Peach Blossom Luck, Peach Blossom Calamity

"My lord, I've found out. The group that just passed by here was the Mountain Baron's entourage. They're supposedly transporting weapons to Qiaomu County. Apparently, they're for use against the Skull Society."

The convoy was heavily guarded, prohibiting any strangers from approaching. Even during mealtimes, guards took turns watching over it, so the exact type of weapons being transported could not be determined.

The young man continued speaking to himself, completely unaware that the old man's brow furrowed slightly when he heard the words "Skull Society".

"I understand, Charles. Since this is a matter for noble lords, let's leave it at that and not concern ourselves with it any further."

The old man said expressionlessly.

It was as if the person they were supposed to investigate wasn't him at all. Ciel was already used to this kind of thing.

Although their master had a somewhat eccentric temper, he was a very good person. He not only took in these orphans but also taught them a lot of skills.

Having traveled all over the country for so many years, I've spent most of the money I've earned on them. How could I not make them grateful?

After dismissing Charles, the old man's expression suddenly became serious, as if he were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

"Grandpa, I'm back."

A crisp sound rang out, interrupting the old man's thoughts. However, in front of the young girl before him, the old man never managed to lose his temper.

"Okay, my little sprite. If you keep shaking him like this, your grandpa will fall apart."

The old man said with a kind expression.

If there is anyone in this world who can still move him, it must be the girl in front of him.

"Grandpa, you're lying again! I'm so weak, how could I possibly shake you to pieces?"

The little girl said with a displeased look. She looked exactly like an angry little sprite, but her two big, darting eyes betrayed her true feelings.

"Guna, you're being naughty again!"

As he spoke, the old man reached out and pinched the girl's rosy cheeks, his face full of affection and helplessness.

"Grandpa, are we moving again?"

Guna asked with considerable reluctance.

For some reason, her grandfather always liked to move. Ostensibly, it was because business was bad and he wanted to start over in a new place, but the girl knew that her grandfather simply wanted to move.

On other issues, her grandfather was willing to go along with her wishes, but he was very firm on the issue of moving.

Despite appearing to be only eleven or twelve years old, the girl was quite knowledgeable, having traveled to seven countries with the old man.

She spent nearly a third of her childhood traveling.

"Business is tough!"

We originally thought that the Southeast Province were wealthy and that we could make a fortune.

I never expected that upon arrival, I would find the land filled with the properties of noblemen, leaving us traveling merchants to fend for ourselves in the cracks.

The old man offered another flimsy excuse, which made the girl roll her eyes.

Where on the entire continent of Asarant is not the territory of noble lords?

Even the so-called sacred Church and the self-proclaimed commercial paradise of the Free Federation are still the domain of nobles, only with a different name.

Essentially, they were still a group of nobles without noble status, exercising the rights of nobles.

Even in countries of other races, there are still nobles.

This is not a coincidence, but rather a consequence of the dog-eat-dog nature of the world.

Knowing that she couldn't persuade the old man, Gu Na smiled slightly and said, "Grandpa, do you know what I saw today?"

The Earth Bear, an adorably silly Earth Bear, even winked at me; its expression was incredibly cute.

Unfortunately, that bear had a heartless owner. He actually wanted the little Bear to grow bigger and drag him along the way.

When I went up to argue with him, he actually threatened to make me his maid if I interfered any further.

Luckily, the Bear; it shrank to the size of a palm and jumped onto the guy's shoulder, refusing to get down...

The young girl spoke animatedly, while the old man's face gradually darkened.

"Guna, listen carefully. Don't go near strangers, especially those unscrupulous nobles!"

"Why? I find that guy hilarious! He's actually foolishly negotiating prices with a little Bear..."

Before the girl could finish speaking, the old man sternly rebuked her, "Listen to your grandfather, stay away from those guys. Sometimes feelings can be deceiving."

While your telepathy can detect the malice of most people, it is not omnipotent.

If you encounter someone with special bloodline or whose cultivation has reached a certain level, your telepathic connection will fail!

If you like the Earth Bear, Grandpa will go and catch it for you...

"Don't go! It's dangerous! I don't want the Earth Bear."

Guna said hurriedly.

"Ha ha..."

"Our little Guna has grown up and now she knows how to worry about her grandfather's safety. In the past, you would ask your grandfather for anything you wanted."

The old man spoke with affection, as if he were happy about his granddaughter's growth.

"No!"

"Grandpa, this time is different. I truly sensed danger, more terrifying than anyone I've ever seen before!"

Guna said in a very serious tone.

However, coupled with her adorable expression, it wasn't very convincing. But the elderly man, well aware of his granddaughter's talent, didn't let his guard down and asked uncertainly:

"Could that Earth Bear have reached adulthood?"

Having traveled all over the country for so many years, they have come into contact with many people and things, including some of the top experts on the continent.

The only thing the old man could think of that could be described by the girl as more terrifying than anything else was an adult Earth Bear. As for the accompanying guards, they were completely ignored.

Everyone in this business has a bunch of underlings, right? Although on the surface he was just a traveling merchant, he was secretly a well-known "big boss" on the mainland.

