old man!" Rigor cussed out. After making sure that he was alright, ric instructed the rest to inspect the body of the Spiked Grizzly Bear. Monsters that possessed mana could form a special type of crystal near their heart, the beast soul crystal. It contained the purest energy of the monster which was beneficial to the Knights. Upon absorption, their training speed would increase dramatically. "My lord, this guy has a beast soul crystal!" Aldrin eximed after he dug out a small brown crystal in the beast''s chest. ric nodded. "Keep it first. We will deal with it once we return to the mansion." "Yes, my lord!" Aldrin put the crystal inside a sack and tied it carefully to his waist. "Rigor, can you walk?" ric turned his head at the former mercenary. Even with a face full of sweat and the stabbing pain in his shoulder, Rigor still managed to smirk. "This little bit of injury is nothing, my lord. I will be fine." "Look at you acting so tough." Henry scoffed, staring at him disdainfully. Rigor ignored the old man and went to grab his shield. He then tied it on his back. He couldn''t lift it anymore since he could barely move his left arm, but he could make use of it to protect his back. Seeing this, Henry clicked his tongue. "Don''t exert yourself. Your wound might worsen if you move excessively." ric reminded him. "Yes, my lord." Rigor nodded. It turned out that they had yet to reach the end of the tunnel. They had only arrived at an intersection that led deeper into the cave. "Mark our path. There might be more intersections ahead." ric instructed. Hearing this, the Knights immediately carved out markings on the wall using their swords. As they went deeper, they arrived at an intersection with four different paths. "Where should we go, my lord?" Henry asked for his opinion. ric furrowed his eyebrows and thought for a moment. We can move separately, but doing this will pose a greater risk. One of us might end up encountering another monster. It seems like the best option here is to stick together. Our search will be slow, but we will be safer as a group. As he thought of this, ric randomly pointed a path. "Let''s move that way as a group." No one questioned his decision. They probably thought that moving separately would be dangerous given their recent encounter with the Spiked Grizzly Bear. Who knows what kind of monsters were hiding within the cave? The group followed the path, but they soon reached a dead end. "Let''s search the other three pathways," ric muttered calmly. The group acknowledged hismand and silently traced back their trail by following the markings they made on the wall. Soon, the group returned to the four intersections and entered another route. However, this path was still a dead end so they returned once more to choose a different route for the third time. Finally, on their third try, they discovered arge cavern at the end of the pathway. The group encountered more creatures, but they were only wild animals with no mana. As they stepped inside the cavern, they saw a crystal clear pond in the middle. It was so clear that they could see the aquatic animals swimming in the water. "Woah! This ce is huge!" Aldrin''s voice echoed. "My lord, look!" Henry suddenly eximed while pointing in a certain direction. ric and the others immediately followed his gaze. And there it was, the very herb that they were looking for, the Dragon Tail Fern. Furthermore, there wasn''t just a single stalk, but dozens or probably even hundreds of them! Just as ric was about to say something, Gnar suddenly stepped forward and looked deeply at the pond. "Hold on! There''s something strong in the pond!" Everyone narrowed their eyes, their hands slowly reaching out to their weapons. At this moment, ripples appeared on the calm surface of the pond. In the next moment, a reptilian creature that looked like a mix between a crocodile and a snake emerged. It red at them and emitted a sharp hissing sound as if telling them not toe closer. "Isn''t that an Iron Back Crocodile?" Henry muttered upon seeing the creature. The monster was over thirty feet long and its back had ck scales that were as tough as iron. It smacked its long whip-like tail on the ground- an intimidation tactic that it always used on its enemies. Iron Back Crocodiles weremon in the Silent Lake, but they rarely ventured out to other ces so the group was surprised to see one here. Not to mention that this one in particr was an adult Iron Back Crocodile, a Fatal-grade monster. "That one is weaker than the Spiked Grizzly Bear, but you guys must be careful with its tail. Getting hit by that would feel like a direct hit from a sledgehammer." ric warned them. "Yes, my lord!" "Aldrin, you are the fastest in the group so you must draw its attention. The rest will wait for my signal to attack." ric issued a series ofmands. "Yes, my lord!" Everyone answered in unison. "Go!" Aldrin rushed out with a spear in his hand. "I''ming, big lizard!" He yelled in provocation. The Iron Back Crocodile''s territorial instincts kicked in when it saw Aldrin charging towards it. The beast growled and lunged at him, crawling with surprisingly quick speed. When Aldrin reached its range, the beast abruptly stopped andshed its tail at him.@@novelbin@@ Swish! Aldrin jumped and rolled to the side, expertly avoiding its tail. As soon as the beast turned around, ric motioned with his hand. The Knights immediately rushed out, brandishing their weapons with unstoppable precision! In just the blink of an eye, they skewered the beast with their swords! The Iron Back Crocodile iled for a few seconds before its movements faltered. The Knights only pulled their swords when it was no longer moving. ric nodded to Aldrin and said. "Check if it''s still alive." "Yes, my lord!" Aldrin carefully approached the body of the beast and prodded it with the tip of his spear. He then stabbed its head to make sure that it was dead. "Good work, everyone!" "Aldrin, go and check if it has a beast soul crystal." "The rest of you¡­ collect the Dragon Tail Ferns!" ric instructed. Everything is going smoothly. Good thing we have Gnar here. This trip would have gone differently without Gnar. Having an Elite Knight made things easier for them. Chapter 12 Bountiful Spoils Too bad we didn''t get a beast soul crystal from it. ric shook his head, feeling regretful that there was no beast soul crystal in the Iron Back Crocodile''s carcass. Not all Fatal-grade monsters possessed a beast soul crystal. They were only lucky enough to get one from the Spiked Grizzly Bear. The group went to dig up all the Dragon Tail Ferns inside the cavern. In the end, they managed to collect over seven hundred stalks of Dragon Tail Ferns. ric was over the moon. Each stalk was worth 15 gold coins in the market and sometimes, it even goes beyond 20 gold coins depending on the supply and the demand. Everything is roughly worth around 14,000 gold coins! With that much money, not to mention 3 years, I can even fund the orphanage for the next hundred years! Holy shit! He had underestimated the number of Dragon Tail Ferns they could find inside the cave.@@novelbin@@ It seems like the information from my past life was either wrong or it was manipted. He thought to himself. From what he remembered, it was mentioned that there were only a few dozen stalks of Dragon Tail Ferns inside this cave. However, this was no longer any of his concerns. "Good job, everyone!" "But before we go back home, allow me to say a few reminders first." Everyone gathered in front of him, waiting for him to say his piece with serious faces. When he saw that he had gathered their attention, ric spoke. "Whatever happened inside this ce must remain a secret." "The value of the things we found here could cause a storm, not just in Vale, but in the entire empire!" At this point, his face turned grave as he continued. "We might even be targeted if this information ever spreads." Their faces changed upon hearing his words. Dragon Tail Fern was an important resource for Knights. Just one stalk could help them increase the speed at which they gather mana, what more if they had seven hundred of such herbs? They could already imagine the turmoil it would cause once the news spread. Just the thought of it made them realize the gravity of the situation. "For the safety of House Silversword, please keep this a secret. Never tell this to anyone, not even to your family or your closest friends." "Do you understand?" ric warned them with a stern look. "Yes, my lord!" The Knights replied in unison, their faces looking incredibly serious. "Good!" ric nodded, pleased with their response. "Let''s go home." *** It was already past midnight when they returned to North Pine Town. Some residents who were still awake went pale with fright at the sight of the two huge beast carcasses being pulled by the makeshift wagons. "Oh my god! What kind of monsters did Lord ric and the Knights bring back?!" "Did they hunt those monsters down in the Evergreen Forest? I''m never going back to that ce again!" "One of the Knights seems to be injured. It must have been a tough battle." The townsfolk discussed animatedly amongst themselves. No one dared to approach ric and the Knights, afraid that the two carcasses might somehowe back to life and attack them. Soon, the group finally arrived at the estate. News about their return immediately reached the ears of the baron and the madam who both came out of their chamber to check on their son''s wellbeing. Elena also followed them, her face painted with anxiety. When they saw Rigor whose upper body was wrapped in bandages, they furrowed their eyebrows. Elena craned her neck to look for ric''s figure. A momentter, she finally caught sight of his familiar figure, making her breathe a sigh of relief. The baron and the madam also looked visibly relieved that he was unharmed. "What happened out there? Why do you guys look so beat?" The madam approached her son and gently grabbed his arm, her face filled with concern. ric smiled apologetically at her as he squeezed her hand. "I''m sorry for making you worried, mother." Maria shook her head and forced out a smile. "It''s alright." She was the wife of the baron who was known as the Shield of the North, and she was also aware that her son, ric, would follow in his father''s footsteps to carry the banner of House Silversword. The lives of the father and son were destined to be filled with war and bloodshed, so she had already prepared her heart for what was toe no matter how difficult it was for her. This was her duty as the madam of the household. She must be firm and strong no matter what happens. ric walked towards Lucas and bowed to him. "Father, I have returned from my trip." Lucas nodded his head with a calm look. "Mn. Good job." His gaze then moved to the two carcasses and the sacks on the wagons. "It seems like your trip was quite fruitful." ric grinned upon hearing this. "Yes, father. We aplished our goal and we even got some extra rewards. Although we encountered some challenges, we managed to ovee them by virtue of our efforts and teamwork." "I see. That''s good to hear." Lucas raised his eyebrows. He was aware that his son''s goal was to search for Dragon Tail Ferns. "I will tell you the detailster. Let''s go inside first." ric gave him a knowing look. Lucas understood his intentions and nodded. "Alright. Let''s head in." ric gave a signal to Henry and the others and said. "Bring in the items. As for the carcasses, let the others deal with them." "Yes, my lord!" The Knights replied. Lucas narrowed his eyes as he looked at the sacks they were carrying. He was curious, but he said nothing. He knew that ric would exin things to him soon. As soon as they walked inside the mansion, ric took the chance to grab Elena''s hand, gently squeezing it while giving her a warm smile. "Did you wait for me?" He asked with a hint of teasing in his voice. Elena was flustered by his touch. She tried to pull out her hand, but she couldn''t break free from his grip. She shyly looked around to see if the others had noticed anything. When she saw the Knights pretending to be blind, she lowered her head in embarrassment. Chapter 13 Lucass Trust and Alarics Ambition Lucas brought them to his study room. As soon as everyone took their seats, Lucas muttered, his eyes sweeping over, eyeing everyone like a hawk watching its prey. "Now tell me what happened on your trip¡­" The Knights nced at ric in unison. The matter was too big for them to say it themselves so they unanimously agreed to let him speak. This was also ric''s decision. When he sensed their gazes, he looked at his father and replied. "Just as I had told you, father, I brought the Knights to the Red Toad Gorge to search for the cave mentioned in the rumors." Lucas nced over at the Knights and saw them nodding their heads. ric continued. "We went inside the cave to investigate the rumors about the Dragon Tail Fern. There, we encountered an adult Spiked Grizzly Bear¡­" Hearing this, Lucas furrowed his eyebrows, while Maria gasped in shock. On the other hand, Elena who didn''t know anything about monsters tilted her head in confusion. ric''s voice turned serious at this point. "We managed to kill the Spiked Grizzly Bear. Sir Rigor was injured in that battle to protect me." When he mentioned this, Maria sent Rigor a grateful look. "We found this in the body of the beast." ric took out the beast soul crystal of the Spiked Grizzly Bear and handed it to his father. Lucas inspected the beast soul crystal before he handed it back to ric. "Only powerful monsters can produce beast soul crystals. That Spiked Grizzly Bear must have been a tough beast." He remarked. "That''s right." ric nodded. "If Sir Gnar wasn''t with us, it would have been a dangerous battle." Hearing this, the Knights nodded in agreement. As prideful as they were, they couldn''t deny that it was Gnar who did the most damage to the Spiked Grizzly Bear. Their weapons couldn''t even prate deeply into its sturdy body. Lucas wasn''t surprised by this. Gnar was an Elite Knight so it wasn''t that difficult for someone like him to kill a Fatal-grade monster. "As we headed deeper into the cave, we found a cavern with a crystal clear pond in the middle," ric exined what they had seen in the cavern, including the Iron Back Crocodile that was living in the pond. He also mentioned the presence of the Dragon Tail Ferns. At this point, Lucas could no longer hide his surprise. "You really found the Dragon Tail Ferns?" He stared at ric in disbelief. ric smiled and made a gesture with his hand. "Knights, please show the patriarch what we have collected in the cavern." "Yes, my lord!" The Knights opened the sacks and revealed the contents. "It''s indeed the Dragon Tail Fern!" Lucas stood up from his seat to get a clearer look at the herbs. Maria and Elena also went to take a closer look. "Just how many Dragon Tail Ferns did you collect from that cavern?" Maria was shocked to see so many stalks inside the sacks. "More than 700," ric replied with a grin. "What?!" Maria covered her mouth in disbelief. She mentally calcted the total value of the herbs inside the sacks and the result almost made her faint from shock. Lucas managed to maintain hisposure after a moment of surprise. "What do you n to do with these herbs?" He nced at his son. "Recently, I made a promise with someone," ric told them about his deal with the people from the orphanage. "I see. Having those kids work on your product would have a lesser risk of having your recipe getting leaked. That was a good decision." Maria who has a great mind for business immediately grasped his thoughts. "I learned it from you, mother." ric chuckled. Suddenly, Lucas spoke. "Funding the orphanage would make those kids loyal to you, but are you sure about training them to be Knights? Not everyone has the aptitude to be a Knight." Hearing this, ric nodded. "I understand that, father. However¡­" "¡­there are plenty of Knights who came from humble origins. They managed to ovee theirck of status and resources to be Knights. What would happen if we gave them the opportunity and the resources? The kids with potential would definitely reveal themselves and with the help that we provided them, they will be grateful and swear their loyalty to House Silversword!" Lucas narrowed his eyes. He could sense his son''s overwhelming ambition, but it wasn''t the kind of ambition that would bring harm to others. He could feel something more profound in the depths of ric''s eyes. ric had always been a normal kid with no ambition to speak. His potential was above average and his swordsmanship talent was ordinary. He wondered what made his son change in just a short amount of time. What is this kid hiding from me? "It looks like you have already nned things. In that case, I will give you full authority in handling these Dragon Tail Ferns. Whatever you do with them will be your responsibility. Just don''t do something that will make you regret in the future, my son." Lucas patted ric''s shoulder while staring deeply at him. ric was overwhelmed by his father''s trust. He was already prepared to concede some of the herbs. Who would have thought that he would actually let him take everything? "I will do my best not to disappoint you, father! I promise that everything I will do is for the sake of House Silversword!" ric lowered his head. "That makes me feel relieved." Lucas''s expression softened. "Handling those herbs on your own might be difficult. If you need some advice, just ask for your mother''s help. She is the best when ites to anything rted to money." Lucas didn''t forget to remind him. "Yes, father." "Good!" Lucas''s gaze swept over, ncing at every individual inside the room. "This matter must not be spread to anyone. Am I clear?" "Yes, my lord!" Everyone lowered their heads nervously upon sensing the baron''s stern gaze. Lucas dismissed the Knights and chatted some more with ric. After almost an hour, ric was finally sent away with Elena. "My lord, I''m d that you''re alright¡­" Elena''s shy voice drifted into his ears. "Were you worried about me?" ric held her small hand and squeezed it gently. Feeling embarrassed by his direct stare, Elena looked away from him and hummed in response. "Mn." "I''m sorry for making you worried, Nana." "It''s okay." "I promised to hunt some animals for dinner, but you guys have already eaten¡­Why don''t we cook some meat from the bear we hunted?" Elena lifted her head in surprise. "But that isn''t a normal bear, but a Fatal-grade monster! How could a servant like me eat such valuable meat?" "How could you say that, Nana? Haven''t you heard from my mother that you will soon be married to me?" ric sent her a teasing look. "H-Huh?! W-What¡­are you saying, my lord?" The girl was flustered and she timidly averted her gaze, her cheeks blushing due to embarrassment. "Hahaha! You''re so cute when you''re embarrassed, Nana."@@novelbin@@ ric stared at her with undisguised fondness. I will never let anyone hurt you again, Elena. And I promise that I will make the man who hurt you regret being born in this world! *** The next day, ric headed to the orphanage with Gnar and Harris. Thetter was one of his mother''s trusted servants, a man talented in business management. He specifically asked his mother to lend him this man. Now that I have Harris, dealing with the Dragon Tail Ferns would no longer be an issue. Although he had learned a few things from his mother, he was still a beginner in business. He would only make careless mistakes if he dealt with them on his own. "My lord, we are here." The coachman said. "You cane with me, Harris." ric looked at the middle-aged man sitting on the seat in front of him. He was wearing a monocle and his graying hair wasbed neatly to the side, giving him a clean look. Harris bowed his head. "Yes, my lord." "Stay here, Gnar." ric gestured for him to stay when he noticed that Gnar was intending to follow them. Gnar immediately stepped back. "As you wish, my lord." "Harris, let''s go. I''ll introduce you to the people here." Chapter 14 Settling the Tasks I brought Harris here since I will need someone to help me manage the operations in the orphanage. I will be busy for the next few months with my training so I won''t have the time to take care of the things here. ric observed from the side as Harris proceeded with the official contract signing with William who served as the representative for the orphanage. Things went smoothly since they had already discussed the situation beforehand. "We will send the funds over every first day of the month." "Thank you for your cooperation, Sir William." Harris extended his hand while smiling lightly. The old man was a bit emotional when he shook hands with him. "We should be the ones thanking you!" He then turned his head to ric and bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord! With your mary assistance, the children''s basic needs will finally be met. I cannot thank you enough!" "I''m only doing what I promised to do." ric smiled. Josephine and Rasmus who were observing from the sidelines couldn''t conceal their excitement. Money was their number one problem, but it has been taken care of just like that. They still couldn''t believe it. "For the next matter, can you let me talk with Rasmus privately?" Hearing this, William nodded and it looked like he was already prepared for this. "Of course, my lord." With the exception of Rasmus, everyone left. "Have you made a decision?" ric asked while staring deeply at Rasmus. Rasmus took a deep breath, his gaze was firm and full of determination. "Yes, my lord. I have already thought it over." "I always wanted to be strong enough to protect my family. Just recently, I almost lost my sisters because of how pathetically weak I am. If it weren''t for grandfather, my sisters would have already been¡­" He clenched his fists as fury shed in his eyes. "I wish to follow you, my lord! I want to be a Knight and be strong enough to give my family a safe environment to live in! Please grant my wish!" His voice echoed with strong determination. ric''s lips curved upwards. That''s right. This is the Rasmus that I know. A man who seeks strength to protect his family. That''s who you are, my friend. "Good! Starting today, you will follow me back to North Pine Town. We will begin with your training as soon as we are done with the tasks here." "Pack your stuff and prepare to depart." "Yes, my lord!" Rasmus nodded, turned around, and left. With this, I have gained myself apanion with a limitless future! ric stared at the sky through the window. This is just the start! *** The children who were assigned to work were taken to the workshop to be trained. William apanied them on the trip to familiarize himself with the working environment of the children. He also followed them there to ascertain whether ric was truthful with his words. ¡­ Inside the scented soap workshop. "How is it, Sir William? How do you feel about the children''s job?" ric stared at the old man who was observing the job training of the children. William knitted his eyebrows. "The environment here is good and the children are even given free meals, but can they really do well in their job? What if they make a lot of mistakes?" ric smiled lightly. "Making mistakes is normal. It''s a sign that they are willing to learn. Just give them some time and they will eventually be familiar with their tasks. By then, things will be a lot easier for them." "That''s true. I can rest easy knowing that they are working for you, my lord." William smiled, looking more rxed than ever. ¡­ After dealing with the manpower problem at the workshop, ric brought Harris to the market to sell some of their Dragon Tail Ferns. They didn''t sell the herbs inrge volumes but sold them in batches to different stores. ording to Harris, it was to prevent anyone from thinking that they had arge supply of Dragon Tail Ferns. ric learned a lot about the business trade with his help. He also realized during this trip that he wasn''t cut out for this kind of thing. On their way back to North Pine Town, ric was in deep thought.@@novelbin@@ It looks like I need to find someone who can help me manage my business. Vince is a smart man, but he isn''t good at dealing with people. It might not be good to make him manage everything on his own. I need someone capable. The first person that came to his mind was Harris. Unfortunately, the guy was responsible for most of the household''s businesses so it might be too much to leave everything in his hands. As he thought of this, someone''s face suddenly came to his mind. That''s right¡­ How could I forget you? He felt a wave of sorrow and guilt when he recalled this person. No. There should be other choices¡­ I still can''t face her¡­ In his past life, there was a woman who helped him stabilize House Silversword which was on the verge of copsing. It was because of her efforts that the household managed to get back on its feet. She was a woman talented in business just like his mother, Maria. ric rubbed his temples and tried to remove her from his mind. "Is there anything wrong, my lord? You don''t look well." Rasmus muttered with concern when he saw ric''s troubled face. "It''s nothing. I just thought about something unpleasant." ric forced out a smile. Rasmus no longer said anything after hearing his response. Soon, they finally arrived at North Pine Town. So this is the domain of House Silversword. The town looks better than I expected. Rasmus observed the townspeople and noticed that everyone looked happy. There were also no beggars on the streets and there were even children ying outside with no fear for their safety. It was an environment that waspletely different from Vale where all sorts of people had gathered. Household Silversword is truly good to their people. These were his thoughts on his first visit to North Pine Town. Chapter 15 Charles Silversword 8th day of September, Year 208 of the Astanian Calendar. ric had justpleted his daily mission. He opened his character profile to check his progress. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 6/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 28+ Stamina: 28+ Agility: 25+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 27+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 360 Stat Points: 35 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) If I continue with this pace, I should be able to advance to the realm of Elite Knight in less than two years. Having the ability to see my progress is definitely convenient. ric smiled as he closed his character profile. He then went to observe Rasmus who was receiving training from Henry. Rasmus was a sword user in his past life so having him train with Henry was the best choice. The old Knight might not be a genius in mana control, but he was an expert in using the sword. Just in pure sword technique alone, he might even be better than House Silversword''smander of the Knights who was already in the realm of Elite Knight! While he was observing the training, he saw Elena running towards him with a flustered look on her face. "My lord!" She called out. "Why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen?" ric raised an eyebrow. Elena grabbed his hand nervously and said. "Lord Charles is here, my lord!" When ric heard this name from her mouth, his eyes shed with imperceptible rage. Charles Silversword was the younger brother of Lucas Silversword which makes him ric''s uncle. The very person that he hated the most. He must havee here for the party that will be held tomorrow, but why did hee a day earlier? What is his motive? ric frowned as he thought deeply. "Elena, you must stay close to Gnar for the time being. He will protect you." Elena stared at him in surprise, wondering if she had heard him wrong. "Huh? Why do I have to stay close to Sir Gnar inside the estate?" ric gently caressed her face and put on a smile. "Just listen to me." "Fine, but Sir Gnar is a bit scary¡­" She muttered timidly. "You will be fine. You can trust Gnar. He may look like that, but he is a good person." "Elena¡­ Sometimes, appearance can be deceiving. A person can look good but is actually evil inside. You must not judge someone based on how they look." ric reminded her with a stern gaze. Although he knew about the future, he couldn''t be certain that things would y out ording to what he knew. For instance, his uncle''s visit this time didn''t happen in the past which means the future is slowly changing. "Okay. I will try to get along with him." Elena clenched her little fists with a determined expression. Seeing this, ric chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I will go and meet my uncle. You stay here and wait for me." "Yes, my lord." When ric turned around, the smile on his face disappeared and his expression grew darker. Charles, I won''t allow you to hurt my family this time! I swear it upon my name! ric left with heavy strides. Meanwhile, Elena was about to secretly follow him when a towering figure blocked her path. She yelped in shock. "Sir Gnar!" "I''m sorry, Miss Elena, but Lord ric told me not to let you wander around." *** Inside the baron''s study, a middle-aged man with a schrly appearance was chatting with Lucas. "I heard that my nephew has be a Knight. Where is he? I haven''t seen him for a while." Lucas grinned, looking incredibly proud of his son''s advancement. "Shocking, right? Hahaha! I don''t know how he did it, but he somehow managed to advance." "He is not even twenty yet, but he is already a Knight. His aptitude is even better than mine." Lucas shook his head with a rueful smile. "Certainly! I even thought that you were joking when I read your letter." Charles chuckled, but he was fuming inside. Dammit! A variable has appeared in my ns!@@novelbin@@ Lucas is already giving me a headache and now my nephew is showing signs of talent that is even better than his father! If he is allowed to grow, he might be the one to seed Lucas''s position. I can''t let that happen! Suddenly¡­ Knock! Knock! Knock! "Speak of the devil! It must be him! Hahaha!" Lucas was about to get up to open the door when Charles made a hand gesture. "Let me do it. I''d like to see how my nephew has grown up." Hearing this, Lucas nodded and waved his hand. "Sure." After getting his permission, Charles stood up and went to open the door. ric suppressed the fury in his heart when he saw Charles''s face. There was no meaning in confronting his uncle now. Doing so would only rm him. "ric! How have you been? You lookpletely different than thest time I saw you!" Charles affectionately hugged which made ric feel disgusted. "I''m fine, uncle!" ric squeezed out a smile. "Would you look at this kid? He is even taller than me now!" Charles turned his head to Lucas and chuckled. What a good actor! To think that all of us were fooled by this traitorous bastard! It makes me sick! "What are you standing there for? Come in! Your uncle wants to have a chat with you." Charles grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to a seat. Right at this moment, the cyan screen abruptly appeared in front of him. ¡ª¡ª Mission: Revenge I Difficulty: Easy Challenge Charles Silversword to a sparring and defeat him! Time Limit: 23 hours 59 mins 59 seconds Rewards: 100 Battle Points, 25 EXP, and Random Talent Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 200 Battle Points _____ ric''s eyes were glued over to the screen. A mission? The rewards are even better than the daily missions. "Uncle, how about a spar to test your nephew''s skills?" ric stared deeply at Charles. "Huh?" Chapter 16 Alarics Sword Skills "You want to challenge me?" Charles was taken aback, wondering if he had heard him wrong. "I just want to test the progress of my sword skills." ric nodded. Charles squinted his eyes. "Oh? It seems like you are quite confident with your sword skills to challenge your uncle like this. In that case, let me see the product of your efforts."@@novelbin@@ This arrogant brat! He only became a Knight, but he wants to spar with me? Delusional. He scoffed in his heart. He felt that ric had be overconfident because of his advancement. "How about youe with us, Lucas?" Charles smiled faintly. "Alright. I don''t have anything to do anyway." Lucas shrugged while shaking his head. The three immediately headed to the training ground. Their arrival surprised the soldiers and the Knights who were in the middle of their training. "My lord!" A small figure came running towards ric. At the sight of her figure, Charles''s eyes gleamed. ric quickly pulled her and brought her away from Charles. "You should go back to the mansion, Elena." He looked at his uncle and saw him staring deeply at Elena. This made his blood boil with rage. That fucking bastard! How dare he look at Elena with such filthy eyes?! "What is going on, my lord? Did I do something wrong?" Elena''s shoulders drooped as she looked at him with a pitiful gaze. Looking at her sad face, ric smiled lightly and shook his head. "You didn''t do anything wrong, Elena." "I want to stay with you, my lord. Please¡­" She grabbed his hand and stared at him with pleading eyes. ric''s expression softened when he saw her expression. "Alright. Fine. You can stay here, but never leave Gnar''s side, okay?" Elena''s face brightened in an instant. She nodded her head and beamed at him. "Yes, my lord! I will stay close to Sir Gnar!" "Good!" ric patted her head. "Come here, ric! Didn''t you say that you want to spar with me?" ric was annoyed when he heard this voice. He turned around and looked at Charles who was standing in the middle of the training ground. "I''ming, Uncle!" ric steadied his breathing as he walked over to Charles. He then grabbed a training sword from the weapon rack and felt its weight. "Since this is just a spar, we shouldn''t use mana." Charles reminded him as he yed with the training sword in his hand. "Alright. I have no objections." ric smirked. With his SSS-ss Swordsmanship Talent, he was confident with his sword skills. Charles might be an Elite Knight, but his swordsmanship was just average. Even Henry was better than him in terms of pure technique alone. Look at this kid acting so smug. Charles shook his head. Meanwhile, everyone quickly gathered to watch their bout. Charles rarely visited the estate since he was mostly away to do his tasks. The fact that he came to the training ground to spar with ric made them feel excited. Lucas decided to officiate their spar. "This is just a spar so don''t unleash any fatal moves. The use of mana is also not allowed. If you''re both ready, then you can begin at any time." At this moment, Charles raised his training sword with his left hand on his back. "Show me the results of your training, my beloved nephew." I will show you the difference between our skills and wipe that grin off your face! Charles disdainfully muttered in his heart. He wasn''t taking this seriously at all. He believed that he was superior to ric in terms of techniques. "Then I won''t hold back, Uncle." ric''s eyes narrowed. Just as his voice fell, his figure blurred as he lunged at Charles while quickly brandishing his sword. Whoosh! Hm? Charles raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw how fast his movements were. Luckily, he had the advantage in terms of physical fitness so he managed to block ric''s sword. When their swords shed, he realized that he would lose if he didn''t take this battle seriously. This kid! Dammit! ric didn''t give him the time to catch his breath. His sword moved like a phantom, attacking Charles from every angle. Pa! Pa! Pa! Everyone was surprised to see ric''s disy of skills. The coordination of his body was perfect and he moved so seamlessly that it looked like he was dancing. "How did Lord ric reach this level in just a short amount of time? Unbelievable!" "Lord ric''s sword techniques seem to be better than Lord Charles''s." The soldiers and the Knights discussed as they observed the battle. Everyone thought that there was only a small difference in their skills, but Lucas had a different opinion. As a Transcendent Knight, he could see that Charles could hardly keep up with ric. This made him feel astonished. Charles might not be that talented in swordsmanship, but he was still someone who had been to the battlefield. His experience alone should be better than ric''s. However¡­ ric was disying so much finesse that it looked like he was a veteran of many battles. The ferocity in his eyes and the sheer determination of his every strike made the onlookers feel that they were watching an expert. Charles was already using both hands to hold his sword, but he was still barely keeping up with ric. How is this possible?! He couldn''t believe it. The sword skills that he was so proud of looked like garbage whenpared to ric''s. If it wasn''t for his better overall physique, he would have already been defeated. After shing swords more than twenty times, ric finally found an opening. He closed the distance and stabbed out his sword. He stopped when the tip of his sword was only a few centimeters away from Charles''s neck. Did I lose? Charles stared at ric in surprise. The sword skills he disyed were not something that a newbie could do. "I surrender." He forced out a smile. He almost used his mana to overturn the battle. Luckily, he managed to stop himself in time or he would have be aughingstock. "Thank you for letting me win, Uncle." ric smiled as he bowed lightly. Charles''s face twitched at his words. Chapter 17 Each With Their Own Lies ___ Mission Complete! You received 100 Battle Points, 25 EXP, and Random Talent Upgrade Card x1! ___ [Do you want to use the Random Talent Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] Before he could decide, Charles suddenly walked over. "I''m impressed with your swordsmanship, ric," Charles remarked, looking as if he was proud of ric''s growth. "You tter me." ric smiled faintly while cursing in his heart This traitorous bastard really knows how to act well. "You have done well, my son." Lucas approached with a broad grin on his face. He looked incredibly happy to see ric''s performance. ric didn''t say anything and just smiled as he bowed lightly. "By the way, your uncle came here for another matter. He wants to speak with you about it. Why don''t you guys discuss it in my study?" Lucas suggested. Hm? What is this about? ric had a bad feeling about this. He looked at his uncle and saw him staring at him with a harmless expression. Just what is this guy up to? "Alright. Let''s do that." ric agreed with a nod of his head. After the three of them left, everyone was still shocked by the results of the spar. No one expected the young lord to win, and overwhelmingly at that. "So Lord ric is that powerful¡­" Elena muttered in disbelief as she watched ric''s figure, her eyes shed with deep veneration. A whileter, Lucas brought ric and Charles to his study room. After taking their seats, ric didn''t beat around the bush and asked while looking at Lucas with a stern gaze. "What is this all about, father?" Lucas sighed and replied. "Your uncle heard that we managed to get our hands on some Dragon Tail Ferns so he came here and asked me to give him a few." "I told him that I gave you full authority in handling the herbs so I didn''t make a decision." ric''s face turned dark upon hearing this. So this was his real objective. No wonder he came here earlier when the party will be held tomorrow. This fucking parasite! ric nced coldly at his uncle, but he quickly concealed his anger. "Uncle, did my father tell you that it was me who found the Dragon Tail Ferns?" Charles raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Eh? You did?" He couldn''t help but look at Lucas for confirmation. Lucas nodded. Seeing this, Charles squinted his eyes. "You have really done well this time, my nephew! Since it was you who found the herbs, I won''t mistreat you. I will buy it from you for 25 gold coins each." "What do you think?" ric''s eyes shed with uncertainty. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly realized Charles''s intentions. This guy is testing me! It seems like Father didn''t tell him how many Dragon Tail Ferns we have. This bastard must have given that price to trick me into revealing how many stalks we have! What a sly snake! "Give me a moment to think." ric took a deep breath to calm himself before making a decision. Charles stared at him in amusement. You might be a genius in swordsmanship, but you are still a kid, my dear nephew. Now, let your uncle hear how many Dragon Tail Ferns you have. After a moment of contemtion, ric raised his head and said. "To tell you the truth, we don''t have a lot of Dragon Tail Ferns left. We sold off most of the herbs in different ces so we are only left with a little more than twenty stalks." "You still have more than twenty?" Charles''s eyes shed with greed the moment he heard this. Meanwhile, Lucas had a different reaction. He stared at ric with a hint of surprise and confusion. I thought we still had several hundred. Why did he lie to his uncle? Lucas thought deeply and upon careful consideration, he decided to stay quiet. "That''s right. If you want them, I can sell you fifteen stalks. The remaining stalks will be given to our Knights so I can''t sell them to you. I hope you understand my difficulties, uncle." ric revealed a look of regret. While saying those words, he kept an eye on his father to see how he would react. Luckily, it didn''t look like Lucas would expose him. "That''s fine! I''ll take those fifteen stalks!" Charles didn''t even hesitate. Just where did this kid find so many Dragon Tail Ferns? "That will be 375 gold coins, uncle." ric extended his hand and smirked. Hearing this, Charlesughed while pping his thigh. "Hahaha! You definitely got this side of yours from your mother." "Alright. Alright. 375 gold coins it is then. I only brought 100 gold coins with me. I will send you the remaining gold coins tomorrow before the party starts." Charles grabbed a small pouch from his clothes and handed it to ric. "I trust you, uncle. I will send you the herbster." ric kept the pouch and beamed. "Alright." Charles seemed to be in a good mood after securing this deal. Although he paid more than the market price, it was worth it. As long as it would help me be a Transcendent Knight, I don''t mind wasting this little bit of money. Once I sessfully advance, I will take everything that is rightfully mine! Charlesughed coldly in his heart. After some small talks with his father and uncle, ric left and headed back to his room. When he arrived, he immediately opened the system screen with his thoughts. This was one of the things he discovered in the past month. He could control the cyan screen with his thoughts. He could make it appear and disappear if he willed it. [Do you want to use the Random Talent Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] Seeing this, ric clicked [Yes] without hesitation. [Congrattions! Your talent ''Horseback Riding (D)'' has been upgraded to Horseback Riding (C)!] ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 31/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 28+ Stamina: 28+ Agility: 25+ Vitality: 27+@@novelbin@@ Endurance: 27+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 460 Stat Points: 35 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) Chapter 18 Day of the Celebration The next day, renowned families from nearby towns and cities came to visit the estate to join the celebration of ric''s advancement. With the presence of these people, North Pine Town experienced a surge of activity. The streets were packed with tourists and even merchants who came to sell their goods could be spotted at every turn. The soldiers stationed in the town joined hands with the guards and the Knight Apprentices of the Silversword Household to maintain security. Meanwhile, inside House Silversword''s estate. As the star of today''s event, ric was dressed in formal attire. At this moment, he was entertaining a few guests when he noticed some familiar faces in the crowd. They are finally here. "Excuse me." ric excused himself and walked towards a certain spot to greet the acquaintances he had seen. "Vince! It''s good to see you guys here." ric smiled as he greeted them. Vince who was wearing a blue tunic jolted in surprise when he heard the familiar voice. "My lord!" Behind him were the two salesdies of the shop, Herlene and Criselda. "Greetings, Lord ric!" Thedies bowed respectfully upon seeing him approaching them. ric waved his hand. "How are you guys?" "The kids are still learning the production method. They are a bit clumsy, but they are obedient." Vince responded without thinking. Hearing this, ric stared at him with a wry smile. "I didn''t ask about work-rted matters, Vince." "Oh! Is that so?" Vince scratched his head.@@novelbin@@ "What about you two?" ric stared at Herlene and Criselda. Both women had been using the scented soap for some time and there were obvious changes in their appearance. Their skin had be smoother and more delicate. They also exuded the unique fragrant scent of lilies. "I have been well, my lord. Thank you for your concern." Herlene responded coquettishly. Before she used the scented soap, her only asset was her bombshell body. Back then, she had some e marks on her face which made her look average. With the frequent use of their products, the e marks on her face disappeared, making her look more attractive. "I''m doing great." Criselda shyly replied. Just like Herlene, her physical appearance had also noticeably improved. Her skin looked healthier and smoother. She also became a bit more confident due to the improvement in her looks. "I''m d to hear that. It seems like youdies have been using the scented soap regrly. You look even more beautiful now." ricplimented them which made the two women giggle. He chatted with them for a while before he went to greet William who hade with a few children from the orphanage. "I''m happy to see you and the children, Sir William." ric extended his hand while smiling at the old Knight. William grabbed his hand and shook it lightly. "Congrattions on your advancement, my lord!" What a young Knight! "Compared to you, I still have a long way to go." ric chuckled. "I''m just a retired Knight, my lord. Your future will be even better than mine." The old man responded wholeheartedly. After they exchanged pleasantries, ric spoke with the children for quite some time before he went to greet the other guests. By noon, more food was served. Suddenly, a man in his early twenties pped his hands to gather everyone''s attention. "Hello, everyone! I''m Dnn Heinrich, son of Baron Smith Heinrich." Dnn was a tall man with short blonde hair. He looked quite handsome in his leather vest. This man was the son of a baron from a neighboring town called Redonia. Their territory was bigger than North Pine Town, but the military strength of the two households were more or less the same. Everyone, including ric, turned their gazes to Dnn, wondering what he wanted to say. "To make this event even more exciting, why don''t we hold a smallpetition between our Knights?" Dnn suggested as he searched for a familiar face in the crowd. When he saw ric, his gaze stopped, and he gave thetter a friendly nod. "That''s a great suggestion! How about we send one Knight each topete?" Charles supported the idea, his eyes shing with a cunning glint. "What do you think, Lord Lucas?" The crowd looked at the head of the estate to seek his opinion. As the lord of North Pine Town and the host of the banquet, Lucas had the final say in the matter. Looking at everyone''s expectant faces, Lucas could only helplessly agree. "Fine. Since everyone is eager to see somepetition, I will give you my permission." "Thank you for giving your approval, Lord Lucas. I hope you can officiate thepetition." Dnn bowed to him. "Alright. That''s fine by me." Lucas agreed with a nod. "How would you like thispetition to proceed?" Lucas asked. Dnn was already prepared to answer this question. "To make things easier, how about we do singlebat? Each household will send their Knights topete until only the victor remains." Hearing this, Lucas had no objections. "Sounds good. Does everyone agree with this?" He swept his gaze at the crowd. "Yes!" "Fine by me. Let''s do that." "I agree." The guests nodded to show their agreement. Lucas walked towards the middle of the banquet hall and announced. "In that case, those who want to join thepetition please send your Knights here." The nobles and the martial households who were eager to show off their might immediately sent their Knights. The sudden turn of events made the crowd even more excited. Everyone discussed animatedly as they watched the Knights step forward one after another. At this moment, there were already fifteen Knights who had stepped up for thepetition. Surprisingly, Dnn Heinrich was one of them. "It seems like Lord Dnn is confident in his abilities." "Will he be alright against those veteran Knights?" "I think Sir Anthony will win. He has been a Knight for decades and he is the most experienced among the participants." The guests looked at a certain middle-aged Knight dressed in leather armor. "My beloved nephew, why don''t you join the fun?" A loud voice drifted into everyone''s ears. Hearing this, they turned their head and looked at Charles in surprise. What kind of bullshit n is this guy up to this time? ric stared deeply at his uncle. Chapter 19 Start of the Friendly Matches "He wants Lord ric to join thepetition?" "Didn''t he just advance to the Knight realm recently? I think it''s still too early for him topete with other Knights." "Is he that confident with his nephew''s skills?" "Lord ric is one of the greatest talents in the empire, but I don''t think he canpete with veteran Knights at the moment. There is still a huge gap in experience and this couldn''t be bridged with talent alone." The guests discussed among themselves. Meanwhile, Lucas frowned as he looked at his younger brother. He wondered why he was sending his nephew topete. As if sensing his gaze, Charles smiled and nodded to him. ric stepped forward and spoke. "Since my uncle has already spoken, then I hope everyone doesn''t mind if I join." Everyone stared at him in surprise. They couldn''t believe that he would actually agree to join thepetition. His bravery alone earned their respect. Lucas stared deeply at ric. He even won against his uncle who is an Elite Knight. Fighting with these Knights shouldn''t be an issue as long as he is careful. He had seen his son''s skill in swordsmanship. ric mightck battle experience, but his raw skill alone was alreadyparable to veteran Knights. Lucas pped his hand and said. "Then let me announce the rules while the participants are changing into their battle gear." The rules of thepetition were simple since it wasn''t an official one. ? Use of mana is prohibited. ? One must not kill or seriously injure their opponent. Failure toply with this rule will result in immediate execution. ? If you are incapacitated or admitted defeat, you lose. "Does anyone have any objections to the rules I have proposed?" Lucas swept his gaze. No one voiced any objection. "Good! The single matches will be drawn randomly. To prevent any suspicions of cheating, may I request a volunteer to perform the drawing of lots?" Lucas didn''t want to be used of favoring his son so he made this request to show his impartiality. One of the guests volunteered to draw the lots. A few minutester, the participants finally received their pairings. ric''s first opponent was a Knight named Cole Woodman. From his appearance, he looked like he was in histe thirties or his early forties. His weapon of choice was the sword, the mostmon choice among warriors. ric sorted his memories, but he had no recollection of this Knight. I don''t recognize this man. He should be an ordinary Knight. At this moment, the first match had already started. In a fight between Knights, victory and defeat would be decided in just an instant. The most important factor in determining the winner was the skill level of the Knights. Their ability to react to any situation was also important. Of course, this only applies when the use of mana was not included. The first match concluded in just a few seconds. The next participants stepped up and headed to the center of the banquet hall. The crowd''s apuse and cheers echoed, filling the entire venue with excitement. Some people even started betting on their favorite participants which made the atmosphere even more thrilling. As the matches continued, Dnn''s turn finally came. The moment he stepped onto the stage, the nobledies immediately cheered for him. Well, I don''t want to admit it, but he is indeed a bit more handsome than me. ric was speechless by the amount of attention he was getting from the crowd. Just like most warriors, Dnn was also a sword user, but he had an umon choice for a sword. Unlike most people who preferred shorter swords for increased mobility, he was using a two-handed longsword. Despite the longsword''s advantage in reach, the average warrior wouldn''t use this type of sword because of its weight and strict requirements in skills. Dnn Heinrich¡­ This guy also participated in the Civil War in my past life, but he was already a Transcendent Knight at that time. ric couldn''t help but recall a scene when he witnessed Dnn''s might on the battlefield. He was riding his mount at that time with his longsword in his hand. With a single swipe of his sword, multiple enemies would be in. Other than his skill with the longsword, Dnn was also an expert rider. No matter what type of mount, he managed to control them with ease. ric was curious to see how the young Dnn would fight. Dnn''s opponent was a spear wielder. He was fast and nimble which made it harder for Dnn tond a decisive blow. While everyone was watching the fight with heated gazes, Dnn suddenly did something that shocked them. He evaded a vertical sh and released a punch that struck his enemy''s shoulder which made thetter stumble and lose his bnce. Using this opportunity, Dnn thrust his sword and stopped when his de was only a few inches away from his opponent''s neck. "I-I¡­admit defeat." "You fought well." Dnn sheathed his sword and gave his opponent a salute. As the battle concluded, everyone inside the banquet hall erupted into apuse. Dnn''s enemy was faster and more nimble, but he still won by using a non-conventional tactic. To some, it might seem unknightly, but on the battlefield, anyone would use every means to survive whatever the method was. There was no such thing as chivalry in a real war. The next participants were called. One of them was the Knight who everyone believed woulde out as the victor of thispetition. His name was Anthony Olliver, a veteran Knight from Vale. He was nearing his sixties, but his appearance showed no signs of aging. His gaze was like that of an eagle, sharp and intense. The muscles on his arms bulged as he took out his weapon, a halberd that was almost as tall as him.@@novelbin@@ Contrary to his age, Anthony looked like someone in his forties. He was as tall as Gnar but was more muscr than him. Scars were visible on his exposed arms, a clear sign that he had been through many battles. With one look, anyone would be intimidated by him. When Anthony stepped onto the stage, William who was watching from the distance revealed aplicated expression. Chapter 20 Dual Sword Wielding Anthony won without suspense and he managed to defeat his opponent in just less than five moves. Anthony was just on a whole different level. His ability to wield his halberd as well as his footwork was impressive. The crowd cheered for his victory. Soon, the names of thest pair were called. Everyone''s eyes gathered upon them. As ric stepped onto the stage, he felt the weight of everyone''s expectations. If it was another eighteen-year-old, they might not be able to handle the pressure, but he was different. He was a war veteran in his past life. He had experienced more dangerous situations that made thispetition feel trifling to him. Just like the other participants, ric''s opponent was also a skilled Knight who had more than a decade of experience. To the eyes of the crowd, ric had no chance of winning. However, some people had different opinions. One of them was Lucas. He had seen ric''s skills with his own eyes. He even defeated his uncle. Defeating that Knight shouldn''t be an issue for him. Lucas thought as he announced themencement of the match. For this match, ric wanted to try something new. He gracefully unsheathed a pair of swords and twirled them in his hands in fluid motion which dazzled the crowd. "Lord ric is a dual sword wielder?" "That''s even more difficult than using a two-handed longsword¡­" "He looks quite skilled in handling two swords. They don''t feel or look awkward every time he makes a move." Meanwhile, ric''s opponent was your typical Knight. He was using a sword in his dominant hand and a rectangr shield in his left hand. ___ Mission: Might of House Silversword Difficulty: Easy Show everyone the might of House Silversword by winning thepetition! Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 30 EXP, F-Rank Talent Card x1 Penalty for failure: -300 Battle Points ___ Seeing this, ric furrowed his eyebrows in surprise. The penalty was quite severe this time. To umte 300 Battle Points, he needed to do a full month of daily missions. Should I use my stat points to ensure my victory? A thought crossed his mind. At the moment, he still had 35 unallocated stat points. If he used them to increase certain stats, he would have an advantage against Knights of the same level. ric no longer hesitated. He used up 20 unallocated stat points and distributed them evenly to his agility and strength. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 31/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 38+ Stamina: 28+ Agility: 35+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 27+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 460 Stat Points: 15 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) With the sudden increase in his agility and strength, ric felt more confident. At this moment, his opponent suddenly grew impatient andunched a simple probing sh. His sword looked slow in ric''s eyes. So this is the advantage of having a higher agility. ric effortlessly evaded his opponent''s sword. He then moved forward in a sh and released a sweep kick. Due to his ghost-like movements, his opponent failed to react in time and lost his footing, stumbling over as he tried to regain his bnce. ric didn''t waste any time and brandished his sword, cleaving it down after a 180-degree spin in midair.@@novelbin@@ His opponent realized his intention and immediately raised his shield as he stumbled backward. As soon as ric''s sword came in contact with his shield, a powerful force pushed the Knight back, throwing him to the ground. What a powerful force! The Knight was stunned by the force behind ric''s sword. Just as he was about to stand up, he sensed a cold sensation on his neck. He looked down and saw ric''s sword pressing on his neck. Seeing this, he smiled bitterly. "I concede." ric sheathed his swords and helped the man stand up. "It was a good fight." The Knight bowed to him and left. The crowd couldn''t believe their eyes. A young Knight who had only advanced a week ago actually managed to defeat an experienced Knight in such an overwhelming fashion. "Unbelievable! No wonder Lord Charles confidently told Lord ric to join thepetition." "I have never seen someone so proficient in dual sword wielding. Lord ric looked so graceful in that battle. Amazing!" ric''s acquaintances were also shocked by his disy of skills, especially Rasmus who was currently watching thepetition together with William and the children from the orphanage. "So Lord ric is this powerful¡­" Rasmus''s eyes shed with admiration. "You have followed a great man, Rasmus. You should learn from him." William muttered as he patted his shoulder. The old Knight was simrly stunned. He never expected the young Knight to be that powerful. "Yes, Grandpa!" Rasmus clenched his hands with a determined look. Meanwhile, Charles was fuming after the battle concluded. ric''s swordsmanship was bing more and more unfathomable in his eyes and even an Elite Knight like him felt threatened. He wanted ric to join thepetition and have him face defeat at the hands of the experienced Knights. However, things happened beyond his expectations. So his victory against me wasn''t a mere fluke! He realized at that moment that he had severely underestimated his nephew. No¡­ Thepetition isn''t over yet. That old man, Anthony, and that gigolo, Dnn, are still there. They should be able to beat that brat. With ric''s victory, the first round of thepetition finally ended. Another person was called in to draw the lots for the next round of thepetition. This time, only eight participants remained. Each of them was a Knight of a higher caliber. Among them, ric and Dnn were young, while the remaining six had more than a decade of experience. A momentter, the results of the drawing of lots were revealed. The guests''s enthusiasm intensified after the pairings for the second round were announced. More people joined in the betting of the candidates which caused the entire venue to shake with excitement. Chapter 21 Increasing Endurance "For the first match of the second round¡­" "ric Silversword and¡­" Lucas announced the first matchup and the crowd immediately cheered in excitement. In a strength-centric nation like the Astanian Empire, everyone loved to watch the Knights fight. It was like a tradition to them. The imperial family even established a battle coliseum where the most powerful Knights in the kingdom fought in a formal match to decide who was the strongest. That was how the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard was created- a list that ranks the most powerful in the empire. Other than the glory of having their names etched on the leaderboard, the rankers also annually receive generous rewards from the imperial family to keep them motivated. The higher their rank, the more generous their rewards will be. For these reasons, many aspiring warriors from all over the empire wished to one day see their names on the leaderboard. That was how special the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard was. At this moment¡­ "If you want to rest, I can give you a few minutes. I don''t want to fight an exhausted opponent." ric stared at his opponent in surprise. He didn''t expect to hear these words from him. This guy is a true Knight. ric stared at him deeply. Knights like him are always the first ones to die on the battlefield. ric respected their discipline and their strict mentality. He was just like them in his past life, but he started changing when he experienced the cruelty of war. "I''m fine. We can start our fight now." ric unsheathed his swords to reveal his intentions. Seeing this, his opponent no longer hesitated and took out his weapon, a sword with average length. In their first sh, ric could tell that this guy was much better than his first opponent. He was more versatile and quicker to react. This guy should be on the same level as Aldrin¡­ ric thought to himself. He didn''t let the battle drag on and ended it in less than ten moves. ric''s victory no longer came as a surprise considering how he had won his first match. More and more people cheered for him. Even those who were skeptical about his skills no longer doubted him. Two sessive victories against experienced Knights wasn''t a mere coincidence. At this point, anyone could tell that ric was no ordinary Knight even though he had only recently advanced. For the next match, it was Anthony''s turn. His opponent was also a great fighter, but his skills still fell short against a much better Anthony. The battle ended with Anthony''s victory. In the third match, the person who won was not a Knight from any household, but a veteran mercenary who had some fame in Vale. For thest match, it was finally Dnn''s turn. He was one of the crowd favorite. The moment he stepped on the stage, the guests were fired up. For this battle, he didn''t win as easily as he did in the first round. It wasn''t because he was weak, his opponent was just strong. This also made everyone realize that the remaining participants were no longer your average Knights. The second round concluded with Dnn''s difficult victory. Another person was called to draw the lots for the final four. When the matchups were announced, everyone was bubbling with excitement. "Oh no! Lord ric is matched with Sir Anthony!" "Who do you think will win between them?" "I''m not sure. They both won their fights convincingly so it''s hard to tell." "I think Sir Anthony has the upper hand. His weapon has a longer range and he is also a bit more powerful." The guests argued over who would win between ric and Anthony. Both men were amazing and they won spectacrly in their battles so everyone was divided. No one knew how the battle would end. As the two men stepped on the stage, the atmosphere became even more intense. "I am surprised by your skills, my lord. I hope that I can give you a good battle." Anthony bowed respectfully. ric reciprocated the gesture with a light bow. After Lucas announced the start of the match, the two pulled out their weapons and charged towards each other at the same time. True to his fame, Anthony''s halberd was strong and unshakable. Even with ric''s improved strength, he found out that he was still weaker in terms of raw power. His strength alone is already above that of Rigor and his skill should be on the same level as Henry. ric couldn''t break through Anthony''s defense. No matter how fast his sword was, Anthony could block his attack with perfect timing. Meanwhile, he didn''t even dare block Anthony''s halberd head-on. He hadn''t increased his endurance so if he forcefully blocked Anthony''s halberd at his current level, he would only be injured. Should I increase my endurance with my remaining stat points? Anthony was an opponent who couldn''t be defeated with his swordsmanship alone. It wasn''t that his swordsmanship was weak, but it was because his strength was stillcking to disy the true power of his swordsmanship. After some thought, ric no longer hesitated. He used his remaining stat points to increase his endurance. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 31/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F) Strength: 38 Stamina: 28 Agility: 35 Vitality: 27 Endurance: 42 Mana: 13 Battle Points: 460@@novelbin@@ Stat Points: 0 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) With that, he had used up all the stat points he had saved up, but ric couldn''t care less. After increasing his endurance, he had a feeling that his muscles and bones had be more durable. In the next moment, ric no longer evaded Anthony''s halberd. He faced the veteran Knight head-on and began a fierce sh with him. What is going on? How is he able to block my halberd now? Anthony was stunned by the sudden improvement in ric''s defense. Earlier, he was still overwhelming ric with his halberd, but in the next instant, ric could already block his attacks. Meanwhile, ric could also sense the huge change. His arms no longer felt like they were tearing apart every time their weapons shed. He could now withstand the powerful blow of Anthony''s halberd! I can win this! Chapter 22 Arthur Valkan Normally, a fight between Knights would conclude in just a few moves, but there were cases when the battle dragged on because of the amazing skills of the two fighters. At this moment, ric and Anthony had already shed more than twenty times and there was still no clear indication of who woulde out as the victor. The crowd watched with bated breath as the two Knights fought. It was a battle unlike any other. "Is Lord ric really a new Knight?" One of the guests murmured with a face full of disbelief. A few people heard him, but no one was in the mood to reply. They were all so shocked by the ongoing battle that they were unable to respond. Anthony Olliver was a Knight of Vale. He had decades of experience and this cemented his reputation as one of the most powerful Knights in the surrounding cities. However, he found himself struggling to win against a newly advanced Knight and this made him feel utterly confounded. Just what kind of son did Baron Lucas raise? The more he fought with ric, the more stunned he became. ric didn''t fight like the newbie everyone thought he was. He was like a seasoned veteran who had fought countless battles, but the most impressive thing about him was his swordsmanship. ric''s every move was calcted and there were no extra movements. He wasn''t even trying to be shy, but he moved with such elegance that it almost looked like he was doing a performance. What a dazzling swordsmanship! Anthony had never seen something like this before. It was beautiful and dreadful at the same time. As the battle continued, Anthony''s stamina was starting to decline. His halberd was getting heavier and heavier. I''m getting old¡­ Anthony lowered his halberd and muttered while lightly shaking his head. "I concede." No one expected him to surrender in the middle of the fight, but the crowd epted the result. ric''s abilities had surpassed their expectations. It wouldn''t even be an exaggeration to say that he was unrivaled among Knights. "Thank you, my lord. It was a good fight. Unfortunately, I''m already too old to give you a satisfactory battle." Anthony gave a snappy Knight''s salute. ric sheathed his swords and returned the salute. "What are you saying, Sir Anthony? If we were to use mana, I would have no chance to defeat you. I have learned a lot from this battle. Thank you!" Anthony merely smiled at his words. He knew that ric was just saying those words to make him feel better. Although he had more mana than ric at this moment, it was only a matter of time before he would surpass him given ric''s potential. "For this battle, it is ric''s victory!" Lucas announced the results. The venue shook with excitement after his announcement. "Holy shit!" "He actually won!" "Hahaha! I didn''t bet on the wrong person! I knew Lord ric could do it!" "My precious gold coins are gone now¡­" While everyone was talking about ric''s victory, one person was seething with anger. How could this be? He even defeated Anthony Olliver¡­ Is Lucas''s blood really that strong? Charles could hardly contain his emotions. "Lord Charles, you must be feeling proud to have such a powerful nephew! Congrattions!" A voice suddenly drifted into his ears. Charles almost vomited blood when he heard those words. He turned his head and saw that it was an official from Vale, an old man named Chandler. Under the city lord were ten officials who helped him in managing Vale. Chandler was the oldest official among the ten and he had already served three city lords. As arrogant as he was, Charles didn''t dare provoke this old man so he could only swallow his anger. "Am I so obvious, Sir Chandler?" He forced out a smile. The old official chuckled as he stroked his beard. "No wonder you suggested for him to join thepetition. I thought you just wanted him to gain some experience. I never expected that Lord ric was such a skillful swordsman." "Hahaha! But of course! Whose nephew do you think he is?" Charlesughed. He used the chance to strike up a conversation with the old man. At this moment, the next participants were already called to the stage. Dnn Heinrich stepped forward. He was confident when he suggested thispetition, but his confidence started to fade away when he saw how powerful the other participants were, especially ric who had only turned eighteen. I was too arrogant. I thought that my talent was one of the best in the empire. Compared to ric, I''m nothing. Dnn thought to himself. However¡­ I won''t give up just like that. Talent isn''t the only factor that determines the growth of an individual. Talent without effort is meaningless. I will use this opportunity to sharpen my de and prepare myself for the future battles that I will face! With renewed confidence, Dnn''s eyes shed with unshakable resolve. His opponent finally stepped onto the stage. Arthur Valkan, a veteran mercenary who was only a step away from bing an Elite Knight. He was a decade younger than Anthony, but the battles he had faced were as numerous as the old Knight. He was born amoner and he was sold off by his parents to a mercenary group when he was young. At the early age of six, he was forced to learn swordsmanship. He had no choice since he was already their possession. Through the years he stayed with the mercenary group that bought him. He hated his parents and he also hated the mercenary group that separated him from his family. However, as the years went by, he gradually became ustomed to his life as a mercenary. He had even forgotten his parents who had heartlessly sold him off. At this moment, he had already freed himself from the mercenary group and established his name in the industry.@@novelbin@@ "My name is Arthur Valkan." Arthur greeted his opponent with a simple bow. Chapter 23 Final Match Arthur wore a simple leather armor and a pair of leather wrist guards. His face was covered in sh wounds and he also had a gnarly scar on the left side of his face that exposed his teeth. With one look on his face, anyone could tell how he had lived his life. Because of his scar, Arthur spoke with a weird voice, but no one dared to make fun of him. They had seen how he had defeated his opponents in the earlier match. He overwhelmed them with sheer power alone! Arthur''s main weapon was a giant mace, but it was too dangerous to use in thispetition so he used a two-handed broadsword instead. Even though he didn''t use his main weapon, he still managed to defeat his opponents without difficulty. As soon as their battle began, Dnn took the initiative to attack. He brandished his longsword, causing a sharp ''whooshing'' sound in the air. My sword has a longer reach. I need to use this to my advantage and not let himnd a heavy blow on me. Dnn was aware of his opponent''s power. He wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible. However¡­ Arthur wasn''t your average warrior. He had faced numerous enemies on the battlefield and he had already mastered the ability to react in any situation. He expertly blocked Dnn''s longsword with precise maneuvers. ng! ng! ng! Thetter''s longsword couldn''t even touch Arthur''s armor. Arthur was like a mountain, steady and firm. No matter how hard Dnn pushed his sword, he couldn''t force Arthur to take a step back. In the end, Arthur capitalized on Dnn''s decreasing momentum to make a counterattack. After less than ten moves, Dnn was forced to concede. "Who would have thought that a mercenary would actually progress this far? I can''t believe he defeated Lord Dnn in such a manner. It didn''t even look like he struggled in that fight." "Lord Dnn is still young. He has plenty of time to train." "So the final battle is between Lord ric and Sir Arthur. Who do you guys think will win?" Arthur was given some time to rest before the final match against ric. In the meantime, the guests started betting on their favorite participants, making the banquet hall boisterous and entertaining. At this moment, ric was drinking a ss of water he got from Elena. "Good luck, my lord! Please do your best on your next battle!" The little girl cheered for him. ric smiled upon hearing her words. "I will." A few momentster, the two remaining participants were finally called up. ric stared at Arthur. Arthur Valkan¡­ This man died during the orc invasion in my past life. He was hired by Vale to support the city''s soldiers in fighting the orcs. He fought bravely against those monsters without retreating. Unfortunately, he encountered an Elite Orc Warrior and was killed in that battle. The orc invasion was an event that would happen a few years from now. When this happened in his past life, Lucas was already dead and it was ric who lent support to Vale in stopping the orcs. At that time, ric had only be a Knight so his contribution in that battle was minimal. In the end, Vale managed to repel the orc army with the support of the neighboring cities and towns. It was one of the major battles that he had participated in before the Civil War. "I have heard a lot about you, Sir Arthur. You managed to be that strong despite the difficulties you had faced in your life. I admire you." ric spoke with a sincere tone. Arthur was taken aback by his words. Most people feared him because of his looks, while there even others who looked down on him because of his lowly origins. It was the first time he heard someone express admiration for him. "Don''t expect me to go easy on you because of those words." He muttered while staring deeply at the young Knight. When he first heard about ric''s advancement, he was filled with envy and curiosity. He was envious of ric''s family who had always supported their son''s growth. He was also curious about ric who was believed to have a talent that was on par with the emperor''s. Now that he had seen him, he realized that ric was more approachable than he had imagined. He was respectful and friendly, unlike most noble heirs he had known. ric chuckled at his words. "I will be honored to fight you at your best." He muttered. After exchanging some words, the two went into battle position. Soon, the two moved at the same time and shed. ng! ng! The loud collision of their weapons echoed within the banquet hall. When they shed, Arthur finally realized why a Knight with decades of experience like Anthony was defeated at the hands of ric. No wonder he won against Sir Anthony. What a fearsome swordsmanship! Now that he had experienced it for himself, he found out the horror of ric''s swordsmanship. It was beautiful, precise, and strong. He thought that he would be able to overwhelm ric with his brute force, but the guy always managed to deflect or block his broadsword without showing any signs of difficulty. How is he so strong at this age?! Meanwhile, ric was enjoying their battle. There is no technique behind his sword, just pure brute force. His fighting style is just like his personality, simple and fierce. I want this guy! ric had a strong desire to have Arthur in the household. It wasn''t just because of his skills, but also because of his honest personality. He might be old, but age won''t stop someone''s potential, especially someone like Arthur who has a firm and determined heart. "If I defeat you here, please work for me!" ric didn''t hesitate to voice out his intentions. Arthur raised his eyebrows upon hearing his words. "Then you better give it your all, my lord!"@@novelbin@@ Chapter 24 Former Commander? I need to end this soon before I run out of stamina.