Are there answers on it?

With the creaking sound of wooden boards, Raven followed Laxus to the outside of the study.

Pushing open the door, Laxus gently patted the wall.

Instantly, lines lit up on all four walls, then extinguished one after another. With a low hum, the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, shaped like a blooming flower, suddenly lit up.

Blinding white light descended, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime.

Although Raven had long known that Laxus came from an extraordinary background and possessed immense wealth, he was still stunned into silence by the scene.

Magic lamps!

Such things were not only unaffordable for commoners but even for most noble families.

A single magic lamp would cost at least a thousand gold coins, and when factoring in labor and the process of embedding arrays within the building, sixteen to seventeen hundred wouldn't be unreasonable.

That was more than the annual tax revenue of many baronial families!

At that moment, Raven could only think one thing.

Rich woman, please take care of me!

Laxus, while tidying the desk, looked up at Raven's expression and asked with some confusion, "Come in. What are you standing there thinking about?"

Raven snapped back to reality, walked into the room, and began tidying the desk with her, saying, "I was just wondering, if you didn't want to come to Eagle Fortress to tutor me in Elvish, was it because you felt the candlelight at Eagle Fortress was too dim?"

"Yes, it strains the eyes." Laxus nodded, carefully examined the cover of the book in her hand, and then turned to place it in an empty spot on the bookshelf.

Raven was taken aback by Laxus's directness: "Then why didn't you just tell me directly?"

"Even if you had told me, you couldn't afford it," Laxus replied matter-of-factly.

Raven could tell that Laxus was simply stating a fact, without any ulterior motive.

But it was precisely because of this that Raven felt even more dejected.

Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharpest knife.

Was this the gap between border nobles and truly upper-class individuals?

"Actually, you don't need to worry about it." Sensing Raven's low spirits, Laxus gently comforted him, "Besides, most nobles can't afford it anyway."

Raven almost choked on his own breath.

This wasn't comfort; it was a finishing blow!

Who knew what Laxus would say next? For the sake of his mental well-being, Raven cleared his throat and decided to change the subject:

"I recently invented a new product. Would you like to take a look?"

As expected, Laxus's attention was immediately diverted, her eyes showing a hint of anticipation: "Is it a new type of wine, like Angel's Tear?"

"It's not wine, it's this." Raven swept his hand across his waist and presented a glass bottle in his palm: "My new invention, Angel's Kiss."

"Angel's Kiss?" Taking the bottle, Laxus held it up to the light, examining it from different angles, a look of novelty in her eyes.

Under the illumination of the magic lamps, the liquid in the bottle gave off a noble golden-yellow luster, as enchanting as flowing gemstones.

"Open the bottle and apply a little to your wrist," Raven guided her.

Even under the bright light of the magic lamps, Laxus's skin was dazzlingly white.

Her long golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders. Beneath her willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows, her pair of blue eyes were as calm and captivating as a lake's surface.

Her nose was straight, her nose tip small, and her lips were pink and delicate, slightly pursed, revealing a touch of youthful charm unique to a maiden.

Her slender fingers evenly applied the perfume to her delicate, smooth wrist. Instantly, a fresh and elegant jasmine scent permeated the air. She brought her nose closer, her brows slightly raised.

"What a lovely scent, it's jasmine." A smile flickered in her eyes. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, her expression turned serious. She capped the bottle and casually placed it aside.

Raven was a bit bewildered by this sudden change: "What, you don't like the scent?"

"No, I like it very much." Laxus's eyes widened, and she gently shook her head.

Raven was about to ask further, but Laxus said, "We've already wasted enough time. Didn't you want to learn Elvish? Let's get started quickly."

With that, she opened the Holy Word Record and, in a tone like a teacher quizzing a student, asked, "Chapter one, section two, which Elvish word is the most easily confused?"

Initially, Laxus focused on details. After discovering Raven's good memory for vocabulary, she began to shift her focus to sentence structure and grammar.

The two exchanged questions and answers, their atmosphere growing increasingly harmonious.

However, human attention is always limited.

Gradually, Raven began to lose focus. Despite reminding himself to concentrate several times, his mind grew increasingly muddled.

Laxus's voice in his ears began to distort and fade, and his thoughts started to wander in uncontrollable directions.

Just like any office worker slacking off, or any student daydreaming in class.

His thoughts were wild and boundless.

In a daze, he seemed to be back in a classroom from his previous life.

