Temperature Control Array

As a baron, welcoming his aunt was only proper etiquette.

Raven stood in the hall of Eagle Fortress, watching Denise walk toward him step by step with the support of her maid.

They had not seen each other for two months, yet the mature woman seemed even more alluring.

She wore a beige soft felt hat atop her head. Her smooth black hair fell behind her shoulders, while her willow-leaf brows accentuated her sharp, spirited eyes. A faint smile played on her full lips, though it could not conceal the weariness of the journey.

Her steps were light as she lifted her skirt. Restrained by her corset, her ample figure quivered gently like jelly. Set against her light purple dress, she seemed like a glowing sunset drifting toward him.

"Aunt Denise, you're back." Raven smiled as he took Denise's hand and gently kissed it, lightly tickling her palm with his little finger.

"Yes, I'm back." Denise's voice wavered slightly as she withdrew her hand without a trace.

"It's been two months, and you look even more radiant." Raven spoke in a magnetic voice. "I prepared Angel's Tear. Why don't you have a small drink with me, rest for a while, and tell me about what you saw on your journey?"

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm a little tired." To Raven's surprise, Denise gently shook her head and rejected his suggestion, her tone cold and distant.

She turned her head and instructed, "Angie, go help Butler Gordon bring everything inside."

Angie was the maid supporting Denise. Compared with Freyra last time, she was more pure and possessed a more elegant air. She lowered her head and curtsied. "Yes, milady."

Denise nodded lightly. "Excuse me."

With that, she walked straight through the hall and went upstairs.

Hearing her footsteps, Raven wanted to turn around several times, but restrained himself in the end. He was not the sort of man who would force himself on someone. He called out loudly, "Eric!"

The retainer whose name had been called stepped forward and bowed. "Lord Baron."

"Come on. Let's drill those raw recruits!" Raven strode away from Eagle Fortress as he spoke.

At the military camp, the three rows of private soldiers had already formed something resembling proper formations. They could basically obey orders and observe discipline. At Eric's command, they neatly arranged themselves into three square formations in the middle of the plaza.

"Tsk..." Raven frowned slightly as he looked at the soldiers before him.

Eric asked cautiously, "Lord Baron, is there a problem?"

Raven glanced again at his Personal Guards, who stood in a separate line nearby, and said, "Their bearing is still... too loose."

As a veteran soldier, Eric immediately understood his meaning. He gave a bitter laugh. "There's nothing we can do about it. Your Personal Guards have all seen blood. They've killed people with their own hands and witnessed their comrades die. No matter how well these raw recruits train, they can't compare."

"And they're town soldiers, at that." Raven sighed. "Forget killing people—they may not even have seen a pig slaughtered."

Eric deeply agreed. "If it came down to life or death right now, even though I'm not Transcendent, I could lead your Personal Guards and cut straight through these raw recruits."

Upon hearing this, Raven pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a self-mocking chuckle.

"Lord Baron, what is it?" Eric asked, baffled.

"I just thought of an idea." An inscrutable smile appeared on Raven's face. "What do you think about taking these raw recruits on a trip through the Bloody Highlands?"

Eric's eyes widened. "That idea of yours is truly... crazy!"

Only the word "crazy" could describe Raven's plan. Since the failed Conquest War eighty years ago, only the bandits from the Bloody Highlands had descended to harass the surrounding areas. No Imperial army had ever dared launch a counterattack there.

"But... that's far too risky. We don't have enough transport capacity to maintain our logistics, and we aren't familiar enough with the terrain up there..." Eric hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"I know. That's why I didn't bring it up immediately." Raven burst out laughing and patted his shoulder. "I'm not a madman. Do you really think I'd do something like that?"

Eric was speechless. Everything Raven had done so far—using schemes to subdue him, confronting Denise alone and making her give up her inheritance rights, humiliating Baron Anger in public, reclaiming Shining Gold Town, publicly disciplining Nancy Fox...

All of these actions seemed utterly insane to him. If Raven now produced a diagnosis claiming he had a mental illness, Eric absolutely would not doubt it. He might even feel somewhat relieved.

"What I mean is, let these raw recruits see some blood," Raven said. "After that, when you're sent pigs, they won't be dead pigs anymore. They'll be live pigs, and the recruits will kill them themselves!"

