Family Businesses (Please Follow)

The allure of a title and fief was even greater to these people than that of a Breathing Technique.

After all, even if one practiced a Breathing Technique and became a Formal Knight, one would only hold the title of Knight Bachelor in the kingdom. This auction item, however, was a baron's title.

From his private room on the second floor, Chen Mu could see that nearly everyone was bidding on this final centerpiece item.

In the end, the title and fief were bought by an Earl's Heir for one million Gold Coins.

Chen Mu had not expected Viscount Russell to fail to win the title.

He had thought that, with the Black Robe Pathseekers Society's wealth, it should have been easy. He had even been preparing to cause some trouble, only to find that Viscount Russell had backed down on his own.

If Russell himself knew what Chen Mu was thinking, he would probably feel quite wronged.

It was true that Wizard Apprentices could earn Gold Coins easily, but that clearly did not include Level 1 Wizard Apprentices.

Though he had been dismissive of the Magic Potion auctioned earlier, he would not have been able to concoct it himself either. He was simply all talk.

After the Auction ended, some people chose to stay and look around the auction house, while others left in an orderly fashion.

Chen Mu did not choose to linger at the auction house, instead leaving with William.

Though it was a large-scale Auction, it had not actually lasted very long.

Chen Mu could have stayed a while longer, but he wanted to return as soon as possible to study the Bronze Key he had withdrawn early, so he left with William first.

Back at the Manor, Chen Mu held the Bronze Key up to the sunlight and examined it, only to find nothing special about it.

After returning, he had already tried other methods to see whether he could make the Bronze Key reveal anything unusual, but they had all failed.

He had roasted it over fire and soaked it in water, but neither had any effect.

"Should I try dripping a drop of blood on it?"

The thought suddenly surfaced in Chen Mu's mind.

Since he had thought of it, he naturally had to give it a try.

Without hesitation, Chen Mu used his Knight Sword to cut a small wound on his finger, then squeezed out a drop of blood and let it fall onto the Bronze Key.

Unfortunately, no treasure was activated. The Bronze Key remained the same Bronze Key, with only a trace of blood on it.

"So blood-binding doesn't work either."

Fortunately, Chen Mu had not held much hope for this method to begin with.

After all, his simulated self had spent years researching it without reaching any conclusion.

After all, although his simulated self did not possess the Simulator's memories, he did retain his memories of transmigration.

Since even he could think of such a method, Chen Mu in the Simulator could naturally think of it as well.

So it was perfectly normal that it had no effect. It would have been abnormal if a single drop of blood could activate this damned Bronze Key.

Chen Mu pinched the Bronze Key and examined it repeatedly, but he truly could not see anything special about it. In the end, he could only give up for now.

Still, a vague guess had already formed in Chen Mu's heart.

Since this was something the Black Robe Pathseekers Society wanted, it was most likely related to Wizards.

If he truly wanted to uncover the Bronze Key's secret, he would probably have to wait until he became a Wizard Apprentice himself.

But becoming a Wizard was extraordinarily difficult. The very first requirement—going to the Wizard Continent—had already stopped countless people who wished to become Wizards.

Setting down the Bronze Key, Chen Mu placed it back in its wooden box and hid it somewhere secluded.

The following days remained peaceful, with nothing unusual happening.

It was not until more than ten days after the Auction ended that Earl Arthur came to see Chen Mu.

"Vieri, you're not so young anymore, and you've become a Formal Knight. It's time for you to take over some of the family businesses."

Chen Mu stood before Earl Arthur in formal attire.

Hearing Earl Arthur's gentle words, Chen Mu had been about to refuse when Earl Arthur's next sentence cut him off.

"The largest market in Far East City is one of our Golden Lion Family's businesses. I'm handing it over to you now. Consider it a form of training."

Seeing the anticipation in Earl Arthur's eyes, Chen Mu knew he could not refuse.

So he nodded solemnly to show that he understood.

Earl Arthur had arranged everything for him, so Chen Mu naturally had no reason to decline.

Besides, Chen Mu wanted to see what the cities of this world were like.

Far East City lay within the Far East Territory and was its largest city.

Since coming to this world, Chen Mu had never truly seen one of its cities.

He had only seen this world's cities through the original owner's memories.

Though the Manor where he and Earl Arthur lived was located at the very center of the Far East Territory, it was actually a restricted zone rather than an urban district.

This was the core region of the Far East Territory. Everyone allowed to enter was fiercely loyal to the Golden Lion Family; to everyone else, it was forbidden ground.

That was why Chen Mu had lived here for so long without being disturbed. Most of the Far East Territory's residents lived in the cities.

With the memories of his former self, Chen Mu was no stranger to Far East City.

This city had borne the same name since its founding, and every head of the Golden Lion Family had also been its master.

Although the city belonged to the Golden Lion Family, that did not mean everyone living in Far East City was part of the Golden Lion Family.

As the commercial center of the Far East Territory, Far East City contained businesses established by countless noble families.

However, they had to pay rent to the Golden Lion Family every year. Rent alone brought the Golden Lion Family a considerable sum of Gold Coins from Far East City annually.

Seeing Chen Mu agree, Earl Arthur was in a good mood as well.

"I've made the arrangements. William will take you to Far East City to take over Golden Lion Market.

If you encounter any problems, you can ask the people who previously managed Golden Lion Market.

As for your safety, there's no need to worry too much."

Earl Arthur spoke casually.

In truth, he had wanted Chen Mu to take over some of the family businesses the moment Chen Mu told him he had become a Formal Knight.

Though Chen Mu was still young, there was no helping it.

At present, the Golden Lion Family's direct line consisted only of him and his two sons.

His eldest son was currently traveling through the Wandering Kingdom, so some of the family businesses could only be entrusted to his younger son, Vieri, for now.

Such important businesses could not be left in outsiders' hands forever. Sooner or later, he would have to hand them over.

Letting Chen Mu gain experience early had been part of his plan all along.

If Chen Mu had not still been so young and inexperienced, he would have wanted to place several of the family's most important businesses under Chen Mu's management.

Or even directly grant Chen Mu a fief to manage first.

"Before I knew it, you've grown so much."

Looking at Chen Mu's handsome face, Earl Arthur spoke with a hint of emotion.

The younger son whom he and his wife had once cherished in the palms of their hands had grown up in the blink of an eye.

He had reached the age where he could take over the family businesses.

In Earl Arthur's eyes, Vieri had always been a child.

He had not forgotten the pride that had risen unconsciously in his heart a few months ago, when Vieri stood before him and resolutely declared that he wanted to become an honorable Guardian Knight of the family.

And now, only a short time later, his younger son had fulfilled that promise.

Time always slipped away unnoticed.

In the blink of an eye, even he himself had inherited the territory and become its lord decades ago.

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