A stylish English teacher stood at the podium. Her snow-white feet, clad in high heels, displayed smooth instep curves. Through her fair, almost translucent skin, faint blue veins were visible, exuding a vibrant sexiness.

"Raven!" Laxus's voice suddenly boomed, "What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Raven flinched and reflexively replied, "I'm... thinking of the answer."

Laxus's voice held a hint of annoyance, "Then why are you looking at my feet? Are the answers there?"

Raven finally snapped back to reality.

He wasn't looking at an English teacher's feet, but Laxus's!

"It's not impossible to try, but I can't see clearly from this distance," Raven scratched his head and asked jokingly, "How about… you put your foot there, and I'll get closer to see?"

That was a bit too much, and Laxus's pretty face flushed with anger. She slammed the book shut, pouting, "It's getting late anyway, you should hurry back to the castle. I need to rest too."

"Oh, it is indeed getting late." Looking at Eagle Town, which had completely darkened, Raven stood up and stretched, "Uh, can I ask you a favor?"

Laxus blinked and asked warily, "What is it?"

"Well… I'm a bit afraid of the dark," Raven rubbed his hands together and tentatively asked, "How about letting me stay here for the night? I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning, before sunrise."

"Oh… so that's it, you're afraid of the dark." Laxus nodded as she walked to the corner of the room, suddenly grabbed a broom, and walked towards Raven step by step:

"If you faint, you won't be afraid anymore."

Many years later, today, Raven remembered that afternoon he was kicked out of the orphanage and shivered.

This posture bore a striking resemblance to the old dean's.

"Just kidding."

"Hey, are you really going to hit me?"

"Stop, stop, stop, I'm leaving, Lord Priestess, spare me!"

Under Laxus's "coercion," Raven scurried out of the church.

Watching his retreating figure, Laxus's expression softened from sternness to gentleness, and finally, she let out a chuckle, closed the side door, and turned back towards the study.

Recalling Raven's comically exaggerated departure, the smile on her face grew wider and wider, only gradually subsiding when she returned to the study.

Her gaze fell upon Angel's Kiss, and Laxus walked to the desk, grasping it in her hand.

The air was still filled with a faint scent of jasmine. Laxus's eyes brightened slightly, but her lips pursed.

"Hmph, Denise took so long to finally remember to give it to me."

During this time, she occasionally visited Eagle Fortress and could always smell the rich floral fragrance on Denise. She hadn't understood why until today, when this bottle of Angel's Kiss provided the answer.

However, the fragrance on Denise was rose, while the one Raven gave her was jasmine.

This made Laxus feel even better.

"Considering you put in some effort, I'll let you off this time."

Saying this, she curved her lips into a smile, cradled Angel's Kiss against her chest, and walked lightly towards her bedroom.

Raven, of course, was unaware of Laxus's inner thoughts.

Even if he knew, he probably could only sigh:

Women's minds are truly hard to guess!

As soon as he returned to the study in Eagle Fortress, Raven heard a hiss.

Immediately after, a flame ignited in the corner, illuminating an old, wrinkled face.

"What the—" Raven almost threw the Holy Word Record, but after seeing the person's face clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief, "I say, Mr. Gordon, what is this stunt you're pulling?"

"If not for my strong psychological fortitude, at least one of us would be meeting the Lord of Light today!"

The Holy Word Record weighed six to seven pounds. If thrown, Old Gordon wouldn't be able to speak for at least 10 months.

Or Raven might have a heart attack and take 10 months to recover.

Old Gordon's face was etched with gravity. He placed the candlestick on the windowsill and said in a deep voice, "My Lord Baron, there's something I must speak my mind about!"

"Although my old eyes might be failing me, My Lord Baron, based on my 40 years of service to the Griffith Family, handing over the financial reins to Denise was indeed a complete failure!"

Raven's brow twitched slightly.

It was indeed about this matter.

He had thought Old Gordon could remain patient, but less than half a month had passed, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

Casually tossing the Holy Word Record onto the desk, Raven poured himself a glass of Angel's Tear, turned his chair, and looked at Old Gordon, "Elaborate?"

"My Lord Baron, Denise is not a suitable candidate," Old Gordon said through gritted teeth. "Although she is nominally a member of the Griffith Family, she does not possess the family bloodline, nor has she borne any heirs for the Griffith Family. She is not trustworthy!"

