Two Boys

The officer at the city gate saw Velin galloping toward him and sprang from his chair, roaring at his men, "Quick, clear the way! My lord needs to pass through!"

The idle soldiers snapped to attention and hurried into action, moving the commoners and merchants waiting to enter the city aside and clearing the West City Gate.

Velin rode into the city like the wind.

Once the officer saw that the young lord had passed through, he ordered his soldiers to resume their inspections and tax collection, then lay back in his chair to bask in the sun.

After entering Yinxing City, Velin took a moment to get his bearings before heading for his destination—the Security Department in Yinxing City's West City District.

Before long, an imposing building appeared before him. A guard stationed at the entrance stepped forward to take his horse's reins, led it to an open space nearby, and brought out fine fodder to help it recover its strength.

Velin paid no attention to this. He went straight into the Security Department and asked someone to summon Beck, the local Chief of Public Security.

A short while later, a burly low-silver tier warrior wearing a breastplate emerged from a room. He bowed to Velin, who was only at mid-rank bronze, and asked, "Young Master Velin, what can I do for you?"

"Beck, I've come to the city to take care of something. I need to borrow a squad of your security soldiers."

Velin did not beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly.

After hearing this, Constable Beck immediately summoned a warrior and instructed him, "Tell Ackerman, Captain of the Sixth Squad, to gather his men in the courtyard at once."

"Yes, sir."

The warrior thumped his chest in salute and immediately ran off.

A few minutes later, a squad of fifteen warriors clad in iron armor assembled in the courtyard.

A middle-aged man whose strength was roughly on par with Velin's stepped forward and thumped his chest in salute to Constable Beck.

"Sir, Ackerman, Captain of the Sixth Squad, reporting for duty."

"Ackerman, you'll be accompanying Young Master Velin on an errand."

"Yes, sir." Ackerman turned to Velin and said respectfully, "At your command, Young Master Velin."

Velin sized up the weather-beaten warrior and nodded in satisfaction. Then he bade Chief of Public Security Beck farewell and led the fifteen security officers, all of them class holders, toward a street in the West City District. He was going to crack down on a gang and secure a little personal gain in the process.

Inside a house in Yinxing City's West City District, several local gang members were conducting a transaction with two black-robed strangers.

"The merchandise you wanted is in this sack." The gang leader signaled for his men to open the sack, revealing two boys inside, one blond and the other silver-haired.

The two black-robed strangers exchanged a glance. One stepped forward to inspect the boys. Once he confirmed everything was in order, the other tossed out a cloth pouch, which struck the floor with the unmistakable clink of gold coins.

A lackey stepped forward to pick it up and respectfully placed it in his boss's hands.

"That concludes our business. Now, everyone can go their separate—"

Suddenly, the door was kicked open. A handsome black-haired man burst in with a short sword in hand and shouted, "There's a traitor... no, wait! Everyone, drop your weapons and don't move!"

The two groups, who had just completed their transaction, turned toward the uninvited guest and picked up their weapons, ready to teach him a lesson.

Just then, the gang leader spotted Ackerman coming in behind him. His expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "It's the Security Team! Run!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the gang leader abandoned everything and leaped through a window to escape.

A piercing scream rang out from outside. The three gang members who had been about to act turned pale with fright. Trembling, they dropped their weapons, put their hands over their heads, and lay on the floor.

That had been their boss's scream. Clearly, he was already dead.

The two black-robed strangers retreated a few steps and drew the sharp swords they carried, intending to resist to the bitter end.

Seeing this, Velin gestured for Ackerman to stand down, intending to deal with the pair himself.

Gripping his short sword tightly, he used the room's cramped confines to his advantage and dispatched both men in a few swift moves.

Ackerman stood to one side and watched Velin fight. His movements were clean and direct, without the slightest hesitation, drawing an exclamation of admiration from him.

"Excellent swordsmanship, Young Master Velin."

"You flatter me."

Velin flicked the blood off his blade and slid it into its sheath. Then he approached one of the black-robed corpses and removed the masks both men had worn.

Who exactly were these men? Why all the secrecy?

Curious, Ackerman also stepped forward. The moment he saw the Black Clover Mark on the black-robed man's forehead, his expression changed drastically.

"Young Master Velin, these two bodies are connected to some important matters. Would you be willing to leave them with us?"

"Do as you like. This is what I came for."

Velin approached the sack and examined the two beautiful boys. They matched the information he had received.

Unexpectedly, both had a Slave Mark on their foreheads.

Without wasting any more time, Velin picked up the two boys and left.

As he passed through the doorway, the Security Team soldiers saw the two handsome boys in his arms and began whispering among themselves.

"Did Young Master Velin come all this way just for those twin boys?"

"Probably. I heard some noble lords have..."

Ackerman emerged from the room and caught his men gossiping. He barked, "All of you, shut your mouths! Take these men back."

The men who had been about to discuss the matter further immediately fell silent, lowered their heads, and got to work.

Meanwhile, Velin placed the two boys on his horse and swung into the saddle. Just as he was about to leave, Ackerman approached with a bag of gold coins and asked respectfully, "Young Master Velin, these are the gold coins we confiscated. Would you..."

"Divide them among yourselves. I don't need any. Consider it compensation for everyone's hard work."

"Thank you, Young Master Velin!" the other Security Team members exclaimed excitedly upon hearing this.

After returning to Windsor Castle, Velin took his horse back to the stable, then carried the two boys to his room.

Along the way, the servants were astonished to see Velin carrying two boys in his arms, but none dared discuss it.

Within the castle, anyone who recklessly gossiped about their master's affairs must have been tired of living.

Once inside his room, Velin laid the two boys on the bed. He waited a while, but when neither showed any sign of waking, he turned and left, intending to visit Elder Miller first and seek advice on a suitable direction for his pioneering efforts.

After a fairly long walk, Velin reached the entrance to the Underground Fortress. He handed his weapon to the guards at the door and, after being searched, was permitted to descend.

As he looked down the dim tunnel, he saw records engraved on the walls of Ex Family members who had made outstanding contributions, along with their deeds.

With a legacy spanning seven hundred years, the Ex Family now boasted five counts, seventeen viscounts, and thirty-three barons.

Everything had its hierarchy. Velin's branch happened to be the main line of the Ex Family, while the other four counts headed subsidiary branches. Together, they formed the vast Ex Family.

All these glorious achievements were owed to the family precepts established by the first generation of the Ex Family, which had driven the entire family to keep expanding and striving, earning it the glory it enjoyed today.

Within the Ilia Kingdom, the power represented by the Ex Family ranked first among count-level powers and was even greater than that of some marquis-level powers.

Because its legacy had not yet reached the required eight hundred years, it could not be elevated to a marquis family within the kingdom.

Of course, if a legendary powerhouse emerged in the Ex Family, it would automatically bypass this restriction and become a lofty ducal family.

After descending a kilometer-long staircase, Velin arrived at a brightly lit archive room. Spotting an elderly man dozing nearby, he approached on quiet feet and waited patiently for him to wake.