Laying the cards on the table (5k)

That night, the purchasing party finally returned to Azan Castle.

Rows of guards stood outside Azan Castle, some carrying blades, swords, and spears, others holding bows.

These were the guards Lin Ke had trained. He had divided the entire force into four units: blades, swords, spears, and bows.

The first lady, Antova, and Steward Billy were waiting outside the castle.

Lin Ke and Furon were both exhausted.

The first lady seemed to have been crying too. Her eyes were red, and it did not look like an act.

Even the ever-courteous Steward Billy wore a slight frown.

All of Azan Castle lay beneath the dark cloud of Garros's desperate situation.

"Lin Ke, thank goodness you came back safely."

With eyes reddened from crying, Antova spoke to Lin Ke first, then hurried over to check on Furon.

Seeing the first lady's tearstained face, Lin Ke could not help softening a little.

With Garros in such dire straits, surely the first lady was grieving too?

But the first lady seemed to have been secretly exchanging letters with Baron Puxin...

Unfortunately, as a noble, Lin Ke could only petition the Nobles' Council to try another noble if he had clear evidence, and he did not have enough.

Besides, Antova was Viscount Garros's wife, and Baron Puxin was no insignificant noble either, at least within Azan Territory.

If a commoner had dared plot against him, Lin Ke would have dealt with them long ago.

But again, Lin Ke was a noble, and Garros's eldest son at that.

Everything he had now came from his status, not his own strength.

If he ignored the rules and killed Puxin, he probably would not live much longer himself.

That went doubly for killing the first lady.

So he could only endure it until Garros returned or he grew strong enough to deal with the threat posed by Puxin and Antova.

Though with Furon around, Lin Ke would not kill Antova anyway. At most, he would have her whipped a few dozen times and exiled.

As for Baron Puxin...

Lin Ke planned to have Steward Billy write up the circumstances and send them to the Nobles' Council, composed of the Azan Family's various nobles, to put Puxin on trial.

Of course, Lin Ke could already imagine the outcome: officials protecting their own. Without Garros, there was no telling whether the other Azan nobles would side with him.

But once he became powerful, he would settle all those accounts!

For now, he not only had to keep his head down and build his strength, but also guard against surprise attacks from the other Azan nobles!

Yes, surprise attacks from his own relatives!

After all, if Garros died, Lin Ke would become the sole heir to the viscountcy.

But if Lin Ke died, another Azan noble might inherit it instead.

A legitimate viscountcy in the Gula Kingdom represented unimaginable resources and wealth. Those shortsighted nobles were bound to be tempted.

"Young Master Lin Ke, from now on, I must not leave your..."

Steward Billy seemed to have reached the same conclusion as Lin Ke. With a deep frown, he approached and spoke quietly into Lin Ke's ear.

He meant to say that he would stay by Lin Ke's side at all times to protect him.

But before he could finish, Lin Ke interrupted him. "Uncle Billy, you need to protect my mother. Teacher Ove will keep me safe."

Lin Ke glanced up at the castle roof. An immense aura radiated from it without restraint, growing clearer to Professionals the higher their level.

It was Ove's aura.

Ove disliked crowds, especially strangers.

So he had flown to the top of the castle to keep watch and cultivate through meditation, while also deterring anyone with ill intentions.

"With Lord Ove here, hmm... all right, then..."

Billy glanced twice at the castle roof, sensed that aura, and nodded.

Lin Ke ranked second among those he was charged with protecting. Garros came first, followed by Furon and the others.

But with Ove here, Billy could rest a little easier.

"Little Lin Ke, come to my room later. I have some things to tell you."

While comforting Furon, Antova spoke softly to Lin Ke.

"All right..." Lin Ke narrowed his eyes.

Was she finally showing her hand? Right under Ove's nose?

No, probably not.

But he could not upset Furon any further now, so Lin Ke agreed and followed them inside.

John and the others went to bed, while Steward Billy dealt with the various goods and supplies the purchasing party had brought back.

As for Ove, Lin Ke spotted his figure atop the castle.

Only an hour later did Lin Ke feel reassured enough to enter the castle and make his way to the first lady's room.

As soon as he reached the door, the first lady's voice came from inside. "Come in."

Lin Ke pushed the door, and it opened straightaway.

The first lady sat at the table by the balcony, staring blankly at the night sky outside. A cool breeze stirred the hem of her dress.

"Little Lin Ke, did you know that I think of you as my own child?" With her back to Lin Ke, the first lady gazed into the darkness and spoke in a daze.

Lin Ke felt nothing, but he said, "You are my mother's elder sister, and I call you Aunt."

