The Duke's House

"Thank you."

Rayne accepted the congratulations, and his impression of Kainegi was quite favorable.

Although this was only their second meeting, judging from his soul emotions, Kainegi had never been hostile toward him. In fact, he even seemed somewhat well-disposed, making him someone worth befriending.

Viola smiled beside them and said, "Since you two know each other, I don't need to introduce you further. Mr. Kainegi is a famous figure in Longshande. He started from nothing, became one of the wealthy elite in less than twenty years, and was even granted the title of Baron. Rayne, you should take Mr. Kainegi as your role model and learn from him."

"Madam, you flatter me. I only achieved what little success I have today with the help of the Mechanics Guild." Kainegi laughed heartily, his face full of humility.

However, Rayne could still tell that Kainegi was quite pleased by Viola's praise. His eyes were brimming with undisguised pride.

The two seemed quite familiar with each other. Viola continued, "Mr. Kainegi has always been a regular customer at our shop and often participates in trade fairs. Unfortunately, we haven't had the chance to work together."

"I also wish to become your business partner, Madam. There will surely be an opportunity in the future."

Kainegi responded at just the right moment. His tone held both regret and anticipation, making him seem very sincere.

Listening to the two of them exchange pleasantries, Rayne couldn't tell which words were sincere and which were false. He couldn't help sighing inwardly. Anyone who could survive in the business world was a shrewd operator.

At that moment, a female attendant came over and whispered a few words to Viola.

Viola nodded and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, but there's a customer over there who needs to complete a transaction. The amount is rather large, so I'll have to leave for a moment."

"Please, Madam." Kainegi expressed his understanding.

Viola thought for a moment, then said, "Rayne, please entertain Mr. Kainegi for me." After receiving Rayne's response, she left with the female attendant.

Watching her tall figure enter the trading room beside the hall, the two men finally withdrew their gazes.

Kainegi turned to Rayne and said with a complicated look, "Rayne, you're truly lucky. I'm almost envious."

Thinking that Kainegi had noticed something, Rayne shook his head. "We're just friends. We've actually only known each other for a short time."

"Is that so?" Kainegi smiled, not quite believing him. After noticing that Rayne didn't seem to be lying, he tentatively asked, "Could it be that you don't know Madam Viola's background?"

"I don't."

Rayne shrugged. In truth, he had wanted to find out for a long time, but he didn't know whom to ask.

Kainegi couldn't help taking another serious look at Rayne and sighed. "I'm beginning to wonder if you're the illegitimate son of the Goddess of Magic. You know nothing, yet with nothing but a handsome face and talent, you've managed to get so close to Viola. Who knows how many people in Longshande dream of taking your place?"

Hearing this, Rayne became even more curious and pressed him. "What exactly is her background?"

Kainegi hesitated for a moment. Thinking that this was no secret and that everyone among Longshande's upper class knew about it, he lowered his voice and said, "Viola is her name, but her surname is Silverstar. You understand now, right?"

Rayne's expression froze for a moment, and he immediately understood.

In the Empire, most commoners had only a given name and no surname. For example, Rayne himself was simply called Rayne, with nothing else.

A surname represented status. Usually, only nobles had surnames, which represented the honor and legacy of their families.

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

In truth, these two methods were not very different. Without becoming a Transcendent, it was difficult to make contributions significant enough to earn a noble title.

If a person had a surname, it meant that their ancestors had once been nobles, or that they were descendants of a powerful Transcendent. With the support of a family behind them, they generally enjoyed a high social status and belonged to the upper class.

Longshande had many nobles and families, but one surname held an absolutely dominant position: Silverstar.

That was because Silverstar was the family name established by Duke Silverstar!

Of the twelve Soul Saint Wizards on the High Council, not every one of them had established a family surname. However, every surname that had been established was unique, with only one family bearing it.

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

Rayne suddenly understood.

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

She was only a sixth-level Wizard, yet she had channels through which she could obtain large quantities of precious items. She could calmly run the Violet House and earn an enormous amount of Gold Shield beyond what ordinary people could imagine. Her own abilities played a part, but the support of her family was surely no small factor.

Everything now made sense.

Who would dare cause trouble at a duke's establishment? Who would dare refuse to show it some respect?

The men who became hostile toward him after seeing him together with Viola were probably all trying to latch onto her and become members of the ducal family.

Hmph, shameless!

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

However, there was still something he didn't understand. Duke Silverstar had been on the High Council for more than three hundred years and had countless descendants. It was said that there were several hundred members of the family. He wondered which generation of the duke's bloodline Viola belonged to.

"Mr. Kainegi, do you know what relationship Viola has with the duke?" Rayne asked quietly.