Unfortunately, this big shot was rather unfortunate. Unlike other important figures, he couldn't be as imposing and powerful. Instead, he had to hide all day long, fearing that his true identity would be revealed.

Not staying in one place for long periods of time is not only to make it easier to direct subordinates to do things, but also because they are afraid that if they become too familiar with the local area, people will notice that something is wrong.

The old man was fine on his own. Even if his identity was discovered, he could still escape. But with a little granddaughter involved, it would be much more difficult for him to get away smoothly.

"No! Little Bear's strength is a bit strange, it's almost as strong as you, Grandpa, but it's really only recently born, it seems like it hasn't even been weaned yet."

When I saw it, the little Bear was hugging a baby bottle that was bigger than its body. It looked so cute...

Watching his granddaughter gradually stray from his path, the old man helplessly reminded her, "Guna, we can discuss whether the Earth Bear is cute or not later. Now, tell me, what makes you feel threatened?"

"He's not a thing!"

"No, it's the same thing!"

"That doesn't seem right either!"

"Oh, Grandpa, you're so annoying!"

"It's all your fault for interrupting me! You've completely confused me!"

The little girl's nonsensical explanation left the old man completely bewildered, his mind utterly confused.

"Yes, that guy is one person. He's that bad guy known as the Mountain Baron, or the Divine Bow Knight, anyway, that annoying fellow."

He has a mysterious power about him, giving off a very strong aura, I can't quite explain it! Anyway, Grandpa, you should stay away from him.

Upon hearing this explanation, the old man's heart sank. His little scheme was easily extinguished.

There are many ways to create trouble and cover their escape; there's no need to choose the most dangerous one. Although there might be valuable items in the convoy, their lives are still more important.

The Skull Society didn't have much money to begin with, and the old man didn't want to lose all the capital he had painstakingly accumulated.

The great Lord of Dawn awaits his spreading of glory. Precious human resources should not be wasted on unimportant people and matters.

Unbeknownst to Hudson, who had escaped a calamity through a chance encounter, he was still chatting aimlessly with a group of knights.

As for the quirky little girl he encountered earlier, that was just a minor incident in his life, and he had no interest in studying it.

Such unruly girls are rare on the Aslant Continent; in my previous life, they were a dime a dozen. Getting involved with one meant getting into trouble.

The goods were successfully delivered to Qiaomu County, and everyone felt both happy and disappointed.

Without encountering any setbacks, personal safety is guaranteed, but it also means that the opportunity to make money is missed.

Without time to concern himself with the complex feelings of the hired knights, Hudson got straight to work upon arriving in Qiaomu County.

Transactions between nobles differ from those between street vendors; equality of status is the foundation of cooperation. Only Hudson could handle this personally; no one else could do it for him.

Hudson was experiencing both joy and pain as he worked to win over one client after another and close one deal after another.

No matter how busy I am, I still have to attend the banquet. As the host, Viscount Oran has held a grand welcoming banquet in the city, and I can't refuse.

Hudson soon sensed something was amiss. It seemed that something strange was going on at today's banquet. He had just stepped into the banquet hall when, under the envious and jealous gazes of everyone, he was entangled by a group of noble ladies.

"Peach blossom luck" and "peach blossom calamity" differ by only one character. Overly intense peach blossom luck is peach blossom calamity.

Hudson experienced it firsthand. If he had only won the favor of one or two noble ladies, he might have been able to have a wonderful night. But now, he could only experience the power of this chaotic situation firsthand.

Having no other choice, Hudson had to pretend to be a gentleman in front of all the noble ladies. He dared not reveal even the slightest wicked thought.

After a few drinks and a clearer head, Hudson quickly understood what was going on. The more chaotic the times, the more favored the strong become.

The nobles of Qiaomu County, having just experienced a harrowing ordeal, were naturally affected. In the world of nobility, both men and women have their own ways of surviving, and competition is ubiquitous.

High-quality partners are a rare breed in any world. The ideal marriage partners for noble ladies are always the heirs to titles or those who have already inherited them.

Marrying a nobleman with titles and fiefdoms meant a secure future. Only those who lost out in competition with other men would settle for the second son of a noble family.

As a rising star known as the "Divine Bow Knight," the young, unmarried Baron Hudson naturally became a magnet for women.

Every noblewoman in Qiaomu County with a modicum of ambition gathered around, hoping to win over Hudson with her charm and become the ultimate winner in this competition.

Too much luck with women can turn into a disaster. Hudson learned this lesson the hard way; even though he thought some of them were good-looking, he never had the chance to get to know them better.

As for the romanticized image of aristocratic pleasures, it's best to go find widowed noblewomen to play with, otherwise you'll easily get hacked to death.

Especially for these unmarried noble ladies, once they cross the line, they are very likely to be entangled with them.

If you don't have enough social standing to support a mistress, it's best to stay put. Otherwise, ruining your reputation will affect your future marriage prospects.

Hudson has high standards for his partner; she must be good-looking, intelligent, and of good character.