The first lady sighed at his words, then turned to look at him. "Lin Ke, if your father returns to the place of glory where Azan's ancestors rest, you will have to inherit the viscountcy immediately. Are you... ready?"

At the mention of Garros's death, the first lady's eyes reddened again.

Lin Ke softened a little and nodded. "I know a little about it."

Unlike Furon, the first lady was not so fragile. She quickly gathered herself, took a deep breath, and said, "As the future Viscount Azan, there are some things you must know."

At this point, Lin Ke understood why the first lady had summoned him.

They already believed Garros was unlikely to survive, so they were preparing for the future.

After all, the everyday running of Azan Castle depended on the first lady and Steward Billy.

That included correspondence with their relatives, dealings with other nobles, and so on.

"Please go ahead, Aunt." For once, Lin Ke spoke respectfully.

After all, the first lady seemed very supportive of his becoming the next viscount.

Perhaps that was what made her clever. With Furon around, Lin Ke would not do much to her, but if an Azan noble from elsewhere became viscount, the first lady would be in danger.

So it was only natural for her to support him.

As for dealing with the first lady...

Unless she truly crossed the line, in which case Lin Ke could arrange an "accident" to dispose of her.

But so far, the first lady had done nothing outrageous, apart from her failed attempt to kill him when he was little.

Her correspondence with Baron Puxin this time was also full of uncertainties. Thinking back on it later, Lin Ke could not be sure that the first lady had truly wanted him dead.

"By the way... Baron Sandir has always been very respectful toward us over the years. I never imagined he would do something like this." Judging by her expression, the first lady was both incredulous and shaken, as though trying to explain something.

Lin Ke said nothing, lost in thought.

"My dear Lin Ke and my younger sister Furon will be visiting Parrot City tomorrow."

It was possible that the original intention had merely been some teasing or a prank.

Or... perhaps the parchment had meant for Puxin to treat them well.

Was that really the case?

Lin Ke offered no response to the first lady's words.

Seeing this, the first lady continued, "As the heir, I think you need to be wary of Baron Sandir and his people, but there are more pressing matters."

"First... gold."

The moment she mentioned gold, her face filled with worry. "Our farms earn a great deal, enough to maintain our castle's standing in the Gula Kingdom, but... I'm afraid others will covet it!"

Lin Ke nodded slightly. "Aunt, with my teacher here, no one should be foolish enough to try anything in the short term." He briefly described Ove's fury.

"Lord Ove truly is powerful..." The first lady relaxed a little at this, but then frowned again. "Still, we have frequent dealings with the Deep Blue Grand Duke. Would that great noble covet what we have...?"

The Deep Blue Grand Duke?

The Deep Blue Grand Duke, who had created the powerful Monsters known as Deep Blue Giant Tigers and held sway in the east, actually had dealings with a mere viscount like them?

Lin Ke frowned. "A grand duke ranks above a duke. Surely he wouldn't covet our possessions..."

Even Lin Ke sounded uncertain.

"But... we owe the Deep Blue Grand Duke money. A great deal of money..." The first lady sighed again.

"Back then, Garros was able to establish the Torrent Knights thanks to the Deep Blue Grand Duke's financial support..."

"Garros went to fight in the Plane Wars this time precisely to find valuable things to repay the Deep Blue Grand Duke..."

A creditor?

That made things difficult.

Lin Ke considered it for a few seconds, then asked, "How much?"

"Two hundred and eighty thousand gold coins." The first lady gave the staggering figure. "And we agreed to repay it by the end of this year."

Two hundred and eighty thousand... gold coins...

If Garros had been standing before him, Lin Ke might have shown his filial devotion by giving him a couple of solid punches.

"So... in the end, the most important thing is still gold..." Lin Ke said.

With Ove here, they did not need to worry about safety for the time being.

So ultimately, the castle's biggest concern was money!

No wonder. No wonder the first lady had been so penny-pinching in so many areas. The deadline was drawing near!

There were only a few months left until the year's end. Here, the twelfth month was the Month of Abundance.

That was when Garros was due to return, but what if he did not have that much money?

What a headache.

"Of course..."

Watching Lin Ke ponder, the first lady's eyes filled with tenderness. She put away her worried expression and forced a little laugh that hardly sounded like one.

"You don't need to worry too much about the money. I'm here. At worst, I'll ask the Brando Family for some. What you need to do now is become a Professional as powerful as your father."

Lin Ke looked up at the first lady. Her face held the stubborn resolve of someone trying to appear strong.

"I'll work hard." Looking into the first lady's eyes, Lin Ke indicated that he was already a Professional.

"There's another important matter. After the Month of Abundance ends, Monsters will emerge from the Great Swamp, and we will need to defend against them. That is one of Azan Castle's duties as a castle standing beside the Great Swamp."

