Cooked Rice

Colin placed a sugar cube into his teacup and stirred it with a small spoon.

After the sugar cube had dissolved, he picked up the teacup and took a sip. He then looked up at Victor and praised, "Xilan's black tea."

Within the empire, the best wine came from Ver, while the best black tea was produced in Xilan.

"That's right, Duke Black Tea from Xilan, my favorite," Victor also took a sip from his teacup, a look of enjoyment on his face.

After setting down his teacup, Victor looked at Colin and asked, "I understand your reason for coming. Is it you, Colin, who wishes to undergo knight training?"

"You've misunderstood. It's not me, but my brother, Smith," Colin replied, shaking his head.

"Lord Victor. Colin and I are both students at Will Knight Academy," Bill interjected from the side.

"Oh? Then why doesn't your brother attend Will Knight Academy and come to me instead?" Victor asked, sounding puzzled.

"Because my brother is already twenty-one years old, which is past the enrollment age for Will Knight Academy," Colin answered with a smile, gently placing down the ceramic teacup.

Victor had a pair of very thick and long eyebrows. At that moment, these eyebrows were scrunched together, and even his favorite Xilan black tea no longer tasted good.

"Twenty-one? Colin, you're not joking with me, are you? Except for those wealthy mages who spare no expense in training, or if the trainee themselves has exceptional talent. A person starting training at twenty-one can no longer become a knight."

"I am not joking. I am here with sincerity to request that you take my brother, Smith Russell, as a knight apprentice," Colin said, standing up earnestly and bowing slightly to Victor.

Victor stared at Colin, dumbfounded, thinking the boy was crazy. As a Van Gogh Noble and a Lifetime Knight, Victor had his principles. He would normally never take a twenty-one-year-old as a knight apprentice; wouldn't that be a disservice?

However, Victor had recently encountered some financial difficulties, and since he wasn't good at business, taking on knight apprentices had become a significant source of income.

Victor hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Alright. But let me be clear beforehand, the possibility of your brother becoming a knight is slim, infinitely close to zero."

"Lord Victor, please don't worry. If my brother cannot become a knight, I will not blame you. Although I believe my brother will definitely become a knight," Colin said with a smile.

Afterward, Colin discussed some details with Victor and then rose to take his leave. However, they didn't leave immediately. Victor invited Colin and Bill to stay for lunch. After enjoying the meal, the two finally departed. Before leaving, Colin paid a year's tuition for Smith, twenty gold coins.

Upon returning to Will City, Colin first went to the stable to purchase an excellent East Grandin Horse and then to the weapon shop to buy an unopened Training Greatsword. The horse was temporarily stabled, and Colin returned to the Russell family home with the sword. Bill accompanied him the entire way and even helped him choose the horse. After seeing Colin home, he left.

Bored at home, Colin slept for the entire afternoon. He only came downstairs groggily when Linda called him for dinner.

Dinner was, as usual, steak, bread, and a glass of water.

Smith looked dejected. The steak on his plate was as tasteless as wax.

"Recently, due to layoffs at the city hall, many people have lost their jobs. There's also a lot of competition for House Tutor positions, and I haven't found work," Smith said after putting down his knife and fork halfway through his steak, taking a sip of water with resignation.

"Don't worry. You're a top graduate from Will University. You need to have confidence in yourself. Even with a lot of competition, you will be the victor," Linda said, reaching out to grasp Smith's left hand to comfort him.

"Why don't you become a knight apprentice?" Colin seized the opportunity and blurted out.

"Don't cause trouble." Linda glared at Colin. This younger brother of hers was becoming increasingly less likable. Couldn't he see Smith was upset? And he was speaking so carelessly.

"I'm serious. I've already contacted an old knight for my brother. Lord Victor Williams. This lord once served in the Gale Knight Order and is a legitimate and powerful knight," Colin said slowly after taking a sip of water. He then looked at the astonished Linda and Smith, a smile gradually appearing on his face, and added, "Moreover, I've already paid the tuition, a full twenty gold coins for a year. I also bought a Training Greatsword, an excellent Eastern Grant Horse, and a saddle."

"Colin, you scoundrel! Even if you have money, you can't spend it like this. Smith is already twenty-one years old, twenty-one!"

After a moment of silence in the Russell household, Linda let out a high-pitched scream that nearly shattered the glass.

"Go refund it immediately, Colin," Smith also shouted.

Colin, however, was nonchalant. "The money's already paid anyway. Brother, if you want to go, go. If not, then don't. Refunding is impossible. You know I'm a noble of the Van Gogh Empire; I have pride."

Linda and Smith looked at the indifferent Colin with expressions of helplessness and amusement, but their hearts gradually warmed.

"Good boy." Linda hugged Colin, kissed his cheek, and then ruffled his thick short hair. Although Colin had acted on his own, and she felt bad about the money, his actions had touched her. She and Smith had worked together to send Colin to Will Knight Academy, and their years of hardship had not been in vain. Colin not only had the incredible luck to become an apprentice to a wise and great mage but was also a good child.

"Go. Maybe you really are a genius?" Linda turned to Smith and said, hesitating, clearly lacking confidence, she added, "Maybe you can become a knight before you're sixty."

"Maybe." Smith was beyond words. He reached out and pinched Colin's right cheek, but he couldn't bring himself to use much force. This rascal.

According to the traditional Van Gogh Empire model of formal knights taking apprentices, Smith would have to live in Knight Victor's home for a year of training.

Early Sunday morning, Smith packed his belongings, took the Training Greatsword Colin had bought him, mounted a sturdy East格兰 Stallion, and headed towards Knight Victor's villa outside the city.

After seeing Smith off, Linda went to work. Colin returned to his bedroom and retrieved a completed Basic Strength Potion from the small attic.

"Even if I have to resort to potions, I'll make you a Transcendent," Colin said, looking at the red-glowing Basic Strength Potion in the glass container, a smile appearing on his face.