"Moreover, she is a lowly, cunning merchant who will do anything for profit!"

"Mhm." Raven nodded slightly, expressing his approval.

This somewhat careless attitude made Old Gordon even more distressed:

"She already exposed her cunning nature!"

"Oh?" Raven crossed his legs, seeming to have become interested.

Old Gordon seemed to be spurred on and said loudly, "To please you, she specifically purchased the Temperature Control Array in your name, completely disregarding the tight finances. That was 647 gold coins! The tax revenue from Shining Gold Town this year was only 617.65!"

"And just last month, she inexplicably withdrew 200 gold coins from the accounts and refused to disclose their whereabouts. She might have been embezzling!"

"Therefore, I hope you will immediately revoke her financial authority. Otherwise, the Griffith Family, which has only recently begun to prosper, will be ruined in her hands!"

"Well said!" Raven poured another glass of Angel's Tear and pushed it in front of him. "You've had these words bottled up for a long time, haven't you? Come, have a drink to wet your throat."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Lord Baron." Old Gordon took the wine glass but didn't drink. "So, you've agreed to my request?"

Raven didn't answer immediately. He walked over to a standing wooden board in the corner of the study. "This is a map of our Eagle Territory."

He held up the candlestick to illuminate the map. "Do you notice anything, Mr. Gordon?"

Old Gordon stepped forward and adjusted his monocle. "Eagle Town is too small, not even the size of a fingernail."

Raven nodded and asked further, "Why? Why is Eagle Town, located in the heart of Eagle Territory with fertile land and abundant water, in such a state?"

Old Gordon sighed heavily. "Please allow me to say something disrespectful, but it's all due to Baron Donald's poor decisions."

"He was too engrossed in 'magical experiments.' In the latter half of his reign, Eagle Town lost many residents every year. In one year, between running away and dying, Eagle Town lost a full 332 people!"

"No, it's not just because of that," Raven stated definitively. "In the end, the positioning of Eagle Town was too unclear."

"Positioning?" Old Gordon asked doubtfully.

"Yes, positioning!" Raven's finger landed on the map. "From a topographical perspective, Eagle Town is situated in the center of Eagle Territory. To the north is Eagle Fortress, to the south is the Golden Sand River, and natural mountain ranges block the east and west sides. It's a prosperous location that's easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"But the successive heads of the Griffith Family only treated it as a grain-producing area and never truly intended to develop it. Instead, they made Shining Gold Town their economic center!"

"If Eagle Town had ever been prosperous, how could Uncle Donald have let it fall into disrepair so easily?"

A glimmer of light appeared in Old Gordon's eyes. He asked with a hint of anticipation:

"Lord Baron, do you mean you intend to build up Eagle Town?"

"Exactly!" Raven declared forcefully. "Shining Gold Town and Eagle Town are only 6.4 kilometers apart. The advantages of Shining Gold Town can be completely transferred to Eagle Town!"

"People who can travel thousands of miles to reach Shining Gold Town won't mind walking another hour to Eagle Town."

"I understand!" Old Gordon swallowed, his voice filled with excitement. "The reason you want to repair the roads is in preparation for this!?"

"Oh, oh, oh, Mr. Gordon, you finally understand." Raven applauded with satisfaction. "Transportation is just the first step; the real key is industry!"

"Restaurants, taverns, general stores, equipment shops, casinos, dueling arenas... and so on!"

"Only when all of these are built can Eagle Town become as brightly lit as Shining Gold Town is now, even replacing Shining Gold Town to become the true center of Eagle Territory!"

Old Gordon had served the Griffith Family for 40 years and dreamed of seeing Eagle Town flourish. At this moment, he was deeply moved by the vision Raven painted, swallowing hard with excitement. "My Lord, you are truly... amazing!"

"As far back as when your granduncle, Baron Eivor, Baron Donald's father, was still alive, he had intended to build a dueling arena in Eagle Town. It's an important place to enhance the family's reputation and cultivate the martial spirit of the residents."

"Unfortunately, he wasn't able to realize this wish during his reign and died with regret. If Eagle Town can be developed as you described, it will surely elevate the entire Eagle Territory to a higher level!"

Speaking of this, he took a deep breath and said sincerely:

"That's why you must take back the power from Denise."

"She's a businesswoman and will never recognize the importance of Eagle Town."

Old Gordon's foresight was detailed and reliable, but ultimately, his vision was still too limited. Furthermore, Raven didn't agree with his assessment of Denise.