"Viola's father is the duke's grandson." Kainegi paused, then kindly reminded him, "Rayne, as for Madam Viola's parents, it would be best not to ask about them unless she brings them up herself."

"Why?" Rayne thought, So she's the duke's great-granddaughter. Their blood relationship isn't that distant.

Kainegi lowered his voice again and explained, "Her father was a Legendary Demon Hunter who was deeply favored by the duke. However, more than twenty years ago, he entered the Abyss with her mother, a Moon Elf Mage. They have been missing ever since."

Rayne couldn't help being horrified.

Viola's parents are far too bold! They actually dared to enter the Endless Abyss. Isn't that just courting death?

The Abyss was composed of countless planes and was incomparably vast. No one had yet explored its end. Demons were everywhere, and it was filled with Fel Energy that constantly eroded outsiders. One could be contaminated by Fel Energy and become a Fallen One at any moment, to say nothing of the many terrifying High Tier Demons and Abyssal Lords.

Even a Legendary couldn't hold out for long in the Abyss.

They would either be overwhelmed by endless demons or become one of them.

Viola's parents had entered the Abyss more than twenty years ago and never returned. "Missing" was merely a pleasant way of putting it. The chances of them being alive were close to zero. In truth, they were dead.

Kainegi continued, "Because Viola's father was once the duke's most beloved grandson, she became very close to the duke after her parents disappeared. Within the Silverstar Family, her status isn't low. She's only slightly below the duke's few sons."

"You should seize the opportunity. If you can make things work with Viola, you'll save yourself at least several decades of hard work." Kainegi patted Rayne on the shoulder, wearing an expression that all men understood.

Rayne smiled but said nothing.

Even if Viola hadn't belonged to the ducal family, no man would have easily given up the chance to enjoy her beauty.

What worried him now was that Viola seemed to have another purpose. Until he figured it out, he couldn't act recklessly.

When men talked about women, their relationship could easily grow much closer. Rayne changed the subject and chatted with Kainegi for a while longer.

Viola returned before long, her face full of smiles. Clearly, she had completed the transaction.

Kainegi exchanged a few pleasantries with the two of them, then politely left. Before departing, he gave Rayne a meaningful look.

Once he had gone far enough, Viola asked suspiciously, "Did he tell you something?"

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 soon said naturally, "Is that all? Being born into a duke's house is my good fortune, and something many people would desperately seek. But sometimes, a surname can instead become a burden. Actually, even if he hadn't told you, I would have told you sooner or later."

Rayne fell silent and didn't reply.

Viola was still speaking from a position of privilege without having experienced the lives of commoners at the bottom.

The reason she had the confidence to say such things was that she already possessed what ordinary people wouldn't dare hope for in an entire lifetime.

If her father hadn't been the duke's grandson and a Demon Hunter, how could he possibly have married a noble Moon Elf?

Without the reputation and resources of the ducal family supporting her father, Viola herself would never have existed.

Perhaps Viola's father had extraordinary talent 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 hard was it for an ordinary person to become a Transcendent?

Rayne's own background was already fairly good. Although he came from nothing more than a remote town, his father was financially well-off enough to send him to the Supernatural Academy.

In the town, fewer than twenty people of his age were qualified to enter the Supernatural Academy.

Most of his peers—the children of farmers and workers—had no chance at all to come into contact with the world of Transcendents. Even so, before Rayne crossed over, becoming a Transcendent had been nearly impossible even if one turned to worshiping an evil god.

Therefore, Rayne treasured all of this deeply. He would never take it for granted. Any method that could help him obtain greater and stronger power was something he wouldn't miss.

Even if it meant using what seemed like the somewhat base method of pursuing a woman.

Rayne's situation could still be considered good. Most young people who underwent the Soul Transformation Ritual could only choose ordinary Transcendent professions.

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

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

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

Even in Aerenus, where supernatural power existed, a few exceptionally gifted individuals could break their chains through their own might and transcend their class. Yet they still couldn't shake this enormous system. In fact, class solidification was even more severe than in his previous life.

As one of the beneficiaries of the existing system, Viola claiming that it was her burden was truly rather presumptuous.

Of course, this wasn't Viola's fault, nor was it anyone's fault.

Survival of the fittest and natural selection.

These were natural laws shared by every world.

Viola noticed that Rayne's expression was somewhat strange. Unaware that he had thought of so many things, she assumed that he had been frightened by her family background.

She gently comforted him. "Rayne, you don't need to think too much. With your talent, you'll definitely establish your own family and have a surname of your own in the future."

Rayne nodded slightly and said with a self-deprecating smile, "I will."

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