Cunning is a Virtue

Aside from this exquisite statue of the Goddess, the Noble Court truly looked no different from the adjacent noble private residences…

There wasn't even a stable outside the door.

Li Ang personally tethered Alice to the stone hitching post by the door and stepped onto the stairs. A young attendant with a sword across his chest glanced at Li Ang and slowly walked over, offering him a polite but unenthusiastic smile. "Sir, this is the Noble Court."

Generally, those who came alone to a place like the Noble Court were either fallen nobles or those looking to freeload. Hence, the smile seemed quite perfunctory.

"Li Ang Griffin, here to register my fief."

Li Ang took out a scroll sealed with wax from his dirty saddlebag, then thought better of it and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment, handing it over.

The attendant seemed somewhat surprised, raising an eyebrow as he took the parchment. He scanned Li Ang again while looking at the parchment.

"Please follow me, Lord Li Ang."

After returning the parchment to Li Ang, the attendant's smile seemed a little more genuine, but there was a clear hint of confusion in his eyes.

Those who could serve as attendants at the entrance of the Noble Court were usually well-trained knightly squires, the kind qualified to carry a swallowtail banner.

In fact, they were all young masters from noble families—mostly illegitimate sons or collateral relatives who couldn't inherit the family business, here to take a lesson called "Humility."

Therefore, in most cases, they would only offer that faint, polite smile.

However, this humility was only directed towards other nobles.

Of course, it also included Pioneer Lords—those who dared to register as Pioneer Lords were either the nephews and nieces of great nobles or powerful magnates with strong armies, usually quite capable individuals.

But someone like Li Ang, who came alone, appearing neither rich nor noble, yet intending to register as a Pioneer Lord, was quite rare—either an arrogant fool tired of living and intending to die in the wilderness, or someone from a powerful family who was deliberately keeping a low profile.

Either way, they were considered "people to avoid offending and interacting with" in the eyes of these guards.

The attendant led Li Ang to the second floor of the Noble Court and knocked on a wooden door carved with intricate patterns.

A calm voice came from inside, "Enter!"

The attendant opened the door, politely leaned in to bow, and gestured, "Sir, please come in."

It was a simple room. Besides the tall bookshelf against the wall, there was only a rosewood desk and two back chairs placed facing each other.

In the chair directly opposite the door sat a thin old man with white hair.

"Please sit, Your Excellency."

The old man didn't even look up, concentrating on pouring sealing wax onto the closure of a parchment scroll.

Li Ang quietly sat down, placing the certificate bearing the Lionheart crest on the table, waiting.

He watched as the old man removed his ring and used its face to imprint a double-lion shield crest onto the hot wax.

The guard outside the door saw this and consciously came in, taking the scroll with both hands. "Is this a reply, my Lord Count?"

"Yes."

The old man waved the guard away, put his ring back on, and fiddled with the Pioneer Baron Certificate on the table but didn't open it. He looked at Li Ang with great interest.

"I am Oden. Young man, are you planning to become a Pioneer Lord?"

Li Ang was stunned.

Oden…

He had heard that name—in fact, it was one of the few noble names Li Ang could clearly remember.

Count Oden Fletcher, thirty years ago, rose from the Gatu Grasslands in the northeast of the kingdom as a Pioneer Lord.

He built the formidable Brave Shield Fortress on the edge of the Gatu Grasslands, using it as a base to expand the Lionheart Kingdom's territory by a hundred miles and repelling numerous attacks from the Gatu army and the Mist Mountain barbarians.

On one occasion, he even held off a siege by thousands of Gatu soldiers with fewer than five hundred men, a brilliant achievement.

It was precisely because of the existence of Brave Shield Fortress that the grassland tribes of Gatu could not conduct large-scale raids into the Lionheart Kingdom.

He was the benchmark for all Pioneer Lords in the past thirty years.

His name was famous even in Mistveil City, a thousand miles away.

Li Ang had expected a general with such outstanding military achievements to have a fierce and strong physique, but he didn't expect him to be so frail and have a gentle, almost kindly, appearance.

But why would such a renowned general become an administrator at the Noble Court?

"Young man, I was once like you, a warrior full of ambition, but opening up a new territory is actually very difficult… very difficult."

As if sensing the confusion in Li Ang's eyes, Oden smiled slightly. "I've been through it, and I know the difficulties—of course, I also received the rewards I deserved. However, as one gets older, some things always change…"

"You mean…?"

Li Ang was even more confused; he felt something was not quite right.

Oden's smile deepened, and he clasped his hands on the table, staring intently at Li Ang, speaking directly. "That reply I just sent was to my son-in-law, Ryman."

Furious Lion Knight Ryman? The opponent in Fieltzwe's final match! He was Oden's son-in-law?!

Li Ang stood up in surprise.

"Please sit down, young man, don't be so impatient… Ryman mentioned the unexpected situation you encountered in his letter. In fact, he greatly admires your martial skill."

What did that mean? Li Ang felt even more uneasy.

"I had intended for Ryman to establish a good relationship with Duke Alma, as it concerns his future, and I believe you understand. But both Ryman and I are people who respect the rules. Since the outcome is as it is, we will congratulate you. However…"

A "but"... made the heart Li Ang had just put back in his stomach rise again.

Oden revealed a strange, mocking smile, then said, "But considering the vengeful nature of Duke Alma's family, I think you might need a little extra help?"

As an excellent swordsman, Li Ang's observation skills were outstanding, by no means inferior to the old general before him.

From Oden's strange smile just now, he saw a trace of complex emotion.

"Do you have a conflict with Duke Alma?" Li Ang keenly sensed the hidden meaning in Oden's words.

Oden froze, staring intently at Li Ang.

After several seconds, he shook his head and sighed, "No wonder Ryman called you a cunning fellow... Right! Alma and I have some disagreements. I'm sure you can see that I don't like staying here dealing with paperwork... but Alma recommended me to the King, and it's not easy for me to refuse the King's trust and invitation."

That made sense. Unless he was trying to scare the person into submission and then recruit them to work for him, Oden wouldn't have bothered with all this rambling.

It seemed that Oden, a renowned general who should have been leading troops into battle, had his hands tied by Duke Alma with administrative affairs in the noble council.

"Thank you for your praise. For a Pioneer Lord, cunning is a virtue—what can I do for you?"

Li Ang got straight to the point.

Oden also nodded, looking at Li Ang and exclaiming, "Cunning is indeed a virtue..."

"You have two choices... become a Pioneer Lord and establish your own territory on the border, but it must be near the Long River Forest. Or, become a knight under my command and garrison my Brave Shield Fortress. In return, I will grant you a village as your knightly domain."

Becoming a Pioneer Lord might have more potential in the future, but everything would have to start from scratch. Moreover, the Long River Forest was not far from Brave Shield Fortress, and the surrounding area was very dangerous... Oden probably intended to register his fiefdom as the Long River Forest—any expansion outside of the registered fiefdom would not be recognized.

Becoming a knight under Oden's command was the lowest level of formal noble status, and future prospects would depend on how far Count Oden Fletcher's family could go. However, this would provide the protection of Count Oden and allow him to directly possess a knightly domain.

It was truly a difficult choice.