"I know," Raven said with a meaningful smile. "Don't I still have you?"

Old Gordon blinked in surprise, then understood the underlying meaning in Raven's words. "My Lord, do you mean...?"

Raven said slowly, "As you said, Denise is an outsider. She doesn't realize the important role of Eagle Town, so I never intended to hand Eagle Town over to her."

"But you are different, Mr. Gordon."

"You've seen three patriarchs come and go!"

"We are, without a doubt, a family."

With that, Raven patted Old Gordon's shoulder heavily.

"I'm planning to put you in complete charge of the development of Eagle Town!"

Old Gordon's breathing became unusually heavy. Being fully responsible for the development of Eagle Town was an incredibly important task, and it had now fallen upon his shoulders! This meant Raven had absolute trust in him. It was both an affirmation of his abilities and a reward for his loyalty.

"Lord Baron, rest assured, I will build Eagle Town into the most prosperous town in the entire Nord Province!"

"Let's take it one step at a time," Raven said with a smile, raising his wine glass. "How about we set a small goal first?"

"Within three years, surpass Shining Gold Town!"

Old Gordon also raised his glass. "I will definitely not let Lord Baron down!"

The glasses clinked together, making a crisp, pleasant, and beautiful sound, much like Gordon's mood at that moment.

After finishing the wine in their glasses, Old Gordon, his eyes shining, bowed and said, "My Lord, then I shall not disturb your rest."

"Go," Raven nodded.

Old Gordon respectfully withdrew. Just as he reached the study door, he heard Raven's voice from behind him:

"Mr. Gordon."

"Never let others know your true thoughts, ever."

A flicker of surprise crossed Gordon's eyes. He paused his steps, lingering for a moment:

"I shall heed your teachings, Lord Baron!"

With that, he opened the door and walked out.

Old Gordon's steps were lighter than ever before. With his hands behind his back, his usually slightly hunched spine straightened, and he hummed a cheerful little tune.

The Lord Baron truly had foresight!

Thinking back now, the fact that he chose to build the workshop near Eagle Town instead of the more prosperous Shining Gold Town was probably already paving the way for Eagle Town's development.

In Old Gordon's opinion, the development of the territory was the foundation. Foreign trade could only bring in quick money.

Now that the goal of developing Eagle Town had been set, no matter how much power Denise held, she couldn't control the future of the Griffith Family!

"The Baron's arrangements are truly ingenious. He used Denise, yet she believes she gained an advantage."

The more he thought about Raven's recent arrangements, the more Old Gordon admired him and felt increasingly gratified.

After generations of decline, the Griffith Family had finally welcomed a wise lord.

The corners of his withered lips curved into a smile: "It seems it's time to call Fiona back..."

In the blink of an eye, another 9 days passed, bringing the date to October 12th.

That morning, just as Raven finished meditating, he heard hurried footsteps: "Lord Baron, there's a calling card here that requires your personal attention."

Raven said calmly, "Bring it here for me to see."

Patti pushed open the door and handed him the card.

He took it and opened it, scanning the contents at lightning speed. His brow furrowed at first, then he was so amused he wanted to laugh.

It was a calling card from the Fox Family.

It stated that Nancy wished to stay at Eagle Fortress for a period of time to "escape the summer heat."

Autumn was almost here, what summer heat was she escaping?

This Nancy definitely had ulterior motives.

Did she really think he would let her stay?

Thinking this, Raven snorted and said, "Tell Old Gordon to draft a reply on my behalf, stating that I am unwell recently and unable to receive guests. The wording can be polite, but the attitude must be firm."

He stuffed the invitation back into Patti's hand and, seeing that she remained still, asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No, my Lord," Patti said cautiously. "It's just that it's already too late to send a reply now..."

"Too late? Wasn't this calling card just received this morning?" Raven was a bit confused and looked at the date again.

That was right, it was October 12th.

According to aristocratic etiquette, calling cards should be delivered at least five days in advance.

"You'll understand when you see for yourself..." Patti pointed to the window.

Raven stood up and rushed to the window in a few steps. As soon as he pulled back the curtains, he froze.

On the street from Eagle Town to Eagle Fortress, there was a long procession of carriages.

Each carriage was incredibly luxurious, bearing the crest of the Fox Family.

Nancy, the "Fiery Rose" of the Earl Fox Family, had actually arrived directly!