A Stern Warning

While Li Si was exchanging culinary insights with the young girl at the ball.

Viscount Kane's Estate

Butler Joyce was resting in a chair by the window of his bedroom, gently swirling a goblet of dark red wine in his hand. Even in his nightclothes, he could not conceal his elegant bearing.

If an outsider saw this scene, they would surely think he was some noble lord.

Knock, knock~

"Come in," Joyce said, lifting the glass to his nose and savoring the fruity fragrance slowly rising from the wine.

"Forgive the disturbance, Lord Joyce!"

The captain of the guards, Welf, entered and casually closed the door behind him.

"What is it?"

Joyce did not even spare Welf a glance, as though the fine wine before him deserved more of his attention.

Welf recognized at once that the wine in Joyce's hand was Muge Wine from the Thousand Winds Hills in southern Fies Kingdom. It was highly sought after for its unique fruity aroma and delicate taste; a single bottle easily cost hundreds of Gold Coins.

Of course, Welf had never tasted such a luxury himself. He only recognized it thanks to the distinctive green bottle on the small table beside them.

However, Welf saw nothing improper in Joyce enjoying such expensive wine. Instead, he answered respectfully, "It concerns Young Master Li Si."

"Oh?" Only then did Joyce turn to glance at Welf. He spoke unhurriedly, "I recall the young master has been practicing with weapons alongside you. Did something happen?"

"Nothing serious. The young master learns quickly and is very diligent. It's just that..."

With his head lowered, Welf said cautiously, "Young Master Li Si seems rather impatient. Although he learns quickly, as soon as he becomes familiar with one weapon, he immediately switches to another. And what he learns is mostly just flashy forms. Everyone has been quite helpless."

"Also, the young master's experiments have been going on very late every night these past few days, and no one has been sleeping well."

Welf gritted his teeth. Though uneasy, he still voiced what was on his mind.

"Lord Joyce, could you perhaps persuade the young master? It seems there's no use for a distinguished mage to learn martial skills."

After being run ragged by Li Si for several days, Welf had naturally developed some resentment. More importantly, he felt that Li Si, a mage, had no reason to struggle with learning weapon techniques. It was simply a waste of time!

After speaking, Welf kept his head lowered and did not dare look at Joyce, as though this seemingly frail old butler were some monstrous beast.

After a moment of silence, just as Welf grew increasingly uneasy and began to regret rashly tattling,

"Is that truly what you think?"

Joyce's calm, unhurried voice drifted gently into Welf's ears.

Seeing that Welf remained silent, he continued, "It seems I have been too lenient with all of you."

Buzz~

Joyce gently set down his wineglass. Suddenly, an incomparably sharp and terrifying pressure enveloped the captain of the guards' entire body.

"Aaargh!"

Welf instantly dropped to both knees, pressing his hands tightly against the floor to support himself. The fear of death surged into his heart. Painful cries and gasps kept squeezing from his mouth, yet he did not even dare take a breath, as though the terrible pressure would crush his entire body apart in the next second.

What... what was happening?

His killing intent and aura alone had rendered him unable to move?

Was he... going to die here?

He had been wrong, terribly wrong. He had thought that after advancing to Gold Warrior, he would gain at least some standing before this man. Yet he could not even endure this pressure!

This was no high-level professional as he had guessed. This was clearly someone whose life had transcended to another level, someone who had already entered the Legendary Realm!

Such people were honored guests even to kings, treated with the utmost respect. Their heroic legends were told across the entire continent. Who could have imagined that the old butler before him was one of them?

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!

The helplessness and terror of facing death violently tore at the warrior's nerves, and Welf's heart was drowned in endless regret.

Just as Welf's consciousness was about to fade,

"Remember your place."

Joyce tapped the tabletop again and again with one finger, but Welf felt that every tap was a savage hammer blow against his heart.

"Young Master Li Si's words are commands, even if he orders you to your deaths!"

Joyce stopped tapping his finger and looked at the Gold Warrior sprawled on the floor, drenched in sweat. His tone was cold as he said, "Otherwise, you will learn that death is the happiest thing there is."

Welf felt as though he were facing hell itself. Deep killing intent pierced fiercely through his skin and into his organs. His entire body seemed frozen solid, his blood nearly ceasing to flow.

"Get out!"

Without waiting for an answer, Joyce could not be bothered to look at Welf again. With a flick of his hand, Welf groaned and was suddenly lifted into the air, then hurled brutally out through the window beside him.

After doing all this, the old butler remained as calm and composed as ever, as though he had not been the one to unleash those terrifying methods.

Joyce gazed deeply at the dark red wine flowing back and forth in his glass, continuing to savor Muge Wine's intoxicating essence of sunshine and rain, though no one knew what he was thinking.

"An Arcanist?"

Fes Street, No. 116

Li Si had no idea that his captain of the guards had been harshly taught a lesson by the butler for tattling on him. He was cheerfully exchanging culinary insights with the food-loving girl he had met at the ball.

They were truly kindred spirits!

"So, there are actually many ways to make golden silk. You can use shredded eggs, shredded potatoes, even dough. Of course, my favorite is shredded potatoes. They complement the smooth, springy tenderness of the shrimp balls perfectly!"

Li Si spoke enthusiastically.

"Oohh! That must be delicious!" The girl looked at Li Si, who seemed to be glowing all over, with admiration and offered her praise without reservation.

Then she glanced at the Bertie Sweet Shrimp Salad on her plate and instantly felt that it no longer seemed so appetizing!

The girl's eyes rolled mischievously. She extended her fair, delicate hand toward Li Si and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ya Er."

Li Si did not pay any mind to the obviously fake name. With gentlemanly grace, he lightly took the hand she offered in his right hand, lowered his head, and gave it an air kiss.

"I am Li Si Kane. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ya Er looked at Li Si in surprise, then burst out laughing. "Honorable Mr. Li Si Kane, I'm not married yet. Has no one told you that kissing a young lady's hand is quite improper?"

Uh, I only wanted to follow the local customs. I really hadn't noticed that.

Li Si thought awkwardly, but Ya Er did not mind. Instead, she changed the subject and pointed at a figure walking toward them from ahead.

"My friend has come to find me. It was a pleasure meeting you. If there's another chance, you have to treat me to those Golden Silk Shrimp Balls you mentioned!"

As she spoke, the figure arrived before Li Si and Ya Er. He gave Li Si a somewhat wary look before turning to Ya Er and saying, "Miss Ya Er, it is time. We should return."

"Mm, okay."

After saying that, she waved goodbye to Li Si and followed the man away from the crowd at the ball.

"Interesting!" Li Si watched the two depart and smiled.