@@novelbin@@ Arthur was starting to umte fatigue after the repeated shes with ric. Thetter was fast and crafty. He had to stay alert at all times to block ric''s attacks. One mistake and the fight would be over. Without the help of mana, I can''t hold on to this weapon for very long. He was using a two-handed broadsword which was almost ten kilograms in weight. Normally, he would use mana to lessen the pressure on his arms, but he couldn''t use mana in thispetition. He wouldn''t be able to wield a heavy weapon like this for a long time with just pure strength alone. Beads of sweat trickled down his face as he looked at ric who was still full of energy. How is he not tired after moving around like that? How I wish to be young again¡­ As the battle continued, Arthur''s movements became sluggish and he could hardly block ric''s swords. I can still fight! Arthur''s eyes shed with determination. Despite the extreme fatigue he was feeling, he brandished his two-handed broadsword with all his might in an attempt to defeat ric in one final move. Seeing this, ric wasn''t flustered. He could see the trajectory of Arthur''s sword because it was moving so slowly in his eyes. I can evade this if I want to, but I don''t want to win in that manner. I have to thoroughly defeat him! As he thought of this, ric lunged forward and spun twice in midair to gain momentum. He then cleaved down both swords to meet Arthur''s broadsword. CLANG!!! A violent nging sound echoed as their weapons shed. Crack! Suddenly, a crack appeared on Arthur''s broadsword. In the next moment, the de of his sword broke apart. ric immediately stopped his sword before it touched Arthur''s body. ___ Mission Complete! You received 150 Battle Points, 30 EXP, and F-Rank Talent Card x1 ___ The cheering of the crowd fell on deaf ears as the cyan screen appeared in front of him. [Do you want to use the F-Rank Talent Card?] [Yes] [No] Upon seeing this, ric clicked [Yes] out of habit. [You awakened the F-Rank Sixth Sense Talent.] ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 61/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 38 Stamina: 28 Agility: 35 Vitality: 27 Endurance: 42 Mana: 13 Battle Points: 610 Stat Points: 0 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He gained another talent, but he was unsure what it was for. I''ll deal with thister. He thought as he closed the cyan screen with a thought. He then searched for Arthur from the crowd and saw him walking away with a regretful expression. ric immediately chased after him. "Sir Arthur!" He called out to the mercenary. Arthur stopped in his tracks and turned his head. "What can I do for you, my lord?" "I''m serious about my invitation earlier. Please stay after the banquet. I''d like to speak with you." ric stated without hesitation. Arthur shook his head. "I''m just an old Knight, my lord. I have already exhausted my potential. I might be powerful among Knights, but that''s already my limit. I''m afraid that I will have to disappoint you." He sounded downcast when he uttered those words. Hearing this, ric smiled faintly. "Sir Arthur, it''s too early for you to give up on reaching a higher level. I believe in your potential. Please give me a chance to speak with you after the celebration." He didn''t want to give up on this man. Arthur was being held back by his inferiorityplex and hisck of resources. Once this would be addressed, advancing to the next level wasn''t impossible. Arthur felt the sincerity in his words. He also felt something light up from deep within him when he stared at ric''s eyes. After a moment of silence, Arthur finally nodded. "Alright. I will spare some time to chat with you, my lord." "Great! I can''t wait." ric beamed after getting him to ept his invitation. Now, he just needed to convince him. The celebration continued after the unofficialpetition between the Knights and everyone congratted ric for his victory. Most of the guests expressed their desire to marry off their daughters to ric, but Lucas gave them a vague answer. He didn''t want to force his son into an arranged marriage. He felt that it would hinder ric''s potential and affect his mental health. Lucas didn''t want to see that happen. At this moment, ric was chatting with someone when he noticed Anthony Olliver walking in William''s direction. "Excuse me." ric immediately excused himself and went to see the situation. As soon as he got closer, he saw Anthony giving William a respectful salute. "Greetings, Commander William!" ric''s eyes widened when he heard his words. Is Sir William the former Commander of Vale''s armed forces? William waved his hand and shook his head. "What are you talking about? I have already retired. I''m no longer yourmander." "That''s true, but I would feel wrong if I didn''t greet you like this, sir." Anthony sighed to himself upon seeing William''s aged face. There wasn''t a semnce of the gloriousmander that he once was. "It''s all in the past. I''m just an ordinary old man now." William muttered with a forced smile. As he approached them, ric could feel the pain and the regret in the old man''s eyes. "I haven''t given up on searching for Dragon Tail Ferns, sir! Just wait a bit more. I only need a few more stalks to have enough for your advancement." Anthony spoke with a resolute gaze. Ahem! ric faked a cough and said. "I''m sorry. I overheard your conversation." "Lord ric." "My lord!" Anthony and the old man stared at him in surprise. Talk about the timing of his arrival. "I might be able to help you with this matter." ric smiled as he uttered those words. Chapter 25 Rejected "Are you speaking the truth, my lord?" Anthony was agitated by his words. William''s declining health has been a great concern for him. As his former subordinate, he didn''t want to see hismander suffer quietly after his long service. ric nodded. "But before that, can you exin what''s going on? This is the first time I''ve heard of this." He hadn''t heard about William in his past life. This means that the old man had most likely perished without finding a solution to his problem. Anthony didn''t speak right away. He looked at the old man to seek his opinion. It was only when William nodded his head did Anthony replied. "It''s a long story so I''ll make it short." "Sir William failed to advance in the Transcendent Knight realm and this caused him to be significantly injured. The only way to heal him is for him to sessfully advance, but this attempt would require a lot of Dragon Tail Ferns." Hearing this, ric rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How many stalks do you need exactly?" "We need around fifteen stalks, but even with that much, it''s still not guaranteed," Anthony responded in a heavy tone. "Fifteen stalks?" ric thought that the old man would need more. It seems like he had underestimated the efficacy of the herb. Anthony nodded. "I already have seven stalks with me so I''m onlycking eight to collect fifteen." "Just forget about it. Dragon Tail Ferns are not easy to find and just one stalk is worth around 15-20 gold coins or possibly even more." William shook his head and sighed. "I see. Sir William just needs Dragon Tail Ferns, right?" ric smiled all of a sudden. Seeing his expression, Anthony''s eyes shed with hope. "Could it be¡­you have some Dragon Tail Ferns, my lord?" William stared at ric in surprise. Even for a noble household, such herbs were rare and hard to find. ric nodded. "We managed to acquire some stalks and I have more than what you need."@@novelbin@@ "Is that true?" Anthony wanted to inquire further, but William stopped him with a raise of his hand. "What do you want in return, my lord? I don''t think you are giving them for free." William asked with narrowed eyes. He had already negotiated once with ric so he had some degree of understanding about him. ric''s smile deepened. William was truly a perceptive man. The old man understood his intentions without an exnation. "As you both know, Dragon Tail Ferns are strategic resources. Every household would only use them for their people. House Silversword is just a small barony, but we also need the herb to help our Knights advance and increase their mana. If I offer the herbs to you, we would lose a substantial portion of our stock and it might even affect our Knights advancement and mana training. If Sir William promises to work for me, I won''t just give you fifteen stalks. I will offer you twenty to help you in your advancement!" ric calmly stated his intention. This was an Elite Knight who had a chance of advancing to the next realm! Twenty stalks might be a lot, but so what? A Transcendent Knight was worth more than twenty stalks of Dragon Tail Ferns! In the household, only his father was a Transcendent Knight. If he managed to get William to serve him, the household would gain a powerful warrior! Anthony''s eyes widened upon hearing his words. "That''s not possible." William shook his head. "I have already promised my wife that I will never return to that kind of life. I''m sorry to disappoint you, my lord, but I have to decline your offer." William firmly rejected it with a calm look. Anthony looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came out of his mouth. ric didn''t expect to get rejected. He sighed regretfully while shaking his head. "I respect your decision, Sir William. It was insensitive of me to take advantage of your predicament. I will deliver the fifteen stalks to you after the banquet. Please forgive me." "Excuse me." He then bowed to the two old Knights and left without looking back. It was a bit regretful, but he couldn''t force the matter. He didn''t want to destroy his rtionship with the orphanage because of his greed so he decisively took a step back. Looking at ric''s back, the two old Knights were silent for a moment. "Did he just say that he will deliver fifteen stalks to you after the banquet?" Anthony muttered as if he couldn''t believe his ears. "That''s what he said." William shrugged. He never thought that ric would give up just like that. "We will know if he is speaking the truth. I''ll stay here and wait with you." For Anthony, this was a chance that he didn''t want to pass up. At this moment, Rasmus who was dressedfortably approached. "Grandpa, I saw you guys talking with Lord ric. What did you guys talk about?" Rasmus asked with a curious look. William red at him, making the teen shrink his neck in fear. *** The celebration resumed until evening and another activity was held to entertain the guest. A famous troupe was invited for the evening activity. It was a group that had recently be famous in the neighboring cities. As soon as they stepped on the stage, the guests watched their performances with great attention. Dad really prepared a lot for this celebration. ric thought to himself as he watched the performance. The joyous atmosphere made him temporarily forget his worries. I wish this kind of peace wouldst longer. Unfortunately, he was aware that this wish would nevere true. Five months from now, arge group of goblins woulde to attack North Pine Town. When this attack happened in his past life, he was yet to be a Knight so he wasn''t able to join the battle. However, things were different now. He didn''t want to be powerless like he was in his past life. Chapter 26 Max Strength After the celebration, ric sent Gnar to give William the fifteen stalks he had promised. "Lord ric asked me to give this to you." Gnar handed a wooden box to William. An Elite Knight! When did House Silversword get another warrior at this level? Anthony stared at Gnar in shock. Although thetter suppressed his power, Anthony still sensed the overwhelming mana he possessed. William took the wooden box. "Thank you. I''ll speak with Lord ric soon and personally give him my thanks." This was ric''s goodwill so he didn''t reject it this time. "If you want to use the items inside the box, you are free to use the empty rooms in the mansion." Gnar reminded. "There''s no hurry," William replied. There were still plenty of guests in the venue. Using the herbs might attract unwanted attention so he didn''t want to absorb them for the time being. "Alright. My job here is done." Gnar gave them a fist-palm salute before he turned around and left. "Sir, that guy is an Elite Knight!" Anthony eximed as soon as Gnar left. William nodded. "I know. And he is not an ordinary Elite Knight either. He is probably stronger than the currentmander of Vale''s armed forces." "That powerful?" Anthony was surprised by his words. "I don''t know how it happened, but he works for Lord ric now. The young man, if given enough time, would definitely be a renowned figure like his father, Lord Lucas." William spoke with a serious voice. "Enough about that. Let''s see if he really gave the real thing." Anthony turned his attention to the wooden box. William looked around. When he noticed that there was no one nearby, he slowly opened the lid of the box, revealing mature Dragon Tail Ferns. William immediately closed the box after seeing what was inside. "It''s the real deal! He really gave you fifteen stalks just like that. Unbelievable." Anthony was stunned. William carefully kept the wooden box and stared in a certain direction. I will remember this favor, Lord ric¡­ *** Meanwhile, in a small pavilion beside the venue, ric was having a serious conversation with Arthur. "Sir Arthur, you already know my intentions so I won''t beat around the bush. Please work for me." ric stared deeply at the old mercenary. Arthur furrowed his eyebrows. "Why did you choose me, my lord? I''m already old and I have already used up my potential. I don''t think there is anything special about me." "Yes, you''re right. You are already past the best age for mana training, but who said that you no longer have any potential?" ric chuckled. To him, potential was just secondary. The one thing he liked about Arthur was his loyalty and skills. "Potential can be supplemented with enough resources and House Silversword can give you enough to advance to higher realms. Sir Arthur, tell me your lifelong wish." "My lifelong wish¡­" Arthur''s eyes spaced out as he entered into deep thought. "I-I¡­ want my name to be etched on the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard!" The mercenary was embarrassed when he muttered those words. He thought that ric wouldugh at his ridiculous wish, but thetter only nodded calmly.@@novelbin@@ "What a coincidence! I also wish to one day have my name etched on the leaderboard. Sir Arthur, if you had enough resources, do you think you can fulfill your wish?" ric smiled. Arthur didn''t expect him to say such a thing, but considering the potential he had shown, there was a high chance for ric to have his ce in the leaderboard. "I''m not sure, my lord, but if I had the resources, I would definitely give it my all to realize my dream no matter how difficult the road may be!" "Since you have confidence in me, I am willing to serve you! Whether you want me to be your sword or your shield, I, Arthur Valkan, will follow yourmands!" The old mercenary bent his knee as he solemnly uttered the knight''s oath. ric smiled and ced his hand on the mercenary''s shoulder. "You will not regret this choice, Sir Arthur." And that was how ric managed to get an experienced Knight to serve him. ¡­ Two monthster, on the 16th of November in the Astanian Calendar. ric had justpleted his daily mission. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 129/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 38+ Stamina: 28+ Agility: 35+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 1290 Stat Points: 68 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) After training for two months, I realized that I could no longer increase my mana and my physical abilities through normal methods. The only way for me to increase them is by adding stat points. I have only collected 68 stat points after two months of doing the daily missions. This progress is too slow. I wish there was another mission for me. ric sighed while shaking his head. I''ll slowly increase my stats. Let''s start by pushing my strength to 100. ric used 62 unallocated stat points to his strength which immediately elevated it to 100. Now, he was only left with 6 stat points. He tried adding more stat points to his strength, but he found out that he couldn''t add more points to it. So at my current level, 100 is the limit. Without hesitation, he added the remaining 6 stat points to his stamina, pushing it to 34. ric could sense the changes in his body. Without even checking it, he could tell that his muscles and bones had undergone massive changes. So this is how it feels like to max out my strength. I think I can even smash through a thick wall with a single punch. ric thought as he looked at his clenched fist. Suddenly, he noticed a servant running towards him with an urgent look. "My lord!" ric raised his eyebrows. "What is it?" The servant took a moment to catch his breath before he responded. "Our soldiers discovered something in the Evergreen Forest!" ric narrowed his eyes. "Have you told the baron about this?" "Yes, my lord. His lordship is already on his way to the Evergreen Forest." The servant replied cautiously. Chapter 27 Goblin Scout ric didn''t waste any time. He immediately gathered his men and brought them to the Evergreen Forest. Gnar was currently guarding the soap shop in Vale so he only took Arthur and some Knight Apprentices. Looking at the departing figures, Rasmus furrowed his eyebrows. I wonder what happened out there for Lord ric to react like that. He lowered his gaze and looked at his sword. He noticed that his hands were already full of cuts and calluses. This was caused by the strict training that he had undertaken together with the other prospective Knight Apprentices. In thest two months, he had learned a lot of things including basic closebat, horse riding, and swordsmanship. All prospective talents were also taught the basicmands and hand signals. Rasmus was no longer the ordinary teen that he was before, but he was still unsatisfied with his performance. I''m still too weak! I''m not even a Knight Apprentice yet. I must work harder so I can be of help to Lord ric! As he thought of this, Rasmus tightened his grip on the sword and resumed his training. Meanwhile, ric''s group had already left the estate and arrived at the streets of North Pine Town. Seeing the townspeople blocking the path, Arthur urged his horse to move ahead of ric. "Make way!" He shouted at the pedestrians. When the people saw them rushing urgently along the streets, they immediately vacated the road. Soon, they left the town and arrived at the Evergreen Forest where a group of Knights had already gathered. ric raised his hand, signaling his subordinates to slow down. "My lord!" ric saluted the baron with a serious look. Lucas turned his head and nodded to him. "Come here and take a look at this." ric could see a green creature the height of a human child lying on the grass, bleeding from a stab wound on its chest. It was no longer moving, but everyone had grim faces as they stared at the creature''s corpse. A goblin! ric jumped down from his mount and approached the creature''s body, observing it closely. "This is a goblin scout," ric muttered after seeing the creature''s outfit and weapon- a crude leather armor and a bone knife. He had some encounters with goblins in his past life so he was familiar with their behavior and characteristics. Goblins usually send scouts to search for suitable targets. When a target has been found, they would then send their troops to attack. These creatures were small, but they were smarter thanmon wild animals. They had the intelligence of a human child. There were even goblins who could speak. Other than their unusually high intelligence, they also moved inrge groups which made them even more dangerous. An adult goblin wasparable to a Knight Apprentice in terms of strength. Stronger goblins were even as powerful as Knights! Hearing ric''s remarks, Lucas was a bit surprised. He didn''t recall teaching ric about goblin traits. "You''re right. This is a goblin scout. Since this guy has made its way here, this means that there are more of them out there." Lucas muttered in a t tone. ric frowned at his words. From his memory, there were still three months until the goblins would attack North Pine Town, but he couldn''t be sure that things would go as they did in his previous life. "My lord, we need to form a search party to look for traces of goblin tribes near the town," ric suggested while facing the baron. Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Why? Do you think the goblins woulde to attack the town?" ric nodded. "When goblin tribes send their scouts, it''s usually to look for suitable targets. They are cruel and greedy creatures. They like human flesh the most from what I know so there is a high chance that they will attack the town." He spoke with great certainty. He had to convince his father here to ensure that they would be prepared for the goblin attack. From what he remembered, the goblin attack would kill more than ten ordinary soldiers and three Knight Apprentices. It was a small casualty considering therge number of enemy goblins, but it could be prevented with enough preparation. Lucas touched his chin and pondered for a while. "Alright. Do you think you can handle this task on your own?" He wanted to see if his son was willing to take on such a dangerous task. It was a test and also a form of recognition of ric''s ability. Seeing the expectant expression on his father''s face, ric nodded with a grim look. "I will do my best, my lord!" Lucas looked satisfied with his response. "In that case, form a search party and look for the goblin tribe. I''ll give you the authority to mobilize the Knights and the Knight Apprentices. Report to me immediately if you discover anything." ric bowed his head lightly. "Yes, my lord!" Lucas shifted his gaze andmanded his subordinates. "Get rid of this corpse." "Yes, my lord!" ___ Mission: Destroy the Goblin Tribe I Difficulty: Easy Search for traces of the goblin tribe near North Pine Town! Rewards: 200 Battle Points, 50 EXP, and 5 Stat Points Penalty for failure: -400 Battle Points ___ ric''s eyes shed with joy the moment the cyan screen appeared before him. He had been waiting for a mission all this time and it finally came to him. He had almost be sick of doing the daily missions. ric closed the screen and turned his head to Arthur who was standing behind him. "Let''s return to the estate." "Yes, my lord." ric jumped on his mount and squeezed his legs, urging it to move. Arthur and the rest of his subordinates quickly followed.@@novelbin@@ As soon as they returned to the estate, ric immediately formed four groups with each group consisting of one Knight and four Knight Apprentices. ric and Arthur led a group each, while the remaining two were led by Aldrin and Henry. "Now that everyone is here. I''ll tell you what you should do." ric proceeded with the n after forming the groups. Chapter 28 Discovery Three days have passed since ric''s group had started searching for traces of goblins. The four teams had already searched half of the Evergreen Forest, but they still hadn''t found anything. They should be around here somewhere. Did I miss something? ric sorted his memories. He didn''t have concrete information about the goblin tribe''s location. He only knew that it was his father''s elite force led by Commander Warrick who had found their exact location. Do I really need to invite Sir Warrick to join the search? Warrick Mason was an Elite Knight and themander of House Silversword''s armed forces. He was also Lucas''s right-hand man and his most trusted confidant. Without Lucas''s approval, even ric wouldn''t be able tomand Warrick to move. That was how special his position was in the household. Meanwhile, in a different part of the forest, Henry discovered some unusual tracks on the ground. Henry crouched and inspected the tracks closely. "These aren''t traces of wild animals." His eyes narrowed into slits. It must be them! Henry stood up and made a whistling sound to call his scattered subordinates. A momentter, four Knight Apprentices dressed in leather armor appeared and gathered before him. Looking at them, Henry pointed at the tracks he found and said. "I think we found our target." The four Knight Apprentices raised their eyebrows in surprise. They lowered their gazes and observed the traces on the ground. They weren''t professional hunters, but even they could tell that these weren''t animal tracks. "What should we do, sir?" One of the Knight Apprentices asked in a low voice. Henry''s expression turned serious as he responded. "From this moment, we need to move as a group. Follow me closely and make sure not to make a sound." "We have to ascertain the location of the goblin tribe before we report back to Lord ric." "Yes, sir!" "Let''s go!" Henry led his team to follow the traces. They moved carefully and silently, ensuring that no creatures would be alerted. Twenty minutester, they arrived at a more secluded part of the Evergreen Forest. The trees here were taller and their leaves were denser, making it hard for sunlight to pass through. Theck of sunlight made it difficult for smaller nts to thrive. Only the stubborn weeds and parasitic mushrooms managed to survive. The strange vegetation made the group feel uneasy. At this moment, Henry waved his hand, signaling his group to get down. The old Knight hid behind a big tree and carefully took a peek. A few hundred meters from them, he noticed some crudely made treehouses as well as a flickering light which probably came from a bonfire. Henry made another hand gesture to his team, informing them about what he saw. The Knight Apprentices cautiously stuck their head out to confirm this. "I''m positive. This is the goblin tribe that we are looking for." Henry whispered with certainty. "Should we do more investigations, sir?" Hearing this, Henry shook his head. "No." "If we go further, they might discover us. We don''t want to alert those guys." Doing more observations would only endanger the team, especially considering that there were only five of them with four being Knight Apprentices. Once they were discovered, they would have to fight the entire goblin tribe which was no different than death sentence. The four Knight Apprentices became silent. "Let''s go back and report what we saw here to Lord ric." Henry decisively instructed the team. "Yes, sir!" *** ric returned to the estate with a gloomy look on his face. His team scoured their designated areas, but they found no evidence of goblin activity. It''s already the third day, but we still haven''t found any clue. While he was grumbling at their terrible luck, he suddenly noticed another team entering the estate. "My lord, we found the goblin''s camp!" Henry reported after greeting him with a salute. Hearing this, ric was pleasantly surprised. "Really? Where is it?" Henry took out a map of the Evergreen Forest and pointed at a certain location. "We found their camp here. We didn''t make detailed observations since there is a high chance that they would be alerted."@@novelbin@@ ric stared closely at the map and furrowed his eyebrows. It was in the northeastern part of the forest where the evergreens were overgrown and the number of parasitic nts was aplenty. No wonder we weren''t able to find them. It turns out that they are hidden in that ce. "Great job, Sir Henry. I will make sure that this is reported to the baron. You will receive your rewards, but we must deal with the important matters first." Henry smiled as he nodded. "Yes, my lord!" Getting ric''s guarantee was enough. He knew that this young heir was in possession of arge number of Dragon Tail Ferns. If he was given some, he might advance to the Elite Knight earlier than he had anticipated. "You guys should rest first. We will depart tomorrow before sunrise." ric dismissed them. He then quickly headed to his father''s study room to report this discovery. It was thirty minutes before seven and Lucas was still busy dealing with the administrative affairs. Bastian was there to help him, but the number of documents on the table didn''t seem to have lessened even after a day of work. "I''m tired. Let''s call it a day." Lucas muttered as he put down the document he was reading. Bastian didn''t say anything and just quietly bowed to him. Suddenly¡­ Knock! Knock! Knock! Hearing the urgent knocking on the door, Lucas raised his eyebrows and said. "Come in." ric pushed the door open and nodded to his father and Bastian. "Father, I mean¡­ my lord. Henry''s team discovered the goblin settlement!" ric didn''t make the baron wait when he saw thetter''s tired look. Hearing this, the baron frowned. The goblin issue was one of the things that was always in his mind. "So what are your ns?" Lucas muttered while staring intently at his son. "Goblins have sharp eyesight and they can see clearly in the dark so I decided to push the investigation tomorrow. Once we have gathered enough information about the goblin settlement, I will make a detailed n on how to attack them." He has already thought it through. Lucas was satisfied with ric''s decision. He wasn''t hasty for sess and was even patient enough to wait for the opportune moment. "Just tell me if you need anything." Lucas didn''t mind giving him some help. After all, dealing with a goblin tribe wouldn''t be easy. ric didn''t reject his offer. "I''ll let you know when I need your help." Chapter 29 Accident During the Investigation The next day, Elena woke up early because she knew that ric would leave the town again to investigate something. She didn''t know the details of the mission, but she knew that it was dangerous since he always brought the Knights and the Knight Apprentices with him every time he went out. While she was heading to ric''s room, she jolted when she saw him walking by the hallway dressed in his leather armor and with two swords tied to his waist. "My lord?!" She called out, feeling surprised. ric was also taken aback. "Nana¡­" He didn''t expect to see her on his way out of the mansion. "Are you leaving again?" Elena approached him, her eyes filled with worry and concern. ric smiled faintly and gently brushed her hair with his hand. "I have to." Elena grabbed his hand and muttered. "Please be careful, my lord." Feeling the warmth of her hands, ric squeezed them gently as he replied. "I will." "Remember to stay close to my mother while I''m gone." He reminded her. Elena nodded obediently. "Yes, my lord." "Good." ric smiled and embraced her.@@novelbin@@ "I will be back soon." After spending some time with Elena, ric headed outside the mansion to meet with the others. As soon as he stepped out of the mansion, he saw the Knights and the Knight Apprentices waiting for him with serious expressions on their faces. Everyone was already informed that the goblin settlement had been found and that their mission was to make further investigations on theyout of the settlement as well as the specific numbers of the goblins. "Everyone, I believe your team leaders had already informed you about the situation, but in case you still haven''t been informed, I will go over it one more time¡­" ric told them the details of the mission and the tasks of every team. For this operation, each team has a different task. This was to maximize the investigation in a short amount of time. "¡­Lastly, please be careful out there. Our goal is only to investigate so we must avoidbat. If by chance you are discovered, send the signal and retreat immediately." ric sternly reminded them. "Yes, my lord!" Everyone responded in unison. "Alright. Let''s move out!" The four teams left the estate as a group. The sun hadn''t risen yet so there were only a few people on the streets of the town. By the time they arrived near the goblin settlement, weak rays of light started filtering through the dense forest. It was the crack of dawn and also the time when goblins change their shifts. This was the reason why ric specifically chose this time to investigate the settlement. He wanted to make use of this tiny gap in the defense to have his subordinates observe the goblin camp in more detail. At this moment, the four teams had already moved separately to do their investigations. Just as I guessed, those bastards are still sloppy when ites to guard duties. ric remarked internally when he saw the goblins'' rxed behavior. Suddenly, he caught sight of arger goblin dressed in leather armor with a metal breastte. A hobgoblin! No wonder some Knight Apprentices were killed in my past life. It must be because of that guy. Hobgoblins are significantly more powerful than goblins. They were as tall as the adult humans and their strength was nearing the Fatal-Grade. They also possessed higher intelligence and they could even speak the human tongue! Hold on. I''m missing something¡­ Even if there''s a hobgoblin, it should be impossible for it to kill three Knight Apprentices alone. His expression hardened when he realized something important. In his past life, Warrick Mason and even his father, Lucas Silversword, joined the battle against the goblin tribe. With their presence, it was impossible for a single hobgoblin to run amok. This means¡­ there was more than just one hobgoblin in this settlement! Thinking about this, ric''s face turned grim. Suddenly, the sound of a firework exploding echoed in the sky, making ric and his team look up in unison. A distress signal! There''s an ident! "It''s a signal from Sir Aldrin''s team!" One of the Knight Apprentices in ric''s team eximed. "What should we do, my lord? Should we head to their location and provide support?" Another muttered with a hint of unease. Everyone stared at ric and waited for his decision. The other teams should be heading to Aldrin''s group after they heard the signal. They should be fine as long as they don''t encounter the hobgoblins. ric thought deeply as he observed the goblin settlement. At this moment, the hobgoblin he saw earlier was already gone. It had probably left to check the situation after it heard the noise. Only a few goblin soldiers stayed to protect the camp. After a moment of silence, ric stood up and pulled out his swords. With a sharp gaze, he muttered. "We are heading to their camp! Take out your weapons and follow me!" Upon hearing hismands, the four Knight Apprentices were startled. They were unable toprehend the reason behind his decision. However, they had been trained to follow instructions so they took out their weapons after a split second of hesitation. "While they are distracted, we must kill as many goblins as we can!" "Move out!" ric issued amand before he charged straight to the goblin sentries. This wasn''t part of the n. He made this decision promptly after considering the situation. With most of the elite goblins out, ric wanted to make use of the chance to eliminate the ones left in the settlement. There were some risks, but he believed that they could pull it off. The goblin sentries noticed themte so they weren''t able to react preemptively. ric mercilessly cut off the head of a goblin soldier in one single sh. After the first kill, his eyes disyed extreme disgust and rage for the green creatures. "Die you fucking bastards! Die! Die!" For the first time since his regression, ric revealed his racism towards goblins. Chapter 30 Merciless Slaughter The Knight Apprentices behind ric were dumbfounded when they saw him killing the goblin sentry with zeal. The stoic image that he had imprinted upon them took a massive hit and they almost thought that this wasn''t ric but an entirely different person. The sudden change in his expression and behavior was so abrupt that they had no time toprehend what was happening. While the Knight Apprentices were still reeling in shock, ric had already lunged at the second goblin. He made a diagonal sh with his sword which effortlessly cut the poor goblin in half. Whoosh! Thud! Eekk!! The remaining goblin sentries stared at the crazed human with fear. It was a natural instinct that one would feel after seeing an incredibly powerful predator. Eekk!! Eekk!! Hieee! Hieee! The goblin sentriesmunicated in weird, high-pitched squealing voices which were uncannily simr to the sound that hyenas make. As if they had made a tacit agreement, the goblins pounced at ric simultaneously while waving their bone spears at him, leaving him no room to maneuver. Seeing this, ric felt his senses activating at full capacity. His body moved seamlessly, narrowly avoiding the sharp, pointed edges of the bone spears. At the same time, he brandished his swords, wielding them forcefully to destroy the crude bone spears. Whoosh! Whoosh! In quick sessive shes, the goblins'' bone spears broke apart, leaving them unarmed. After disarming them, ric smiled mercilessly. "Die, you filthy green bastards!" A series of whistling sounds echoed as the goblins'' bodies were shed into multiple pieces.@@novelbin@@ Looking at the mutted bodies of the goblins, the Knight Apprentices were left horrified. They didn''t expect to see this cruel side of ric. So scary! I almost pissed my pants watching Lord ric kill those goblins in such a manner¡­ Having killed all the sentries, ric turned his head at the stunned Knight Apprentices. "Follow me! Our job is not done yet!" His voice carried a trace of viciousness. "Y-Yes, my lord!" ric immediately headed deeper into the goblin settlement with his four subordinates tensely following him. They encountered some goblin warriors along the way, but none of them survived under ric''s fearsome swordy. The Knight Apprentices didn''t even have to do much. They only need to kill the goblins that ric intentionally left alive. Hmm¡­ Although they were nervous, they still managed to execute their roles effectively. All those training and drills we did in the past two months were definitely worth it. ric remarked when he saw the Knight Apprentices'' performance. These guys were among the most talented warriors in the household. They were also more attuned with mana so they have a high chance of bing full-fledged Knights. "Destroy their houses and make more disturbance!" ric instructed. "Yes, my lord!" ric watched the broken treehouses and the goblin corpses around him as he thought. By this time, the elite goblin warriors should have already noticed the situation here. We will have to face those monsters soon¡­ ric was eager to try his skills against a hobgoblin. Those creatures were a lot more powerful than normal goblin warriors and in rare cases, they could grow even stronger than the average human Knights. He wanted to make use of them to test his current abilities. He wasn''t able to exhibit his full strength in the impromptupetition during the celebration so this was the perfect chance to assess his power. Suddenly¡­ ric saw one of the Knight Apprentices hesitating to kill a female goblin. And the reason was because it was holding a newborn goblin in its arms. ric watched the scene with a cold gaze. In a battle between two races, sympathy was poison. He had experienced it in his past life so he was aware how cruel the goblins could be. Whether they were young goblins or old, they wouldn''t hesitate to kill a human. They were heartless monsters who viewed humans as prey. On the other hand, some human soldiers would hesitate to kill when they encounter nonbatant goblins. ric had seen so many people die because of theirpassion. In fact, he was also the same as them. He only changed after seeing how hisrades died because of their kindness. It was also how he had developed a strong hate against goblins. At this moment, the female goblin that was holding its baby suddenly pulled out a bone knife from out of nowhere and pounced at the hesitant Knight Apprentice. Startled, the Knight Apprentice quickly parried the bone knife using his sword and plunged it into the female goblin''s body. The female goblin didn''t die immediately. It stared at the Knight Apprentice with a gaze filled with loathing and anger. The baby in its arms fell after it lost its grip and the tiny thing crawled towards the Knight Apprentice, crying while emitting chirp-like sounds. The Knight Apprentice couldn''t bear to kill the powerless little thing. "Kill it!" An icy voice resonated in his ears. The Knight Apprentice looked at ric in shock. "But my lord, this is¡­" "That bloody thing might turn into another hobgoblin if we leave it be! It will seek revenge for the destruction of its tribe and it will mercilessly ughter humans! Kill it!" ric''s voice was filled with unquestionable authority. The Knight Apprentice trembled and his gaze slowly hardened as he looked at the tiny creature crawling beneath his boots. With a low grunt, he lifted his sword and stabbed its heart which killed it on the spot. Looking at the Knight Apprentice''splicated expression, ric sternly reminded him. "You must bear in mind that these creatures are our enemies. If one of them survives, they wille back to seek revenge! The victims could be your friends or even your family so no matter how difficult it may be, you must harden your heart and kill them without mercy!" ric''s words resonated deeply in the Knight Apprentice''s mind, shaking his very being down to his core. "I was foolish. Thank you for reminding me, my lord." He stared at ric who was younger than him by a decade with newfound respect. He respected the young heir''s decisiveness. ric tapped the man''s shoulder. "The battle isn''t over yet. More enemies areing. You better get ready." Chapter 31 The Powerful Hobgoblins While ric''s team was causing a disturbance in the goblin settlement, the three other teams had already regrouped and they are currently fighting with the elite goblin warriors. "Where is Lord ric?" Arthur looked around while fending off the goblins that were attacking him. Some time had already passed since the signal was released, but there was still no sign of his presence. This made him and the others feel a bit anxious. Normal goblin warriors should pose no threat against Lord ric. Was there an ident on his side? Arthur''s expression was grim. Suddenly, threerger goblins appeared in his field of vision. They were as tall as adult humans and the aura they exuded was simr to that of Fatal-grade monsters. Hobgoblins! Arthur''s pupils dted when he identified the creatures. The moment these three powerful monsters appeared, the goblin warriors became more aggressive. Eekk!! Eekk!! Eekk!! Hiieeh!! Hiieeh!! The weird noises they made resonated in everyone''s ears. At this moment, the old Knight, Henry, stepped forward and shouted. "Do not falter! These monsters are just goblins! We can easily take care of them! We are the proud warriors of House Silversword! Let these monsters know why we are called the defenders of the north!" The old Knight''s words ignited everyone and the unease in their hearts quickly dissipated like smoke. "Kill them!" "Kill these goblins!" Arthur took the opportunity to lead the charge. "Follow me to kill these monsters! Charge with me!" The warriors of House Silversword showed their valiance. In the face of more than a hundred goblins, they fearlessly charged! As soon as the two sides shed, the goblins were decimated. They were unable to stop the trained human warriors with their crude weapons. Even their leather armor proved to be useless against the humans'' finely crafted weapons. It was a one-sided massacre! The most fearsome among them was Arthur who was at the forefront of the formation. He was like an enraged bull, slicing his way into the goblins'' flimsy formation. Meanwhile, the old Knight, Henry, looked steady and stable. He wasn''t as ferocious as Arthur, but he was killing the goblins with quick and precise movements. On the other hand, the younger Knight, Aldrin, wasn''t any less impressive than the two. His spear moved so fast that no goblin warrior was able to get close to him. Under the leadership of these three powerful Knights, House Silversword''s warriors managed to push back the goblin warriors despite the disadvantage in numbers. Graaa!!! A deep, enraged roar suddenly erupted as one of the hobgoblins came charging at Aldrin.@@novelbin@@ Sensing the approaching danger, Aldrin adjusted his stance with narrowed eyes. "Come at me!" He shouted without fear. Just like any other monsters, goblins were also territorial creatures. Aldrin''s shout provoked the hobgoblin making it even more furious. As soon as Aldrin was within its striking range, the hobgoblin lifted its weapon, a two-handed axe. Whoosh! The air seemed to fluctuate as it swung its two-handed axe down with the intention to destroy Aldrin in a single shot. Aldrin didn''t foolishly try to block the axe. He deftly stepped to the side. Bang! The two-handed axe failed to hit its target and struck the ground hard, creating a deep pit and causing the soil and rocks to fly out in all directions. After evading the hobgoblin''s axe, he stabbed out his spear, aiming for the creature''s neck. Whoosh! The hobgoblin tilted its head, narrowly avoiding the pointed de of Aldrin''s spear. It then swiped its axe in a fan-shaped direction. Aldrin quickly jumped into the air to avoid the destructive blow, but this move left him open. The hobgoblin kicked him hard, sending him flying into the air. He smashed into a big tree before he fell to the ground. "Aldrin!" "Sir Aldrin!" Everyone was rmed when they saw this. They didn''t expect the hobgoblin to be this powerful. Henry and Arthur wanted to help him, but the remaining two hobgoblins, stopped them, preventing them from offering any help. "Dammit! These monsters are smarter than I thought!" Henry''s expression darkened. The situation was critical. Aldrin was outmatched in terms of strength and if nothing was to be done, he might perish here. "Sir Henry, leave these two guys to me! Go and help Sir Aldrin!" Arthur muttered, his voice cracking under the pressure. These hobgoblins were more powerful than normal Knights. Even for Arthur, it wouldn''t be easy to hold off two of them. However, he had no choice but to take this gamble for the sake of hisrade''s safety. Henry hesitated at his words, but upon seeing Arthur''s determined gaze, he solemnly nodded. "Alright. Just buy me some time, I will return to help you as soon as I can!" Nodding his head, Arthur shouted. "Go!" Henry wasted no time. He immediately rushed over to Aldrin, pulling him out of death''s door. "Are you alright, Aldrin?" The old Knight stared deeply at Aldrin and checked the state of his body. Cough! Aldrin coughed heavily, blood trickling down his lips. "I-I''m fine. Just broke a few bones." He responded in a hoarse voice. "Good!" Seeing that he still had the energy to joke, Henry was relieved. "We need to kill this guy quickly. Sir Arthur is holding off two on his own." The old Knight muttered. Aldrin nodded. He used his spear to prop himself up. "You just need to distract it. I will do the rest." Henry said before he lunged at the hobgoblin. Aldrin''s chest was heavy and every time he moved, it felt like he was being repeatedly stabbed. However, he gritted his teeth and followed Henry closely. I''m a Knight of House Silversword! This pain is nothing! Aldrin ignored the pain. He harnessed his mana to the maximum to keep up with the old Knight. After gaining momentum, he rushed ahead and thrust his spear, causing a sharp whistling sound. The hobgoblin saw his attacking and lifted its axe to block the tip of his spear. ng! A chance! Henry took the opportunity when the axe had obscured the hobgoblin''s vision. Aiming for its neck is too risky. I should go for its stomach. Thinking of this, he closed in on the monster and stabbed a part of its belly that wasn''t covered by the leather armor. Kkshhk! Chapter 32 Goblin Chieftain Blood gushed out from the hobgoblin''s stomach as soon as Henry pulled out his sword. Graaaa!! The creature staggered and roared in pain. It was evident that the attack had hit an organ, but it was able to stabilize itself by utilizing its mana to aid in healing. Just like most Fatal-grade monsters, hobgoblins also had a strong vitality. Its regenerative abilities were also very strong, making it more resilient than other monsters of the same level. I''m not done yet! Henry didn''t let the hobgoblin recover. He pounced at the creature with his sword above his head. He then harnessed his mana to strengthen his arms, before giving his sword a mighty swing. Whoosh! The hobgoblin immediately lifted its axe in an attempt to block his sword. However, it could no longer offer much resistance given the state of its body. Under the intense power behind Henry''s sword, the hobgoblin''s axe was sent flying. The old Knight''s sword continued unimpeded and struck the monster''s shoulder, slicing all the way down its hips! Kkhhshhhkk!! Thud! Henry stared coldly at the hobgoblin corpse as he flicked his blood-covered sword. He then turned his head to Aldrin and inspected his condition. "Are you alright?" He asked. Aldrin''s face was pale, but he responded with a nod. "I''m fine. We should go and help Sir Arthur!" Hearing this, Henry nodded with a grim look. At this moment, Arthur was battling with two hobgoblins. ng! ng! ng! The fearsome shes of their weapons sent sparks flying in all directions. Somehow, Arthur was able to hold them off, but it was obvious from a nce that he was losing steam. Arthur was breathing heavily and he could feel his mana running amok within his body. To keep up with these two monsters, he utilized every ounce of mana he had, disregarding the fatigue that had umted. Just as Henry and Aldrin were about toe over to help him, the two hobgoblins suddenly turned their gazes towards their camp. Their beastly eyes revealed a human-like expression of surprise. Hm? What''s going on? Arthur was confused by their reaction. Why are they staring at their camp with those faces? Is it him?@@novelbin@@ He thought about ric who hadn''t shown himself since the battle began. When this crossed his mind, he became more certain that ric had something to do with this. Meanwhile, the two hobgoblins abandoned Arthur and sprinted back to their camp while emitting strange roars. A figurended beside Arthur. It was the old Knight, Henry, who now had a perplexed face. "What''s happening? Why did those two hobgoblins retreat?" "It''s him. It must be Lord ric." Arthur muttered. Hearing this, Henry raised an eyebrow. "Let''s go! We have no time to waste! We need to help him!" Arthur sheathed his sword and rushed towards the goblin camp. Henry didn''t follow him immediately. He looked around and observed the battle situation. Some Knight Apprentices were injured, but their wounds weren''t lethal. There were still over fifty to sixty elite goblin warriors left which was over four times more than their numbers. "Aldrin, stay here and takemand! I will head to the goblin camp to search for Lord ric!" Henry shouted to the young Knight before he rushed to the settlement. Aldrin stared at the old Knight''s back with a deep look. He wanted to help them, but he knew that he wouldn''t be of much help. This made him feel frustrated for being weak. Dammit! I''m so useless! If it weren''t for Sir Henry, I would have died at the hands of that fucking hobgoblin! I need to get stronger! Furious at his ipetence, the goblins became the sole outlet to release his rage. "Kill these damn goblins! Don''t leave a single one of them alive!" Aldrin shouted at the top of his lungs. "Yes, sir!" *** Inside the goblin settlement. ric was busy destroying the houses of the goblins when he sensed a strong presenceing towards them. He turned his head in a certain direction and saw a towering green figure that was even taller than him. Its body was covered in ck tattoos and it was wearing a ne with human skulls. This monster was significantlyrger than the hobgoblins and its aura was so intimidating that it made the Knight Apprentices behind ric to freeze in ce. That''s a goblin chieftain! Seeing this creature, ric quickly opened the cyan screen that had appeared earlier when they found the settlement. ___ Mission Complete! You received 200 Battle Points, 50 EXP, and 5 Stat Points! ___ ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 182/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 35+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 1520 Stat Points: 8 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) Including the 3 stat points he had umted in three days, he now had 8 stat points. Which stat should I increase? I don''t think my maximum strength will be enough to fight against that monster. Just one look at it and he could that it was at the level of an Elite Knight which was at the top among Fatal-grade monsters! After a split second, ric decided to increase his agility. He used all of his 8 stat points without hesitation. Agility: 35 ¡ª> 43 After increasing his agility, ric closed the screen and calmly faced the monster. There''s no turning back anymore. The presence of the goblin chieftain was out of his expectations. He thought that the hobgoblins were the strongest monsters in this settlement. Who would have thought that a more fearsome creature was hidden here? "You guys retreat first! You will only get in the way if you stay here!" ric shouted at his subordinates. The Knight Apprentices faltered upon hearing his words. "H-How can we leave you, my lord? Even if we die here, we will never abandon you!" One of them responded with a grimacing smile. The others didn''t say anything, but it was obvious that they had no intention to leave. Chapter 33 Against the Goblin Chieftain ric was moved, but this was no time for bravado. "If you want to help me, then don''t let the small fries interfere. I''ll deal with the goblin chieftain on my own." He muttered. They would only hinder him if they joined the battle. The Knight Apprentices understood this so they nodded with serious faces. "Be careful, my lord!" At this moment, the goblin chieftain finally made a move. It rushed at them with quick and heavy strides. Each step left a deep footprint in the ground, a clear testament to its weight and strength. After gaining momentum, it lifted its weapon, a huge spiked club that screamed danger. With a wide swing, it brandished the spiked club, causing a violent st of wind. "Stay back!" ric shouted at his subordinates. He then channeled his mana to strengthen his arms. Subsequently, he made a quick dash forward, forcing the goblin chieftain to change the direction of its attack. Graahh!! ric had already anticipated this. He took an abrupt turn, skillfully avoiding the club. Bang! The ground trembled after it was struck by the goblin chieftain''s club. ric immediately took the chance to attack after it missed him. He waved his swords, leaving ghost-like afterimages in the air. Ksshhhkk! Kssshhkk!! Multiple cuts appeared on the monster''s body, but they were too shallow to cause substantial damage. What a thick skin! Did it cover itself with mana? No way! ric was stunned. He used every force in his body tond those hits, but they only left minor cuts on the goblin chieftain''s body. The wound inflicted upon its body enraged the goblin chieftain. It raised its head and let out a furious roar that reverberated through the forest. Graaakkkk!!! It then red at ric, the human warrior who had wounded it. Its beastly eyes were burning with fury. Suddenly, it pounced at him and released a barrage of attacks. Bang! Bang! Bang! ric adroitly avoided the club. If I get hit once, I''m done for. He thought to himself. He knew it as soon as he felt the power behind those strikes. The area around them had already been pulverized by the enraged goblin chieftain. I''m faster, but my stamina will run out soon. I must do something! Thinking about this, ric no longer passively defended. Every time there was a chance, he would swing his sword and stab the monster''s body. More and more cuts appeared on the goblin chieftain''s body which served to enrage it even further. Graaakk!! Mana started to take form around its body, making ric feel a heavy, intense pressure. Aura manifestation! ric''s eyes shed with shock when he saw this. An Elite Knight was capable of drawing out their mana and using it to form a protective shield that covered every inch of their body. Furthermore, this also doubles their strength for a short duration. This method of using mana was called ''aura manifestation''. Elite Knights rarely use this technique since it consumes a lot of mana and it might even drain them with prolonged usage. ric didn''t expect to see a goblin chieftain use this technique against him.@@novelbin@@ This only means that this particr monster was close to advancing to the next level! To think that this guy is almost at the Disaster-grade¡­ A monster at the Fatal-grade was equivalent to a Knight, with some even as powerful as an Elite Knight. Above them were even more dangerous creatures which were ssified as Disaster-grade monsters. Monsters at this level were capable of destroying an entire vige on their own. They were living disasters and forces of nature that no one would ever dare to face! ___ Mission: Destroy the Goblin Tribe II Difficulty: Normal Defeat the Goblin Chieftain and destroy the goblin settlement! Rewards: 500 Battle Points, 100 EXP, 10 Stat Points, and Equipment Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: -800 Battle Points ___ A mission! This is just a ''normal'' difficulty? Nonsense! ric was speechless. However, he had no time to be surprised. The goblin chieftain lunged at him and wildly swung its giant spiked club. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Soon, ric was forced into a corner with no room to escape. Left with no choice, he used his swords to block the goblin chieftain''s club only to be flung away by its tremendous force. Ugh! ric grimaced as he twisted his body in midair. Hended awkwardly while trying to bnce his weight. So powerful! It was only at the peak of the Fatal-grade, but the power of the goblin chieftain was already far beyond his imagination. "My lord!" A voice suddenly drifted into his ears while he was warily looking at the goblin chieftain. He turned his head and saw Arthur rushing towards him with an urgent look. The former mercenary was covered in blood. Seeing his state, ric couldn''t begin to think what he had gone through beforeing here. Not far from him, ric also noticed the old Knight, Henry, who was simrly covered in blood. The two Knights must have killed their way in just to find him. ric felt a bit relieved to see them. With the help of these two, they might be able to take down this monstrous creature. The goblin chieftain frowned when it sensed the presence of the two Knights. "My apologies for beingte, my lord. We had to deal with two hobgoblins on our way here." Arthur muttered as he walked towards ric. "It''s fine. I''m d to see you two here." He nodded at the two Knights. "Let''s save the chitchatter. We still have to deal with that monster." He tilted his head. The two Knights moved their gazes at the towering goblin chieftain. They could sense its overwhelming presence from where they stood. It was iparable to the hobgoblins they fought earlier. "Aura manifestation!" Henry was stunned when he saw the visible energy that covered the monster''s body. Arthur''s face turned cold when he heard this. Lord ric was fighting a monster at this level on his own? The former mercenary was relieved that they had arrived at the right time. Chapter 34 The Goblin Chieftain with Inexhaustible Stamina "What''s the n, my lord?" Henry muttered while keeping his eyes on the goblin chieftain. "n? There''s no n. Just fight with all you have! It will consume its mana soon. We just need to hold on until then." ric responded, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty. Suddenly, the goblin chieftain grew impatient and lunged at them, brandishing its giant spiked club. The three Knights immediately jumped backward, evading the heavy blow. Bang! A pit that was over a meter deep was created after that devastating strike. Shocked by its formidable power, they felt extremely unsettled. Can we all survive after it exhausts its mana? Arthur frowned as he unconsciously tightened the grip on his sword. If he was alone, he would have retreated without hesitation. However, he was no longer a mercenary, but a Knight serving under his lord. As a Knight, it was his duty to protect his lord and to carry out the tasks he was assigned to. Even in the face of danger, he would never break his promise. He no longer wanted to return to the life of being a mercenary. He was sick of that aimless and monotonous life. I must protect Lord ric, even if I have to die! He muttered to himself. At this moment, the goblin chieftain targeted the nearest person which was Henry. The old Knight carefully avoided the attacks. He wanted to release a counterattack, but the monster was so relentless and it didn''t give him any room to breathe. ric and Arthur quickly came over to help him, allowing the old Knight to catch his breath. ng! ng! ng! How is it still moving with such speed after fighting recklessly for a long time? ric was starting to get anxious the more the battle dragged on. He expected the goblin chieftain to lose momentum, but it showed no signs of fatigue. At this rate, we will run out of mana before it will exhaust itself. ric''s face fell. *** Outside the goblin settlement. Aldrin led the Knight Apprentices in decimating the goblin warriors. He was like a tiger who had encountered a flock of sheep. No goblin warrior could stop his spear. Whenever one tried, they would have their heads stabbed urately.@@novelbin@@ To have that kind of power despite being gravely wounded¡­ Knights are truly on a different level! The Knight Apprentices couldn''t help but marvel as they watched him massacre the goblin warriors so effortlessly. Meanwhile, the man in question was unaware of everyone''s thoughts. He focused his attention on killing the goblin warriors. I must finish my task here as soon as possible so that I can go and help them! Aldrin thought. At first, he believed that ric was just an ordinary noble son, but then he suddenly revealed his talent to everyone. He also disyed amanding ability that was not any less impressive than other experienced Knights. Most importantly, his swordsmanship was out of this world! That was also the time when Aldrin had vowed to himself that he would always ensure ric''s safety. Ten minutester, thest goblin warrior was finally killed. Aldrin swept his gaze at the goblin corpses. After making sure that there were no survivors, he shouted. "Let''s go inside the goblin settlement and search for Lord ric!" "Yes, sir!" *** The battle between the goblin chieftain and the three Knights took an abrupt turn when Henry made a fatal mistake. The delicate bnce between both sides was broken. "Sir Henry!" ric and Arthur shouted when they saw the old Knight smashing into the ground after taking a blow from the monster. ric was flustered. Henry was more than just a subordinate. He was like a mentor and grandfather figure to him. Without hesitation, ric made a quick dash. "Hey! I''m here!" He shouted to get the monster''s attention. However, the goblin chieftain ignored him. It lifted its giant spiked club and smashed it down at the old Knight. "No!" Just as the goblin chieftain''s weapon was about to hit the old Knight, a spear suddenly blocked its path. Aldrin! Good timing! ric didn''t waste this opportunity and pulled the old Knight out of danger. Just then¡­ Aldrin''s spear broke apart and the goblin chieftain''s weapon smashed into the ground hard. Bang! Aldrin retreated and quickly pulled out a sword behind his back. Luckily, I''m notte. Now, we''re even, old man. ric inspected the old Knight''s body, his eyes shed with concern. "Sir Henry, are you alright?" Urgh! The old man groaned. "I''m fine, my lord. Don''t worry about me." After making sure that nothing was wrong with him, ric reminded the old Knight. "You should be careful, Sir Henry. We are not facing a simple monster this time." The old Knight nodded his head with a grim look. He knew that it was his fault to underestimate the goblin chieftain''s speed. "I understand, my lord. I will be careful." "Good." "Can you still fight? We can''t beat that beast without you." ric didn''t want to force the old Knight, but his presence was necessary for their victory. Looking at Aldrin''s state, ric could tell that the young Knight was not in the best condition. Furthermore, Arthur was also running out of stamina which was obvious from his heavy breathing. Henry stood up while grimacing in pain. "I-I can still fight, but we need a better n now." ric nodded in agreement. It was a crucial moment for them. To defeat the goblin chieftain, a solid strategy was necessary. Simply exhausting it is impossible. There is a high chance that we will run out of stamina before it does. I need toe up with something! ric''s mind moved as he analyzed the situation. The goblin chieftain is powerful and it''s almost as fast as the rest of us. Hold on¡­ He suddenly thought of something. Its legs! It might be quick, but it has poorteral movement because of its disproportionatelyrger torso. If we can somehow impede its movement, there might be an opportunity to kill it! Thinking about this, he shouted. "Everyone, listen closely!" Chapter 35 Goblin Chieftains Beast Soul Crystal ric told them about his n. They didn''t have enough time to go into details so he could only hope that each person would do their tasks correctly. I hope this works somehow.@@novelbin@@ The four Knights moved simultaneously. With the four of them moving at the same time, the goblin chieftain was momentarily confused. It revealed an annoyed look which was quickly reced with anger. Graaaahhh!!! Bang! Bang! Bang! The furious monster recklessly brandished its weapon, destroying everything in its path! Suddenly, Arthur sprung into action. He made a quick dash at the goblin chieftain with his eyes fully focused. His goal was to get its attention to allow the others to proceed with the n smoothly. The goblin chieftain reacted and turned its gaze upon him which made the former mercenary feel an overwhelming pressure. At that moment, Henry and Aldrin sent each other a knowing nce before they rushed out. One headed to the monster''s left, while the other aimed for the right. Their task was to attack the goblin chieftain''s legs while it was upied by Arthur. The two Knights, young and old, had been working with each other for a few years so their coordination was very solid. They could understand each other''s thoughts with a simple look or signal. It was something that they had gradually incorporated into their minds after years of working together. Ehk?! The goblin chieftain sensed the anomaly in their actions so it took an abrupt pause to make a sense of what was happening. However, before it could react to their synchronized attack, Arthur pounced at the creature, shing its chest with his sword. Whoosh! Seeing this, the creature quickly lifted its giant spiked club to block his sword. ng! Tsk! Arthur clicked his tongue, somewhat annoyed that it managed to block him. However, a delighted look hung on his face. Now! He screamed in his mind. Just as he thought of this, Aldrin and Henry stabbed their swords into the monster''s legs. Because it was focused on Arthur, it failed to react to their sneak attack. Kkhsshhk! Kkhsshhk! As soon as the pain registered into its system, the monster roared, its face contorting with agony. Graaahhh!!! Great! My guess was right! It has almost run out of mana so its aura manifestation was only concentrated on its fatal parts. It wasn''t clear with one look and it was only a guess on ric''s part. He thought that a Fatal-grade monster couldn''t have an inexhaustible mana so he presumed that its aura manifestation was centered on the fatal parts of its body. Which means the defenses on other parts of its body were significantly weaker! ric no longer hesitated after witnessing how the powerful creature copsed upon having its legs punctured. He rushed at the goblin chieftain at full speed to gather momentum. Once it was within his rage, ric threw himself at the creature, using the momentum to propel himself. With its aura manifestation gone, ric''s swords stabbed deeply into the monster''s heart and neck. Kkhsshhk! The goblin chieftain felt coldness slowly spreading upon its entire body. It tried to lift its hand in an attempt to swat away the human that had stabbed it, but it found itself unable to muster its strength. In the end, it could only stare at ric, its eyes fully wide, still unable toprehend what had transpired. It was stronger, even with the four of thembined, so how did it end up losing? Those were the goblin chieftain''sst thoughts before its body copsed into the ground with a heavy ''thud''! ric pulled out his swords from the corpse while staring at it with an ice-cold gaze. "Check if it has a beast soul crystal." He muttered indifferently. Arthur volunteered for the task. He approached the goblin chieftain''s corpse and made a cut on its chest. When he saw an orb the size of a golf ball right beneath its heart, his eyes shed with joy. "My lord, it has a beast soul crystal!" He dug the crystal from its chest. He wanted to give it to ric right away, but then he saw that it was covered with blood. He immediately wiped off the blood with his hand. With a respectful look, he presented the cleaned beast soul crystal to ric. "My lord." ric took the green crystal and observed it closely. Just from touching it, he could feel the dense amount of mana it contained. He then handed it back to Arthur and said. "Keep it for now. We will deal with it once we return to the estate." "Yes, my lord." Arthur nodded as he stashed it inside a small sack. With the death of the goblin chieftain, there was nothing left in the settlement that could threaten them. There was still one hobgoblin left, but it was quickly eliminated by Arthur and the other two Knights. ric told them to search for beast soul crystals in the hobgoblins'' corpses, but they found nothing. It was not surprising. Beast soul crystals rarely appeared in Fatal-grade monsters'' bodies. ric was a bit disappointed, but he didn''t take it to heart. Getting the goblin chieftain''s beast soul crystal was already a huge boon. Not longter, all the goblins have been eliminated. Not even one was spared. Whether they were women, old, or even babies, all of them were killed! This might be cruel to some, but ric knew that this was the best choice. Given the goblin''s vengeful tendencies, it would be a disaster to leave one alive. ___ Mission Complete! You received 500 Battle Points, 100 EXP, 10 Stat Points, and Equipment Upgrade Card x1 ___ [Do you want to use your Equipment Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] Hm? What''s this? ric was surprised by the new notifications that appeared on the cyan screen. I''ll take a look at itter. There are too many eyes here. After making a decision, ric pressed [No]. At this moment, a Knight Apprentice came to his side and asked. "My lord, what should we do with the goblin corpses?" ric looked at the corpses that littered the ground and muttered. "Except for the chieftain and the hobgoblins, burn everything else." Hearing this, the Knight Apprentice acknowledged his instructions with a salute. "Yes, my lord!" Chapter 36 Returning to North Pine Town, Lucass Shock ric watched as the goblin corpses burst into mes. His face looked cold, but a ripple of emotion shed in his eyes. He then turned his head to Arthur and asked in a low voice. "Are there any casualties?" Arthur moved his head closer to him and responded. "No, my lord, but almost all of our men are injured. Both Sir Henry and Sir Aldrin need immediate medical attention." Hearing this, ric nodded. "Alright. We will depart at once. The scent of blood will attract monsters so we must leave before theye. Tell everyone to get ready." Arthur acknowledged hismand with a nod. He then left to ry his instructions. The mes produced ''ka-ka'' sounds which resonated in ric''s ears. We destroyed the goblin tribe and not one person was killed. ric clenched his fists. He managed to change the future. This means that things won''t go ording to what I know depending on the actions I take. In his past life, the goblin tribe had attacked North Pine Town and killed many people. That day, House Silversword lost some of their most capable soldiers. It was a tragedy. However, with his knowledge of the future, ric was forcefully turning the cogwheels of fate! *** Beyond the walls of North Pine Town, arge group of soldiers and a team of medical professionals were already waiting. Lucas brought them here after he received a report about what happened in the depths forest. At this moment, Lucas was eyeing the tall evergreens with narrowed eyes. He tried so hard to hide it, but a trace of worry was evident on his face. Suddenly, he sensed the presence of a group emerging from within the forest. It''s them! When he sensed ric''s familiar aura, he felt like a boulder had been lifted off his chest. "Our people areing! Get those with injuries treated immediately!" Lucasmanded with a stern look. "Yes, my lord!" Soon, ric''s group finally emerged from the forest. "It''s them! Many of them are injured!" "Isn''t that Sir Henry? Even he was injured?" "Sir Aldrin seems to be injured too." "Look! The monster corpses they are pulling look quite scary." Everyone was stunned when they saw the state of ric''s group. Lucas walked towards them while looking at ric''s condition. When he saw that his son wasn''t injured, his eyebrows rxed. It was then that he noticed therge creature among the monster corpses. A goblin chieftain! Seeing this, his eyes widened momentarily. It looks like it died from the stabs on its heart and neck, but how did they kill a monster at this level? He was aware of how powerful the goblin chieftains were. Such monsters were dangerous and even an Elite Knight would have some trouble killing them.@@novelbin@@ ric didn''t bring an Elite Knight with him. He only brought four Knights and sixteen Knight Apprentices. Even if they had joined forces to kill the goblin chieftain, some of them would have died, but it doesn''t seem like one of them was killed. Besides, there are even hobgoblins¡­ Just what on earth happened out there? While he was trying to guess how they had killed the goblin chieftain, ric approached him and nodded. "My lord." "Mn." Lucas nodded in response. "I know you have a lot of questions. I will give you the detailed report of what happened once we return to the estate." ric knew that his father was curious when he saw the look on his face. "Alright. You should get yourself checked. You might have gotten injured without knowing." Lucas reminded him. "Yes, my lord." Right at that moment, an anxious voice suddenly drifted into their ears. "My lord!" Hearing this familiar voice, ric turned his head. It was a young girl dressed in a servant''s uniform. She was crying in distress as she ran towards ric. "Elena¡­" ric looked at his father with a questioning gaze. "Don''t look at me like that. She insisted oning here when she heard about what happened." Lucas smiled wryly while shaking his head. "You better give her an exnation." He chuckled before he walked away while waving his hand. ric nced at his father''s back with a speechless look. Step. Step. Step. Elena grabbed his hand and checked if there was any injury in his body. "M-My lord¡­are you alright? You''re not injured, are you?" She asked, her voice quaking with anxiety. Looking at the worried girl, ric gently smiled as he squeezed her hand. "I''m fine, Elena." The little girl scrunched her eyebrows as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "I thought something happened to you. It''s good that you''re safe. I''m relieved." She muttered with a quivering voice. ric felt warmth in his heart. "I''m sorry for always making you worried." He grabbed her fragile body and embraced her tightly. He could feel her small body shaking. She must have been really scared and worried. ric gently rubbed her back. "I''m sorry, Elena¡­" He wanted to promise her that this wouldn''t happen again, but the words were stuck in his mouth. Elena shook her head. "You don''t need to be sorry, my lord. You are only doing your duty as the heir of House Silversword. I''m not worthy to say this, but I''m proud of you." Upon hearing this, ric felt something tugging at his chest. He understood his feelings right away. Yeah. I like this girl. It confirmed his feelings for her. Just wait a few more years, Elena. After exchanging a few more words with him, Elena realized that everyone was staring at them weirdly. Oh my god! I''m so embarrassed! Seeing her like this, ric chuckled in amusement. A whileter, the medical experts brought the injured back to the estate under the protection of House Silversword''s Knights and warriors. As soon as they arrived, ric was summoned to Lucas''s study to give his report. ric didn''t have the time to change into a new set of clothes. His leather armor was covered in blood which filled the study room with a metallic scent. Lucas pointed at the seat in front of him and said. "Tell me what happened out there. Don''t leave any details." Chapter 37 Using the Equipment Upgrade Card After almost an hour of exining what had transpired in the forest, ric stepped out of his father''s study room. He was exhausted, but he had yet toplete today''s daily mission so he headed straight to the training grounds. Damn. I''m tired. Should I skip today''s daily mission? He immediately erased the thought from his mind. He would receive a penalty once he skipped his daily mission. Although the penalty wasn''t heavy, he didn''t want to lose even one of those stat points. When he arrived at the training grounds still dressed in his bloodstained leather armor, the Knight Apprentices who were in the middle of their training were stunned. "Is that Lord ric?" "I almost didn''t recognize him because of his appearance." Among them, Rasmus was simrly surprised. What happened in the Evergreen Forest? ric ignored the shocked Knight Apprentices and started doing his routine. He had already done this for a few months so he was now proficient in performing the exercises. 100 pushups ?? 100 sit-ups ?? 100 pull-ups ?? 10 km run ?? 100 vertical shes ?? 100 diagonal shes ?? 100 horizontal shes ?? 100 stabs ?? [You received 10 Battle Points.] [You received 1 EXP.] [You received 1 Stat Point.] ric immediately opened the cyan screen with a thought to check his progress. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 283/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 2030 Stat Points: 11 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) I''m almost halfway through my battle point requirement. Well¡­ I still have a long way to go. ric was quite satisfied with his progress. With more missions, he might advance faster than he had anticipated. The only problem was that they rarely appeared. [Do you want to use your Equipment Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] Hm? He had almost forgotten about this. He looked around and noticed that the Knight Apprentices were watching his every move. Some were even copying his exercises. Seeing this, ric waved at them and quickly left the training grounds. He then headed straight to his room before he clicked [Yes]. [Please choose an item that you want to upgrade.] An item? How do I choose an item? He was confused. It was then that he suddenly thought about something. He grabbed the two swords tied to his waist and muttered. "Can I use this?" [You can only upgrade one item.] Another message appeared on the cyan screen. I see. So that''s what it was talking about. Should I try it on one of my swords? ric thought deeply. He wasn''t sure what this thing would do to his sword, but he knew that the cyan screen never did something ordinary. After some hesitation, ric sheathed one of his swords, leaving him with one sword in his hand. [Do you want to use your Equipment Upgrade Card on the selected item?] [Yes] [No] ric clicked [Yes].