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Chapter 266: The Green Legacy
🕑 Added 2024-09-30 08:12:03 +0000 UTCThe return of the lord brought joy and excitement throughout Dark Rock Fortress. As Rhett walked along the stone paths of the estate and made his way upstairs, servants greeted him with respect at every turn.
Rhett responded to their warmth with a smile.
Upon reaching the fifth-floor hall, Rhett poured himself a glass of red wine. Holding the crystal glass, he gently swirled it, watching the crimson liquid flow within. He spoke softly:
"Sveit, tell me, what has happened over the past six months?"
"Yes, Master." Sveit, who had followed Rhett upstairs, straightened his posture and began his report: "The most important news is that Lady Kline gave birth to a lively baby girl."
Rhett's eyes lit up, and he quickly interrupted, "What name did Rilai and Kline choose for my granddaughter?"
"Master, they named her Erin."
Upon hearing this, Rhett quickly opened the system panel for a quick check.
[Family Head: Rhett Green]
[Second Generation Members: Tack Green, Rilai Green, Taylors Green]
[Third Generation Members: Dick Green, Cares Green, Kazena Green, Abel Green, Triss Green, Erin Green]
[Text Simulation]
[Real Simulation]
[Fate Points: 319]
Seeing the long list of third-generation members, Rhett felt deeply satisfied. The Green family had welcomed another fresh sprout.
Sveit noticed the joyful expression on Rhett's face and continued his report with a smile:
"Master, your comrade Vides arrived in Dark Eagle City three months ago and joined the security team. Lawrence, who has been stationed at the Firemark Mine, also sent word that he recently advanced to a Third-Level Knight."
"In addition, Mr. Makov and Ms. Vicki's son was born this January. They named him Sabach."
"I’ve also heard that Miss Ora tried to visit Lawrence several times but was dissuaded by the White Hat Mentor and Young Master Rilai."
"There’s also a romance budding between Bella, the manor’s porter, and Rachel, the gardener..."
"And…"
As Rhett quietly listened to the subsequent updates, his expression remained calm. Although there were many happenings, they were similar to what he had seen in the simulations. Nothing major had occurred...
Not long after, Sveit finished his report. Rhett lightly tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers and casually asked, "Is that all?"
"Oh, there's one more thing!" Sveit patted his head and said, "Someone left you an anonymous letter, which I have kept for you. The sender claimed to be a good friend of yours."
"A friend of mine? Interesting..." Rhett knew it was Black Star’s message regarding the elves, but he feigned curiosity as he took the letter from Sveit and carefully read it.
After a moment, he placed the letter back in the envelope, stood up, and patted Sveit on the shoulder, saying, "Well done, Sveit. You've worked hard this past year. The manor has remained orderly in my absence, thanks to your diligent efforts."
"Please don’t say that, Master. It’s my duty." Sveit bowed and said, "You’ve barely spent any time at the estate this past year. Shall I prepare a welcome banquet for you tonight?"
Rhett pondered for a moment and said, "That’s not a bad idea. It’s been a while since we’ve hosted a banquet at the castle. Go ahead and make the arrangements. Let Maru know to prepare the meals in advance."
"Wonderful, Master! The servants have been looking forward to this evening!" Sveit exclaimed happily.
As the manor’s steward, Sveit knew well that hosting events like banquets and gatherings was essential for maintaining the estate's vitality, boosting morale, and keeping the spirits high. Moreover, the master’s presence was crucial for these events to truly succeed.
"I’ll go and make the arrangements now." Sveit bowed once more and then turned to leave.
After Sveit departed, Rhett sat quietly on the bench, savoring the last of his wine, gradually reacquainting himself with the feeling of being home…
He then made his way to the fourth floor, walking along the corridor until he reached the door to Rilai’s room.
From behind the door, he could hear a soft and emotional voice narrating a story. The sound was like the gentle chime of wind bells, with a rhythm akin to the soothing notes of a violin.
Knock, knock, knock.
Rhett knocked on the door.
Taylors opened the door. He and Tack had returned to Dark Rock Fortress with Rhett, but while Tack had immediately gone to the kitchen to find something to eat, Taylors had come to see Mina.
"Father, you’re here too. Please, come in and have a seat!" Taylors stepped aside and gestured for Rhett to enter.
The room was quite full, with Mina at the center, surrounded by several others. Vanessa, Kline, Abel, Cares, Kazena, and even Dick, who had recently joined them, were all intently listening to Mina’s story, whether they understood it or not.
