The Duke's Household

"Thank you."

Rayne accepted the congratulations. He had a very good impression of Kainegi.

Although this was only their second meeting, judging by the emotions of his soul, Kainegi had never shown any hostility toward him. He even harbored a measure of goodwill, so he seemed like someone worth befriending.

Viola smiled beside them. "Since you already know each other, there's no need for further introductions. Mr. Kainegi is a well-known figure in Longshande. He built his fortune from nothing, became one of the wealthiest men in less than twenty years, and was granted the title of Baron. Rayne, you should take Mr. Kainegi as your example and learn from him."

"You flatter me, ma'am. I only achieved this much with the help of the Mechanics Guild." Kainegi laughed heartily, his face full of humility.

However, Rayne could still tell that he greatly enjoyed Viola's praise. The pride in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

The two seemed quite familiar. Viola continued, "Mr. Kainegi has always been a regular customer of our establishment and often attends the trade fairs. It's a shame we've never had the opportunity to work together."

"I would also like to become your business partner, ma'am. There will be opportunities in the future."

Kainegi responded at just the right moment. There was both regret and expectation in his voice, making him sound utterly sincere.

Listening to the two exchange pleasantries, Rayne could not tell which words were true and which were false. He could only sigh inwardly. Everyone who could survive in business was a shrewd old hand.

At that moment, a waitress came over and quietly said a few words to Viola.

Viola nodded and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. A guest over there needs to complete a transaction, and it's a substantial amount. I need to step away for a moment."

"Please, go ahead, ma'am." Kainegi showed his understanding.

After thinking for a moment, Viola added, "Rayne, help me entertain Mr. Kainegi." Once Rayne agreed, she left with the waitress.

The two men watched her tall figure enter the trading room beside the hall before finally looking away.

Kainegi turned toward Rayne, his gaze somewhat complicated. "Rayne, your luck is truly good. It even makes me a little jealous."

Rayne thought Kainegi had noticed something and shook his head. "We're just friends. In fact, we haven't known each other for long."

"Is that so?" Kainegi smiled skeptically. Noticing that Rayne did not seem to be lying, he probed, "Could it be that you don't know Lady Viola's background?"

"I don't."

Rayne shrugged. He had wanted to know for a long time, but he had not known whom to ask.

Kainegi could not help studying Rayne seriously again. He sighed, "I'm beginning to wonder whether you're the illegitimate son of the Goddess of Magic. You know nothing, yet with nothing but a handsome face and talent, you've somehow become so close to Viola. Countless people in Longshande dream of taking your place."

That only made Rayne more curious. He asked, "Who exactly is she?"

Kainegi hesitated. This was hardly a secret; everyone among Longshande's upper class knew it. He lowered his voice and said, "Viola is her given name, but her surname is Silverstar. You understand now, don't you?"

Rayne's expression froze, and he immediately understood.

In the Empire, most commoners had only given names and no surnames. Rayne himself was an example. He was simply called Rayne, with nothing else.

A surname represented status. Usually, only nobles had surnames, symbolizing a family's glory and inheritance.

There were two ways for commoners to obtain a surname. One was to be granted a noble title. The other was to become a Transcendent, make contributions to the Empire, earn recognition, and then establish a family to pass down one's surname.

In truth, there was little difference between these two methods. Without becoming a Transcendent, it was difficult to make enough contributions to be granted a noble title.

If someone possessed a surname, it meant that their ancestors had once been nobles, or that they were descendants of some powerful Transcendent. With a family supporting them, they generally held a relatively high social status and belonged to the upper class.

Longshande had many nobles and families, but one surname held absolute dominance: Silverstar.

Because Silverstar was the family name established by Duke Silverstar!

Not all twelve Soul Saint Wizards of the High Council had established family surnames, but every surname that had been established was unique, with no other branch anywhere.

Throughout the Empire, everyone with the surname Silverstar was a blood descendant of Duke Silverstar.

Understanding dawned on Rayne.

No wonder Viola had such strong influence and could regularly hold trade fairs of considerable scale.

She was only a Sixth Tier Wizard, yet she had channels to acquire large quantities of precious items. She calmly ran Violet House and earned enormous sums of Gold Shield beyond ordinary people's imagination. Her own abilities certainly played a part, but her family's support behind her must have been immense.

Everything now had an explanation.

Who would dare cause trouble for the Duke's business? Who would dare refuse to show it some respect?

Those men who saw him with Viola and became hostile toward him were probably all hoping to cling to Viola and become members of the Duke's family.

Pah, how shameless!

Rayne cursed inwardly, then secretly rejoiced that he had gotten there first.

However, there was still something he did not understand. Duke Silverstar had entered the High Council more than three hundred years ago and had countless descendants. It was said that the family had several hundred members. Which generation of the Duke's bloodline was Viola?

"Mr. Kainegi, do you know how Viola is related to the Duke?" Rayne asked quietly.

"Viola's father is the Duke's grandson." Kainegi paused, then offered a well-meaning warning. "Rayne, if Lady Viola does not bring up her parents herself, you'd better not ask about them."