@@novelbin@@ [Congrattions! You have upgraded your Common Steel Sword to Umon Steel Sword!] [Umon Steel Sword] Sharpness: 10 Durability: 10 ric furrowed his eyebrows when he noticed the changes on the sword. It''s a bit heavier and the de seems to be sharper than it was before. Is this because of that Equipment Upgrade Card? ric wanted to put it to the test. He swung the sword a couple of times. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ric realized immediately that the sword had truly improved. Although it was a bit heavier, every blow from his sword now carried more strength. He also found out that he could infuse it with mana to strengthen the de and lighten its weight. He knew that only weapons forged by skilled artisans could do something like this. A normal steel sword became a powerful weapon after being upgraded by that card. Amazing! ric''s eyes shed with joy. With this sword, his strength would significantly improve. Too bad I only got one. If only I had one more, I could have upgraded both my swords. ricmented with a look of regret. *** The next day. It was the 20th of November in the Astanian Calendar. ric justpleted his daily mission. After his training, he headed to the clinic to check the condition of Henry and Aldrin. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by the doctor in charge, an old man who looked to be in his sixties. "Greetings, my lord!" The old doctor bowed politely. ric nodded to acknowledge his greeting. "How are the patients, Doctor Loyd?" He asked the old man. Doctor Loyd smiled faintly at his inquiry. "Everyone has been treated on time, my lord. With a little more time, they should fully recover and return to their normal lives." ric was relieved to hear this. "That''s good. Can I visit them? I''d like to speak with them." The old doctor nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. I will take you inside." ric shook his head and said. "There''s no need to trouble you, Doctor Loyd. I can go in by myself." "Will that be alright?" The old doctor hesitated. ric reassured the old man. "Alright, but if you need anything, don''t hesitate to call me." Doctor Loyd reminded him. "Of course." After getting the doctor''s signal, ric entered the building where the patients were being monitored. He first visited the Knight Apprentices. They were overwhelmed by his presence. They didn''t expect that he woulde to visit them and check their condition. This made them feel that they had chosen the right lord to follow. ric knew the importance of building trust between his subordinates. It was just a small gesture from him, but this would make those warriors more loyal to him. In this dog-eat-dog world, who wouldn''t want to follow a caring lord? Soon, he headed to thest room where Henry and Aldrin were staying. "My lord?" "Lord ric!" Both Knights were startled when they saw him stepping inside the room. "At ease you two. I came here to check on your situation." ric smiled at them. Chapter 38 Winter is Near After some light talk with them, ric took out something from his pocket. It was the beast soul crystal of the goblin chieftain. Seeing him taking out this crystal, the two Knights were surprised. ric nced at the old Knight and said. "Sir Henry, I noticed that you''ve been stuck at the peak of the Knight realm for quite some time." Henry sighed upon hearing this. He was born as amoner and his talent for mana training was discoveredte so he wasn''t able to make use of the best years of his life. Through sheer hardwork and effort, he managed to be a Knight and hone his swordsmanship to a formidable level. However, he was unable to advance further because he had already exhausted his potential. This was his greatest regret. While the old man wasmenting his fate, ric continued. "Given your potential, it might take a few more years before you can advance. This might help you in breaking through ahead of time." ric handed him the beast soul crystal. Henry was stunned. He didn''t dare take the crystal from him, but ric grabbed his hand and put the crystal on his palm. "You deserve this reward, Sir Henry. You are one of the longest-serving Knights in the household. As the heir of House Silversword, it is only right for me to reward our loyal retainers. Please ept it." ric smiled at him. "¡­b-but this is too valuable, my lord." The old man couldn''t believe it. The beast soul crystal of a Fatal-grade monster was expensive and it was especially true for the beast soul crystal of the goblin chieftain. A normal beast soul crystal could be sold for 500 gold coins up to 2000 gold coins depending on the quality. On the other hand, the beast soul crystal of the goblin chieftain was worth more than 2000 gold coins. After all, that creature was close to bing a Disaster-grade. Henry was aware of this and based on his estimates, this crystal was worth around 3000 gold coins! ric gave him a stern gaze. "If you return it to me, I will throw it away." The old Knight was speechless. "In that case, I will put it to good use. Thank you for giving me such a precious reward, my lord. I will never forget this." Henry lowered his head as he clutched the crystal firmly. ric smiled as he nodded. "You earned it." He then turned his gaze to Aldrin. "I know what you''re thinking, Aldrin. You might not have served the household for long, but I have seen your loyalty. When the time is right, I will also give you the opportunity to advance. For now, you should continue with your mana training."@@novelbin@@ (Aldrin was like an older brother to him so he didn''t bother to use honorifics. ric would only speak formally to him in front of the other warriors.) Aldrin was moved by his words. "Yes, my lord! I will do my best! I won''t disappoint you!" He proimed with unwavering confidence. Among the warriors in the household, he had the highest potential. Some even believed that he had the chance to be a Transcendent Knight and leave his name in the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard. Everyone had high expectations for him and this left a heavy pressure on his shoulders. ric chatted with them briefly before he bid them farewell. It looks like the household will wee another Elite Knight soon. ric thought as he stepped out of the clinic. The household is bing stronger, but there is still something that I need to take care of. A kind face appeared in his mind. It was the face of his uncle, Charles Silversword. In his past life, his uncle used poison to kill his father. ric didn''t know the exact date, but he had a rough guess of when his uncle would start his schemes. This time, I will not let you harm my family! His eyes shed with a fearsome glint. If a Knight was nearby, they would have sensed the killing intent he was emitting. Step. Step. Step. ric heard a series of footsteps down the hallway so he immediately concealed his fury. The maidservant in the hallway was startled when she saw him. "My lord!" ric nodded with an indifferent expression. He tried to smile at her, but his face had gone stiff. "Don''t mind me." He muttered as he walked past the maidservant. He looks scary today for some reason. The servant thought as she bowed to him. Meanwhile, ric was unaware of her thoughts. He went straight to his room to write down his ns on how to deal with his uncle. *** Snowkes fell from the sky, marking theing of winter. It was the 30th of November and ric was preparing for his trip to Ryvaad, a city next to Vale. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, ric gave himself a satisfied nod. "Not bad." He praised the clothes that were tailor-made for him. The tailor, a chubby middle-aged man wearing sses, chuckled upon hearing his words. "I''m d that you like it, my lord." "Elena, give him his reward," ric instructed while looking at Elena''s reflection in the mirror. The girl nodded to acknowledge his instruction. She then took out a small sack that they had prepared beforehand and handed it to the chubby middle-aged tailor. The chubby tailor grinned when he felt the weight of the small sack. "Thank you for the reward, my lord. If you need more custom-made clothes, please send someone to inform me and I will make it for you any time!" "Mn." ric waved his hand, indicating for him to leave. When the chubby tailor saw his cue, he bowed and tactfully left the room with the small sack of coins in his hand. After he left, ric''s face rxed. "You look great, my lord," Elena remarked while staring at his side profile. ric chuckled. "Really?" Elena nodded innocently. ric faced her and took her in his embrace. "How about youe with me this time? The trip will be boring without you." Elena blushed at his surprise attack and his words almost melted her that she was unable to respond for a while. Chapter 39 Trip to Ryvaad "You''re teasing me again, my lord." Elena pursed her lips. "I''m telling the truth." "Hmph!" The two exchanged yful banters for a while before they went down the main hall. As soon as they arrived at the main hall, they saw Lucas and Maria chatting with Warrick who would lead the entourage. Sensing their arrival, Lucas turned his head and nodded to ric. "You look good. Those clothes suit you." The baron showed a rare smile. "Thank you, my lord. I got this made recently in preparation for this trip." ric responded with a light chuckle. Meanwhile, Maria approached him and adjusted his cor. "Be careful out there, son. You must always wear thick clothes and don''t forget to stay close to the fire at night to keep yourself warm."@@novelbin@@ Hearing her gentle reminder, ric smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, mydy." "Oh, by the way, I n to bring Elena with me for this trip." Lucas raised an eyebrow at his words, but he didn''t say anything. He just stared at his wife as if telling her to make the decision. Maria understood his gaze and contemted deeply. The trip to Ryvaad was an annual thing and their main goal was to visit their longtime friend and ally, the House Paxley. However, there was something different about this year''s visit. Just recently, they received a letter from House Paxley saying that their eldest daughter wanted to get to know ric so they asked for his presence in this year''s annual visit. From their message, it was obvious that they were interested in betrothing her to ric. Maria was worried that Elena''s presence might make things awkward for the eldest daughter of House Paxley. ric is an adult now. I believe he knows what to do. After some thought, Maria relented. "Alright, but you must be considerate about the other party''s feelings." ric knew what she was talking about so he nodded his head to show that he had understood her words. "Yes, mydy." "Good. I hope that your trip will be smooth and pleasant." "Thank you for your well wishes, mydy." "Alright. You should leave while the sun is still up." Lucas suggested with a calm voice. "Yes, my lord." After bidding his parents farewell, ric stepped out of the mansion and entered the carriage with Elena. Warrick hopped on his mount andmanded the entourage. "Let''s go!" Lucas and Maria stood outside the mansion and watched them leave. "Will things be alright?" The baron asked while ncing at his wife. Maria shook her head. "I don''t know. I just hope that our son will not hurt the eldest daughter of House Paxley." Her voice carried a trace of uncertainty. *** Whorthand District, Ryvaad. Inside a huge mansion within an estate surrounded by tall earthen walls, a youngdy dressed in winter dress was busy grooming herself in front of the vanity mirror in her room. She had long ash-blonde hair and a pair of cerulean eyes. Her refined facial features seemed to have been sculpted with great care, wless and beautiful. "You look gorgeous, mydy! Lord ric will definitely fall for you!" Eximed the young maidservant who wasbing her hair. The blonde-haired youngdy revealed a demure smile at her words. Seeing her smiling face, the maidservant couldn''t help but ask. "Mydy, what do you like about Lord ric?" She was certain that her youngdy hadn''t seen ric before, so how did she suddenly fall for him? The youngdy fell silent for a moment and soon her eyes zed over as if she was recalling a distant memory. "I have seen him once a long time ago when we were still young. He was probably twelve at that time. He had a cute face and was quite tall for his age, but that''s not the best thing about him¡­" "At that time, there was this boy who used to follow me around to get my attention. He was really annoying and he even tried to touch me improperly. I was so scared. I really wanted to p his face, but I couldn''t do anything about him because of his family''s influence. It was then that he came..." The youngdy giggled when she recalled her first encounter with the young ric. "And then, what happened?" The maidservant eagerly asked, curious to know what had happened next. The youngdy smiled. "Before that perverted boy could touch me, ric appeared and punched his face. He then looked at me and said¡­" "Are you alright?" At this point, the youngdy''s face turned red like a tomato. "Oh my god! I wish I was there to see that happen!" The maidservant remarked with a sigh. While the two were chatting, they suddenly heard a series of knocks on the door. Knock! Knock! Knock! The youngdy made a ''shushing'' gesture at the maidservant before she said. "You maye in!" As soon as the words came out of her mouth, the door was pushed open by a middle-aged woman wearing thick makeup. "Mydy!" A look of fear shed in the maidservant''s eyes the moment the middle-aged woman entered the room. The middle-aged woman ignored the maidservant. She stared at the youngdy with an eyebrow raised upward. "Hershey, how are your preparations for Lord ric''s visit?" The youngdy named Hershey was inwardly nervous. She tried to lookposed as she replied. "All preparations are ready, mydy." "Mn." The middle-aged woman hummed. She then crossed her arms and muttered. "Make sure that nothing will go wrong tomorrow. That boy has the same talent as his father. It would be good to leave a good impression on him." Hershey nodded. "I understand, mydy. I will do my best to keep Lord ric entertained." The middle-aged woman grinned. "Good." Without even bothering to say goodbye, she turned around and left. As soon as the door closed, the maidservant breathed a sigh of relief. She''s finally gone. That was scary¡­ Hershey stood up and walked towards the coffee table by her bedside. On top of the table was a flower vase and a portrait of a woman who seemed to be in herte thirties. Hershey took the portrait. An expression of longing was evident in her eyes. Mom, I miss you¡­ Chapter 40 Selfless Love Later that evening, ric''s entourage set up camp near the western border of Vale. Thick piles of snow had already umted over thend causing the temperature to drop even further. ric draped a thick wool nket over Elena''s shoulders to keep her warm. The girl pulled the nket and covered herself from the neck down. It''s warm. "Feel better now?" ric''s gentle voice drifted into her ears. She stared at him and saw him looking over with a light smile. "Mn." She hummed in response. ric sat next to her and said. "Elena, the trip to Ryvaad this time is different." His voice suddenly turned serious. Elena hugged her legs as she looked at the flickering me of the bonfire. "I know¡­" She responded with a gloomy look on her face. Hearing this, ric was taken aback. Did mom tell her? There was a moment of silence after that small exchange. It was Elena who broke the silence. "I already know that you will one day be married to another woman. I''m just a servant so I don''t have the right to be upset, but¡­ it hurts, my lord." Tears blurred her eyes as she spoke. ric opened his mouth and tried toe up with words tofort her, but his mind was nk. In the end, all he could say was, "I''m sorry, Elena." Seeing her in tears made him feel torn, but there was nothing he could do about it. If he rejected all marriage proposals sent to him, many people would be offended. He might be politically inept, but he was aware that it would cause House Silversword a lot of trouble if that ever happened. Elena wiped away her tears and smiled at him. "It''s not your fault, my lord. It''s just me being selfish. I''m sorry if that made you ufortable." ric gently grabbed her shoulder and took her in his arms. "You are not selfish, Elena. I understand your frustrations and I don''t me you for that." He said as he rubbed the back of her head. "Thank you for your understanding, my lord." Elena buried her face in his chest. Soon, ric heard her rhythmic breathing. He looked at her sleeping face and smiled. "Goodnight, Nana." *** The next day, Elena was awoken by the bumpy road. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the familiar interior of the carriage. Upon turning her head, she realized that she was sleeping on ric''sp. "How was your sleep?" ric smiled at her. His handsome face dazzled her which caused her to be momentarily stunned. "A-Ah¡­ It was good." She replied as she hurriedly got up. "I''m d to hear that." ric chuckled. "Look outside. We are almost there." He pointed at the view beyond the window. Elena followed his gaze. Her eyes were drawn to the beautifulndscape and the tall earthen walls that surrounded Ryvaad. "How beautiful." She muttered. Yeah, but not as beautiful as you¡­ ric''s smile deepened when he saw her cute side profile. Growl. Elena''s gaze stiffened when she heard her stomach growling. She didn''t dare look at ric out of embarrassment. Seeing her cheeks turning red, ricughed inwardly.@@novelbin@@ He then took out the meat skewers he had prepared for her. "Here. I kept them for you." Elena shyly turned her head and looked at the meat skewers in his hand. "You should take some for yourself, my lord." "I have already eaten. These are for you." ric responded. "Okay." Elena took the meat skewers and took a small bite at the biggest piece of meat. Her eyes lit up as soon as she tasted the familiar vor. "Is this rabbit meat?" ric nodded as he chuckled lightly. "I knew you would recognize it. I know it''s your favorite meat." "Mn." The two chatted until they arrived at the entrance of Ryvaad where a representative from House Paxley came to pick them up. ric stepped out from his carriage and looked at the beautiful youngdy dressed in winter dress. Hershey¡­ Hershey Paxley was someone he owed a huge debt to in his past life. She was his fianc¨¦e and it was because of her that House Silversword didn''t copse after his uncle''s abusive management of the family''s finances. A feeling of guilt washed over him as he looked at her face. In his past life, he became indifferent to the world after his parents'' and Elena''s passing. He had even neglected Hershey who he was supposed to marry, but she never onceined to him. She remained by his side and she even waited for him when he was forced into conscription. He still remembered the words she said before he left to join the crown prince''s army. "I will wait here for you. If you die on the battlefield, then I will kill myself to be reunited with you¡­" When he recalled the words she uttered that day, his eyes misted over. He looked away and pretended that he was wiping off some dirt. "Wee to Ryvaad, Lord ric. I''m d to see you in good health!" Hershey smiled as she curtsied. The warriors behind her saluted. ric suppressed the emotion that was about to burst out of his chest. He bowed to Hershey and responded in a mild tone. "Thank you for taking the time to pick us up in such awful weather, mydy. I''m deeply honored." Hershey covered her mouth as she giggled. "It''s only right to serve our guest and longtime friend." The two exchanged another round of pleasantries before they headed to House Paxley''s estate. Meanwhile, Elena was keenly observing Hershey who was now sitting inside their carriage. From the way she spoke to ric and that overflowing emotion in her eyes as she looked at him, Elena could tell that this noblewoman had some feelings for her lord. She was jealous, but she controlled herself. Calm down, Elena. You''ve already thought this through. She inwardly cheered for herself. Chapter 41 The Female Knight Cassandra Hershey was a good talker. She managed to keep the conversation going with no hint of awkwardness. She''s still the same¡­ ric thought as he looked at her wless face. After another hour, they finally arrived at the main mansion of House Paxley. The lord of the house, Baron Nathan Paxley, a slightly chubby middle-aged man with balding gray hair, greeted him in front of the mansion. Beside the baron was a middle-aged woman wearing thick makeup, Vivian Harrison. She was thedy of the house and also Hershey''s stepmother. "Thank you for the warm wee, Lord Nathan and Lady Vivian." ric slightly tilted his head to show his respect. Nathan Paxleyughed heartily at his words. "I''m d that you epted our request despite the harsh weather." Vivian also said something to him and ric replied appropriately. After a round of exchanging greetings, they brought ric inside the mansion. Warrick and Elena followed half a step behind them. "I heard that you defeated the best Knight of Vale in an unofficial match. If only I wasn''t busy with some matters, I would have joined the celebration and watched your performance." Nathan sighed to express his regret. ric shook his head and waved his hand as he responded. "I was just lucky. If it was a real battle, it would have been my defeat. I still have so much to learn from my senior Knights." "Hahaha! You''re too modest. How about youe with me to the training grounds before we begin our discussion?" Nathan suddenly suggested, his intentions were clear. His words ignited the interest of Hershey and Vivian. The former wanted to see ric''s elegance in battle, while thetter was curious about the young Knight''s power. ric was surprised by his suggestion, but he also wanted to know the difference between the Knights of the two households. "If that''s what the host wants, then I will dlyply." Hearing this, Nathan grinned. "Great!" He took ric to the training ground which was located behind the main mansion. Before they even reached the training grounds, ric could already hear the sound of intense training. Upon their arrival, the warriors stopped what they were doing. "My lord!" "Mydy!" The Knights and the rest of the warriors greeted them. ric observed them one by one and a particr Knight caught his attention. This was because she was the only woman in the crowd. However, her presence was not any weakerpared to the male Knights. A female Knight? That''s rare. I didn''t know that House Paxley had one. He thought to himself. Four Elite Knights and eleven Knights. There might be more who aren''t here. He was impressed by their strong military force. If it was before, House Paxley was definitely stronger than them, but things were different now. With the help of the Dragon Tail Ferns they found in the Red Toad Gorge, House Silversword managed to boost the strength of their people. Given some time, they would certainly surpass House Paxley''s military power. "What do you think of them, Lord ric?" Nathan smiled when he saw the change in his expression. "They are powerful warriors. I can sense their strong presence from where I stand." ric remarked with a calm look. "Hahaha!" Nathan looked pleased by his words. "Why don''t you spar with them for a bit? Maybe they can learn something from you." Nathan squinted his eyes. When he heard the news about ric''s amazing performance during the unofficial match held in House Silversword''s estate, he had been eager to see his swordsmanship. Now that he had the opportunity to see his abilities, how could he possibly let go of this chance? Warrick who was standing behind ric frowned upon hearing this. He already had a bad feeling when Nathan mentioned visiting the training grounds. He approached ric and muttered. "My lord." ric turned his head and saw Warrick''s stern gaze. "It''s fine, Sir Warrick. It''s only a friendly spar. There''s no need to be rmed." ric tapped the man''s arm. Warrick stared deeply at him and nodded after a moment of silence. He then looked at Nathan and cupped his fists. "I apologize for the dy, Lord Nathan."@@novelbin@@ "Haha! It''s alright." Nathan wasn''t offended. He knew what the veteran warrior was worried about. "Now that it has been made clear, let''s begin." After saying this, Nathan beckoned to his Knights, indicating for them toe closer. Nathan selected four of the best Knights and presented them before ric. "Who among them would you like to spar with?" ric nced at the four he had chosen. Their presence was the strongest among the eleven Knights present. As expected, she is one of the best here. ric thought as he looked at the female Knight. When the female Knight sensed his gaze, she narrowed her eyes. She stepped forward and cupped her fists as she said. "Please allow me to spar with you, my lord." Her voice was filled with strong confidence. Nathan was a bit surprised that she had taken the initiative, but he didn''t express any disapproval. Hm¡­ Cassandra is our second-best Knight. It shouldn''t be a problem to let her fight with ric. After thinking it through, he gave her a nod of approval. "Alright," ric replied without hesitation. The warriors of House Paxley smiled oddly when he epted the challenge. ric also sensed the weird atmosphere, but he didn''t care because his attention was currently glued to the cyan screen. ___ Mission: Might of House Silversword II Difficulty: Easy The might of House Silversword is being doubted. Show them what would happen to those who doubt your power! Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 30 EXP, Random Trait Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 300 Battle Points ___ ric was ecstatic, but he didn''t show it to his face. Missions rarelye, but they give generous rewards. There''s even a Random Trait Upgrade Card. He had gotten this card once and it had improved his horseback riding. ric closed the cyan screen and focused his attention on Cassandra. I''m sorry, but I have to end this quickly. Chapter 42 Overwhelming Victory Nathan''s gaze alternated between ric and Cassandra. Just by looking at their eyes, he could already feel the increasing tension. As the one who would officiate this spar, he felt excited. At this moment, Cassandra pulled out her weapon. It was a short sword, a weapon that was perfect for someone her size. Cassandra was quite tall for a woman at 1.75 meters, but against her opponents who were mostly men withrge frames, she was still at a disadvantage. To bridge the gap in physicality, she trained in using the short sword since it was the easiest to master. It was light and fastpared to other weapons. "Take out your sword." She muttered as she stared at ric with a cold, piercing gaze. This is a good chance to use my upgraded sword against a real opponent. ric took out the Umon Steel Sword and adjusted his stance. Seeing this, Cassandra frowned. "I heard that you are a dual sword wielder. Why are you only using one sword? Are you mocking me?!" Anger was evident in her voice. She felt that ric was looking down on her. ric shook his head. "You''re thinking too much." Whether it was one sword or two swords, ric could use them perfectly because of his SSS-Rank Swordsmanship trait. He didn''t bother to exin himself. He wanted to show her that he was a versatile swordsman. Looking at his indifferent face, Cassandra was furious. She made the first move as she lunged at him with one leap. And then in a fluid motion, she brandished her sword. Whoosh! ric''s eyes were as calm as the surface of ake. He remained unperturbed in the face of her quick movements. When her sword was about tond on him, ric brandished his sword. ng! What?! The moment their swords shed, Cassandra felt like she was hitting an immovable wall. ric was firm and solid! Cassandra took a few steps backward before she stabilized her footing. She realized that he was far stronger than he looked. I have underestimated him. To think that he is already this strong when he is only using one sword against me. What will happen if he uses two swords? Just the thought of it made her feel that she was stillckingpared to him. However, a glint of determination shed in her eyes. I''m not done yet! Cassandra rushed at him in zigzagging movement. She nned to use her specialty against him which was her speed. This move had never failed her once. ric raised his eyebrows in surprise. Not bad. She''s even faster than Aldrin, but that won''t be enough to defeat me. ric''s eyes followed her every move. During his recent training, he finally discovered the purpose of his ''Sixth Sense'' trait. It was a unique trait that enhanced his senses which served an important role that was crucial in battle. As soon as Cassandra brandished her sword, ric looked as if he had already calcted its trajectory. He made a quick step forward and shed out. Whoosh! ng! Their swords shed and created sparks that flew in every direction. Crack! It was then that everyone heard a ''cracking'' sound as Cassandra''s sword broke apart under the intense power behind ric''s attack. The tip of ric''s sword hovered in front of Cassandra''s eyes, making the proud female Knight smile bitterly. "I lost." She nced at her now broken sword with shock. He didn''t even use mana, but he actually managed to break my sword! Unbelievable! ric sheathed his sword and cupped his fists at Cassandra. "It was a good fight." He muttered. Everyone was stunned by how the fight had ended. They were aware of Cassandra''s skill. As the second-best Knight of House Paxley, she had already established a strong image. No one would have thought that she would be defeated with such ease. Even ayman like Nathan could see the vast difference in theirbat strength. p! p! p! A series of pping sounds broke the silence. "It was a good fight, Lord ric!" Hershey smiled as she approached him. She didn''t even bother to conceal her admiration for him. ric lowered his gaze when he saw her unmasked admiration. "Thank you for your praise, mydy." "Splendid! As expected of you, Lord ric! You even bested our second-strongest Knight! Hahaha!" Nathan''s boisterousughter echoed within the training ground. ric didn''t know how to respond to his straightforward words so he only chuckled lightly. Meanwhile, Elena almost jumped in excitement when she saw ric''s performance.@@novelbin@@ Her eyes twinkled. She then sent ric a sneaky thumbs up when she saw him nce her way. On the other hand, the stern-faced Warrick smiled. He felt proud to see the young lord showing off his power. At this moment, all the warriors of House Paxley no longer doubted ric. They thought that the rumors they heard about him were exaggerated. Now, they realized that those weren''t just baseless rumors. "Amazing! How did he reach that level of swordsmanship at his age?" "If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t have believed it to be true." "It seems like we are witnessing the birth of a prodigy who will one day engrave his name in the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard!" ric awkwardly chuckled when he heard their words. He then turned his gaze to Nathan and said. "My lord, I would like to take a moment of rest before we begin with the meeting." It was only an excuse. The truth was that he wanted to spend more time with Hershey. She was one of his greatest regrets in his past life. Just recalling how he had treated her made him feel guilty. I will face your feelings this time, Hershey. "Oh my! How thoughtless of me!" Nathan face palmed himself. "Hershey, quickly bring Lord ric and hispanions to the amodation that we had prepared for them." He instructed his daughter. "Yes, my lord." Hershey acknowledged his instructions with a nod of her head. "I''m really sorry, Lord ric. I promise that I will prepare a feast for you tonight to make up for this mistake." Nathan apologetically said. "You don''t need to apologize, my lord. It''s just a minor matter." "Thank you for your understanding." A momentter, Hershey brought them to the guest mansion which was just fifty meters away from the main mansion. Chapter 43 Hersheys Elegance in Tea Making So this is the man that mydy is crazy about. He is indeed handsome and he is also skilled with the sword. Hershey''s personal maidservant, Maris, thought as she looked at ric''s face. She almost fell for ric when she saw him fight against Cassandra. "We''re here, my lord. Do you want me to give you a tour of the mansion?" Hershey asked as she stared expectantly at ric. She was also like this in my past life. Even when I ignored her for a long time, she would always look at me with that face. ric nodded his head absentmindedly. And so, they spent almost an hour touring around the guest mansion. Hershey introduced everything to him in detail, from the paintings on the walls to the furniture, and she even told him how the mansion was built. She talked non-stop for that entire tour, but ric never got tired of her voice. He attentively listened to her and even asionally madements. As they interacted, they gradually became morefortable with each other. ric could now look straight in her eyes and Hershey could already make jokes with him. Elena saw everything happen and she had mixed feelings about it. She was happy that her lord met an elegant and kind youngdy, but she was also jealous of their growing familiarity with each other. She firmed her heart and repeatedly told herself that everything would be fine. After the tour, Hershey offered to make tea for him to which ric agreed without hesitation. "I will be back in a minute, my lord." Hershey excused herself before she turned around and left to get the things she needed to make tea. As soon as she left, ric took his seat and opened the cyan screen. ___ Mission Complete! You received 150 Battle Points, 30 EXP, Random Trait Upgrade Card x1! ___ [Do you want to use the Random Trait Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] ric clicked [Yes]. [Congrattions! Your trait Close Combat (D) has been upgraded to Close Combat (C)!] A new set of memories appeared in his mind. He wasn''t flustered by the sudden influx of foreign memories because he had already experienced this before. New hand-to-handbat methods were introduced into his mind. It was a unique feeling as if something was incorporated in his body. It''s Close Combat this time, not bad. This will improve mybat ability. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 325/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 2300 Stat Points: 23 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He already umted 22 stat points, but he decided to keep them for the time being. There mighte a time when he would need to increase a specific stat just like what happened during their encounter with the goblin chieftain. Without those extra points in agility back then, he wouldn''t havested long against that monster. After checking his progress, ric closed the cyan screen. A few minutester, Hershey and her maidservant arrived. Thetter was pushing a tray cart with a tea set on top of it. "Thank you for waiting, my lord." Hershey smiled at him. She then sent her maidservant a look that said, ''I''ll take care of this.'' Maris understood her intentions and took a step back with her head lowered. Herdy was proficient in tea ceremony so she wasn''t worried that she would make a mistake. "I will now prepare your tea, my lord," Hershey informed ric before she started preparing his tea. ric had already witnessed her expertise in tea making in his past life. It was refreshing to see it once more and it was performed by a younger Hershey. The youngdy''s hands moved elegantly and it looked as if she was doing a performance. Her movements were well-practiced as if it was deeply engraved in her bones. Elena who was watching this was awed by her impable performance. I want to learn it! That was her thought as she watched Hershey''s unmatched grace in making tea. A momentter, a freshly made tea was presented to ric. "Here''s your tea, my lord. I hope you enjoy it." ric nodded with a smile. "Thank you." He lifted the teacup and inhaled the unique aroma of the tea. Hershey felt a bit nervous as she watched him. Will he like it? While she was nervously watching him, ric brought the teacup to his mouth and took a light sip. This familiar taste¡­ His eyes zed over as the familiar taste filled his mouth. "It''s delicious," ric remarked as he tried to smooth down his emotions. Hershey''s eyes brightened upon hearing his words. "I''m d that you like it, my lord."@@novelbin@@ She couldn''t stop herself from beaming. Meanwhile, images of Hershey making tea for him in his past life shed in ric''s mind. Her gentle smile, her tender gaze, and her unwavering love¡­ "I''m sorry¡­" He muttered as he lowered his head. "Hm? Did you say something, my lord?" Hershey stared at him in surprise, wondering if she had heard him wrong. Did he just apologize to me? Maybe I heard it wrong. ric was silent for a moment as he looked at the tea inside the cup. "It''s nothing." He shook his head. "The tea made me recall a distant memory." He added. "I see." Hershey was curious about this, but she felt that it was something that she shouldn''t probe. "Why don''t you join me, mydy? Let''s talk about other matters while we drink tea." ric changed the topic. Hershey smiled and nodded at the suggestion. "Alright. What would you like to talk about, my lord?" "I heard that¡­" The two engaged in a heartfelt conversation as they enjoyed their tea. Time passed by unknowingly. A servant came to inform them that it was almost time for dinner. "I enjoyed our conversation, my lord. Let''s talk again another time. We shouldn''t let the others wait." Hershey reluctantly stood up. ric nodded in agreement. Chapter 44 Liam and Theo At the dining hall, only ric was allowed entry so he asked Warrick to protect Elena. "I''m sorry about yourpanions, my lord. Lady Vivian doesn''t like it when servants dine with us. I hope you understand." Hershey muttered apologetically. ric wasn''t annoyed since he already knew that some nobles could be very particr about status and customs. "It''s fine." He replied calmly, Hershey was relieved. She noticed that ric was very attentive to his servant girl. She could even feel that there was a vague connection between them. "The dining hall is this way, my lord. Just one more turn and we will be there." In the next moment, they finally arrived at the dining hall. Nathan, Vivian, and two men in their twenties were already there seated in their respective seats. "Lord ric,e here. We left this spot empty for you." Vivian beckoned to him as she pointed at the chair next to Baron Nathan. ric nodded at her. "Thank you, mydy." Vivian''s smile deepened. She then turned her gaze to Hershey and sent her a deep look. Hershey pretended like she didn''t see this and sat to ric''s right. After they had taken their seats, Nathan pped his hands and gave a signal to the servants. Nathan looked at ric and said. "I don''t know what kind of food you like so I instructed the servants to prepare all sorts of dishes for you. I hope that they will be to your liking." "Anything is fine with me, my lord," ric replied with a light smile. "That''s good." "By the way, I''d like to introduce you to my sons. This is my eldest son Theo and this is his younger brother Liam." Nathan introduced the two men sitting to his left. ric cupped his fists at them. "My name is ric Silversword. I''m pleased to make your acquaintance." The two men had different responses to his greeting. The older man who looked to be in histe twenties had short blonde hair and a lean physique. He didn''t look quite pleased with ric''s presence. The sidelong nce and his condescending gaze didn''t escape ric''s attention. "The name''s Theo." Meanwhile, the younger brother named Liam politely cupped his fists at ric. "I''m pleased to meet you, Lord ric. My name is Liam." Unlike his older brother who looked like a trained warrior, Liam was on the slender side. ric was already familiar with these two since he had met them in his past life. Theo might look arrogant on the surface, but he was very caring towards his siblings. On the other hand, his younger brother, Liam, was nothing but a gambling addict who would also indulge in sexual pleasure and alcohol. A few minutester, the food was finally served. True to his promise, Nathan had indeed prepared a huge feast for him. All sorts of dishes, from seafood to monster meat, were presented on the table. "Let''s eat!" The atmosphere in the dining hall was lukewarm. Only Nathan and Vivian spoke with ric. Surprisingly, Hershey didn''t say anything as if she was afraid of something. The strange atmosphere made ric realize that there was something he didn''t know about this family. Suddenly, Vivian mentioned something that made everyone momentarily stop eating. "Lord ric, what do you think of my daughter, Hershey?" Vivian smiled with a probing look. Hershey''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this and she couldn''t help but sneak a nce at the young man sitting next to her. ric wiped his mouth with a napkin before he responded with a faint smile. "Lady Hershey is a beautiful and elegant young woman. I''m very impressed by her skills in tea making." He paused as he turned his gaze to Hershey and continued. "Beforeing here, I heard that she is also a great painter. I haven''t seen her paint, but I would like to have my portrait made by her." Hershey felt like her heart leaping in joy when she heard his words and his gentle gaze was like a spell that enthralled her soul. When she realized that she had stared at him for too long, she was flustered. She quickly lowered her head to hide her reddening face. "Oh?" Vivian''s eyes lit up. She didn''t expect things to go this smoothly. She nned to betroth Hershey to another noble if ric showed no interest in her, but from the looks of it, there was no need for her to go through much trouble anymore. It''s still too early to discuss marriage. I just hope that this little bitch won''t do anything foolish to scare ric away. While she was immersed in her thoughts, one person was giving ric a sharp gaze. He tried to hide it, but ric immediately sensed his hostility because of his ''Sixth Sense'' trait. Liam¡­ why did he suddenly be hostile? ric pretended like he wasn''t aware of the other party''s hostility. Liam lowered his head while clenching his fists. How dare that bastard flirt with my beloved sister?! She''s mine! No one can take her from me! A crazed look shed in his eyes. His body trembled and he felt a sudden itch in his arms. This¡­ Why does it have to be now? Liam''s body trembled and sweat slowly trickled down his face. I need to get out of here quickly while I''m still sane! Thinking about this, he abruptly stood up and said. "I''m full. I''ll take my leave first." He then turned around and left in a hurry. "Why is that kid in a hurry?" Nathan muttered with a perplexed look. He then smiled apologetically to ric. "Please forgive my son''s insolence."@@novelbin@@ "It''s fine. He probably has some important matters to take care of." ric nonchntly replied. Theo raised an eyebrow as he looked at the empty seat next to him. Did that bastard¡­ Dammit! I already told him to stop taking that suspicious medicine! He was aware of his younger brother''s addiction to illegal drugs. He had already warned Liam not to take those pills, but it seemed like thetter had ignored his warnings. Chapter 45 The Suspicious Behavior of Liam After the dinner, Nathan told ric to follow him to his study room to discuss the future coboration of House Silversword and House Paxley. For this discussion, ric asked Nathan''s permission to bring another person to which the other party agreed after some thought. In the next moment, ric brought Harris with him to Nathan''s study room. This guy was the best talent House Silversword had in the field of business. Harris''s presence made ric feel at ease. Nathan nced briefly at Harris before he turned his gaze to ric. "Then let''s begin with the first agenda." The things they talked about were mostly rted to the joint businesses owned by the two households as well as the future coborations that they would work on. ric was prepared for this moment, but there were still some key points that he had forgotten. Fortunately, Harris was there to save his ass so the discussion proceeded smoothly. Almost three hourster, Nathan stood up and let out a satisfiedugh as he extended his hand. "To our future coborations!" ric took his hand and shook it. "To our future coborations!" "By the way, you should stay here in Ryvaad for a while. I''ve already asked Hershey to apany you in the next few days to give you a tour of the city." Hearing this, ric nodded his head. "That would be great! I''ve been nning to have a look at the beautifulndscapes of Ryvaad. Having Lady Hershey with me will save me some trouble of having to travel around aimlessly." He chuckled. "Hahaha! Don''t worry! Hershey knows this city like the back of her hand." "Then I look forward to my stay here in the next few days." Nathan heartilyughed. After a few small talks, ric excused himself and left with Harris. "That was exhausting. I tried my best, but I''m really not cut out for this." ric shook his head with a wry smile. "You did a good job, my lord. You just need more experience. With a little more training, you will soon be fine on your own." Harris replied with a light chuckle. ric shook his head without saying anything. He knew his limits. They returned to the guest mansion and retired to their respective rooms. *** "My lord, it''s almost time for your tour with Lady Hershey!" ric was awoken by a soft tug on his arm. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Elena who was staring at him with an exasperated expression. "What time is it?" He asked as he slowly lifted his body off the bed. Elena pointed at the wall clock and responded. "It''s almost 7 in the morning, my lord. You only have thirty minutes before your appointed meeting with Lady Hershey! Geez! You need to get up now!" Looking at her pouting lips and her annoyed little face, ricughed in amusement. "Yes, mydy Nana." Hearing this, Elena blushed in embarrassment. She then grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but he expertly dodged it and rushed out of his room. "Grr!!" Elena red at his fleeing figure. Outside his room, Warrick was surprised to see ric running away in a hurry. "My lord?" The veteran Elite Knight took a peek at his room and saw Elena standing next to the bed with an annoyed look. She''s the only servant who would dare to do something like this to Lord ric¡­ Warrick chuckled as he shook his head. After a quick bath, ric changed into his new custom-made clothes. He then stepped out of the guest mansion and found out that Hershey was already waiting for him outside. "Good morning, my lord. How was your sleep?" Hershey''s smile made her look even more beautiful. "Thanks to your hospitality, I had rested well. By the way, that dress looks good on you, mydy." ric was mesmerized by her beauty. Hershey was a bit embarrassed by hispliment. "I don''t deserve your praise, my lord." In the next moment, Hershey invited him to the carriage. Just as they were about to enter, a figure suddenly appeared behind them. "Hold on!" ric stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows as he looked at the person who had stopped them. It was thenky Liam dressed in standard noble attire. "Liam? Why are you here?" Hershey looked surprised to see her brother. Liam smiled and slowly approached them. "I heard that you two are going to tour the entire city. Will it be alright if Ie with you?" "That¡­" Hershey hesitated. She wanted to spend some time with ric so she didn''t want her half-brother toe with them. She also felt that Liam had given her strange gazes in the past few days which made her instinctively suspicious. What should I do? Before she could respond, ric''s curt voice drifted into her ears. "I''m sorry, Lord Liam, but I would like to be alone with Lady Hershey. There are some matters that I would like to speak with her privately. I hope that you understand." Liam''s smiling face stiffened upon hearing his words. This bastard!@@novelbin@@ "What a pity! Since you have some important matters to discuss with my sister, then I won''t bother you two. Excuse me." Liam turned around and left with heavy strides. How dare that fucking bastard embarrass me in front of my beloved little sister!? Just you wait, ric! idents do happen on the road. Be careful or you might trip! A cold smile hung on Liam''s face. ric''s senses were telling him that something was off with that guy so he rejected his suggestion without hesitation. "I''m sorry for rejecting him without hearing your opinion, mydy." He smiled apologetically at Hershey. "It''s fine." Hershey smiled as she waved her hand. She then changed the topic as they walked inside the carriage. "You told him that you want to speak with me privately. So what do you want to discuss with me?" ric was caught off guard and he was momentarily stunned. "Ah¡­ about that¡­" Chapter 46 The Bridge of Eternity and the Benevolent God Aru Hershey stared at him with anticipation, wondering what he''d say. Looking at her face, ric suddenly thought about something and said. "Like I saidst night, I hope that you can paint a portrait of me." "O-Oh! So it''s about that¡­" Hershey was inwardly disappointed, but she didn''t show it to her face. "It''s fine if you don''t want to. I know that you are a busy woman." ric didn''t make things difficult for her. "It won''t be an issue at all, my lord." Hershey waved her hand as she shook her head. She looked at his handsome face and smiled softly. Besides, I have already started painting your portrait. When she met him at the entrance of Ryvaad, she already had this desire to make a portrait of him. She wanted to paint his image on a canvas and admire his looks forever. "I''m d to hear that¡­" The two began their tour together. They visited the most famous ces andndmarks in Ryvaad. It was something that they had never done in his past life. Hershey acted as the tour guide, telling him about the history of each ce they visited. At this moment, they were heading towards a famous tourist spot for lovers- the bridge of eternity. "My lord, that is the bridge of eternity. It connects the district of Yorvan and Meneva." Hershey pointed at the wooden bridge that connected two districts that were separated by a river. "It is said that the bridge was built by a farmer who was searching for his wife. It became a symbol of his love and longing for his wife." Her voice carried a trace of sadness when she told him this story. "Did he manage to find his wife?" ric asked while looking at the sturdy bridge. Hershey sighed while shaking her head. "He went to the other side, but he found no traces of his wife. He would always visit this bridge to wait for her return, but years had passed and she still hadn''t returned. The man had be old, but he never gave up on searching for her. In the end, he died on this bridge while waiting for her." ric was moved by the man in the story. "What was his name?" Hershey shook her head. "No one knows his name, but people call him Old Man Cross because he would always cross this bridge." "I see¡­ He was a great man." ric remarked. Hershey nodded in agreement. She then pointed at the people kneeling and praying at the bridge. "Look over there. Do you see those people?" ric followed her gaze. As he observed those people, her voice drifted to his ears. "People say that if you throw a coin at the river while you''re on the bridge and sincerely pray, your wish will be granted. Do you want to try it?" She looked at him with a smile. "There''s such a thing?" ric raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Mn. It is said that the benevolent god Aru was moved by Old Man Cross''s longing for his wife so ''He'' baptized the bridge he created which turned it into a ce of miracle." Hershey exined. The benevolent god, Aru¡­ The people of Astania were devout believers of Aru who was known as the benevolent god. It wasrgely because of this sacred religion that the empire was able to conquer a big piece ofnd on this vast continent. The members of House Silversword were also devout believers of Aru, including ric himself. As they walked towards the bridge of eternity, ric began to question himself. Did Aru send me back to the past to stop the destruction of his believers? "My lord, are you alright?" Hershey''s voice broke him from his stupor. ric smiled lightly and nodded. "I''m alright. What do I need to do again? Just throw a coin and pray sincerely, right?" "That''s right. I''ll show you." Hershey took out a coin from her leather purse and tossed it into the river. She then brought her palms together and closed her eyes with her head lowered. Seeing this, ric followed what she did. He took out a coin and tossed it into the river. He then closed his eyes as he sincerely prayed to Aru. Aru, I don''t know if you were the one who sent me back to the past, but please help me change the cruel future that I''ve seen. I don''t wish to see that hell again.@@novelbin@@ While he was offering his prayers, Hershey opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled and patiently waited for him toplete his prayers. Not far from them, Elena also decided to give it a try. She took out a coin from her little pouch and threw it into the river. Aru, please give my lord your protection. It was the sincere wish of a servant who had fallen for her lord. A few minutester, ric opened his eyes. "If you''re done, we should go. There are still more ces that you have to visit." Hearing this, ric calmly nodded his head. He took onest look at the bridge of eternity before he left with Hershey. Elena and the rest of their subordinates followed quietly behind them. Upon entering the carriage, Hershey noticed the change in ric''s mood. "My lord, are you still thinking about Old Man Cross''s story?" Hershey smiled. ric lifted his head to look at her. "Are you by any chance worried about me?" He asked with a teasing voice. Hershey was stunned by his words. "W-What are you saying, my lord?" She tried to cover up her embarrassment, but ric had already seen through her right from the start. He would be an idiot if he couldn''t notice the special gaze she had when looking at him. So you have always liked me. Just when did it start, Hershey? The smile on his face deepened as he thought of this. "Haha! I''m just joking, mydy." ric chuckled. Chapter 47 Alarics Gift Three dayster, the end of his trip to Ryvaad had finallye. In the past three days, he had traveled to the famousndmarks of the city together with Hershey. It was a rare experience for ric and it made him temporarily forget the tragedy that happened in his past life. At this moment, ric was saying his goodbyes to Hershey and her family. "Thank you for your hospitality. I enjoyed my stay here." ric shook hands with Baron Nathan who was very enthusiastic throughout his whole stay. "I''m d to hear that." "You can alwayse here whenever you want. Just give us a heads up so that we can make preparations before your arrival." Nathan beamed. "I will definitely visit again." ric was quite fond of the ce and he was already looking forward to his next visit here. "Hahaha! That''s good!" Vivian also spoke with him briefly, but he didn''t have a good impression of this woman so he only responded out of courtesy. Meanwhile, the two brothers, Theo and Liam, didn''t say anything to him. The older one gave him a nod while cupping his fists, while Liam merely gave him a strange smile. Finally, he turned his gaze towards Hershey. She looked visibly down even though she tried so hard to hide it. She failed to conceal the glimmer of sadness in her eyes which ric saw through at a nce. "Thank you for the portrait you made for me, mydy. I will treasure it forever." ric stared intently at her soulful eyes. He wanted to embrace her andfort her, but it would be inappropriate. "I had a great time with you, my lord. Please visit again soon." Hershey forced out a smile. "I will." He nodded. "Before I go, I have something to give you." ric sent Elena a knowing look. The girl understood his gaze and took out a wooden box. She then walked towards Hershey and carefully handed it to her. "This is¡­" Hershey was surprised by the unexpected gift. She didn''t expect that ric had actually prepared something for her. "You may open it." ric smiled at her while gesturing for her to open the box. "Let me help you with that, mydy." Her maidservant, Maris, took the initiative to open the box for her. The content of the box was revealed. It was a winter dress made from the fur of the Spiked Grizzly Bear. "We managed to hunt an adult Spiked Grizzly Bear recently and the dress was made from its fur," ric exined. Hershey''s eyes were glued to the dress. She fell in love with it after one look. The craftsmanship was beautiful and the dress was also perfect for winter. Even Vivian cast her an envious look. "I love it. Thank you for the gift, my lord." Hershey hugged the dress while looking at ric''s face. While the two were exchanging their goodbyes, one person was staring daggers at them. Dammit! Just go home already! Does he really need to flirt with Hershey in front of the whole family?! Liam gritted his teeth as he watched the scene. He was jealous and their growing rtionship was gnawing at him. "See you again soon, mydy." ric lowered his head. He then turned around and left while waving his hand. Hershey quietly watched him enter his carriage. Soon, ric''s entourage left, their figures slowly disappearing from their view. Hershey stood there unmoving like a statue as she clutched the winter dress she received as a gift. I hope to see you again soon, ric. Liam stared at his sister''s lonely figure with narrowed eyes. You will never see him again because I have prepared the most perfect gift for that bastard! As he thought of this, a cruel smile hung on his lips. *** "My lord, someone is tailing us," Warrick reported with a stern voice. Hearing this, ric frowned. "How many men do they have?" He asked while guessing who had sent the pursuers. The veteran Elite Knight scrunched his eyebrows as he responded. "They have hidden themselves well, but I can sense more than twenty men. Five of them are the level of Knights while the rest are Knight Apprentices." ric''s face darkened. The lineup was more powerful than he had anticipated. In a city like Ryvaad, this was already a sizable force! "Tell the whole party to prepare for a possible attack once we leave the city, but make sure the enemies won''t notice that we have already discovered them," ric instructed. He wasn''t afraid of battle, but he was a bit worried about Elena''s safety. Just which bastard is targeting me? For some reason, Liam''s face shed in his mind. Is it you, Liam?@@novelbin@@ "My lord, what did Sir Warrick say?" Elena''s voice resonated in his ears. ric''s gaze softened as he turned his gaze to her. "Elena, there are people following us. We still don''t know their intentions, but we need to be careful." Elena''s eyes shook with fear when she heard this. She clung to his arm and muttered with a quivering voice. "I''m scared, my lord!" Seeing her terrified face, ric embraced her and gently rubbed her shoulder. "Don''t worry, Elena. No matter what happens, I will keep you safe. I promise!" He muttered solemnly. Elena timidly nodded. His wordsforted her, but she couldn''t stop her body from shaking. "We will be safe while we are still inside Ryvaad. Those guys won''t attack us in broad daylight since this ce is the territory of House Paxley, but things will be different once we leave the city." ric''s voice suddenly turned serious. "The carriage walls are made of durable materials so you just need to hide here when the fighting starts. Never open the door for anyone and wait for my return. Can you do that for me, Elena?" ric reminded her with a grave look. Elena was afraid, but she knew that she must not make her lord worried about her in this situation. She exhaled a deep breath and nodded her head. "Y-Yes, my lord!" Chapter 48 Pursuers We have Warrick, two experienced Knights, and seven Knight Apprentices. The remaining ten are ordinary soldiers. ric rubbed his chin as he entered into deep thought. I should have brought more warriors with me. He thought that the trip would be smooth since Ryvaad was the territory of their longtime ally. He was once again pped by the harsh reality of the world. There was no such thing as a safe ce on this continent. Even in North Pine Town, danger still lurked! As they neared the gates of Ryvaad, a tense atmosphere hung over the entourage. The warriors kept their dominant hand on their weapons, prepared to take action at a moment''s notice. "Just which idiots are targeting us?" One of the two Knights muttered, annoyance evident in his voice. He was a bald middle-aged man with a short gray beard and a pair of blue eyes. The most striking feature about him was the sword scar that stretched from his left forehead down to the left side of his face. His name was Bernard, an experienced Knight who had served House Silversword for over three decades. "Hey, lower your voice!" Reminded the Knight who was riding a horse next to him. He looked a decade younger than Bernard with his thick eyebrows and wavy ck hair. He also had a pair of monolid eyes which revealed the foreign blood that ran through his veins. This man''s name was Chulmo. Warrick turned his head and red at them, making the two Knights flinch. "We''re about to step out of the city. Keep your eyes peeled!" Warrick muttered in a voice that was just enough for them to hear. Bernard and Chulmo nodded their heads in unison. A momentter, the group finally crossed the gates of the city. Everyone tightened their grip on their weapons while eyeing the surroundings with cautious eyes. Inside the carriage, ric''s focus was broken by the sudden appearance of the cyan screen. ___ Mission: Kill the Hired Mercenaries! Difficulty: Easy A mercenary group was hired to kill you! Defeat them without losing a single soldier on your side! Rewards: 200 Battle Points, 40 EXP, 5 Stat Points Penalty for failure: - 350 Battle Points ___ A mission! ric frowned when he saw the mission description. It wants us to win without someone dying on our side! Considering the difference inbat strength between both sides, this was a bit difficult. After all, they still need to protect the carriage where Elena would hide. Although they had Warrick who was an Elite Knight, the other side had five Knights and fifteen Knight Apprentices. On the other hand, they only had three Knights including ric, and seven Knight Apprentices. The rest were just normal soldiers. If both sides shed, it was inevitable for them to have some casualties. We need a n¡­ ric narrowed his eyes as he stared at the situation outside through the window. Their target should be me so the focus of their attacks will be on me. Now, how do I make use of this information to defeat them without losing anyone? ric pondered deeply. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. An istion tactic. Yeah, that might work. As soon as he thought of this, ric slowly made his preparations. He let Elena double-check the straps on the leather armor beneath his winter coat. After making sure that everything was in ce, ric looked at the young girl and said. "Elena, never open the door until the battle is over. I will be back." Elena stared at him with a worried face. "Please be careful, my lord. I will pray to Aru and ask Him to protect everyone." She muttered in a trembling voice. ric nodded and patted her head before he stepped out of the carriage. He hopped on the war horse prepared for him, his eyes sweeping over the surroundings. There were no signs of anomalies, but his senses were screaming danger, something that had never been wrong before. At this moment, they had already traveled a certain distance from Ryvaad and they were close to reaching a secluded forest. Fighting in the forest would be dangerous for the group. We don''t know what kind of weapons the enemies have so it would be better to fight them in an open area where we can see them clearly. Thinking about this, ric raised his hand and signaled for the group to take a different route. ¡­ Hidden not far from them were a group of warriors dressed in different kinds of armor. Some wore leather armor, while others were in steel-ted armor. "Boss, why did they take a detour? Do you think we have been discovered?" A man holding a pair of machetes asked the middle-aged man wearing an eyepatch. Everyone nced at their boss. This was a job with generous pay so they didn''t want any idents to happen. The man wearing an eyepatch frowned. "It doesn''t seem to be the case. Maybe they are just being cautious, but we need to make a move soon. Just wait for my signal." The mercenaries nodded upon hearing his words. Suddenly, they saw a man stepping out of the carriage. "Boss, isn''t that guy our main target?"@@novelbin@@ The man wearing an eyepatch nodded upon hearing this. "That should be him. Our client described his physical features in detail and everything seems to fit with that guy." "It looks like our prey has appeared, my brothers. Get ready to take action!" He muttered as he took out his weapon, a two-handed sword. The eyes of the mercenaries shed with killing intent and anticipation. Once theypleted this mission, they wouldn''t need to take on a job for a while. The man wearing an eyepatch stared deeply at their main target. For some reason, he felt a chill upon seeing him. I, Juvah, had never failed a mission once so why do I have a bad feeling about that guy? He felt an instinctive urge to abandon the mission, but the generous rewards quashed the thought immediately. No! This must be a trial set by Agnus! As his follower, how could I flee without even fighting my enemy!? Chapter 49 False Information "My lord, they are preparing to attack," Warrick reported with a cold gaze. Hearing this, ric pulled his swords and shouted at his men. "Bernard! Chulmo! Protect the carriage together with our soldiers! Don''t engage the enemies and prioritize everyone''s safety at all costs!" "Yes, my lord!" Bernard and Chulmo quickly gathered the troops upon hearing hismands. Under their leadership, a defensive formation was quickly formed around the carriage. As long as they were sticking close to each other, they would be able to properly utilize the defensive formation. These warriors had been trained to fight in any situation and with the two experienced Knights at the core, they formed a formidable team. Without looking at them, ric stared at Warrick and said. "Sir Warrick, our task is to eliminate as many enemies as possible while the others are protecting the carriage!"@@novelbin@@ Although he was surprised by his n, Warrick followed hismand without hesitation. "Yes, my lord!" With a wave of his hand, the veteran Elite Knight grabbed his favorite weapon, a double-ded spear. Both des of his spear were curved like that of a scimitar, sharp and deadly. At this moment, multiple arrows were suddenly fired at them. Suu! Suu! Suu! Suu! "Don''t worry about me, Sir Warrick! Destroy them!" ric roared as he casually destroyed the arrows with a wave of his sword. Warrick wasted no time and squeezed his legs, urging his horse to rush at the enemy''s location. Suu! Suu! Suu! Suu! Another wave of arrows was fired at him, but an invisible energy prevented those arrows from touching him. He had activated his aura manifestation, but unlike the goblin chieftain who only did it out of instinct, Warrick was able tomand it at will. After blocking the arrows, he then pulled the reins andmanded his horse to take a huge leap forward. The mercenaries were momentarily stunned by his horseback riding skills. His daunting aura made them feel a heavy pressure pressing down on them. An Elite Knight! The overwhelming pressure he exuded and his unstoppable momentum revealed his strength. The mercenaries'' faces fell. "It''s just one person! I don''t think he can block all of us! Kill him!" Juvah, the leader of the mercenary group, shouted to his men, his voice echoing in their ears. With the words from their captain, the mercenaries'' fear dissipated. They moved simultaneously and attacked in different directions. Impertinent fools! Warrick''s eyes shed with a fierce glint. The double-ded spear in his hands rotated like a sharp propeller, slicing everything in his path! Kkhsshk! Kkhsshk! "Ahhh!!! My arms!" "Ahhh!!! Hel-" He was like a cutting machine, effortlessly shing the limbs and bodies of the mercenaries! Of the five people who attacked him, four were cut apart, while the remaining one was writhing on the ground, his armless shoulders bleeding profusely. The blood of the fallen mercenaries drenched the ground in red. Meanwhile, a few enemies also pounced at ric. They aren''t weak, but theyck the fundamentals of military warfare. That was his first thought when he saw the enemies. They had no battle formation and their gears were also crude. Only warriors untrained in military tactics would fight like this. Their individual strength was formidable, but they moved sloppily as a group which presented many openings. To ric who was a master of swords, a small opening was more than enough. While keeping himself steady on his mount, he waved his swords and aimed for their throats. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Khshhk! Khshhk! No one was able to dodge his quick strikes. The mercenaries fell from their horses, clutching their throat while gasping for breath. Looking at ric ignored the fallen mercenaries and kept his eyes on the remaining enemies, particrly on the man at the forefront who had an eyepatch on his right eye. Meanwhile, Juvah was staring nkly at the two warriors who had decimated almost half of his entire group in just a few seconds. "It looks like the information we had about them was not urate," Juvah muttered in a grim voice. Agnus, is it finally our time to meet you in the kingdom of Xifos? The thought of death didn''t scare the mercenary leader. Only a glimmer of longing and desire could be seen in his eyes. With a fearless smile, Juvah raised his sword and bellowed. "My brothers! Let''s meet again in the hall of gods! For Agnus! Charge!" The eyes of the mercenaries burned with unwavering determination. Juvah and his mercenary group were followers of Agnus, the god of war and chaos. They were fearless in the face of death because they believed that dying in battle would give them the chance to enter Xifos, which was known as the Kingdom of Swords where Agnus resided. So they are followers of Agnus! Damn these war-crazed idiots! ric cursed as he shed with the other party. The mercenaries didn''t care about getting injured. Pain only served to fuel their fighting spirit. They recklessly attacked ric''s group. ric''s mount cried out in pain and copsed after being mercilessly stabbed by the crazy mercenaries. ric also received some cuts and stab wounds, but he managed to evade lethal damage. Damn, bastards! He didn''t like to fight against the believers of Agnus for this very reason. They were a bunch of crazy fanatics who didn''t fear death! ng! ng! ng! ric parried their weapons and evaded those he couldn''t block. Agnus stared at his dyingrades. They were friends who had followed him for years so he felt a sense of rage and frustration. He was furious at the enemies who had killed them, but he was more furious at the client who had provided them with false information. That fucking bastard! Suddenly, the sound of a galloping horse drifted into his ears. He narrowed his eyes and saw the Elite Knight wielding the double-ded spearing towards him. "You have made the biggest mistake of attacking us, follower of the violent god!" Warrick muttered as his spear swooshed down like a mirage, but just as he was about to cut the mercenary leader into two, ric''s voice echoed. "Wait!" Chapter 50 Juvah could feel the tip of the spear''s de piercing his skin. The Elite Knight pulled back his spear and lowered his head at the young man who had just spoken. Step. Step. Step. Step. Juvah raised his head. He finally got a clearer look at the face of their main target. He was much younger than he had thought, but his dignity was overflowing. "Answer my question and I will give you a swift death." ric stared deeply at him. Hearing this, Juvah''s lips curved upward to form a mocking grin. "Piss off!" "You insolent fool!" Warrick roared at the mercenary leader. ric raised his hand, stopping Warrick from saying anything. ric opened his mouth and muttered in a cold voice. "I know that you are a follower of Agnus." Juvah''s smile stiffened. ric continued. "ording to ''His'' teachings, the souls of the warriors who die in battle will be weed in Xifos and live forever with ''Him''¡­" "If you answer my questions, I will dly send you to Xifos, but if you don''t cooperate with me, I will take you back with us and make sure that you don''t die!" "No! Kill me! Kill me!" Juvah was agitated by his words. To the warriors who followed Agnus''s teachings, there was nothing more humiliating than being granted mercy. They also believed that Agnus would only ept the souls of those who died in battle, while those who died of different causes would be an evil spirits with no hope of reincarnating again. "I''ll do it! I''ll do anything you ask! I will answer your question!" Juvah was terrified of the thought of turning into an evil spirit. "Very well." ric nodded, looking pleased by his response. "Who hired your group?" ric stared deeply at the mercenary who had lost hisposure. Juvah''s face turned dark as he responded. "It''s Liam Paxley! It was him!" His voice was filled with anger. "So it''s really him¡­" ric muttered with narrowed eyes. He had already expected Liam''s involvement to a certain extent and the mercenary''s words confirmed his suspicions. He sent Warrick a knowing look. Sensing his gaze, Warrick lifted his spear and shed it down. Whoosh! Juvah''s decapitated head flew into the air, while the headless body copsed to the ground in its own pool of blood. ric nced at the carriage and saw a small number of corpses around it. He guessed that they were probably killed by Bernard''s group during the battle. He then went inside the carriage to check Elena''s situation. When he entered the carriage, he saw a terrified girl hugging her legs, her hair was disheveled like an abandoned child. "Elena, are you hurt?" He hurried to her side and inspected her body carefully. The girl was shivering, but she didn''t have any injuries. The arrows failed to prate the carriage''s durable walls.@@novelbin@@ "I-I''m fine, my lord," Elena replied weakly. Her eyes scanned his body and she felt a pang of pain in her heart when she saw his wounds. "My lord, you''re hurt!" ric gently smiled as he caressed her face. "It''s alright. They are just shallow wounds." He muttered reassuringly. "Let me help you dress your wounds! They might fester if we leave them be." She rose to her feet and searched for the medicine box that she had brought with her, but she couldn''t find it properly because of her trembling hands. Seeing this, ric felt guilty. "I''m sorry, Elena. I shouldn''t have brought you here." The little girl remained silent. After rummaging through the items, Elena finally found the medicine box. She turned around and carefully grabbed his injured hand. She then opened the medicine box and started cleaning his wounds. "You don''t need to apologize, my lord. It wasn''t your fault. It was because of you and the warriors that I''m unharmed so stop ming yourself, okay?" She nced fiercely at him which made him chuckle in amusement. While she was bandaging his wounds, ric opened the cyan screen. ___ Mission Complete! You received 200 Battle Points, 40 EXP, 5 Stat Points ___ ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 369/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 2540 Stat Points: 32 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He was already over half his EXP requirement and he had even reached the halfway mark of his battle points requirement. My EXP and Battle Points are already at the halfway mark, but my stats are barely moving. At this rate, it would take me a year before I can advance to the next realm. I need to find a way to trigger more missions. That''s the only way for me to speed up my progress. He noticed that missions would only appear when he was faced with unique circumstances. For instance, a mission appeared this time because they were attacked by a bandit group. If missions are only triggered during unique situations, why did I not trigger one when west went to the Red Toad Gorge to find the Dragon Tail Ferns? ric rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He was slowly learning how the cyan screen worked, but there were still some things that he couldn''t understand. Maybe the situation at the Red Toad Gorge didn''t fulfill a certain requirement to be ssified as a mission. ric tried toe up with an answer, but he only ended up having more questions which made his head hurt from all the thinking. Let''s take it slow. The next major event is the orc invasion which would happen within two years. I still have plenty of time to prepare for that day. I just hope that the orc invasion won''t happen earlier than it did in my past life. This was what he was worried about. If the things he knew in his past life deviate too much, then his ns would be affected. Chapter 51 Liams Machinations After Elena dressed his wounds, ric stepped out of the carriage to check his subordinates. "How is everyone?" He asked while looking at Bernard. "Everyone is fine, my lord. Some of our soldiers are injured, but their injuries aren''t fatal. They only need a few days of rest to recover." Bernard replied while staring at him with unmasked admiration. Despite being the heir of a noble household, ric didn''t hesitate to ce himself in the most dangerous position. Other heirs would have chosen to prioritize their safety if they were in that situation. "Provide first aid to the injured and monitor their condition from time to time. Also, build a wagon big enough to fit all of them. You can use the spare tires of the carriage for the wagon." ric instructed. "Yes, my lord." Bernard acknowledged hismand with a nod of his head. "You may go." After Bernard left to do his tasks, Warrick approached him with a solemn look. "My lord, how should we handle this matter?" This matter was big enough to destroy the alliance between House Paxley and House Silversword. If it wasn''t handled well, it might even lead to a war! ric pondered deeply. I can''t let this matter slide. If I act like nothing happened, Liam would think that I''m a pushover. But how should I retaliate without ruining the friendship of the two noble households? Warrick remained silent and calmly waited for his response. It was a difficult choice so he wondered how ric would respond. After almost five minutes of silence, ric raised his head and muttered in a cold voice. "Once the wagon is built, we will head straight to North Pine Town and inform my father about the situation." "House Paxley is definitely not involved with this. They will never do something that would damage the friendship of the two households. Which means that Liam is the sole culprit!" He added. "I will never let that bastard get away with this!" ric''s eyes shed with killing intent. Warrick felt a chill when he saw his gaze. "I will follow your words, my lord." He lowered his head. Not longter, Chulmo came running towards him with an urgent look on his face. "My lord, I discovered the contract between Liam and the mercenary group!" "Hm? Where is it?" This was crucial evidence that would prove Liam''s direct involvement. "It''s here, my lord." Chulmo handed him the piece of parchment paper he was holding. ric unrolled the parchment paper and read the contents. The document noted down the mission that Liam tasked the mercenary group with. It was even stamped by both parties which made it legitimate evidence that could prove Liam''s crime. What a fucking idiot! He actually left a trace that would lead back to him. Just wait for me, Liam. I will let you live for a while, but mark my words, you won''t have a good ending¡­ ric rolled the parchment paper and kept it in his pocket. "Good job, Sir Chulmo." ric tapped the Knight''s shoulder. Without the document, it would have been difficult to seek justice. Chulmo grinned at him. "I''m d that I found something useful." "Continue searching their items. We might find something else." "Yes, my lord!" Chulmo saluted and left to do what he had instructed. Under Chulmo''smand, a few warriors rummaged through the mercenaries'' items. Unfortunately, other than some money and their crude equipment, there was nothing of notable importance. A few hourster, the wagon was finally built. ric instructed the group to bring the injured to the wagon. Once everyone had settled down, the group marched towards the direction of Vale. *** Meanwhile, inside a room in House Paxley''s main mansion. Liam sat on a chair as he stared at the cloudy night sky with a faint smile. "Those stupid followers of Agnus should be dead by now."