Rhett’s arrival prompted everyone to stand up from the soft carpet and greet him in unison.
"Oh, it’s lively in here! It seems I’ve interrupted your fun," Rhett said with a smile.
"Not at all, Father. I just finished one story and was about to start a new one for them!" Mina responded cheerfully.
"Waa, waa…"
Amidst the chatter, a baby’s cry pierced through the room, especially loud from Kline’s arms.
"Oh, Erin, don’t cry, don’t cry…" Kline, now experienced from raising two previous children, was no longer flustered. She gently patted Erin, soothing her with a soft voice.
Rhett’s smile widened as he approached to observe his little granddaughter. Her skin was fair and tender, her eyes closed, her limbs flailing, and her chubby body adorably cute.
"Father, Erin was calm and still while listening to the story earlier. She didn’t fuss at all. Maybe she started crying because the story stopped. How about you tell the kids a story too? I’m sure it would captivate them!" Taylors suggested, his eyes gleaming.
"Oh? Telling a story…" Rhett raised an eyebrow and looked around at his grandchildren, all of whom were staring at him with eager eyes. Rhett smiled warmly and patted Kazena and Cares on their heads, saying, "No problem. I’ve got a few fairy tales ready for you."
"Wow, Father is a renowned novelist. His stories must be fantastic!" Mina’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she settled back into her seat, ready to listen.
The others quickly followed suit, sitting down and eagerly waiting.
Taylors brought over a long bench for Rhett, who sat down, cleared his throat, and addressed his eager audience: "Ahem, today, I’ll tell you the story of Little Red Riding Hood."
"Once upon a time, there was a lovely little girl who was loved by everyone who met her, but the person who loved her the most was her grandmother..."
As Rhett’s gentle storytelling filled the room, time seemed to slip away, and the children were all deeply engrossed.
When dusk fell, there was a knock on Rilai’s door, and Sveit came to inform everyone that the banquet was nearly ready to begin.
"That’s all for today’s story. It’s getting late," Rhett said as he looked through his grandchildren and out the clear window at the twinkling stars in the night sky. He stood up from his chair.
Taylors, who had been listening all afternoon, showed a hint of nostalgia. "I knew it would work. I remember falling asleep every time I listened to Father tell a story when I was little!"
"Yes, and Erin is sleeping so soundly..." Kline chuckled softly, holding the slumbering Erin in her arms.
Kazena and Cares, both about three or four years old, clung to Kline’s skirt with pitiful expressions, one pointing to their mouth and the other rubbing their tummy. Their little shoes thudded against the floor as they bounced up and down.
As their mother, Kline understood what they wanted. She looked around at the others and said, "It seems my two little darlings are hungry. Should we… go to the banquet now?"
Seeing this, Rhett immediately spoke up, "In that case, let’s head down quickly. We shouldn’t keep everyone waiting."
The adults began to move, leading the children down the corridor. Only Dick was bouncing around energetically, reluctant to leave, still pestering Rhett for more stories.
Vanessa, looking stern, had to practically drag him away, though Dick’s rebellious streak showed as he kept trying to run back.
Seeing Dick’s reluctance, Rhett chuckled, "Dick! If you don’t listen to your mother, the Big Bad Wolf will eat you tonight."
Hearing this, Taylors’ eyes twinkled mischievously as an idea for a prank suddenly came to mind.
He darted out of the shadows, quickening his pace as he ran toward Dick. Enveloped in dark elements, he transformed into a fearsome figure, all claws and fangs, like a shadowy Big Bad Wolf, and roared, "Awooo! Awooo!"
"Ah, the Big Bad Wolf, the Big Bad Wolf!" Little Dick, still caught up in the Little Red Riding Hood story, didn’t understand what was happening. His face filled with fear, and he bolted down the stairs, running faster than anyone else.
"Hahahaha!"
Taylors laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "That’s payback, Tack! You pulled a prank on me in the Dark Forest, so I’ll scare your son! Revenge is sweet!"
Mina poked Taylors in the side, scolding him, "That’s your nephew, you know. You’re so petty!"
Rhett followed behind everyone else, being the last to reach the first-floor hall.
The butler, Sveit, approached and said, "Master, the banquet is ready and can begin at any time!"
"Good, then let’s get started." Rhett nodded.