As for matching social status, that's not even a requirement. These noble ladies in front of us basically all meet the requirements; those who aren't of a higher social standing simply can't integrate into this circle.

"Viscount Oran has arrived!"

Someone spoke up, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The quick-witted Hudson seized this rare opportunity to escape the clutches of the group of noble ladies.

"Welcome everyone to today's banquet. Let us raise our glasses first to our most distinguished guest, Baron Hudson!"

Viscount Oran's voice rang out, forcing Hudson, who had just blended into the crowd, to step forward again.

"Viscount Oran, and thank you all for coming today..."

A string of polite phrases poured from Hudson's mouth without restraint. He didn't care whether they were appropriate for the occasion; as long as they sounded good, that was all that mattered.

In the world of the aristocracy, the place where one least has to take responsibility for saying the wrong thing is at a banquet. Unless it's a deliberate provocation or attempt to cause trouble, minor linguistic flaws are simply ignored.

After all, after drinking several cups of alcohol, it's easy for people to lose control. Some guys with no manners when drunk often blurt out some shocking and outrageous things.

Most of the time, as long as it doesn't involve them personally, everyone just treats it as a joke. Meddling in other people's business is not the behavior of a proper nobleman.

"Welcome again, Baron Hudson. This is my daughter, Melissa, a Beginner Mage who has just returned from the Royal Capital Magic Academy."

Viscount Oran introduced it in a very serious manner.

Looking at the somewhat shy girl in front of him, Hudson found it hard to associate her with a magician. The formal introduction in this setting inevitably made him think a little more.

Could it be that this old man wants to take me as his son-in-law?

Such a thing is not impossible. Although there is a huge gap between a viscount and a baron, Hudson is no ordinary baron!

The battle for the Sheriff of Wright County has only just begun, and Hudson, a powerful figure among the local nobles of the Southeast Province, is a strong contender.

Although this nominal viscountship is not as prestigious as a real fiefdom viscountship, it is sufficient as a marriage partner.

After all, a feudal lord can only have one heir, while a nobleman can have many children.

Nobles of the rank of a fiefdom like a viscount are few and far between in the entire Alpha Kingdom. Rather than marrying one's daughter to the second son of a viscount, it would be better to choose a powerful figure like Hudson.

With the inherent advantage of being a native of the area, coupled with the support of the Coslo Family, and if he were to gain another powerful in-law, Hudson would have a very high chance of winning in the upcoming battle for the Wright County Sheriff position.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Melissa."

Hudson greeted him politely.

Regardless of what Viscount Oran thought, getting to know a beautiful noblewoman is never a bad thing.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Baron Hudson. I've heard you're also a magician; may I ask which school of magic you use?"

From Melissa's eyes, it seems that her interest in "the wizard Hudson" is even stronger than her interest in Hudson himself.

"Oh, I wouldn't call myself a magician. I only have a smattering of magic knowledge. Perhaps it's because I shared the talent of magical pets that I've had a smoother path in earth magic training."

In front of professionals, Hudson wouldn't dare to casually claim he was self-taught. If magical training were that simple, magicians would be commonplace by now.

To prevent the other party from going any further, Hudson decisively chose to make the Young Bear take the blame. Since both were obtained through talent sharing, it was understandable that they didn't understand some basic magical knowledge.

"Baron Hudson, you are very lucky to have obtained an Earth Bear as your pet."

I wonder what method you used to subdue it? If it's convenient, please share your insights.

You should know that my mentor went deep into the Monster Mountain Range seven times in order to obtain a magical pet, but so far he has come up empty-handed.

There were also a few self-important senior students who secretly led guards deep into the Monster Mountain Range last year, only to be fed to the monsters!

..."

Listening to the girl's constant complaining, Hudson suddenly realized that Viscount Oran was no longer there. The surrounding nobles also consciously made way for him, leaving only the two of them alone in the place.

It's clear everyone is being considerate; no one's trying to sabotage the situation. But even Hudson is panicking in this situation! As a single guy, who can tell him what to do right now?

Should he continue exchanging magical ideas with Melissa, or perhaps chat about magical pets? The problem is, he's a complete Little White in all these areas!

Although Hudson also has a magical pet, Beldens is clearly not a proper bear and is not representative at all.

If you follow his tricks from when he tricked the Young Bear to find a magical pet, you'll most likely end up feeding it to a magical beast. Hudson just wanted to start a conversation; he wasn't planning on getting anyone killed.

"Who can predict luck? Miss Melissa, you're so beautiful, maybe one day a magical beast will come knocking on your door."

Just like my Earth Bear, it actually delivered itself to my door. Our first meeting took place in my tent.

As its owner, I simply treated it to a big meal, and we became friends. It was this chance encounter that led to our partnership.

Hudson said, feigning helplessness.

He didn't want to show off, but if he were to reveal his magical deception techniques, it would really damage the prestige of Baron Hudson.

It's best to keep it a secret in good faith; it benefits everyone. Bear Beldens, the bear involved, probably doesn't want the matter to leak out either.

After all, that was the darkest chapter in its bear life. If word got out, the millennia-old reputation of the Earth Bear clan would be completely buried by it.