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Chapter 254: Return to the Territory
🕑 Added 2024-09-27 04:34:37 +0000 UTCThe night passed without incident.
The first rays of morning light filtered through the window and into Rhett's room. Ending his meditation, Rhett felt invigorated as he stood before the mirror, tidying his hair. He mentally reviewed the ceremony's procedures and the oaths he would recite. After a simple breakfast, he left the Lionheart Inn.
At the Royal Palace Square, solemn ceremonial music known as "Glory" filled the air—a piece rarely played in the palace, reserved only for ennoblement or elevation ceremonies.
Rhett entered through the grand gate, flanked by rows of solemn knights. After a brief inspection, they allowed him to pass. Rhett had already left his space ring at the Lionheart Inn, having conducted a simulation to confirm that the inn's security measures were indeed reliable—nothing had been tampered with.
The first step into the palace grounds placed Rhett on an immaculate, gleaming red carpet.
At the square's front, a group of royal knights, the ceremonial corps, and other lavishly dressed individuals awaited. Their bright eyes were fixed on Rhett as he approached, moving with a straight back and composed demeanor. A middle-aged man with brown curly hair welcomed him warmly:
"Count Rhett, first, let me congratulate you on your impending elevation to marquis. I hope today's ceremony goes smoothly.
Leave the rest to us. We'll be responsible for setting the atmosphere, and all you need to do is walk down this red carpet straight to the palace."
Rhett nodded. "Thank you!"
"No need to be so formal. Honestly, I haven’t been involved in a promotion ceremony for many years, and I’m about to retire in a few more. My greatest wish was to participate in one more of these solemn ceremonies before I retire—I’ve missed them dearly. So... I should be thanking you."
"Is that so? I’m honored. But really, we should all thank King Milan!" Rhett said with a shrug and a smile.
"You’re right—thank King Milan."
Rhett waited at the square’s entrance for over half an hour, maintaining a composed demeanor in front of the knight corps.
As the "Glory" music resumed, accompanied by the gestures from the knight corps and ceremonial corps, Rhett took the first step of the ceremony.
Walking with even strides, he quickly entered the palace.
The palace was where the most people had gathered—nobles and royal family members filled the space. Nearly every notable figure in the kingdom was present, meaning counts and above were allowed inside.
They were seated on either side of the red carpet, watching Rhett as he walked with his left arm bent and his right arm at his side, heading toward the end of the carpet, where King Milan of Goldrun stood solemnly.
In this serious setting, there was no whispering or chatter. Prince Hogus and his siblings stood at the forefront, each with different expressions as Rhett passed by them.
King Milan, holding a long sword, smiled as Rhett approached. With one hand, he held a book of scriptures and began a lengthy reading.
When the hour-long reading concluded, Rhett knew it was his turn. He began to recite the oath: "In the face of enemies, I fear nothing; with courage and loyalty, I remain true to Goldrun; with righteousness and integrity, I stand unyielding; to protect the weak is my solemn duty..."
The oath took only a few minutes.
As his firm voice echoed through the hall, thunderous applause followed, reverberating throughout the palace.
King Milan's smile widened as he tapped Rhett’s shoulder lightly with his sword, symbolizing his acceptance of the oath and his authority.
Then, someone stepped forward and handed Milan a branch and some soil.
Milan sheathed his sword and took the items, then extended them to Rhett. "Your merits have proven your worth, and Goldrun stands with you. I hereby confer upon you the title of Marquis Rhett Green. From this day forth, you shall guard the southwestern border..."
Rhett bowed deeply, solemn and silent, before taking the branch and soil in his hands—a gesture symbolizing his new fief and elevated authority.
Another half hour passed as the king's mixed-gender knight corps sang a hymn.
The hymn, titled "The Song of Bole," was light and melodious, easing the solemn atmosphere.
Thus concluded the entire ennoblement ceremony of the Goldrun Kingdom.
By the time the ceremony ended, it was nearly noon.
The king was the first to leave, heading upstairs, after which the other nobles felt free to mingle and converse.
"Rhett, congratulations," Prince Hogus said with a wide smile as he approached and patted Rhett on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Prince Hogus, for your generous support," Rhett replied with a humble smile.
"Marquis Rhett, I’ve heard your performance on the Canyon Front was outstanding?"
A tall man with a calm expression approached at this moment.
Rhett had done his homework beforehand and recognized the man as the eldest prince of the royal family, a Sky Knight stationed at the Coldstream Front in a key position.