The first lady spoke again. "Of course, there aren't many. The villagers are actually enough to handle them."

Lin Ke's heart grew a little heavier.

So that was why, whenever winter approached, the first lady would visit Parrot City and hire some mercenaries.

The mercenaries had been hired to clear out Monsters.

Still, it was now almost the end of July. Garros had five months to return, and the Month of Abundance ended in late December.

His father should be able to make it back in time

...right?

"Not only that, but every six years, there is a Monster tide. Your father dealt with the last one. If he cannot return this time, we will have to face it ourselves."

The first lady's expression was grave, her fair face filled with worry.

A Monster tide...

Lin Ke no longer knew what to say.

So Viscount Garros was returning this year not only because Lin Ke needed his Bloodline Enlightenment, but also to deal with the Monster tide that came once every six years.

But...

This time, they had Ove.

With Teacher Ove's strength, he could handle the Great Swamp's Monster tide as long as no overly powerful Monsters appeared.

Garros was only a few levels higher, and even he could handle it. Ove could too.

"I... I'll think of a way as well." Lin Ke's gaze was resolute.

Nobles possessed rights, but they also had obligations.

He enjoyed the love and support of his subjects, so he ought to shoulder his responsibilities too. That was one of his principles in life.

The first lady avoided Lin Ke's gaze and waved a hand.

"All right, go back and rest. Your task now is to grow. Leave the rest to your mother and me. I just wanted you not to become too proud after becoming a Professional. I'll take care of these problems."

The first lady turned away and continued staring blankly at the moon.

And so Lin Ke returned with a heart full of worries.

Debt, Monsters, war... and the curse a year from now...

Lin Ke had asked Ove about the curse.

Even someone as powerful as Ove had failed to detect any "curse" on him, so Lin Ke could only pin his hopes on someone else.

The King of the Gods' curse was still a very important matter.

Otherwise, after a year had passed, those beings that sensed the aura of the King of the Gods' heir would probably all come flocking to him.

The next day, on the large lawn in front of Azan Castle, guards, servants, and slaves were building a square wooden platform.

The platform was made from century-old trees from the Southern Forest and was very sturdy. Many enormous stones had also been placed beneath it for support.

Besides the people, hundreds of Servants of Truth were busily transporting timber and other materials.

Ove controlled these level-one Servants of Truth from the sky.

Lin Ke stood beside the wooden platform, with Steward Billy, John, and Nix behind him.

"Uncle Billy, is my mother all right?" Lin Ke asked softly, still worried about Furon.

"The second lady is reading entertaining books and enjoying delicious brunch refreshments in the first lady's company," Billy replied with a bow.

Billy had faint dark circles beneath his eyes. Clearly, he had worked late into the night and had also disposed of the several level-one Professionals sent by the baron.

He also had to suppress the news, lest disorder break out within Azan Castle and the five villages first.

"Good." Lin Ke nodded slightly.

In the end, he gave Furon his word that Garros would definitely return before the year was out, even making the promise in Ove's name.

Neither Furon nor Antova had believed him at first, but once Ove personally confirmed that he had news, they began to half believe it.

At the very least, normal life could resume.

The thought of his mother smiling again and regaining her innocent cheer made Lin Ke happy. With a smile, he asked Nix, "Nix, have all the village households been notified? Everyone in all five villages?"

"Yes, Mr. Lin Ke. I spent the whole morning running around and just finished notifying everyone."

Nix did not feel particularly tired, perhaps because he was so fast.

Besides, this broad stretch of grassland was not actually far from the villages. They could even see cooking smoke rising in the distance.

"Good. We'll start this evening."

Lin Ke nodded.

There were five villages near Azan Castle, and all five were essentially self-sufficient.

They only went to Parrot City to buy everyday necessities once in a long while, sometimes traveling with Azan Castle's purchasing party.

The villagers tilled their own land and grew grain, vegetables, and fruit.

Apart from winter, when they needed to recruit low-level Professionals from Parrot City to fend off beasts and Monsters from the Great Swamp, life there was as peaceful and pleasant as an idyllic retreat.

But to Lin Ke, this was an enormous waste!

Those strong, energetic young men spent their days doing farmwork, shyly flirting with young women, and then burning off their energy at night through a time-honored pastime.

Those careful, meticulous young women with their nimble hands spent their days responding boldly or shyly to the flirting, then doing less physically demanding farmwork.

What a waste!

These were all suckers ripe for fleecing... no, human resources!

If the capitalists from his previous life saw so many idle people here, they would surely shed torrents of tears from the corners of their mouths.

