Raft Pound

Altair glanced around casually and then asked Leif, "Uncle, what's the theme of today's banquet? Why are there so many young officers?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Leif rubbed his forehead and sighed to Altair, "It's my fault. I've been so busy lately that I forgot to instruct the butler to include information about tonight's banquet in your invitation."

After saying this, Uncle Leif introduced the theme of the banquet to Altair: "Most of the young officers attending this banquet are outstanding students from the Royal Army and Military Academy of Loen, as they are about to graduate and go their separate ways."

"Yes, for example: some went to the South Continent to participate in the war, while others returned to their hometowns to manage troops—"

"Therefore, the theme of this banquet is farewell."

"Of course, this banquet also has an unwritten name: the Investment Dinner."

"Because most of the outstanding graduates from ordinary noble or Commoner families have neither connections nor funds to support their continued development in the Loen Army."

Therefore, most of these people will attend various banquets around the time of their graduation, receiving connections and financial investment from the powerful aristocracy.

After explaining, Uncle Leif pulled Altair away from the spot and walked towards the group of people who were chatting, introducing them to each other.

After the presentation, Altair returned to his seat, and Vivian asked curiously, "So, do you think any of these graduates are worth investing in?"

Altair shook his head, sighed, and said, "No, those Commoner aren't very capable, but they're quite scheming. They don't meet my investment criteria."

After sighing, Altair added, "Vivian, why doesn't God let us meet an ordinary person who is both capable and loyal?"

After hearing Altair's request, Vivian chuckled and said, "You're not much of a threat, but you have quite a few demands."

After saying this, Vivian picked up the plate beside her and said to Altair, "Have some dessert to replenish your energy."

Let's use some energy.

Altair had just taken the plate and taken a few bites when he heard a commotion coming from not far away.

Sensing an interesting show was about to unfold, Altair quickly finished his meal, pulled Vivian away from her seat, and headed towards the source of the noise to watch the spectacle.

Upon arriving at the scene, Altair saw a middle-aged man in his early forties, with a wrinkled formal suit, graying temples, slightly disheveled hair, puffy eyes, and a constant smell of alcohol, being mocked and harassed by several young noble officers.

After finding someone he knew, Altair quickly went up to ask for their opinion and learn the details of the matter.

Through introductions from others, Altair learned that the middle-aged man was named Raft Pound, Viscount of the Pound Family.

No, he shouldn't be called Viscount anymore; he should be called Baron.

Because he had recently squandered most of his fortune, George III demoted him from Viscount to Baron.

He recently planned to sell his ancestral home on Williams Street for Gold Pound, but no one was willing to take it over.

As for the reason for humiliating him, it's actually quite simple: the vast majority of military nobles here despise this guy.

They believed he had utterly disgraced the military aristocracy.

Upon hearing his name, Altair felt a sense of familiarity, but it took him several attempts to recall who he was.

Raft Pound, the heir chosen by Viscount from a branch of the family bloodline, the impoverished nobleman who has a significant role later in the story and endures humiliation throughout. Or, to put it more directly, the family that built their home on the ruins of the Blood Emperor.

Seeing him reminded Altair of the underground palace beneath that house, the ruins of the Blood Emperor, and the red cauldron Sauron Einhorn Medici within it.

Watching the arguing crowd, Altair considered whether he should step in and buy the house.

She wanted to seize the opportunity and see if she could get her hands on what was inside.

However, after some internal struggle, Altair temporarily abandoned the idea.

Because she wasn't sure if, at this moment, anyone else was still watching Ralph Bond, or rather Pound Family.

If she rashly intervenes and drags her own family into the mess, then she'll be in for a surprise.

The best solution would be to find a pretext, or rather, to support a Merchant, so that he could openly take over Raft Pound's ancestral home.

While Altair was still pondering, Uncle Leif arrived and dissuaded everyone, ending the farce.

Upon seeing Altair, Uncle Leif approached and said, "Rafe Pound, his family, like ours, originated from the War of the Fallen," referring to the Hunter Pathway, which has been passed down to this day.

"However, decades ago, something happened to the Pound family, and the designated heirs died one after another. After the main line died out, Viscount chose Raft Pound from a collateral branch of the family as his successor."

As he spoke, Uncle Leif sighed and added, "I think if old Pound knew he had chosen such a successor, he would be so angry he'd crawl out of his grave and strangle him."

Watching Raft Pound walk away, Altair smiled and asked, "Uncle Leif, isn't the Pound family part of our Mutual Aid Alliance?"

"Belongs to," Uncle Leif casually remarked, "If his family doesn't belong to the Mutual Aid Alliance, why do you think I invited Rafe Pound?"

"Then why didn't we help him in the first place?" Altair asked curiously.

Leif wasn't curious about Altair's question, but continued, "Because of old Pound, he refused our help back then, not letting us get involved in this matter. From the time his youngest son suddenly died until his own death."

"Then, I mean, within our Mutual Aid Alliance, has anyone privately investigated his family, his mysterious death, and the reasons why they wouldn't let us get involved—" Altair asked, feigning curiosity.

Leif nodded, asking with certainty, "Of course, and I'm sure it's not just us." The Royal Family, various churches, and other extraordinary families have all been involved in the consultation. "After all, it's very intriguing that the entire main branch of an extraordinary family would suddenly and mysteriously die."

Even though Altair knew the whole truth, he was still curious about the investigation results, so he continued to ask, "Uncle Leif, have you found out what happened to the Pound family?"

Uncle Leif shook his head and calmly said, "No, after a brief investigation, I won't get involved in this matter anymore. You'd better not get involved either."

"Well, I mean, if I were to buy his ancestral home, would that be okay?" Altair asked curiously.

"Why would you buy from them?" After saying that, Uncle Leif said sharply, "You should give up on that idea as soon as possible and not get involved with them."

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