He maintained a standard smile and replied, "Prince Wilkin, it wasn’t my brilliance, but the soldiers at the Canyon Front who were exceptional."
"But some must stand out. I hope to see your excellence at the Coldstream Front someday," the eldest prince said with a faint smile.
"Facing the enemy, I fear nothing," Rhett responded, echoing a line from his earlier oath.
Wilkin’s expression remained unchanged. After a brief exchange, he left the palace.
"Don’t mind him. Wilkin’s always been like that. Perhaps the tension at the Coldstream Front leaves him little energy to engage with others properly," Hogus said, watching Wilkin’s retreating figure before turning back to Rhett with a shrug.
"It’s fine. But is the situation at the Coldstream Front really that dire?" Rhett asked casually, his curiosity piqued—he was eager to know how many wyverns remained.
"Indeed, the situation at the Coldstream Front is grim. You’ve probably heard of Master Aesad. His relentless production of dragon extinction poisons has provoked fierce retaliation from the wyverns, escalating the conflict. So far, except for the rare involvement of Saint-level powerhouses, the Sky Knight Corps frequently engages in fierce battles..." Hogus explained, his brow furrowing involuntarily.
"It sounds like the situation at the Coldstream Front is truly severe. I hope the Blood God Cult doesn’t take advantage of it..." Rhett pondered aloud. Soon, other nobles approached, seizing the opportunity to converse with Rhett, who adeptly handled the situation.
For the next two hours, Rhett mingled in the palace, engaging in friendly exchanges with dozens of nobles from various parts of the Goldrun Kingdom, making initial connections.
By the afternoon, feeling he had spoken to most of the nobles present, Rhett found an opportunity to leave the palace.
Without delay, he left the capital and set off on his journey back to his territory.
During his time on the East Blue coast, Firegrit successfully advanced to a first-tier magical beast, significantly increasing its speed. It took less than a month for Rhett to reach his destination.
Riding atop Firegrit, Rhett looked out at the undulating branches of the Dark Eagle mountain range.
Seeing the familiar scenery and thinking of his family waiting for him at Green Estate, Rhett smiled contentedly but did not rush to return.
Instead, he headed straight for the Dark Eagle’s lair—Lone Peak. His conversation with Princes Wilkin and Hogus in Luna Palace had reminded him of his collaboration with Aesad, which had been nearly two years ago. He needed to check on the current state of the Dark Eagle population.
The autumn wind was brisk, and many trees in the Dark Eagle mountains had turned golden, adding a touch of beauty to the forest.
At the foot of Lone Peak, Wardor leaned against a boulder, having built a simple grill with stones. He was roasting several large legs of magical beasts over the flickering flames, the enticing aroma wafting through the air as the legs sizzled and popped.
Wardor, feeling the satisfaction of his work, sprinkled fragrant seasoning evenly over the meat.
Suddenly, he looked up to see a small black dot rapidly approaching from the sky, gradually becoming a fiery red figure.
“Hey, Rhett! Long time no see. You’ve been gone for quite a while this time—I feel like it’s been over half a year since we last met!” Wardor stood up, one hand on his hip, the other waving toward the sky. His beard was particularly thick, looking as though it hadn’t been trimmed in quite some time.
Whoosh!
Firegrit landed with a gust of wind that nearly extinguished the cooking fire.
“Haha, Wardor, it has indeed been a while!” Rhett dismounted, gazing up at Lone Peak, where about twenty Dark Eagles were circling, half of them young chicks.
“Your absence caused quite a stir. The whole kingdom knows about your promotion to marquis!” Wardor said. “Can you share what you did to earn such great merit?”
Rhett spread his hands, silently conveying that he couldn’t talk about it.
Wardor shrugged. “Alright, I see it’s something important. No need to explain.”
He then glanced up at Lone Peak, a pleased smile creeping onto his face as he changed the subject. “Rhett, guess how many Dark Eagles we have now?”
“Thirty-seven?”
“That’s right, plus nine Dark Eagle eggs,” Wardor said. “Though the number still seems small, they’ve grown from just a dozen. The speed will only increase from here.”
“Do we still have enough breeding potions?” Rhett nodded, asking a crucial question. Since partnering with Master Aesad, Wardor had primarily managed the Dark Eagle population, with most of the breeding potions given to him. The rapid growth of the Dark Eagle population owed much to those potions.
“Hmm, we’ve used about half the potions. But as the Dark Eagle population expands, the rate of potion consumption will undoubtedly increase. I’d say we have enough to last two more years, maybe a little more,” Wardor estimated.
