Dinner Party, Cardinal, Count Hogg

"A red spider birthmark?"

Linley's eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent.

Over the past six months, Linley had slaughtered over ten thousand level-eight magical beasts in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

The murderous aura radiating from him caused Hogg to turn pale with fear, and he took two steps back.

"Linley, you?"

Hogg's voice snapped Linley back to his senses, and Linley quickly shook his head. "Father, I'm fine."

As he spoke, Linley stepped forward to help Hogg sit down. "Father, you've had a hard life all these years."

"It hasn't been hard." Hogg smiled and shook his head. "My greatest hope used to be just raising you and Wharton to adulthood, after which I could go seek my revenge in peace. I never expected that one day, I would also be able to transform into a Dragonblood Warrior."

Speaking of this, Hogg became visibly agitated and grabbed Linley's arm. "Promise me, don't ever go seeking revenge until you have reached Saint-level strength, alright?"

Hogg's words left Linley momentarily stunned.

Because this was a far cry from the Hogg he had known before.

"If you cannot bring back the Warblade Slaughter, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!"

The words his father had spoken when he last left home seemed to still be echoing in his ears.

Now that his father had suddenly become so gentle, Linley found it difficult to adjust for a moment.

"Don't worry, Father!" Linley nodded. "I won't throw my life away, but with our current strength, there won't be any major danger."

"That's true." Hogg nodded, letting out a long sigh as if a weight had been lifted. "I had always kept the truth of your mother's death from you and Wharton; speaking of it now actually makes me feel a bit better."

As his voice trailed off, Hogg looked somewhat lonely once again.

Just as Linley opened his mouth to comfort his father, a servant knocked on the room door. "Sir, Young Master Yale has asked me to deliver the formal attire."

"Come in!"

Linley rose and walked to the door, where seven or eight servants stood outside, each holding a set of formal wear.

The servants entered the room one by one, unfolding the garments before Linley and Hogg.

"I'll take this set." Hogg stepped forward to make his selection. "Linley, you can wear this one."

Linley nodded without objection. "I'll listen to you, Father."

"Uncle Hogg, Linley!" Just as they had finished choosing their clothes, Yale arrived at the room. "My father has invited you to dinner. Come, come, they've just delivered some level-seven magical beast meat today."

Yale appeared quite excited, while Linley and Hogg remained calm.

Linley was calm because, back in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he had eaten everything from level-eight magical beast meat to Saint-level dragon meat; level-seven meat was nothing special.

As for Hogg, he was simply using his immense self-control to suppress the astonishment in his heart.

The Baruch Clan had been in decline for over a thousand years, and Hogg was currently just a minor country baron.

Level-seven magical beast meat was stronger than the strength Hogg himself had possessed just a day ago.

Naturally, he had never eaten it before.

Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, it was night.

A luxurious carriage pulled to a stop in front of the Fenlai Kingdom palace.

Linley, Yale, Hogg, and Munro stepped out of the carriage, all dressed in formal attire.

"Mr. Munro, Mr. Hogg, welcome." Patterson was waiting at the palace gate. "Little Linley, Little Yale, how are you both!"

"Duke Patterson!"

The four of them returned the greeting and walked into the palace together.

The palace was bustling today with the most powerful people in all of Fenlai City.

Aside from Duke Patterson, the three great marquises of the kingdom and numerous counts were all in attendance.

Viscounts and barons didn't even have the qualifications to enter.

"Linley, Yale, hello!"

Prince Kale held a wine glass and greeted the two of them.

This prince was considered the most promising of King Clayde's heirs to inherit the throne.

His own strength was quite respectable; although he was only twenty years old, he already possessed the strength of a level-six warrior.

It was impossible for him to catch up to the Golden Lion Clayde and become a level-nine warrior in his lifetime, but there was a high probability he would become a level-eight warrior.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The noisy banquet hall fell silent instantly at the servant's loud announcement.

A moment later, a middle-aged man with long golden hair walked out.

Beside him was a middle-aged man dressed in red robes.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Bishop Gilmer."

The many nobles in the hall bowed one after another.

"That is the Golden Lion Clayde, and the man beside him is Gilmer, one of the cardinals of the Radiant Church." Yale whispered to Linley, introducing them, "Every cardinal of the Radiant Church is a level-nine mage."

Yale's words caused Linley to take a second look at the two men.

However, since Linley's own strength was already superior to theirs, he did not feel that there was anything special about them.

"Everyone, please, no need for such formalities." Clayde said with a smile, "I am holding this banquet today because I have good news to announce. Baron Hogg."

At Clayde's call, Hogg, who had been with Munro, stepped forward in confusion, "Your Majesty."

"Baron Hogg has made tremendous contributions to the kingdom as one of its nobles." Clayde said, stepping forward to stand before Hogg, "Hereby, I announce the promotion of Baron Hogg to the rank of Count, and I bestow upon him my residence on Greenleaf Road."

The sudden elevation in rank caught Hogg by surprise, but he still offered his thanks, "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities." Clayde took Hogg by the arm, "Everyone, please enjoy yourselves. Count Hogg, let me introduce you; this is Mr. Gilmer, a cardinal of the Church."

"Greetings, Cardinal Gilmer."

Hogg bowed slightly, and Gilmer smiled, "You have a fine son. Could you introduce me to him?"

Hearing Gilmer's request, Hogg beckoned to Linley, who was not far away.

Once Linley approached, Hogg said, "Linley, this is Cardinal Gilmer. This is my son, Linley Baruch."

Linley bowed slightly in greeting, "Greetings, Cardinal."

Gilmer did not speak, his gaze sweeping over Linley.

After a long moment, Gilmer finally asked, "What level mage are you now?"

"A level-four mage." Linley replied with a calm expression, "I broke through about five months ago; I shouldn't be far from becoming a level-five mage."

Linley's words caused the surrounding crowd to look on in astonishment.

They had originally thought Linley was merely a genius.

But an eight-year-old level-four mage?

Could this really be summarized by the simple word "genius"?

"Not bad."

Gilmer, however, remained composed. Linley's spiritual energy was naturally high, and since cultivation was merely the refinement of magic power, his strength would naturally rise, so being level-four was not strange.

"What element is your teacher? Perhaps we know each other?"

What Gilmer was more curious about was who exactly Linley's teacher was.

"My teacher is an Earth Element mage." Linley said, "However, my teacher does not allow me to reveal his name to others, so please forgive me."

"I understand." Gilmer nodded slightly, "I heard your teacher is already preparing to break through to the Saint-level?"

"Yes." Linley said, reciting the words he had long prepared, "After my teacher took me as his apprentice half a year ago, he began preparing for the breakthrough. He said that within ten years at most, he would succeed."

Linley's words caused Gilmer's expression to shift slightly.

It was not strange for a level-nine mage to say they were going into seclusion to attempt a Saint-level breakthrough.

But when a level-nine mage stated a precise deadline for their breakthrough, it could only prove one thing.

This mage was likely only a hair's breadth away from the Saint-level and could break through at any moment.

The Radiant Church did not care much about a level-nine mage.

But if it were a Saint-level mage, the Radiant Church could not afford to completely ignore them.

As for Linley lying?

Even if Linley was already a level-four mage, he was, after all, only an eight-year-old child.

Gilmer did not believe Linley would lie.

"Linley, you are very impressive." The smile on Gilmer's face became sincere, "You are currently a student at the Ernst Magic Institute and have a close relationship with the Church. If you have time, you can come to the Church, or bring your teacher along as well."