"Why?" Rayne thought. So she was the Duke's great-granddaughter. Their blood relation was not distant.

Kainegi lowered his voice again and explained, "Her father was a Legendary Demon Hunter and deeply loved by the Duke. But more than twenty years ago, he and her mother, a Moon Elf Mage, ventured into the Abyss and have been missing ever since."

Rayne was horrified.

Viola's parents had been far too bold! They had actually dared to enter the Endless Abyss. Wasn't that seeking death?

The Abyss consisted of countless planes and was unimaginably vast. No one had yet explored its end. Demons were everywhere within it, and it was filled with Fel Energy that constantly eroded outsiders. At any time, one could be corrupted by Fel Energy and become a Fallen One, not to mention the many terrifying High Tier Demons and Abyssal Lords.

Even Legends could not endure for long in the Abyss.

They would either be drowned beneath endless demons or become one of them.

Viola's parents had entered the Abyss more than twenty years ago and never returned. Calling them missing was merely a nicer way of saying it. The odds that they were alive were close to zero. In reality, they were dead.

Kainegi continued, "Because Viola's father was once the Duke's most beloved grandson, her relationship with the Duke remained very close after her parents disappeared. Her status within the Silverstar Family is not low. She is only slightly beneath the Duke's sons."

"You should seize this opportunity. If things work out between you and Viola, you'll save yourself at least decades of struggle." Kainegi patted Rayne on the shoulder with the knowing look of one man speaking to another.

Rayne smiled but said nothing.

In truth, even if Viola were not part of the Duke's family, no man would easily give up an opportunity to win the favor of such a beautiful woman.

What worried him now was that Viola seemed to have some other purpose. Until he figured it out, he could not act recklessly.

When men talked about women, it was easy for them to grow closer. Rayne changed the subject and chatted with Kainegi for a while longer.

Viola returned soon afterward, smiling brightly. She had clearly completed the transaction.

Kainegi exchanged a few pleasantries with them, then politely excused himself. Before leaving, he gave Rayne a meaningful look.

After Kainegi had gone far enough away, Viola asked suspiciously, "Did he say something to you?"

This woman is far too clever!

Rayne sighed inwardly and replied, "Nothing much. He only mentioned your surname."

Viola's expression changed slightly, but she quickly said naturally, "That's all? Being born into the Duke's household is my good fortune, and something many people desperately desire. But sometimes, a surname can become a burden instead. Even if he hadn't told you, I would have told you sooner or later."

Rayne fell silent and did not respond.

Viola was speaking from a position of privilege. She had never experienced the life of lower-class commoners.

The reason she could say such things was because she already possessed things that ordinary people would not dare dream of having in their entire lives.

If her father had not been the Duke's grandson, nor a Demon Hunter, how could he possibly have married a noble Moon Elf?

Without the Duke's family name and resources supporting her father, Viola herself would never have existed.

Perhaps Viola's father had been extraordinarily gifted and could have become a Transcendent even if he had been born into an ordinary family. But without the Duke's help, it would undoubtedly have been far more difficult.

And how difficult was it for an ordinary person to become a Transcendent?

Rayne's background was already considered decent. Though he came from a remote town, his father had sufficient financial means to send him to the Supernatural Academy.

In that town, fewer than twenty people of his age had the qualifications to enter the Supernatural Academy.

Far more children his age, those born to farmers and workers, had no opportunity at all to encounter the world of Transcendents. Even so, before Rayne had transmigrated here, becoming a Transcendent had been nearly impossible, even if he worshipped an evil god.

Therefore, Rayne cherished all of this deeply. He would never take it for granted. He would not miss any method that could help him gain more and greater power.

Even if it meant using a somewhat despicable method like pursuing a woman.

Rayne was already better off than most. Many young people who underwent the Soul Transformation Ritual could only choose ordinary Transcendent professions.

Even if they had the talent to change into Spellcasters or Wizards, where would they get the money to buy Soul Power Mediums and Demon Souls?

Any one of those things cost dozens of Gold Shield, or even hundreds. If they could not afford them, they could only sign contracts with major factions or families and serve them. It would be difficult for them to ever regain their freedom.

The world was always controlled by a small handful of people.

Even though Aerenus possessed Transcendent power, and a rare few exceptionally gifted individuals could use their own strength to break their chains and rise beyond their class, they still could not shake this enormous system. In fact, class stratification was even more entrenched than in his previous life.

As one of those who benefited from the system, Viola's claim that it was a burden was somewhat naive.

Of course, it was not Viola's fault, nor was it anyone's fault.

Natural selection. Survival of the fittest.

They were universal laws of nature in any world.

Viola noticed that Rayne's expression was somewhat strange. She had no idea he had thought about so many things and assumed that her family background had frightened him.

She comforted him softly, "Rayne, don't think too much about it. With your talent, you will definitely establish your own family and possess your own surname someday."

Rayne nodded slightly and gave a faint, self-mocking smile. "I will."

Viola was about to say something else when a burst of startled cries suddenly erupted in the hall, drawing everyone's attention.