Lin Ke was not a capitalist, nor did he intend to develop the [Capitalist] profession here. He simply wanted to make money to pay off his debt.

Two hundred and eighty thousand gold coins was no small sum. What if the Deep Blue Grand Duke happened to need money and brought an army to his doorstep?

Ove could protect him when he was in the right, but when it came to paying back money he owed, even Ove would have little grounds to object.

So the reason Lin Ke was building this platform now was to make money!

He would repay the debt by the end of the year.

Just thinking about it was stressful-more stressful than being one of those poor souls shackled to a mortgage in his previous life.

He probably could not count on Antova or Furon. In the end, they would likely either sell off the family assets or have the first wife borrow money from her own family.

So Lin Ke could only find his own solutions, such as opening factories, or... providing entertainment.

He was building a platform. A stage.

Of course, besides making money, the stage also had a role in the profession Lin Ke had envisioned for himself-[Inventor].

After a great deal of thought, Lin Ke had finally decided that he wanted to become an [Inventor]!

Yes, invention!

If a [Scholar] gained enough insights to obtain skills through activities such as research and study...

Then the [Inventor] profession Lin Ke envisioned would gain feedback through activities such as invention and creation.

For example, "Force Multiplication," the skill in the first Skill Slot of Ove's [Scholar] profession, was actually a combination of a Pulley System, friction, and the angles at which forces acted.

A weak thread of lightning became a bolt capable of piercing more than a dozen trees when released through the Skill Slot.

Lin Ke eagerly wondered what skills he might gain insights into if he recreated the technological golden age of his previous life through the two professions of [Inventor] and [Scholar].

Come to think of it, inventing a rule, inventing a law... that counted as invention too, right?

Lin Ke had even decided which Bloodline would support [Inventor]: the "Luck" Bloodline.

A single Bloodline could actually support multiple professions, but with more professions drawing energy from it, the Bloodline would become overburdened.

A Bloodline was like a converter, storing the various energies Lin Ke gathered in his daily life and then converting them into Professional Energy or magical energy when he needed to use them.

So, to keep his "Knowledge" Bloodline from being drained dry, Lin Ke planned to take up the [Inventor] profession through his "Luck" Bloodline.

That was assuming he could correctly work out the trait proportions for [Inventor].

Nathang had countless professions, but all of them were controlled by the major powers.

Even a level-nineteen powerhouse like Ove could not obtain certain ordinary professions, such as [Knight].

For one thing, Ove had never specifically sought them out. For another, he was unwilling to join any faction.

Even the Materialist School behind him was merely something like a hobby club-a group of people with shared interests who occasionally held friendly exchanges.

In an environment where knowledge was monopolized like this, if Lin Ke could create some powerful professions, he might one day be able to establish a powerful faction.

After all, his third Bloodline was none other than "Leadership."

"Little Lin Ke... come up here for a moment."

Just then, Ove suddenly called down to Lin Ke from above, and a Servant of Truth came to his feet.

Lin Ke stepped onto it, and it carried him into the air toward Ove.

To the people from Azan Castle down below...

Their young master stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expensive noble attire with its fiery-red patterns fluttering gracefully in the wind.

His eyes were closed as though he were contemplating some complex philosophical question. His brows were slightly furrowed, his brown hair danced in the wind, and his back was perfectly straight.

He was simply too adorable! So baby-faced, yet so handsome.

Some lovestruck maids with rough skin, freckled faces, and sturdy muscles watched with hearts in their eyes.

Maids had to do hard, exhausting work too, so they could never look as pretty as noble girls who constantly tended to their appearance. But that did not mean they disliked handsome men.

Especially not their own young master, who had good looks, a distinguished family, talent, a powerful teacher, and a future that was certain to be rich in both money and virility.

He was practically the definition of a top-quality man.

"Little Lin Ke, could you tell me what you're trying to do?"

Ove was still controlling the Servants of Truth, but that did not stop him from talking.

At the sound of Ove's voice, Lin Ke opened the eyes he had been unable to keep open in the wind and moved his body, which had grown rather stiff because he had not dared to budge.

This was his first time flying!

If he knew that even a short flight had the servants staring at him, he would probably die of embarrassment.

"Teacher, I have a lot of ideas about the traits of certain professions." Before Ove could ask, Lin Ke shared his thoughts.

He had never intended to hide them from Ove anyway. After Ove began treating him as his own child, Lin Ke had truly accepted him into his heart as well.

"Creating professions?"

Ove sounded intrigued, and the matter he had originally wanted to ask Lin Ke about slipped from his mind.

P.S. It's the end of the month! Your monthly votes are about to expire! Why not give them to me~ Hehehe~