Eric seriously doubted whether this method would work. Still, it was all meat anyway, and the extra step made no difference. He nodded. "Your will shall be carried out, my lord!"

Raven nodded. "Begin training!"

The warm-up began with ten laps around the military camp.

Watching the dust rising around the camp, Raven's gaze grew deep.

Counterattacking the Bloody Highlands was indeed an impractical goal for now, but in the long run, it might not be impossible. There was no place nearby more suitable for tempering new soldiers.

Their numbers were still too low. Once the military expanded again, it would be time for him to point his sword at the Bloody Highlands.

Taking a beating passively was not to his taste.

If the bandits could go there, so could he.

After having lunch at the military camp, Raven did not linger. He brought several Personal Guards to inspect the construction site, mainly checking whether anything needed to be fixed, while also boosting the craftsmen's morale.

Whenever Raven came here, they worked especially hard—at least, that was how it appeared.

By the time everything was finished, the sky had begun to darken. Raven returned to Eagle Fortress covered in dirt and sweat.

For Raven, returning to the castle was always a small trial.

Although cool breezes blew outside, Eagle Fortress, which had been baked by the sun all day, was as stifling as a steamer. The sweat that had just dried immediately soaked him from the inside out again.

But today, the moment he stepped through Eagle Fortress's gates, a cool chill rushed toward him. It instantly dispelled the lingering heat, and Raven could not help letting out a comfortable sigh.

Patti, who had been waiting in the hall, brought over the red wine that was served every day. "Lord Baron, you're back!"

"Mm." Raven accepted the glass goblet still covered in condensation and drained the Angel's Tear inside. The chilled wine and cool air made him shiver all over. "Ah, that's comfortable... Why is the castle so cool today? Did you take the ice out of the ice cellar?"

Patti shook her head and said happily, "No, it was Lady Denise. Following your instructions, she bought a Temperature Control Array from Monen City. It was installed only recently, and the central unit is in the ice cellar."

Raven froze. He had never asked Denise to buy anything like this.

She had paid for it herself, yet attributed the credit to him. Clearly, she was trying to show goodwill. But why had she acted so cold when she returned?

Was she trying to draw him in by first pushing him away?

Patti was still sharing her delight with Raven. "I heard from Mr. Gordon that an array capable of affecting the entire castle costs at least six hundred Gold Coins. Lord Baron, you're so considerate!"

Six hundred Gold Coins!

Raven's heart jolted.

He knew nobles loved to indulge themselves, but he had not expected them to be this extravagant. Six hundred Gold Coins was enough to buy two bottles of first-order God-Given Potion. He would never bear to spend that much.

He wondered how long a single Magic Crystal could keep the array running.

Mages really knew how to make money!

For a moment, Raven's desire to become a mage grew even stronger.

He wondered when the Mage Potion would arrive. Should he go ask Laxus about it?

"So, you really like this array?" Raven asked with a smile.

"Mm!" Patti nodded hard. "Before, I'd be covered in sweat whenever I did the laundry or tidied the rooms. Lord Baron, you even 'punished' me because of it once."

Raven laughed helplessly. That time, Patti's dress had caught against her body, creating an extremely alluring outline.

Patti said happily, "But now everything's fine. No matter how hard I work, I stay fresh and comfortable. I don't even have to change clothes so often!"

Patti was merely a representative of the many maids in the castle, and they were not the only ones enjoying the Temperature Control Array.

Old Gordon, who was sitting in a chair checking the accounts, wore a relaxed smile.

He was a rather traditional noble steward. No matter the occasion, he had to dress appropriately. Even in summer, he refused to undo one extra button at his collar, even when alone.

Usually, shortly after sitting down, his head and hands would be covered in sweat. He had to wipe himself constantly to keep the documents from being stained. His neck, repeatedly rubbed by his clothes and soaked in sweat, would break out in large, itchy, painful rashes.

But things were different now. The room was as cool as a spring night, allowing him to focus on checking the accounts and calculating every expense.

"Hmph, how could Lord Baron have bought it? He didn't even know when Denise left." Old Gordon muttered unhappily. "Denise must have deliberately bought it to curry favor with Lord Baron!"

