Unexpected Hospitality

Led by Andrea and the others, Luo Ning entered Lakeside Castle.

Noble castles in this world were generally divided into three sections: the inner castle, outer castle, and fortress.

The outer castle focused on defense. It contained sturdy walls, gates, fortifications, traps, and the homes of many noble servants were built between the outer castle and inner castle.

Passing through the inner gate brought one into the inner castle, where the nobles usually lived. The environment was naturally on a completely different level from the outer castle.

The homes nobles lived in usually did not have much defensive capability. Some nobles even preferred houses built entirely of wood.

So whenever there was an enemy attack or the castle came under assault, the nobles would hide in the fortress.

Besides that, certain important occasions were also held in the fortress.

When Luo Ning had first crossed over, the Wushan Family and Hyde Family had discussed matters in Wushan Fortress.

It was said that Wushan Fortress had been built not only with superior stone, but also with defensive Magic Arrays. Once activated, even several Golden Knights working together would find it difficult to breach it in a short time.

Lakeside Castle naturally could not compare to Wushan Castle in scale, but it should rank among the best of all baronial castles. Lakeside Town's aquatic products business was thriving and had brought the Green Family considerable wealth.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Luo Ning. Since we were not prepared, Baron German may need some time before he can come over."

After ordering the servants to bring fruit and juice, Andrea left the fortress.

Luo Ning sat in his chair and surveyed his surroundings.

The furnishings of this Fortress Hall were steeped in aristocratic grandeur. A tall stone fireplace stood on the left side of the hall. Once winter arrived and the fire was lit, it would surely warm the entire hall.

Luo Ning glanced at the chair beneath him. Though it was made of wood, flowers had been carved into it, and even the ends of the armrests were gold-plated?

"This isn't real gold, is it?"

He picked at it, but could not scrape anything off.

If he used more force, though, it would be rather embarrassing.

Luo Ning stopped his little movement and looked toward the high seat in the hall. That chair seemed to be forged from pure iron, covered in intricate lines and patterns. The only thing he recognized was the fish at the center of the design.

Behind the seat lay a complete bear pelt. Judging from that enormous, terrifying bear head, it must have belonged to a powerful Demon Beast in life.

At that moment, Luo Ning recalled some of the past events surrounding the baronial family of Lakeside Town.

About eighteen years ago, during winter, the previous Baron of Lakeside Town, Luton Green, had taken his wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter out hunting.

This was a pastime many nobles enjoyed, and some were even obsessed with it.

Yet no one had expected that on that day, a Level 5 Magical Beast would appear in what should have been a relatively safe hunting forest: the Jungle Tyrant Bear!

Although they had a Knight Squad protecting them, and Baron Luton himself was an Advanced Knight, the Jungle Tyrant Bear had nearly wiped out the entire baronial family of Lakeside Town in that battle.

In the end, only German, who had still been the son at the time, survived. He was now the lord of Lakeside Town.

Although this incident had dealt the Green Family a severe blow, German had considerable prestige within the family and was highly talented in cultivation. The Green Family's situation had gradually improved.

But fate had more hardships in store. Ten years ago, at the Martial Arts Tournament, German had faced Baron Leysen of Sain Territory. During that battle, Baron Leysen severed German's left arm.

The relationship between the two families, which had never been good to begin with, worsened even further.

German had been despondent for a time after losing his arm, but he was unexpectedly promoted to Bronze Knight. That was how he earned the title of One-Armed Lone Wolf.

"This should be that Level 5 Magical Beast, the Jungle Tyrant Bear, right?"

Luo Ning stood and walked over to examine it.

But just then, a woman's voice came from the doorway.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Baron of Mountain Forest Town!"

Luo Ning turned around and saw an elegantly dressed noblewoman slowly enter the hall. She gave him a slight bow. "Flavia Lawley greets you. Thank you for coming to our aid. Because of you, the Green Family bloodline was fortunate enough to survive!"

