Making a Choice

The morning sun bathed the land in its light.

Velin Ex awoke from his bed, got up, opened the window, and welcomed the rising sun.

From here, he could see Training Ground No. 7, located within the castle. Thousands of Knight Squires were engaged in qi training.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knock on the door interrupted Velin's thoughts.

"Enter."

The door opened, and a beautiful maid appeared before him, bowing and saying respectfully, "Young Master Velin, the master wishes for you to find him in the study after your meal."

"I understand."

Hearing this, the maid took a few steps back, closed the door, and left.

Velin lowered his head, knowing full well that he had to make a choice when he went to his father's room this time.

More than two months ago, after his coming-of-age ceremony, he had officially become an adult.

Apart from the designated heir, all other offspring had to make a choice upon reaching adulthood.

First, they could become guardian knights to the current heir, swearing an oath under the witness of the Goddess of Life, never to betray.

Second, they could leave the family and become pioneers, heading to the border regions to build their own foundations.

The last option was to join the Kingdom's direct knight order, with the family's recommendation, to serve the King.

"If I didn't have this special soul skill – Guidance of Fate – I might have chosen the first option, staying within the family and living a life of idle comfort."

As a transmigrator, Velin had received the gift of fate upon reaching adulthood.

After some exploration during this period, he had a general understanding of the special functions of Guidance of Fate.

On the evening of the first day of every month, at eight o'clock, a pleasant female voice would sound in Velin's ear, giving him a piece of valuable information.

Over the past two months, he had received two valuable pieces of information: one about himself, and the other about Silver Prosperity City, the territory of the Ex Family.

Ten minutes later, a servant delivered breakfast to his room.

After dressing, Velin sat down and quickly finished the three white bread slices and a large glass of milk in front of him. He had the male servant take away the dishes, then picked up his Knight's Shortsword and left his room to head to his father's study.

The castle where the Ex Family resided was named Windsor Castle. Despite its romantic-sounding name, it was a veritable fortress of war.

The entire castle covered eight square kilometers and housed tens of thousands of people. Besides the hundreds of members of the Ex Family and over two hundred Silver Knights, there were also a thousand Bronze Knights and over six thousand Knight Squires in training. The rest of the inhabitants were all servants of the castle.

Velin left the secondary keep where his room was located and walked on the floor as white and smooth as jade, heading towards the main keep where his father Angus's study was located.

Along the way, passing servants bowed and greeted him. Velin smiled and nodded in response.

Half an hour later, Velin arrived on the third floor of Windsor Castle's main keep. He tidied his attire once more, took a deep breath, and then knocked on the study door.

"Enter."

A stern voice came from within the room. Velin calmed himself and pushed the door open.

Looking at the tall and mighty back, Velin placed his right hand on his chest and bowed, "Father, good morning."

Angus, the sixth-generation patriarch of the Ex Family and the current Earl Eagle, turned around and looked at his fifth son. His voice carried authority as he said, "Velin, my dear son, what is your choice?"

"Father, I choose to become a Pioneer Knight and bring new glory to the Ex Family." Velin straightened up and said firmly, looking at his father's stern face.

"This doesn't fit your personality."

Earl Eagle Angus's eyes widened as he stared at his son and questioned him.

"Father, perhaps after coming of age, I have grown and wish to be like an eagle, to forge my own path." Velin, enduring his father's Golden Knight aura, tried to remain calm.

Since his son had made his choice, Angus, as a father, did not intend to interfere. He withdrew his faint aura and replied, "According to the rules set by the first generation of the Ex Family, offspring who choose to become Pioneer Knights can only stay within the castle for three months."

"As your father, I can allow you to stay in the castle for an extra month. You must leave Windsor Castle in two months."

"I understand, Father. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Velin nodded at his father's agreement and turned to leave.

"Your information saved Silver Prosperity City from great losses. Your reward will be delivered to you along with the aid." Angus suddenly said as Velin reached the doorway.

"Yes, Father."

Velin responded again, then closed the door and left.

The moment the study door closed, a Shadow Stalker appeared before Angus, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Master, no other forces were found around Young Master Velin. Should we investigate further?"

"This matter ends here. Destroy all records." Angus instructed the Shadow Stalker, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Yes, Master."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Shadow Stalker's figure vanished from the room.

A benevolent smile appeared on Angus's stern face as he murmured to himself, "Velin, my child, I hope you can truly forge a new path and spread the glory of the Ex Family."

Meanwhile, after leaving his father's study, Velin strolled through the castle, beginning to ponder where he should go next.

Before coming of age, with his mediocre talent, he had intended to stay within the family and live a life of idle comfort, never having considered this question.

Now that he had made his choice, he had to plan carefully and make arrangements so as not to be like a headless fly.

"Next, I need to find Elder Miller, who manages the family members, and seek useful information."

Velin gazed at the sky and murmured to himself.

Every pioneer who left the family would visit Elder Miller, this Living Fossil of the Ex Family, who was three hundred and twenty years old.

However, before that, he had to go to Silver Prosperity City to take care of something.

The second piece of information he received from the Guidance of Fate told him it was in Silver Prosperity City.

[Two weeks from now, at house number 308 in the west district of Silver Prosperity City, two groups will conduct a transaction. The goods are two young boys with a deep connection, one with blond hair and the other with silver hair, both possessing immense potential. The highest-ranked participants in the transaction are Mid-Bronze Tier. Save the two boys, and they will become your wings.]

Arriving at the stables, Velin had a servant lead out a horse. He mounted it, instructed the guards to open the castle gates, and then rode out of Windsor Castle towards Silver Prosperity City, which was thirty miles away.

Traveling along the brick-paved main road, Velin reached the city, which covered thirty square miles and had a population of over three hundred thousand, in just twenty minutes.

Silver Prosperity City, as the second-largest city in the Ex Family's territory, maintained a standing army of eight thousand troops year-round, responsible for the city's safety.