There was no doubt that Lord Raven was a charismatic noble. Everything he did was decisive and purposeful, and he had indeed given the dying Eagle Territory an unprecedented new vitality.

Denise was undoubtedly a witness to Eagle Territory's resurgence, and her actions proved that, at least for now, Lord Raven held an important place in her heart.

Old Gordon simply had not expected Denise to go so far for Raven.

That was six hundred Gold Coins!

He was truly worried that Lord Baron would be unable to resist that woman's temptation.

"If that day really comes..." Old Gordon calculated and pondered. "If that day really comes, I'll have to keep the secret for my lord."

As one of Raven's retainers, Eric had far fewer twists and turns in his mind. Sitting in the kitchen, he downed a large mug of beer and let out a long breath. "Refreshing! There wasn't much ice in the cellar before, so I didn't dare ask Lord Baron for any. Now I can finally drink iced beer in summer!"

He raised his mug. "Long live Lord Baron!"

"That's right. Lord Baron is truly remarkable." Bolo chimed in from the side. "You're still better off than me. As the cook, I'm the one who suffers. Not only does the sun roast me outside, but there's a burning stove inside, too. By the end of the day, I've sweated more than I've pissed!"

"Pfft—" Eric abruptly sprayed out the mouthful of beer he had just swallowed. He laughed and cried at once. "Bolo, I'm eating and drinking here. Can't you say something nicer?"

"Besides, you think you're the only one who has it hard? You only suffer in summer. I wear full plate armor all year round. In summer, it's like being trapped in a furnace, and in winter, I'm practically covered in ice. Now things are finally better. I don't have to come home every day, take off my armor, and pour out a puddle of water!"

Bolo looked him up and down. "When are you going home today? I'm about to bank the fire."

Eric said, "If you're in such a hurry, leave first. I'll bank it for you later."

"I'm curious. You have both sons and daughters, and you save your yearly wages to buy armor for your son. Why are you refusing to go home now?" Bolo asked.

"There's no Temperature Control Array at my house. It's unbearably hot, and my wife's been demanding it every day lately. I'll go back later, after she's asleep." Eric looked somewhat frightened. "When a middle-aged couple kisses, it can give you nightmares for several nights!"

Bolo chuckled and teased, "If you don't do certain things yourself, be careful someone else does them for you."

Another mouthful of beer sprayed from Eric's mouth.

But Raven was the one who could best appreciate the convenience of the Temperature Control Array.

Without comparison, there was no sense of harm. When others complained about summer heat, they had always lived through it that way. But when Raven complained about summer heat, he had genuinely enjoyed the advantages of modern air conditioning.

He had thought he would never experience the same comfort in this life, yet now he was surrounded by it once again.

After bathing with Patti's assistance and changing into a thin set of pajamas, Raven leaned back in a reclining chair and sighed from the bottom of his heart. "This is how people are supposed to live."

Elven was already awkward and difficult to read. His eyelids began fighting one another after only two lines. The room had been as hot as a sauna, and the cotton seat of the reclining chair had been soaked with sweat. Leaning against it was hot and sticky, torturing both his body and mind.

Before this, Raven would spend five minutes reading Elven, then another ten calming himself, followed by ten more forcing himself to regain his focus. Then he would read Elven for another five minutes and repeat the cycle. It could hardly be called efficient.

Now things were completely different. In the cool room, he could put on thin pajamas, curl up in the chair, and pick up his book.

It was like holding his phone, enjoying the air conditioning, and slacking off at his workstation in his previous life.

It was as comfortable as could be.

"Looks like she's really planning to stay for the long term this time."

The "she" naturally referred to Denise.

Thinking of his aunt, Raven's thoughts drifted for a moment. He felt that he could no longer understand the woman's intentions.

She had not needed to return after leaving. Yet now that she had come back, she had brought so many things with her. She had even purchased the expensive Temperature Control Array in his name. She was clearly planning to stay, yet she had acted so cold toward him.

Why?

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. The cool air had completely changed Raven's mood, and he asked, "What is it?"

An unfamiliar voice answered, "Lord Baron, Lady Denise specially made some pastries and asked me to bring them to you."

"Come in," Raven said.

The door opened, and Angie, Denise's new personal maid, entered. She placed a tray on the desk, curtsied, and was about to leave.

