Count Aidale, who had been gathering his emotions and preparing to tell Qin Ran everything, nearly choked on Qin Ran's blunt refusal.
"Ahem."
The old man coughed several times. After making a considerable effort to compose himself, he once again regarded the young man before him with an appraising gaze.
His mature bearing had long since overshadowed his youthful face. His every word and action followed almost rigid habits. Even seated, his back was as straight as a spear.
Without taking a close look at his face, anyone seeing him from behind might have mistaken him for a well-bred, conventional middle-aged man.
Yet this young man possessed a restraint those middle-aged men lacked!
Just look at the room before them.
No young man with even a little ability would live in a room like this.
Much less those from privileged backgrounds.
They might usually appear amiable and humble.
But the arrogance hidden in their eyes was innate. It would reveal itself unconsciously in every aspect of their lives, creating an unbridgeable gulf between them and ordinary people, which they would casually use to highlight their own exceptional status.
Aidale had seen far too many people like that.
But Qin Ran?
He was perfectly content, without the slightest complaint.
Looking at Qin Ran's calm face and eyes, Count Aidale could not help marveling.
Because once again, he had thought of Qin Ran's strength.
He had heard about that formidable power and witnessed it himself.
One man against an army!
Not just anyone could make an entire army consider retreating simply by standing there.
"You're different from ordinary people."
"Whether they're your age or older, you're different from them."
"The way you think."
"The way you do things."
"You already have principles of your own..."
"You must have been through something in