Flavia Lawley was Baron German's second wife.

Behind her, Malik, now changed into formal attire, also bowed.

Luo Ning found it somewhat strange. Shouldn't Baron German have appeared in the hall? Why were it this mother and son instead?

Though puzzled, Luo Ning still maintained the proper courtesy.

"Greetings, Lady Flavia."

Flavia gestured for Luo Ning to sit. Then she and Malik took the chairs opposite him.

"My apologies, Lord Luo Ning. My father's chest injury has not yet healed, and he cannot move freely, so he is unable to come to Lakeside Castle in person to thank you for rescuing my Older Sister and me."

Luo Ning pretended to understand, then smiled slightly. "The Baron's injury is what matters!"

Earlier, outside the castle, Andrea had told Malik and Marina that Baron German's injuries had mostly healed. Judging by how casually he had said it, normal movement should not have been a problem at all.

Yet Malik was now saying that German's injuries had not healed and that he could not move freely. That was interesting.

Luo Ning first ruled out the possibility of some struggle for the baronial title within the Green Family. After all, German was a Bronze Knight and the Green Family's main fighting force. His death would be a loss for the Green Family.

Moreover, German had only one son, Malik, who was still young. He could not possibly be plotting to seize the baronial title.

That could only mean Baron German did not want to meet him.

The corner of Luo Ning's mouth twitched, revealing a barely noticeable bitter smile. It seemed the other party did not want to be associated with him.

Why was that?

After thinking it over, Luo Ning realized that German was deliberately avoiding suspicion. Clearly, he feared outsiders would think the Green Family wished to befriend him.

Getting close to someone who had been stripped of the Right of Inheritance would make people think the Green Family harbored ambitions of backing a new lord?

After all, once the old Marquis died, no one could say what the situation in Wushan Territory would become.

Therefore, Luo Ning guessed that German's refusal to show himself was probably for the Hyde Family to see.

"Sir Luo Ning, thank you for what you did this time!"

Lady Flavia's grateful voice interrupted Luo Ning's thoughts.

"German told me that Mountain Forest Town is remote, its land barren, and its resources scarce. He specifically instructed me to prepare a batch of supplies and money for you, both to help you develop Mountain Forest Town and to express Lakeside Castle's gratitude!"

Luo Ning emerged from his thoughts and could not help laughing aloud when he heard that.

"Please convey my thanks to Baron German. I believe that with his support, the development of Mountain Forest Town will be faster than expected!"

Whether German met him or not did not matter. At most, he would lose a little face and be laughed at a couple of times after word got out.

That was not the important part. What mattered was getting something.

Wasn't that why he had specifically escorted Malik and his sister home?

Flavia and Malik exchanged glances, both surprised that Luo Ning showed no displeasure. After all, they had heard that Luo Ning was as bad-tempered as his father and often liked to swear.

But that did not seem to be the case now.

Flavia sat a little straighter. "Considering Mountain Forest Town's poverty, we will provide you with a total of three thousand jin of grain."

"Also, Malik said your party does not have enough horses. We will additionally give you three Carriages, five Common Horses, and two ordinary Warhorses."

"Besides that, to express our gratitude and in case you have other needs, we have also prepared two hundred gold coins!"

The more Luo Ning heard, the better he felt.

Although German had not appeared, their gratitude was still more than generous.

Three thousand jin of grain was nothing much, but ten horses should be worth two hundred gold coins. Adding another two hundred gold coins, his gains from this trip to Lakeside Town exceeded four hundred gold coins. It was highly profitable!

He could not help standing and bowing to Lady Flavia. "Thank you for your generosity, my lady. Please also convey my most sincere gratitude to Baron German!"

He added, "If possible, please exchange some of the gold coins for Copper Coin. After all, you know that in a poor place like Mountain Forest Town, gold coins and Silver Coin are probably difficult to spend."

Lady Flavia and Malik also stood. "You have considered everything very thoughtfully."