Hogg: Your Mother Was Murdered

"Linley, I wonder if you would be willing to join the Ernst Magic Institute?"

The admissions teacher from the Ernst Magic Institute walked up to Linley and asked.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Linley.

Ernst Magic Institute.

The number one magic academy on the continent.

Although it is said that the Yulan Empire has a High Priest, and that the High Priest has cultivated a large number of Saint-level mages.

But when it comes to magic academies alone, Ernst is undoubtedly the premier magic academy on the continent.

For a moment, everyone was waiting in anticipation for Linley's answer.

Linley smiled slightly and said, "I would be honored to become a member of the Ernst Institute."

"I will report your information to the academy." The admissions teacher was also somewhat excited, "As long as you arrive at the academy before February 9th of next year, that will suffice. This is your admission certificate."

As he spoke, the man took a red envelope from his bosom and handed it to Linley.

"Thank you!"

Compared to the system and Grandpa Doehring, enrolling in the Ernst Institute was really nothing extraordinary to Linley, so he remained calm throughout.

"Mr. Hogg, congratulations."

"Mr. Hogg, congratulations, congratulations."

"Mr. Hogg..."

It was the many nobles around Hogg who began to step forward to offer their congratulations.

This time, not only Patterson, Kale, and the others, but even some minor nobles stepped forward to offer their well-wishes.

Since they were there to say kind words, Hogg responded with a smile on his face.

"Everyone." The priest in white robes spoke up, "The Magic Test has not yet concluded, please do not disrupt the order."

Hearing the words of the priest in white, Hogg finally managed to break free from the crowd.

"Mr. Hogg." Just as Hogg and Linley were preparing to leave, Patterson and Kale caught up with them, "His Majesty the King would like to host a banquet for you both at the palace tonight. We hope you will do us the honor."

For a duke of the kingdom to greet two rural nobles in such a manner was already considered a display of great humility and respect for talent.

After all, the strength of Linley and Hogg had not been made public.

"Linley and I will arrive on time." Hogg hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "However, we still need to go back and change our clothes, so please forgive us."

"That is only natural." Patterson nodded repeatedly, "Then we shall see you tonight."

Immediately, Patterson and Kale took their leave.

Linley simply waved his hand at Alice outside the church, ignoring her eager and expectant gaze.

"Tsk, Linley, you have quite a lot of face!" Yale leaned in close to Linley, "The Golden Lion is hosting a banquet specifically for you. That's remarkable."

Yale's expression was not feigned.

After all, the Dawson Chamber of Commerce could ignore the king of a kingdom, but they could not ignore a ninth-rank warrior.

The King of the Fenlai Kingdom, Clayde, known as the Golden Lion, was not only a king but also a powerful ninth-rank warrior.

Although the Fenlai Kingdom needed to rely on the Dawson Chamber of Commerce for commercial matters, the Dawson Chamber of Commerce gave the Fenlai Kingdom a great deal of face.

This was the effect of having a powerhouse.

At the same time, it was also the reason why the Dawson Chamber of Commerce sought to befriend powerhouses everywhere.

One must know that the annual profits generated by the Dawson Chamber of Commerce amounted to at least tens of billions.

However, more than half of these profits had to be offered to the chamber's patrons and Saint-level powerhouses.

For Saint-level powerhouses, money did not have much use.

But Saint-level powerhouses ultimately had family and descendants.

If the Dawson Chamber of Commerce ever stopped their offerings, then as long as the descendants of a Saint-level powerhouse mentioned it, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the Dawson Chamber of Commerce.

"This isn't for my sake." Linley shook his head directly, "This is for the sake of my teacher."

The change in his strength allowed Linley to see the rules governing the world more clearly.

Linley had not revealed his strength yet, so he could be certain that these people, especially the high nobles of the Fenlai Kingdom, valued his status as a student of a ninth-rank mage more.

Rather than valuing his status as a talented youth.

After all, talented youths were common, but powerhouses were not.

The Yulan Continent was so vast that new geniuses emerged every year.

But those who could truly grow into a powerhouse were few and far between.

"Is there a difference?" Yale shrugged, "Either way, you're the one getting the benefits."

Linley's expression had been quite serious, but he couldn't help but laugh upon hearing Yale's words.

"Right, you don't have a formal suit for the banquet yet, do you?" Yale looked Linley up and down. "There's no time to have one custom-made now, so when we get back to the hotel, I'll have someone send over a few sets for you to try on."

Linley did not refuse this offer.

First impressions were truly a mysterious thing.

From the moment he first saw Yale, Linley knew that this guy would definitely get along with him.

The same went for Alice.

Initially, upon suddenly seeing a girl as delicate as a porcelain doll like Alice, Linley had felt a sense of fondness in his heart.

However, the fanaticism that had erupted in Alice's eyes earlier when she mentioned the Radiant Church made Linley feel somewhat perplexed.

It was precisely because of this that Linley had simply greeted Alice and then taken his leave immediately.

Linley could not understand why Alice would have such a fanatical attitude toward a fictional deity.

Although he was only eight years old, the growth of his strength had already made Linley realize that things were different.

For instance, gods were not actually high and mighty.

Especially what Big Brother Lin Ke had told him about: Low-Gods, Mid-Gods, and High-Gods.

As well as the Emperors among High-Gods, and the Paragon High-Gods.

That so-called Radiant Chief Sovereign might not even compare to a Paragon High-God.

With the help of Big Brother Lin Ke and Grandpa Doehring, he would surely be able to become a Paragon High-God in the future as well.

So, to devote his entire heart and soul to believing in a deity whose true name he didn't even know?

Linley couldn't do it.

After taking the carriage back to the hotel, Yale and Munro tactfully took their leave, leaving space for Linley and Hogg.

Once they reached Linley's room, Hogg smiled and ruffled Linley's hair. "You've successfully enrolled in the Ernst Institute; how does it feel?"

"No different," Linley shook his head. "I won't be staying at the Ernst Institute for too long, and before school starts, I still need to go to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to see my teacher."

Hogg didn't find anything wrong with Linley's words.

But then, Hogg's expression turned serious. "Linley, the matter I'm about to tell you next—you must never speak of it to anyone."

Seeing his father's expression so grave, Linley's heart couldn't help but tighten. "Grandpa Doehring, is there any Saint-level powerhouse spying nearby?"

Linley hurriedly communicated with Doehring, but fortunately, there were no Saint-level experts bored enough to specifically spy on a hotel.

Having received a definitive answer from Doehring, Linley then spoke: "Father, rest assured, it's very safe here; no one is spying."

Hogg looked at Linley in surprise. He had meant for them to find a different place to talk, but since Linley had said so, Hogg chose to trust him.

"Linley, I have always told you that your mother died during childbirth while giving birth to Wharton, but in reality, your mother was murdered."

Hogg spoke with a face full of sorrow, and Linley's expression changed drastically.

Linley asked in a somewhat hoarse voice: "Father, who was it? Who killed Mother?"

There wasn't even a figure of his mother in his memories, which had made Linley yearn for maternal love ever since he was small.

He had originally always thought his mother died from complications during childbirth, but who would have thought she was actually murdered?

If Linley lacked strength, he could only vent his impotent rage.

But now, it wouldn't be a problem for Linley and Hogg to casually topple a duchy.

Naturally, Linley could not endure this.

"I haven't managed to find out yet," Hogg shook his head regretfully. "I only know that one of the culprits has a red spider birthmark on their arm."