Unexpected Surprise

In the courtyard of Lakeside Castle's inner keep, the German family was enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea on a long bench.

"Father, is it really okay for us to treat Luo Ning like this?"

Malik couldn't help but voice his feelings. He was quite surprised when he heard German's arrangements.

"Yes, Father!"

Marina echoed, while eating her favorite fruit pudding. She had been eating bread and dry meat on the road for the past two days, which had made her almost depressed. It felt so good to be back home.

"Although the food in Luo Ning's group was terrible, he did save Malik and me. I was even planning to have the cooks make some delicious food to treat him well!"

"Heh heh~"

The tall, one-armed lone wolf put down the fruit plate. "You are still young and don't understand many things. Although Luo Ning was stripped of his inheritance and sent to the barren, remote Mountain Forest Town, Barrington of the Hyde family is very petty."

Marina didn't understand, but the younger Malik seemed to grasp it somewhat.

"Father, are you saying that the Hyde family will still seek revenge for Selena? And still target Luo Ning?"

German shook his head. "Not yet, Lord Rulans is still alive. But Lord Rulans is not in good health, and if he were to pass away someday, it would be hard to say."

"Although Luo Ning saved you, I am very grateful to him. However, it's not a good thing to be caught by the petty Barrington and be targeted. Therefore, it's better for us to keep our distance from Luo Ning as much as possible."

Meanwhile, Luo Ning's carriage train had already left Lakeside Town and was resting by the roadside.

"Master, the Green family was truly impolite!"

The servant Chahar was still complaining to Luo Ning about the Green family's hospitality.

"We at least saved their family's heirs, but they didn't even arrange a luncheon and just sent us away with some things. They clearly don't have you, or Wushan Castle, in their eyes!"

Yes, after Flavia prepared the supplies, she clearly meant to see them off without further ado.

No matter how thick-skinned Luo Ning was, he wouldn't have the thought of forcing himself to stay for a meal.

For him, as long as he got the supplies, that was enough.

Chahar glanced at the few newly added carriages at the back of the train and grumbled with a pout, "They only gave us so little in supplies, who cares!"

Luo Ning chuckled. "What do you know!"

He cared about these supplies very much.

Counting now, he had a total of 488 gold coins. He was just a little short of five hundred.

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

Coupled with the Magic Crystal Stone he got from Pedro, it was more than enough.

However, he didn't do that. If all the money was used to buy Magic Crystal Stones and he needed them when he arrived at Mountain Forest Town but didn't have any, it would be troublesome.

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

"Master, you're just too good-tempered. If it were with the Count's personality, they would never dare to be like this!"

Chahar was still feeling indignant for Luo Ning. "And to think we took such good care of Marina and her brother for the past two days!"

Not to mention Chahar, to be honest, Luo Ning had been prepared to rest well for a night in Lakeside Town. He really didn't expect Baron German to be so cautious, or perhaps timid would be a more fitting word.

"Macken." Luo Ning called out.

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 further improve your strength. Don't disappoint my expectations!"

Macken was startled, and then he felt the Battle Qi within him surge. He understood the meaning of Luo Ning's words.

"Macken will definitely not disappoint your expectations!"

Luo Ning waved his hand. "Go, and properly digest this improvement."

To break through from Intermediate to Advanced, a Knight requires 200 points of Energy Essence, while a Mage requires 300 points of Energy Essence.

Considering the current situation required a strong combat presence, and Elron was a Light Attribute Mage, Luo Ning decided to prioritize increasing Macken's level so he could reach Advanced as soon as possible.

At this time, Macken's level progress had reached 70/200.

Luo Ning calculated that if there were no other sources of Energy Essence income, relying solely on the Monthly Check-in, Macken could become an Advanced Knight by next month.

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

Taking Lakeside Town as an example, besides Baron German being a Bronze Knight, the Green family seemed to have no other Bronze Knights.

Their Knight Commander Andrea Lawley was merely an Advanced Peak Knight.

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

"What's going on?" Luo Ning looked over.

He saw a guard excitedly running over and kneeling on one knee before Luo Ning.

"My lord, my lord! I've broken through, I've awakened my Battle Qi Seed!"

"Oh?"

Luo Ning's face lit up with joy. He glanced at the mage. "Elrond, could you please check for me?"

"My pleasure!"

Elrond walked forward with a smile, poking the guard's heart with his finger. As his mental power slightly permeated, he sensed the other party's Battle Qi Seed, which was in a very weak state.

The guards weren't familiar with this person who had suddenly appeared in their ranks. They only knew that Elrond was the Baron's friend, so they were all very respectful.

At this moment, the guard kneeling on one knee finally understood that the Baron's friend was indeed no simple person.

He looked at Elrond expectantly. The latter nodded, turned, and congratulated Luo Ning, "Sir, he has indeed awakened a Battle Qi Seed."

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

Chahar's face was filled with excitement. He felt more and more that following Lord Luo Ning was a wise choice.

When the other guards heard this confirmation, they all showed expressions of envy.

A Transcendent! A Transcendent had actually appeared among them.

They said that to become a noble, the first step was to become a freeman, the second step was to become an official, attendant, or awaken as a Transcendent, the third step was to become an Ennobled Knight, and only then was it possible to be granted a title.

This guard before them had reached the second step.

Luo Ning looked at the somewhat thin young man before him, whose eyes were full of hope, and couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"Excellent! Tell me your name and age!"

"Sir, my name is David, and I turned sixteen in May this year!" the young man answered excitedly.

Luo Ning's eyes brightened. He hadn't expected this to be such a promising young talent. As expected, choosing those under eighteen years old back then was the right decision.

"Not bad!"

Luo Ning was very satisfied. "From today onwards, you will be Macken's deputy. Your salary will increase from the original 2 Copper Coins per day to 30 Copper Coins per day!"

It wasn't that Luo Ning was paying randomly. When he left Wushan Castle that day, he had asked Holwart, and the treatment for a Beginner Knight was basically this.

"Oh my gods, thirty Copper Coins!"

David was shocked by this number. He hadn't expected to receive such a high salary, nor had he expected to become a Professional Knight one day.

Thinking of his persistence during this time, and how Lord Luo Ning had provided him with good food and drink, tears of gratitude streamed down his face.

"Thank you, sir! Sob, sob, thank you, sir!"

David said with a trembling voice filled with excitement, "It is your grace and training that allowed me to awaken the Battle Qi Seed. As the Seven Gods bear witness, I, David, swear to follow you, sir, with my life from now on!"

"I see your loyalty!"

Luo Ning encouraged him, "I also believe that Beginner Knight is just your starting point. One day, you will grow to a level that will surprise even me!"

"Guard Officer, I'll leave David to you. Train him well and make him a top fighting force for my Mountain Forest Town!"

"Yes, sir!"

Macken responded forcefully. He finally had a Professional Knight subordinate as well.

The other guards, especially those under eighteen, saw David's treatment. They were envious and jealous, but at the same time, they were even more determined to train well.

If Luo Ning had told them before that training could lead to breakthroughs and it was a deception, then David's real story was telling everyone that Luo Ning's words were true.

Training really had miraculous effects!

As for whether it was truly true?

Luo Ning himself was a little doubtful.

He was more willing to believe that David's breakthrough benefited from the recent improvement in food, and also from the fact that his talent was indeed good.

Sixteen years old, awakening a Battle Qi Seed and becoming a Beginner Knight – his aptitude was excellent.

"Now, I have three Transcendent subordinates!"

Luo Ning felt a surge of ambition for a moment.

"Mountain Forest Town, here I come!"