Jia Xiu's Ancient Noble Status Confirmed

In this world, it was easy to judge whether someone came from wealth.

Because supernatural power existed, anyone with money and status would need to protect themselves, and would inevitably carry high-level magical items.

You would never see someone who owned two buildings leaving home in a white tank top and flip-flops.

When Jia Xiu saw the two people before him covered in magical equipment, and Insight revealed rows upon rows of dazzling legendary-grade markers, he knew that true big shots had arrived.

A golden-haired girl who perfectly matched every trait of a young lady from a great noble house in stories walked in front.

A tall man followed behind her, presumably her guard.

How should Jia Xiu put it? He had never imagined anyone could really be built like those absurdly broad-shouldered men from Korean comics.

Those shoulders were ridiculously wide.

But no matter how impressive their backgrounds were, the proper procedure still had to be followed.

"High-level professionals are prohibited from entering, to prevent instinctive reactions from harming the staff," Jia Xiu reminded them.

The broad-shouldered man was just about to speak when the girl stopped him. "It's fine. I trust there isn't any real danger here, right?"

"Of course not. The entire experience only contains designed scares, with no actual harm. If you feel overly frightened during the experience, you can shout 'Exit,' and the staff will cease any further action," Jia Xiu explained.

Still, Jia Xiu felt her concern was completely unnecessary. With all that equipment on her, even with his current abilities, he could not possibly put her in danger.

"Oh, how thoughtful. One ticket. Oh, right, my name is Emilia. Pleased to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, milady."

Jia Xiu answered casually, but inwardly, he was puzzled. Why did this Emilia seem to know him?

Even stranger, after the group entered to play, Jia Xiu had intended to get back to doing practice problems, but the guard kept staring at him.

Like a veteran detective watching a suspect.

The stare made Jia Xiu's skin crawl.

He hated having someone stand beside him while he was doing problems. Being watched made him feel like he could not even hold his pen properly.

"Want a test paper too?"

Jia Xiu could not help asking.

The guard did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Are you a Warlock?"

"Uh, is there a problem if I am?"

"Interesting."

After saying that, the guard turned away and did not speak another word, standing there like a statue.

Jia Xiu, standing beside him, was already close to losing it.

What was interesting? How was it interesting? Explain yourself!

Could these cryptic bastards just get lost?!

Time passed amid the strange awkwardness until that group of visitors came out.

Emilia rushed out in front, bouncing excitedly as her golden hair fluttered up and down. From a distance, she did not just have golden hair—she looked like a golden retriever herself.

"That was so fun, so interesting! How did you come up with such a great idea?"

Not only had Emilia not been frightened in the slightest, she was having the time of her life.

"And I think it could be made even scarier. You're wasting yourself in a tiny place like this. Come start a business with me—the price is yours to name."

Her offer was tempting. To be honest, Jia Xiu was a little moved.

Only a little.

"Please allow me to decline your proposal. I only run this place to earn tuition. Pursuing the mysteries of magic is my true goal."

Jia Xiu answered calmly.

Emilia was not too surprised by the rejection. Most famous spellcasters had this sort of personality.

After studying Jia Xiu thoughtfully for several moments, she suddenly said, "I'll knight you."

Jia Xiu was completely dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"

Before Emilia could explain, the sound of orderly hoofbeats came from the distance. One could tell immediately that it was a well-trained force.

Emilia looked toward the guard. Seeing that he remained unmoved, still standing like a statue, she relaxed.

Jia Xiu had not expected so many unexpected events today.

The only people in Creekwood Town capable of making hoofbeats like that were the lord's forces.

Could it be that Hannas had confessed to the Baron and even persuaded his father to shamelessly send Knights after him?

Just as Jia Xiu was wondering whether he should flee on the spot, Hannas's arrogant figure came into view.

"Prepare to die, you bunch of—"

Unfortunately, his arrogance lasted only a few seconds before being cut short by a slap from his father.

Then Jia Xiu watched in surprise as the Baron smoothly dismounted and bowed in salute.

"Your Highness Emilia, I did not know you had come here. I failed to welcome you and have been discourteous. Please forgive me."

Your Highness Emilia?

Jia Xiu could not help looking at the golden retriever-like girl. Being called "Your Highness" meant she was royalty. Her background was even greater than he had imagined.

But this royal was quite the oddball. What kind of problem was it to want to knight someone the moment they met?

