Colin Russell

Will City is a medium-sized city in the southern part of the Empire, surrounded by vast farmlands, pastures, and forests. Consequently, the local economy primarily revolves around the production of grain, timber, and meat.

Of course, no city under the Empire's rule would be complete without its share of nobles and artists.

Wright Street is an area within Will City where a large number of middle-class individuals reside. It's home to wealthy merchants, declining nobles, and artists who are slowly gaining recognition.

However, even a declining noble is still a noble. Many wealthy merchants here are willing to marry their daughters to nobles, but the nobles are unwilling to take daughters from wealthy merchant families, as it would invite ridicule.

For nobles, maintaining appearances is more important than money.

Colin Russell strolled along Wright Street. He was twelve years old, with thick, short blonde hair, well-defined features, and a pair of blue eyes that held a deep, oceanic aura.

Despite his youth, his physique was exceptionally robust, particularly his arms, which were thick and built for combat.

He wore a faded white shirt, a fitted black jacket with gold buttons, matching straight-leg trousers, and yellow leather shoes. A training greatsword was sheathed at his waist, and he carried a square black backpack.

Weaving through pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages, Colin Russell arrived at a two-story villa with no garden, marked with the number 36.

The blue roof complemented the white walls, making it a very ordinary house. However, the white walls showed signs of peeling paint, revealing the owner's financial struggles.

The front door was open, and Colin Russell walked in. He first bent down, took out a pair of clean blue slippers from the shoe cabinet, removed his leather shoes, placed them on the cabinet, and then put on the blue slippers.

"Welcome back, Colin," his eldest sister, Linda Russell, came out to greet him upon hearing the noise. She was twenty-three years old, with beautiful blonde hair, and her features strongly resembled Colin's, though more delicate. She possessed the mature figure common among Caucasians. She wore a blue apron and smelled faintly of olive oil.

"Sister," a flicker of unnaturalness crossed Colin Russell's eyes, but he quickly responded with a sweet greeting.

Linda, however, enthusiastically stepped forward and gave Colin a hug, pressing his head against her chest, making him unable to extricate himself. She kissed him on the right cheek, then released him, saying, "Rest for a bit, the steak will be ready soon."

"Okay," a slight blush appeared on Colin's face as he nodded unnaturally, then he fled upstairs as if escaping.

"The little one is getting shy," Linda mused, glancing at Colin's retreating back with a playful smile.

The second floor had four rooms, one for each of the three siblings. Colin's room had the best natural light, with sunlight refracting through the glass window each morning to remind him to wake up.

Upon entering his bedroom, Colin took off his jacket and hung it on the nearby rack, then placed the training greatsword flat on the floor. He carried his backpack to the old desk and set it down.

The floor was old, the house was old, the bed was old. But the bedding was exceptionally clean and carried a faint, pleasant scent.

Linda would tidy his room every day and wash the bedding regularly; she was a capable sister.

"Sigh," Colin climbed onto the bed, resting his hands behind his head on the blue pillow, and stared blankly at the ceiling covered in fine cracks.

He was not originally from this world but was an ordinary young man from the 21st century. After transmigrating, he was naturally very shocked, but as time passed, he gradually adapted to this world. However, he often found himself reminiscing about the family he could no longer see in his previous world.

He then opened his system interface.

Colin Russell

Class: Novice Knight

Vitality: 2
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 3 (+1)
Agility: 3

Bloodline: Black Bear Bloodline (Dilute)
Bloodline Influence: Strength +1

Skills: Roer Military Swordsmanship (Rusty), Riding (Proficient)

Unallocated Attribute Points: 0
Unallocated Skill Points: 0
Unallocated Bloodline Points: 0

Energy: 0
Status: Healthy

This was a system he had obtained after transmigrating, but he still had no idea how to use it.

"Sigh," Colin sighed again, closing the system interface. He couldn't help but think of his family.

His eldest sister, Linda Russell, his elder brother, Smith Russell, and himself, Colin Russell, were the last three members of the Russell family in Will City.

This was a world ruled by emperors and nobles, inhabited by extraordinary individuals such as Magicians, Knights, and Sorcerers. The Church, which worshipped various deities, did not directly rule the secular world, but its influence was not to be underestimated.

The country they lived in was called the Van Gogh Empire.

As for nobles, one had to meet two conditions to be considered a noble: possessing a surname and a bloodline.

From a young age, Colin had heard his brother and sister talk about the Russell family's glory. He heard that their lineage originated from a prominent Grand Duke, but as descendants multiplied, the main branch remained while the collateral branches gradually withered.

Currently, the Russell family was experiencing financial difficulties. Linda worked as a House Tutor for a noble with a peerage, earning a decent income. Smith worked at the city hall as a junior Financial Officer, also earning a decent income.

However, he was a burden to his brother and sister.

To restore the family's honor, a transcendent must be born into the family. His brother and sister worked tirelessly, spending most of their income on him, sending him to the Will Knight Academy.

"Although my soul is not native to this world, my bloodline is connected. I am like a giant infant, draining my brother and sister's energy, and I feel truly ashamed."

Colin sighed again. He then reopened the system interface, wondering how this system was actually used.

Mortals lamented their mediocrity; he possessed a golden finger but didn't know how to use it. How could he not be heartbroken?

At this moment, Colin smelled the faint aroma of grilled steak and heard a heavier set of footsteps.

Colin knew Smith was home from work, and it was time for dinner. Linda would probably call out soon.

Just as he expected.

"Colin, dinner's ready," Linda's warm voice called from downstairs.

"Got it, Sis," Colin said, sitting up in bed. He slipped on his slippers and padded downstairs to the dining room.

The dining room was decorated with extreme simplicity. Some areas looked a bit worn, and an air of hardship was evident everywhere. In the center stood a rectangular wooden dining table with five simple chairs.

On the table were three white ceramic plates, each holding a pan-fried steak. Beside them were metal cutlery and a glass of water.

In the middle sat a woven bamboo basket filled with fragrant long bread.

Although Smith was the younger brother, he sat in the head seat. If Linda and Colin showed differences due to their gender, Smith, however, looked as if he'd been molded from the same mold as Colin, like a grown-up version of Colin.

Smith was dressed very formally, even meticulously. Because he worked at the city hall, he had grown a small mustache to appear more steady.