"Did Denise say anything?" Raven asked.

"Reporting to you, Lord Baron, milady said that if you asked, then you should think about what you yourself have done." A trace of panic showed on Angie's face as she spoke, clearly afraid that Raven would take his anger out on her.

Raven waved his hand. "You may go."

The door closed gently. Raven's gaze fell on the tray, which held a small silver bowl and a wooden box.

The silver bowl contained pudding. When he held it in his hand, a chill traveled through his palm. It had clearly been chilled beforehand.

He gently scooped up a piece with a spoon. The pudding trembled slightly. When he placed it in his mouth and lightly pressed it, it melted, spreading the fragrances of milk and eggs along with a hint of sweetness. His spirits lifted at once.

"This really isn't Bolo's handiwork." Raven smiled.

After finishing the pudding, Raven picked up the box and gently opened it. A golden light immediately flashed.

Inside was a brooch bearing the Griffith Family Emblem.

It was golden all over and heavy in his hand, clearly made of gold. An eagle battling a giant dragon soared with its wings spread, every feather on its wings rendered in exquisite detail. White silver outlined the eagle's sharp, distinct beak, and a crystal-clear sapphire adorned its eye.

Denise was telling Raven that she acknowledged his position as head of the Griffith Family, and that Weston would completely abandon his designs on the Nobility Title from then on.

At the same time, she was conveying another message—Denise was also a member of the Griffith Family.

"Heh..." Playing with the emblem in his hand, Raven now understood why Denise was unhappy. He decided to clear up this misunderstanding personally.

Tonight.

With light steps, Raven arrived outside Denise's room and gently knocked on the door. "Denise, it's me. Open the door!"

Flustered footsteps sounded inside, then stopped. Denise's voice followed. "I said I'm tired today. If you have something to say, wait until tomorrow."

"But I insist on saying it today." Raven leaned against the door and lowered his voice near the crack. "It's been a long time since the two of us were alone together, hasn't it?"

Denise was standing right behind the door. When she heard this, her breathing caught. She immediately remembered the night two months ago, when only she and Raven had been in the room. At the time...

Thinking of what had happened then, a blush crept across her cheeks. "I'm your aunt. You and I shouldn't be in the same room in the first place."

"Wouldn't it be simpler?" Raven's voice continued seeping through the crack. "I'm Raven, and you're Denise. I'm a man, and you're a woman."

Denise bit her lip tightly. "But I would never fall for an untrustworthy man like you!"

"So you really are angry about that." Raven laughed. "In your eyes, am I really such an idiot?"

"What's done is done. It's too late to say anything now." A trace of anger rose in Denise's heart again, and displeasure colored her voice. "I hope you understand that I'm a person too. I need respect as well. But you betrayed my trust!"

"...All right. It was indeed my fault for not discussing it with you beforehand. But I won't let my Gold Coins flow into someone else's hands for nothing. Our interests are always aligned." Raven's voice carried a trace of helplessness.

Denise softened slightly, but her tone remained firm. "Stop wasting your breath, 'Lord Baron.' I'm not the kind of woman who'll climb into your bed just because you coax me with a few words. That won't work on me."

"All right. I originally wanted to give you a surprise, but now I can only do this..." A rustling sound came from outside the door. Then a piece of Parchment was pushed through the crack.

Denise took the Parchment and looked at it under the dim light. The resentment in her heart vanished at once, and a delighted smile curved her lips before she quickly suppressed it. "Hmph. It's only the deed to a shop in Shining Gold Town. What's so special about that?"

Only the sound of the wind remained outside the silent door.

"Raven? Are you still there, Raven?" Denise asked with a frown.

She had not heard Raven's footsteps leaving. Perhaps she had been so absorbed in looking at the deed that she had failed to notice?

Several more minutes passed, but there was still no sound outside. Denise asked again, "Raven?"

There was still no response.

Denise unlocked the door and pulled it open. A figure appeared in the doorway—it was Raven, wearing a smile of triumph. "You finally decided to open the door?"

"You...!" Denise was startled at first, then helplessness curved her lips. "With that behavior, you don't look like a baron at all."

"Then, respected Lady Denise." Raven placed a hand over his chest. "May I, Raven, have the honor of entering for a talk?"