Unexpected Delight

In the courtyard of Lakeside Castle's inner castle, German's family was sitting on benches, enjoying a warm afternoon tea together.

"Father, isn't it inappropriate for us to treat Luo Ning like this?"

Malik could not help voicing his feelings. He had been quite shocked when he heard German's arrangement.

"Yes, Father!"

Marina chimed in as she ate her favorite fruit pudding. She had been eating bread and dry meat on the road these past two days, and it had nearly depressed her. It was much more comfortable to be home.

"Although the food in Luo Ning's party was terrible, he did save Malik and me. I was even planning to have the cooks make something delicious to properly entertain him!"

"Heh heh~"

The burly One-Armed Lone Wolf set down the fruit platter. "You are still young and do not understand many things. Although Luo Ning has been stripped of his right of inheritance and sent to the barren, remote Mountain Forest Town, Barrington of the Heide Family is extremely petty."

Marina did not understand, but Malik, despite being younger, grasped something.

"Father, are you saying the Heide Family will still avenge Selena? Will they still go after Luo Ning?"

German shook his head. "Not for now. Lord Rulans is still alive. But Lord Rulans is in poor health. If he is gone one day, then it will be hard to say."

"Although Luo Ning saved you, and I am grateful to him, it would not be a good thing if petty Barrington found something to hold against him and set his sights on him. Therefore, it is better for us to keep our distance from Luo Ning."

Meanwhile, Luo Ning's caravan had already left Lakeside Town and stopped by the roadside to rest.

"My lord, the Green Family is far too rude!"

The manservant Chahar was still complaining to Luo Ning about the Green Family's hospitality.

"We saved their family's heirs, yet they did not even arrange a lunch banquet before sending us away with some supplies. They clearly have no respect for you or Wushan Castle!"

Indeed, after Flavia had prepared the supplies, she had made it clear that they were welcome to leave.

No matter how thick-skinned Luo Ning was, he would not force himself to stay for a meal.

As far as he was concerned, it was enough that he had received the goods.

Chahar glanced at the several newly added carriages at the back of the caravan and pouted. "Who cares about this tiny amount of supplies!"

Luo Ning chuckled. "What do you know?"

He cared about these supplies very much.

Counting it up, he now had a total of 488 gold coins, only a little short of five hundred.

If Luo Ning wanted to complete the First Purchase Bonus and obtain a subordinate with Blazing Sun Aptitude, he could simply sell a horse to make up the five hundred gold coins.

Together with the Magic Crystal Stone he had obtained from Pedro, it would be more than enough.

However, he did not do that. If he spent all his money on Magic Crystal Stones and then needed money after arriving in Mountain Forest Town, it would be troublesome.

Besides, he now had Macken and Elrond as subordinates, and he himself was about to become an Intermediate Professional. There should be no problem settling down in Mountain Forest Town.

"My lord, you are simply too good-tempered. If it were the Count, they would never dare treat us this way!"

Chahar was still angry on Luo Ning's behalf. "And after we took such good care of Marina and Malik these past two days!"

Forget Chahar—even Luo Ning himself had been prepared to rest properly in Lakeside Town for the night. He truly had not expected Baron German to be so cautious, or perhaps timid was the more fitting word.

"Macken," Luo Ning called.

Macken immediately walked over. "My lord, what are your orders?"

"After leaving Lakeside Town, the guards' training will continue as usual."

Luo Ning instructed, "Also, I will raise your strength a little more. Do not disappoint my expectations!"

Macken froze for a moment, then felt the Battle Qi within him grow fuller. He immediately understood what Luo Ning meant.

"Macken will never disappoint your expectations!"

Luo Ning waved his hand. "Go. Properly absorb this improvement."

To advance from Intermediate Rank to Advanced Rank, a knight required 200 points of Energy Essence, while a mage required 300 points of Energy Essence.

Considering that he currently needed someone to bolster their combat strength, and that Elrond was a Light Attribute Magic mage, Luo Ning decided to raise Macken's level first and let him reach Advanced Rank as soon as possible.

Macken's level progress had now reached 70/200.