Dark Rock Fortress had been lavishly redecorated, with blue and white crystal chandeliers casting a dreamy, oceanic glow over the hall. The walls were adorned with various styles of artwork, adding a touch of artistic flair. None of the corners were left bare, either. Rilai had brought back numerous art pieces from Dark Eagle City, carefully selecting the most exquisite ones to display around the castle.
Now, the hall of Dark Rock Fortress looked elegant and luxurious, far surpassing the original Deep Rock Fortress.
But this was just the surface. As Rhett looked at the many servants standing in the hall, their postures upright and attire immaculate, he saw a symbol of the manor’s deep foundation.
Closer to him were his descendants, gathered in a small circle, and Rhett marveled at how the family had quietly but steadily grown.
Dressed in a black formal suit, Rhett stood on the red carpet and addressed everyone in a deep, resonant voice: "Good evening, every member of Dark Rock Fortress. The eager faces I see before me reflect the bright future of Green Manor. Seeing you is like watching the progress of Green Manor, bit by bit. The history of Green Manor will not forget a single builder. Each of your contributions is like the wind and rain, blending into the land over time..."
As a noble marquis, and with Dark Rock Fortress having grown so much, Rhett found himself adopting a more formal tone on this occasion, unlike his more casual demeanor in the past. He rarely made speeches like this but felt it necessary to showcase his leadership and spent half an hour addressing the gathering.
When he finished, Rhett bowed.
A thunderous round of applause erupted around him, with the servants' eyes shining brightly with admiration and hope.
"Long live the Lord!"
"Always follow the Lord!"
"The Lord will lead us to the light!"
Sveit approached Rhett with a crystal glass and carefully poured half a glass of red wine, saying, "Master, your speech was truly inspiring!"
"It’s because you love this place that you felt that way," Rhett replied with a slight smile.
"Master is right."
"You’ve worked hard all afternoon. Don’t overexert yourself. Have something to eat at the banquet," Rhett said, patting Sveit on the back. The banquet had officially begun, and after toasting a few times, Rhett made his way over to Rilai, who was holding a glass of wine.
"Father, I’m so glad you’re back. I hope you’ll stay longer this time," Rilai said with a smile.
Clink
The two clinked glasses lightly, and Rhett took a sip of wine before shrugging and saying, "You’re all grown up now, and as the past year has shown, you’ve managed the estate well even without me here."
"It’s not the same…" Rilai shook his head and then asked, "Does this mean you’re planning to leave again soon?"
Rhett smiled and said, "Don’t worry. Unless something unexpected happens, I’ll be staying for quite a while this time."
A look of joy crossed Rilai’s face. "Really? That’s wonderful."
They clinked glasses again, and Rilai casually asked, "Father, where did you take Tack and Taylors on your trip? Did you see any beautiful sights along the way?"
"Oh, there were plenty. Too many to mention all at once," Rhett replied. "But there is something important I need to tell you, and it must be kept confidential."
"Please go ahead, Father," Rilai said seriously.
Rhett leaned in and whispered to Rilai about Taylors’ acquisition of the Dream-Eating Sprite. Seeing the shock in Rilai’s eyes, Rhett continued, "Now, I need you to quickly improve the prison facilities on the estate. Make sure the bounty and capture procedures are also well-organized. The population in the territory is growing, and many of them are outsiders. This isn’t just about Dark Eagle City; any criminal in the territory must be apprehended."
Rilai nodded and said, "Understood. If we catch any wizard criminals, I’ll deliver them to you personally."
"Good, and make sure all measures are kept discreet."
"Understood!"
As music played and graceful figures danced in the hall, the servants of Dark Rock Fortress, under Sveit’s guidance, had all learned some dance steps.
The lively banquet, full of joy and merriment, lasted well into the night.
Rhett, slightly tipsy, left the festivities amidst a chorus of farewells and well-wishes.
Back in his room, Rhett let his mind wander as he gazed out at the starry night sky for a long time before finally closing his eyes, silently contemplating the mysteries of the arcane.
Now a Seventh-Level Grand Magus, Rhett found himself reflecting on his journey—how he had gone from a mere Second-Level mage to his current achievements, inching ever closer to the realm of the Legendary.
And ever since reaching Grand Magus, the slight brightening of the system panel had been a nagging puzzle in his mind.
The Legendary level was the pinnacle of this world, and crossing into it was bound to bring significant changes. Rhett wondered, when that day came, would there be any further changes?
"For now, I should focus on mastering the arcane. The Oscillation Arcane isn’t far from perfection. With a few more months of effort, I can achieve it. I mustn’t waste any time."
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