Excited Hogg

Wushan Town.

Baruch Mansion.

Although the clan had fallen on hard times, the entire Baruch Clan still maintained over a dozen guards, and Hillman was their captain.

Usually, Hogg would task these guards with handling matters large and small throughout Wushan Town.

They also served as the security force for Wushan Town.

"Eh? Isn't that Captain Hillman?"

"Captain Hillman took Young Masters Moke and Linley to Fenlai City for the magic enrollment qualification test. How could they be back so early?"

"Huh, it really is them! Look at the Captain's expression—he seems incredibly excited!"

"Could it be that one of the two young masters was accepted into the magic academy?"

Several guards patrolling Wushan Town walked over to meet them from a distance.

"Captain!"

"Young Master Moke!"

"Young Master Linley."

One of the guards laughed, "Captain, why are you all back so early?"

He didn't dare ask about the results, as everyone knew the probability of becoming a mage was extremely, extremely low.

Although Hillman looked happy, who knew what the reason was?

"Hahaha, both Moke and Linley have been accepted into the Ernst Institute! I've come back to bring the good news to Lord Hogg!"

Hillman laughed heartily, "You lot, get ready to drink to the celebration!"

"I imagine Lord Hogg will be throwing a feast."

With that, he led Moke and Linley toward the old Baruch estate.

"What?"

The guards stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide.

It took a long while for them to react, their faces filled with shock, "The Ernst Institute? The best magic academy in the entire Yulan Continent?"

"Young Master Moke and Young Master Linley were both accepted into the Ernst Institute?"

"Good heavens!"

"Simply unbelievable!"

The group of guards was stunned, followed immediately by wild joy.

Young Master Moke and Young Master Linley had actually been accepted into the Ernst Institute!

Wouldn't this mean the Baruch Clan was set to rise again?

Consequently, the status of these Baruch Clan guards would naturally rise along with them, so everyone was ecstatic.

Some of the surrounding villagers of Wushan Town were also extremely shocked upon hearing the news.

Because Wushan Town was located near the capital of the Fenlai Kingdom, only about a hundred miles from the Ernst Institute, the villagers were quite familiar with it.

It was precisely because they understood it that they were so shocked!

"Once Young Masters Moke and Linley graduate, they'll likely become counts of the kingdom!"

They were envious yet delighted; this was joyous news for all of Wushan Town!

Because the taxes levied by the Baruch Clan were arguably the lowest among the many nobles in the vicinity, the cohesion of Wushan Town was quite strong.

Baruch Mansion.

Hogg was playing with little Wharton. The six-year-old boy was tossed into the air and caught repeatedly, making him laugh uncontrollably, and a smile tugged at the corners of Hogg's mouth.

Although he was playing with his youngest son, Hogg's heart was preoccupied with other matters.

Moke and Linley, my two sons... I hope at least one of them can become a mage, even if it's just an ordinary one.

Hogg felt anxious and nervous.

He knew the odds of becoming a mage were slim, so he didn't hold out much hope, yet deep down, he still wished for his sons to achieve something.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps echoed from the outer courtyard.

As Hogg looked toward the entrance, he saw Hillman, Moke, and Linley walking over quickly, all three of them wearing smiles.

Hillman, in particular, looked extremely agitated, his rugged face flushed with excitement.

"Lord Hogg!"

Hillman shouted, a sound that caused a glimmer of joy to surge in Hogg's heart.

"Hillman, you all..." Hogg's voice trembled slightly.

Good heavens, could it be...

At this moment, Moke said happily, "Father, both Linley and I have been admitted to the Ernst Institute! We both have the talent to become mages!"

"That's right, Father! Uncle Hillman has the acceptance letters."

"Lord Hogg, look!" Hillman seized the moment to hand the acceptance letters to Hogg.

"Hiss!"

Hogg's body swayed; even with his physical constitution as a Rank 6 warrior, he nearly lost his footing.

Handing little Wharton over to Hillman and taking the two exquisitely crafted envelopes from him, Hogg's hands trembled as he opened them.

The words "Ernst Institute Acceptance Letter" struck his eyes with startling clarity.

After a few seconds of silence, Hogg suddenly raised his head and let out a roar of laughter toward the sky!

"The Ernst Institute! It's the Ernst Institute, the best in the entire Yulan Continent!"

As he laughed, tears actually streamed from the corners of his eyes, and he murmured to himself, "Both of my sons have been admitted to the Ernst Institute!"

There is hope now, there is hope... This last sentence was whispered in his heart, not meant for Moke or Linley to hear.

However, looking at the emotional Hogg, Moke could guess why he was so excited.

Perhaps it is because we were both admitted to the Ernst Institute that Father sees the possibility of uncovering the truth behind Mother's disappearance.

Moke sighed inwardly; Hogg had truly suffered too much over these years.

It was not physical pain, but the agony that tortured the depths of his soul every single moment.

"Father, you..." Linley was startled by Hogg's emotional state.

He knew Hogg would be pleasantly surprised, but he hadn't expected such an intense reaction.

Meanwhile, Hillman, standing to the side, vaguely guessed the truth just as Moke had; he couldn't help but sigh softly before breaking into a smile.

He was happy for Hogg as well.

"Linley, it's nothing, I'm just too happy."

Hogg let out a hearty laugh and then scooped both Moke and Linley up into his arms: "Happy, I am so happy! Today, the Baruch Clan has a great cause for celebration!"

He looked at Hillman and said with a smile, "Hillman, send word out: exempt all residents of Wushan Town from taxes for one year. I want to share this joy with everyone!"

"Also, prepare a grand banquet for tonight! Everyone is to drink until they drop!"

"Yes, My Lord!"

Hillman set Wharton down on the ground and walked away with a cheerful smile.

Although the Baruch Clan was very poor, often having to sell household items in exchange for gold coins, Moke still understood the excitement and thrill in the heart of this fallen noble.

"A banquet? Does that mean there will be delicious food?" Wharton's eyes lit up.

"That's right, there will be plenty of delicious food at the banquet." Moke, having been set down by Hogg, pinched Wharton's chubby cheek and said with great affection.

He used to like pinching Linley's cheeks.

But now, due to his training, Linley had lost his baby fat.

Wharton, on the other hand, was well-fed and chubby, looking like a solid little meatball.

That night, the entire Baruch Mansion was ablaze with lights.

Over a dozen guards and their families, along with Moke and Linley's friends from town, had all arrived, and everyone was celebrating like mad.

The two young masters of the Baruch Clan had both been admitted to the Ernst Institute; they felt a sense of reflected glory and would be able to brag about it to others in the future.

The clan they served had produced two great mages!