Dusk City

Masha Territory, Dusk City.

The only large city in the Southern Territory of the Sossia Kingdom, it is also the economic and military heart of the entire Southern Territory, ruled by the Masha Family, the overlords of the South for a hundred years.

After several days of rushing, Karen finally arrived here.

"Finally here."

Patting the tired Black Abyss Wolf beneath him, Karen looked at the towering, turreted City-State before him and sighed.

After showing the Family Crest, he, with the word "Noble" above his head, easily gained the welcoming and envious gazes of the city guards.

After all, as the lucky man who married the only direct daughter of the Masha Family, even after so many years, he was still quite famous in Dusk City.

"After getting the potion from Rune, I have to immediately visit Countess Masha, after all, the news of my arrival here will definitely reach her ears immediately."

Karen mused.

Afterwards, under the awed gazes of the city's residents, he rode the Black Abyss Wolf through the bustling streets on the carriage way, arriving in front of a magnificent church.

Storm Church, the Sossia Kingdom's Southern Territory residence.

"Tell your Bishop that his former comrade-in-arms has come to visit him with a gift," Karen said lightly to the gatekeeper.

A moment later, in the church's reception room.

"Hehe, it really has been a long time, my dear Karen."

Bishop Rune was a slightly obese middle-aged man with a smiling face. As soon as he saw Karen, he gave him a tight hug.

"Alright, alright, don't become like those back-door Priests you used to hate."

Karen pushed him away with a look of disgust.

"This is pure camaraderie, you're going too far, Karen."

Bishop Rune spread his hands innocently.

"By the way, what gift did you bring me?"

"Here." Karen handed over a thick bag.

When Rune eagerly opened the bag and saw what was inside, his expression was full of astonishment.

The bag contained a dry, hard Black Bread.

For him, as a high-ranking and powerful Bishop, this kind of food was no longer worthy of being on his table.

But Rune was stunned for several seconds, then picked up the Black Bread and began to bite into it.

"Speak, what do you want me to help you with?"

After finishing the hard, teeth-aching Black Bread, Bishop Rune said solemnly with a grave expression.

This was because he and Karen had participated in the Dragon-Lion War together in the past, and in a desperate situation surrounded by enemy troops, a starving Rune had taken the last piece of Black Bread.

He had made a promise that if Karen ever came to him with Black Bread, he would unconditionally help him accomplish anything that was worthy of the gods, even if it violated royal authority.

"There are two favors I need your help with, one is to give me a bottle of Eagle Eye magic potion to help Hunters advance to Hunters, and the other is to be the godfather of my young son at his Infant Honor Ceremony in forty days."

Karen said calmly.

"That's it?!"

The solemn expression on Bishop Rune's face vanished instantly, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

"I thought you wanted me to cover up the news of Ilith's advancement to Magician in the future. That would really have worn out my old bones."

"Next time, please be clearer. I was almost scared to death just now."

Bishop Rune grumbled as he turned and walked towards the storage room.

A dozen minutes later, he returned to the reception room with a bottle of potion emitting a green glow, soaking two eyeballs, looking quite frightening.

"Here, this is the Eagle Eye potion made from the eyes of the Hurricane Eagle, a top-notch avian magical beast. If Nobles weren't so unwilling to choose Hunters these days, you wouldn't be able to get your hands on such good stuff."

"As for the Godfather's matter, I will be there on time."

Bishop Rune tossed the potion over.

"Thanks."

Karen grabbed the magic potion and turned to leave without hesitation.

"Don't you want to have a meal together?" Rune invited.

"No, thanks. I still have to pay my respects to Countess Masha and then hurry back."

Karen, about to walk out the door, suddenly stopped.

He turned around, his eyes strange, and said, "By the way, Rune, you really should lose weight. I remember you were quite the pretty boy back then, but now... no wonder you're still single."

Rune: "???"

"Get out!"

The Bishop's roar echoed throughout the church.

"The changes brought about by time are truly terrifying!"

After Viscount Hughes was kicked out, Rune sighed with emotion.

Karen thought he had changed, but wasn't he the same?

That once cold and aloof young man, who only wanted to kill and establish a career, is now... a qualified father, even cracking jokes! The central location of Dusk City.

Red Fox Castle.

This is a city within a city, and also the castle where the Southern Territory overlord, the Masha Family, resides.

Reception room.

"Greetings to you, esteemed Countess Masha, and my kind mother."

Karen bent down and bowed deeply to show his respect to the person on the main seat.

"Good to see you too, Karen. It's been three or four years since we last met, hasn't it?" The person on the main seat smiled gently.

She was a woman who looked to be in her fifties, her gray-white hair elegantly styled, her face slightly thin, and her eyes already had dense crow's feet, yet she still gave off a strange sense of beauty.

Beauty lies in the bones, not just the skin, which is probably the best description of this woman.

And above her head was a line of deep purple text—a "Noble" of the Morning Star Stage.

"Southern Territory Vixen" Rosa Masha, this was her title, and also a symbol of her power and prestige.

"Sit down, you've come this time for Little Hayden's Infant Honor Ceremony, haven't you?"

"Yes, I hope you can attend, it will be the child's supreme honor," Karen said solemnly.

"Hehe, don't be so nervous, Danielle is my daughter, and Little Hayden is also my grandson, I naturally won't neglect him. I will bring his uncles with me and invite all the lords of the Southern Territory to go together."

"Believe me, in the Southern Territory, no one would dare to defy this old woman's face."

Rosa's expression was very kind, but her words inexplicably revealed a sense of majesty and dominance.

"Thank you for your generosity and benevolence!"

Karen looked surprised and bowed repeatedly.

The more Nobles who participate in the Blessing of the Infant Honor Ceremony, the higher the level of Noble Blessing that will be born in the end.

If all the lords of the Southern Territory can come to bless him, and with a godfather of high enough status, then Little Hayden may be able to directly obtain a Transcendent Rank "Noble" Blessing.

"By the way, have you decided on the choice of godfather?" Rosa asked.

"It will be my comrade-in-arms, Rune, the Bishop of the Storm Church Southern Territory Branch."

"Well, a Bishop is barely worthy of Danielle's bloodline..." A hint of satisfaction flashed in Rosa's eyes.

The fact that she was willing to marry Danielle to Karen, in addition to the other party's outstanding potential on the path of a Knight, her friendship with Rune was also an important factor.

"Countess Masha, I still have things to deal with back at Black Wolf Castle, so I'll take my leave."

"Well, go."