@@novelbin@@ He was already aware that an Elite Knight was leading ric''s escort team. The reason he sent the mercenary group to attack them was because he wanted to make ric pay for coveting his sister. He also wanted to make use of ric''s group to remove the potential threat that had grown significantly over the years. Whether ric died or not was not his concern. It seems like nothing happened to you ric. What a pity. If something had happened to ric, his entourage would have returned to Ryvaad to investigate the incident, but since there were no signs of them, he was certain that ric was still alive. Thinking about this, he shook his head with a regretful look. Well, at least I managed to eliminate Juvah''s mercenary group. Now, I have nothing to worry about once I inherit my father''s property and position. Liam snickered at the sess of his n. I aplished two things today. One, I was able to punish ric for coveting what is mine. And secondly, I eliminated Juvah''s mercenary group which would be a huge threat to my future rule. I''m really a fucking genius! "Hahahaha!" His evilughter echoed within the confines of his room. *** On the 6th day of December, in the year 208 of the Astanian calendar, ric''s group finally arrived at the entrance of North Pine Town. The mood was heavy and no one spoke throughout their return to the estate. At this moment, Lucas and Maria were happily waiting for them in front of the main mansion. "Hm?" Lucas was the first to notice them and he immediately saw their haggard faces. Sensing the change in his expression, Maria raised her eyebrows. "What happened?" She asked with a hint of worry. Lucas frowned as he muttered in response. "They are injured." "What?!" Maria covered her mouth in shock. "What about our son? Is he alright?" Lucas nodded with a grim look. "He is fine, but he is also injured." "Oh my god! Just what happened out there?" Maria''s eyshes trembled. In the next moment, ric stepped out of the carriage with Elena closely following behind him. Seeing him covered in bandages, Maria immediately rushed to his side. "My son! Are you alright?" Meanwhile, Lucas stood there unmoving, his eyes filled with intense coldness. Chapter 52 The Brain of House Silversword Looking at ric''s face, Lucas muttered. "Let''s discuss this in my study." ric nodded in understanding. He then looked at his mother, squeezed her hand, and gave her a reassuring smile. "I''m alright, mom. These are just minor cuts." Maria exhaled a long sigh. "Let''s go to your father''s study. I''d like to hear the situation as well." "Alright." ric nodded. Letting her know what had happened wouldn''t be an issue. She was also smarter than both him and his fatherbined so she might offer a better solution. Elena quietly followed them. She could sense that something big was about to happen, but she tactfully remained silent. A momentter, they arrived at the study room. ric and Maria entered, while Elena remained outside. Lucas saw his wife entering with ric, but he didn''t say anything. He eyed his son and pointed at the chair in front of his desk. "Sit down." ric obediently took his seat, while Maria sat next to him. With a deep look, Lucas muttered. "What happened?" ric furrowed his eyebrows as he recounted the whole situation. "When we were about to leave Ryvaad, Sir Warrick sensed¡­" "¡­We deliberately led them to an open area to force them toe out¡­" "¡­I don''t want to see anyone get killed so I decided to use an istion tactic by forming a defensive formation centered around Sir Chulmo and Sir Bernard while Sir Warrick and I would deal with the stronger mercenaries¡­" "¡­In the end, we sessfully eliminated the mercenaries and we even managed to get evidence that helped us identify the person who hired the mercenary group." When he mentioned this, Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Who is it?" He asked in a t tone. ric took out the parchment paper he had kept and handed it to his father. "This is a document signed by the leader of the mercenary group and the person who hired them. You will see his name right there." Lucas grabbed the parchment and began reading the contents. When he saw the name of the client, his eyebrows shot upwards in surprise. Maria saw this and immediately asked. "Who is it?" "I can''t believe it," Lucas muttered as he handed the parchment to his wife. While Maria was reading the contents of the paper, Lucas stared at his son. "Do you think it was really done by him?" He asked in a low voice. ric nodded without hesitation. "I''m a hundred percent convinced that it was him. The guy seemed to be unusually attracted to his sister and he acted suspiciously every time I saw him." Annoyance was evident in his voice. "Liam Paxley¡­" Lucas had an impression of that guy. He was a lively kid who always wore a smile on his face. Lucas thought that he was a good kid, but from the looks of it, there was something dark about him. Maria put down the parchment. "He probably likes his younger sister. He must have sent those mercenaries toe for you out of jealousy. What a sickening thing!" She had a disgusted look on her face. Hearing this, Lucas nodded in agreement. "That seems to be the case."@@novelbin@@ "I never thought that Nathan''s second son is actually an abominable bastard¡­" Lucas muttered as he leaned on his chair and rubbed his temples. The matter could lead to a serious conflict between both households. "Father, I can''t let this matter slide. How dare that bastard hurt me and our people?!" What ric hated the most were traitors. Not to mention that Liam had improper thoughts towards Hershey. Just thinking about it made him furious. Just how did that bastard die in my past life? In his past life, Liam died right after Hershey was engaged to ric. No one knows the true cause of his death and House Paxley was strangely silent about the incident. It was as if they had intentionally concealed the truth. "What do you want to do?" Lucas didn''t want to offend House Paxley, but this was a matter that concerned his son''s life and the honor of House Silversword. He couldn''t just leave it be. "I''ll send someone to assassinate-" ric''s words were suddenly cut off by his mother. "Hold on!" The father and son turned their gazes to her. Maria shook her head and said. "There is no need to assassinate him." "But mom!" ric frowned at her words. "Listen to me first." Maria gave him a look. ric took a deep breath and decided to hear her out. "The first thing we need to do is go to Ryvaad and show this document to Baron Nathan. Once he learns the truth, we will have a justified reason to ask forpensation for the damages his son has caused and Liam won''t be able to reject if we demand for a trial bybat!" Maria''s words stunned both father and son. "That''s a sound n, but what if Liam would deny the usations and reject the trial?" ric was fairly certain that Liam wouldn''t admit his crimes that easily. "He might do that, but Baron Nathan is not a foolish man. I know what kind of person he is. This document alone is enough to convict his son so he would definitely agree to our demands." Maria replied. "Yes, you''re right, but this could still damage the rtionship between our households." Lucas scrunched his eyebrows. Maria nodded. "That''s true, but¡­" She suddenly smiled and said. "There is a way to strengthen our alliance even after this incident." Lucas and ric stared deeply at her. "They mentioned that their daughter is interested in our son. Why don''t we send them a marriage proposal? Of course only on the premise that they agree to our demands." Maria snorted. ric stared at his mother in admiration. She had actuallye up with that n in just a short amount of time. "Alright. Let''s do as you say. So what should we do first?" Lucas was also impressed with her idea. Chapter 53 Words of Affirmation "But before that, what do you think about that girl?" Maria stared at ric. ric thought about Hershey as he answered. "She is a beautiful and talented youngdy. If it''s her, then I''m not against the proposal." "That''s good to hear." Maria was satisfied with his response. "Now, here''s what we need to do¡­" Maria told them about her n. From who they would bring to Ryvaad and to how they should act once they were there. She didn''t miss any detail, even going as far as thinking of several countermeasures in case something fell through. "That''s the gist of it. Don''t forget anything since we still need to discuss this with the warriors." "Speaking of which¡­" She turned her gaze to ric and said with a smile. "Sir Henry has sessfully be an Elite Knight yesterday. You should go and look for himter. You were the first person he wanted to see when he made his breakthrough." Hearing this, ric was pleasantly surprised. He thought that the old Knight would need a few months to advance, but it seemed like he had underestimated Henry. "I will visit him after cleaning myself up." ric couldn''t wait to visit the old man and congratte him. "Then you should go. I will discuss the details with your mother. Just listen carefully once we talk about this with the Knights." Lucas dismissed him with a light smile. "Alright. Then I''ll excuse myself first." ric stood up, bowed to them, and left the study. "Look at him go. He looks even more excited now than when he became a Knight." Maria chuckled while shaking her head. "Just leave him be. Sir Henry is like a grandfather to him. It''s only natural for ric to feel happy about his advancement." "That''s true¡­" *** Outside the study, ric saw Elena standing by the door with a bored look. "Elena? Why are you still here? You should have returned to your room." He was inside the study for over an hour so she must be tired. "It''s okay, my lord. I want to wait for you." Elena fidgeted as she lowered her head Seeing her little movements, ric furrowed his eyebrows and sighed. She is still affected by what happened in Ryvaad. ric didn''t expose her and gently grabbed her hand. "Next time, you need to tell me if you ever feel tired or if you are ufortable about something." The warmth of his hand was like a magical medicine that eased her nerves. "Mn." She hummed in response. "You should go and take a shower. We will visit Sir Henryter." The girl lifted her head and asked. "Why? Did something happen to Sir Henry?" "Yes, but it''s a good thing. You will knowter."@@novelbin@@ The two parted ways. ric headed to his private bathroom which was beside his bedroom, while Elena headed to the maidservants'' public bathhouse. Inside the bathroom, ric removed the bandages and started cleaning his wounds. He then washed himself using the scented soap and dried his wet body with a clean cloth. Man, this thing really smells good! I should check on how the store is doing once I have some free time. ric stepped out of the bathroom and went to his room to change into a set of casual clothes. While he wasbing his hair with his fingers in front of the mirror, he heard a series of knocks on the door. "My lord, it''s me." Elena''s voice drifted into his ears. "You maye in." Creak! Now dressed in a new maid uniform, Elena stepped inside his room. ric nced at her through the mirror and noticed that her hair was still wet. "Elena, your hair is still wet. Let me help you with that." He turned around, grabbed a cloth, and approached her. "There''s no need to trouble you, my lord. I can do it by myself." Elena grabbed the cloth from his hand, but she realized that she was unable to take it from him. "It''s alright, Elena. You always do it for me so let me do the same for you." ric gently grabbed her hand and pulled her in front of the mirror. Elena felt shy, but she didn''t reject him. This was ric''s first time doing this for someone else so he was a bit clumsy. Seeing his serious face through the mirror, Elena giggled. ric stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "Did you justugh?" "No, I didn''t." Elena shook her head while holding back herughter. ric smiled wryly. After patting her hair dry, he grabbed ab and startedbing her hair. Elena didn''t say anything and just watched his face through the mirror. At this moment, ric''s voice echoed in her ears. "Elena, my parents want me to marry Hershey to solidify the alliance between both our households." Elena remained silent at his words. She already knew that this would happen after she saw Hershey. She was the most beautiful woman Elena had ever seen. She was also talented in painting, and tea making, and she was also a smart woman. Elena felt that Hershey was a perfect match for her lord. That was her honest thought after meeting her. "I agreed with their decision," ric added. "Why are you telling me this?" Elena asked. ric continuedbing her hair as he replied. "I just felt that I should inform you." Elena turned around and lifted her head to look at him. "You don''t need to feel guilty, my lord. I understand your difficulties and I know that this is also for the best of the town." "But please¡­ don''t forget me, my lord. I will always be here for you." ric grabbed her shoulders and embraced her tightly. "I know, Elena. Thank you for always taking care of me. You will always have a special ce in my heart." His words made her feel a mixture of emotions. After some time, Elena broke free from his embrace and smiled at him. "We should get going, my lord." "You''re right." ric chuckled as he nodded his head. Chapter 54 Observing the Progress of the Trainees The two headed to Henry''s house which was located a few hundred meters away from the main mansion, but they didn''t get far when they spotted the very person they were looking for walking towards them in his standard Knight uniform. "My lord!" The old Knight looked visibly excited upon seeing him, but when he saw ric''s wounds, he frowned. "What happened?" He was resting in his house when they returned so he didn''t know what had happened. ric smiled and shook his head. "It''s a long story. I''ll tell you the detailster." He quickly changed the topic. "Anyway, I heard that you''ve be an Elite Knight. Congrattions!" The old Knight smiled. "It''s only because I had the beast soul crystal. If it weren''t for that, it would have taken me years before I could achieve a breakthrough. Thanks to you I saved plenty of time. I''m really grateful, my lord!" ric chuckled. "Like I said, you deserve that reward, Sir Henry." "By the way, Elena also came here to congratte you on your breakthrough." ric turned his head and winked at Elena. The girl was flustered, but she quickly stepped forward to congratte the old Knight. "Congrattions on your advancement, Sir Henry!" The old Knight grinned. "Thank you, Miss Elena." "Oh please, just call me by my name." Elena was overwhelmed by how the old Knight was formally speaking to her. "That won''t do. You are a special person in this household, Miss Elena. Everyone knows that." The old Knight chuckled. Elena blushed at his words. She understood what he was implying and it made her embarrassed. "We should talk somewhere morefortable. Why don''t we head to the training ground? There are plenty of seats there. I''m about to do my daily training anyway." ric suggested. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire "Sounds good. I''m also on my way there to observe the training of the new recruits." Henry nodded. "What about you, Elena? Will it be alright with you?" ric nced at her. "Huh? Y-Yes! I will follow you wherever you want to go, my lord." Elena didn''t expect him to ask for her opinion so she almost stuttered. "In that case, let''s go. I also want to check the progress of the new recruits. It''s been a while since they started training. Some of them should be close to bing a Knight Apprentice." ric said as he took the lead. The trio headed to the training ground under the curious gazes of the servants. When they arrived, they saw a group of young warriors dressed in their training clothes wielding their wooden weapons with synchronized movements. The person responsible for overseeing their training for the day was Rigor. He was quite strict so the recruits were extra careful so as not to upset him. Rigor was the first to notice their presence. He immediately approached them and bowed. "Greetings, my lord!" He then cupped his fists at Henry. "Sir Henry!" The old Knight returned his greeting by cupping his fists, while ric simply nodded his head. "How are the recruits doing?" ric asked while searching for Rasmus''s figure among the trainees.@@novelbin@@ "They are doing pretty well for newbies. This batch is better than thest group. Two of them even showed exemry results." Rigor announced proudly. As one of the trainers, he was pleased by their performance. "Oh?" ric''s interest was piqued. He wondered if he was talking about the same people he was thinking. The old Knight also showed interest in this matter and even Elena was the same. "Which of them are you talking about?" ric asked while rubbing his chin. Rigor beamed as he replied. "It''s Rasmus and Renante. Do you want me to call them?" Renante? I don''t remember someone like that among the exceptional young Knights in my past life. "Please call them over. I''d like to closely observe their progress." ric nodded. "Alright." Rigor went back to the trainees and summoned the two he had mentioned. He then brought them to ric. "My lord, it''s them. This one is Rasmus and this guy is Renante." Rigor proudly introduced the top trainees. ric turned his gaze at the two. Rasmus lookedpletely differentpared to when he first met him at the orphanage. He had grown some muscles and he also looked a few centimeters taller. He had even trimmed his long hair which made him look more like a warrior. On the other hand, Renante was aplete stranger to ric. He looked a bit older than Rasmus and was probably twenty years old. He had long wavy ck hair and a pair of cold-looking onyx eyes. He was also quite tall at over 190 centimeters and his physique was the most athletic among the recruits. "Greetings, Lord ric." Rasmus and Renante greeted him with a light bow. ric nodded to them and said. "You two showed the best results so you must be properly rewarded." "Give them more tonics to help them strengthen their bodies." He reminded Rigor. "I''ll do as you, my lord." "What are you two standing there for? Go and thank Lord ric." Rigor red at the two. Hearing this, they immediately thanked ric. "Thank you for the reward, my lord!" "Continue working hard and you will receive more rewards." ric smiled and tapped their shoulder. "We will do our best, my lord!" "Alright, you should go back to your training. Don''t mind us." ric waved his hand and sent Rigor a knowing look. Rigor understood his intentions and left with Rasmus and Renante. As they walked away, Rasmus turned his head and took another look at ric. "It seems like Lord ric went through another battle again. Just when can I go with him?" He whispered upon seeing the fresh wounds on ric''s arms. Rigor snorted when he heard his remarks. "If you want to join Lord ric in battle, you better work harder. With your current strength and skill level, you will only be able to serve as an ordinary guard." Rasmus lowered his head and clenched his fists. Just give me a little bit more time, my lord. Chapter 55 Josephus Silversword After ric''s daily mission, a servant came to the training ground and informed him as well as the Knights about when the meeting will be held. "A meeting, huh? Is this about your recent visit to Ryvaad, my lord?" Henry curiously stared at ric. Thetter still hadn''t told him how he got his wounds. "Yes, pretty much." ric nodded with a serious look. "Then, I should take my leave first. I can''t go to the meeting hall covered in sweat." Henry chuckled while shaking his head. "Alright. We''ll see youter, Sir Henry." "See youter, my lord." The old man bowed to him and left. ¡­ An hourter, ric headed to the meeting hall. He told Elena to get some rest so the girl wasn''t with him this time. When he entered the spacious hall, he saw the Knights and the Elite Knights of the household seated before a long table. Among them was his uncle, Charles Silversword who was leisurely chatting with a young warrior sitting on the chair to his left. As if sensing his arrival, Charles turned his head and waved at him enthusiastically. "ric! Come here and sit beside your uncle! I''d like to introduce you to someone." ric was disgusted upon seeing him, but he maintained a cool appearance. He decided to y along with his uncle. "Yes, my lord." ric took a seat on the empty chair beside Charles. "ric, do you still remember him?" Charles pointed at the young warrior beside him. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire ric stared at the young warrior with a calm expression. How could I forget the face of my cousin? "Of course! We met a few times when we were young." ric responded to his uncle while nodding at the young warrior. This man was Charles''s bastard son, Josephus Silversword. He looked like he was in histe teens, but he was actually over twenty years old. He had a slender physique much like his father. However, unlike the men of House Silversword who had striking gray hair, Josephus had blonde hair which he inherited from his mother. Charles grinned and whispered to his ears. "Thanks to the herbs I got from you, Josephus became a Knight." ric was taken aback. "Congrattions, Josephus." ric had mixed feelings about this cousin of his. In his past life, Josephus had never be a Knight. He had always been stuck as a Knight Apprentice which made Charles very disappointed in him. Josephus worked even harder to meet his father''s expectations, but his efforts weren''t rewarded. He was still unable to advance which left him depressed. When Charles took over the baron''s position after Lucas''s death, Josephusmitted suicide, but the reason for his suicide was kept a secret. Josephus scratched his head in embarrassment. "Thank you, my lord. If it weren''t for the Dragon Tail Fern, I wouldn''t have enough mana to advance." Looking at his honest and shy face, ric was baffled. Just why did you hang yourself, Josephus? Just what pushed you to end your own life? This matter was one of the few things that remained unanswered even after ric''s death. I hope you''re not like your father, my dear cousin. While he was deep in his thoughts, the door sprung open as Maria and Lucas stepped in. Everyone immediately stood up from their seats the moment they arrived. "Greetings, my lord!" "Greetings, mydy!" Lucas scanned everyone''s faces and saw ric sitting beside his uncle. He found it unusual since he felt that ric didn''t like Charles. However, he didn''t say anything and just calmly took his seat. Lucas cleared his throat and spoke. "Everyone, I gathered you all here to inform you about what happened to the people we sent to Ryvaad. I guess some of you are already aware of what happened, but for the sake of those who don''t know anything, I will say it once again." Everyone adjusted their posture as they listened closely. Lucas recounted what he had heard from ric and the rest of the warriors who were sent to Ryvaad. When the Knights heard this, they were furious. "How dare they attack the heir of House Silversword! They must be tired of living!" Charles pped his hand on the table. Seeing this, ric sneered inwardly. Pretentious bastard¡­ Meanwhile, the other Knights also expressed their anger. "I can''t believe that the second son of House Paxley would do something like this!"@@novelbin@@ "We must make that bastard pay!" The hall became noisy as everyone expressed their rage. "Silence!" Lucas''s indifferent voice resonated in their ears, making everyone shut their mouths. "I understand your anger and frustration. That''s why we came up with a n to make that bastard pay for what he did." After saying this, Lucas gave his wife a look. Maria knew that it was her turn to speak. "This is what we have decided to do¡­" Maria told them about her n. It was more detailed than what they had discussed earlier. "We need a show of force to pressure House Paxley so we need to send some of our Elite Knights to Ryvaad. Are there any volunteers?" Maria swept her gaze at the people inside the hall. "I will go!" The newly advanced Elite Knight, Henry, was the first to volunteer. He looked incredibly furious by the look on his face. Maria nodded at the old man to show her appreciation. "I will go too." Charles smiled as he raised his arm. ric narrowed his eyes, wondering what his uncle was up to this time. "Please sign me up, mydy. I was with Lord ric when the attack happened. I must see this to the end!" Warrick raised his hand with a cold look. "Thank you." Maria nodded to Warrick. "Now, I will announce who among the Knights will join in the trip to Ryvaad¡­" "ric¡­" "Aldrin¡­" "Bernard¡­" "Chulmo¡­" "Rigor¡­" "Arthur¡­" "¡­and Josephus." "Including the three Elite Knights, the seven of you will lead thirty of our warriors to Ryvaad. Do you have any questions?" Chapter 56 Preparations Before Departure "What if someone will attack North Pine Town while most of our skilled warriors are away?" Someone asked with a concerned look. "That wouldn''t be an issue, as long as there''s no Disaster-grade monster, nothing will happen to the town. Besides, I''m already thinking of hiring someone who can guarantee the safety of the town and the estate." Lucas spoke confidently. Everyone was curious to know who he was talking about, but it didn''t seem like Lucas had the intention of telling them so no one asked. "Are there more questions?" At this moment, Henry raised his hand and asked. "My lord, who will represent us for the trial bybat?" Hearing this, everyone perked their ears as they stared at Lucas. "Who is the strongest Knight in the household?" Lucas muttered while smiling faintly at them. Everyone turned their gazes to ric. They had already epted the fact that ric was stronger than them. Even in the surrounding cities, it would be difficult to find someone who could defeat him. "It looks like we all have the same idea." Lucas chuckled. "My lord, wouldn''t it be dangerous for Lord ric?" Unexpectedly, Charles expressed his worry about the decision. He continued. "I''m aware that he is powerful, but idents happen in battle, especially in a trial bybat where everyone puts their life on the line." A few people nodded at his words, clearly in agreement with him. ric was the only heir of House Silversword. If something happened to him, there would be no one to seed Lucas''s position. Lucas didn''t respond immediately. He looked at his son and asked his opinion. "What do you think, ric? How confident are you?" All eyes gathered on ric as soon as the baron uttered those words. Sensing everyone''s eyes on him, ric remained calm. If it was anyone else, they might not be able to bear the pressure of their expectations. However, this little bit of pressure was nothing to someone who had experienced arge-scale war. With an indifferent expression, ric responded. "As long as the enemy is not an Elite Knight, I can guarantee my victory! Everyone may rest assured. You just need to ensure that no one will interfere with the trial." The veteran warriors were amazed by hisposure and unwavering courage. "Yes, my lord! We will do our best to ensure the fairness of the trial!" The warriors replied in unison.@@novelbin@@ Charles narrowed his eyes. ric was already gaining their support when he only recently became a Knight and this made him feel threatened. I should dispose of him while it is still early¡­ This thought crossed his mind. "Good! Now that we have decided on our representative for the trial, you guys should leave and make your preparations for tomorrow''s trip!" Lucas dismissed them. ¡­ The next day, ric woke up early to do his daily routine. No one was in the training ground when he arrived so the ce was unusually quiet. Only the asional chirping of the birds and the buzzing sounds of insects could be heard in the background. Without further ado, ric started doing his exercises. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire 100 pushups ?? 100 sit-ups ?? 100 pull-ups ?? 10 km run ?? Soon, it was time for his sword exercises. 100 vertical shes ?? 100 diagonal shes ?? 100 horizontal shes ?? 100 stabs ?? At the final stab, the cyan screen appeared in front of him. [You received 10 Battle Points.] [You received 1 EXP.] [You received 1 Stat Point.] ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 371/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 2560 Stat Points: 34 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He now had 34 stat points. He felt tempted to use them all, but he refrained from doing it. Just then, he suddenly heard a series of footsteps. Step. Step. Step. He closed the cyan screen and looked at the person who had arrived. "My lord!" Rasmus didn''t expect to see ric this early in the morning. From his sweaty face, he could tell that ric was probably training. I heard that they would leave again today. He actually woke up early just to not skip his training. Lord ric is truly different from everyone else. No wonder his strength is already formidable at his age. Rasmus''s eyes shed with veneration. "Rasmus, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" ric was also surprised to see him. Rasmusughed in embarrassment as he replied. "I came here to practice my swordsmanship." ric smiled at his words. "I see. Yourmitment ismendable, but you shouldn''t overdo your training. Enough rest is also necessary in building a strong body." "Thank you for your advice, my lord. I will keep it in mind." Rasmus lowered his head to express his gratitude. "Then, I won''t disturb you. I''ll take my leave first." ric tapped his shoulder, turned around, and walked away. Looking at his back, Rasmus shouted. "Be careful on your trip, my lord!" Hearing this, ric waved his hand without looking back. ¡­ A few hourster, the entourage for the trip assembled in front of the main mansion, bidding farewell to their families. ric was also there to say goodbye to his parents and Elena. Elena wanted toe with them, but ric didn''t agree this time. Things could get dangerous so it was better for Elena to remain at the estate. For this trip, ric decided to ride on a horse to make the journey faster. He was also appointed as the leader of the group which everyone unanimously agreed. "Is everyone ready?" ric swept his gaze at the warriors, looking carefully at the equipment they were carrying. "Check the equipment and the supplies! Make sure that we have brought all the things we need!" He reminded them with a stern gaze. "Yes, my lord!" The warriors did as instructed and began to inspect everything. After ensuring that they hadn''t forgotten anything, ric took onest look at the people they would leave behind and shouted. "Let''s go!" Chapter 57 A Shocking Encounter Because of the size of their entourage, the soldiers garrisoned at the borders of Vale stopped them for an inspection. ric didn''t want to cause trouble so he told his subordinates to go along with the inspection. Luckily for them, one of the inspectors happened to be Anthony, the currentmander of Vale''s armed forces. "Lord ric!?" Anthony was surprised to see him.@@novelbin@@ "How have you been, Sir Anthony?" ric cupped his fists while smiling lightly at him. Hiding his surprise, Anthony peered at the equipment strapped on their horses and replied. "I have been well, my lord. Thank you for asking." He then cleared his throat and asked with a serious tone. "Can you tell me where you are headed to, my lord?" "We are headed to Ryvaad. You don''t need to be rmed, Sir Anthony." ric chuckled when he saw how cautious they were, but he also understood their situation. Anthony felt relieved to hear those words, but he didn''t rx his guard. "I see. Then we will escort you until we leave the borders of Vale. I hope you understand." Hearing this, the warriors behind ric furrowed their eyebrows which made Anthony''s subordinates unconsciously hold the handle of their weapons. Sensing the tense atmosphere, ric immediately raised his hand, signaling his people not to cause any trouble. Anthony also warned his men not to be impulsive. If a battle was to break out, none of them would survive. He was sure of it. "Alright, but please don''t ask us any questions on the way." ric didn''t reject his request. He was aware that Anthony was only doing this to keep an eye on them. Anthony nodded. "You can rest assured, my lord. I will make sure that my men won''t speak a word about this." "Then we will be in your care." ric smiled lightly. Anthony couldn''t believe that he was actually intimidated by a Knight who was a few decades younger than him. Although ric defeated him before, it was only an unofficial match where using mana wasn''t allowed. He was confident that he could win against ric if they were to use mana. At least that was what he believed. Under the watchful eyes of Vale''s garrison guards, ric''s group traveled along the snow-covered road leading to Ryvaad. No one spoke along the way, making the atmosphere quite nerve-racking. When ric''s group was about to leave Vale''s borders, Anthony raised his hand and signaled his men to stop following them. He then bowed to ric and said. "Thank you for your cooperation, my lord. Please forgive me if this may have offended you." Hearing this, ric waved his hand nonchntly. "Til we meet again, Sir Anthony." Anthony watched as they disappeared into the distance. "It looks like something big is going to happen in Ryvaad." "Sir, should we report this to the officials?" One of his subordinates asked. Anthony shook his head. "There''s no need. Interfering with House Silversword''s matters won''t do us any good. Let''s just keep this under wraps. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir!" ¡­ Later that afternoon¡­ The snow is getting thicker. The horses might get sick if we continue. ric noticed that the horses had slowed down because of the thick pile of snow that filled the road. "Let''s take a short break here." Hemanded the group to stop. "Build a big fire that is enough to warm our bodies and our horses." He instructed. Everyone jumped down from their horses and divided themselves into small groups to efficiently do more tasks. One group volunteered to gather firewood, another one volunteered to scout the location, etc. No one remained idle, including ric. He joined the group that was responsible for gathering firewood. It''s so cold out here. He thought about the vagrants who had to live on the outskirts of Vale. There were people who refused to live in the city and chose to live in the secluded parts of the forest outside of Vale. Most of them couldn''t afford the living expenses in the city so they could only build their homes outside its influence. Many of them will die from the cold¡­ ric sighed while thinking about those people. It took him more than ten minutes to gather some usable firewood. Most had already been covered in snow and were too wet to be used. ric returned to the campsite to deliver the firewood he had gathered. However¡­ Just as he was about to turn around, he sensed a slight fluctuation of mana in a certain direction. "Hm?" Did I sense it wrong? He narrowed his eyes as he peered into the depths of the forest, but the heavy snowfall obscured his vision. Should I take a look? Driven by his curiosity, ric put down the firewood he had gathered and followed the direction where hest sensed the weird fluctuations of mana. He remained cautious as he headed deeper into the forest. His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword. If he sensed a sign of danger, he was prepared to draw his sword. In the next moment, he saw something moving underneath the snow. "Hm? Is it an animal?" ric cautiously approached, but upon getting closer, he discovered that the thing buried in the snow wasn''t an animal. An elf! His eyes froze in shock. ric''s first thought was to leave immediately, but a weak voice drifted into his ears. "H-Help me¡­" The voice was barely audible, but it was definitely the elf who had spoken. ric hesitated for a moment. Dammit! He carefully walked towards the elf, eyeing the surroundings for any potential traps. After making sure that there were no hidden traps, he immediately got down and dug the elf who was buried in the snow. As soon as he dug out the elf, ric was momentarily stunned. How beautiful! It was a face that surpassed the realms of humanity, one with an ethereal beauty that almost seemed like she was a goddess who had gone down to the mortal world. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire She''s injured. ric noticed a patch of red on her abdomen. Chapter 58 Soul Mark In her present state, she won''t survive the cold. I should help her bandage her wounds first. ric lifted the elf and carried her inside a hollowed tree to keep her warm. After cing her down, he took off his fur coat and draped it over her body for additional warmth. At this moment, he saw her long eyshes fluttering, revealing a pair of cyan-colored eyes. "Ah~" Even the groaning sound she made was very enchanting. After making sense of her surroundings, she realized that there was an unfamiliar human in front of her. Her eyes widened in fear. She wanted to stand up and push him away, but she lost all strength as the pain in her abdomen finally registered. "Hiss!" She hissed in pain while keeping a cautious eye on the human. Seeing her like this, ric smiled bitterly in his heart. "Don''t worry. I won''t hurt you. I just happened to discover you when I sensed an abnormal fluctuation of mana." He exined himself. The elf didn''t believe his words. "How can I trust the words of a human?" ric sighed, feeling slightly annoyed by her prejudice. Still, he tried to reason with her in a calm voice. "Look here, Miss Elf. You were the one who asked for help so I kindly offered my hand. If I had bad intentions, I would have done it from the start." The elf''s expression rxed a bit upon hearing his words. "Wait here for me. I''ll go and get something to bandage your wounds. In the meantime, apply pressure on your wound. I''ll be back soon." ric didn''t wait for her to respond and stepped out of the hollowed tree before rushing back to the camp. The elf sat there in silence. Can I really trust him? She didn''t want to ce her trust in a stranger, especially a human. However, given her condition, she had no choice but to believe in him. It''s so cold¡­ She lowered her head and pressed her abdomen.@@novelbin@@ ¡­ Meanwhile, ric hurried into the camp with the firewood he had gathered earlier. "My lord?" Aldrin was surprised to see him running in a hurry. "I have no time to exin. Go and get me some bandages and medicine for stab wounds." ric instructed with a serious look. Aldrin was curious, but he didn''t dare ask when he saw his stern gaze. "Yes, my lord!" While he was looking for the first aid kit, ric went to deliver the firewood he had gathered and asked the warriors to quickly make a fire. A momentter, Aldrin came running towards him with a leather sack in his hand. "My lord, I have gathered what you requested!" "Good! Stay here and don''t mention this to anyone." ric warned him before leaving in haste. Aldrin stared at his figure, wondering what had happened. "What''s going on?" He muttered. ¡­ By the time ric returned to the hollowed tree, he found out that the elf had already lost consciousness. He quickly got down to check her pulse. When he sensed the faint beating of her heart, he heaved a sigh of relief. He thenid her down and rolled her shirt up to give him a clearer view of her wound. It''s not too deep, but she lost too much blood and the cold weather is also making her condition worse. ric opened the leather sack and took out a handful of medicine paste. He then smeared it on her wound. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire This medicine paste was made from the same herb he used to stop Rigor''s bleeding back in the cave at the Red Toad Gorge. He then wrapped her abdomen with bandages. After taking care of her fatal wound, he inspected her body to see if there were more wounds he hadn''t seen earlier. There are some minor cuts, but they aren''t fatal. ric smeared a small amount of the medicine paste on her cuts. That should do it. Now, what should I do with this elf? Leaving her here wasn''t an option since her body was still weak after losing a lot of blood, but taking her back to the camp was also troublesome. I''m sure the warriors won''t ask questions, but that bastard of an uncle would definitely be interested in this elf. Elves were beautiful creatures with innate abilities to control mana. Unlike humans who struggled to interact with mana, elves were born with the gift that allowed them tomand mana at will. There was also a higher number of beast soul warriors among them. Thinking about this, ric rolled up her sleeve, which revealed a ck ring-like mark on her wrist. As expected, she has a soul mark. This was a sign that this elf was a beast soul warrior. People born with soul marks were capable of extracting the abilities of monsters by absorbing their beast soul crystals. Her soul mark is still inactive. ric thought while inspecting her soul mark closely. It had no pattern which means she was yet to absorb a beast soul crystal. I didn''t expect that the first beast soul warrior that I would encounter is actually an elf. ric chuckled while shaking his head. Suddenly, he noticed that the elf was shivering from the cold which made his eyes sink. There''s no choice! I need to bring her to the camp and keep her close to the fire! ric grabbed a handful of dirt and smeared it all over her face to hide her beauty. He also wrapped her head with a cloth to hide her distinctive long ears and snow-white hair. After making sure that everything that shouldn''t be seen was properly covered, he lifted the elf and carried her back to the camp. How should I exin this to them without making them suspicious? When he arrived at the camp, everyone curiously stared at the person he was carrying. "My lord, who is that person?" Henry approached with furrowed eyebrows. He could sense the mana in this person''s body. ric kept his cool and responded with a calm voice. "She is a vagrant I found. She was dying from the cold so I brought her here to give her a chance to live." Chapter 59 Yvanna A vagrant, huh? Charles raised his eyebrows as he stared at the figure who was almost covered from head to foot. Only her eyes and a small portion of her face were visible. I can sense mana from that woman''s body. Is he hiding something? Charles''s lips curved upwards as he stood up. He then approached ric and reminded him with a stern gaze. "My nephew, you should prioritize our task. Bringing that woman would only dy us. Besides, we don''t know what kind of person she is. What if she is a thief or a criminal?" His voice wasn''t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear. ric nced indifferently at him and responded. "I understand your concern, Uncle. I will take full responsibility for her actions and I will make sure that our trip won''t be dyed. You can rest assured." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Charles stared deeply at him and shrugged his shoulders. "Alright. I won''t say anything more. Just keep an eye on her." ric nodded without saying anything. Seeing that he had no intention to chat, Charles awkwardly tapped ric''s shoulder and went to a spot closer to the bonfire. There is definitely something about that woman. I don''t think my dear nephew would take in some random stranger, but what is special about her? Charles thoughtfully watched as ric brought the woman closer to the bonfire. Unlike Charles, the warriors and the Knights showed no interest in the vagrant woman. They weremon outside of Vale and some would even find their way to North Pine Town. After casting curious nces at her, they quickly lost interest. They trusted ric''s decision so no one questioned him or expressed any disagreement. Afterying her down near the fire, ric beckoned to his cousin, Josephus. Josephus was a bit surprised by his sudden call, but he immediately came to his side and asked. "What can I do for you, my lord?" "Form a small team to hunt a big game. Make sure that it''s big enough for everyone." ric instructed. Hearing this, Josephus nodded his head. "Yes, my lord." "You may leave." Josephus turned around and left. Although it was just a minor hunting task, he was happy that he finally had something to do. While his cousin was hunting their next meal, ric busied himself with making a nutritious medicinal extract for the wounded elf. He learned the concoction method from his superior who was a Transcendent Knight. When he recalled that grumpy old man, his lips curved upwards. I wonder what you are doing right now, Marquis Tyrone Agalsitar. Just like Lucas, Tyrone was also an expert in the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard. Despite his advanced age, no warrior dared to underestimate him. At this moment, the injured elf opened her heavy eyelids and found herself in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by humans. More humans?! Her eyes dted as she felt a surge of anxiety. "Just stay down and rx. I didn''t tell anyone about your identity so you will be safe for the time being." A familiar voice drifted into her ears. It''s him! She turned with difficulty and it was then that she found out that her head was wrapped in a cloth. Furthermore, she also felt a weird sensation on her face, as if something was smeared on it. Looking at her ufortable expression, ric muttered. "Just bear with it. I need to hide your features so I covered your face in mud and wrapped your head with a cloth. Don''t move around too much if you don''t want your ears to be exposed." The elf didn''t say anything and just lightly nodded her head. "Those people are my subordinates, but not all of them are loyal to me so you need to be careful not to expose your identity." ric reminded in a stern voice. "Thank you¡­" A weak voice came out of her mouth. ric nodded and moved closer to her. In his hand was a bowl filled with the medicinal extract he had concocted earlier. "You need to drink this. It can help you increase your vitality." The elf nced suspiciously at the foul-smelling liquid inside the bowl. This is medicine? It''s not poison, right? ric saw through the disgust in her eyes. That was the same expression he showed when he first tasted this medicinal extract. "If you want to recover quickly, then you better drink this. Now open your mouth and don''t make this difficult for me." ric grabbed a wooden spoon and dipped it into the medicinal liquid. After taking a spoonful of the liquid, he brought it to her lips. The revolting smell made her flinch, but under ric''s cold, watchful eyes, she could only reluctantly open her mouth. Gulp. She held her breath as she swallowed down the so-called medicine. It was bitter and even a bit spicy- a taste that almost made her throw up. ric helped her sit up to make her morefortable. "You need to drink all of this. Don''t even think of spitting a single drop." "Mn." She hummed in response. A momentter, Josephus''s small hunting group finally returned with a huge wild boar. "Good, job!" ric praised him, making thetter smile in embarrassment. ric then asked someone to make a soup using the wild boar''s meat. Surprisingly, Arthur volunteered for the task, but it was a tough job for one man so ric asked for two more volunteers to help him in skinning the boar. The skinning and the cooking process took more than a few hours, but everyone patiently waited. Who wouldn''t want a hot soup in this kind of freezing weather? Soon, the hot boar meat soup was finally served. "Hey! This is your share. Eat it while it''s still hot." ric handed a bowl of the boar meat soup to the elf.@@novelbin@@ The elf took the bowl and muttered. "It''s Yvanna, not ''hey''." "Hm? What did you say?" ric nced at her in surprise, pretending like he didn''t hear her. The elf ignored him and blew air into the soup to make it less hot. ric chuckled and watched her quietly. Yvanna¡­ That''s not a bad name. Chapter 60 Delayed Because of the Snowstorm "My name is ric, but you should follow how everyone addresses me so that you won''t attract their attention," ric muttered while looking at the elf. "I also told them that you are a vagrant so we''ll keep it that way while you''re with us." He added. "I understand." Yvanna nodded indifferently. Although she looked dirty right now, she couldn''t hide the grace in her every move, as if it was a habit that she had practiced for many years. "Did you get those wounds from a human?" ric probed. The elf''s shoulder trembled upon hearing his words. Seeing her like that, ric sighed. "You don''t have to answer it." For a young elf like her, it must have been a terrible experience that left her traumatized. I shouldn''t have asked her. "We will be leaving soon. Why don''t you stay with the group while you are still recovering? Once weplete our task in Ryvaad, I will send you back to your home." ric suggested. This was the best he could do for her. Yvanna didn''t respond and just quietly ate the boar meat soup. ric waited for a while, but when he realized that she had no intention of speaking, he took a deep breath and let out a sigh while shaking his head. He then stood up and announced to the group. "We will depart at once after everyone is done eating their meal!" "Yes, my lord!" The warriors responded in unison. The snowstorm was getting worse and they might be stranded if they don''t leave soon. The horses had rested enough and everyone had already filled their bellies with the hot boar soup. It was time to resume the journey. They didn''t bother to clean up the mess. Everything would be buried in snow in a few hours. "Prepare to depart!" ric shouted to the group. The warriors immediately packed their stuff and hopped on their horses. While they were preparing to leave, ric walked towards the elf and squatted in front of her. "We''re leaving now." Hearing this, Yvanna nervously raised her head. "P-Please take me with you." She muttered in a quivering voice. "We don''t have a carriage so it would be a bumpy trip. Are you sure?" ric found her pitiful so he was willing to help her. Riding on a horse would open her wounds which might worsen her injuries. Yvanna nodded. "You''re the only human I can trust." It hadn''t been long since they met, but she felt like she could ce her trust in him. He was herst hope to return to her family. "Alright. Let''s go." ric stood up and reached out his hand. Looking at his face, Yvanna prayed in her heart. Please, I hope I''m making the right choice by following this human. Yvanna grabbed his hand and allowed him to lift her. When the warriors saw that ric was nning to take the vagrant along, nobody said anything. They believed that he only pitied the poor woman. However, one person had a different opinion regarding this vagrant woman. It was Charles. Is he really nning to bring that woman with us? He felt that it was suspicious that his nephew was willing to go so far for someone he had only met a few hours ago. Hmm¡­ Although he was curious, he didn''t reveal his thoughts. This is making me strangely excited.@@novelbin@@ Charles pulled his eyes away from them and grinned. ¡­ The group continued their journey amid the heavy snow. The road was bing more difficult to navigate because of the thick fog. If it weren''t for Henry, they might have been lost in the fog. At this moment, Henry urged his horse to move closer to ric. "At this rate, we might not make it to Ryvaad tomorrow, my lord. The sky is also getting darker so I think we should find a ce to set up camp." The old man suggested while looking at the darkening sky. ric agreed with the old man so he immediately instructed the group to find a ce to set up camp. An hourter, someone found a narrow cave and reported it to ric. In a ce where everything was covered in snow, a cave was a good option to build their camp. "That''s where I found the cave, my lord." A warrior pointed in a certain direction where a hill stood. ric followed his gaze and saw a cave underneath the hill. It wasn''t big, but it was more than enough to fit everyone in the group. "Sir Aldrin, Sir Chulmo!" He called out. The two Knights whose names were mentioned immediately came to his side. "My lord! What can we do for you?" ric nced at them and instructed. "You two, form a small team with five members each and check the surroundings. Report to me if you find anything unusual." Hearing this, the two Knights acknowledged hismand with a nod. "Yes, my lord!" "You may go!" ric waved his hand. The two Knights quickly left to gather their members. After they left, ric beckoned to Arthur and said. "Sir Arthur, please go and check what is inside the cave." Arthur saluted. "I obey!" He then squeezed his legs andmanded his horse to move. While waiting for Arthur to return, ric turned his head. "Yvanna, are you alright?" Hugging him from behind was the elf who was fully covered by the fur coat. "I-I''m fine¡­" He could hear herbored breathing. "Just hold on for a while." ric could only pray that she won''t copse. "Mn." ric took out a rope and tied her to his body to make sure that she wouldn''t fall from the horse. Yvanna understood this so she didn''t voice any protest, but the feeling of having their bodies so close to each other made her feel embarrassed. She had never been this close to someone of the opposite gender. ric was unaware of her thoughts. His focus was entirely on the surroundings. Chapter 61 The Creatures Inside the Cave It didn''t take long for Arthur to check the situation inside the cave and his expression was rather peculiar. "My lord, there''s nothing dangerous inside the cave, but we have a little problem," Arthur muttered with a troubled look. Hearing this, ric raised an eyebrow. "What did you see in there?" "I think it would be better for you to see it yourself, my lord." ric furrowed his eyebrows. Just what did he see in there for him to be so hesitant to speak of it? "Alright." ric gave a hand signal to the remaining warriors as he urged his horse to move towards the cave. Although Arthur said that the cave was safe, ric didn''t let down his guard. His dominant hand was resting on the hilt of his sword. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, ric smelled the distinct scent of animal animal urine. It was faint, but it didn''t escape his enhanced sense of smell. A territorial mark? Most wild animals and monsters mark their territories by spraying their urine on specific areas. This was to delineate the boundaries of their territory and tomunicate their presence to other creatures. "Hold on tight, Yvanna," ric whispered. The elf reacted to his words by tightening her grip on his waist. "Please excuse my rudeness," ric muttered as he grabbed her legs. The elf jolted in shock at the unexpected touch. Before she could say anything, he slowly lifted her and delicately got down the horse to make sure that he was careful enough not to aggravate her wounds. Ah¡­ So he just did it to bring me down from the horse.@@novelbin@@ "You can release me now, Yvanna." ric''s voice resonated in her ears. "Ah, yes!" The elf loosened her grip with a flustered look. ric removed the rope he had tied earlier and turned to look at her. "Can you walk on your own?" Although he couldn''t see herplexion right now because of the mud that he had smeared on her face, he could tell that her face looked paler at this moment. Yvanna didn''t dare look at him. "Y-Yes. It should be fine." ric knew that she was just acting tough, but he didn''t expose her. "You don''t need to push yourself. Just hold on to me if you feel like you''re about to copse." Elves are truly prideful. It must have been a really difficult decision for her to trust a human that she just met. "Mn." She hummed in response. ric was in no hurry to check what was inside the cave. He walked slowly to match the elf''s pace. The warriors were aware of her condition so they also considerately slowed down their pace. As soon as they entered the cave, the smell of ammonia became thicker. Even the normal warriors were able to detect the scent. It was then that the distinct cries of an animal drifted into their ears, but it didn''t end there. They heard more sounds which made them realize that there wasn''t just one creature. This sound¡­ It''s a cub! And there''s more than one! ric finally understood the meaning behind Arthur''s words. The former mercenary, Rigor, approached and whispered to his ears. "My lord, there are cubs inside this cave. I think this is a dwelling of a monster or a wild animal. It might get troublesome if the parents of the cubs are nearby." "Let''s take a look at what kind of creature they are first before making a decision." Finding another cave in this kind of weather would be troublesome. Arthur must have thought of this as well so he left the final decision to me. "Alright." Rigor nodded. A momentter, the group finally arrived at the den where the cubs were hidden. "Saber-fanged Wolves?" ric''s eyes widened upon seeing the white cubs rolling over their den. These creatures usually lived in the cold regions of the north and the one feature that stood out from them was their fangs that looked like sharpened sabers. From birth, they were already ssified as Fatal-grade because of their high affinity with mana. When they reach adulthood, they start to develop the ability to manipte ice, making them even more fearsome monsters. Ordinary Knights would be helpless against them. Even Elite Knights would have to group up when they meet an adult Saber-fanged Wolf. That was also the reason why they were ssified as Disaster-grade monsters upon reaching maturity! "ric, we need to get out of this ce as quickly as possible!" Charles couldn''t stay still anymore when he identified the wolf cubs. The warriors were simrly nervous, but they patiently waited for ric to make the final decision. "Hold on, Uncle." ric raised his hand, indicating for him to wait. He beckoned to Henry and told the old man to watch over Yvanna. "Please keep an eye on her for me, Sir Henry." The old man nodded. "Yes, my lord." ric approached the wolf cubs while observing them. They look thin and almost malnourished. Their fur is also very dirty. From these small details, ric was 60% certain that their parents must have left for a while, but this made him confused. From his knowledge, Saber-fanged Wolves were very caring towards their cubs and they didn''t leave them alone for a long time. Based on this, he came up with a possibility. Their parents must have died outside or probably had an ident. Thinking about this, ric took out a meat jerky from his leather pouch. The smell of the jerky made the cubs turn in his direction. Although slightly wary of the stranger, they still approached him because of the smell of food. As if to show their excitement, the cubs raised their tiny heads and howled. Awoo! Awoo! Their cute howling sounds echoed within the cave, giving the warriors quite the scare. Charles in particr had an ashen look. If it weren''t for the presence of the other warriors, he would have already left the cave. Is that bastard nning to lure the big wolves here?! Chapter 62 An Unexpected Discovery ric continued feeding the wolf cubs with the jerky. They are already big enough to eat meat so they''re probably around a month old. "Bring me some water and a few bowls." ric calmly instructed. Hearing his words, the warriors quickly brought him the things he asked. ric took the gourd and poured water into the bowls. He then stood up and told everyone about what he had observed. They looked visibly relieved, but some were still skeptical. After all, there was a chance that he could be wrong. Charles was starting to get impatient, but he decided to wait and see the situation. If something happens, I will prioritize my safety. Suddenly, Charles''s eyes brightened as he thought about something. Now that I think about it, isn''t this the perfect opportunity to get rid of him? If the cubs'' parents were to return, a fight would definitely break out. A Knight won''t survive against a pair of furious Disaster-grade monsters. Charles snickered in his mind. "What should we do with these cubs, my lord?" Henry asked in a low voice.@@novelbin@@ ric thought for a moment as he looked at the small, fluffy little creatures. If we take them with us, I''m positive that the cubs will attract unwanted attention. We might even be targeted by some opportunists, but it would be a pity to leave them here. After a full minute of internal struggle, ric opened his mouth. "We will bring the cubs with us." Henry didn''t seem to be surprised by his response and it even looked like he had already expected this answer from him. "It seems like you have already guessed my thoughts, Sir Henry," ric muttered with a wry smile. "To some extent, yes." The old manughed. Over an hourter, the two teams he had sent to investigate the area finally returned. Aldrin and Chulmo immediately reported their findings. "My lord, we found no threat nearby, but there''s something unusual¡­" It was Aldrin who had spoken. "Did you find a monster corpse?" ric muttered. Chulmo and Aldrin were shocked. "H-How did you know, my lord?" ric rubbed his chin. "Is it the corpse of a Saber-fanged Wolf?" Both Knights stared at him in disbelief. "How¡­" "Is there only one corpse?" "Y-Yes, my lord! And it''s already in a bad state. It has probably been dead for a couple of days, but we found this from the corpse." Chulmo took out a blue crystal and handed it to ric. A beast soul crystal and it''s at the Disaster-grade! ric was stunned when he sensed the powerful mana contained within the crystal. It was even denser than the beast soul crystal from the goblin chieftain! That''s a beast soul crystal! Greed shed in Charles''s eyes when he saw the blue crystal in ric''s hand. From the mana he sensed from it, he had a strong feeling that it could help him advance and be a Transcendent Knight! As if sensing his unusual gaze, ric turned his head. What a perceptive bastard! Charles smiled at him and even gave him a friendly nod to which ric responded with an indifferent nod of his own. It seems like my Uncle is interested in this beast soul crystal. Unfortunately, I will never give this to you, dumbass! ric pulled his gaze away from Charles and stowed the beast soul crystal inside his leather pouch. "You two did a great job finding this. I will reward you handsomely once we return to the estate." ric tapped Chulmo''s and Aldrin''s shoulder. The two Knights looked visibly excited upon hearing his words. "Alright go and discuss amongst yourselves on who will perform the night watch." ric waved his hand. "Keep your eyes peeled and immediately alert everyone if you sense any signs of danger." He warned them. "Yes, my lord!" The two Knights acknowledged hismand with a salute. "You may go." He dismissed them. As soon as they left, he noticed someone approaching him. "Hm?" When he saw who it was, his lips curved upwards. "My dear nephew, can you show me the thing that you got from the Knights?" Charles rubbed his hand with an overly friendly smile. ric was peeved by his pretentious smile, but he didn''t show it to his face. "Oh? Are you talking about the beast soul crystal?" Charles eagerly nodded."Yes! Yes! The beast soul crystal! Haha! Can you let me have a look?" "Of course!" ric took out the beast soul crystal from the leather pouch and handed it to Charles. "Here." Charles almost had the urge to absorb it when the crystal touched his palm, but he held back his desire. Now I''m certain! This thing can help me breakthrough! Hahaha! Now, how should I get my beloved nephew to give it to me? "It looks really beautiful! I would love to put this on my mansion as a decoration." Charles stared deeply at ric while maintaining his cordial smile. "Hahaha! That''s a good idea, Uncle!" ric quickly snatched the beast soul crystal from his hand. "Maybe I should put this in my room as a decoration." He chuckled while ying with the crystal. Charles''s smile stiffened. He felt a strong urge to punch his face. This stupid bastard! Did he not get the hint from my words? I should have made it clearer! Dammit! "Let''s chatter, Uncle. I still have something to do. Please excuse me." ric brushed past him and walked away without waiting for his response. The veins on Charles''s face protruded. That fucking bastard! His face darkened as he stared at ric''s back. Meanwhile, ric was gleefullyughing. Without even turning his head, he could already tell that his uncle was ring at him. "My lord, you look happy. Did something good happen?" Henry asked when he saw ricughing. "Yes. Chulmo and Aldrin found a beast soul crystal." ric exined the situation. "Oh, wow!" Henry didn''t expect this, but his expression suddenly turned serious. "Since they only found one corpse, this means that one of the cubs''s parents is still alive." The old man muttered. ric''s face also turned serious. "That''s right." Chapter 63 Garrison Captain Jared Paxley Night came, engulfing the world in darkness. The possibility of there being a Disaster-grade monster close by made everyone feel restless. To ease everyone''s worries, Warrick volunteered to stay awake. However, some warriors were still unable to fall asleep. Meanwhile, in one quiet corner, ric was reapplying the medicine paste on Yvanna''s wounds. To prevent anyone from seeing her appearance, he asked Henry, Aldrin, and Rigor to block everyone''s view. In his past life, these three remained loyal to him even until his death so he could rest assured that they wouldn''t speak a word even if they discovered Yvanna''s identity. "That should do it. When your body feels better, you can do this by yourself." Although ric had the soul of a middle-aged man, he still found it hard to control himself when facing an elf with unparalleled beauty. She had the kind of beauty that would invoke someone''s desire to conquer. Too much beauty isn''t a blessing, but a curse. Yvanna stared at him and nodded her head. She was now less wary of him. The only thing that stopped her from fully believing in him was the stigma of being a human. ¡­ Only a night had passed by, but everyone felt like it was an eternity. The next morning, the group quickly left the cave and headed straight to Ryvaad. They also took wolf cubs with them. To hide the cubs'' distinctive white fur, ric asked the warriors to rub their furs with ashes to make them look like they were normal wolf cubs. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire "Six Saber-fanged Wolf cubs! The trip this time is already worth it!" Henry eximed as he looked at the cubs that were temporarily put inside a big wooden cage. The cubs were surprisingly docile after being fed by ric. They didn''t even protest when they were taken inside the wooden cage. With their strength, they could have destroyed the wooden cage and escaped, but it seemed like they had chosen to follow the person who had given them food. "Remember to warn the warriors not to tell anyone about the cubs. We can''t let this information leak out or we might face trouble." ric reminded the old Elite Knight. "Yes, my lord! I''ll make sure that no one would speak of it!" Henry nodded with a grim look. At this moment, Charles was gnashing his teeth in jealousy over his nephew''s blessed luck.@@novelbin@@ Dammit! He got a Disaster-grade beast soul crystal and even snagged six Saber-fanged Wolf cubs! He couldn''t ept it. He was supposed to take them all if ric wasn''t there. My dear nephew, I hope you won''t me your Uncle for what I''m about to do soon. While Charles was brewing a dark n, the group finally arrived at the entrance of Ryvaad. Due to the heavy snowfall, the city''s gate looked deserted. Only the garrison guards could be seen, loitering around with bored faces. At the sight of ric''s group, the guards went on full alert. "Stop! What''s your objective foring here?" One of the guards raised his hand, indicating for them to stop. The guard looked visibly nervous from how his arm was shaking. Hisrades were simrly shaken and some of them even grabbed the handle of their weapons. "I am ric Silversword, the sole heir of House Silversword!" ric took out an identity token, the insignia of House Silversword. "This should be enough to prove my identity!" The guards furrowed their eyebrows as they stared intently at the insignia. Just then, a team of ten guards led by a middle-aged man stepped out of the city and approached them with serious faces. Seeing this person, the guards rxed. "Captain!" They greeted the middle-aged man with a respectful salute. "I''ll take it from here. You guys stand back." The middle-aged manmanded with a stern look. Hearing his words, the guards immediately retreated and stood behind him. The middle-aged man turned his head to ric and cupped his fists. "I apologize for my subordinates'' rudeness, my lord! I am Jared Paxley the Garrison Captain of Ryvaad''s main gate!" ric already knew his identity from the start, but he acted like it was the first time he had seen him. "So it''s Garrison Captain Jared! It''s an honor to meet you!" ric cupped his fists. This man was the cousin of Nathan Paxley and his standing in House Paxley was quite impressive. "The honor is mine, my lord! I''ve heard of the genius dual sword wielder from North Pine Town! You look really amazing in person! Haha!" The tense atmosphere broke with the friendly interaction between the two. "By the way, my lord, can you tell me why you have returned to Ryvaad after only leaving just a few days ago?" Jared asked. ric was already prepared to answer this. "We have a business to discuss with House Paxley, but I can''t say it here, Garrison Captain Jared." He gave him an apologetic look. Jared was silent for a moment. House Silversword had always been the staunchest ally of House Paxley. He even heard his cousin, Nathan Paxley, say that he was nning to marry his daughter to the heir of House Silversword. Is this about the marriage? He thought. "I understand, my lord, but I hope that you will allow my men to inspect your things just for formality." Jared took a step back. This was the best he could do for the heir of House Silversword. "That won''t be a problem. Please proceed with the inspection, Garrison Captain Jared." ric smiled at him, feeling thankful for his consideration. "Thank you for your trust, my lord." Jared cupped his fists. He then turned around and gave a signal to his men. After seeing his signal, the garrison guards immediately began their inspection. Since it has been proven that they were from House Silversword, the garrison guards didn''t actively inspect their possessions. They only did a simple check. Jared also joined the inspection and the thing that drew his attention were the wolf cubs. Chapter 64 Furious Baron Nathan Wolf cubs? Jared was curious, but he didn''t ask anything about the cubs. "Thank you for cooperating with our inspection, my lord. You can now enter the city." Jared smiled at ric. "I appreciate your efforts in keeping the city safe, Garrison Captain. May you be blessed by Aru." ric cupped his fists. After bidding farewell to the garrison captain, ric''s group headed inside the city. Despite the freezing weather, there were still some small business owners selling their goods on the streets. The group traveled for almost two hours before they arrived at the estate of House Paxley. Although surprised by their unexpected visit, the guards brought them in. They had seen ric before so no one questioned his identity this time. ¡­ Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire Meanwhile, Nathan Paxley had also received a report regarding their arrival. "Did they forget something?" The baron muttered, feeling a bit confused by their return. The baron didn''t bother to change his clothes. He just wore a coat over his tunics before he stepped out of his study. When he got down to the entrance hall, he saw his wife, Vivian Harrison, and his daughter Hershey Paxley, waiting for him by the door. Nathan frowned and looked around, searching for his two sons. "Where is Liam and Theo?" He asked. "They should be here soon," Vivian responded. She then walked to Nathan''s side and adjusted his coat. Nathan was dissatisfied, but he didn''t say anything. He might be a baron, but he was slightly afraid of Vivian''s coteral family. This was also the main reason why he wanted to strengthen his alliance with House Silversword. Nathan noticed that his wife was showing suspicious behavior recently and there were signs that she was secretly building her own force. A few minutester, Theo and theidback Liam finally showed up. "What took you two so long?" Nathan red at them. "I apologize, father. I wanted to look good in front of Lord ric so I took my time to choose the best outfit. Hehe." Liam responded with a chuckle. Theo stared at his younger brother and remained silent. Sensing his gaze, Liam winked at him. "You better not say anything foolish in front of our guestster." Nathan snorted as he stormed out of the mansion. Vivian and Hershey quickly followed him. "Please keep it a secret, Theo," Liam whispered with a yful smirk as he walked past his older brother. Theo stared at his carefree figure and shook his head. I don''t know how to stop you anymore, Liam. I can only pray that Aru won''t punish you excessively for your wrongdoings. Beforeing here, he saw something in his brother''s room that left him deeply unsettled. Theo felt that the younger brother that he once knew was no longer the same. It was as if he wasn''t Liam anymore, but an evil spirit. As soon as he stepped out of the mansion, he saw ric jumping off from his horse. Theo was a proud man. He felt like his talent was one of the best among the younger generation. However, in front of a true genius like ric, he felt utterly hopeless. When he saw how ric defeated Cassandra in a duel, he realized that there was a big gap between them. It was like an insurmountable chasm that he would be unable to ovee no matter how he worked hard. While he was immersed in hisplicated thoughts, ric had already exchanged greetings with the baron and his wife. "I didn''t expect to see you again so soon, Lord ric." Nathanughed heartily. ric shook hands with the baron. It was unknown if it was deliberate, but his eyes hovered over Liam which made thetter raise his eyebrows in surprise. Hm? Why is he looking at me? "Why don''t we head in for a chat, my lord? There is something I need to tell you." ric spoke in a t tone. Looking at the serious expression on his face, Baron Nathan felt a sense of foreboding. "Alright, but you can only bring a maximum of four people inside." ric nodded and chose four people toe with him, including his uncle. As much as he wanted to leave Charles out of this, he had no choice but to bring him since Charles was still his uncle.@@novelbin@@ He temporarily left Yvanna to Henry. He didn''t bring her in because of her sensitive identity. As they entered the mansion, Charles shamelessly walked beside Nathan to chat with him. "Do you still remember me, my lord?" "Of course! How could I forget you, Lord Charles! Hahaha!" "I''m d that you still remember me! Hahaha!" While the two were chatting, ric deliberately slowed down so he could walk side by side with Hershey. "Hello, mydy." He whispered in a voice that only Hershey could hear. Hershey looked at him and smiled when she heard his voice. Of course, this interaction didn''t escape Liam''s sight. Nathan brought them to the guest hall since it was bigger than his study room. As soon as they took their seats, Baron Nathan cautiously inquired. "May I know why you have returned to Ryvaad?" ric didn''t waste any time and presented the document shared between Liam and the mercenary leader. "You will understand once you see this, my lord." Everyone curiously stared at the parchment paper he handed to the baron, wondering what was written on it. On the other hand, Liam''s eyebrows shot upwards when he saw the document. That stupid mercenary! I''m fucked! Shit! Shit! Shit! He was certain that it was the same document he had signed with the mercenary leader. Baron Nathan''s face grew increasingly darker the more he read. The others also sensed the abrupt change in his mood. Upon reading the final line, Baron Nathan put down the parchment paper and looked at his son. "Liam, what is the meaning of this?!" Anger was palpable in his voice. "H-Huh? What are you saying, fa-, my lord? I don''t understand what''s going on." Liam''s face fell under everyone''s doubtful eyes. Chapter 65 Liams Lies "What do you mean you don''t know? Stop ying innocent! Do you think I''m blind?!" Baron Nathan almost flipped the table in rage. "Quell your anger, my lord! Can you tell us what happened first" Vivian didn''t expect her husband to be this furious after reading a document. Nathan snorted and threw the parchment paper in her direction. "Then you better take a look at what your son has done!" Vivian grabbed the paper and nervously read the contents. When she realized what it was, she gasped in shock. "L-Liam, how could you?" Vivian''s voice shook with disbelief. Theo took the paper from her hands and read it together with Hershey. "This¡­" The ashen-faced Liam immediately tried to exin himself. "T-That''s definitely a fabricated document! I would never do something like that! P-Please believe me!" "Are you saying that I''m lying?" ric''s cold voice echoed within the guest hall, making everyone feel a chill in their heart. A crooked smile hung on Liam''s face as he defended himself. "It''s pretty clear to me that you are doing this to confuse my family. I can''t believe you are actually this sinister, ric!" He then turned his gaze towards the baron and uttered emotionally. "My lord, please investigate this matter deeply before using me of something I didn''t do! Please believe in your son!" Nathan hesitated. He was pretty sure that the document was real, but what if it was fabricated? The slight hesitation in his expression didn''t escape ric''s eyes.