Luo Ning calculated that if there was no other source of Energy Essence and he relied solely on the Monthly Check-in, Macken would become an Advanced Knight next month.

In a small town, an Advanced Knight was already the ceiling of combat power.

Taking Lakeside Town as an example, aside from Baron German, who was a Bronze Knight, the Green Family seemed to have no second Bronze Knight.

Even their Knight Captain, Andrea Lawley, was merely an Advanced Peak Knight.

While Luo Ning was thinking, a commotion suddenly erupted among the guards.

"What happened?" Luo Ning looked over.

A guard came running over excitedly and dropped to one knee before Luo Ning.

"My lord, my lord! I broke through! I awakened a Battle Qi Seed!"

"Oh?"

Joy appeared on Luo Ning's face. He looked at the mage. "Elrond, please help me examine him."

"Gladly!"

Elrond walked forward with a smile and pressed a finger against the guard's heart. As his Mental Power seeped in slightly, he sensed the other's Battle Qi Seed. It was very weak.

The guards were unfamiliar with this person who had suddenly appeared behind the caravan. They only knew that Elrond was the baron's friend, so they all treated him with great respect.

At this moment, the kneeling guard finally understood that the baron's friend truly was no ordinary person.

He looked at Elrond with eager anticipation. Elrond nodded, then turned to congratulate Luo Ning. "My lord, he has indeed awakened a Battle Qi Seed."

"Congratulations, my lord. You have another knight subordinate!"

Chahar was thrilled. He increasingly felt that following Lord Luo Ning had been a wise choice.

After hearing the confirmation, all the other guards showed looks of envy.

A transcendent had appeared among them.

People said that to become a noble, the first step was becoming a freeman; the second was becoming an official, a retainer, or awakening as a transcendent; the third was becoming an Ennobled Knight; only then, at the fourth step, might one be granted a title.

The guard before them had reached the second step.

Luo Ning looked at the somewhat thin youth before him, whose eyes were filled with hope, and could not help laughing aloud.

"Very good. Tell me your name and age!"

"My lord, my name is David. I turned sixteen this May!" the youth answered excitedly.

Luo Ning's eyes lit up. He had not expected this to be such a young and promising talent. Sure enough, he had been right to choose those under eighteen years old.

"Not bad!"

Luo Ning was very satisfied. "From today onwards, you will be Macken's deputy. Your pay will rise from two copper coins a day to thirty copper coins a day!"

Luo Ning was not arbitrarily setting wages. When he left Wushan Castle that day, he had asked Holwart about it. This was basically the standard treatment for a Beginner Knight.

"Heavens, thirty copper coins!"

David was stunned by the number. He had never imagined that he could earn such a high salary, much less that one day he could become a Professional Knight.

Thinking of his persistence during this time, as well as the good food and drink Lord Luo Ning had provided, he was moved to tears.

"Thank you, my lord. Sob... thank you, my lord!"

David said in a trembling voice, "It was your gifts and training that allowed me to awaken a Battle Qi Seed. Let the Seven Gods bear witness: from this day onward, I, David, swear to follow you, my lord, unto death!"

"I have seen your loyalty!"

Luo Ning encouraged him. "I also believe that Beginner Knight is only your starting point. One day, you will grow to a point where even I will be amazed!"

"Guard Officer, David is entrusted to you. Temper him well and make him one of Mountain Forest Town's top combatants!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Macken replied forcefully. At last, he had a Professional Knight under him as well.

The other guards, especially those under eighteen years old, saw David's treatment. They were envious and jealous, but also became even more determined to train hard.

If Luo Ning's earlier claim that training could lead to breakthroughs had seemed like a lie, then David's real example told everyone that Luo Ning's words were true.

Training truly had miraculous effects!

But was that really true?

Even Luo Ning had some doubts.

He preferred to believe that David's breakthrough was due to the recent improvement in meals, as well as the fact that David's talent was indeed quite good.

At sixteen, awakening a Battle Qi Seed and becoming a Beginner Knight meant he had excellent aptitude.

"Now, I have three transcendent individuals under me!"

For a moment, Luo Ning felt high-spirited.

"Mountain Forest Town, here I come!"