“I see,” Rhett said thoughtfully. “This must be part of Master Aesad’s plan. He’s likely calculated the potion consumption and the growth rate of the eagle population. Perhaps when the potions run out, he’ll come by again.”
“Sounds plausible. By then, the population might reach over a hundred,” Wardor said, stroking his beard.
“Indeed, in a few years, we could see a return to the former glory. I’ll need to rely on you to continue this work,” Rhett said quietly, gazing at the Dark Eagles flying in the sky.
Relying solely on military force to wipe out the wyverns seemed nearly impossible in the short term, and even in the long term, there was no guarantee of success. But as long as the strategy of extinction poison continued, the wyverns would face eventual extinction unless they retreated deep into the orc lands and never emerged. Otherwise, their end was inevitable.
War takes many forms. Even if military might can’t destroy you, it doesn’t mean there’s no other way. Targeting your race and cutting off your offspring will ultimately lead to the same end.
Rhett sighed, reflecting on events in his homeland on Blue Star, shaking his head as he left.
On the wide gray stone road leading to Green Estate, Sveta stood at the entrance. He had heard that his lord had recently attended the ennoblement ceremony, drawing much attention. The likelihood of his return had significantly increased after the event.
So for the past half month, whenever he had free time, Sveta would walk around the entrance of Green Estate, hoping to be the first to welcome his lord back.
Today, Sveta had been waiting for quite a while. As he paced back and forth, he began to feel a bit bored, his thoughts drifting.
“To think I’m now a marquis’s butler... I remember when I was a child, my father said that if I ever had the chance to become a viscount’s butler, I should consider myself lucky. If he knew that the head of the Green family was now a marquis, he’d be utterly astonished,” Sveta thought with a smile, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
“Chirp!”
A sharp eagle cry rang out from the sky like an urgent bell.
Sveta instinctively looked up, all thoughts vanishing from his mind as joy flooded his face.
Firegrit, now larger and more imposing with its powerful wingspan, created a gust of wind as it descended. Sveta stretched out his arms, but the wind’s force unexpectedly blew his hat off into the sky.
“Oh, my hat!” Sveta exclaimed, reaching for the gray fur hat now a meter above his head.
Suddenly, a light green mist formed from wind elements gently pushed the hat back down.
“Thank you, my lord!” Sveta knew it was his lord’s doing. As he secured the hat on his head, he expressed his gratitude.
“Sveta, that hat is quite dignified and handsome. It looks brand new—did Scarlett make it for you?” Rhett asked with a smile.
“My lord, it wasn’t Scarlett; Maru made it,” Sveta replied.
“Maru? I didn’t know she had such skills. I thought making scarves was her limit,” Rhett said, surprised.
“Yes, I was just as surprised, but it turns out Maru’s craftsmanship is no less than Scarlett’s,” Sveta said as he followed Rhett inside.
Rhett, walking through the estate, asked casually, “How are things progressing between you and Maru?”
Sveta, following closely behind, hesitated before answering, “We’ve made... some good progress.”
“Really? I hope you two will tie the knot soon. I’ll gladly be your witness.”
“Thank you, my lord, but that might still be a long way off.”
“Don’t be so sure. Love is unpredictable,” Rhett said with a light laugh. He hadn’t forgotten the simulation on the East Blue coast, where Sveta and Maru were destined to marry in just a year’s time.
As they continued chatting, Rhett reached the middle of the stone path, not far from Darkrock Castle.
But then he glanced to the left, where under the broad, umbrella-like branches of a Phoenix Flower Tree, McCough was just leaving the auxiliary castle, passing through the shade.
“Rhett? You’ve finally decided to return. How does it feel to be a marquis?” McCough said with a grin.
Rhett paused, looking at McCough with a playful smile. “It feels no different. The important people around me haven’t changed much. But you seem to be in a good mood—has something good happened?”
He spoke in a casual, friendly tone, pretending not to know about McCough’s recent marriage. At that moment, Sveta leaned in and whispered to Rhett, “My lord, during your absence, Mr. McCough and Miss Vicky got married.”
“What?” Rhett feigned surprise, glancing at Sveta, then at McCough. “You got married?”
“What else? Your butler wouldn’t lie to you.”
Rhett hesitated briefly, then spread his hands in mock resignation. “Alright, I guess it’s my turn to congratulate you—happy newlyweds.
Though my blessings may be a bit late, they’re no less sincere.”
But McCough, still holding a grudge, wasn’t ready to let him off so easily. With his arms crossed, he said, “Hmph, Rhett, you missed my wedding, the most important day of my life. How could my best friend not be there? What a regret!”