@@novelbin@@ He let out a disappointed sigh while shaking his head. "I knew something like this would happen¡­" "I can''t stand these barefaced lies! I demand a trial bybat! If I lose, I will ept any punishment thates, but if I win, Liam Paxley must die! May the benevolent god, Aru, bear witness to this sacred duel!" His voice resonated like thunder. Baron Nathan and the others were stunned. They didn''t expect that he would actually demand a duel. They were also believers of Aru and they knew that a sacred duel was something that could never be rejected unless the challenger himself took back the challenge. Baron Nathan was nning to give his son a punishment, but he could never bring himself to kill his own son. "My lord! Why don''t we talk this through? I believe we can still discuss this." Nathan muttered as he wiped off the sweat on his face. Vivian was also scared. "Please take back your challenge, my lord! There is no need to hurt the alliance of our two households over something like this!" Meanwhile, Liam was scared shitless. ric''s eyes were akin to those of a predator''s, sharp and terrifying. It made his legs feel so soft that he almost fell off his chair. ric nced at the baron and his wife. "I''m sorry, but this is something that must be done. Your son hired a mercenary group to kill us! Do you know how many of my people were hurt because of his foolish stunts?!" "If it wasn''t for the friendship between our families, I would have already sent an assassin to kill him!" The people behind ric were proud to see him standing up for them. Even his number one hater, Charles, felt that he was cool though he didn''t want to admit it. "Must you do this?" Baron Nathan sighed. "I have already thought it through, my lord. The sacred duel must proceed!" ric remained firm in his decision. Baron Nathan took a nce at Liam and facepalmed in disappointment. "On behalf of my son, I ept your challenge to a sacred duel." He sounded dispirited. "N-No, father! How¡­ could you ept the duel!" Liam was shaking in fear. "M-Mom! Please say something!" Vivian lowered her head and sobbed. She knew that there was nothing she could do at this point. Rejecting the sacred duel was sacrilegious to the teachings of Aru. If that happens, she would definitely lose the support of her coteral family and they would even face the ostracism of Aru''s believers. "Then we will wait for a cleric from the church to officiate the sacred duel. During this period, I hope that Lord Nathan will keep an eye on Liam." ric cupped his fists at the baron. Baron Nathan nodded with a gloomy face. "House Paxley will never disobey the teachings of Aru. You can rest assured. We will send you a messenger once the cleric has arrived." "In that case, we will wait for your call. Please excuse me." ric turned around and took a deep look at Liam before he walked away with hispanions. Liam''s panicked voice and the baron''s furious roar echoed from behind. "What a foolish young man," Charles muttered in a mocking tone while shaking his head. "Indeed. He betrayed his family''s trust and now he has to face the punishment of Aru." ric muttered with an expression that was full of hidden meanings. Just as they stepped out of the main mansion, a servant suddenly came running towards them. The man bowed to ric and said. "My lord, the baron wants to invite you to stay in the estate while we wait for the cleric." Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Hearing this, ric shook his head. "I''m sorry, but I''m still furious about this incident so I have to decline the offer." He didn''t give the servant a chance to say another word as hemanded his men to leave. "Let''s go!" "Yes, my lord!" As soon as they left House Paxley''s estate, ric''s group searched for a ce to stay in the city. Luckily for them, there were a lot of vacant inns nearby so it didn''t take them long to find suitable amodation. After taking care of the warriors'' amodation, ric rented a separate room for Yvanna which was just next to his room. I need to prepare for the duel. Should I distribute my stat points now? ric thought to himself. He now had 35 stat points including the most recent he got after doing the exercises inside the cave. Chapter 66 Liams Shameless Suggestion ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 372/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 13+ Battle Points: 2570 Stat Points: 35 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) ric was confident to win the sacred duel because of his stat points and his unparalleled swordsmanship. What should I do with these stat points? Just as he was about to make his decision, a series of knocks on his door pulled him from his thoughts. Knock! Knock! Knock! ric raised an eyebrow as he closed the cyan screen. He then stood up and opened the door. "My lord, I apologize for the disturbance." It was Henry. The old man cast him a worried nce and asked. "Are you really sure about volunteering for the sacred duel?" ric was like a grandson to him and he was worried that an ident might happen in the sacred duel. "I have already made my decision, Sir Henry. I understand that you are worried about me, but my decision will never change." ric responded with a calm look. The old man sighed and forced out a smile. "In that case, I hope that you make a thorough preparation." "In a sacred duel, the use of mana is allowed so you must be careful, my lord." He reminded. ric nodded with a grim look. He had almost forgotten this important detail. Unlike the unofficial spars that he had participated in before where using mana was against the rules, it was the exact opposite in a sacred duel. "Thank you for your reminder, Sir Henry." ric was grateful for the old man''s words. If it weren''t for him, he might have already distributed all of his stat points. "Please rest well, my lord. Just call me if you need anything." "Alright." After the old man left, ric headed back to his room and opened the cyan screen. His mana was currently his weakest attribute with only 13 points. Excluding my strength, most of my attributes should be at the average level. My mana on the other hand is barely at the level of a Knight. Mana was crucial in a battle between Knights. He had always neglected his mana because of his powerful swordsmanship, but in this sacred duel, having a higher mana might be a deciding factor in how the battle would end. Without hesitation, ric added all of his stat points to his mana. Mana: 13 ¡ª> 48 At that moment, ric felt a surge of power rising within him. With this, I should be ready for the sacred duel¡­ *** Inside the main mansion of House Paxley. "Father, you need to believe me! It really wasn''t me!" Liam kneeled in front of the baron, his face covered in tears. "Husband, he is still our child. There should be something we can do to save him." Vivian begged as he grabbed the baron''s arm. "I also don''t want this to happen, but we can''t reject a sacred duel." Baron Nathan muttered while rubbing his temples. He looked like he had aged a decade in just a few hours. At this moment, Liam suddenly thought about something. He lifted his head and suggested with an ugly smile. "Father! Why don''t we send that person?" Baron Nathan frowned. "Who are you talking about?" "The man they call ''The Butcher''," Liam responded. Hearing this, everyone was stunned. The Butcher was a nickname given to a heinous criminal who had caused a series of killings in Ryvaad. He was a deranged man addicted to killing and it took thebined effort of multiple Knights to subdue him. He was currently locked up in a cell, waiting for his public execution. "Absurd! How could you make such a shameless suggestion!? Have you no shame?!" Baron Nathan raised his hand and pped Liam out of rage. Discover exclusive tales at My Virtual Library Empire Pa! "My son! Are you alright?" Vivian went to Liam''s side and looked at his face with a tearful expression. She then red at the baron and shouted. "How dare you hurt your son?!" Baron Nathan ignored her and kept his eyes on Liam. "This is thest thing I will do for you as your father. Whether you live or die is up to Aru." He then turned his gaze to the Elite Knight standing behind him and uttered. "Release ''The Butcher''. He will represent us in the sacred duel." The expression of the Elite Knight hardened, but he stillplied. "Yes, my lord!" Liam''s face lit up with joy. "Thank you, father!" The baron snorted and walked away with heavy strides. *** Later that night, ric went to take a look at Yvanna''s situation. Knock! Knock! He knocked on her door and said. "It''s me." Her response came a few secondste. "Wait. Give me a minute to change." "Alright." ric bought her some winter dresses earlier since her clothes were already torn and tattered. A few minutester, she finally opened the door. "Come in." Yvanna locked the door after ric stepped inside the room. Hm? He realized that the mud he had smeared on her was already gone. Now that she had cleaned up herself, a devastatingly beautiful face was revealed. Her long white hair was as white as snow and her cyan eyes sparkled with enchanting radiance. She was only wearing a dull winter dress meant formoners, but it failed to hide her charm. "How do you feel now?" ric asked while trying to maintain hisposure. "I still feel a bit weak, but I should be fine after a few more days of rest," Yvanna responded while breaking eye contact. "I''m d to hear that, but you should be careful. We can''t let anyone see your face, not even my subordinates." ric reminded with a stern look. "I will be careful." The elf nodded. "Here''s the medicine paste and the medicinal extract." ric handed her the things he had brought from his room. "Thank you." "I''ll take my leave first. I''m on the room to your left so just knock on my door if you need anything." "Alright." ric didn''t stay any longer and stepped out of her room.@@novelbin@@ She is still cold, but maybe a little less colder. He shook his head with a bitter smile. Chapter 67 A Casual Conversation with Yvanna ric woke up before sunrise toplete his daily mission. It had already be a part of his routine so it felt natural to him. At this moment, he was doing his pushups, his face looking incredibly rxed. I wonder what will happen if I do twice the amount stated in the mission. ric''s thoughts wandered while he was performing the exercises. Let''s try. Maybe I can get double the rewards too. Who knows? He chuckled at his thoughts.@@novelbin@@ And so, he did twice his daily mission because of this whimsical idea. 200 pushups ?? 200 sit-ups ?? 200 pull-ups ?? 20 km run ?? 200 vertical shes ?? 200 diagonal shes ?? 200 horizontal shes ?? 200 stabs ?? Afterpleting his exercises, he eagerly opened the cyan screen. [You received 10 Battle Points.] [You received 1 EXP.] [You received 1 Stat Point.] He sighed. All that effort for nothing. Well, at least I tried. He smiled bitterly when he saw that there were no changes in the rewards. Afterpleting his daily mission, he headed back to the inn to change into a new set of winter clothes. He then went to the public dining hall downstairs to grab some food for himself and Yvanna. By the time he arrived, he saw Aldrin and a few others gathered around a table, chatting about random matters. One of the warriors suddenly noticed him and stood up from his seat. "My lord!" ric signaled with his hand, telling them to stay in their seats. "Just guys can rx. I only came here to grab my breakfast." "I already ordered for all of us, my lord, including the vagrant woman." Aldrin hesitated. "I see. Thank you." ric tapped his shoulder and smiled. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Anything for you, my lord." Because of his presence, the warriors didn''t dare speak too loudly and their backs were straight like a sword. Luckily, the awkward atmosphere disappeared after their food was served. "You guys can eat without. I''ll take my share upstairs." ric grabbed two portions of the food before he went upstairs. Knock! Knock! Knock! "It''s me. I brought your breakfast." At that moment, he heard a series of footsteps from inside the room before the door was opened. Creak! He saw that she had already covered her face with a cloth so only her cyan eyes were visible. She had also draped a coat over her shoulders, covering her body from the neck down. "Come inside." She uttered while staring at the food boxes in his hand. "Please excuse my intrusion." ric nodded to her as he entered the room. "I don''t know what kind of food you prefer so I only brought what I believed you would like." He said as he put the food boxes on the coffee table next to her bed. "Anything is alright. I''m not picky when ites to food. As long as it''s edible, I eat almost anything." While saying this, she removed the cloth that covered her face. ric was once again stunned by her appearance. No matter how many times I see it, her beauty is still shocking. Yvanna turned her head. "What''s the matter?" She raised an eyebrow when she caught him staring at her face. ric cleared his throat and responded with an awkward chuckle. "I still can''t believe that I''m speaking to an elf." "Anyway, you should eat. I will eat in my room." He was afraid that he might make another blunder if he stayed in her room. However, before he could leave, Yvanna shook her head and said. "You can stay here. Eating alone can be boring sometimes." Yvanna''s tone was t so ric couldn''t tell what she was thinking. Was she starting to warm up to him? Or was it truly for the sake of having someone to apany her in her meal? ric wasn''t sure. "Alright. You can ask me anything if you want." He didn''t decline her invitation since he also wanted to know more about elves. Yvanna took her seat and pointed at the chair perpendicr to her. "Please." ric nodded as he took his seat. "Why are you helping me?" The elf asked without looking at him. She had been meaning to ask him about this, but she couldn''t bring herself to say it. Now, she felt that it was the right moment. ric was silent for a moment before he answered. "I''m also not sure. To be honest, I was hesitant to help you since I heard that elves are proud and arrogant creatures. Maybe it was just a whim¡­" Yvanna didn''t say anything and took a small bite of the roasted chicken leg. Seeing that she was silent, ric also began eating his meal. "Whether it was a whim or not, your decision saved my life. I can''t thank you enough." Her voice drifted into his ears. ric nced at her and saw a slight change in her expression. Is it the angle or is she smiling right now? ric tilted his head to get a clearer look at her face, but Yvanna suddenly lowered her head. "You don''t need to thank me. Just this experience alone is enough payment for my efforts. Next time, I can brag to my friends that I had spoken with an elf." ric chuckled. "You humans are weird," Yvanna muttered. "Hahaha! That''s true." Their conversation became more natural and the slight aversion they had towards each other vanished in that instant. "By the way, do you still remember the people who had wounded you?" ric asked while keeping an eye on her expression. Hearing this, a flicker of anger shed in her eyes. "I will never forget their faces." She replied in a cold voice. "I can help you look for them. I have a subordinate who is really good at painting. He might be able to draw the faces of those people if you can describe their features in detail." ric rubbed his chin. "There''s no need. I will look for them myself once I gather my people." Yvanna shook her head. "Alright. Just let me know if you change your mind." Knock! Knock! Knock! Hm? "I''ll go open it. Hide your face for a while." ric reminded Yvanna. The elf nodded and wrapped a cloth on her head. After she had covered her face, ric went to open the door. "My lord, the messenger is here." Chapter 69 The Sacred Duel Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Aru, I don''t deserve to seek forgiveness, but I hope that you will listen to the words of this sinful man. I don''t care if I die today, but please protect my daughter and grant her a happy life. The giant opened his eyes after praying to the benevolent god. "You may rise." The bishop muttered. The giant stood up causing the chains wrapped around his limbs to make a series of nking sounds. "Are both representatives for the sacred duel ready?" The bishop eyed the two with a calm gaze. ric and the giant nodded. "Please step into the battle tform! The sacred duel will begin shortly!" With the announcement from the bishop, everyone watched as the two fighters walked onto the stage step by step. "Will Lord ric be alright?" Aldrin muttered with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Of course! Haven''t you seen Lord ric''s swordsmanship?" Rigor responded with a gloomy look. He was also uncertain about how this duel would end. "This might be a hard battle¡­That is no ordinary man. His mana is stable and his physique is akin to that of a beast. He should be close to the realm of Elite Knights." Warrick muttered with his eyebrows knitted closely together. The warriors of House Silversword were starting to get worried for their lord. They didn''t expect that House Paxley would actually send a man of this caliber in the sacred duel. Meanwhile, Hershey who was spectating together with her family was praying to Aru. Oh, Aru! Please protect Lord ric! At this moment, the bishop jumped onto the stage and stood in between the representatives. "The result of this sacred duel will determine the fate of Liam Paxley! Whatever happens, I hope that everyone will respect the oue¡­" The bishop gave a short speech before he announced themencement of the duel. "¡­Begin!" ric stared at the giant as he unsheathed his swords. "That is the mark of a criminal branded on your body. I won''t hesitate to kill you." ric muttered when he saw the brand on the giant''s neck. This marking was given to the criminals on death row so he was familiar with it. The giant didn''t say anything and just stared deeply at him. He looks so young. He should be as old as my daughter. Seeing that his enemy was silent, ric no longer said anything. He immediately unleashed his mana and subsequently gathered them into his arms. As the powerful energy surged forth, he released a quick burst of sword strikes. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The giant narrowed his eyes. He didn''t expect this young Knight to summon such a powerful force. He is faster than me. I can''t block all of his strikes. Knowing that he couldn''t block everything, the giant used his halberd to protect his vital organs. ng! ng! Sword wounds appeared on his body as ric''s shes connected, but the giant didn''t even flinch. His eyes remained serene, seemingly unbothered by the pain. ric frowned upon seeing this. I only managed to leave some shallow cuts. Suddenly, he saw a sh of light in front of his eyes which made him instinctively pull his head. Bang! What?! ric nced at the halberd that almost crushed him. He finally realized that the giant wasn''t just foolishly receiving his strikes, he was actually preparing for that one big attack! If ric was just half a secondte, his body would have been crushed by that halberd. There was a glimmer of surprise in the giant''s eyes. He didn''t expect the young Knight to evade his halberd. It never failed him before. For the first time since he stepped into the battle tform, he finally spoke. "You are the youngest Knight I have met. I feel reluctant to take your life, but I must kill you to save my daughter." His voice was deep and sounded like a low rumble. Hearing this, ric raised his eyebrows. What is he saying? The giant didn''t give him the time toprehend his words and charged at him. His heavy steps caused the tform to shake and upon gathering enough momentum, he swung his halberd. ric''s face fell. My 100 points of strength is still weaker than this man. He thought that 100 points in strength was the absolute limit that a human could reach, but it seemed like each individual had different inborn physical attributes. This man''s strength is probably over 150 points¡­ It was just a rough guess based on the power he sensed behind that halberd. ric hurriedly bent his body to avoid the fatal blow. Whoosh! The violent air brought by the attack almost caused him to lose bnce. After his attack missed, the giant raised his leg and released a kick. Whoosh! ric didn''t expect him to be this nimble despite his size. I can''t evade it in time! ric immediately raised his sword and shed on the muscr leg, hoping that the giant would pull back. However, thetter seemed to be unafraid of his swords. ric''s sword struck his leg, but it was unable to prate past his bones that had been strengthened with mana. The muscr leg crushed into ric''s body, sending him flying across the other side of the tform. Pa! The sound of his bones cracking echoed, making everyone feel a chill in their hearts. "My lord!" "Lord ric!" The warriors of House Silversword panicked when they saw him get thrown like a ragdoll. Some of them pulled out their weapons and were about to step onto the tform, but a cold voice stopped them in their tracks. "Do you n to break the sacred covenant?!"@@novelbin@@ The warriors turned their gazes at Charles. "Don''t bring shame to House Silversword! This is a sacred duel! Whatever happens on the stage is Aru''s will!" Charlesshed out furiously. The warriors hesitated upon hearing his words. "Stand back!" The old Elite Knight, Henry, shouted in a trembling voice. "Lord ric chose to fight in this sacred duel! We must respect his decision regardless of the oue!" The old man''s voice choked with emotion as he watched the tiny figure on the battle tform. The warriors loosened their grip on their weapons and brought their hands together. Aru, please protect Lord ric! Seeing that they had finally calmed down, Charles turned his attention back to the duel. He had a gloomy look on the surface, but he was screaming with glee internally. Just die here, my dear nephew! Hahaha! Don''t worry. I will take care of the household and I will also take good care of that little servant of yours. Hahaha! Meanwhile, Hershey broke into tears. "No!" She rushed into the battle tform, but the warriors of House Paxley stopped her. "Mydy, please calm down! We will be punished if we break the sacred covenant!" Hershey ignored their words and tried to break free from their grasp. "Lord ric!" She screamed. Suddenly, a furious Vivian approached and gave her a resounding p. Pa! "Are you crazy?! Do you n to destroy our family?!" Vivian shouted with a sharp, angry tone. Hershey grabbed her face while staring at the frail figure on the tform. "Stop embarrassing us, Hershey!" Vivian muttered with an exasperated expression. She then sent the warriors a knowing look as she uttered in amanding tone. "Keep an eye on her and make sure that she won''t do anything foolish!" "Yes, mydy!" The warriors responded. ¡­ On top of the tform, ric spat a mouthful of blood. He could feel his innards contorting with pain. It looks like I broke a few ribs. His face was pale and full of sweat. If my endurance was a little lower, that attack would have ended me. Unlike the goblin chieftain whose attack patterns were predictable, this giant was clearly more skilled. Now, how can I win against this man? ric observed the giant with a serious look on his face. I have to survive first! At that moment, the giant''s halberd struck once more. ric gritted his teeth and made a quick slide in between the giant''s legs. He then brandished his swords. Ksshhhhkk!! Ksshhhhkk!! The giant tumbled after ric left deep cuts on his legs, but he quickly stabilized himself by stabbing his halberd firmly into the stone tform. ric took a deep breath. The cuts aren''t deep enough to cut his tendons. He felt resistance when he shed his swords which means that the giant was able to gather mana into his legs to protect his tendons. I almost got him! I just need to focus on his legs. Once he loses bnce, he won''t be able to block my sword anymore. Thinking about this, ric wiped off the blood at the corner of his lips and rushed out. His body was screaming with pain, but he pushed himself to the limits. Bang! Bang! The giant swung his halberd. However, he was unable tond a direct hit. Bang! Bang! Upon getting closer, ric suddenly swooped down. The giant had already anticipated this. He took a step back and raised his left arm before releasing a downward punch. Bang! Chapter 70 Innocent Man He fell for it! Now is my chance! ric took an abrupt turn which caused the punch to miss him by a few inches. Bang! The giant''s fist created a deep hole in the battle tform. After sessfully evading, ric swung his swords. Whoosh! Kksshhkk!! The giant''s muscr arm was cut off! It was a feint! He intentionally aimed for my legs, but his real target was my dominant arm! The giant was stunned. ric wanted to end the battle with another strike, but the giant managed to block his swords by using his left arm which was wrapped in chains. ng! ric was surprised by his quick reaction. A normal person would have copsed or panicked after having their arm cut off, but the giant remained calm. At this moment, the giant suddenly pushed him off with a low grunt which sent ric into the air. To stabilize himself, ric spun in midair. As soon as hended, he made a quick dash forward while moving from side to side, showing off his amazing footwork. I need to end this quickly! I think my broken ribs are poking my insides. The feeling made him ufortable, but he gritted his teeth and gathered half of his remaining mana to perform another sword move. It wasn''t like the fancy sword techniques used by the nobles in the capital. It was just a in downward sh that used his spinning motion to release a more powerful force. However, the spectators viewed it differently. It was a move so graceful that it filled their hearts with shock. They were utterly bbergasted by his swordsmanship. The giant had no time to react, but he managed to gather mana into his left arm to deliver a strong blow. The moment ric''s sword struck the giant''s fist, the former felt a fierce resistance. If this was an ordinary sword, that might have worked, but unfortunately, one of my swords is a bit special. ric imbued more mana into his arms, making his muscles bulge and his veins protrude. In that instant, his sword sliced through the giant''s fist, splitting it in half before stabbing into the man''s chest. The giant staggered, but there was no pain in his eyes, only regret. ric was familiar with this expression since it was something that he always saw whenever he looked at himself in the mirror. Why is he giving me that kind of look? Without mana to stop his bleeding, the giant fell to his knees as blood gushed out from his wounds. ric approached him, looking a bit bothered by the giant''s gaze. "Do you have anyst words?" He muttered while trying to remove the uneasy feeling rising within his chest. The giant raised his head and stared at him. "M-My daughter¡­" His deep voice drifted into ric''s ears. "H-He took my daughter¡­and used me as a scapegoat¡­ I-I took the b-me for all¡­the sins he hadmitted f-for the sake¡­ of my daughter''s safety¡­ P-Please¡­ save h-" Cough! The giant emitted a gurgling sound after coughing a mouthful of blood. ric frowned upon hearing his words. "What are you talking about?" The giant''s face was pale and it looked like he was about to copse at any moment. "L-Liam¡­ he killed all those women. I-It wasn''t me¡­" The giant''s eyes dimmed after uttering those words. His body swayed to the side and fell with a heavy ''thud''. ric immediately rushed to his side. "Your daughter, I will find her." He whispered to the dying man. He sympathized with this giant. From the words he had spoken, he could tell that he must have been a victim of Liam''s maniption. The giant looked like he wanted to say something, but only iprehensible words mixed with gurgling sounds came out of his mouth. Even so, ric seemed to have understood it. "I understand. I will end your suffering." It was toote to save this man. He had already lost too much blood. The giant stared at the blue sky. I''m sorry, my beloved daughter. Your father is useless. With aplicated expression on his face, ric stabbed the man''s heart. Kksshhkk! The light in the giant''s eyes faded. ___ Missionplete! You received 150 Battle Points, 30 EXP, 5 Stat Points ___ The cyan screen notified him of his victory, but there was no joy in ric''s eyes. Oh, Aru¡­ Did I do the right thing? "The sacred duel ends with ric''s victory!" Bishop Anton announced. The warriors of House Silversword cheered in excitement. Well, except for one person. The battle was so intense that they were on their toes the whole time. "I knew it! Lord ric is invincible among Knights!" Aldrin eximed. "He really made us worry¡­" Henry shook his head with a relieved sigh. "Quickly go and check Lord ric''s condition!" Warrick barked. "Yes, sir!" While they were celebrating ric''s victory, one man was cursing internally. Fuck! Fuck! How did that bastard win against that giant?! This is impossible! Charles''s face was incredibly gloomy. At this moment, ric was still staring at the giant''s corpse when he felt a hand tapping on his shoulder. Hm? He turned his head and saw the bishop giving him aforting smile. "Don''t me yourself over this. It wasn''t your fault." The old man muttered as he turned his gaze to the giant. "What a pitiful man. He was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn''tmit. He wasbeled as a lunatic addicted to killing when in truth, he was just a father trying to protect his daughter." Bishop Anton shook his head and brought his palms together. "Oh, Aru! Please guide this man''s soul into your merciful embrace." ric also prayed for the giant''s soul.@@novelbin@@ I will fulfill my promise. I will find your daughter. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire "My lord, are you alright?" Aldrin''s voice echoed from behind. ric turned around and stared at him with a calm gaze. "I''m fine." Aldrin gulped. For some reason, he felt that ric looked terrifying at this moment. Chapter 71 Baron Nathans Regret "Liam! Bring your ass out here!" ric shouted atop the battle tform while searching for Liam in the crowd. Everyone stared in Baron Nathan''s direction, but Liam wasn''t there. Sensing everyone''s gazes, the baron turned around and frowned. "Where is Liam?" Vivian lowered her head as if trying to avoid his gaze. Seeing this, the baron grabbed her arm with an agitation look. "What did you do?! Where is Liam?!"@@novelbin@@ Vivian nervously shook her head. "I-I don''t know. Wasn''t he here with us earlier?" She stammered in response. "Stop lying to me and spit it out while I''m still asking nicely!" The baron finally snapped and pped her face. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire Pa! "You!" Vivian couldn''t believe that her timid husband would actually p her. "Do you think I''m afraid of you? I''ve only put up with you because of your family''s influence! But do you really think that I don''t know what you''ve been doing behind my back?!" Baron Nathan''s umted anger was released in that instant. "Now tell me where that animal is hiding if you don''t want the household to fall into ruin!" Vivian''s body trembled with a mixture of fear and anger. "You''re going to pay for this!" She muttered coldly before she walked away. "Stop!" The baron shouted, but she ignored his words and left without turning back. Dammit! That crazy bitch must have sent Liam away after the duel started! Suddenly, he heard a series of footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw ric and his subordinates approaching him with cold gazes. "Lord Nathan, it seems like there is a small issue on your side," ric muttered in a t tone. "This¡­ It wasn''t me! I have no intentions of disobeying the sacred covenant!" Baron Nathan shook his head, his face full of sweat. ric shook his head. "I''m disappointed, Lord Nathan. I expected more from you." "Lord ric! You are speaking to the baron!" Theo stepped forward and stood in between them. "Your name is Theo, right? Do you even know what your younger brother has done?" ric asked with a hint of disdain in his voice. His words made Theo recall the scenes he had witnessed in Liam''s room. "That¡­" ric narrowed his eyes and whispered. "It seems like you know something." Theo''s face fell and he was unable to retort. "What''s going on, Theo? Do you know something?" Baron Nathan''s expression was ugly to behold. Theo took a deep breath to calm himself before he answered with a grave tone. "My lord, I discovered a corpse in Liam''s room." "What?!" Baron Nathan''s eyes widened in disbelief. Meanwhile, Hershey gasped and covered her mouth in shock. A terrifying thought came into the baron''s mind. Liam is a murderer? As he thought of this, he immediately instructed the Knight behind him. "Go and search Liam''s room at once! Tell me whatever he is hiding there!" The Knight nodded with a solemn look. "Yes, my lord." After the Knight left, ric''s voice drifted into his ears. "Lord Nathan, please allow my subordinates to search every corner of the estate." "Lord ric!" Theo frowned upon hearing this. The baron pulled him and signaled for him to stand back. He then nced deeply at ric and sighed while shaking his head. "Alright." After getting his approval, ric made a hand gesture and muttered. "Start the search! If you find him, bring him to me alive!" "Yes, my lord!" Liam, I think I know how you died in my past life. No wonder your family covered up your death. It turns out that you are an even greater evil than I thought. His eyes were burning with rage. The man he had killed in the sacred duel was an innocent person, but he died in such a wretched manner because of Liam''s schemes. With heavy footsteps, he walked away, leaving a crowd of scared onlookers behind. Hershey burst into tears as she looked at his figure. "Lord ric¡­" At this moment, the bishop suddenly appeared. "Your Excellency!" Baron Nathan immediately greeted the old man. "You made a terrible decision this time, Nathan. You sent an innocent man to fight for your heartless son and now, it seems like your alliance with the Silverswords is at stake." The bishop sighed. Nathan Paxley''s chest tightened upon hearing his words. I shouldn''t have listened to Liam''s words! Now it''s toote¡­ He regretted the decision he made and it filled him with remorse. "My job here is done. I don''t wish to involve myself in your affairs so please excuse me." Bishop Anton didn''t wait for his response and left with the people from the church. "What have I done?" The baron muttered as he grabbed his hair with a nk look. Theo couldn''t bear to see his father like this so he tried tofort him. "My lord, I''ll try to speak with Lord ric. There should be a way for us to prevent our alliance with them from falling apart. Please get some rest for now." He then nced at his sister and instructed her. "Hershey, please bring the baron to his chamber. I will deal with the situation here." Hershey wiped away her tears and nodded. "Okay." ¡­ At this moment, ric was heading to Liam''s room together with his subordinates and the warriors of House Paxley. "That is Lord Liam''s room." Someone pointed at the room at the end of the hallway. Hearing this, ric nodded and said. "Smash it open." Before the warriors from House Paxley could say anything, ric''s subordinates rushed out and broke the door to Liam''s room. Bang! As soon as ric stepped inside the room, a decaying smell assaulted his nose which made him frown. "My lord, there is a corpse here!" Aldrin reported with a grim expression. ric walked towards the bedchamber where Aldrin saw the corpse. From the clothes on its body and its small stature, he realized that it was a woman, a young one at that. Liam, that fucking trash! How despicable! "Take her corpse away and find her rtives," ric instructed. "Yes, my lord!" The warriors of House Paxley couldn''t believe that Liam was actually capable of doing such atrocious deeds. Chapter 72 The Women in the Secret Chamber ric''s subordinatester discovered a secret passage hidden underneath Liam''s bed which led to an underground chamber. To reach the underground chamber, they passed by a narrow and dark tunnel. Their only source of light was the flickering mes of the torches held by sconces. Upon entering the secret chamber, they saw more than ten naked women of varying ages huddled together. They revealed fearful gazes when they heard the door creaking as it was pushed open.@@novelbin@@ ric''s face darkened upon seeing the bruises and the signs of torture on their bodies. One of them looked even younger than Elena and this fragile little girl also shared the same wounds. "Liam¡­" ric muttered through gritted teeth. The people near him couldn''t help but shudder when they sensed his overflowing killing intent. "Cover their bodies first before sending them back to their families," ric instructed while trying to hold back his rage. "Yes, my lord!" Everyone quickly moved into action. They brought clothes for the women and sent them out of the secret chamber. However, there was one particr woman who refused to go back to the surface. She looked quite young at around seventeen. She had a pretty face, but it was destroyed by a burn scar on the left side of her face. Her youthful body was also covered in whip marks and bruises which she must have gotten after being tortured. ric couldn''t even begin to imagine what kind of experience she had gone through. "My lord, what should we do with this woman?" A warrior asked hesitantly. "I''ll go and talk to her. Continue searching the chamber and see if there is still something we can find." ric instructed calmly. "Yes, my lord!" The warrior acknowledged hismand with a salute before he turned around and left. While everyone was busy searching every corner of the bedchamber, ric approached the woman and asked. "Why didn''t you go back with the rest?" The woman lifted her head, revealing her terrifying burn scar. With eyes shing with hatred, she responded. "I want to kill him with my own hands, but before that, I will torture him and drink his blood!" ric narrowed his eyes. He stared deeply at her and sighed. "If you''re talking about Liam, there might be a small issue." "Why? Is it because of his identity?" The woman clenched her hands. "No." ric shook his head. "To tell you the truth, we are also searching for him, but it appears that he has already escaped." The woman frowned and lowered her head. "Don''t worry. We will eventually find him and punish him for his crimes." ric muttered. "You should leave this matter to us and return to your family." ric turned around after saying those words. "Wait!" The woman suddenly grabbed his arm which provoked ric''s subordinates. "What are you doing, woman?! Do you know who this person is?" An agitated warrior spoke roughly. The woman was terrified when she sensed the warriors''s gazes, but she didn''t let go of ric''s arm. Her determined eyes moved him so he decided to give her a moment of his time. He signaled for the warriors to stand back and looked at the woman. "What do you want?" ric asked indifferently. The woman took a deep breath and said. "I don''t know who you are, but please bring me with you. I want to see that bastard die with my own eyes!" ric gently pulled her hand off his arm as he responded. "Fine, but I have no intention of taking someone useless with me. What can you do for me?" The woman stared at her filthy hands and muttered. "I want to learn how to kill! If you teach me how to wield a sword, then I will be your sword!" ric was taken aback. He didn''t expect this kind of response. If she had told him that she knew how to do household chores, then he would have asked her to work as a maidservant. The words that he was about to say were now stuck in his throat. After a moment of silence, ric asked. "Why do you want to learn swordsmanship?" "I don''t want to be powerless anymore." It was a firm response with no hesitation. ric rubbed his chin and thought deeply. What should I do with this woman? It was rare for a woman to be a warrior. Only a few special individuals like Cassandra could survive the rigorous training. What more a fragile woman who had been tortured and abused? After some careful thought, ric spoke. "What''s your name?" "Aliya." She replied while staring at him with anticipation. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "I can give you some swordsmanship lessons, but if you don''t survive my training, then you will have to work as a servant instead." Aliya''s eyes shed with joy. "I will work hard, my lord! I will never give up!" ric chuckled while shaking his head. "We will know soon if you are just speaking some empty words." ¡­ ric and his subordinates searched every corner of the estate, but they found no signs of Liam. Night had arrived and the snowstorm was bing increasingly severe so ric told his subordinates to stop the search. On their way back to the main mansion, Josephus approached him and whispered to his ears. "My lord, I heard that it was Lady Vivian who helped Liam escape." "I know." ric nodded with a stern look. He had already thought of questioning her, but he would thoroughly offend House Paxley if he did that. "Lord Theo also wants to speak with you. Maybe he knows something." Josephus added. ric furrowed his eyebrows. "Where is he?" "He''s been following us quietly since we left the secret chamber." Josephus pointed somewhere behind them. ric followed his gaze and saw Theo trying to strike up a conversation with his subordinates, but no one seemed to have the intention of speaking with him. "Bring him here." ric couldn''t fully trust this guy since he didn''t know much about him, but he had no choice at this point. Chapter 73 Information About Liam Theo was starting to get anxious. He tried to talk with ric''s subordinates, but they pretended like they didn''t hear him. He would haveshed out if this had happened before, but he could only patiently stick close to them. I have to make sure that our alliance with the Silverswords will not be affected by this incident. Once we lose their support, we might have to face another territorial conflict with the Tyrells. On the surface, House Paxley was the local ruler of Ryvaad, but this was far from the truth. There existed another household that rivaled them in terms of military strength and political influence. They are the Tyrells, a noble household of the North known for having a hand in the salt business. While he was immersed in his thoughts, he suddenly noticed someone approaching him. Hm? It was the young Knight who always stuck close to Charles Silversword. "Lord Theo, my lord wishes to see you." The young Knight respectfully said while cupping his fists. Hearing this, Theo''s eyes lit up. His chance had finallye. He suppressed his joy and responded with a nod. "Alright. Take me to him." "Please follow me." Theo followed the young Knight who soon brought him to ric. "Lord ric." Theo cupped his fists and looked at the man who had defeated ''The Butcher''. ric was injured in the sacred duel and Theo even heard that he also broke a few bones. However, except for the bandages wrapped around his body, ric showed no signs of difort. "Lord Theo, we have already wasted an entire day so I won''t bother you with useless nonsense. Please tell me everything you know about your younger brother. From the ces he usually visits, his hobby, his favorite food, I want to know all of it." ric stared calmly at him. Theo rubbed his palms which had be stiff because of the cold air before he responded. "Why don''t we go somewhere more warm? I''ll tell you everything I know about my brother." ric didn''t make things difficult for him and nodded. "Alright. Please prepare a ce for my subordinates to stay. We will rest for tonight and continue our search tomorrow." "No problem." Theo agreed immediately. ¡­ Theo brought them to the guest mansion where theyst stayed. The ce was already cleaned up and there were even servants on standby to help them with their needs. ric told everyone to rest before he went to chat with Theo on the balcony of the main hall. "Before I tell you everything I know, can you promise me that House Silversword will remain as our ally?" Theo spoke as soon as they took their seats. ric stared deeply at him. They had no intention of cutting off their connection with the Paxleys so ric nodded indifferently. "I can promise you that. Now, tell me what you know about Liam." Theo adjusted his sitting posture and took a deep breath as he spoke. "Liam¡­ he is¡­" He spent over an hour telling him everything he knew about his younger brother. Theo included all the information that he deemed as important. ric listened the whole time without saying a word. He only spoke to rify a few things with Theo, but other than those few instances, he remained quiet.@@novelbin@@ "That''s all I know about him," Theo muttered. His throat felt dry after all that talking. ric leaned on his chair. He was already aware of most of the information that Theo had disclosed, but he did learn a lot about Liam from him. It was time to give them some reassurance. "Thank you for giving me all this information, Lord Theo. I can feel your sincerity so you can rest assured. As long as House Paxley doesn''t betray us, then the Silverswords will remain as your ally." Hearing this, Theo heaved an internal sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lord ric." ric nodded. He stood up and offered a handshake which Theo took with a light smile. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire After a few more exchanges, Theo bid him farewell and left. ric headed to his room. Upon entering his room, he didn''t rest immediately. He noted down all the important details that he learned from Theo. He encircled the key information which might help them in their search. He did all this in almost two hours and it was close to midnight when hepleted this task. Given the terrible weather, Liam should still be in Ryvaad, but it will be hard to find him. ric rubbed his temples. He could already tell that this would be an arduous endeavor. I must find him. I don''t like this uneasy feeling. He felt deeply unsettled that an enemy like Liam was still alive and he knew that the only way to remove this uneasiness was to eliminate the threat! I will find you no matter what it takes! ric took off his winter clothes and wore something lighter. He then opened the cyan screen to check his progress. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 403/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 2730 Stat Points: 6 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He only needed a hundred points to reach his EXP requirement, but he was still far frompleting the attributes and battle points requirement. His battle with the giant made him realize that there might be individuals who were more powerful than him in the Knight realm. For instance, the giant had superior physical attributes and his only weakness was his speed. If the giant wasn''t upied with the thought of saving his daughter, the battle might have ended differently. Thinking about that pitiful man, ric sighed and shook his head. If only I knew that he was innocent from the start¡­ He learned something from this battle. It was to never judge someone based on superficial information. Chapter 74 Give Up on the Search On the 10th of December, year 208 in the Astanian Calendar, ric''s group began searching for Liam''s whereabouts using the information they got from Theo. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire The snowstorm was still terrible, but they proceeded with the search. At this moment, the group was resting at a local diner when one of ric''s subordinates approached him and reported. "My lord, we found the giant''s daughter. She is one of the women we found in the secret chamber yesterday." Hearing this, ric was pleasantly surprised. "Where is she?" "She went to look for her husband after we helped her bury her father''s remains." The warrior responded. "Did you send someone to apany her?" ric asked. "That¡­" The warrior hesitated, but upon seeing ric''s stern gaze, he could only tell him the truth. "She didn''t want us to follow her. She said that she didn''t want her husband to know what happened in the secret chamber." The warrior sighed. ric became silent. He had already fulfilled his promise to find the giant''s daughter. Since the other party was safe, he felt that he shouldn''t interfere with her life. "Just let her be. We can only hope that she will have a better life with her husband." ric waved his hand. "I understand. I will ry your instructions to the others." The warrior acknowledged hismand. "Alright. Bring the boys here to help us in the search." "Yes, my lord!" The warrior turned around and left. ric turned his head to the window. Snow had already covered the road so no carriages could be seen outside. Even the horses had trouble navigating through the thick snow. Where are you, Liam? ¡­ The days went by in a sh. It was already the 31st of December and the weather had momentarily cleared up. The sun hung high above the horizon and a small portion of the piled-up snow had melted. Some brave hawkers pulled up their stalls to open for business and their shouts echoed in the quiet streets. Walking along the streets of Yorvan was a group of warriors d in winter coats over their leather armor. "My lord, we have already searched half of Ryvaad over the past few weeks. I think it''s time for us to give up." Josephus who was walking beside ric sighed while shaking his head. ric furrowed his eyebrows and stopped in his tracks. He stared at his cousin and asked in a low voice. "Is that your idea?" Josephus nervously lowered his head. "Yes. I-It''s my idea." He replied. Looking at his cousin''s shifty gaze, ric could already tell what had happened. It seems like my Uncle has gotten tired of this whole situation. He probably didn''t want the others to know about this so he sent Josephus. He doesn''t even care about his son''s reputation. Thinking about this, ric found Josephus quite pitiful. "Raise your head." ric tapped his cousin''s shoulder, making thetter jolt in surprise. "You''re right. I think it''s time for us to give up the search." Josephus didn''t expect that he would agree so easily. "It''s time to go home, everyone," ric muttered to the warriors. Everyone could see that he was reluctant to give up the search. "We have already done our best. You don''t need to feel guilty about it, my nephew." Charles walked towards him and gave him a tap on the shoulder. ric stared at his uncle''s smiling face and forced a smile. "You''re right, Uncle." "I understand that you are still frustrated about what happened, but there is nothing we can do at this point." Charles shook his head with a look of regret. That''s a lot of talk for someone who barely helped in the search. ric sneered in his mind, but he didn''t show it to his face. "I''ll go and tell the Paxleys about our departure. I''ll also inform them about your engagement with Hershey. In the meantime, you guys should pack our stuff so we can leave at once." Charles suggested. "Alright, Uncle. I''ll leave it to you." ric nodded. He wanted to speak with Hershey before leaving, but he felt that things might be awkward between them because of the recent events. Charles smiled at him before turning his gaze to Josephus. "Come with me." "Yes, my lord." Josephus nodded. The two left soon after. ¡­ Later that day, the group left the city and headed back to North Pine Town. "Uncle, you should go home first. I still have somewhere I need to go before going home."@@novelbin@@ Charles was taken aback by his words. "What do you mean? Are you still nning to search for Liam?" He frowned. ric shook his head. "This isn''t about Liam." He responded in a calm voice. Charles stared deeply at him. "And you can''t tell me about it?" "I''m sorry, Uncle, but I can''t say it." Charles was silent for a moment. Just what is this kid up to this time? After a minute of silence, he finally opened his mouth. "Alright, but you can''t go there alone. You must bring someone with you." ric nodded. "I already know who I should bring with me." "Since you have already thought it through, I won''t stop you, but you must be careful out there." Charles reminded, looking like a concerned uncle. "I will. Thank you for your concern." ric cupped his fists. He then turned around and called the people who woulde with him. "Sir Arthur, Sir Henry, you two will being with me." For this trip, ric didn''t want to bring too many people with him. After all, he nned to head to the territory of the elves and escort Yvanna back to her home. Bringing many people would only make them conspicuous. After bidding farewell to the rest of the group, ric left with his small team in another direction. Charles stared at their disappearing figures with a thoughtful expression on his face. He made a hand gesture and beckoned to one of his subordinates. "My lord!" A middle-aged warrior stood before him. Charles told the warrior toe closer and whispered something to his ears. ¡­ "My lord, where are we headed to?" Henry asked with a serious look. He felt that something was amiss because ric was being too secretive. Arthur didn''t say anything, but he was also curious. ric urged his horse to slow down. The two veteran warriors immediately did the same to match his speed. "This matter is very important so you must never tell this to anyone." ric alternated his gaze between the two before he continued. "We are heading to the Enchanted Woonds." When the two veteran warriors heard this name, their eyes froze in shock. The Enchanted Woonds was arge patch of forest in the extreme north of the Astanian border. It was a ce popted by powerful monsters and fearsome creatures, making it a no man''snd. Although it was deemed a dangerous ce, this huge forest acted as a natural barrier that protected Astania from enemy races who lived beyond the Enchanted Woonds. "My lord, that ce is very dangerous!" Henry couldn''t let him travel to such a dangerous ce. ric shook his head. "You don''t have to worry. We don''t need to enter the forest. We just need to go to the periphery." He then nudged the person who was hugging his back and said. "I think you should introduce yourself now to make them understand what''s going on." The two veteran warriors moved their gazes at the vagrant woman whose face was covered. "Can we trust them?" An enchanting voice drifted into their ears. It was the first time they heard this woman speak and they were stunned by her voice. "Don''t worry. We can trust them. They are like family to me." ric nodded in response. Yvanna hesitated, but she chose to trust ric. She had been with him for almost a month and ric never once showed any negative thoughts about her. He was the first human that made her feel safe. Under the dumbfounded gazes of Arthur and Henry, Yvanna removed the cloth that covered her face. As soon as the cloth was removed, a devastatingly beautiful face was revealed, but the first thing they noticed was her pointy ears. "You¡­ You''re an elf!" Arthur''s eyes widened. On the other hand, Henry already had some idea that her identity might not be so simple, but he never thought that she was actually an elf! The old Elite Knight stared at ric with a questioning gaze. He wanted to say something, but no words came out of his mouth. "I know that this may be absurd, but I hope that you two can help me fulfill this task." ric trusted these two. One was like a grandfather to him and the other was a trusted confidant. "I will follow you wherever you go, my lord!" Arthur was the first one to express his thoughts. Henry shook his head bitterly. "I never thought that I would escort an elf at my age." Chapter 76 Scaled Hyenas "You two should go back to your homes. We will take care of the situation." The warrior muttered before he left with hisrades. "What should we do, my lord?" Henry asked. The n was to get some rest in the town before continuing their journey, but from the looks of it, they wouldn''t be able to rest tonight. "We will decide after knowing the situation," ric responded, feeling a bit annoyed by the sudden turn of events.@@novelbin@@ The two immediately headed to the eastern side of the town. Before they even arrived, they could already hear the sounds of battle, but it didn''t sound like they were fighting against humans. Other than the shouts of the warriors, they also heard the roars of monsters. "My lord, we are almost there!" Henry pointed at the earthen wall up ahead. The walls that surrounded the town were only about five meters tall. This wall should be enough to protect a small town from smaller monsters. However, it seemed like the monsters that hade this time were far more dangerous than what these walls could handle. At this moment, ric leaped on top of the wall to get a clearer look at the battle. Scaled Hyenas¡­ These wild beasts weren''t powerful individually, but they were so coordinated when they attacked as a group. An adult Scaled Hyena was weaker than a normal warrior, but there were a few among these creatures who were as powerful as Apprentice Knights. As someone who lived in the north for a few decades, ric was familiar with these beasts. Even from a distance, he could already identify the most powerful Scaled Hyenas in the pack. There are about a hundred of them and there are only a few dozen town guards. Even if they win the battle, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. ric calmly analyzed the situation. "Should we intervene, my lord?" Henry also reached a simr conclusion upon seeing the confrontation between the two sides. ric didn''t respond right away. He raised his hand and pointed to a certain warrior who was leading the town guards in the defensive battle. It was a man who looked to be in his forties. He was dressed in leather armor with steel breastte and steel shoulder guards. With every swing of his two-handed war hammer, a poor Scaled Hyena would be smashed into meat paste. There was no skill or technique in his swings, just pure brute force and aggression. "He is powerful for a Knight," Henry remarked while observing the scene. ric nodded in agreement. It was because of this person that the Scaled Hyenas were unable to go past defensive lines. Other than him, there were also five Knights who worked together with him to fend off the stronger hyenas. Meanwhile, the rest of the warriors only had to take care of the normal hyenas. "Their teamwork is solid." ric was impressed by the town guards'' systematic battle formation. "Indeed. They must have been trained to fight againstrge groups of monsters." "I have underestimated the warriors of this town. It seems like we are not needed here." ric chuckled while shaking his head. Just as he was about to turn around, the cyan screen suddenly popped up in front of his eyes. ___ Mission: Kill the Scaled Hyenas! Difficulty: Easy Number of Scaled Hyenas killed: 32/ 237 Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 15 EXP, 15 Stat Points Penalty for failure: - 500 Battle Points ___ Hm? There are 237 of them? ric frowned upon seeing the information of the mission. He scanned the distant forest with narrowed eyes and he soon spotted more hyenas concealed in the darkness. "There are more of them! Sir Henry, we need to help those warriors!" ric jumped down the wall and rushed to aid the town guards. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire Henry raised an eyebrow and moved his gaze to the distant forest. How did Lord ric sense those monsters at this distance? Even an Elite Knight like me failed to discover them. The old man was surprised. When ric and Henry joined the battle, the town guards could finally take a breather. "Are you the leader here?" ric approached the middle-aged Knight who wielded the two-handed war hammer. Thetter lowered his head and nodded. "Thank you for your help, sir. I''m Ronan, the captain of Alverton''s town guards." "Listen closely, Sir Ronan. There are more Scaled Hyenas hiding in the dark so you better tell your men to preserve their strength." ric informed him about what he saw. Hearing this, Ronan furrowed his eyebrows. "I understand. I will thank you properly once this is over." He muttered before he retreated to inform his subordinates about the presence of more hyenas. ric turned his gaze to Henry and instructed him. "Just keep these people safe, Sir Henry. Leave the rest to me." Henry acknowledged hismand with a nod of his head. "Yes, my lord." Lord ric might be talented and skilled for someone his age, but he still needs experience in battles like this. This might be a good chance for him to hone hisbat abilities in arge-scale battle. Henry wasn''t worried that a mishap would happen. ric had already proven himself repeatedly that he could ovee any situation. ric went all out in killing the Scaled Hyenas. His swords easily prated the monsters'' tough scales. His overwhelming strength and his remarkable swordsmanship surprised the town guards. "Who is that person?" "Is he wandering Knight? So powerful!" "What a beautiful swordsmanship!" Everyone was in awe of his performance. Even the captain, Ronan, was stunned. After a moment of shock, he shouted. "Don''t just stand there! We are the protectors of Alverton! Kill those beasts!" As soon as his words fell into their ears, the town guards became more aggressive. They attacked the hyenas relentlessly, not even giving the creatures the chance to escape. At this moment, the hyenas who were hidden in the darkness finally made their move. They rushed fearlessly towards the warriors while emitting weird shrieking sounds. Eiiikkk!! Eiiikkk! Chapter 77 Turning Into a Killing Maniac to Complete the Mission Ronan''s face fell when he saw another wave of Scaled Hyenas appear. There are indeed more of them and they look stronger than the first wave we fought! The ordinary warriors are already exhausted. Can we even handle all of these monsters? Ronan nced at his subordinates and frowned. Most of the town guards wereposed of ordinary warriors. They might be skilled, but their stamina will run out soon. Just when he was starting to get anxious, he saw the young Knight he had spoken earlier charging towards the iing hyenas. That guy¡­why is he so reckless? Ronan wanted to go and help him, but he was tied up by multiple hyenas. I have no time to waste on you guys! He furiously swung his two-handed war hammer and smashed the Scaled Hyenas in front of him. The hyenas that were struck by his war hammer were crushed into meat paste, unable to even utter a shriek. Blood and some pieces of internal organs sshed over his armor. Ronan didn''t even bother to wipe off the blood that sshed on his face. Meanwhile, ric had already shed with the new wave of Scaled Hyenas. He especially targeted those who would be a huge threat to the warriors. Kshhhkk! Kshhhkk! He effortlessly sliced the neck of the first hyena that lunged at him which cleanly decapitated its head. Five more hyenas pounced at him, baring their fangs and swiping their sharp ws. Seeing this, ric suddenly wielded his sword with an unbelievable speed. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In an instant, the five Scaled Hyenas were cut into pieces! His sword was so fast that even an Elite Knight like Henry barely saw the trajectory of his strikes. Not even Lord Lucas was this skilled at his age¡­ ric was evolving with terrifying momentum and filled him with immense pride. Under the shocked gazes of the warriors, ric continued his carnage. No hyena managed to survive after being shed by his sword. Even those hyenas who possessed mana were mercilessly ughtered! At that moment, an ear-piercing cry resonated in his ears. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Hm? ric stared at thergest hyenas in the pack. It was almost twice the size of the normal hyenas. The beast was also more muscr and the scales on its body looked more formidable. That guy must be the leader of this pack. The pressure emitted by the beast was simr to that of an experienced Knight''s aura. The alpha Scaled Hyena turned into a blur as it rushed towards ric with ghostly movements. Its beastly eyes shed with cruelty as it swiped its dagger-like ws at him. ric dodged its ws by tilting his body. He then thrust his sword, aiming to stab its neck. However, the creature abruptly turned its body, evading his sword by a narrow margin. Not bad. It''s quite fast¡­ ric didn''t give it a chance to retreat and released a flurry of attacks. The beast might be fast, but ric''s swords were even faster. Cuts appeared on its body as ric''s strikes connected. In just a few breaths, the creature''s body was already covered in wounds. The ferocity in its eyes vanished and was reced with unprecedented fear. It backed off and slowly retreated while keeping its eyes on ric. Eiik!! Eiik!! It issued weird shrieking sounds tomunicate with its pack. You want to escape? As if I''d let you! ric snorted when he saw it retreating slowly. His mission would fail if the hyenas would escape so to prevent this from happening, he no longer held back. He utilized his mana and strength in his arms and legs to increase his speed even further. Under the stunned gazes of the warriors, ric suddenly turned into a killing maniac. The pitiful whimpers of the hyenas echoed soon after he began his onught. It was a bloody scene that made the warriors bbergasted. They even wondered if he had some beef with Scaled Hyenas before because of how brutally he killed them. The battle that was expected tost for some time ended in just a few minutes. Soon, the remaining Scaled Hyena fell under ric''s sword. Everyone watched the figure whose leather armor was covered in blood. ___ Mission Complete! Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 15 EXP, 15 Stat Points ___ ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 440/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3100 Stat Points: 43 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) ric smiled upon seeing the notifications on the cyan screen. I''m only 60 points short on my EXP requirement. Step. Step. Step. ric closed the cyan screen when he heard someone approaching. He turned his head and saw Ronan walking towards him with a cautious expression. He stopped in front of ric and respectfully cupped his fists."S-Sir¡­ Thank you for lending us a hand in stopping these monsters. Our town owes you a huge favor." ric waved his hand. "It''s just a small matter. Besides, we are all citizens of Astania so it''s only right for us to help each other." He uttered indifferently. Ronan couldn''t help but admire him. As a patriot, his words resonated deeply in his heart. He thanked ric repeatedly and showered him with praises. "To thank you for giving us a hand, all the profit we get from carcasses here will be given to you, sir." Ronan was determined to repay him.@@novelbin@@ However¡­ ric shook his head. "You don''t need to do that. Just send these carcasses to the residents of the town. This will also help you prevent them from resorting to robbery." Hearing this, Ronan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You are truly a good example to follow, sir." "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" "My name?" ric hesitated, but upon seeing the expression on Ronan''s face, he decided to give him his name. "It''s ric¡­" Chapter 78 Leaving Alverton ric¡­ Why does his name sound familiar? Ronan thought upon hearing his name. "Captain Ronan, please don''t tell anyone about our involvement here. I don''t want to be disturbed during our stay here." ric cupped his fists. Ronan was taken aback, but he agreed without hesitation. "Don''t worry, Sir ric. My mouth is sealed. I will also inform my men to keep quiet." This was just a minor matterpared to what they had done for the town. Although he was a bit curious as to why he wanted to remain hidden, he didn''t probe further. "Thank you." ric smiled faintly. "You can leave the cleanup to us, Sir ric. You two should return. The public officials wille here soon to inspect the situation." Ronan suggested. (Note: Ronan doesn''t know that ric is a noble so he is using ''Sir'' here.) "Alright. You guys be careful. There might be more monsters hidden in the darkness." ric reminded with a serious tone. Ronan smiled and nodded. "We will." "Oh, by the way, if you need any help, you can find me at the eastern gate of the town." "I will keep it in mind. We''ll take our leave first." ric bid him farewell, turned around, and left with Henry. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire Ronan watched them leave with a thoughtful look on his face. A momentter, one of the warriors came to his side and reported. "Sir, only one monster had a beast soul crystal and took it with them." Ronan raised his eyebrows and red at the warrior. "There was no beast soul crystal found in the monster corpses." He muttered. The warrior was confused, but a look of realization dawned on him. "I understand, sir." "Good. Now gather everyone here. I need to tell them something." Ronan instructed with a stern voice. "Yes, sir!" ¡­ Meanwhile, ric and Henry were now on their way back to the inn. "My lord, I found this in the body of the alpha hyena. The rest don''t have a crystal." Henry took out a small ck crystal and handed it to ric. ric grabbed the crystal and observed it. The energy contained within the crystal was denser than the beast soul crystal dropped by the Spiked Grizzly Bear. Too bad there''s only one, but this is already a good harvest. I can use this to help my subordinates speed up their mana training. Thinking about this, he kept the crystal inside his leather pouch. "My lord, you should clean up first. It won''t be good if you return to the inn covered in blood." Henry handed him a clean cloth. "Thank you." ric used the cloth to wipe off the blood on his skin and armor. By the time they arrived at the inn, they found out that the guests were still lingering at the reception hall. All eyes immediately gathered on them the moment they entered. One of the guests approached them and asked. "Hey! What''s going on out there?" He sounded rude which made Henry annoyed. If ric hadn''t told them to remain lowkey, he would have already pped this man for talking down on ric. The man seemed to have realized his rudeness so he quickly apologized. "I''m sorry. I was too anxious just now because of the rm." ric didn''t mind this minor detail. "The town guards told us that they saw a pack of monsters outside the town, but it has already been dealt with so there''s no need to panic," ric exined briefly before he headed upstairs with Henry. Arthur who was standing guard outside Yvanna''s room immediately rushed to ric''s side upon seeing them. "My lord, how was it? What happened out there?" He asked. ric told him about what happened. "I see. I thought it was something more serious." Arthur was relieved. "You two should head back to your rooms. I will exin the situation to Yvanna first." ric waved his hand. "Yes, my lord." After they left, ric knocked on Yvanna''s door. "It''s me." "Wait a moment." Yvanna''s response came quickly. A few secondster, she opened the door and invited him in. ric told her about the incident. "I see. No wonder I can smell the scent of blood on you." The elf muttered while staring at him. ric wasn''t surprised by this. He was already aware of her keen sense of smell. "Does it make you ufortable?" He asked. Yvanna shook her head. "We also hunt wild animals and monsters for food." That night, the two talked longer than usual, deepening their unusual friendship.@@novelbin@@ *** The next day, ric''s group left the inn. No one came to disturb us. It seems like Ronan did as he had promised. ric thought as they headed to the eastern gate of the town. "This town is always attacked by monsters because of its location. Why didn''t they ask for military support? There should be plenty of households in Vale and Ryvaad to ask for help." Arthur mumbled while shaking his head. "Sir Arthur, do you really think that they haven''t asked for support from those cities?" Henry sneered. "What do you mean, Sir Henry?" Arthur nced at the old man. "I bet that their requests have been rejected. No noble household would offer support to a small town especially when they have nothing to gain." Henry replied. Unlike Arthur who was a mercenary his whole life, Henry has interacted with a lot of people from the nobility. In his opinion, they were opportunists who only sought profit and power. "Sir Henry is right. There is nothing to gain from helping this small town so those noble households will most likely reject their request for military assistance." ric chimed in. Soon, they finally arrived at the eastern gate. ric and Henry saw a few familiar faces, including Ronan. The captain of the town guards was surprised to see them. He wanted to greet them, but he suddenly remembered the promise he made to themst night. "Captain, aren''t they¡­" One of his subordinates discreetly pointed at ric''s group. Ronan shook his head and made a ''shushing'' gesture. He then stared at ric and saw him waving his hand. Seeing this, Ronan smiled and waved back at him. I hope we will see each other again, Sir ric. Chapter 79 Merchant Group "To think we would celebrate the new year in the middle of nowhere," Henry mumbled in a joking tone. Arthur chuckled at his words. "What does that mean?" Yvanna turned her head and curiously stared at them. She was now starting to getfortable with the two old warriors. She thought that ric would be the only human she could be friends with, but she realized that there were also other good humans. Henry was about to speak when he saw ric''s stern gaze. "It''s nothing. Don''t listen to them." ric shook his head. "Oh. Okay." "Sir Arthur, how is the progress of your mana training?" ric changed the topic. The former mercenary had a bitter look on his face. "I''m progressing slower than I thought, my lord." He felt ashamed to utter those words after receiving a lot of resources from ric and the household. "There''s no hurry." ric already expected this to happen. Arthur was already old so his body wasn''t reacting well to the resources he had taken. "Just keep on working on your mana training. You will eventually advance." ric added calmly. Although Arthur was no longer in his prime, his body was still in great shape for someone his age. Once he had gathered enough mana, his advancement would follow. "Yes, my lord. I will work hard." Arthur nodded with a serious look. ¡­ Later that afternoon, the group decided to rest under a big pine tree. "I''ll prepare our food so you can do your mana training." ric tapped Arthur''s shoulder. "Yes, my lord." Arthur nodded and immediately went to find a spot to begin his mana training. Meanwhile, Henry left to gather some firewood. Yvanna felt embarrassed that she was the only one who had nothing to do. She wanted to help them, but she didn''t even know how to cook or do any simple task. After hesitating for a long while, she gathered her courage and approached ric who was skinning a wild boar they had hunted earlier. "Can you teach me how to do that?" ric stared at her in surprise. The desire to learn was evident on her face and ric couldn''t bring himself to reject her. "Alright. Come here and observe how I do it." ric beckoned to her. Yvanna eagerly squatted next to him and watched him skin the wild boar with such precision. Amazing. He looks so young, but he is good at this.@@novelbin@@ "How are you so good with the knife?" She asked. ric didn''t stop what he was doing and responded with a light chuckle. "A lot of people taught me." After showing her how it was done, ric handed her the skinning knife. "Now go ahead and try it." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Just be careful not to cut your fingers." He reminded. Yvanna took the knife and clumsily skinned the wild boar. ric couldn''t see her expression, but her focused eyes made him smile. "This is harder than I thought," Yvanna muttered in embarrassment. "That''s alright. You just need more experience." ric chuckled. Suddenly, ric spotted a merchant grouping towards them. They had over thirty people and twenty of them were escort warriors. ric nudged the elf and whispered. "There are peopleing." Yvanna lifted her head and followed his gaze. A wary look shed in her eyes upon seeing the group of strangers. "Don''t speak too much when theye here. I''ll do the talking." ric reminded her. "Alright." Yvanna nodded. Arthur was still in the middle of his mana training so he didn''t sense anything. ric stood up, walked towards Arthur, and tapped his shoulder. He didn''t want to disturb Arthur''s training, but this was an emergency. "What can I do for you, my lord?" ric didn''t respond and pointed at the merchant group. Seeing them, Arthur frowned. The other side had twenty warriors. More than half of them were ordinary warriors and four were Knights, but there was one person that he was unable to gauge. "My lord, one of those warriors is dangerous," Arthur muttered. "I know." ric nodded. He knew which person he was talking about. It was a middle-aged man who was wearing a fur coat over his leather armor. He was taller than ric and was probably as big as Gnar. An Elite Knight? ric narrowed his eyes. This was a troublesome situation and it happened when Henry wasn''t around. I hope these people aren''t up to no good. With only Arthur by his side, Yvanna would be left unprotected if a battle urred. He could only pray that Henry woulde back sooner. A momentter, the merchant group stopped in front of their camp. The escort warriors calmly stared at them, making Yvanna feel ufortable. A fat man wearing a thick coat over his silk clothes stepped down from the leading carriage. He then cupped his fists at ric''s group and smiled faintly. "Hello, friends! I apologize for disturbing you. I''m Roy, a merchant from Hairo." Hairo? That''s quite far. ric was familiar with the cities in the North and Hairo was one of the most popted. The fat merchant scanned the faces of ric''s group after introducing himself. When he noticed the expensive clothes that ric was wearing, his smile deepened. "How can we help you, Sir Roy?" ric asked while looking at the wagons that were covered in cloth. Based on the structure of the wagons, he could already tell what was inside. ve wagons. In Astania, the ve trade wasn''t illegal and it was even one of the most in-demand businesses. Why do we have to encounter a ve trader of all people? ric knew that most people in this line of work were mostly involved in shady activities. "We are on our way to Redonia to deliver some goods. Do you want to take a look at them? I promise you won''t be disappointed. They are top quality products." Royughed while giving a signal to his servants. Before ric could respond, Roy''s servants removed the cloth that covered the wagons, revealing the ves inside. Chapter 80 A Familiar Face Among the Slaves "What do you think about my goods? You can have a closer look at them if you want." The fat merchant studied his expression, but ric remained calm so he couldn''t tell what he was thinking. As an experienced merchant, the first thing he would do was to observe his client''s behavior and expression, even the little movements they do. This was important in closing a deal since it gave him a rough idea about the client''s interest in his products. However, the young warrior in front of him showed no emotion. His face was calm and that indifferent look in his eyes made him feel unnerved. At this moment, ric was looking at the ves inside the wagons. Most of them looked emaciated as if they hadn''t eaten for a while. There were some with stronger bodies, but they were covered in bruises and wounds. Hm? That man¡­ ric suddenly saw a familiar face among the ves. Fredrinn Steelheart¡­ It was a face that he would never forget. Fredrinn was one of themanders who had served the crown prince during the civil war in his past life. He was known as the ''Steel Bastion'' because of his exemry aplishments in that war. His shield was like an unshakable wall that no warrior could break. However, the man inside the wagon almost had no resemnce to the famous warrior in his past life. The Fredrinn now looked like a beggar in his dirty linen clothes. Is that really him? ric turned his gaze at the merchant and asked. "Can you get them out of the wagon? I want to observe them up close." He didn''t want to make it sound obvious that he was aiming for a specific person. Roy grinned at his words. "Of course!" The fat merchant pped his hands and sent a signal to his servants. The ves were tied in chains so it was impossible for them to escape. The weight of the thick metal chains also made it hard for them to walk. There were a total of twenty ves. Eleven were men and the remaining nine were women. Their ages varied with some looking like they were under fifteen and the oldest one looking like they were in their forties. ric approached the ves one by one and pretended like he was inspecting them. "What kind of ves are you looking for, sir? I can help you choose if you give me some information." Roy rubbed his hands while eagerly following ric. From the way ric brings himself, his gait, his temperament, and his aura, Roy could already guess that he was someone of high status. This was also the main reason why he was willing to show off his goods to this young warrior. Some ves looked visibly terrified, while there were also some who looked like they had be numb to their cruel fate. When ric stood in front of one particr woman- a pregnantdy who looked to be in her thirties, Fredrinn who was expressionless the entire time suddenly sent him a re as if warning him not to do anything foolish. When ric saw his piercing gaze, he felt like he was looking at the same Fredrinn he knew in his past life. It''s indeed you, General Fredrinn. And this woman must be his wife. From what he remembered, Fredrinn''s wife had already died even before the Civil War. She was also the main reason why he joined the crown prince''s side. This was because the person who killed his wife was on the second prince''s side. I understand now. Something clicked in his mind as if thest pieces of a puzzle had been found. "I need an able-bodied man who knows how to hunt. I also need a woman who knows how to cook." ric randomly responded to Roy''s question. "I see." Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he tapped a particr ve who looked fit and strong. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire "How about this man right here, sir? He is one of the best hunters in his vige." ric nced at the ve he was suggesting and shook his head. "I want that guy." He muttered as he pointed at Fredrinn. The merchant had a troubled look on his face. "That¡­"@@novelbin@@ "This man is an Elite Knight so he is very expensive. I''m not saying that you can''t afford him. It''s just that I already promised to bring this man to someone in Redonia." He exined. ric''s face remained unchanged. "One beast soul crystal for him. That''s my price." "One hundred gold- huh? Did you just say one beast soul crystal?" Roy couldn''t believe his ears. Since when are beast soul crystals used in buying ves? "You heard me right. I''m willing to pay you one beast soul crystal for that person." ric nodded with a calm look. Roy gulped down hard. Even a normal beast soul crystal could fetch around 500 gold coins. That man from Redonia only promised to give me 300 gold coins for this Elite Knight. This offer is good, but I might offend that person if I can''t give him what he wants. Roy was in a dilemma. He wanted to ept ric''s offer, but he didn''t want to offend the client in Redonia. While he was hesitating, ric beckoned to Arthur. Seeing this, the former mercenary immediately walked towards him. "What can I do for you my l- ehem, sir?" "Give me the beast soul crystal," ric whispered. Arthur was taken aback, but he still handed him the beast soul crystal. "I''m sorry, Sir Arthur. This was supposed to be my reward for you." ric apologetically nced at him. Arthur shook his head and smiled. "It''s alright, sir. You don''t need to apologize." ric sighed and tapped his shoulder. "Don''t worry. I will give you the one we got from the Saber-fanged Wolf once we return to the estate." Arthur''s eyes lit up upon hearing this. The beast soul crystal from the Saber-fanged wolf was a Disaster-grade so it was more valuable. If he could get it, his advancement was already guaranteed. Chapter 81 Roys Decision "Here''s the beast soul crystal that I''m willing to trade for that man. You are a merchant so I''m sure that you can see its value." ric showed the crystal to Roy. Hm? Roy was stunned. "Can I take a look at it?" "Sure." ric nodded and handed him the crystal. Although giving it to him was quite risky, he could sense that Henry was already nearby. If Roy would do something foolish, he wouldn''t hesitate to cut him with his sword! Roy carefully took the beast soul crystal. He then used a magnifying ss to examine the surface of the crystal. He wasn''t a warrior so he could only use another method to identify its authenticity. From the weight, this should be the beast soul crystal of a powerful Fatal-Grade monster. The texture is just right and its gloss is smooth. This is an authentic beast soul crystal¡­ Roy was tempted to take it away, but he felt that something bad would happen if he were to take it. He took a deep breath and returned the crystal to the young warrior. "This is indeed a real beast soul crystal. Can you tell me from what kind of monster did you get it from?" He probed. ric smiled and responded. "We encountered a Scaled Hyena pack yesterday and we got this from the leader of the pack." Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. A Scaled Hyena pack is mostlyposed of more than fifty members. Sometimes even a hundred for arger pack. Is this guy telling me that they defeated that many monsters with only three of them? Unless there are more of them¡­ Thinking about this, Roy narrowed his eyes. Truthfully, he had no ns to make a deal with this young warrior''s group. He only made an offer to see if they had some money with them. His real objective was to rob them, but he had to temporarily put the idea aside since they might have more people lurking around. "Please give me a moment to think about it, sir. I''ll also talk with mypanions regarding your offer." Roy cupped his fists at the young warrior. "Sure." ric nodded indifferently. Roy turned around and walked towards the captain of his escort warriors. "Sir Gavin, can you sense the presence of other warriors nearby other than those people?" Roy asked in a whispering voice. Gavin''s expression was solemn. "I can sense the presence of a powerful warrior hidden behind the trees over there. I don''t know that person''s exact level, but there is a high chance that this warrior is an Elite Knight like me." An Elite Knight?! Roy raised his eyebrows in surprise. Luckily he didn''t do anything stupid or something bad would have happened. "If a battle happens, can your group handle them?" Roy didn''t want to give up just yet. Gavin frowned. "Other than the person hiding, that old swordsman is also not your average Knight. His mana is solid and it might take three of my Knights to take him down. Moreover, that young Knight is not a pushover either. He should be as powerful as that old swordsman. Most importantly, the person whose face is covered¡­ has a weird mana fluctuation. It''s not simr to the mana that we warriors possess." Roy didn''t expect to hear this from him. What made him even more bothered was what Gavin said about the person whose face was covered with cloth. Don''t tell me that person is a beast soul warrior¡­ Gavin didn''t express it directly, but Roy understood the meaning behind his words. A powerful beast soul warrior could effortlessly kill a group of Knights! Everyone knows how powerful they were. Just the thought of it made Roy feel terrified. After almost five minutes of hesitation, Roy decided to abandon his initial n. I might as well make money and connections here. If that person is indeed a beast soul warrior, then I won''t lose out on this deal. After making a decision, Roy nervously approached ric''s group. "Sir I have made a decision." The merchant beamed. "Oh? Let''s hear your answer." ric nodded. "I am willing to ept your offer." Roy smiled and pointed at Fredrinn. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire "That man in exchange for your beast soul crystal. In addition, I will also give you two more ves as a token of my goodwill. What do you think, sir?" Hearing this, ric''s lips curved upwards. "I like your straightforwardness, Sir Roy." "Can I choose the two additional ves?" What made this guy eager to close this deal? ric wondered. "Of course! Please feel free to choose anyone you like." Royughed heartily. The ves could hear their conversation since they didn''t bother to lower their voices. At this moment, Fredrinn was worried that he would be separated from his wife. He wanted to break the chains that bound him, but he was unable to destroy them. Seeing his attempts to escape, Gavin and a few warriors immediately restrained him. "What''s going on?" ric frowned when he saw themotion. "There seems to be a minor problem, sir, but don''t worry, the people I brought are professionals. They know how to deal with this kind of situation." Roy chuckled awkwardly. "Just give me a moment." Roy turned around and hurried over to Fredrinn. "Hey! Stop! I will punish your wife and your child if you do something foolish!" The fat merchant muttered angrily. This guy actually embarrassed him in front of his clients. Fredrinn stopped struggling when he heard those words, but his eyes were burning with fury. "Can you say those words if I wasn''t in chains?" His voice was cold and deep like the abyss. Roy was about to p him when he felt a tap on his shoulder.@@novelbin@@ Hm? When he saw that it was the young warrior, his gaze softened. "Sir? I was about to discipline this stubborn ve. I apologize for making you see this." ric shook his head. "It''s fine. Let me talk to this man." Roy raised an eyebrow, but he still agreed. "Alright, but you need to be careful." ric nodded calmly. Chapter 82 Buying Three Slaves for One Beast Soul Crystal After Roy left, ric turned his head to Fredrinn. "My name is ric. What''s your name?" Fredrinn''s eyes seemed like they could spurt fire from how he was staring at him, but ric remained unperturbed. Realizing that he had no intention to respond, ric added. "I know what you are worried about. That pregnant woman is your wife, right?" Hearing this, Fredrinn finally reacted. "If you touch her, I''ll kill you." He muttered while breathing heavily. ric smiled and shook his head. "I didn''t speak with you to provoke you. I want to help you." Fredrinn narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?" "The merchant told me that I could take two additional ves with me. Do you know what that means?" ric felt a bit guilty for using this man''s feelings, but Fredrinn was someone that he truly needed toplete his n. If he could get this man to serve him, he would have a future Transcendent Knight! An expert at that level would be a huge help to his n to stop the Civil War from happening. Fredrinn hesitated. He understood the implications of his words. He looked at his pregnant wife whose limbs were bound by chains. She had small wounds on her skin. Her clothes were tattered and full of dirt. Seeing her like this made him feel like he was being torn apart. "I will follow you if you set my wife free." Fredrinn stared deeply at the young Knight. ric was taken aback. "Don''t you want to be with her?" "I want to be with her and it hurts me to even think about being separated from her, but what hurts me more is seeing her live under such terrible conditions." Fredrinn lowered his head. Sigh. What a loving husband. "Why don''t you just live with your wife? I don''t n to take you back as ves." "Huh? What do you mean?" Fredrinn couldn''t believe what he was hearing. "You''re an Elite Knight. You can work as a warrior for our household instead. As for your wife, she can work as a cook or a gardener. If you don''t like that, I''ll let you choose where your wife can work." ric''s words made him dumbfounded. "You¡­ Are you telling the truth?" Fredrinn was agitated. This could be the opportunity that he was praying for, but it was too good to be true. ric smiled and nodded his head. "Of course. I''m a follower of Aru. You can trust me." He took out a sun ne that symbolized the benevolent god. "If my words are untrue, then may my soul turn into an evil spirit and wander hell for all eternity." Fredrinn was stunned by his oath. Even the most faithful believers of Aru would never dare to utter such words. "Since you are willing to say those words, I''ll trust you." Fredrinn took a deep breath and muttered. "My name is Fredrinn Steelheart. I''m yours tomand, sir." "Good. Just wait for a bit." ric tapped the man''s shoulder. "Yes, sir." After talking with Fredrinn, ric approached the fat merchant and gave him the beast soul crystal. "I have decided which ves to take with me." "Great! Just tell which of them you are taking and I give them to you." Roy couldn''t conceal the excitement on his face when he took the crystal. "I want that woman." ric pointed at Fredrinn''s wife. This made Roy feel a bit troubled, but he still epted his choice. The Elite Knight must have spoken with him about it. Tsk! Too bad. That pregnantdy could have fetched me a decent price. "And thest one I''m taking is that man over there." ric pointed at the man who was introduced by Roy as one of the best hunters in his vige. "Good choices, sir! Just give me a second. I''ll get them for you." Roy sent a signal to his servants. A momentter, Fredrinn and the two additional ves he had chosen were separated from the rest of the ves. "Sir, here are your goods." Royughed as he presented the three ''goods'' to ric. "I enjoyed doing business with you, sir!" The merchant extended his hand while beaming at him. ric didn''t want to shake his hand, but he still did it for the sake of finalizing the deal. "Likewise." He responded tly. "If you want to do business with me again, you can find me in Hairo. Just look for Roy''s Merchant Group. I have some fame in the city so the residents will give you the right directions." Roy didn''t want to cut off this connection here since he felt that the young warrior was no ordinary person. After all, not just anyone could employ the service of a beast soul warrior. "Alright. I will remember it." ric nodded. "By the way, where are you headed to, sir? If we are heading in the same direction, we can just go together. It will be safer for us to move in arger group." Roy suggested. "It''s alright. We can take care of ourselves, but thank you for the offer." ric politely declined. "I see. What a pity." Roy tried to prolong their conversation, but ric didn''t seem to be keen on chatting with him. The merchant sensed his disinterest so he didn''t insist on keeping the young warrior for long. After exchanging goodbyes, Roy and the merchant group finally left. ric watched them leave with a calm look on his face. Only when they disappeared from his line of sight did he lower his guard. "They''re finally gone," Arthur muttered. Henry who was hiding behind a nearby tree also revealed himself. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire "The guy wearing a fur coat detected my presence. We should leave soon, my lord. He won''t be an easy opponent." The old man spoke in a serious tone.@@novelbin@@ ric waved his hand. "There''s nothing to worry. If they attack us, they will be the ones in trouble." He chuckled. Hm? Henry stared at him with a perplexed look. "Follow me. I''ll introduce you guys to someone." ric smiled as he tapped the old man''s shoulder. Chapter 83 To the Fortress City Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire ric beckoned to Fredrinn and the other two. "Come here. We need to get those things off of you guys." When they heard his words, they were bbergasted. Looking at their stunned faces, ric chuckled. "Stop dawdling ande here." Fredrinn nodded to his wife and whispered. "We can trust him." His wife hesitated for a moment, but she still chose to listen to her husband. "Alright." She walked nervously towards ric and bowed to him. "Greetings, sir." ric nodded to acknowledge her greeting. "What''s your name?" "M-My name is ine, sir." She responded without daring to look at him in the eye. ric used the key given by Roy to remove the locks on her chains. ng! As soon as the chains were removed, ine felt like she could finally breathe again. "Thank you, sir!" ric beckoned to the man standing beside Fredrinn. "What''s your name?" The former hunter was a bit nervous. He didn''t know what kind of person his new owner was. His only hope was that he would be treated well. "My name is Mark, sir." "Not bad. You managed to be a Knight Apprentice. Did you receive formal training from someone?" ric asked while observing the man''s expression. "I live in a small vige, sir. We were only taught how to hunt. As for Knight training¡­" Mark shook his head. Oh? He managed to be a Knight Apprentice without formal training? He couldn''t sense any falsehoods in his words so it was most likely true. "Do you want to be a Knight?" ric asked with a smile. Hearing this, Mark widened his eyes. "Absolutely! That''s my longtime wish, sir!" ric grinned at his enthusiastic response. "Alright. If you''re willing to follow me, I will have someone train you to be a Knight." Without hesitation, Mark kneeled on one knee and muttered. "I''m willing to follow you, sir!" ric tapped the man''s shoulder and said. "Get up. There''s no need for you to kneel before me. Let''s get those chains removed first." Click! A clicking sound echoed as soon as the key was inserted into the keyhole. After having his chains removed, Mark felt light as a feather. Unknowingly, tears streamed down his cheeks as emotions welled up in his heart. Finally, it was Fredrinn''s turn. Henry who was standing behind ric stared intently at this beggar-looking man. If Fredrinn revealed a trace of hostility, he was ready to pull out his sword. On the other hand, ric remained calm. He knew Fredrinn''s personality very well. He was a man who would never break his promise. That was the kind of person Fredrinn was. "I will do as I had promised. I will follow you, sir!" Fredrinn solemnly uttered. ric nodded and smiled faintly. "Let''s get this over with so we can get something to eat." He nced at the chains tied to Fredrinn''s limbs. They really used mithril chains to restrain him. Mithril was a rare metal that can only be found deep into the earth. Only a Transcendent Knight can forge something using this material. That was how durable it was. After his chains were removed, Fredrinn bowed to ric. "Thank you, sir!" ric waved his hand. "You don''t have to thank me. Now go to your wife. I know you''re eager to hold her." He chuckled. Fredrinn cupped his fists and jogged to his wife. The couple hugged each other and exchanged a deep kiss. ric looked away and shook his head. "Let''s do the introductionster. Leave them be for now." He tapped Henry''s shoulder. The old man was still worried. "My lord, are you sure about setting that man free? He is an Elite Knight, a powerful one at that." He whispered. He could sense it just by looking at Fredrinn. "You can rest assured. I know what kind of person he is. Trust me on this." ric muttered reassuringly. "Alright, but I''ll keep an eye on him just to make sure," Henry responded cautiously. An hourter, they gathered for their meal. The atmosphere was a bit awkward with the presence of three more people in the group. "You guys should get to know each other since you will be colleagues soon." ric broke the silence. Upon hearing his words, everyone stopped what they were doing, nced at each other, and exchanged friendly nods. ric didn''t push them. It would take some time for them to learn how to trust each other. "Give this to your wife. She needs to eat more meat for the child in her belly." ric said as he handed a bowl of boar meat soup to Fredrinn. Thetter sent him a grateful look before he gave the bowl to his wife. ine bowed to ric. "Thank you, sir." "Since you guys will be serving me from now on, allow me to reintroduce myself." ric scanned the three former ves. "My name is ric Silversword, the heir of House Silversword. Starting today, you are no longer ves, but my people!" The three were stunned. They thought that he was just a rich young warrior. It turned out that he was actually the son of a noble! "Greetings, my lord!" They stood up simultaneously and bowed to him. "Rx. There''s no need to be nervous." Although he tried to make them feelfortable, the three became more restrained after knowing his identity. After eating their meal, ric told them about their destination. "We are heading to the Enchanted Woonds." Looking at their shocked faces, ric continued. "I know that it''s dangerous, especially for ine so there''s no need for the three of you to follow us." He grabbed a stick and drew a box on the snow. "There is a fortress city close to the Enchanted Woonds. The three of you will stay there and wait for us." "My lord, I''m willing to go with you to the Enchanted Woonds!" Mark expressed his desire to go with them. However¡­ "No." ric shook his head. "It''s too dangerous for you to be there. I''m sure you are aware of the dangers within that forest." Mark nodded apprehensively. Almost everyone in the empire knew what kind of creatures resided within the Enchanted Woonds. "You guys get ready, we will head out at once." *** Three days slipped by, and on the afternoon of the 4th of January, the group finally arrived at the fortress city called Turtle Fort. It got its name from the turtle-like forts that surrounded the city. This fortress city was Astania''s first line of defense against the monsters thate from the Enchanted Woonds. It also boasted a huge number of warriors who were ready to protect the empire''s borders. At this moment, the group had just passed by the heavily fortified gates. The huge ballistas sitting at the top of the walls made them feel safe and secure. They had to constantly keep a lookout when they were traveling outside. Now, they felt that they could finally rest easy. The group traveled for another hour to find a suitable inn. They didn''t choose a famous establishment and selected a rtively unknown ce. This was to keep their identities hidden. At the inn''s dining hall, the group gathered for an afternoon snack. "We should get some rest tonight and resume our journey tomorrow," ric said while looking at Yvanna. Her face was still covered with only her eyes and mouth visible. Yvanna nodded. "I''ll listen to you." She was excited to return to her home. She has been gone for a long time and she missed her family and friends.@@novelbin@@ Just a little bit more. She muttered in her heart. She was grateful to ric and the rest of the group who came to apany her, especially ric. If it weren''t for him, she might have frozen to death a long time ago. Thinking about this, she looked at his side profile, her gaze softening. As if sensing her eyes, ric turned his head. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He raised his head and chuckled. "Thank you. I wouldn''t have gotten this far on my own." The elf responded while staring straight into his eyes. ric almost fell into a trance. He quickly looked away and muttered. "That''s what friends do." Friends? Yvanna''s lips curved upwards. That''s right. I have a human friend now. ric was the first human she had fully epted as a friend. Sensing the unusual atmosphere between the two, the others could only pretend like they were statues. ric realized what was happening and immediately cleared his throat. Ehem! "You don''t need to feel embarrassed, my lord." Henry tapped his back and sent him a knowing nce. ric ignored his teasing nce and opened the cyan screen to check his progress. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 444/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 34+ Agility: 43+ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3140 Stat Points: 47 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) I still have a long way to go. Chapter 84 Using the Stat Points I Saved Up to Increase My Agility The next day. Before leaving the city, they bought a horse for Yvanna to increase their travel speed. ¡­ Looking at the dark clouds that hung above the horizon, ric clicked his tongue. "It seems like we have run out of luck." Another snowstorm was approaching and from the vast cluster of clouds, it looked like it would be more severe than the most recent one. The faces of the two old warriors turned serious upon seeing the gloomy weather. The Enchanted Woonds was more than three hundred miles away from Turtle Fort. Normally, it would have taken them less than ten hours to get there, but because thend was covered in snow, they would need to slow down and be careful on the road. If they moved carelessly, they might fall into a pit or encounter some venomous creatures. As usual, Henry took the lead in navigating the road. He cautiously eyed the surroundings, ensuring that no danger was present. In the next few hours, the group managed to travel fifty miles without getting into an ident, but things took a turn when they reached a ny-mile distance. They saw arge group of goblins hunting a herd of Iron Tail Buffaloes. The sharp shrieks of the goblins and the furious roar of the Iron Tail Buffaloes resonated in the air. There were more Iron Tail Buffaloes, but they were helpless against the aggressive goblins. "My lord, we have an issue here. There are goblins-" Before Henry could give a report, he saw ric zooming past him on his horse. "Huh?! My lord! What are you doing?!" Henry widened his eyes when he saw ric charging towards the goblins with his swords unsheathed. After a moment of surprise, Henry shot a nce at Arthur and said. "Stay here and protect Lady Yvanna. I will go and support Lord ric." Without waiting for Arthur''s response, Henry squeezed his legs and urged his horse to rush forward. Meanwhile, Yvanna sent Arthur a confused look and asked. "What''s happening? Why did ric¡­" Arthur was simrly baffled. "I have no idea, mydy." He shook his head with a bitter smile. At this moment, ric had already attacked the nearest goblin, chopping off its head with a single swipe of his sword. Swoosh! "Die, you fucking goblins!" He shouted with a crazed look in his eyes. ___ Mission: Kill the Goblin Chieftain Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 15 Stat Points, Random Trait Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 800 Battle Points, - 5 EXP ___ Even without this mission, he would still attack these goblins. The mission only gave him one more reason to attack them. Subsequently, some goblins turned around and lunged at him, brandishing their weapons furiously. Eiiik!! Eiiik! Eiiik! Their strange shrieking sounds drifted into ric''s ears, making him even more annoyed. "Shut the fuck up you filthy creatures!" He roared. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! All the goblins that attacked him were cut into pieces and their mangled bodies fell into the snow-fillednd. Seeing the death of their brethren, the few hobgoblins leading the group became furious. They abandoned the Iron Tail Buffaloes and changed their target. One, two, three¡­ Hm¡­ Five hobgoblins in total. ric narrowed his eyes and his face suddenly turned serious. I have 48 stat points now including the one I got from this morning''s daily mission. I''ll use everything to increase my speed. Thinking about this, ric didn''t even hesitate. Stat Points: 48 ¡ª> 0 Agility: 43 ¡ª> 91 ric sensed a huge change in his body. His swords felt lighter in his hands and the monsters in front of him seemed to have be slower. With my current speed, riding on my horse will only slow me down. After assessing the situation, ric jumped off his horse and rushed towards the enemies. He moved so fast that he left the Wind Horse in the dust. When the monsters were within his range, he released a flurry of shes, cutting down everything that blocked his path! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! No goblins could touch him. Even the powerful hobgoblins fell under his sword. In the next moment, he had already killed half of the goblin warriors. Henry who was about to support him pulled the reins of his horse and watched the scene in utter disbelief. What in the bloody hell is this? It was a total carnage. The goblins and hobgoblins died one after another. Was he always this fast? Henry''s mouth went agape upon witnessing ric''s lightning-fast sword strikes. Suddenly, the ground trembled. Henry turned his head and saw a muscr goblin holding a massive hammer made of wood. A goblin chieftain?! "My lord, be careful! There''s a goblin chi-" "Huh?" Henry''s mouth twitched all of a sudden. Instead of retreating, ric actually charged at the goblin chieftain! I need to help him! Henry squeezed his legs and pulled his sword. "I''ming, my lord!" He shouted. At that moment, ric and the goblin chieftain had shed. Bang! The massive hammer struck the ground and created arge pit. However, it was unable to hit ric. Before it could touch him, he turned his body and riposted, pushing his swords into the abdomen of the creature. Kshhkk! Kshhkk! The goblin chieftain stared at the tiny human in front of it with its eyes wide open. ric pulled his swords, drawing a spray of blood in the air. The goblin chieftain staggered after being stabbed deeply. Rrraaahh!!! It roared and smashed its hammer towards ric, intending to crush him into a pulp. However, with a simple footwork, ric nimbly dodged the destructive blow. Bang!! Another pit was made after the massive hammer struck the ground. While it was still in the process of lifting its hammer, ric took the opportunity tond a few more hits. This time, he stabbed the tendons on its legs, making it sway and fall awkwardly on the ground. Thud! As soon as it fell, ric stabbed its head with his sword. "Die!" Ksshhkk!! The monster died on the spot with its eyes staring wide at him. It''s weaker than the one we fought in the Evergreen Forest. ric thought while pulling his sword from its forehead. "My lord!" Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire ric turned his head and nodded to Henry. "Sir Henry, please help me check the bodies of those hobgoblins. See if we can find some beast soul crystals from them." He instructed in a calm voice. Henry took a deep breath. He was still processing what he had witnessed. Just how fast is he progressing? "Yes, my lord." The old man responded with a nk look. ric moved his gaze back to the goblin chieftain''s corpse and made a cut on its chest. He then pushed his hand inside to see if it had a beast soul crystal. Soon, he felt a round object hidden within its internal organs. ric pulled it out from the corpse, revealing a small green-colored crystal with sshes of brown. Its color was way more uniquepared to the beast soul crystal from the other goblin chieftain. What an interestingbination of colors! ric wiped off the blood on the crystal using his clothes before putting it inside his leather pouch. With the death of the goblin chieftain, the remaining goblins and hobgoblins retreated. ric didn''t chase them since his target was only the goblin chieftain. ___ Mission Complete! Rewards: 150 Battle Points, 15 Stat Points, Random Trait Upgrade Card x1 ___ [Do you want to use the Random Trait Upgrade Card?] [Yes] [No] ric nced at the card that appeared in his hand. He had already received something like this before so he knew what it was used for. ric pressed [Yes]. [Congrattions! Your trait, Tracking (F) has been upgraded to Tracking (E)!] A new set of information flooded his mind in that instant. From the footprints of specific animals, their behaviors, and many other aspects rted to tracking were incorporated into ric''s mind. So tracking had these many different elements¡­ The method I learned when I was a kid is nothingpared to this. This will be useful when hunting down enemies. He chuckled. He then focused his attention on the progress in his stats. He had gotten 150 Battle Points and 15 Stat Points. I should push my agility to 100 and distribute the remaining points to my stamina. Thinking about this, ric immediately made the adjustments. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 444/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100 Vitality: 27+@@novelbin@@ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3290 Stat Points: 0 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He had already maxed out two of his attributes and it made him feel satisfied. "My lord, I only found two beast soul crystals from the hobgoblins'' corpses." Henry''s voice drifted into his ears while he was looking at the cyan screen. The old man handed him the two crystals he had found. The harvest this time is decent. ric thought after getting the two beast soul crystals from him. Chapter 85 Alaric Leads the Way ric looked at the monster corpses around them and felt a bit regretful that they couldn''t bring them all to be sold. "We should leave now. The smell of blood here will attract more monsters." There was no choice. They could only abandon the corpses. Henry only collected some of the Iron Tail Bufo meat to be used for their trip. While he was putting in the meat he had gathered inside his leather bag, he noticed that some of the Iron Tail Buffaloes were looking at him with unkind gazes. The old Elite Knight stomped his foot and scared them with his aura. When the Iron Tail Buffaloes sensed his overwhelming aura, they immediately fled in the opposite direction. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire At this moment, ric detected the presence of more monsters in the distance. "We need to go. Some monsters are already on their way here." Hearing his stern voice, everyone nodded. After carefully checking their belongings, the group made a detour to avoid the monsters who were heading to the corpses. Suddenly¡­ Crackle! Crackle! ric looked up and saw shes of lightning in the midst of the dark clouds. "We need to hurry up!"@@novelbin@@ He squeezed his legs harder to convey his instructions to the horse. Meanwhile, the others alsomanded their horses to move faster. Facing a snowstorm at their current location wasn''t ideal. There were no markings orndmarks so it would be difficult to navigate the road once their visibility was reduced. Along the way, they encountered some monsters, but they didn''t trigger a mission so ric decided to ignore them. ¡­ Several hours passed by in the blink of an eye. The group was about to reach the halfway mark, but snow started falling, so they decided to find a safe ce to camp. Forcing their way in the middle of a snowstorm would be a terrible idea since there was a high chance of them getting lost. "My lord, it seems like there are no caves nearby," Henry reported with a grave look. A cave was the best ce to camp during snowstorms since they could shield themselves from the cold. Unfortunately, there were only trees nearby. There wasn''t even a mountain or a hill. ric scanned the surroundings and furrowed his eyebrows. "Find arge tree and cut a space enough to fit all of us." He instructed. Hearing this, Henry nodded. He had also thought of this as his backup n. "Yes, my lord." After looking around for almost an hour, they finally found a big tree. Henry used his sword to cut a big chunk on its trunk. He also cleaned the space inside and made it suitable for them to rest. "What about the horses?" Yvanna asked. There wasn''t enough space for the horses to go in and this made her worried. Both the old warriors nced at her and awkwardly scratched their heads, unable to utter a response. Seeing this, ric opened his mouth to save the old men from the awkward situation. "We have no choice. We can only let them go." "But they might freeze to death." Yvanna frowned. She couldn''t bring herself to abandon the horses. "I understand your concern, Yvanna, but we have no time to look for a suitable ce for them. Letting them go is the best option." ric calmly replied. His main priority was to keep everyone safe. As for the horses, although it was regretful, there was no choice. Yvanna was silent for a moment. She looked away from him, stroked the head of her horse, and muttered. "I''m sorry." ¡­ By evening, the snowstorm became more severe and it looked like it would continue for several days. At this moment, inside the big tree. Henry nced at ric and reminded him in a whispering voice. "My lord, the baron''s birthday ising." "I know." ric nodded calmly. Meanwhile, Yvanna who was still slightly upset stared at him in surprise when she heard this. The displeasure in her heart instantly vanished and was reced with guilt and self-reproach. They helped me and escorted me here despite the dangers, but I actually felt displeased just because we abandoned the horses. "I''m sorry. Because of me, you might not make it to your father''s birthday." She already knew a lot about ric, including his identity. When Henry mentioned the baron, she knew that he was talking about ric''s father. "It''s fine. Before I decided to help you, I already considered this matter." He paused and sent her a reassuring smile before he continued. "There is still some time before that dayes. I''m sure we can make it somehow." Yvanna felt better, but she was still embarrassed to face him. There was a long silence after that. Only the fierce winds and the ''ka-ka'' sounds of the me could be heard. ¡­ The next day, the snowstorm that they expected tost for a couple more days miraculously settled down so the group immediately resumed their journey after ric''s routine exercises. They tried to look for the horses, but they were nowhere to be found. Their tracks had also been covered by the piles of snow so even with ric''s trait ''tracking'', they failed to find them. Without their mounts, the group could only continue the journey on foot. "Are you feeling cold?" ric asked when he saw Yvanna shivering. "It''s still manageable." Yvanna stubbornly responded. ric didn''t believe this. She has a soul mark, but she hasn''t be a beast soul warrior yet. Which means her physical condition is simr to that of a normal human. Is this an elf''s pride? ric thought. He took a thick fur scarf from his leather bag and helped her wear it around her neck. "This will help you keep yourself warmer." He then took a nce at her hands and said. "Let''s change your gloves too." Arthur who was walking behind them smiled upon seeing this scene. Ahh¡­ Youth. In the next twelve hours or about half a day, the group only managed to travel less than seventy miles because the snow was getting thicker which made it harder for them to walk. Their clothes that had been warmed by the bonfire were once again dampened by the snow making them ufortable. "My lord, I can''t recognize the path anymore," Henry reported while shaking his head. ric frowned and observed the surroundings. The trees looked oddly simr so it was difficult to tell which path they should take. Because of his ''tracking'', he instinctively knew which direction to go, but he still hadn''t put this instinctive tracking to good use. I only use this trait in hunting so I don''t know how reliable it is. ric sensed everyone''s gazes on him. They were waiting for his decision and their trust weighed heavily on him. He took a deep breath before he made a decision. "Follow me. I''ll lead the way this time." ric stared deeply at them. The two old warriors looked visibly surprised by his words. ric had never disyed his navigation skills so they weren''t sure if he could do the job well. However, despite the doubts, they still nodded and chose to trust his decision. "Do you trust me?" ric stared at the elf. "Mn." Yvanna hummed in response. ric smiled faintly and said. "Don''t worry. I will make sure that you can go back to your home." Yvanna''s eyes shed with gratitude. "Thank you, ric." Under ric''s lead, they persisted with their journey. At first, they thought that he was just blindly walking without a sense of direction, but his calm and steady demeanor made them rethink their thoughts. Soon, the trees had be more numerous- a sign that they were getting closer to the Enchanted Woonds. "My lord, I sense someone approaching! There''s a lot of them!" Henry''s voice suddenly drifted into their ears. ric frowned and ced his hands on the handle of his swords. The two old warriors also prepared to engage inbat. In the next moment, a few figures appeared on the branches of the trees, looking down at them with unfriendly eyes. Elves! ric and the two old warriors were stunned by their presence. "Humans! How dare you infiltrate this sacred woods?!" Shouted an elf warrior who was aiming his bow and arrow. "Huh?" The elf warrior who seemed to be the leader of the bunch detected a familiar aura among the humans. He frowned when his eyesnded on the person whose face was covered with a cloth. An elf? When he realized that it was an elf, his expression fell. "How dare you filthy humans capture an elf?!" He roared. The atmosphere became tense as soon as his words fell into everyone''s ears. The elves nocked their arrows and aimed at the humans with furious gazes. "Wait!" Yvanna who was silent the entire time removed the cloth on her head, revealing her beautiful face. "Lower your weapons at once!" She shouted in amanding tone. A shocking thing happened after she revealed her face. Chapter 86 Yvannas Reward The leading elf jumped down from the tree and approached Yvanna with a look of disbelief. "Your Highness¡­" His voice was trembling as if he couldn''t control his emotions. Yvanna''s face remained cold as she uttered. "Did you not hear my words?" Sensing the gravity in her tone, the elf immediately realized his mistake. He made a hand signal and shouted. "Lower your weapons! Do you not recognize the princess?!" The elves were terrified upon hearing his words. They quickly lowered their weapons, jumped down from the trees, and kneeled before her. "We greet Your Highness!" Their voice resonated through the forest, startling the birds nearby. Meanwhile, ric and the two old warriors were bbergasted. They never would have thought that the elf they had traveled with was actually the princess of the elves. No wonder she was secretive about her identity. I thought she was just a high elf or something. It turns out she is actually a princess¡­ ric thought as he watched the scene. At this moment, Yvanna was still reprimanding the elves. "Do you even know that these men saved my life? If it weren''t for them, I would have died in some unknown ce! You guys even dare to point your weapons at them!" She spoke harshly and not one elf dared to even raise their head.@@novelbin@@ Damn. So fierce! ric couldn''t believe that the shy elf also had this side of her. "It''s alright, Yvanna. Don''t be too harsh on them. They are only doing their jobs." He spoke to assuage her anger. Yvanna nced at him, her gaze visibly softening. "Fine. Since you have spoken for them, then I will forget this matter." She then turned her gaze back to the elven warriors and muttered. "Stand up." The elven warriors stood up in unison. They looked very organized and well-trained with no sloppy movements. "Yvanna," ric called out. "Mn?" Yvanna stared at her questioningly. "I have already done as I had promised. Since you have your people now, I think it''s time for us to return." ric smiled faintly. Hearing this, Yvanna felt a trace of reluctance. She has been with them for a long time so she didn''t want to separate just like that. "Why don''t youe with us for a while? I will give you a properpensation for bringing me back home." She suggested while staring deeply at ric''s eyes. The elven warriors looked visibly shocked by her offer. They had never brought humans to their territory so they found it unbelievable for the princess to invite them. ric shook his head with an apologetic smile. "I would love to go with you, but we must go. I''m sure you already know the reason." Yvanna sighed in regret, but she didn''t insist. "I understand, but I can''t let you go unrewarded for your efforts." After she uttered those words, she looked at the leader of the elven warriors and spoke to him in elvennguage. ric didn''t understand anything, but he saw the look of surprise on the elven warrior''s face. A momentter, the elven warrior barked amand to his subordinates. "Just wait for a moment, ric. This won''t take a lot of time." Yvanna spoke to him inmonnguage. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire "Alright. We will wait for a bit." ric nodded. "Since we will be bidding farewellter, why don''t we chat while we wait for them to return?" Yvanna suggested with a light smile. "That''s not a problem, but I think those two won''t be able to talk with you like how they used to." ric chuckled as he pointed at the two old warriors who were staring at her with awkward gazes. Yvannaughed when she realized the meaning behind his words. "I apologize for being harsh on you before, Your Highness. I didn''t know your identity." Henry squeezed out a smile. "Me too. I shouldn''t have yelled at you back then." Arthur added. Looking at the two apologetic old men, Yvanna shook her head and smiled. "It''s alright. You two are like mentors to me and I found it refreshing to be treated like a normal person despite our racial differences. Besides, I haven''t thank you enough for teaching me a lot of things." While they were chatting, the elves were stunned when they saw howfortable their princess was with the humans. In their kingdom, she was known as an aloof woman, a high and mighty goddess that no one would even dare to look at. After about less than an hour of waiting, the elven warriors who had left earlier finally returned. They had brought with them five muscr horses covered with long, silky manes. Unlike wind horses, these guys looked bigger and more powerful. Additionally, they also possessed mana equivalent to that of a Knight! One of the five stood out in particr. It was a brown horse with a silky ck mane and a striking white ze running down its face. This horse''s mana was so dense that Henry who was an Elite Knight felt that he was weaker than it. "Yvanna, those are¡­" ric could already tell what was about to happen, but he still sent Yvanna an inquisitive look. Yvanna smiled when she saw his expression. "I don''t know if you''re familiar with those horses. We call them ''nix equus'' which trantes to frost horse inmonnguage. We gave them that name because they procreate during winter." She looked embarrassed when she mentioned this. "Don''t tell me you are nning to give these horses to us¡­" "It''s just a small matterpared to what you guys have done for me. Please ept these horses. I won''t feel at ease if you reject them." ric knew how valuable these horses were. If they were to be auctioned in the empire, they would be worth a lot of money. Henry and Arthur loved the horses, but they didn''t say anything and just waited for ric to make the decision. After thinking for an entire minute, ric smiled bitterly. "This gift is too much, Yvanna." Chapter 87 Returning to Turtle Fort "Please ric, I insist. It''s the least I can do for you guys for bringing me here. Besides, your journey back home will be faster with these horses. I assure you that you won''t bete for your father''s birthday if you ride these horses." Yvanna was worried that he wouldn''t ept her gift so she brought up his father''s birthday. Hearing this, ric hesitated. It was true that it would take them much longer if they were to go back on foot. Looking at the handsome horses filled with vigorous mana, he finally nodded his head. "Alright. I won''t be polite then." "Great!" Yvanna was relieved. "But will they listen to us?" ric had a troubled look. The horses were powerful and one of them seemed even stronger than Henry. It would be troublesome if the horses would suddenly rebel on their way back to the empire. Yvanna smiled upon hearing this. "You don''t need to worry about that. We have tamed these horses. They are docile and will obediently listen to yourmands." She exined. "I see. That''s good to hear." Yvanna sent the elven warriors a look. The elves understood her intentions and immediately handed the horses to ric''s group. "They are yours now. Please take care of them." Yvanna reminded with a stern look. ric knew what she was talking about. "I know. I will not abandon these horses. I will treat them well. I promise." He reassured her. The two exchanged more words and soon, it was finally time to bid each other goodbye. "I enjoyed our time together, Yvanna. We must go now." "You should be careful when you go out of the Enchanted Woonds next time. Not all humans are trustworthy." He warned her. Yvanna nodded. "I understand." "I hope you guys will have a safe trip back home." "If you need any help, just look for me in the Enchanted Woonds. If you encounter any elves, just mention them my name." "I will remember your words." ric nodded. He then jumped on the back of thergest frost horse. Henry and Arthur followed suit. "Where can I look for you?" Yvanna suddenly asked. ric turned his head and responded. "You can find me in a small town called North Pine Town. If you get there, just mention my name to the townspeople." "Goodbye. I hope to see you guys again soon." Yvanna''s eyes were filled with reluctance. "If fate permits." ric smiled and waved his hand. He then looked at the two old warriors and said. "Let''s go." Before leaving, Henry and Arthur bowed to Yvanna. Meanwhile, ric gave her onest look. In the next moment, the trio finally left. ric Silversword¡­ My friend¡­ Yvanna smiled as he watched the young human warrior slowly disappear into the forest. When she could no longer see their shadow, her eyes turned cold. "Let''s go! We need to gather our warriors to hunt some humans!" She had never forgotten the humans who tried to capture her. Now that she had returned to her territory, it was time to prepare her revenge. *** ric and the two old warriors didn''t meet an ident on their way back to the fortress city. The journey was unusually smooth as if the monsters were avoiding them on purpose. "Is it because of you guys?" ric muttered as he rubbed the neck of the horse. He believed that the powerful auras of the frost horses intimidated the monsters. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire It only took them less than half a day to reach Turtle Fort. It was an amazing feat that would have been impossible without the frost horses. Upon reaching the city, the gate guards were stunned upon seeing their mounts. They discussed among themselves and it looked like they had bad intentions. Although they tried to do it discreetly, ric could already tell what was on their minds. To prevent something from going wrong, he immediately took out the insignia of House Silversword. "I am ric Silversword, son of Lucas Silversword! Please think twice before you decide to do something foolish." ric stared deeply at them. He used his father''s name to intimidate them. When the gate guards saw the symbol of House Silversword on his token, their eyes constricted with fear. Everyone in the north knew the Silverswords. Lucas Silversword cemented himself as one of the strongest warriors in the empire. Getting on his bad side was like a death sentence so they immediately abandoned the funny ideas they had. "What are you talking about, my lord? It''s just a misunderstanding. We have no intention of provoking you." One of them forced out a smile. ric red at him and muttered in a cold voice. "I don''t want this to happen again. Now make way for us before I grab my swords." "Yes! Yes!" The gate guards didn''t dare dy them anymore and allowed them to go inside the city. After they left, one of the guards whispered to the person in charge. "Sir, should we report this to the higher-ups?" The person in charge smacked the back of his head. "Report my ass! If you want to provoke the Silverswords then be my guest!" "I-I was just talking nonsense, sir¡­" ¡­ At this moment, ric''s group had already entered Turtle Fort and they were now heading to the inn where they left Fredrinn and the others. Their horses attracted a lot of attention, but ric openly wore a cape that bore the crest of House Silversword which made those who had ulterior motives give up their ideas. When they arrived at the inn, they discovered arge group of civilians gathering at the entrance.@@novelbin@@ "My lord, there seems to be a situation in front of the inn," Henry said with a frown. "Let''s go and take a look." ric had a bad feeling. He could hear people arguing and one of the voices seemed familiar. As soon as they got closer, they realized that there was a confrontation between two groups. "Fredrinn?" ric furrowed his eyebrows. Chapter 88 Dylanns Disappointing Brother ric saw Fredrinn arguing with a chubby man wearing a thick coat over his winter clothes. "Do you even know who I am?!" The chubby man shouted at Fredrinn with a disdainful look on his face. "Please stop being unreasonable. We paid for the lodgings here so you don''t have the right to kick us out." Fredrinn responded while suppressing his anger. The chubby man sneered. "Listen here, peasant. In this fortress city, my words are thews! Do you hear me?" Even without asking, ric could already tell what was going on. There are many garbage within the noble circle. They use their status to oppress the weak, but during wartime, they are always the first ones to escape. He muttered coldly in his heart. He hated this kind of people. "Bring that lump of fat in front of me," ric instructed in a t tone. Hearing his words, Arthur jumped down from his horse as he said. "Leave it to me, my lord." Arthur walked towards the chubby man, but he was stopped by thetter''s guards. "Who are you? Are you one of these peasants?" The chubby manughed condescendingly at Arthur. "Sir Arthur!" Mark who was standing behind Fredrinn was pleasantly surprised when he saw Arthur. Fredrinn also looked around and when he saw ric among the crowd, he was relieved. He knew that this matter would soon be taken care of. Arthur was pissed off. If he could, he would have already unsheathed his sword to cut down this fat pig, but he held back his anger. "Move aside if you don''t want things to escte." He warned the man''s guards. "Who do you think you are?! Do you know who I am?!" The chubby man red at Arthur fearlessly. Arthur suddenly smiled, but because of his scars, his face looked incredibly terrifying. "Oh, please tell me who you are." He muttered sarcastically. "You!" The chubby man''s face shook with rage. "Very well, listen closely old man." He snorted. "My name is Ryk Heinrich son of Smith Heinrich of Redonia!" His face was filled with arrogance when he mentioned his father''s name. Arthur furrowed his eyebrows. The name sounds familiar for some reason. Hold on¡­ Smith Heinrich¡­ Isn''t that Lord Dn Heinrich''s father? Don''t tell me this is his brother¡­ A few months ago when House Silversword hosted a celebration for ric''s advancement, a man named Dnn Heinrich suggested an unofficialpetition. This particr young man left a mark on Arthur because of his impressive skills at his age. "Why are you silent? Did you wet your pants, old man? Hahaha!" Rykughed mockingly. Arthur shook his head and muttered derisively. "Who would have thought that Lord Dnn actually has a brother like you?" "What did you say?!" Ryk''s face darkened. "Get that old man and beat him up for me!" Just as his guards were about to grab Arthur, a nonchnt voice suddenly drifted into their ears. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "How disappointing. You don''t even have an ounce of your brother''s grace. You look absolutely nothing like him." Everyone turned their gazes and saw a young warrior on a horse slowly approaching Ryk. "Lord ric!" Fredrinn, Mark, and ine greeted respectfully upon seeing him. "You are¡­" Ryk frowned as he looked at the elegant young warrior. He felt that he had met a tough opponent this time, someone that he couldn''t afford to provoke. Even though he was furious after being mocked, he didn''t dare speak carelessly.@@novelbin@@ Looking at his elegant bearing, handsome looks, and graceful temperament, Ryk could tell that he was someone of notable status. ric tapped the crest on his chest. It was the insignia of House Silversword. "Do you not recognize this symbol?" Ryk nced at the crest and frowned, seemingly in deep thought. "Pathetic. To think that you are a noble in the North, but you are this clueless. Lord Smith must be disappointed for a having a son like you." ric shook his head indifferently. Ryk clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. His shoulders were visibly shaking as he took deep breaths. "That is the insignia of House Silversword!" Someone from the crowd eximed. A collective gasp of astonishment followed when they realized who ric might be. His striking silvery-white hair and his golden crimson eyes made everyone think of one person. ric Silversword. Ryk Heinrich also reached the same conclusion and his eyes shed with fear. "L-Lord ric, w-why are you defending those peasants?" He wiped off the sweat on his face while cautiously looking at ric. "Ryk is it?" ric''s eyes were terrifyingly cold. Ryk hurriedly looked away, afraid to meet his eyes. "The ones you called peasants are my people!" Ryk''s knees buckled under his intense gaze, but before he fell to the ground, his guards quickly caught him. "Lord ric, please quell your anger! Lord Ryk was just having a bad day. It wasn''t his intention to provoke your people." One of the guards immediately spoke up for him. ric ignored the guard and kept his eyes on Ryk. "I will remember this, Ryk Heinrich. Soon, I will visit Redonia and ask Baron Smith Heinrich for an exnation." He took one final look at Ryk to memorize his face. ric looked away from him in disgust and said. "Let''s go. We''re leaving now." "Yes, my lord!" The crowd watched ric''s group leave in awe. "So that''s Lord ric. He looks formidable!" "I have finally met the rising star of the North in person!" "I heard that he challenged the second heir of House Paxley to a sacred duel. Apparently, this happened¡­" Ryk was scared witless when he heard the crowd''s discussion. He had also heard about what happened in Ryvaad. I''m fucking screwed this time! He grabbed his head as he tried toe up with a way to get out of this situation. He won''t challenge me to a sacred duel over something like this, right? There''s no way¡­ He tried to convince himself, but the more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. Chapter 89 Flogged a Hundred Times "My lord, the Heinrichs are not any weakerpared to the Silverswords. Is it really alright to offend them for our sake?" Fredrinn took a nce at ric. "It doesn''t matter whether he is from House Heinrich or another noble family. I won''t let anyone touch my people." ric calmly responded. Hearing this, Fredrinn raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was very rare to find a lord who would be willing to offend someone of high status for the sake of his servants. "Don''t worry about it. The Heinrichs is the least of my worries. They won''t do anything for a minor issue like this." ric reassured them when he saw their worried gazes. No one mentioned this matter anymore after he stated those words. His calmness and indifferent attitude made everyone feel that nothing would go wrong. ¡­ With the frost horses, the group managed to decrease their travel time. They soon arrived at Alverton on the second day of their journey where they decided to temporarily make a stop to replenish their supplies. "Lord ric!" A familiar face greeted them at the town''s main gate. It was Ronan, the captain of the town guards. ric smiled and nodded to him. "It seems like you are already aware of my identity." He muttered in a joking tone. Ronan scratched his head in embarrassment as he replied. "I tried to keep your identity a secret, but it still reached the ears of the mayor. I had no choice but to mention your name to him. It was from him that I learned about your identity, my lord." "I see." ric didn''t get angry over this. It was just a trifling matter. "Are you here to replenish your supplies?" Ronan asked. "That''s right. Can you rmend a decent ce where we can find some quality meat?" "Of course! Come and follow me, my lord. I will take you there myself." Ronan volunteered to lead them. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire ric wanted to reject him, but the guy insisted on doing him this favor for failing to hide his identity. In the end, ric could only helplessly agree under his pleading gaze. An hourter, Ronan brought them to a meat shop. "My lord, this is the ce. They got a batch of fresh meat from us yesterday. Let me do the talking so the shop owner will give you a fair deal." Ronan eagerly introduced the ce. With his help, they managed to acquire enough meat for the group for a week''s worth of travel. "Thank you for your help, Sir Ronan." ric shook hands with the Knight. "It''s an honor to serve you, my lord. If you need anything else, you know where to find me." Ronan chuckled. "Alright. We''ll take our leave first." After bidding him farewell, ric''s group went to look for an inn. They didn''t go to the same inn they stayed at before to avoid the scrutiny of the town''s mayor. He wanted to get some rest so he didn''t want to meet him or any officials of the town. Interestingly, it seemed like the mayor had realized his intentions. A few town guards lurked near the inn where they stayed, but no one bothered them. The next day, the group left Alverton after bidding Ronan farewell.@@novelbin@@ *** A few dayster, on the 12th day of January, ric''s group finally arrived at North Pine Town. They were escorted by the warriors of House Silversword before they even reached the estate. The person leading the escort team was Aldrin. "My lord, we were worried about you! It''s good that you''re finally here." Aldrin sighed while looking at him. "Look at you. I wasn''t even gone for a long time." ric chuckled while shaking his head. "By the way, did something happen while I was gone?" He asked. Hearing this, Aldrin hesitated. "Something did happen, my lord¡­" "What is it?" ric frowned. All sorts of problems hade up after his regression and it made him feel concerned since some of those issues didn''t exist in his past life. Aldrin urged his horse toe closer to ric as he cleared his throat. He looked around and made sure that no one was listening before he opened his mouth. "When we returned from Ryvaad, Lord Charles tried to take away the Saber-fanged Wolf cubs and the Disaster-grade beast soul crystal." Hearing this, ric frowned. "Sir Warrick stopped him before he could take anything. However, Lord Charles found an excuse to punish Sir Chulmo and Sir Bernard for disobeying him." Aldrin added. Charles! How dare you touch my people?! ric suppressed his fury. "How are they doing?" "They were both flogged a hundred times for disobedience. They received immediate treatment after the punishment, but the doctor said that they would be unable to walk normally for a couple of weeks." Aldrin gloomily responded. ric took a deep breath to calm his rampaging emotions. He then turned his head to Arthur and said. "Sir Arthur, please bring these horses to somewhere safe and make sure that no one would touch them." "Yes, my lord!" He then moved his gaze to Henry and instructed. "Sir Henry, please arrange their lodgings." "Leave it to me, my lord." The old man replied. ric nced at Aldrin and muttered in a cold voice. "Bring me to see Sir Chulmo and Sir Bernard." "Yes, my lord!" The two went ahead of the group. When they arrived at the estate, they immediately headed straight to the clinic. As soon as they arrived, ric jumped down from the frost horse and walked inside the clinic with heavy footsteps. Heter found Chulmo and Bernard inside a patient room where they were receiving treatment. "My lord!" The two Knights were surprised to see him. They tried to get up from the bed, but they grimaced in pain. "Just stay on your bed. There''s no need to worry about formalities." ric became even more furious when he saw their situation. "I''m sorry for not being there for you guys." Chapter 90 (Title at the End of the Chapter) "It''s not your fault, my lord." Bernard shook his head with a bitter smile on his face. "It was only because Sir Charles was too shameless," Chulmo muttered under his breath. "Chulmo!" Bernard sent him a stern look. "It''s fine. Sir Chulmo is right. My uncle has been acting shamelessly these past few months." ric indifferently said. He had been holding back this whole time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike his uncle. However, thetter had repeatedly touched his bottom line. I can''t wait anymore. I should deal with this tumor now! Chulmo and Bernard sensed the sudden change in his emotion, but they didn''t dare say anything. This matter was rted to the direct bloodline of House Silversword so they had no power to intervene. "Don''t worry. I will make sure that he will be punished. Just stay here and recuperate." ric''s words stunned the two Knights. "My lord, you might offend Sir Charles if you do this." Chulmo worriedly responded. "Chulmo is right, my lord. It''s not worth it to offend Sir Charles for our sake." Bernard added. Charles Silversword held an important role in House Silversword. His faction was mostly responsible for protecting the businesses of the household. If something happened to him, there would be severe repercussions. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "Offend him?" ric chuckled while shaking his head. "I''m going to destroy him!" He muttered in a cold voice. The two Knights gasped at his words. ric didn''t stay there for long. After saying a few more words and reminding them to rest well, he left the clinic with Aldrin. "My lord, I didn''t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what you guys were talking about. Are you really going to make a move on Sir Charles?" Aldrin had a solemn look. This matter was too big and it was bound to shake the foundations of House Silversword. One wrong move and the entire household might even copse. "It''s about time to clean up the household." ric calmly replied. Aldrin took a deep breath. "Aldrin, please send five Knight Apprentices to rece Sir Gnar. I need him now." ric instructed. "Leave it to me, my lord." Aldrin acknowledged hismand with a nod. After Aldrin left, ric went inside the main mansion and headed straight to his room to gather all the pieces of evidence he had collected over the past few months. To gather these documents, he sent Gnar and a few other trustworthy people on multiple asions. Inside his room, ric opened a hiddenpartment behind a painting on the wall. Inside thispartment was a small steel chest that contained all the documents he had gathered to bring down his uncle. He opened the chest and took out the stacks of paper inside. He then put the chest back into thepartment and stepped out of his room. These documents are stillcking, but they should be enough to bring Charles down. On his way to his father''s study, he coincidentally encountered both Lucas and Maria in the hallway. "ric, we were looking for you everywhere." Lucas smiled upon seeing him. "It''s good to see you again, son. I missed you." Maria hugged him tightly. "I missed you too, mom." ric''s gaze softened. "What''s that on your hand?" Lucas stared at the documents in his hands with furrowed eyebrows. Hearing this, Maria let go of ric and stared at him questioningly. "Let''s talk somewhere more private," ric replied with a serious. Sensing the gravity in his tone, the couple realized that it must be an important matter. Lucas stared deeply at him and nodded. "Alright. Follow me to my study." The family of three headed to the study room and as soon as they arrived, ric unceremoniously took his seat. "Dad, Mom¡­please take a look at these documents." ric ced the pieces of paper on the table. Lucas and Maria curiously took one paper each. At first, they were still nonchntly reading the contents, but the more they read, the more serious they became. "This is¡­" Lucas''s expression changed. Meanwhile, Maria had a look of disbelief. The two read the rest of the documents and by the time they read everything, their faces had turned dark. "Are all the things written here true?" Lucas put down thest document he had read as he looked at ric with a grim face. "Yes." ric nodded. "I have been gathering this information since I started discovering some unusual things about Uncle. Lucas rubbed his temples and leaned on his seat. The things he learned today were too much for him to handle. "What about this? You mentioned here that you suspect that your Uncle would poison your father, but you don''t have evidence to back this im." Maria pointed at a specific document where ric had written his spections. "That''s true, but I have thought of a way for us to know if my spections are correct." ric already had a n in mind. He was just unable to execute it because he had been so busy recently. "Tell us your n." Lucas stared deeply at him. ric nced at them and said. "Let''s announce that we will be hiring a new maidservant who will take care of father''s meals." Hearing this, Maria raised his eyebrows. "Are you nning to lure your Uncle in this trap?" "That''s right." ric nodded. "If my guess is right, then he will definitely take the chance to bring one of his own people to Dad''s side." Maria pondered deeply. His n was feasible, but it also carried some risks. "Let''s do it," Lucas muttered.@@novelbin@@ "Are you sure about this?" Maria stared at her husband with concern. "I want to see if my brother really intends to kill me," Lucas replied with a heavy look. Lucas had always thought that his brother was someone he could trust. He had given Charles everything he needed so he felt betrayed after knowing all the dirty deeds he had done behind his back. He finally realized why ric was unusually hostile towards Charles. It turned out that his son already knew the truth a long time ago. ___ Chapter 91 Reading the Applicants Information The next day, news spread within the household that the Baron was hiring a new maidservant to serve his meals. Although the selection process was rigorous, many applicants applied for the position. In just half a day, they already received over twenty applications. It was also around this time that this particr information reached Charles''s ears. "Strange¡­ Why is he suddenly hiring another maidservant?" Charles muttered after reading the report sent by his subordinates. I thought my nephew''s little bitch is responsible for this task. All this time, it was Elena and the old butler who were responsible for sending the baron''s meals. Isn''t this my chance? A smile formed on his lips. He had been biding his time while waiting for an opportunity. Now that the chance that he had been waiting for had arrived, how could he let it slip past his grasp? He turned his head and spoke. "Gerard, bring the female assassins we trained here." From the dark corners of his room, a figure suddenly emerged. It was a man wearing standard knight armor. His face was devoid of emotions. "Yes, my lord." The man uttered. *** Meanwhile, in the training ground, ric had justpleted his daily mission. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 450/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100@@novelbin@@ Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3350 Stat Points: 6 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He was about to close the cyan screen when a prompt suddenly appeared before him. ___ Mission: Revenge II Mission Difficulty: Normal You have gathered enough evidence to destroy your uncle''s reputation. Bring him down! Time Limit: 47:59:59 Rewards: 400 Battle Points, 25 EXP, 25 Stat Points, Item Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 50 EXP, - 1000 Battle Points ___ The rewards almost blinded his eyes. Holy shit! I will get this much reward if I manage to take him down? But that''s strange. Why is the mission difficulty set at ''Normal''? He had only gotten one ''normal'' difficulty mission and it was when they had fought with the goblin chieftain in the Evergreen Forest. Are there some dangers involved in this mission? He frowned. I just need to be careful. ric closed the cyan screen. At this moment, Elena appeared in front of him and handed him a sk. "My lord, drink this water." The girl beamed at him. "Thank you, Elena." ric grabbed the sk and took a big gulp of water. While he was drinking from the sk, Elena asked. "My lord, why are the warriors acting strangely today?" Hearing this, ric handed the sk back to her and raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Elena pointed at the Knights and the warriors who were in the middle of their physical training. "Look. They are more motivated to train today. It''s like they are preparing for a battle." ric was surprised. He didn''t expect her to be this perceptive. He patted her head and smiled. "Don''t worry about it, Elena. Just don''t mention this to anyone, okay?" The girl was confused, but she still nodded her head. "I understand, my lord. I won''t tell anyone about this." She made a zipping gesture with her hand over her lips. "Good." ric chuckled. He then took a nce at Gnar who was waiting for him nearby. "Let''s go. I need to check the list of applicants." "Yes, my lord." Gnar nodded. The trio left the training ground and headed to Lucas''s study room. When they arrived, ric saw his father going through the information of the applicants. "My lord." There were other people present so ric greeted the baron formally. Lucas lifted his head and nodded at him. "Sit down and help me check these applicants." "Yes, my lord." After ric took his seat, the baron handed him all the information about the people who applied for the maidservant position. ric already knew which person would poison his father. Each paper contained the drawn image of the applicant and some information about them. ric went through every page, but the person he was looking for wasn''t there. She''s not here. "Did you send the information to Uncle''s side?" ric stared at the baron. "Yes. We intentionally spread the news on his side so he should know about it by now." Lucas replied with a nod. "Let''s wait until tomorrow. Once the number of applicants reaches a hundred, I will handle the selection process." ric didn''t tell the baron that he was already aware of which person his uncle would send. He wouldn''t be able to exin it so he just kept it to himself. The baron frowned at his words. "How will you find the person he would send?" "I have my ways, my lord. Please trust me on this." ric responded with a firm tone. Looking at his son''s serious face, the baron refrained from asking and decided to trust him. "Alright. Just let me know if you need anything." "Thank you, my lord. I won''t disappoint you." ric lowered his head. "You may leave. I will send the information about the next batch of applicants to youter." Lucas waved his hand. ric stood up and bowed to the baron. "I''ll take my leave now, my lord." After leaving his father''s study room, ric went out of the main mansion to find Arthur. It was time to fulfill the promise he made to him. Theyter found him at the stables where the frost horses were kept. Upon seeing him, Arthur immediately stopped what he was doing and greeted him respectfully with a Knight''s salute. "My lord!" ric felt guilty when he saw the makeshift bed in the middle of the stables. He guessed that Arthur must have stayed here all night to watch over the frost horses. ric sighed as he muttered apologetically. "Sir Arthur, I apologize for making you wait. I should have given this to you yesterday, but I got dyed because of some issues." He took out a beast soul crystal from his leather pouch and handed it to Arthur. Chapter 92 Elenas Tea "Is this the¡­" Arthur felt the dense energy inside the beast soul crystal. He didn''t even need confirmation to know that it was the Disaster-grade beast soul crystal. "Please use it for your advancement." ric tapped his shoulder with a light smile. "Don''t worry. I won''t take it back this time." He added in a joking tone. Arthur chuckled at his words. "Thank you, my lord!" He bowed gratefully. ric waved his hand. "You don''t need to thank me. I''m just fulfilling my promise." He then looked at the frost horses and said. "I''ll send someone trustworthy to look after the frost horses. In the meantime, you should prepare for your advancement." "Yes, my lord!" ric didn''t stay for long and left after giving him a few more reminders and instructions. Arthur''s foundation is very stable. With the help of the Disaster-grade beast soul crystal, he should be able to advance in less than a week. If he''s lucky, it might only take a few days. He hoped that Arthur would advance before he would have to face off with Charles, but it was highly unlikely to happen. ¡­ When evening came, the butler came to deliver a document sent by the baron. "My lord, the Baron sent me to give this to you." The butler bowed respectfully while handing him a small pile of documents. This must be the information on the next batch of applicants. ric took the documents from the butler''s hands. "Thank you. Please inform the patriarch that we will proceed as we had initially nned." "I will convey your message to the baron." The butler nodded. "You may leave now." ric dismissed him and headed back to his room to check the documents. In the next half an hour, he went through the documents, but the person he was looking for was still not there. She''s not here¡­ Will shee tomorrow? ric leaned on his seat and massaged his nose bridge. He was certain that his uncle would send the same person for the position, but he was starting to get worried. What if his uncle had already sent someone? I''ll confirm it tomorrow. ric retired to his bed and rested his eyes. *** The next day, ric was awoken by a series of knocks on his door. He rubbed his eyes as he got up from his bed. "Come in." A tired voice leaked out of his mouth. Creak. Elena stepped inside his room with a cup of freshly brewed tea in her hand. "Good morning, my lord! Please drink this tea. I used everything I learned in the past few weeks to make this." After seeing Hershey''s tea-making skills during theirst trip to Ryvaad, she started learning how to make tea herself. "Oh? Then I must try it." ric took the tea cup from the saucer and inhaled the refreshing aroma of the tea. It had a calming scent that reminded him of the cool mountain breeze. It smells good. After taking in its refreshing aroma, ric took a light sip of the tea. "Huh? This¡­" He was surprised when the familiar vor hit his tongue. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire "Do you recognize it, my lord?" Elena giggled when she saw his expression. "It does seem familiar. What tea leaves did you use to make this tea?" He curiously stared at her. "Don''t be surprised, my lord. Actually, I used dried aricory petals to make this tea." Elena replied with a faint smile. "What?! No wonder the aftertaste has the distinct smell of aricories. They can actually be used to make teas¡­ Where did you learn this from?" "Hehe. I learned this from¡­" Elena eagerly told him how she learned to make the tea, while ric repeatedly praised her. After drinking the tea she made for him, ric went to take a bath and changed into a formal outfit before heading to the baron''s study room with Elena. I should have enough time toplete my daily missionter. For now, I should check the new applicants. Just as they were about to take a turn towards the baron''s study room, they suddenly encountered the butler. "Good morning, my lord. Good morning, Miss Elena." The butler greeted them. "Good morning, Sir Bastian." Elena greeted him nervously, while ric nodded his head. "My lord, the baron, and the madam are waiting for you at the dining hall." The butler informed him. "Hm? Isn''t it too early for breakfast?" ric was taken aback. Elena was simrly surprised. "The baron said that you will be busyter and he is worried that you might not have the time for a meal so he asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast early today." The butler calmly exined. "I see. In that case, please lead the way." ric felt his father''s care for him. He might not be so vocal about it, but he would always show it through his actions. As soon as they arrived at the dining hall, they saw the baron and the madam chatting with serious faces. "Oh? You two are finally here. Come and sit with us." Maria beckoned to them with a smile. The Baron didn''t say anything and just nodded to acknowledge their presence. "Sir Bastian, please tell the servants to serve the food," Maria instructed the butler. "Yes, mydy." After the butler left, Lucas sent him a nce. "Have you read the documents I sent overst night?" He asked.@@novelbin@@ ric nodded his head. "Yes, my lord. I went through their information, but I haven''t found anything significant yet. If I''m not wrong, Uncle should be sending his people today." Lucas tapped his fingers on the table with a thoughtful look. He had also investigated the applicants, but their backgrounds were clean. Meanwhile, Elena couldn''t understand what they were talking about, but she tactfully remained silent. Seeing that she was bored, Maria initiated a conversation with her. "When will the applicants arrive, my lord?" ric inquired. Lucas adjusted his posture and replied in a calm voice. "They are already waiting at the guest hall. You can go there after the meal." "Alright." A few minutester, the servants finally arrived to serve their food. While the dishes were being served, Lucas sent ric a look and said. "Let''s eat first. We will discuss everything afterwards." Chapter 93 Assessment After the meal¡­ The butler handed some documents to ric. "This is information on the new applicants. I have already checked them earlier, but I found nothing suspicious." Lucas spoke after wiping off the grease on his lips with a napkin. ric nodded and took a quick scan of the portraits of the applicants. Hm? His hand suddenly stopped when he saw a familiar face. It''s her! Drawn on the paper was the image of a woman in her early twenties. She wore a joyous smile, the kind that would make everyone feel at ease. She didn''t have an impressive beauty and she had these freckles on her nose that made her look innocent and cute. ric struggled hard to calm his emotions. He would never forget this face for this was the very person who had poisoned his father in his past life. "What is it? Did you find someone suspicious?" Lucas raised an eyebrow when he sensed the sudden change in his expression ric put down the documents and squeezed out a smile. "It''s nothing." He stood up and bowed his head to the baron. "I should go to the guest hall. We can''t let all those people wait." Lucas frowned. He felt that ric was hiding something from him, but he decided to trust his son. Lucas waved his hand. "Let me know if you discover something suspicious." ric nodded and left with Elena. On their way to the guest hall, Elena asked. "My lord, why are we hiring a new maid for the baron?" ric felt that it was about time to tell her the truth. He shook his head. "We are not." "This is just a trap we set up to lure the traitor of the family." He muttered in a cold voice. Elena gasped in shock. A traitor?! She felt that this matter was too big so she didn''t dare inquire further. I heard them talk about Sir Charles on most asions. Is he the traitor? There''s no way, right? She was scared of her own thoughts. A momentter, they arrived at the guest hall where dozens of women of varying ages had gathered. Upon their arrival, the women quickly spotted them and they all stood up in unison. "Greetings, Lord ric!" Most of them were experienced servants so they were familiar with noble etiquette. There were also a few who just followed the others. Looking at these women, ric felt a bit apologetic. All of them were hoping to get the vacant position, but they were destined to be disappointed. He smiled as he scanned their faces one by one. "Thank you foring here. Today, we will select one of you to serve as the baron''s maidservant, but please be informed that the selection process will be strict." He paused to give them some time toprehend his words. "Only the best one among you will be chosen for the job. I know this may sound unfair, especially to some of you who came from afar. For those who will fail the assessment, please don''t give up. There are plenty of opportunities out there. A single¡­" ric gave a short speech for formality''s sake. While he was speaking to the audience, he finally found the woman sent by Charles. She has an ordinary face so it was difficult to pinpoint her from the crowd. I don''t sense mana from her, but her physique is more well-definedpared to the rest. She is probably trained in martial arts. "Please follow me outside. The assessment will begin shortly." Although the evaluation was only for show, it had to be done systematically to prevent the target from bing suspicious. On their way out of the main building, ric asked Elena some questions. "Elena, what should be the most important thing to take note of when serving your lord?" "Hmm¡­ The first thing to consider is the lord''s mood. As servants, we must be prepared to¡­" "How about this¡­ What should be done¡­" "That''s easy¡­ We just need to¡­" Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire ric already had an idea of how the assessment would be conducted, but hearing Elena''s opinion was important since she had a long working experience despite her young age. Her response gave him some ideas which he would add to the assessment process. There were a lot of applicants so ric brought them to an open space next to the main mansion. "Everyone, may I have your attention please?" ric raised his hand, signaling the applicants to keep quiet. The women stared at him and perked their ears. "For the first part of the assessment, I will be interviewing you one by one. I will only ask you simple questions so there''s no need to be nervous. Alright, let''s begin with you." ric pointed at someone randomly. ric interviewed them one by one. At first, everyone was extremely nervous, but when they realized that he was only asking them some simple questions, they became less nervous. Soon, it was finally the target''s turn to be interviewed. "What''s your name?" ric stared at her with a smile. "My name is Pam, my lord." The woman responded confidently. "Where do you live?" "My parents grew up in Vale, but I left the city and came here to seek my own opportunities. I don''t want to rely on them. They are growing older so I want to earn some money and help them with the finances." She responded with a sigh. She''s a good actress. If I didn''t know anything about her, I would have believed her words.@@novelbin@@ ric scoffed in his heart, but he pretended to sympathize with her experience. "I admire your courage to venture outside yourfort zone. Your parents must be happy to have you as their daughter." Pam smiled shyly. "Thank you for your kind words, my lord." "Are you ready for the next questions?" "Yes, my lord." The interview continued and Pam managed to answer everything without stuttering. "That''s all I need to know. Thank you." ric stared deeply at her. Chapter 94 Planning the Next Steps Several hourster, only five applicants remained from the dozens who had applied for the position. They were the best of the bunch and even ric felt a bit reluctant to reject them considering their expertise. It''s a pity to reject these women. Should I rmend them to other positions instead? ric thought while looking at the remaining five. "Honestly, all five of you are perfect for the job, but I can only choose one." ric''s words made the women nervously clenched their hands. "Are you open to epting a different position?" He probed. Hearing this, their eyes lit up with hope. For women like them, it was difficult to find a stable job no matter how skillful they were. "My lord, I will ept whatever job you offer." One of them spoke without hesitation. "Me too, my lord! I can do anything!" Another one chimed in. "My lord¡­" All five of them, including Pam, expressed a positive response to his words. "Good." ric nodded, looking quite pleased with their decisiveness. "You and you¡­" ric pointed at two of them. "Both of you disyed the best skills in cooking. I need two cooks who will prepare food for my workers in the soap shop I opened in Vale. What do you think? I can offer you two a decent sry if you take the position." "I agree, my lord!" "I''m willing, my lord!" ric smiled and nodded. "Alright. I will have someone write your contractster." "Next is you¡­" He stared at the oldest of the five. The woman he was referring to adjusted her posture nervously. "You showed the most remarkable talent in and knowledge in gardening. The estate needs more skilled workers like you. Are you interested in this line of work?" ric rubbed his chin. "Yes, my lord!" "Good! Let''s talk about your contractter." "Moving on¡­" ric nced at the remaining two women. He scratched his head and pretended to be in deep thought as if he was hesitating about which one to choose between them. After a moment of silence, he finally opened his mouth. "You mentioned here in your self-introduction that you once worked on a ranch with your parents. Do you have experience in taking care of horses?" The woman beside Pam nodded her head. "Yes, my lord. My father taught me how to take care of horses and cattle. Although my skills are a bitckingpared to my father''s, I''m confident that I can take care of any farm animals. I also know how to raise war horses." She emphasized thest few words which made ric think about the frost horses. "Oh? Can you handle Fatal-grade horses or even special ones?" ric revealed a look of interest. It was rare to find someone who knew how to take care of special horse breeds. After all, these creatures were more particr in their diet and needs.@@novelbin@@ The woman was taken aback, but she responded calmly. "If they are wild caught horses, then it might be difficult to take care of them. However, if they are already domesticated or if they are still young, then I can assure you that I can handle them." "Great! I have a job for you! I will tell you the detailster." ric pped his thigh in excitement. He didn''t want to give this job to his warriors since it would only hinder their training. Now that he had a professional who could do the job better, he no longer had to trouble himself with finding someone. "Yes, my lord!" The woman''s face lit up with joy. Finally, ric nced at Pam. "Congrattions! Starting today, you will be responsible for serving the baron''s meals." Pam covered her mouth and disyed an expression of joy. "Thank you for choosing me, my lord! I will not disappoint you!" ric smiled, seemingly pleased with her. "Alright. You five, follow me to the head maid''s quarters. She will teach you all the things you need to know about your jobs." Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire ric and Elena brought them to the head maid''s quarters. The head maid was a middle-ageddy in her mid-forties, but she looked younger than her age. "Greetings, my lord!" The head maid bowed upon seeing him. "Head Housekeeper, these are the new servants we hired. Here is the information about them." ric handed over the documents which contained the personal information about the five women. (Note: ric is respectfully addressing the head maid here as ''head housekeeper''.) ric informed the headmaid about the women''s new positions. They then discussed the sries and the benefits they would receive for their jobs. After dealing with all these matters, ric headed straight to his father''s study with Elena in tow. "So did you discover something?" Lucas stared deeply at his son. He had been informed about the assessment that ric conducted since morning, but he was still unaware of the results. "Yes, my lord." ric nodded solemnly. "Among the applicants, there is a woman named Pam. I''m certain that she is the person sent by Uncle." He added. Lucas rubbed his chin. The name was familiar, but he had forgotten which one he was referring to. "What makes you say that?" Because she was the one who poisoned you in my past life¡­ ric was silent for a moment. "I observed them one by one and her physique is the best among the applicants. Although she doesn''t possess mana, her physical abilities surpass the others by a huge margin. She tried to hide, but she couldn''t hide it from me. Her expressions also looked fake to me. There are also a lot of suspicious points in her background. For instance¡­" ric made a randomment about Pam. Of course, this was him exaggerating. "You discovered that much in just half a day?" Lucas stared at him in disbelief. ric nodded calmly. "Yes, my lord. I gave her the position ording to what we had nned. Please keep an eye on her, but don''t make it too obvious." "Alright. I''ll have someone observe her activity." Lucas nodded. The father and son discussed the next steps of their n. Chapter 95 Pamela Another day passed by and it was already the 15th of January. Only two days remained before the baron''s birthday. At this moment, ric was on the training ground looking at his progress after he hadpleted his daily mission. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 452/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100 Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3370 Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Stat Points: 8 (Requirements for next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He then looked at the mission which he had yet toplete. ___ Mission: Revenge II Mission Difficulty: Normal You have gathered enough evidence to destroy your uncle''s reputation. Bring him down! Time Limit: 22:37:21 Rewards: 400 Battle Points, 25 EXP, 25 Stat Points, Item Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 50 EXP, - 1000 Battle Points ___ I only have one day left¡­ ric''s gaze hardened. He already had enough documents to prove his uncle''s misdeeds, but thetter could deny those ims and ce the me on someone else. ric was certain of this because he knew how shameless his uncle was. Pam was the key to catching Charles, but the former was yet to make a move. I already sent Gnar to observe her in secret, but there''s still no news from him. He was starting to get worried. If he failed the mission, he would lose 50 EXP and 1000 Battle Points. Just the thought of it made him feel distressed. After all, he worked hard to earn those points. ric was on his way to the main mansion when he caught sight of Aldrin running towards him. "My lord!" "Aldrin? What is it?" Aldrin stopped in front of him and stayed silent for a moment to catch his breath. And then with a grim look, he reported. "My lord, Sir Gnar sent me here to inform you that the target has already received the substance." Hearing this, ric narrowed his eyes. "Where is he?" He asked. "Sir Gnar is still tailing her and Sir Henry volunteered to follow the person who gave her the substance," Aldrin responded, his voice turning grave. It looks like that damnable uncle of mine is really eager to kill my father¡­ ric tapped Aldrin''s shoulder and instructed. "Go and tell everyone to get ready. We will make a move soon." Aldrin took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, my lord." After dismissing Aldrin, ric headed straight to his room to make his preparations. *** Meanwhile, Pam was now on her way back to her assigned quarters. Why did they deliver this earlier than what we had nned? She frowned as she clutched the small pouch hidden in her hand. Inside this pouch was a slow-acting poison and her task was to put this in the baron''s food. The initial n was to gain the trust of the baron and the servants of the household. She was told that they would only execute the next step of the n once she had integrated into the household and was already epted by the other servants. However, she received a coded messagest night telling her to go to a specific location. Luckily I managed to give the head housekeeper a good excuse to leave for a while. She thought to herself. When she arrived at the servants'' quarters, she saw the head maid waiting outside her room. "Pam, where have you been? What took you so long?" The head maid sent her a stern look. Ah¡­ How I wish I can kill this old bitch¡­ Pam lowered her head and apologized. "I''m really sorry, head housekeeper. Something came up which dyed my-." The head maid frowned. "Enough! I don''t want to hear your excuses!" Pam didn''t say anything and just kept her head lowered. "Listen closely, Pam. Lord ric rmended you for the position, but I have the authority to kick you out if you don''t do your tasks well!" "You haven''t even started on your job, but you''re already making the others wait for you!" "If this happens one more time, I will report it to Lord ric immediately!" The head maidshed out. Pam''s face changed upon hearing this. If she was kicked out, she would immediately fail her mission. If that happened, she could already imagine the punishment she would have to go through, or worse, she might even be killed! "This will not happen again, head housekeeper. I promise you." She made sure to show a regretful expression. The head maid snorted. "Go and change into your new uniform! We will begin with the next training in thirty minutes!" "Yes, head housekeeper!" Pam bowed. The head maid sent her a look of disapproval before she turned around and left. Looking at her leaving figure, Pam''s eyes shed with killing intent. You''re lucky¡­ When she stepped inside her room, she saw the new uniform ced on the small coffee table beside her bed. The old bitch has the key to our rooms so I need to hide the poison somewhere else. She muttered as she started undressing, slowly revealing the well-defined body hidden underneath. Although she had an ordinary face, her shapely body more than made up for it.@@novelbin@@ She had it big in the right ces and her slim waist was something that every woman would envy. After putting on her uniform, Pam pondered where should hide the poison. Now where should I put this thing? She didn''t have enough time to think since the head maid only gave her thirty minutes to prepare. Hiding it here is too risky. I''ll put it in me first. I''ll find a better hiding ce after the training. The pouch is double-sealed, so I should be fine. Pam grabbed the small pouch and inserted it carefully inside the narrow hole between her legs. Mmm~ A moan leaked out of her mouth as she inserted the pouch deeper inside her. After slightly over ten seconds, she let out a rxed sigh. Phew! Chapter 96 Aggressive Alaric Knock! Knock! Pam frowned when she heard the knocks on her door. Is it the old hag again? She adjusted her facial expression before she walked towards the door. Upon opening it, the first person she saw wasn''t the head maid, but a towering middle-aged warrior wearing an expressionless face. "Search the room!" The middle-aged warrior uttered in a deep,manding voice. As soon as his words fell, the warriors behind him pushed Pam aside and stormed inside her room. "Sir, what''s going on?" Pam asked in a pitiful tone, but she was screaming with anxiety inside. Did they discover me? Impossible! I made sure that no one was tailing me! The tall and muscr middle-aged warrior looked down at her. His deep gaze sent chills down her spine. She might be a trained assassin, but she knew that this person could kill her in one move! That was what her instincts were telling her. "Stay where you are. If you move even one step, I''ll break your legs." A cold and deep voice drifted into her ears. Pam instinctively raised her arms, but she stiffened when she saw the towering middle-aged warrior staring at her indifferently. Dammit! How did they discover me?! Who was it?! She turned her head and saw the head maid and a few other servants nearby. Was it one of them? No. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire It should be this guy. Her gaze moved back to the middle-aged warrior in front of her. Only a day had passed since she was epted into the household and her identity was already revealed. She found it inconceivable. Just where did it go wrong? "Sir Gnar, there''s nothing suspicious inside the room." One of the warriors reported. Gnar frowned. "Impossible! Search it again thoroughly!" "Yes, sir!" The warriors carefully did another search, turning the room into a mess. Meanwhile, Gnar beckoned to a maidservant and said. "Can you help me do a body search on this woman?" The maidservant became nervous. "That¡­" "Don''t worry. I''ll ensure your safety," Gnar reassured her when he saw her hesitating "A-Alright¡­" The maidservant nodded before she slowly approached Pam. "Sir, there must be a misunderstanding." Pam squeezed out a smile as she looked at Gnar, but thetter remained unmoved. "If you try to hurt this maidservant, just know that my fist will crush your head before you can even touch her," Gnar muttered. Pam shivered upon hearing his words. There''s no way she can find it. She thought to herself as she turned her gaze at the servant who had been tasked to do a search on her. "Please excuse me." The maidservant mumbled before she hesitantly touched Pam''s clothes. Gnar watched the entire process without blinking. "What''s going on, head housekeeper? Why is Pam being searched?" "Did she steal something?" The nearby servants asked the head maid, but thetter red at them. "Stop asking questions!"@@novelbin@@ "Do you guys even know who that big warrior is?" The newly hired servants shook their heads. "That is Sir Gnar. He is an Elite Knight working for Lord ric!" The head maid exined in a stern voice. Hearing this, the servants gasped in shock. To them, Knights were powerful warriors who could fight multiple normal warriors at once. As for Elite Knights, they viewed them as high and mighty beings! While the servants were silently whispering among themselves, Pam was still being inspected. The maidservant responsible for the task looked visibly nervous. After carefully checking Pam''s clothes, she looked at Gnar and shook her head. "She has nothing on her, sir." Hearing this, Gnar''s face turned cold. Just as he was about to say something, a series of footsteps suddenly echoed. Everyone turned their heads and saw ric dressed in his battle attire. "My lord!" "My lord!" The servants, the warriors, and Gnar greeted him respectfully. ric remainedposed as he walked past everyone and stood before Pam. While looking at her face, he muttered. "There are still two ces that you haven''t checked." The servant who did a search on Pam raised her eyebrows in surprise. "My lord, do you mean¡­" ric ignored the shocked crowd and kept his eyes on Pam. "Remove your clothes." He uttered coldly. Pam''s eyes shook. "M-My lord¡­ I think that''s i-inappropriate¡­" "This isn''t a request. I''mmanding you to do it." ric was unperturbed. Facing this kind of woman, he had no misgivings in his actions. Pam gritted her teeth. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to hide. The whole ce was blocked by the warriors. She knew that she would only die if she resisted so she could onlyply. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Pam removed her uniform, revealing her naked body. And then¡­ Without warning, ric pushed her against the wall and forced her to turn around. Uhn! Pam yelped at the sudden use of force. She tried to move, but she couldn''t even break free from his strong grip. "Where is it?" ric muttered, with anger evident in his voice. "It''s¡­" Before Pam could even respond, ric pushed his fingers inside her butthole. Mmm~ A pained moan leaked out of Pam''s mouth. "Is it here?" ric grabbed her neck as he inserted his fingers deeper. "N-No! It''s¡­" Mnn~~ "Oh, so it''s in the other hole," ric whispered into her ears as he removed his fingers from her butthole and aggressively put it inside her jeweled cave. Mhmm~~ Ahhm~~ Pam unconsciously arched her body from the unexpected stimtion. "Hm?" ric felt something rough inside her jeweled cave. He pushed his fingers deeper and pulled out the object hidden inside. As soon as he removed his fingers, Pam''s legs shivered and juices started dripping out of her love hole. ric nced at the pouch he had gotten from her before tossing it to Gnar. "Have someone check if this is a poisonous substance." He instructed while wiping off the juices on his fingers using Pam''s uniform. Gnar caught the pouch and nodded. "Yes, my lord." "As for this woman¡­" ric turned her gaze to Pam who had already fallen to the ground, looking dazed and lost. "Lock her up and don''t let hermit suicide. We still need to know the person behind her." Chapter 97 Results of the Analysis A few hours after the suspicious pouch was discovered on Pam, the results of the tests were finally confirmed. At this moment, ric was inside the baron''s study together with the highest-ranking members of the household. "Have you discovered the contents of the pouch?" Lucas asked the herbalist who conducted the analysis on the substance. The herbalist, an old man in his seventies, nodded his head. "Yes, my lord. I discovered an rming amount of lobinuram in the substance. It''s the ashes of a poisonous nt called¡­" Lucas suddenly raised his hand to stop the old man from talking. "Stop. You don''t need to tell me the specifics. Just tell me if it''s poisonous if ingested by someone." Hearing this, the old herbalist cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes, my lord. Although it won''t kill a person right away, it will cause a severe impact on the body. Even a powerful Knight would sumb if ingested repeatedly." Everyone frowned upon hearing the old man''s words. Lucas nodded and waved his hand. "Thank you. You may leave now." The old man had already been rewarded for the task and he didn''t dare ask for more. He left as soon as the baron gave him the cue to leave. After the herbalist left, Lucas nced at ric. "Have you interrogated that woman?" He asked with a grim look. Although he already knew that the person behind her was most likely his own brother, Lucas wanted to confirm it. ric nodded. "Yes, my lord. Sir Henry has also captured the person who gave her the poison. The both of them are currently being interrogated by my subordinates." "Well done. Bring me to them. I would like to know who is behind these two." Lucas stood up from his seat with an unfathomable look on his face.@@novelbin@@ "I''ll take you there, my lord." ric stood up and made a ''this way'' gesture. With the father and son in the lead, everyone else followed behind them. The underground prison was located beneath the training ground. In the training ground, there was a secret door that was constantly guarded by the warriors of the household and this door led to a tunnel where the underground prison was built. The group passed by this secret door and headed down the tunnel illuminated by the torches inclined on the wall. No one spoke as they headed deeper into the tunnel. Everyone was afraid to speak at this moment since they could sense the tenseness of the atmosphere. They believed that there was something deeper about this attempted poisoning. A few momentster, they finally arrived at the prison cells where all the criminals were held. The prisoners were surprised to see arge group of people. Some of them cowered in the dark corners of their cells, while a few showed interest in the situation. Soon, the group suddenly heard someone screaming like a pig being ughtered. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "We''re here, my lord." ric stopped in front of a cell. "I apologize for the unsightly scene. I asked Sir Gnar not to hold back in his interrogation." He uttered. Lucas and the others peered inside the cell and they saw two people tied to a chair. Their bodies were covered in blood. It looked like they had been tortured based on the gruesome wounds on their bodies. At this moment, Gnar who was holding what seemed to be a tooth extractor turned around. He stepped out of the cell and greeted ric and the baron. "How was the interrogation?" ric asked, lookingpletely unperturbed by the bloody scene. He had seen much worse things so this didn''t make him feel repulsed. "They were stubborn at first, but they are answering me well now." Gnar''s words made everyone look at him with fear. They thought that he was just an honorable Elite Knight. It turned out that he could be cruel too. "They also disclosed the identity of their superior," Gnar muttered. Lucas tapped ric''s shoulder and stared at Gnar as he asked. "Who is it?" Gnar didn''t respond immediately and waited for ric''s confirmation. Seeing this, ric gave him the go signal. "This may sound shocking so please be prepared¡­" Gnar''s words made everyone tighten their gazes. "It was Sir Charles. They were sent by Sir Charles and their main goal was to poison you, my lord." Lucas''s eyes shook. Meanwhile, the others were dumbfounded. "What?!" Warrick eximed. "There''s no way!" Someone found it hard to believe. After all, Charles was Lucas''s brother and he had never shown any signs of disobedience to the baron. Lucas let out a deep sigh. "So it was really him." His voice was filled withplicated emotions. "My lord, we need to bring Sir Charles here immediately!" Warrick remarked with an agitated voice. "There''s no need." Lucas shook his head. "ric already sent someone to get him." The baron added. Everyone raised their eyebrows. Charles was not an average Elite Knight. Furthermore, he also had a bunch of loyal Knights and warriors serving under him. Capturing him would be difficult. Gnar was here, so who did ric send to go after Charles? "There''s no need to panic, everyone. I sent someone trustworthy for the job." ric said when he saw the looks on their faces. "I''m sorry, my lord, but who might this person be?" Warrick asked with a frown. ric smiled and muttered. "Do you know the formermander of Vale''s armed guards?" Hearing this, the older warriors thought about one person, while the younger warriors looked confused. "Didn''t he retire after failing to advance to the Transcendent Knight realm?" Warrick hadn''t seen this person, but he had heard a few things about him. "That''s true, but I helped him advance recently so I asked him for this favor." ric calmly replied. Everyone was stunned. They found it hard to believe, but when they recalled that he possessed arge number of Dragon Tail Ferns, they realized that it was indeed possible for him to have helped that person advance. Chapter 98 Intruders in Charless Mansion Inside a mansion in the inner section of Vale. Charles paced around his room with a grave look on his face. How the hell did Pam get discovered so soon? Did she make a mistake? What should I do now? If that woman talks, my reputation will be ruined! Fuck! He regretted making a rash decision. I shouldn''t have sent her the poison. I should have followed the original n. Dammit! He rubbed his temples with a dark look. He didn''t like what was happening. Things were progressing differently than he had anticipated. Lucas might not doubt me, but those warriors¡­ They follow that damn nephew of mine so it will be difficult to convince them. He rubbed his chin as he pondered deeply on how he should deal with this troublesome issue. If nothing was to be done, his standing in the family would take a huge hit. While he was racking his brains, he suddenly heard amotion downstairs. Bang! Rumble! Charles raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What''s going on downstairs?" "Should I go and take a look, my lord?" A figure suddenly appeared beside him. Charles thought for a moment before shaking his head. "There''s no need. The hired Knights will take care of it. Besides, that guy is also down there. They should be able to handle the situation." Recently, he hired the services of a renowned mercenary group in Vale. His intention in hiring them was for his n to take over Lucas''s position. They weren''t just an ordinary mercenary group either. This was because their leader was a veteran Elite Knight! Furthermore, there were six Knights under him and over ten Knight Apprentices. The rest of their members were ordinary warriors who had some experience in battle. It was a big mercenary group consisting of more than seventy members!@@novelbin@@ At this moment, the sounds of fighting seemed to have intensified and it looked like there weren''t just a few intruders. Charles frowned as he felt a sense of foreboding creeping slowly in his heart. "Gerard, it seems like our presence is needed downstairs." He muttered. Gerard nodded in agreement. The two immediately headed downstairs to check the situation and to their astonishment, the intruders were actually Vale''s city guards. "What is the meaning of this, Sir Anthony?" Charles stared deeply at the person leading the city guards. It was Anthony Olliver, the current captain of Vale''s city guards. Furthermore, he had already advanced to the Elite Knight realm! Because of his advancement, he looked a decade younger than he was when hest visited North Pine Town a few months ago. "Sir Charles, I didn''t expect that you are actually such a conniving man." Anthony nced at him and shook his head in disappointment. "I have no reason to exin myself to you. On ount of our friendship, I advise you to surrender. Resistance will only make things worse." He added in a firm tone. "Bullshit! Did Lucas pay you to capture me?! Or was it that bastard ric?!" Charles was livid with rage. Anthony didn''t say anything and just stared at him with a contemptuous smile. Seeing his expression, Charles was pissed. "Don''t me me for this, Anthony. You just chose the wrong side." He muttered while sending Gerard a cutthroat gesture. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire As soon as he received Charles''s instruction, Gerard immediately made a move, exposing his level as an Elite Knight. Anthony''s eyes narrowed upon sensing Gerard''s overwhelming aura. This guy is actually stronger than the mercenary leader! "How dare you look away from me?!" The mercenary leader named, Jeffrey, roared as he swung his polearm. Swoosh! Anthony was also keeping an eye on Jeffrey so he quickly reacted by lifting his halberd. ng! A dull ''ng'' echoed as soon as their weapons shed. Anthony had only recently advanced so his mana was weakerpared to Jeffrey. He felt his arms shaking after that collision. Swoosh! A shadow abruptly appeared on his left, not giving him the time to defend. Shit! Anthony hastily moved to the side, narrowly evading the swift dagger that was aimed at his neck. He almost got me! Anthony took a deep breath as he looked at the man holding a pair of daggers. Luckily, that person is here or this ce would have been my graveyard. He chuckled as he thought about the person who led them here. Charles who was watching the scene frowned when he saw Anthony''s smile. "What is he smiling for?" He muttered in confusion. Just then, he felt a cold sensation on his neck. Hm?! "Don''t move if you don''t want to die." A nonchnt voice drifted into his ears. Charles looked down and saw a sword hanging over his neck. Who is this person?! I didn''t even sense his presence¡­ He was rmed. He always prided himself as one of the strongest in the North, but he was actually unable to detect someone''s presence. "Who are you, sir?" He asked, sweat trickling down his face. "Don''t try to negotiate with me and don''t even think about escaping." A mocking response resonated in his ears. Fuck! Just who is this person?! He was already at the peak of the Elite Knight realm, but against this person, he felt that there was no chance of resisting. Even though he couldn''t see the face of the man behind him, Charles could feel an overwhelming pressure akin to a towering mountain from him. "My lord!" Gerard finally noticed what was going on, but it was already toote. His lord has been caught and this person also seemed far more powerful than him! A Transcendent Knight! Gerard was stunned when he realized the other party''s strength. Meanwhile, Anthony immediately took the chance to speak. "Put down your weapons if you don''t want your lord to die!" The mercenaries under Jeffrey hesitated. Charles was their client and if something happened to him, they might not receive their payment. "Just do as he says! Put down your weapons!" Charles shouted when he saw them hesitating. He was afraid that the man behind him would truly kill him. Chapter 99 Concessions Jeffrey clicked his tongue in annoyance. What a spineless coward! "Listen here, Sir Anthony. We were only protecting our client''s property earlier so please allow us to leave. We don''t wish to be involved in this matter anymore." Jeffrey didn''t want to work with Charles anymore. Following a spineless bastard like this won''t do us any good. Anthony didn''t respond immediately. He looked at the old man, William, and asked. "What do you think, Sir William? Should we let them go?" Jeffrey nervously stared at the old man. Feeling everyone''s gazes on them, Charles felt ashamed. He didn''t forget to re at Jeffrey, but thetter didn''t even nce at him. "I''m sorry, but I can''t let you guys go," William muttered while shaking his head. Hearing this, Jeffrey frowned. "Old man, you may be stronger than me, but that doesn''t mean I''m afraid of you. If it reallyes to that, then we won''t hold back anymore." Everyone''s gazes tightened upon hearing his words. No one has died on either side as of the moment so the situation was still salvageable, but if the mercenaries were to fight aggressively, things would end differently. William furrowed his eyebrows. He didn''t want unnecessary bloodshed. Is there no other way? "Hold on!" Anthony opened his mouth, putting the situation to a temporary standstill. Everyone turned their gazes at him, wondering what he was about to say. "Jeffrey, I know that you are only doing this for the money and there''s no bad blood between us. Let''s all calm down and talk this out." Anthony lowered his halberd to show that he didn''t want things to escte. "I''m listening. Go on." Jeffrey also lowered his polearm. "Thank you." Anthony cleared his throat. His next words would decide the fate of everyone in this mansion and this weighed heavily on his shoulders. After gathering hisposure, he spoke. "Why don''t we all take a step back here? We need to bring you to North Pine Town since you are involved with Charles. Please cooperate with us and I promise you that I will speak up for your group. I''m sure the Silverswords will understand your situation." Jeffrey''s face darkened as he pondered deeply. "Don''t even think about betraying me, Jeffrey!" Charles could no longer hold back his rage when he saw that Jeffrey was nning to back out. Without his mercenary group, his chances of escaping would be slim. "I paid you so you must-" "Noisy!" William pped Charles into unconsciousness, making him unable to finish his words. Everyone was terrified of the old man''s power. Even Gerard was afraid to make a move. Charles was an Elite Knight, but a person like him actually copsed after one p to the head. "Decide immediately." William stared deeply at Jeffrey, making thetter flinch in trepidation. Ehem! Jeffrey looked away from the old man and turned his gaze back to Anthony. "Can you guarantee our safety?" He asked hesitantly. He had no choice but topromise. Forcing their way out would result in heavy casualties and they might even be branded as criminals. If that happens, they would be forced to leave the city. Anthony nodded and reassured him. "You have my word. As long as you''re not too deeply involved with Charles, I will speak up for your group." Jeffrey let out a heavy sigh. He scanned the faces of his subordinates before he helplessly nodded. "Fine. We will follow you to North Pine Town." "You made a wise decision, my friend." Anthony was relieved. He then signaled his subordinates to lower their weapons.@@novelbin@@ Jeffrey also sent a signal to his men to retract their weapons. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Gerard knew that the situation was no longer in their favor so he could only follow suit. Seeing that the situation had finally been settled, William grabbed the unconscious Charles and said. "Let''s go." ¡­ Under William''s lead, Vale''s city guards escorted the mercenaries and Charles''s subordinates towards North Pine Town. By the time they arrived at the town, it was already evening. At this moment, ric was outside the main mansion, anxiously looking at the time limit of the mission details on the cyan screen. ___ Mission: Revenge II Mission Difficulty: Normal You have gathered enough evidence to destroy your uncle''s reputation. Bring him down! Time Limit: 6:39:21 Rewards: 400 Battle Points, 25 EXP, 25 Stat Points, Item Upgrade Card x1 Penalty for failure: - 50 EXP, - 1000 Battle Points ___ I only have six hours left. When are theying? Just then, he suddenly saw a warrior on horseback rushing towards him with an urgent look. The warrior pulled the reins when he was only a few meters away from ric and as soon as his horse stopped, he jumped down and saluted. "My lord, they are here!" He reported with a serious face. "Good!" ric''s eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Did they capture the target?" He asked. The warrior nodded. "Yes, my lord." ric breathed a sigh of relief. "Well done. You may leave." He waved his hand. The warrior bowed and jumped back to his mount. Hiya! ric watched the warrior leave with a smile on his face. I must report this to Dad and Mom. He quickly headed inside the mansion to inform his parents about the situation. A momentter, he arrived at his father''s study room. "What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?" Lucas raised an eyebrow when he saw ric impatiently walking inside. "Dad, they''re here!" ric responded. Lucas narrowed his eyes. "I see." He stood up, arranged his clothes, and nodded at rix. "Let''s go see them." "Yes, my lord." The father and son stepped out of the room. On their way down, ric asked. "Where is Mom?" "She went out with Harris to investigate the stores that your Uncle had manipted. I sent Warrick to protect them so they will be fine." Lucas responded. ric could rest easy with his mother taking care of the issues about their stores. She was the expert in this area. Not to mention that Harris was with her. Chapter 100 Lucass Verdict The father and son duo waited in front of the main mansion. After less than thirty minutes, they finally saw arge group of warriorsing towards them. Those warriors must be the mercenaries that Uncle hired. They looked quite formidable. ric frowned when he saw the mercenaries. Good thing Sir William has the support of Vale''s city guards. That saved him some trouble of doing things all by himself. At this moment, the old man stopped in front of the baron and gave him a salute to show his respect. "Greetings, my lord." He then saluted ric afterwards. "I have fulfilled your request, my lord." The old man smiled as he pointed at Charles who had already regained consciousness. Thetter seemed to be afraid of the old man and he even flinched when William nced at him. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Thank you for epting my unreasonable request, Sir William." ric extended his hand with a grateful smile. The old man grabbed his hand and shook it lightly. "It''s my pleasure to help you, my lord. Besides, I owe you a lot for giving me the opportunity to breakthrough. If not for you, I would have probably¡­" His voice trailed off as if he didn''t want to say the rest of it. The two exchanged pleasantries before they went right to the topic. "My lord, I brought these mercenaries to be investigated. Please decide what to do with them." William said as pointed at the mercenaries. "Alright. They will have to stay in the estate tonight while we proceed with the investigation." ric nodded. He was aware that these men were merely hired muscles so he was willing to let them go after it had been proven that they were innocent. "My lord, if I may speak." Anthony stepped forward. ric nced at the newly advanced Elite Knight. "What is it, Sir Anthony?" Ehem! Anthony cleared his throat before he spoke. "I''m sure you''re already aware that these men are mercenaries. I can vouch for them. They only followed Charles because of the huge money he promised to give them. I hope you can be lenient with these warriors." He bowed deeply to ric after he uttered those words. "I understand, Sir Anthony. You can rest assured. As long as they are innocent, we will release them immediately." ric tapped the Elite Knight''s shoulder. "Thank you, my lord." Anthony was relieved to hear this. ric waved his hand. This was just a minor issue to him. Furthermore, he had already thought of letting go of the mercenaries since Charles was the main cause of this problem. He stared at the baron and asked while pointing at Charles. "What should we do with this criminal, my lord?" Everyone turned their gazes to the baron. His decision would determine Charles''s fate. Would he forgive his brother who had plotted to poison him or would he eliminate this hidden threat? "Lucas, wait! This must be a misunderstanding! You know that I would never do this!" Charles squeezed out a smile. He was afraid that Lucas would really send him to death. Looking at his brother, Lucas took a deep breath and sighed. "Charles, why did you do it?" His voice carried a trace of pain. "What do you mean? I don''t know any-" "ENOUGH!!!" Lucas bellowed. An overwhelming aura suddenly pressed on everyone, making them unable to move. Even William who had recently be a Transcendent Knight was shocked by the pressure he exuded. "Charles, you weren''t talented so I gave you the best resources to help you be an Elite Knight." "You didn''t know anything about business, but I sent you to oversee the family''s main shops." "I knew that you were secretly manipting the finances of our businesses, but I turned a blind eye to it." "And even after all that I have done for you¡­ You actually thought of poisoning me¡­" His words made Charles lower his head in silence. No one said a word. They just stared at the baron and his shameless brother with a look of interest. These types of scenes were normal within the nobility. Brothers who had be enemies and even sons turned against their fathers for the sake of their inheritance. This was the hideous side of the political world. "Tomorrow, you will be sent to the guillotine!" Lucas gave his verdict with an indifferent expression. He took one final look at his brother before he turned around and left. Everyone stared at the baron''s deste back view. ric clicked his tongue. He wanted to torture this man and let him suffer for a long time, but his father had already made the decision. Suddenly, the cyan screen appeared in front of him, telling him that he hadpleted the mission. ___ Mission Complete! Rewards: 400 Battle Points, 25 EXP, 25 Stat Points, Item Upgrade Card x1 ___ ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 477/500 Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100 Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 3770 Stat Points: 33 (Requirements for the next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) ___ Mission: Revenge III Mission Difficulty: Normal You have sessfully captured Charles. However, your task is not yet done. Make sure that Charles will receive his punishment! Time Limit: 23:59:59@@novelbin@@ Rewards: 500 Battle Points, 30 EXP, 30 Stat Points, Random Trait Card x1 ___ This should be thest part of this mission. He thought when he saw the next mission popping up. At this moment, Charles who had been silent suddenly lifted his head and stared at ric with hatred. "ric! It was because of you! If it weren''t for you¡­" William quickly grabbed the man''s shoulder, preventing him from taking another step. "Uncle, no¡­ Charles." ric walked towards him with a calm gaze. "My lord, you should stay away from this man." William frowned when he saw him approaching Charles. ric raised his hand at the old man, signaling to him that it was fine. He stood in front of his uncle and stared deeply into his eyes. "Charles, if it was up to me, I wouldn''t kill you so easily. You see, I lost many people because of you." Killing intent shed in his eyes, making Charles unconsciously take a step back. Chapter 101 Guillotine The next morning, a stage was set up in the middle of North Pine Town, making the townspeople curious about what it was meant for. "Is there a performance today?" "I don''t think so. I haven''t heard of a troupe visiting the town." "House Silversword must have set this stage to announce something important." While the townspeople were curiously chatting between themselves, a few warriors suddenly appeared carrying something covered by a cloth. "Look! They areing!" "What''s that thing?" "I have no idea." Everyone watched as the warriors set up the item on the stage. When the warriors removed the cloth, a guillotine was revealed, shocking everyone to their core. "Holy shit!" "Who is going to be executed today?" More and more townspeople gathered at the venue when news spread that there would be a public execution. An hourter, hundreds of people had already gathered at the site, waiting for the execution to begin. At this moment, more warriors appeared and they were dragging a few people whose hands were chained. The townspeople were curious to know the identities of these individuals, but their faces were covered by a cloth, making it impossible for everyone to guess who they were. "It''s Lord ric!" Someone eximed. Everyone turned their head when they heard this. ric calmly walked towards the stage under the heated gazes of the crowd. The mission is still set at normal so I need to be careful. To ensure a smooth process, ric invited William to watch the execution. With the old man around, he could rest assured that no ident would ur. Upon stepping foot on the stage, ric raised his hand, signaling to the audience to keep quiet. "Everyone, I have an important announcement to make." ric scanned the crowd with a solemn look. "Today, we will be executing the criminals who had attempted to poison the baron!" When the townspeople heard his words, they almost flew into rage. Lucas was their lord, an important symbol of North Pine Town. Everyone respected him for he was a great leader who had never oppressed the poor. They would never forgive those who would attempt to take his life! ric sent a signal to the warriors to remove the cloth that covered the criminals'' faces. As soon as their faces were revealed, the townspeople immediately rained curses at them. Many even started throwing stones and other objects at the criminals. Everyone was furious. The first person sent to the guillotine was Pam. Her face was covered in bruises and there were all sorts of wounds on her body, but no one felt pity for her. It looked like she wanted to say something, but because of the bruises on her face, she could only emit unintelligible words. ric announced her crimes as the warriors ced her on the guillotine. "Die bitch!" "Kill that bitch!" After announcing her crimes, ric nodded at the executioner. Swoosh! The guillotine cleanly chopped off Pam''s head, sending it rolling onto the stage. Everyone cheered upon witnessing her death. Meanwhile, a warrior came to dispose of her corpse and another one grabbed her fallen head. In the next moment, the second criminal was sent to the guillotine. It was one of Charles''s subordinates. ric stated his crimes before he sent a signal to the executioner. Swoosh! A few more criminals were beheaded. Some of them pleaded for mercy, but no one listened. There was also someone who tried to escape, but he was cut down in half by Gnar who was at the scene. Soon, only two criminals remained. "The next person is Gerard¡­" ric announced the man''s crimes which were even worse than the criminals who died before him. ric nced deeply at Gerard. This man was an Elite Knight so he had Gnar pin him down on the guillotine to ensure that he wouldn''t escape. Surprisingly, Gerard didn''t take any action. He just obedientlyid down on the guillotine without saying a word. After announcing his crimes, ric asked him. "Do you have anyst words?" Gerard lifted his head and muttered. "Please forgive me, Aru." ric sighed. This man was unlucky. He was a loyal subordinate, but he followed the wrong lord. ric sent a signal to the executioner. Swoosh! Gerard didn''t activate his mana so the de cleanly cut off his head. Now, only one criminal remained. For some reason, the townspeople felt that this person looked strangely familiar. "Thest person is the main culprit behind this incident. Please don''t be surprised everyone¡­" "¡­This is Charles Silversword! Because of his greed, he plotted to poison the baron!" As soon as they heard this name, the audience was stunned. They even thought that there was something wrong with their ears. However, when Gnar grabbed his hair, they saw his face. "It''s indeed Sir Charles! How could this be?" "I thought he was a good man. It turns out he was a devil!" "Kill him!" "Kill!" Everyone felt betrayed. "Wait!" Charles shouted while looking at ric. Gnar immediately pushed his shoulder, forcing him to kneel. ric raised his hand to silence the furious crowd. "Speak." He uttered coldly. Charles knew that his death was imminent so he no longer bothered to conceal his true face.@@novelbin@@ The kind face that he always had was now filled with loathing and insanity. "Don''t regret this ric! You don''t know anything! The town may look peaceful on the surface, but this ce will soon be engulfed in mes! Hahaha!" Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire Heughed contemptuously. "The people at the capital are getting restless with the emperor''s declining health! Soon, there will be a great war and North Pine Town will be forced to participate! Hahaha!" "I will watch you guys suffer and I will wait for you in hell!" Charles was like a deranged beast as he uttered those words. ric''s expression darkened. How does he know about this? Did one of the princes approach him already? He realized that the two princes might have already started gathering their forces in preparation for the emperor''s passing. With a cold look on his face, ric nodded to Gnar. Thetter understood his intentions and grabbed Charles by the neck. He then pinned Charles to the guillotine. Swoosh! ___ Mission Complete! Rewards: 500 Battle Points, 30 EXP, 30 Stat Points, Random Trait Card x1 ___ Chapter 102 New Trait [Do you want to use the Random Trait Card?] [Yes] [No] He clicked [No] and opened his character profile. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 500/500 (Cannot receive more EXP before advancement) Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100 Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 4280 Stat Points: 64 (Requirements for the next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) He then closed the cyan screen and stared at Charles''s decapitated head with aplicated look on his face. He had finally disposed of the man who would have caused the downfall of the household. However, he felt no joy. On the contrary, ric felt ufortable. Thest words that Charles had spoken were still lingering in his mind, repeating over and over like a broken cassette tape. There are still more things to do. ric didn''t stay for long after the criminals were beheaded. He gave a closing speech and returned to the estate. Upon returning home, he didn''t immediately go find his father. He felt that it was better to give the baron some time to be alone. Inside his room, ric opened the cyan screen. [Do you want to use the Random Trait Card?] [Yes] [No] This time, he clicked [Yes]. [You have awakened the F-Rank Monster Affinity Trait.] Huh, what''s this? Monster Affinity¡­ how does this work? ric furrowed his eyebrows. From the name, it sounded like it had something to do with monsters. I''ll test it out next time. He closed the cyan screen and headed to the bathroom to remove the bloody smell on his body. *** On the 17th of January, in the Year 209 of the Astanian Calendar. The baron''s birthday celebration proceeded as scheduled despite the unexpected events that happened recently. North Pine Town was in an unusual mood. Some people were happy, while others were feeling unsettled because of what had happened during the public execution. There were a lot of visitors who came to join the baron''s birthday celebration so the streets of the town were bustling with activity. At this moment, droves of carriages entered House Silversword''s estate, carrying noble dignitaries from neighboring cities and towns. One of these carriages carried the representatives sent by House Paxley. "Maris, how do I look?" Hershey asked her personal maidservant as she adjusted her dress. Maris smiled lightly at her and helped her adjust her clothes. "Mydy, you already look perfect. I''m sure all those young men and warriors will be captivated by your beauty." Hearing this, Hershey shook her head and smiled as she thought of that familiar face. "I don''t care about any of those men." Maris chuckled at her words. She knew what herdy was talking about for she was aware that Hershey had already devoted herself to one man. While they were chatting, the voice of the coachman suddenly drifted into their ears. "Mydy, I apologize for disturbing your conversation, but this is the furthest I can take you." "Alright," Hershey responded. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire In the next moment, the carriage door was opened by Cassandra who came as the captain of her escort team. "Mydy!" The female Knight bowed deeply to her and extended her right arm for Hershey to grab onto. Hershey grabbed her hand as she stepped down the carriage. Meanwhile, her maidservant, Maris, lifted her dress to prevent Hershey from stepping on it. Upon stepping foot on the cobbled pavement, Hershey nodded to Cassandra. "Thank you, Dame Cassandra." The female Knight lowered her head. "It''s my pleasure to serve you, mydy." Maris dusted off the snow on Hershey''s dress before she rose to her feet. "Mydy, there are so many guests. I feel nervous." She whispered while she discreetly observed the noble dignitariesing out of the carriages. Hershey lightly turned her head and squeezed Maris''s hand. "Just rx and don''t mind them." Maris nodded her head meekly. The trio headed to the venue- a special mansion meant for such celebrations.@@novelbin@@ When they arrived, the ce was already filled with people. The sounds of the musical instruments and the chattering of the crowd resonated in their ears. Thisbination of sounds created a unique atmosphere that made them feel the essence of the celebration. Hershey''s arrival sparked the interest of many young nobles. Her beauty, her grace, and her temperament attracted these proud men. Some of them tried to strike a conversation with her, but Hershey only replied politely and she didn''t even try to prolong the conversation. Seeing that she had no interest in them, no one approached her anymore. They just stared at her and admired her beauty from a distance. "Lady Hershey is truly beautiful, but I heard that she will be engaged to someone. What a pity." Someone mumbled with a hint of regret. "Your news is outdated. I heard that she will be engaged to Lord ric." "Well, only Lord ric deserves a woman like her." The guests discussed eagerly as they watched Hershey step into the hall. Suddenly, the main character of today''s event appeared. It was Lucas Silversword, dressed in his custom-made suit emzoned with a golden insignia of House Silversword. His arrival silenced the crowd for a moment. His dignified look and hismanding presence awed the audience. As he went down the staircase from the second floor, Lucas''s face remained stoic. Lucas stopped midway and scanned everyone''s faces. His piercing gaze made the guests unconsciously adjust their posture. Seeing that he had gathered their attention, Lucas opened his mouth. "Good day, everyone! Thank you foring to my humble estate to join my birthday celebration. I have prepared¡­" His voice echoed through the banquet hall. "¡­Please enjoy your stay here." p! p! p! The audience gave him a round of apuse after his short speech. Where is he? Hershey looked around the hall, searching for that familiar figure. Just then, she suddenly heard Maris gasping in surprise behind her. She raised her eyebrows and turned around. "What happened?" In front of her was the very man she was looking for. "How are you, mydy?" Chapter 103 Gift Giving Ceremony "My lord!" Hershey eximed in surprise and joy. She suppressed her excitement and responded. "I have been well. How about you, my lord? I heard about what happened recently. I was worried about you." ric smiled at her. "I''m alright." Truthfully, he was still affected by his uncle''s words, but he didn''t want her to be needlessly worried. "I''m d that you''re alright." The two talked about other matters and their conversation flowed smoothly as if they had been waiting for this exact moment. Suddenly, the two noticed a group of people approaching them. ric raised an eyebrow when he saw these people. "My lord. Mydy." The person leading the group respectfully greeted before everyone followed suit. Hershey politely smiled at them, while ric wore a strange look. "How have you been, Lord Dnn?" Dnn forced a smile. "Thank you for asking, my lord. I have been well, but I not feeling good these past few days after I heard that my brother has offended you." Upon saying this, he grabbed the chubby man behind him while keeping his eyes on ric. "I brought my brother here with me to formally apologize for what he had done." "I hope you can forgive him for his terrible behavior." "I have already punished him, but I feel that it is not enough." Dnn was really afraid that ric woulde to Redonia to seek revenge. He had heard about what happened to Liam Paxley in Ryvaad. The events that happened that day made the neighboring cities and towns take notice of ric. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire ric nced at Ryk''s fat face which had a bruise on the left side. He would have forgotten about his encounter with Ryk in Turtle Fort if they hadn''te to visit. "That was just a minor issue, Lord Dnn. Let''s forget about it and move on." ric turned his head back to Dnn. This man would one day be a powerful warrior. ric didn''t mind doing him this small favor. Dnn was relieved to hear that. "Thank you for your magnanimity, my lord." He then red at his brother and said. "What are you waiting for? Go and thank Lord ric!" Ryk didn''t dare go against Dnn. "Thank you, Lord ric!" He lowered his head. ric waved his hand. "Just don''t do it again." He uttered with a stern look. If it weren''t for Dnn''s sake, he would have already beaten up this guy. ric and Dnn exchanged a few more words before thetter excused himself. In the next few hours, more guests arrived, making the banquet hall more festive and noisy. ric had to leave Hershey for a while to help his father entertain the guests. After lunch, the most exciting part of the celebration began. It was the gift-giving ceremony. Lucas sat on the main seat, waiting for the guests to hand over their gifts. One by one, each representative stepped forward to give their gifts. "Happy birthday, Lord Lucas! I am Dnn Heinrich of House Heinrich. I bring you this oceanic jade bracelet which symbolizes stability." Dnn presented an aquamarine jade bracelet to Lucas. As soon as this item was revealed, the crowd gasped in shock. This jade was unavable in the North since its main material could only be found in the southern section of the empire. It was a rare jade worth over a thousand gold coins! "Thank you." Lucas seemed to be pleased with the gift. The next person came up to give his gift. Although it was also a valuable item, it wasn''t as rare as the oceanic jade bracelet. A few more people came up, but no gift exceeded the value offered by House Heinrich. At this moment, the representative sent by the city lord of Vale presented his gift. "My lord, I came here under the city lord''smand to give you 50 tons of grain, 50 tons of corn, 50 tons of potato, and 50 tons of wheat!"@@novelbin@@ The crowd pped their hands and cheered when they heard his words. During the winter when food was scarce, that many resources could already feed more than a thousand people for two months. Lucas nodded at the representative of the city lord. "Please convey my thanks to the city lord." "Yes, my lord." The man nodded in response. In the next moment, more guests stepped forward to present their gifts. Some offeredrge quantities of food and resources, while there were also others who presented the baron with rare metals for production. Soon, it was finally House Paxley''s turn to offer their gift and the person who presented their gift was Hershey. Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Hershey gracefully walked towards the baron, and following behind her was Cassandra who was holding a wooden box. Hershey bowed to the baron and said. "I wish you a happy birthday, my lord. I am Hershey Paxley and I came here to present to you one of the treasured relics of House Paxley." After uttering those words, she gave a cue to Cassandra to reveal what was inside the wooden box. The female Knight uncovered the lid, revealing a dark-colored diamond-shaped shield. "Isn''t that¡­" "No way!" As soon as everyone saw the shield, they were all dumbfounded. "A relic! That''s a relic!" Someone eximed with an agitated look. Even ric was surprised by this. This was because a relic wasn''t just an ordinary item. Relics are items that could be imbued with mana without breaking. Unlike normal items, relics can withstand high-intensity mana! Hershey smiled at the baron. "This is one of the three treasured relics of House Paxley, the ''Dark Diamond Shield''." "From now on, this shield will be yours, my lord. Only someone like you is worthy of wielding this relic." As her words fell, Cassandra put down the box with her head lowered. "Insane! They actually gave that relic as a birthday gift!" "This is probably their way ofpensating House Silversword for what happened in Ryvaad." "Unbelievable." Chapter 104 Interrupted "To end the gift-giving ceremony, I would like to call my son, ric, to present the final gift to Lord Lucas." Maria who acted as the emcee of the celebration, announced to the crowd, her words immediately garnered everyone''s attention. ric was prepared since he had already been told about the sequence of the ceremony. He calmly walked towards the baron, under the heated gazes of the audience. Many young women openly expressed their admiration for him as he walked past them, but ric only responded with a polite smile. Even so, his casual nce was enough to make these youngdies giggle in excitement. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire To the enthusiasm of these women, Hershey didn''t give much of a reaction. She felt that it was only normal since ric was the definition of the perfect man in every girl''s dreams. At this moment, ric raised his hand, signaling to the crowd to keep quiet. He then cleared his throat and looked at his father with a smile. "My lord." Lucas nodded to him, his lips curving upwards to form a faint smile. "When we went to the Enchanted Woonds recently, we were lucky enough to stumble upon one of the majestic creatures of that magical forest. My lord, I present to you my gift¡­" ric snapped his fingers. In the next moment, Gnar appeared from the entrance of the hall, as if he had been waiting for this cue. Walking obediently beside the Elite Knight was a majestic brown horse with a silky ck mane and a striking white ze from its forehead down to its muzzle. Its striking appearance and intimidating aura awed the crowd. "This is a Disaster-grade frost horse, a creature that is native to the Enchanted Woonds." ric gave a short introduction about the horse. Lucas was already aware that ric had brought these horses, but he didn''t know that one of them was meant for him and it was also the strongest horse of the bunch! "Thank you for the gift, ric. I like this horse a lot." Lucas stood up and rubbed the muscr body of the horse. From his expression, everyone could tell that he was satisfied with this gift. Meanwhile, the audience discussed in whispers after they heard that the horse was actually a Disaster-grade monster. Monsters at this level could decimate a small vige and it would take a powerful Elite Knight to take one down. No one expected that Lucas would receive a creature like this as a gift. Not to mention that it was from his son. They could only look on with envy as the baron stroked the silky mane of the frost horse. And that was how the gift-giving ceremony ended. What followed was the luxurious banquet which also served as the perfect time for all the guests to interact with each other. Some people took the opportunity to expand their connections, while some chose to remain lowkey, standing discreetly in the corners of the banquet hall. The celebration continued untilte in the evening. More than half of the guests left after bidding farewell to the host, while some chose to stay in the estate to rest for the night. ¡­ Outside the venue, beside the koi pond, two figures could be seen walking side by side. "My lord, there is another reason why I volunteered toe here." Hershey nced at his side profile with a determined look on her face. I have thought it through! I must confess tonight! Hershey was feeling a mixture of emotions as she looked at ric''s handsome face. ric stopped in his tracks. "Actually, I have been waiting for this moment." He muttered, his voice carrying the regret and guilt of his past life. He turned his head and stared into her eyes. In this life, I will not hurt you anymore. "Hershey¡­" He grabbed her delicate hand, making Hershey''s eyes widen in shock. And with a smile filled with tenderness, he asked. "Will you ept me as your man?" Hershey gasped in utter disbelief. She was determined to confess her feelings to him, but ric was one step ahead. Am I dreaming? She lifted her left hand and pinched her waist. A sharp pain immediately registered, telling her that everything was real. ric chuckled at her silly expression, making the youngdy embarrassed. Hershey shyly lowered her head. "I¡­ I¡­ uh¡­" Just as she was about to respond, the snapping sound of a twig suddenly drifted into their ears. Crack. The two abruptly turned their heads and saw a young woman dressed in servant''s attire smiling awkwardly at them. "Uhm, I didn''t mean to eavesdrop. Please go on. Just pretend that you didn''t see me." "Maris?" Hershey eximed upon seeing her. "M-Mydy, I r-really didn''t mean to eavesdrop. I only followed you because I was worried about your safety." Maris nervously nced at ric, afraid that he would me her for interrupting their moment.@@novelbin@@ ric chuckled and shook his head. "There''s no need to hide Dame Cassandra. I know you''re behind that tree." Ehem! Cassandra cleared her throat as she revealed herself. She then bowed to ric and Hershey. "We apologize for disturbing your privacy." "It''s alright." ric could only smile bitterly. He was already aware that they had been following them, but he acted like he didn''t know. Who would have thought that these two would actually interrupt that perfect opportunity? "My lord, it''s my fault for not educating them well." Hershey sighed while ring at the two women. "It''s not that serious, mydy. It''s alright." ric forced a smile. "This¡­" Hershey awkwardly nced at him. She didn''t know what to do. "You don''t need to give me a response now, mydy. You should think it through. I''ll take my leave first. Please excuse me." Although a bit disappointing, he could only excuse himself. The mood has already been ruined and he didn''t want to force the subject. "Alright. See you tomorrow, my lord. I hope you''ll have a good night." Hershey smiled ruefully. "You too." ric reluctantly left after bidding her farewell. After he was gone, Hershey stood there, with her arms akimbo, ring at the two women with displeasure. "You two, follow me." Chapter 105 From Steel Sword to Relic Upon returning to his room, ric took a quick bath in his private bathroom and changed intofortable silk nightwear. It''s time to use ''that thing''. (Note: Item Upgrade Card will be changed to Equipment Upgrade Card to prevent confusion.) ric hadn''t used the Equipment Upgrade Card which he had gotten recently. He had been thinking which of his equipment he should upgrade and he had finally made a decision.@@novelbin@@ He looked to his left where two swords could be seen neatly ced on a hanging sword holder. He grabbed the sword at the top. This was just an ordinary steel sword before, but it had be something impressive after he used an Equipment Upgrade Card on it. [Do you want to use your Equipment Upgrade Card on the selected item?] [Yes] [No] ric had been hesitant to use it on this sword since he also wanted to upgrade the other one. However, he was curious about what would happen to the Umon Steel Sword if it were upgraded once again. This curiosity drove him to press [Yes]. [Congrattions! You have upgraded your Umon Steel Sword to Rare Steel Sword!] [Rare Steel Sword] Sharpness: 20 Durability: 20 Unexpectedly, the weight of the sword didn''t change. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire ric slowly pulled the sword, revealing a pristine de. He ran his fingers through the fuller while admiring the de''s appearance. There are more changes to its appearance now. The de is thicker, but a fuller has been made to reduce its weight. Although it looks bigger than it was before, the weight remains the same. ric was satisfied with the sword''s new look. He gave it a few swings. Swoosh! Swoosh! Oh? His eyes lit up when he felt almost no resistance as he cut through the air. The bnce of the sword was impable. It felt perfect in his hand with no awkwardness. He infused mana into the sword, revealing the archaic patterns hidden underneath the de. This is¡­ This isn''t a steel sword anymore, but a relic! He realized that the sword wasn''t rejecting his mana. Instead, it was greedily absorbing it! Furthermore, the patterns inscribed on the de seemed to have awakened the dormant power of the sword. ric swung the mana-infused sword. Swoosh! A de light was released as the sword shed down. The de light struck the thick wall with a ''bang''. Bang! Holy shit! ric stared at the deep impression on the wall with a look of disbelief. He had only casually swung the mana-infused sword, but it actually left significant damage on the wall. Is this the power of a relic? Excluding the new shield they had gotten from House Paxley, House Silversword only had one relic and it was in his father''s possession so he couldn''t tell the difference. I better keep this a secret for now. ric put the sword back into its sheath before he carefully ced it on the sword holder. With this sword, can I fight against Elite Knights? ric was tempted to test this, but it was alreadyte in the night so he decided to postpone the idea. Let''s try tomorrow. *** In the ghetto of a city in the northeast of the empire, a man dressed in rags could be seen leaning against the wall. He was visibly shaking from the cold, but he remained on his spot without moving as if he was waiting for something. His right hand which was tightly holding the dagger hidden underneath his clothes had already turned stiff. Just when will those guyse out? The man narrowed his eyes as he observed the busy pub across the street. Suddenly, a few more figures appeared behind the man. "My lord, should we head in?" One of them muttered. The man turned his head and red at the person who had spoken. "Didn''t I tell you to call me boss recently?" "I''m sorry, b-boss! I''m still not used to it." "You better get used to it soon if you don''t want to be captured along with me." The man snorted. At this moment, his face which had been hidden in the darkness was revealed. This man was Liam Paxley, a wanted criminal who had been on the run after escaping the punishment of the sacred duel. Many things had happened to him since he left Ryvaad. Together with the warriors sent by his mother, Liam somehow managed to escape. To hide his identity he decisively carved a few scars on his face and he even cut his hair short. Now, he had formed a small mercenary group together with his remaining subordinates. They were new to the city, but they had established themselves as a capable group after more than five sessful operations. However, the most surprising thing was that Liam had already be a Knight Apprentice! "It''s them! They''re out!" Liam mumbled when he saw their targetsing out of the pub. He made a hand gesture to his subordinates. The target was surrounded by ten warriors and one of them was an old Knight. On the other hand, Liam''s crew only had six people, but two of them were Knights, while the remaining four were Knight Apprentices. Although they were outnumbered, Liam knew that they could pull off the assassination. The old Knight who was protecting their target seemed to have sensed that something was wrong. "Enemies! Grab your weapons and protect Sir Ben!" The old Knight shouted as he pulled his sword. Upon hearing his roar, the warriors immediately grabbed their weapons and surrounded their master. At this moment, a series of whistling sounds echoed. Suu! Suu! Suu! Three unlucky warriors were hit by the crossbow bolts and one of them who was struck to the head died on the spot. The other two fell to the ground, screaming in pain. "Don''t panic! Hold your positions!" The old Knight shouted when he saw his men falling into disarray. Just then, he sensed a feeling of extreme danger. His eyes narrowed into slits as he diagonally raised his sword above his head. ng! The javelin aimed at his head fell after hitting his sword. "Brace yourselves! They areing!" The old man red in a certain direction. Chapter 106 Evading Death Again Six figures emerged from the darkness and rushed towards them. "Protect Sir Ben!" The old Knight barked at his men as he carefully assessed the enemies. Two Knights and four Knight Apprentices¡­ I need to stop the two Knights while my men will take care of the others. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "One of you will stay and protect Sir Ben! The rest will follow me to eliminate the enemies!" The old Knight instructed with a grim look. "Yes, sir!" In the next moment, the two sides shed. The sounds of their weapons colliding resonated across the streets. Some curious people secretly watched the fight while maintaining a safe distance. In the slums, small-scale battles like this weremon so this scene wasn''t new to the residents. Liam''s crew showed their superiority in terms of skills. Other than the old Knight who managed to hold back two of Liam''s subordinates, the rest died one after another. "Go and run! I can''t hold them back for long!" The old Knight roared as he pushed back Liam''s crew all by himself. Hearing his words, his remaining subordinate immediately carried their master and retreated with haste. Seeing this, the old Knight sighed in relief. "You''re quite tough, old man. Why don''t you join my group? I can pay you decently." Liam smiled at the old Knight. The old man ignored him and fought his way out. He even managed to y one of Liam''s subordinates in the process which made thetter''s face turn dark. "Kill him! I want him dead!" Liam was furious. The one who died was part of his mother''s hidden forces so his loyalty was unquestionable. Losing him meant he had lost another confidant. Liam''s subordinates were also triggered by the death of theirrade. They charged ferociously while swinging their weapons at the old man. ng! ng! ng! The old Knight managed to parry their weapons, but because of his age, his stamina was starting to decline. His breath had be heavier and his arms were starting to lose strength.@@novelbin@@ Not yet! I must kill the two Knights to give Sir Ben a chance to escape safely! With a determined look, he infused his remaining mana into his limbs, giving a momentary boost in strength. The sudden increase in his power caught Liam''s crew off guard and another unlucky Knight Apprentice died after having his neck pierced with a sword. Liam was also injured and if it weren''t for the Knights protecting him, his arms would have been chopped off. Fuck! He winced as the pain registered. While the old man was still upied by his men, Liam grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at thetter''s face. Hm? The old Knight unconsciously shifted his head. He was able to evade most of the dirt, but some still found their way into his eyes. Liam''s subordinates took this opportunity to attack the old man. "You cowardly bastards!" The old Knight roared as he forced his eyes open. With a burst of speed, he pounced at Liam who seemed to be the leader of the group, but the two Knights immediately blocked his path. The old man swung his sword, sending one of the Knights flying, while the other one took a stab to his shoulder. After dealing with them, he rushed towards Liam and shouted with bloodshot eyes. "Die!!" He raised his sword and was about to sh it down when he saw Liam pulling out a crossbow from his back. Suu!! The crossbow bolt pierced the old man''s chest, making him stagger and fall to his knees. Liam grabbed his sword and approached the old man cautiously. "Old man, many people tried to kill me, but no one seeded." He muttered in a mocking voice. "You should have epted my offer." Liam shook his head with disappointment. He then lifted his sword and swung it down hard. Swoosh! Suddenly, the old Knight seemed to have regained his strength as he lifted his sword to block Liam''s attack. ng! The rmed Liam immediately retreated while the old Knight chased after him. "Save me you fools!" Liam barked with a shaking voice, but his subordinates were too far to offer a hand. At that moment, Liam found himself leaning against the wall. Shit! The old Knight walked towards him, eyeing him coldly with his bloodshot eyes. Just when Liam thought that he would die, the old man suddenly copsed in front of him. Thud. Liam almost pissed himself. This was the second time he felt the feeling of impending doom. The first one was when ric challenged him to a sacred duel. He fell on his butt and breathed heavily while staring at the old Knight''s corpse. "My- Boss, are you alright?" Liam red at them. "Do I look alright to you? I almost fucking died!" Aftershing out at them, he stood up and repeatedly stabbed the old Knight. "Damn you, old bastard! Fuck you!" He then spat at the old Knight''s corpse and cursed at him. "What about the target?" Liam raised his head while wiping off the grime on his face. "I already sent our boys to chase them. He only has a Knight Apprentice protecting him now so there shouldn''t be an issue." "We can''t be careless. We must kill him tonight!" Liam had lost two subordinates in this operation. The two remaining Knight Apprentices were even injured, including the Knights. "Yes, boss!" They immediately left the scene afterward. *** At the outskirts of the Enchanted Woonds, ten robed figures riding horses emerged. Their bodies were obscured by the oversized robes making it hard for anyone to judge their appearance. "Everyone is ready to depart, Your Highness." One of the robes figures reported to the one at the forefront. Suddenly, a strong wind blew by, pulling off the hood of the figure at the front which revealed her beautiful face. Her white hair danced with the wind and her serene eyes stared into the distance as she uttered. "Let''s go." Chapter 107 The Trainees Mission On the 20th day of January, three days after the baron''s birthday celebration, House Silversword weed another Elite Knight under their banner. "Congrattions on your advancement, Sir Arthur." ric was genuinely happy for this man. "It''s all thanks to you, my lord. If it weren''t for you, I might be stuck as a peak Knight for a decade more." Arthur muttered emotionally. He was d that he bent his knee to ric that day. It was the best decision he had made in his life. Arthur no longer looked like an old man. He looked as if he had returned to his forties. This was one of the perks of being an Elite Knight. ric tapped his shoulder. "Great timing, Sir Arthur." "The newbies will be sent to the Evergreen Forest to eliminate the rampaging monsters that are harassing the travelers and the townspeople." "I need an experienced warrior to watch over them during their mission. Do you think you can take care of this task?" ric stared deeply at him. He had thought of sending Rigor or another Knight for this job, but he felt that sending Arthur was a better idea. Thetter had been confined in his house for almost a week so it was a great opportunity for him to breathe some fresh air. "Sounds good to me, my lord. I''ll take the chance to exercise my bones." Arthur chuckled while flexing his arms. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire "Good! You better get ready. They will leave after breakfast." ric reminded him. "Yes, my lord."@@novelbin@@ "Oh, wait! I almost forgot something." ric beckoned to him. "Someone will help you with this task, but he is mainly responsible for recording the newbies'' performances." Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Who is¡­" "You''ll knowter." ric waved his hand andughed lightly. Seeing that he had no intention of telling him, Arthur didn''t bother to ask. "I understand." "Then I''ll leave them in your hands. I still have things to settle in Vale so I''ll take my leave first. You guys be careful out there." ric tapped the Elite Knight''s arm. "You can rest assured, my lord. Be careful on your way to the city." Arthur bowed to him. After ric left, Arthur went back to his house to prepare for the trip. Although his task was only to oversee the newbies'' mission, he felt that it was necessary to bring his equipment. The Evergreen Forest might be rtively safe, but there still existed some dangerous monsters inside. As soon as he had prepared his equipment, Arthur immediately left to look for the newbies. At this moment, the trainees had already gathered outside the gates of the estate, waiting for the signal to leave. They stood in neat rows, their backs straight like a spear as they respectfully looked at the instructor in front of them. The instructor, a thirty-year-old Knight with a scar on his upper lip, announced with a stern look. "Today is your first practicalbat training. Your task is to eliminate the monsters located on the map provided to your group leaders. Each monster you kill will give you a corresponding amount of points and the points you get will depend on your overall contribution¡­" He told the trainees about the rules of the mission. Everyone listened carefully, afraid to miss a single detail. To them, this practicalbat training wasn''t just a simple mission, but a chance to prove that they were ready. Among the trainees was Aliya. She was the only girl in the group. She had the least experience, but her desire to learn wasn''t any lesspared to the hot-blooded young men in the group. Lord ric has already taught me the basics of swordsmanship. I must use all that I have learned from him to keep up with these guys. She muttered to herself. She was one of the victims of Liam''s cruelty and fate brought her to ric. She didn''t want to waste the opportunity given to her and she also wanted to prove to ric that she could be a warrior too. While she was immersed in her thoughts, a middle-aged warrior suddenly came out of the gates. The instructor looked visibly surprised to see this man. "Are you, Sir Arthur?" Arthur nodded at the stunned instructor. "I don''t recognize you. Can you tell me your name?" "It''s an honor, sir! I''m Owen. I recently became a Knight with Lord ric''s support." The instructor introduced himself. Hearing this, Arthur smiled. "So you are one of the warriors nurtured by Lord ric. It''s a pleasure to meet you." "I feel deeply honored, Sir Arthur. By the way, are you the person sent by Lord ric to oversee the mission?" Owen asked. "That''s right." Arthur nodded. The two chatted briefly before they went to the topic. "Since everyone is here, let''s depart." Aliya stared at the middle-aged warrior. Sir Arthur looks much younger now. Did he sessfully advance? Everyone was aware that Arthur was in the middle of advancing to the Elite Knight realm. Now that he was here to oversee their mission, this could only mean that he had already advanced! For this mission, forty trainees were sent and they were divided into four groups with each group having a group leader. The four group leaders were the best in the batch and Aliya even heard that two of them were already close to bing Knight Apprentices. Her group leader was one of the two, a man named Rasmus. Now that we''re heading to the Evergreen Forest, I''m starting to feel nervous. Aliya had never been in a real fight before. She only had sparred with the other trainees and instructors, but other than that, she was aplete novice. "Just rx, Aliya." A concerned voice drifted into her ears. She turned her head and saw her group leader staring at her. "Mind your own business." She muttered coldly. After her experience with Liam, she developed intense hatred towards the opposite gender. The only exception to this was ric and some of the instructors. Rasmus smiled bitterly while shaking his head. Chapter 108 Trouble in the Store Meanwhile, ric was heading to Vale for a surprise visit to his soap shop. He had been busy in the past few weeks so he left all administrative duties to Vince. At this moment, ric was sitting inside the carriage, stroking the fur of the Saber-fanged Wolf cub. This little guy was one of the six cubs they found inside a cave during their trip to Ryvaad. Among the six cubs, this one was his favorite because it was the most obedient. "My lord, what''s its name?" Hershey who had decided toe with him asked while staring curiously at the wolf cub. "I haven''t decided yet," ric responded. She gave a look of disapproval. "That won''t do. We should give it a name." "It seems like you have already thought of one. Alright, let''s hear it." ric smiled faintly. Hershey nodded her head eagerly. "This looks like a Saber-fanged Wolf and they mostly awaken abilities rted to water or ice. Why don''t we call it Nix? It means snow in the Elvennguage." Hearing this, ric was surprised. "You know Elvennguage?" Hershey smiled shyly at his deep gaze. "Yes. I usually read during my free time and I happen to read some books about the Elvennguage." "That''s cool. You''re very talented, Hershey. All I know is how to fight. I can''t even manage the territory well like my father does." ric sighed while shaking his head. "There''s nothing wrong with that, my lord. We all have our areas of expertise. In your case, you have unparalleled talent in swordsmanship that others can only dream of." "Is that so?" Her words made him feel better. "By the way, you can call me by my name when there''s no one else around." Hershey shyly lowered her head. "About that¡­ I''ll try." "There''s no need to force yourself. I can wait." ric smiled at her. A whileter, they finally arrived at the storefront of the soap shop. "We have arrived, my lord, mydy." Gnar''s voice drifted into their ears. The two stepped off the carriage and entered the shop. Upon entering, the first thing they noticed was the long line of customers queuing up to buy the scented soaps. Most of them were women and there were even some nobledies who came with their servants. "My lord!" ric turned his head and saw Josephus approaching him with quick footsteps. After Charles''s death, this guy''splexion seemed to have improved. He looked more cheerful now than when his father was still alive. "How''s your job here? Do you find it boring? I can send someone to rece you if you want." ric tapped the man''s shoulder.@@novelbin@@ "No, please. I like it here." Surprisingly, Josephus shook his head. "I can interact with a lot of new people when I''m here." He exined. "I see. If that''s what you want." ric was d to see him in better spirits. It seems like Charles was the reason for his suicide in my past life, but I still need to investigate this more deeply. He is Charles''s son after all¡­ "Mydy." Josephus bowed to Hershey when he saw her behind ric. Hershey smiled and curtsied in response. "Has there been any trouble heretely?" ric asked. Josephus rubbed his chin and replied. "Sir Anthony has been sending some warriors to help us keep watch over the shop so there hasn''t been any trouble recently. However¡­ there was a situation yesterday." He scratched his head and hesitated. "Tell me." ric stared at him inquisitively. "Actually, someone came here to ask if he could buy the store. Sir Vince was furious and chased the man out, but he said that he woulde back after reporting to his lord." ric frowned upon hearing this. So they are starting to realize the value of the scented soap. It looks like I need to send more people to guard the store. Readtest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire He could already smell the trouble that wasing. I need to ensure the safety of the children. Who should I send here? At this moment, he suddenly thought of one particr person. Fredrinn¡­ The guy had nothing to do at the estate since ric hadn''t given him a task. Thinking about this, he tapped Josephus''s shoulder and said. "Don''t worry. I''ll send someone trustworthy to protect the store." "Let''s talkter. I need to speak with Vince. And can you hold this guy for me?" ric handed the wolf cub to him and headed to the production room with Hershey without waiting for Josephus''s response. "So the famous scented soap came from this store¡­." Hershey mumbled. "Oh, I didn''t know our scented soap had already reached Ryvaad." ric chuckled. "There are only a few boxes that arrived in Ryvaad and they are mostly sold by passing merchants. Thedies in Ryvaad are crazy about them." She remarked with a lightugh. "I can send you a few boxes enough for your daily use." "Really?" "Of course!" "Then I will dly ept them!" Hershey eagerly replied. Soon, they arrived at the production room where the soaps were being made. The facility has already been upgraded so the children didn''t have a lot to do. They are mostly responsible for checking the defective products and throwing them to be recycled. Vince also hired some adults to help with the packaging. At this moment, Vince was busy helping with the packaging so he didn''t notice ric''s arrival. "My lord!" "Lord ric!" Some children noticed him and it was only then that Vince discovered his presence. The man looked a lot healthier than before and the bags under his eyes had mostly disappeared. However, his hair was a mess and it seemed like he still hadn''t changed his bathing habits. Vince grinned at him. "My lord." "Vince, you look much better now, but I think you should take care of your image too. You''re a manager now. It''s important for you to look presentable in front of our guests." ric reminded him with a bitter look. "Yes, my lord," Vince replied with a disinterested look. "Nevermind. Can you tell me about what happened yesterday? I heard that there was a situation¡­" ric inquired about the matter he heard from Josephus. "Oh, about that? I asked around and I discovered something interesting." Vince moved closer to him and whispered. "It turns out that person was sent by a noble from one of the main cities in the central parts of the empire." Hearing this, ric''s face turned grim. Chapter 109 Ruse Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire This wasn''t a minor matter anymore and ric had a feeling that there was more to this than just a business dispute. There was something fishy about it since the act was done so deliberately as if their goal wasn''t the soap business but something else. ric pondered deeply, but he failed to understand the reasoning behind their actions. "Inform Sir William about this. I will go back to the estate and send more people here." ric muttered in a serious voice. "I understand, my lord." Vince nodded. "For now, just continue the production as usual, but you must be careful about strange individuals. If you discover something unusual, inform the warriors immediately." ric reminded him.@@novelbin@@ "Yes, my lord!" Vince revealed an uncharacteristic disy of seriousness. ric left the production room with a grave look, while Hershey followed him in silence. "My lord, are you going back to the estate?" Josephus approached him upon seeing theming out of the production room. ric nodded. "Yes. I need to make some preparations in case those people wille back to cause trouble here." He tapped Josephus''s shoulder and took the wolf cub from him as he added. "Report to me immediately if there''s something you guys can''t handle." "Yes, my lord!" Josephus saluted. After bidding everyone farewell, ric and Hershey left the store and entered their carriage. Looking at ric''s expression, Hershey spoke with a concerned tone. "I think this is just a ruse." Hearing this, ric stared at her in surprise. "You think so too?" Hershey nodded. "If they are truly interested in your business, they would have approached you instead of thoughtlessly provoking the store''s personnel." With a hesitant look, she asked. "Have you offended someely?" ric took a deep breath. He already had an answer in his mind, but he didn''t want to scare her. "Other than your missing brother, I can''t think of anyone." He replied while shaking his head. Hershey became silent when he mentioned this. ric realized his mistake and apologized immediately. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to bring him up¡­" "It''s alright. Liam is a criminal and deserves to be punished. We are also doing our best to search for his whereabouts. If there''s any news, I will inform you right away." Hershey wanted nothing more than to capture Liam. He didn''t want him to continue ruining their family''s reputation. "Thank you, Hershey. Please convey my thanks to Lord Nathan and Lord Theo. When I have time, I will visit them and properly convey my gratitude." ric could feel House Paxley''s sincerity in repairing the rtionship between their households. "I will convey your message to them once I return home." Hershey smiled faintly. *** Meanwhile, within the Evergreen Forest, the warriors in training had already started their operation to eliminate the rampaging wild beasts and monsters. At this moment, Rasmus was leading his team to fight against an Iron-headed Warthog that was close to bing a Fatal-grade monster. This monster looked like a typical warthog except for the thick iron pads on their faces which they used to repel predators. Additionally, they were also bigger and more agile. Although this Iron-headed Warthog wasn''t a full-fledged Fatal-grade monster, it already had traces of mana in its body making it sturdier and strongerpared to average wild beasts. "Surround it and don''t let it escape!" Rasmus instructed his teammates as he rushed forward. The beast was furious because they had stepped into its territory. It emitted a low grunt and charged at Rasmus who was leading his team. Seeing the beasting his way, Rasmus raised his shield and braced himself for the impact. "Stab it as I hold it back!" He shouted as he tightened his muscles and held his breath in preparation for the collision. "Yes, sir!" His teammates responded in unison. In the next moment, the warthog smashed into Rasmus''s shield. Bang! Rasmus grunted in pain, but he bore through the impact by gritting his teeth. He nted his foot firmly into the ground, refusing to let the beast push him back. "Now!" He shouted, his face contorting with pain. Upon hearing hismand, his teammates immediately stabbed the warthog''s body, but most of them failed to even prate its tough skin. Only a few managed to wound the creature. However, it wasn''t enough to take it down. The beast was furious after having been attacked. It snorted and wildly lunged at the warriors who surrounded it, sending them crashing into the ground. Just as it was about to escape, Aliya suddenly threw a rope which caught its legs, making it fall awkwardly. Aliya couldn''t hold on to the rope and was pulled by its immense force and weight. Seeing that the creature had fallen, Rasmus took the opportunity and thrust his sword into its underbelly. Puchi! His sword cleanly prated the thick skin of the warthog before cutting through its internal organs. Squeal! The beast squealed in pain and tried to run away, but Rasmus wrestled with it and repeatedly stabbed his sword into its body. His teammates also jumped in to help him hold the creature. Soon, the Iron-headed Warthog finally stopped moving. Rasmus pulled out his sword from its body while breathing heavily. His left shoulder was still feeling numb from that collision with the warthog, but he had to maintain his prestige as the leader of the team so he acted like it was nothing. "Good job, everyone." He said to the group. He was happy with his teammates'' performance. Although they weren''t able to bring out their best, he was satisfied nheless. "Are you alright, Sir? Why don''t we get some rest before we continue heading deeper?" Someone suggested. Rasmus shook his head. "We can''t. If we stay here, the other groups will be ahead of us." Everyone became silent at his words. Seeing them in low spirits, he immediately said. "I understand that you are nervous, but we have to persist. How can we fight alongside Lord ric if we can''t even handle some wild beasts?" His words ignited everyone''s morale. Chapter 111 Nallegam "So you want us to establish a third faction that would maintain the bnce..." Lucas dribbled his fingers on the table. He was already convinced by Maria''s exnation, but this matter involved the future of the household so he had to be prudent. "Let''s proceed with the engagement between ric and Hershey first. Once we are tied with the Paxleys, they will have no choice but to take our side. We can start with them and gradually expand our influence over the households in the North." Maria nced at ric when she said this. ric wasn''t opposed to the idea so he didn''t voice out any disagreement. Lucas leaned on his seat and crossed his arms. "Alright. I''ll give you my approval. However, this has to be done discreetly. We can''t afford to offend both princes at the moment." He sternly reminded them. Maria smiled as she nodded her head. "I will host a gathering with the wives of the nobles in the surrounding cities and towns. We might find some trustworthypanions among them." She shared her ns to the baron, while ric quietly listened in amazement. His mother''s ideas were even more foolproof than what he hade up with. After a thorough discussion with his parents, ric left the study room with Fredrinn. "My lord, you can rest assured. I will not tell anyone about the things I heard, not even my wife." Fredrinn muttered as soon as they stepped out of the room. The things he heard were too big and if they got out, things would get troublesome and his family might even be affected. "I know. I trust you." ric smiled and tapped the man''s shoulder. Fredrinn was overwhelmed with emotions. It wasn''t even long since they had met ric, but he was actually willing to trust him without hesitation. He even had an unusual feeling that ric might have already known him for a long time. On their way down the stairs, ric said. "The soap business is very crucial to the household''s growth and development so you must keep an eye on the things there for me." "I will send more people toe with you. They are warriors that I have trained so you can trust them. Do you remember Mark?" Hearing this, Fredrinn thought about the hunter who was their fellow ve for a while. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire@@novelbin@@ "He will being with you. Train him well. He has the potential to be a Knight." ric casually mentioned. "I understand, my lord." Fredrinn nodded. "I''ll take you to see your subordinates. You must train them well since you will be leading them in the future." ric smiled at him. In the past few months since his regression, he had trained dozens of new warriors to improve the household''s military power. And now, he was handing some of those warriors to Fredrinn. *** In the central area of the Astanian Empire, there was a big city known for its impressive defensive structures that almost made it look like a mega fortress. It was the home of over one million inhabitants, making it one of the most populous cities in the empire- the City of Nallegam. There were four households that ruled over Nallegam; House Magdga, House Codera, House Urgel, and House Lanzon. On the surface, it seemed that all four of them were equal in power, but this was far from the truth. The strongest of the four households was House Lanzon, the earldom helmed by Earl Dave Lanzon. At this moment, there was a secret meeting being held in the estate of House Lanzon and it was hosted by the earl himself. Furthermore, the attendees of the meeting were lords of notable households and individuals with high status. "Gentlemen, thank you for gathering here on short notice." Uttered Earl Dave, a man of majestic bearing who looked to be in his fifties. As soon as he spoke, all eyes gathered on him. "As you already know, we have already invited a majority of the surrounding powers to join our side, but we have encountered some issues in the North." The earl''s voice turned grave when he said this. "Our representative from the North was killed." Everyone narrowed their eyes upon hearing this. "My lord, how did he die so suddenly? Didn''t he just boast that he would give us the North in a few years?" Someone muttered in a mocking voice. Some peopleughed at his remarks. Earl Dave gave them a stern look, making everyone shut their mouth. "It is unfortunate." He shook his head. "Charles was a careful man, but he made a ring mistake that ended in his untimely death. I''m sure you are aware of his situation." Everyone nodded. They all knew some information about their members. "Charles was publicly executed by his nephew and that idiot revealed our existence before he was beheaded!" The earl smashed his fist into the table, breaking it into smithereens. Everyone held their breaths when they sensed the earl''s rage. No one dared to speak a word. "Now, we have two options. The first one is to force Lucas to rece Charles. The second option is to find another recement." Everyone discussed in hushed voices as soon as they heard this. They were divided. Some of them wanted to have Lucas on their side, while the others suggested finding another household to be their representative in the North. "Silence!" Earl Dave scanned everyone''s faces and pointed at someone randomly. "What do you think we should do?" The person he had casually pointed took a deep breath before he responded. "My lord, the North is too scattered so even if we appoint a new representative, we wouldn''t get any substantial results in a few years. I think we should focus our manpower on the central cities. Most of the powerful households are gathered here so if we get them to join our side, we would have the upper hand against the second prince''s forces." "So are you saying that we should abandon the North?" Earl Dave frowned. Chapter 112 Renantes Team "Not necessarily." The man nervously shook his head.@@novelbin@@ "Actually, I have already sent my people to figure out House Silversword''s stance, but if we can''t bring them to our side, I already have another household in mind. You can leave the North to me, my lord. I won''t fail you as Charles did." He confidently answered. Earl Dave smirked. "You surprised me, Lord Keh. It seems like you were more prepared than anyone else in this room." The earl was satisfied with his performance. "In that case, I will leave the North in your hands." *** The days went by in the blink of an eye. The 30th of January came, but there was still no news about the people from the central cities. That''s odd. ric couldn''t understand what was happening. He had already sent Fredrinn and a team of warriors to protect the soap shop. However, he hadn''t received any word from them for over a week. At this moment, he was on his way to send off Hershey. She had overstayed in North Pine Town and her father had sent a message asking for her immediate return. "My lord, I will miss the tranquility of North Pine Town." Uttered Hershey who was about to enter her carriage. Hearing this, ric smiled at her. "You cane back here anytime you want." Hershey smiled as she stared deeply into his eyes. She wanted to dive into his arms and openly reveal her feelings, but she had an image to maintain. She didn''t say a word, but ric seemed to have understood the meaning behind her gaze. "Before you go, I have something for you." ric gave a signal to Elena who was standing behind him. In Elena''s arms was a plump wolf cub. ric took the wolf cub from her and handed it to Hershey. "Among the six cubs, this guy has the biggest appetite and it often sleeps a lot. I hope you can take care of it well." Hershey fell in love with the cute little guy. She gently rubbed its fur and it instinctively kicked her hand which made her chuckle. She then lifted her head and looked at ric. "Thank you, ric. I will take care of it." "Please be careful on the road." "I will¡­" The two exchanged a few more words before they bid each other farewell. Just as they were about to leave, Hershey stuck her head out of the carriage window and said. "I like you, ric. I will always choose you even if everyone is against it." Without waiting for his response, she hurriedly closed the window. ric stared at the departing carriage with a smile on his face. Just a little bit more, Hershey. When he could no longer see the entourage, ric turned around. Standing in front of him was Elena. She had aplicated look on her face. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she couldn''t utter a word. He sighed and took the girl in his arms. Feeling his warmth, Elena hugged him tightly and refused to let go. After what seemed to be an eternity, Elena reluctantly let go of him and squeezed out a smile. "Don''t worry about me, my lord. I understand your situation." ric rubbed her head and said. "Let''s go back inside." *** Meanwhile, within the Evergreen Forest, the practicalbat training of the newbies was still underway. The four teams had already eliminated arge number of wild beasts so their mission was slowly drawing to a close. The group that had shown the most impressive results was the team led by Renante, the top performer of the batch. With thebination of his excellentmanding ability and hisbat skills, his team achieved the best results. Even Arthur was impressed by him. At this moment, Renante''s team was about to return to their camp when they suddenly encountered a monster. It was a four-legged beast with sharp fangs and razor-like ws. "A Blue-ringed White Puma!" Someone eximed in fear. Renante furrowed his eyebrows. "Stick together and prepare for battle!" He shouted to his terrified teammates. This beast isn''t like the wild beasts we fought before. This heavy aura¡­ I''m sure that this is a Fatal-grade monster! A Fatal-grade monster was mostly stronger than a Knight in terms of power. Facing this kind of creature, he knew that they were no match for it. If only I was a Knight Apprentice, there might be some chance to take it down, but with my current strength¡­ It''s impossible. Renante nced at his teammates and saw them cowering in fear. "Don''t run! We must stay together!" He barked at them. His words seemed to have calmed them down, but it was obvious that they didn''t want to confront the creature. What should we do? Sweat trickled down Renante''s face as he racked his brain. At that moment, the beast suddenly disappeared and rushed towards them with lightning speed. It was so fast that they were barely able to see its figure. "I''ll take the front! Shield bearers, protect the archers!" He shouted. However, his teammates seemed to be paralyzed in fear. They were unable to properly react to hismands, making their formation messy and full of holes. Renante frowned upon seeing this. There''s no choice. I must fight it! Hopefully, the instructors are nearby. After some hesitation, he lifted his short spear while keeping his eyes on the monster. Roar! The monster emitted a furious sound before it lunged at one of his teammates, brandishing its sharp ws. Swoosh! Renante was quick to react. He rushed forward and stabbed his spear towards the creature''s side, forcing it to evade. Growl! Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire The beast was enraged. It red at Renante with its ferocious eyes. "Do you all want to die?! Snap out of it!" He roared. Renante''s words brought his teammates back to reality. They knew that one of them would have already died if it weren''t for his quick reaction. "If you want to survive, listen carefully." Chapter 113 Owens Timely Arrival "Let''s go with Formation B!" Renante could only hope that his teammates could perform their respective roles. They had trained to fight in different formations before and each individual had a crucial role. A slight error could destroy their formation. The Blue-ringed White Puma growled at them. Its legs were taut as if it was prepared take action at any second. Renante stared deeply at the creature. He didn''t dare blink his eyes, afraid that he would miss its attack. There wasn''t anyone in his team who could follow the beast''s movements, not even him. Formation B focuses on defense, but there are two sides that are intentionally left open to serve as bait. Since they couldn''t match its speed, they could only try to predict its action. With its natural instincts, it will definitely attack the sides that are left open. My job is to predict where it will go. Renante took a deep breath as he narrowed his eyes. After a few seconds of deadlock, the puma finally lost patience and pounced at their formation with a growl. Growl! Its figure blurred as it rushed towards them in a sh. "Left hole, sword out!" Renante shouted almost instantly. One of his teammates stuck his sword to the left opening upon hearing hismands. By some stroke of luck, the sword''s de stabbed into the puma''s paws, making it whimper in pain. However, the force of its ws still broke their formation apart and the shield bearer who took most of the damage crashed into the ground with a ''bang''. Bang! In its rage, the puma swiped its ws sending half of Renante''s group flying into the air, leaving deep w marks on their bodies. When the enemy is too strong, no amount of strategy can stop them. Renante thought bitterly when he saw the creature destroy their formation like it was nothing. Just when the beast was about to attack the remaining half of Renante''s team, a figure suddenly appeared to block its path. "Instructor Owen!" Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire The trainees'' eyes shed with relief when they saw this man appear. "Go tend to the wounded. Leave this monster to me." Owen instructed with a stern voice as he pulled the sword tied to his waist. In the next moment, Owen and the Blue-ringed White Puma engaged in a fierce battle. Bang! Bang! "So that''s how powerful Knights are when they are serious," Renante muttered in awe as he watched Owen fight the puma without being at a disadvantage. They had been taught that monsters at the Fatal-grade were mostly more powerful than Knights. However, their instructor seemed to have the upper hand and he even managed tond a few hits on the puma. Instructor Owen is not an ordinary Knight. This was everyone''s thought as they watched the battle unfold. After more than a minute, Owen''s sword shed into the puma''s neck, causing a spray of blood that left the creature severely wounded. It swayed awkwardly as it tried to escape, but Owen stabbed straight into his heart and killed the creature immediately. After killing the puma, Owen made a cut on its body and dug into the creature''s chest. A few secondster, he found its beast soul crystal and pulled it out from its corpse. "Are you guys alright?" Owen turned his head over to Renante''s group. "Everyone is alive, sir, but one needs immediate medical attention," Renante reported with a grim look. He felt that he was responsible for his teammates'' injuries. Owen approached him and tapped his shoulder. "Don''t me yourself. You did the right thing. If not for your instructions, some of your teammates would have died." His wordsforted Renante. "Patch up the wounded. We will return to the estate once the other groups are here." Owen uttered. The four groups had mostly eliminated the wild beasts and monsters that had crossed the periphery of the Evergreen Forest so it could be said that they had already aplished their mission. The remaining wild beasts would be taken care of by the local hunters and wandering warriors.@@novelbin@@ The death of the Blue-ringed White Puma marked the end of the trainees'' first mission. Soon, the medical personnel on standby at the entrance of the town arrived to provide treatment to the injured trainees. At this moment, Renante was watching the doctors administer treatment to his teammates. "It''s not your fault, Renante. No one here is ming you. In fact, I''m sure everyone is thankful that you are our leader. It would have been pure chaos if you weren''t there." His injured teammate chuckled while grimacing in pain. Hearing this, Renante forced a smile. "You guys better heal up soon if you don''t want the others to overtake you." He jokingly said. While the injured trainees were being treated, Owen and Arthur exchanged viewpoints about the four groups'' performance. "How is Renante''s team?" Arthur asked. He had sensed the fluctuation of mana when the Blue-ringed White Puma appeared, but he didn''t go to the location since he knew that Owen was there. However, he felt a bit regretful that he didn''t see the action. "They are doing fine. One of them broke his arms, but he should recover in a few weeks." Owen replied. He then took out the beast soul crystal and handed it to Arthur. "By the way, sir. I got this from the monster''s body. What should we do with it?" Arthur inspected the crystal before giving it back to him. "You killed it so it should naturally belong to you. However, those kids managed to wound the creature so you must give them a little something." Owen nodded. "I will report this to Lord ric. I also believe that they deserve to be rewarded for their excellent performance." He had seen Renante''s team fight the Blue-ringed White Puma. With Renante''s strategy, they were even able to wound the monster. "Then let''s do that." Arthur nodded in agreement. Half an hourter, they all returned to the estate to report the situation to ric. Chapter 114 A Suspicious Group Arrives In Vale Meanwhile, inside the room specially made for the Saber-fanged Wolf cubs. ric and Elena were ying with the little guys when a servant came to deliver a report. "My lord, the trainees sent to the Evergreen Forest have returned." Hearing this, ric put down the wolf cubs and patted his pants as he rose to his feet. "I''m listening. Go on." The servant cleared his throat and said with a serious face. "Some trainees are injured and from what I''ve been told, it seems like they encountered a Fatal-grade monster." ric frowned. "Alright. I''ll be there to check on them. You may leave." The servant took the cue and left right away. ric turned his head over to Elena and said. "I''ll leave them in your care, Elena. I''ll go check the trainees first." Knowing that the situation was urgent, Elena nodded. "Yes, my lord." On his way out of the main mansion, ric checked his profile. ric Silversword [Knight] EXP: 500/500 (Cannot receive more EXP before advancement) Potential: B Traits: Horseback Riding (C), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (C), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (E), Sixth Sense (F), Monster Affinity (F) Strength: 100 Stamina: 40+ Agility: 100 Vitality: 27+ Endurance: 42+ Mana: 48+ Battle Points: 4410 Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Stat Points: 77@@novelbin@@ (Requirements for the next advancement: 500 EXP, 100 in all attributes, and 5000 Battle Points) I''m about to be an Elite Knight, but my potential is still ''B''. I wonder what''s needed to be done to improve it. ric thought as he closed the cyan screen. Well, at least I now know what the Monster Affinity trait does. After a series of tests in the past week, he discovered that most wild beasts and monsters would be unusually attracted to him. Normally, wild beasts would react aggressively to humans but because of his Monster Affinity trait, it was as if they treated him like their own. Unfortunately, this only worked on wild beasts and some weaker monsters. He tried it on Fatal-grade monsters, but they were mostly hostile. As soon as he stepped out of the mansion, he saw Arthur in the distance chatting with Owen. The two warriors spotted him and immediately rushed to his side. "My lord!" ric waved his hand. "Tell me the situation." Arthur sent Owen a look as if telling him to give the report. Owen understood this and cleared his throat before he told ric about the events that had transpired within the Evergreen Forest. "I see. It''s good that everyone is alright. What do you guys think is a fitting reward for Renante''s team?" ric asked for their opinion. Owen thought for a moment before giving his response. "My lord, I think giving them a custom-made weapon is a good reward for their performance. The ones they have are mass-produced weapons which couldn''t bring out their full potential." "A custom-made weapon?" ric didn''t expect this suggestion. He was thinking of giving them some mana-rich resources, but Owen''s words made him realize that their rewards had to be special. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. House Silversword wasn''t known for their smithing, but they still had a group of skilled cksmiths who could make fine weapons. If he used the cyan screen''s standard of grading, the weapons they made should be at the Umon-grade. "Alright. I''ll give you the funds for those custom-made weapons." ric gave his approval. Rewarding the exemry trainees would definitely spur the others to do better. After discussing with Owen and Arthur, he visited the injured trainees and offered them words of encouragement. *** At the entrance of Vale, a groupposed of twenty individuals arrived. All of them were armed, making the gate guards conscious around them. "So this is Vale¡­ They call this ce a city?" One of them uttered in a mocking voice. Hispanions snickered at his remarks. "Shut up!" Reprimanded a middle-aged man with a horizontal scar that stretched from his left cheek towards his nose. The group immediately quieted down upon hearing his words. This was because this middle-aged man was their leader, an Elite Knight who strictly adhered to his principles. "Remember what we came here for. Although thisnd isn''tparable to the central area, there still exists some powerful warriors here." The middle-aged man sternly reminded. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes when he sensed a powerful aura approaching them. Sensing the change in his expression, his subordinates immediately followed his gaze. They saw a warrior with graying hair walking towards them with confident strides. "Sir Anthony!" The gate guards respectfully greeted the man as soon as he walked past them. It was Anthony. When he received a report that there was a group of powerful warriors at the gates, he quickly came here. One Elite Knight and the rest are Knights. Anthony was stunned by this lineup. This group already had the power to rival a weak household on its own. Furthermore, the Elite Knight wasn''t an ordinary warrior either. He could sense that this person was far stronger than him! "I am Anthony, the captain of Vale''s city guards. I''m pleased to meet you, gentlemen." He introduced himself with a faint smile. The middle-aged man with a horizontal scar stepped forward and extended his hand as he introduced himself. "It''s good to see you, Sir Anthony. I''m Rnd, the leader of this party." Anthony shook hands with him while keeping the smile on his face. "May I know the reason for your visit, Sir Rnd?" "To tell you the truth, we are here to talk business with the Silverswords, but we don''t know where we can find them." Rnd calmly responded. Anthony''s eyes shed briefly upon hearing this. There''s something fishy about these guys. I should alert Sir William. With a cordial smile, Anthony replied. "I see. You can find Silverswords'' territory in the next town if you follow that direction. They also have a store here. I can send my men to take you there." "That would be great! Thank you for your help, Sir Anthony." Rnd cupped his fists. "I''m d to help." Anthony chuckled. I need to buy some time. "Before we head there, why don''t you guys join me for a meal? I''m sure you are hungry from the journey." Chapter 115 Roland Meets Fredrinn "I appreciate the offer, Sir Anthony, but we are in a hurry. Maybe next time." Rnd tactfully rejected his invitation. It seems like the Silverswords are close to the city guards of Vale. He was sharp enough to notice that Anthony was trying to dy him.@@novelbin@@ "Is that so? What a pity¡­" Anthony shook his head with a regretful expression. The two exchanged a few more words before Anthony instructed one of his men to bring Rnd''s party to the soap shop. As soon as they left, Anthony''s face became somber. He sent his subordinates a look and said. "Send a few people to follow that group and report their movements to me every two hours." "Yes, sir!" His men sensed the seriousness in his tone, so no one dared to ck off. After giving more instructions to his subordinates, Anthony rushed to the orphanage. *** "Sir, that shop over there is the soap shop owned by the Silverswords." "I see. Thank you for taking us all the way here. Please ept this. It''s a small token of my gratitude." Rnd smiled as he handed a small pouch to the warrior. The warrior grinned as he took the pouch. "It''s my pleasure to help you." Seeing that Rnd was no longer interested in talking with him, the warrior decisively turned around and left. "Once inside the shop, remember not to cause trouble." Rnd reminded his men with a stern look. "Yes, sir!" A momentter, they crossed the road and were about to enter the shop when the bodyguards at the front door barred them from entering. Rnd''s men frowned upon seeing this. A few of them almostshed out, but Rnd raised his hand and gave them a deep look. "Brothers, we would like to speak with the shop owner." Rnd politely spoke to the guards even though they were only Knight Apprentices Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire One of the guards responded while firmly shaking his head. "We apologize, sir, but our lord is busy with other matters. If it''s really important, I can go inside to inform the manager for you." One of Rnd''s subordinates suddenly ran out of patience and snorted. "You! Do you even know who you are speaking to?!" Rnd red at the man, but he couldn''t bring himself to reprimand him since the guy was speaking out for his sake. He cupped his fists and said. "I apologize for his behavior. We don''t mean to cause trouble. Please inform your manager about our presence." The bodyguards'' faces darkened. Step. Step. Suddenly, a group of warriors stepped out of the soap shop. "What is happening here?" The person leading them asked with a stern voice. "Sir Fredrinn!" The bodyguards saluted the man before one of them whispered something to his ears. Fredrinn shifted his gaze toward Rnd''s group upon hearing the guard''s report. An Elite Knight, and he is not any weaker than me¡­ Both men locked gazes in that instant, and they were taken aback when they sensed each other''s strength. "I am Fredrinn, the guard captain of this shop." Fredrinn approached the other party and stood before him. Rnd nodded. "I''m Rnd, the leader of this party. I''m pleased to meet you, Sir Fredrinn." "Likewise." Fredrinn calmly replied. "We came here to discuss business with the owner of the shop. I hope you can arrange a meeting for us." Rnd could tell that this man was different than the captain of the city guards. Anthony was polite and cordial, but Fredrinn didn''t seem to have the intention of being friendly with them. This guy might be difficult to handle. This was Rnd''s first impression of him. Fredrinn shook his head. "Our lord isn''t in the city, so your request might be difficult to fulfill. However, I can take you inside to speak with the manager. He has the authority to discuss any business matters rted to the store." "I see." Rnd was only trying his luck, so he wasn''t too disappointed with his response. Discussing business is just a secondary matter. Our main goal is to have a chance to speak with the Silverswords. Hopefully, the manager can help me arrange a meeting with them. Otherwise, we would have to visit their estate directly. Rnd was very particr with etiquette. He also didn''t want to offend the Silverswords, so he was willing to go through this much trouble just to get the chance to meet them. "Please lead the way. I would like to speak with the manager." Fredrinn nodded. "Alright, but you can only take two people inside." "We don''t usually allow armed guests inside, so I hope that you will understand our situation." He exined. Rnd understood the implications in his words, so he didn''t make things difficult for Fredrinn. "No problem." He then turned around and chose two of his men to follow him inside. "Sir, what if this is a trap? We can''t trust these people." One of his men whispered. Hearing this, Rnd shook his head. "I don''t think the Silverswords would be foolish enough to offend us. Just stay right here and leave the talking to me." "But¡­" He didn''t wait for their response and headed inside the shop with Fredrinn. *** Meanwhile, in the orphanage. Anthony got down from his horse. "Uncle Anthony!" A few kids who were familiar with him eagerly called out when they saw him. Anthony adjusted his breathing and forced out a smile as he spoke to them. "Hello, kids. Where is your Grandpa William?" "Grandpa is resting inside." One of the kids pointed at the newly renovated orphanage. "Oh, is that so? Just stay here and continue ying. Uncle Anthony still has some matters to discuss with your grandpa." Anthony excused himself and headed inside the renovated building to look for William. Just when he was about to head in, he suddenly saw a figure stepping out onto the balcony on the second floor of the building. "Sir William!" William furrowed his eyebrows. "What happened?" He felt that something was amiss when he saw Anthony''s expression. Chapter 116 William Arrives at the Store William invited Anthony to his meditation room. "What is it this time?" The old man asked as he gestured for Anthony to sit down. Anthony took his seat and responded with a serious look. "Sir William, just earlier, a group consisting of twenty warriors came to the city. One of them is an Elite Knight and the rest are Knights. Most importantly, they are heading to the soap shop." Hearing this, William''s face fell as he rose to his feet. "What did you say?!" Some of the kids in the orphanage were working at the soap shop. "Please calm down, Sir William. I don''t think those guys came here with bad intentions. Their leader seems to be a decent man¡­ Anyway, I came here to tell you this. If you want to go there, we should get going now." Anthony suggested while trying to pacify the old man. William nodded with a grim look. "Let''s go." He didn''t even bother to change his clothes, but he grabbed the sword leaning diagonally against the wall next to his cab. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire *** At the soap shop, Rnd was now sitting inside Vince''s office while his two subordinates stood behind him. In front of him was the manager of the shop, Vince, and Fredrinn. After introducing themselves, Rnd immediately stated his intention. "Sir Vince, to tell you the truth, our main objective is to meet Lord ric and Lord Lucas." He paused for a moment before he emphasized his next words. "There is something important that I would like to discuss with them." Vince understood the meaning behind his words. It was like politely telling him that he had no authority to hear the information and only the Silverswords could hear it. With Fredrinn beside him, Vince felt more reassured so he managed to calm his nerves. He might not be a warrior, but he could tell that Rnd wasn''t an ordinary person based on his gait and bearing. Vince pretended to be in deep thought before he carefully replied. "Since it''s like this, how about I send Sir Fredrinn''s team to escort you to North Pine Town? I''ll also write a rmendation letter for you so that your group will be allowed to enter House Silversword''s estate. What do you think about this, Sir Rnd?" He had already discussed this with ric beforehand so he didn''t bother to make things hard for Rnd to prevent discord between both parties. "That would be great!" Rnd was relieved. He was already prepared to be rejected, but it seemed like the Silverswords had already made arrangements. "Just give me a moment to write the rmendation letter. In the meantime, why don''t you check the shop''s products? We can give you some free samples to try. I''m sure you''ll love them." Vince chuckled. Hearing this, Rnd wanted to reject the offer, but he felt that it was too rude so he reluctantly nodded his head. "Alright. Then I''ll trouble you to write the rmendation letter." "It''s no trouble at all." Vince waved his hand as if it was just a small matter. He then sent Fredrinn a knowing look. When thetter saw this, he immediately stood up and nodded to Rnd. "Sir Rnd, I will take you to see the products." "Mn." Rnd nodded and stood up from his seat. After they left his office, Vince could finally rx. "Man that was scary. Who is that guy?" Phew! He wiped off the sweat on his face as he let out a heavy breath. ¡­ Fredrinn brought Rnd and his two men to the disy area. The shop was crowded with customers and most were women from rich households which was obvious from their mboyant style. Fredrinn beckoned to Josephus who was keeping watch at the aisle. Seeing this, the young Knight immediately headed towards him. "What can I do for you, Sir Fredrinn?" "Can you ask one of our staff to amodate these gentlemen? I''m not familiar with the products so I need their help." Fredrinn whispered to him. "I see. Just wait here for a moment while I call one of them over." Josephus left right away. A few momentster, a youngdy dressed in a customized uniform approached them with a professional smile. "Hello, Sir Fredrinn. Are these the guests who require assistance?" Fredrinn nodded. "That''s right. Please bring our products for them to see. The manager has already given his approval to give these guests some free samples." "Alright. Just give me a moment to get the products." The youngdy excused herself and left. The soap shop experienced a huge boom in sales so more workers had been hired to amodate the customers. Rnd could see that the business was sessful even though he wasn''t an expert. At this moment, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura from outside the shop. Hm?! Furthermore, this aura was so much more powerful than his own that he felt suppressed. He narrowed his eyes as he turned his head at the entrance. From there he saw an old man calmly walking inside the shop. His gaze was tranquil and unfathomable. When their eyes met, Rnd felt like he was looking at a predator. A Transcendent Knight?!@@novelbin@@ "Sir William?" Fredrinn was also surprised to see the old man. Aftering to the store, he had acquainted himself with this old man so he was familiar with him. William nodded to Fredrinn before he turned his gaze towards Rnd. His stern face broke into a smile and the pressure from earlier seemed to have vanished like a puff of smoke. "I am William. My grandchildren work here so I came to check on them." The old man spouted a random reason to exin his arrival. William? I don''t remember there being another Transcendent Knight under House Silversword other than the baron himself. Who is this old man? While gathering his senses, Rnd extended his hand with a cordial smile. "I''m honored to meet you, Sir William. My name is Rnd." Chapter 117 An Old Friend William observed the atmosphere and he realized that he might have jumped to conclusions earlier. He nonchntly nodded and just decided to go with the flow since it was already toote to turn back. "You have good taste, Sir Rnd. The scented soap here is a unique product. As you can see, the nobledies love it." William had a wealth of experience so he managed toe up with a good topic. Rndughed awkwardly. "Uh, yes. You''re right, Sir William." At this moment, the young female worker whom they had spoken with earlier came back with a basket full of scented soap boxes. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire She politely greeted William before she showed the products to Rnd. "Sir, these are our products. This one is the¡­" She introduced the different kinds of scented soap one by one. With her arrival, William immediately took the chance to leave after waving at Rnd and Fredrinn, but he didn''t step out of the store. He headed straight to the production room where the children at the orphanage were working. Meanwhile, Rnd was relieved now that the old man was gone. The pressure emitted by the old man was so intense that he thought that he was being targeted. "Please don''t mind him." Fredrinn''s voice drifted into his ears. Rnd stared at the Elite Knight as he continued. "Sir William is overprotective of the children of the orphanage since he treats them like his own grandchildren."@@novelbin@@ Rnd smiled wryly while nodding his head. "I understand." A momentter, Vince came out of his office and handed the rmendation letter to Rnd. "Thank you for waiting, Sir Rnd. If there''s nothing else, I suggest that you leave while it''s still early. The weather might not be too favorable this evening." Vince beamed as he offered him his suggestion. "Is that so? Then I''ll take your advice. Thank you for your help, Sir Vince." Rnd cupped his fists. "No problem! You cane and visit me any time. I can offer you a discount if you buy our products." Vince chuckled. He then sent Fredrinn a knowing look. Seeing his signal, Fredrinn cleared his throat and made a ''this way'' gesture as he spoke to Rnd. "Let''s head this way, sir. I will prepare my men to escort you guys to North Pine Town." "Alright." Rnd nodded and followed him out of the store. *** Meanwhile, at the training ground of House Silversword''s estate. "My lord, I have already practiced stabbing thousands of times by now. Can you teach me a different move?" Aliya stared at ric with a pleading look. ric taught her the fundamental techniques of swordsmanship, but he had mostly taught her techniques rted to stabbing. He told her that it was necessary to build a solid foundation before learning other sword techniques. She followed his teaching methods and despite her frustrations for only learning stabbing techniques, she didn''tin. However, after the recent mission in the Evergreen Forest, she realized that she still had a lot of room for improvement. ric stared at the stubborn youngdy. Her skin had already be tanned after being constantly exposed to the sun and her body had also transformed from that of a skinny young woman to an athletic warrioress. He had seen her relentless efforts under his tutge and she was even more hardworking than her male colleagues. "Aliya¡­ I only taught you how to stab because you are new to swordsmanship. Teaching you other techniques would only bring negative results, but you are right. I can see that you are now ready to learn another sword technique." ric smiled faintly. Hearing this, Aliya was pleasantly surprised. In truth, she only wanted to try her luck and she had even prepared herself for a cold rejection. Who would have thought that ric would actually agree to her request? "This time I''ll be teaching you how to properly sh your word. Try to observe my movements." ric grabbed his sword and performed a series of shes. His actions looked simple with no shy movements added. Whoosh! Whoosh! His sword made a tearing sound as he swiped through the air. Aliya watched him carefully without blinking her eyes. As someone who had received his guidance on stabbing techniques, she knew that ric''s movements weren''t simple. It might look like a basic sh on the surface, but the degree of control, the angle of the sh, and many other details were being followed. Together, they form an unimpressive-looking, but seamless sh that could bring out one''s full strength with every swing. This was what she hadprehended after reaching a decent understanding of the stabbing technique he taught her. Whoosh! After one final sh, ric put down his sword and nced over at Aliya. "Did you see it well?" He asked. Aliya smiled in embarrassment while shaking her head. "Yes, my lord, but I won''t be able to execute the movements perfectly like you do." "That''s normal." Unlike him who had had the SSS-rank Swordsmanship trait, normal people had to learn using their ownprehension. He didn''t even need to train hard to understand and execute the mostplex sword techniques. It was like the sword had be a part of him, an extension of his body. It was the most urate description of what it felt like to have the SSS-rank Swordsmanship trait. "Show me what you have understood." He motioned for her to take out her sword. Aliya nodded and pulled her sword. Shiing! She felt a bit nervous now that ric was observing her. To calm her nerves, she took a deep breath and shook off all the distractions as she tried to remember ric''s movements. In the next moment, she lifted her sword and imitated what she had remembered. Whoosh! Whoosh! ric could see her ws at a nce, but he didn''t correct her immediately. She''s focusing too much on imitating me, but it''s quite surprising that sheprehended that much after only one demonstration. At that moment, he felt that she might be more talented in swordsmanship than he had imagined. Impressive. She just needs a little bit more training. "That''s enough." ric calmly uttered as he motioned for her to stop. Looking at ric''s indifferent face, Aliya didn''t know if she had performed below his standards. "Don''t focus on imitating me. My sword is different than yours and our physical characteristics aren''t the same. You must integrate what you have¡­" ric exined the principles of the movements to her in a way that made it easier for her to understand. Aliya listened with great attention. Soon, she revealed a look of realization as if something clicked in her mind. "I see. So that''s why it felt so weird when I tried to imitate it¡­" She mumbled something under her breath before she eagerly tried for the second time. ric didn''t disturb her and just quietly watched her performance. Whoosh! Whoosh! Hmm¡­ The strength behind each sh is stronger now, but it still needs some work. She already has the basic principles so she just needs to incorporate everything she learned until it is deeply engraved in her mind. While she was absorbed in her training, ric sensed someone approaching from the distance. He turned his head and frowned when he noticed a few unfamiliar figures riding on horses together with Fredrinn''s team. With just a nce, he could already feel the aura emitted by the man who seemed to be the leader of the group. A peak Elite Knight. It was a level that wasparable to Fredrinn and Warrick, but still a bit weaker than Gnar. "Hold on¡­ That person¡­" ric''s eyes trembled when got a clearer look at the man. It was a familiar face. One who had been with him for the longest time on the battlefield. It''s been a while, Sir Rnd. This man was one of the battalionmanders who led the crown prince''s army in his past life. He was a powerful warrior who would soon have his name etched in the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard! Clip-clop. Clip-clop. The clip-clop sounds of the horses made Aliya stop her training. She was a bit annoyed after having been disturbed, but when she saw the intimidating grouping towards them, her annoyance turned into rm. A few momentster, the group stopped in front of them and climbed down their horses. Fredrinn and his subordinates walked towards ric and bowed to him. "Greetings, my lord." Rnd''s group seemed to have realized ric''s identity when they saw this. "Can you tell me what''s going on here?" ric calmly asked. Although he already knew the other party''s identity, he had to pretend like he didn''t know. "My lord, this man is Sir Rnd, an Elite Knight under¡­" Fredrinn quickly made the introductions. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Lord ric. I have been eager to see you in person after I heard tales about your amazing talent." Rnd stepped forward and gave him a standard salute. He''s just as I remember him. Scary on the outside, but a kind man deep down. ric''s lips curved upwards as he stared at his friend. Chapter 118 Discussion with Roland ric''s eyes were filled withplex emotions. He had so many words to tell him, but they seemed stuck in his throat. "You tter me, Sir Rnd. Why don''t we head in first? As for your men, I''ll send someone to arrange their amodation." Rnd was surprised by his friendliness and he had this weird feeling as if they had known each other for a long time. He couldn''t point his fingers as to why he had this reaction upon his first encounter with ric. "Alright. I''ll take you up on that offer." Rnd nodded with a faint smile. Before heading inside the mansion, ric told Aliya to practice by herself. He had already taught her the basic principles of shing so she only needed toprehend the movements on her own. A whileter, ric brought Rnd to the spacious guest hall and he even asked the servants to prepare a sumptuous meal for him and his subordinates. After taking their seats, ric was the first to open his mouth. "So can you tell me why someone from the central area hase to visit our small town?" Hearing this, Rnd''s expression turned serious as he adjusted his sitting posture. "My lord, I won''t hide it from you then¡­" He paused as if he was gathering his thoughts before he continued. "I don''t know if you have already heard about this¡­ His Majesty is not in good health. It''s been months since he was bedridden. The imperial physicians provided him with numerous treatments, but nothing worked." By this point, Rnd shook his head with a grim look. "The empire''s upper echelons are getting restless because of this and there are even rumors of rebellion among a small group of nobles. To prevent chaos from happening, His Highness, the crown prince, is gathering the loyal subjects of the empire to rise into arms and protect Astania from the traitors." "We have gathered¡­" Rnd disclosed the existence of a force behind the crown prince, but he didn''t tell him their most important secrets. After all, ric was only a prospective ally. ric remained silent as the other partyid down everything on the table. They were very sincere in their invitation. This was also why he joined the crown prince''s army in his past life. Their sincerity moved him. However, he wouldn''t make the same choice this time because he had seen the results of that choice and it was something that he didn''t want to witness again.@@novelbin@@ "This is a very important matter, Sir Rnd. I can''t decide on my own." ric didn''t give him an answer right away. "Why don''t we take things slowly while I discuss this with the baron? Your group can stay here in the meantime. I''m sure you guys will love the naturalndscapes here." Rnd didn''t make things difficult for him so he nodded with a smile. "Alright. Thank you for letting us stay here, my lord." ric waved his hand. "It''s just a minor matter." About twenty minutester, a servant came to inform him that the food was ready to be served to the guests. "Sir Rnd, I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you and your men. You guys should eat first since you traveled a long way to get here. I also need to speak with the baron about the information you told me." ric had to inform his parents about the situation. Rnd couldn''t bring himself to reject the offer. Besides, his men haven''t eaten anything since they came to North Pine Town. "Alright. I hope to hear the good news from you soon, my lord." Hearing this, ric didn''t say anything and just chuckled. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "I''ll take my leave first. Please enjoy your meal." ric stood up and left after excusing himself. He immediately sent someone to call his mother before he headed to the baron''s study. ¡­ Knock! Knock! Knock! "Come in." ric pushed the door open after getting the baron''s approval. He noticed that the butler, Bastian, was there pouring tea for the baron. When the old butler saw that it was ric, he respectfully bowed to him. ric smiled and nodded at the butler. "I heard that we have guests from the central area. Are they the same people who caused a scene at your soap shop?" The baron asked as he pointed the seat in front of his desk. ric sat and moved the chair closer. "Yes, it''s them and ording to that person, they are working for the crown prince." The baron didn''t respond immediately and motioned to the butler to give ric a cup of tea. The butler was quick to react. He grabbed a teacup from the cab next to the window and wiped it clean with a white cloth before cing it in front of ric. With practiced movements, he poured tea into the cup. While the butler was pouring tea for him, Lucas finally spoke. "The crown prince, huh? I''ve seen him on multiple asions. His Highness doesn''t seem to be a bad person, but he tends to make wrong decisions because of his rash personality." This was his impression of the crown prince. "He is a charismatic man so I''m sure that many households would support him. Unfortunately, hecks a reliable advisor." He sighed and shook his head. The imperial family was full of intrigue. He was once scouted by the emperor two decades ago, but Lucas rejected him and decided to guard the North instead. This was because he didn''t want to be involved with the schemes and plots of the imperial family since his wife was pregnant with ric at that time. At this moment, there was a series of knocks on the door. Knock! Knock! Knock! "Come in." Maria stepped inside the room dressed in thick winter clothes. She nodded to the butler before she nced at her husband and son. "Take your seat. We need your advice on the situation." Lucas pointed to the seat opposite ric. Maria flicked her hair as she elegantly took her seat. "What''s the matter?" Chapter 119 Teaching Roland "I see. So it''s the crown prince¡­" Maria fell into deep thought after hearing the situation from them. After a moment of silence, she lifted her head and said. "We will proceed as nned." Hearing this, ric and Lucas nodded with grim faces. *** The next day, Rnd still didn''t receive any response from ric. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire It seems like they are still debating over the matter, but their hesitation is understandable. After all, His Majesty is still alive. If he recovers, the crown prince could receive punishment for gathering private forces and the people who followed him would also be punished. Rnd thought deeply as he went out of the guest mansion to discreetly observe the activity inside the estate. As soon as he stepped out, the cold morning breeze hit his skin, but it hardly affected him because of his strong physique. As he walked along the snow-covered, cobbled pathway he heard a familiar sound from the distance. Hm? Someone is training this early in this weather? He was taken aback. Feeling curious, Rnd followed the direction where he heard the sound, and soon, he arrived at an open training ground. There he saw one man repeatedly performing the same sword movement. Lord ric? He didn''t expect that it was actually ric. Rnd observed for a while. He thought that ric would perform the same sword movement, but then thetter changed his pattern all of a sudden. This time, he was repeatedly stabbing his sword into the air. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The more Rnd watched, the more he noticed that something was quite different with ric''s style and technique. It wasn''t the conventional sword stab that he was used to, but a version that seemed to be entirely different. The most surprising thing was that every stab was swift and decisive, almost without any w. He looks like he is only casually stabbing his sword, but each stab brings out his maximum potential. Rnd was amazed by this and he even wanted to follow ric''s training routine, but he was too embarrassed to disturb him. A momentter, ric stopped after he received the notification from the cyan screen, telling him that he hadpleted his daily mission. He had already sensed Rnd''s arrival earlier, but he didn''t stop his training and continued all the way until hepleted the exercises. Good thing I didn''t use ''that sword'' in today''s training. ric thought as he waved his hand while staring at Rnd. The Elite Knight immediately approached him after seeing that he had stopped his training. "Good morning, my lord. I apologize for disturbing you." ric waved his hand and smiled. "It''s alright. I''m already done with my training." Rnd hesitated. He wanted to ask ric about the routine he performed earlier, but he was too embarrassed to mention it. He also felt that it was inappropriate to ask about someone''s techniques. ric saw through him at a nce and he couldn''t help but chuckle. "Do you want to learn it? I can give you some pointers." He uttered jokingly. Rnd didn''t expect that he would be seen through just like that and it was even someone who was less than half his age. "How could I¡­" ric raised his hand and shook his head. "It''s not a big deal. Let me show you." He didn''t wait for his response and pulled his sword. Rnd took a step back to give him some room to show his sword techniques. In the next moment, ric swung his sword. Whoosh! It was the same sword movement he had seen earlier. Amazing! His swordsmanship is even better than mine¡­ He didn''t want to admit it, but the young man in front of him had already surpassed him in terms of pure technique. "Have you seen it clearly?" ric smiled at the serious-faced warrior. Rnd gave him a look of undisguised admiration. "I have learned a lot from you, my lord!" "Stop ttering me and show me what youprehended." ric tossed his sword to the Elite Knight, making the other party stunned. Huh? With a bewildered look on his face, Rnd caught the sword. Is he seriously thinking of teaching me his technique? He couldn''t believe it. The sword technique that ric disyed was unlike any other. If it was someone else, they would definitely guard this technique closely and never let a stranger learn it. However, ric didn''t seem to share the same ideology. "Stop dawdling before I change my mind." ric''s voice sounded more serious this time so Rnd no longer hesitated. He adjusted his stance and moved the sword ording to what he had remembered.@@novelbin@@ Whoosh! Whoosh! ric watched him in silence. Hisprehension is worse than Aliya''s, but he has some talent. At least it''s on the same level as Renante''s and Rasmus''s. He felt tempted to take this man on his side, but he immediately dropped the idea when he recalled Rnd''s personality. This man was loyal and he would never betray his lord. Well, there is an exception¡­ His principles¡­ He knew that Rnd followed a strict principle. He was willing to sacrifice his life for his lord, but he will never hurt the innocent. In his past life, there was one time when Rnd disobeyed his lord''smands. It was because he was ordered to attack a vige for its strategic location. Rnd was supposed to be executed for his disobedience, but because of his contributions, he wasn''t executed and was only demoted to that of a normal warrior. That was also how he had found his way into ric''s group. Is there any way to bring this guy to our side? While he was seriously pondering about this, Rnd lowered his sword and looked at ric. "Did I execute it right, my lord?" Rnd''s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "It''s not bad, but your form still needs a lot of polishing. I noticed that you¡­" ric told him about the mistakes he made. Rnd quietly listened. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!