Emilia said, "I did not notify you, so naturally it is not your fault, Baron. But why have you brought Knights here?"

The Baron frowned. He noticed that Emilia was standing together with Jia Xiu. They appeared to have just come out of the cave after playing, both smiling as though the experience had been excellent.

The royal guard would surely have discovered that this was truly a cultist hideout, yet he had done nothing.

Since Her Highness was not dealing with it, neither could he. At least not for the time being. That was called having a nose for things.

After a brief storm of thoughts, the Baron came up with a response.

"I came to commend Creekwood Town's outstanding young spellcaster, Jia Xiu, and encourage him to create a brand-new and beloved tourist attraction for the town."

As he spoke, he somehow produced a ring and presented it as a reward.

But that was not all. Emilia added, "Perfect. Baron, you can serve as witness. I believe that Mr. Jia Xiu's character—pursuing the mysteries of magic despite his impoverished life—and his contribution to the town's development through his excellent creativity are enough to earn him a knighthood, so..."

Emilia gave the guard a look.

The guard immediately pulled a knight's sword from his storage pack.

"Jia Xiu, are you willing to become a glorious Knight of the Iris Kingdom, uphold the knightly code, defend knightly honor, and treat all your actions with courage, loyalty, and chivalry?"

"Huh?"

No one could blame Jia Xiu for saying "Huh?" The way things had developed was simply far too abrupt.

He did not know what a normal knighting ceremony was supposed to look like, but it definitely should not be this hasty.

Emilia tapped both of his shoulders with the sword, then directly shoved the sword into his hands.

"Now you are a glorious Knight of the Iris Kingdom."

Though he was only the lowest-ranking Knight, without even a fief, it still counted as noble status and would grant him many conveniences in this era.

Jia Xiu was far too confused and could not help asking, "Your Highness Emilia, why are you knighting me?"

"Besides your character and contributions, your black hair and black eyes show that ancient and noble blood flows through your veins."

Emilia gave a reason that sounded like obvious nonsense.

Hannas had gone to great lengths to convince his father to come punish Jia Xiu, only for things to end in such an incomprehensible way.

Jia Xiu had become a Knight.

Even he himself had not yet been formally knighted!

Hannas's eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks burned—not from anger, but from being slapped. His teeth ground together as his rationality teetered on the brink of collapse.

He had to expose Jia Xiu's false disguise as a cultist and make him receive the punishment he deserved!

No matter the cost...

Emilia did not return to Larven immediately, instead remaining in Creekwood Town for the time being.

She directly rented out an entire floor of the inn.

Emilia sat in the sitting room reading while the guard still stood there without saying a word.

"Aren't you curious why I knighted Jia Xiu?"

"Your Highness has your own reasons."

The guard truly was a qualified guard.

"He is a drifter who suddenly appeared in Creekwood Town. At first, he could not even speak the common language, nor did he display any spellcasting ability. Yet in less than a year, he began submitting patents to the association."

Emilia had investigated Jia Xiu's background long ago. She only looked like a silly golden retriever; inside, she was still a very standard member of the royal family.

"A genius should have a legal identity. He cannot be allowed to go to another country, and preferably not to any of my other brothers or sisters."

"So you knighted him. That way, legally speaking, he is unquestionably Irisfolk."

"That's right. Have you identified his Sect Master?"

This was also what Emilia had always been curious about. For such a gifted Warlock, his Sect Master could not possibly be an ordinary figure.

"No." The guard answered somewhat awkwardly.

"No? Can you at least identify the race?"

"Not that either. I cannot sense any Demonfolk or Fairy aura from him at all. Perhaps his Sect Master comes from an even more unique and rarer race, or perhaps..."

"His Sect Master is too powerful, to the point that he completely blocked your attempt to peer into him."

Emilia finished the sentence the guard had left unsaid.

"Mm... forget it. What about the Undead in that cave?"

"It is about to awaken."

"Can you deal with it?"

That was why she had remained here.

"It is very powerful. If we use the Primordial Crystal, I am confident we can destroy it."

"That powerful?"

Emilia pondered for a moment. "There's no need to act yet. Let's see what Jia Xiu does. Perhaps his mysterious Sect Master will make a move."

"What about Hannas? He seems intent on harming Jia Xiu."

"Don't worry about Hannas. If Jia Xiu cannot even handle that useless piece of trash, then I knighted him for nothing..."