“Alright, it was my fault. To make it up to you, I’ll cover all your expenses at the Nightingale Tavern from now on. How about that?” Rhett said with a resigned smile, though he believed nothing would entice McCough more than this offer.
However, instead of the expected satisfaction, McCough responded seriously, “Do you think I’m someone who lives for drinking? A free pass to the Nightingale Tavern doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.”
“Tsk, who was it that loved the Neon Swirl so much they’d drink a hundred cups a day if they could?” Rhett teased. “Though I don’t know what’s gotten into you that even the Nightingale Tavern doesn’t interest you, I admit I was wrong this time. If you have another request, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll say it.” McCough cleared his throat. “Ahem, last month, a new bar called the Rattlesnake Tavern opened in Dark Hawk City. The owner has several excellent bartenders under him. I tried a few drinks, and I think they’re as good as the rum at the Nightingale.”
“So, you want to trade your Nightingale Tavern free pass for one at the Rattlesnake Tavern?” Rhett asked, raising his voice in mock exasperation, half-amused, half-annoyed.
“No, not quite.”
“Then what do you want?” Rhett asked, puzzled.
“I want both!”
“…”
Rhett rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “You plan to drink like that—will Vicky be okay with it?”
“Of course she won’t,” McCough replied with a laugh. “She’ll only wonder why I didn’t take her along! But the Rattlesnake Tavern isn’t cheap, and even I find it a bit hard to indulge freely.”
“Alright, I suppose I’m just unlucky. You two are quite the unique couple! I’ll agree to cover all your expenses at both taverns, but if you try to take advantage of me, don’t blame me if I refuse to pay!” Rhett said, feigning a pained expression, though he was inwardly unfazed. He could easily afford a few drinks.
But then, looking thoughtful, he asked, “By the way, the Rattlesnake Tavern—why does that name sound familiar? I think I’ve heard of it before…”
Sveta, ever attentive, spoke up again. “My lord, I haven’t had a chance to report this to you yet. A woman named Lilith opened the Rattlesnake Tavern in July. She came to visit you but left after learning you weren’t here. Before leaving, she said, ‘It was hard to find you, but thank you for saving my life.’”
“Saved her life? And she went to great lengths to find you?” McCough raised an eyebrow, looking at Rhett suspiciously. “Could it be that you had a little adventure while you were out? If that’s the case, I might have misjudged you…”
“Where’s your mind at? There’s nothing like that!” Rhett said, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
He then briefly explained his past experience, recalling his journey through the Rem Kingdom to capture the sand spirit and his encounter in White Pumpkin City.
“Ah, that explains it!” McCough laughed heartily, nudging Rhett with his elbow. “In that case, the next time I visit the Rattlesnake Tavern, I’ll drop your name—maybe I’ll get some special treatment!”
“That’s unlikely. My name probably doesn’t carry that much weight,” Rhett replied, shaking his head. “But I’ll make time to visit the Rattlesnake Tavern and say hello.”
McCough grinned. “I look forward to it. Now I’d better get to the training ground. That little girl Unika arrived early, and I’m sure she’s getting impatient!”
Rhett nodded and bid McCough farewell.
As he made his way back to Darkrock Castle, all the nearby servants greeted him warmly, eager to welcome their lord home. Rhett understood their feelings and returned their greetings with a standard smile.
Climbing the stairs to the fifth-floor hall, Rhett sat down on the long bench by the fireplace, feeling the comfort of being home. He slowly asked, “Sveta, how have things been while I was away?”
Having followed Rhett upstairs, Sveta was well-prepared and bowed as he replied, “My lord, you’ve been gone for six months and twenty-four days. During this time, the most important event was a visit from a member of the Ring Tower. They left a letter and a sealed package for you.
Additionally, Mog and Whiteclaw have both advanced to first-tier magical beasts, and Tyles’ Frostmouse has reached sub-tier.
And as I mentioned earlier, a woman named Lilith also came to visit you.”
“A member of the Ring Tower brought something?” Rhett asked, feigning ignorance. “Where is it?”
“I placed it in your room.”
“I’ll take a look later. Anything else during this period?”
Sveta was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully before replying, “There’s one more thing—probably not important, but I thought you should know.”
“What is it? Please, go ahead.”
“It’s about Lawrence. He broke up with Unika and started seeing Aura. Then Unika seems to have developed feelings for Armando,” Sveta said with a helpless shake of his head. “Ah, such passionate youth, but that fiery passion is hard to keep solid.”
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