Rhonamuth

Peter smiled and continued, "I offer many different fields of knowledge. Over the next year, you may borrow books from the library, sit in on my public lectures in the front courtyard every Friday, and choose a subject you love as your major. For now, go see Joan. Morton, stay behind."

"Yes, Teacher Peter," Ace and Morton replied in unison.

Ace then went to find Joan, the attendant who had been at the entrance when he first came to the villa.

"You have already paid ninety Silver Talers and studied for nearly a month and a half. I'll count it as forty Silver Talers, and the remainder is just enough for one month of tuition as a disciple. If you intend to put it on an interest-free tab, you can register it in this notebook." Joan spoke politely and methodically.

"Thank you, Uncle Joan. I'll discuss it with my parents tonight before deciding how to pay the remaining tuition," Ace replied politely.

"Very well. Take this small card made of kraft paper and sign your name on the back. Then you can borrow books from the library." Joan said.

Ace accepted the card. On its front were the words "Borrowing Permit," written by Peter in elegant Bird Script. He signed his name on the back, then headed to the library.

The librarian on duty today was a blond middle-aged man. He looked at Ace's card and said warmly:

"You're truly young and promising, junior. I was born in the Northern Milne City-State, and my name is Carter. Drawn by Medimuss's openness, I came here at twenty to make my way in the world. In the north, free men have no chance at all of obtaining Citizenship. It is different here—so long as you work hard, you have hope of becoming a citizen. I only need one more year in a low-ranking public post before I can become a citizen. I love this city-state."

"Congratulations, Senior Carter. We share the same goal, so I hope to learn much from you in the future." Ace spoke politely, subtly revealing that they shared the same identity as free men and closing the distance between them.

"No problem. Ask me anything whenever you need to. I work as a clerk at the City-State Court of Appeals. You can find me there from Monday to Thursday every week." Carter waved his hand readily.

After thanking Carter, Ace quietly entered the library and began browsing its collection.

That evening, when he returned to the Eighth District, his mother Marina had already prepared a lavish dinner by their family's standards: half a roast lamb leg, crisp outside and tender within, giving off an enticing aroma; a pot of lettuce soup; soft, delicious white bread; and cheese.

It had to be said that many foods in this world resembled those from his previous life, though the dishes were far too monotonous.

Romon had brought out some cloudy ale and was drinking merrily.

He already knew that his son had passed the literacy exam. In his eyes, there were no longer any obstacles on Ace's road to Citizenship.

"Ace, now that you've passed the exam, why not focus wholeheartedly on combat training starting tomorrow? When you come of age and enlist, chop off the heads of ten barbarians, then return and take over my job for three years, you'll become a qualified citizen."

"Father, I was just about to discuss this with you. I hope to continue studying under Teacher Peter. Knowledge is extremely important. Even after becoming a citizen, if I want to achieve great things and hold high-ranking public office, I must possess more specialized and profound knowledge. Don't worry about the tuition. Teacher Peter allows credit, and I can slowly repay it once I hold public office."

Romon fell silent for a moment. He knew his son was right. Without knowledge, even if one became a citizen, one would only gain the right to vote. Many specific public posts required passing professional qualification exams, while higher-ranking offices required serving in related lower-ranking posts for two full years.

Take the Grand Inquisitor, for example. One needed to be a noble or citizen and have served as a judge for two years. To become a judge, one needed to be a noble or citizen and have served as an Assistant Judge for two years. To become an Assistant Judge, one needed to be a noble or citizen and have served as a clerk for two years. Clerks, meanwhile, had to pass the Law Professional Qualification Exam.

Of course, high-ranking public offices such as Grand Inquisitor also required nomination through election by the Council of Five Hundred, followed by the king's approval and appointment.

"You've grown up. You have your own mind now. I've neglected you in ordinary times, but in this matter, I will support you with all I have. Don't worry about money. I sold my full suit of heavy armor, and our family has money now. Your mother is keeping it all. If you need to pay tuition, just ask her for it."

Ace had not expected Romon to be so responsible toward the family. Moved, he said, "Once I earn Citizenship and make money, I'll definitely buy our family another full suit of heavy armor and move us back to the First District."

"Come, to our family's bright future—cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Oh, right. We need to hurry to City Hall Plaza."

Romon suddenly remembered something and hurriedly dragged Marina and Ace out the door.

Marina quickly stuffed the dishcloth into her pocket. As she stumbled after Romon toward City Hall Plaza, she asked, "What is it? Why are we running in such a hurry?"

"There's no time to explain," Romon replied. "We need to get to City Hall Plaza quickly. You'll understand when we get there. It's absolutely a sight rarely seen in a lifetime. If we miss it, who knows how long we'll regret it."

Pulled along by Romon's tower-like arm, Ace jogged after him without struggling. Romon was simply that kind of person—he rarely considered what others thought.

So he followed them to City Hall Plaza to see what scene could possibly be so unmissable.

By the time the family arrived at City Hall Plaza, panting for breath, they found that most of the city-state's residents had gathered there.

A huge torch burned roughly every ten meters across the plaza. At its center stood the temple of the Elegant Goddess, with a marble platform below it and eight enormous milky-white stone pillars surrounding it. Illuminated by the torches and moonlight at night, it appeared even more mysterious and sacred.

A loud, somewhat disorderly rhythm of footsteps rose. Nobles in white robes with purple sashes and citizens in white robes with red sashes arrived one after another. The other residents consciously cleared the open space near the temple for this most noble group in the city-state.

Romon stared enviously at the citizens' ceremonial white robes and red sashes, his eyes slightly reddened. Sensing something strange from him, Ace looked up and found him stubbornly closing his eyes.

Ace could not help feeling helpless. Citizenship was the knot in Romon's heart. The status his ancestors had won through hardship had been lost in his hands, and that pain had tormented him all these years.

Perhaps only when Ace gained Citizenship one day would Romon truly be able to let go.

Once all the nobles and citizens had gathered beneath the temple, Rhonamuth Media, founder and ruler of the Medimous City-State and son of the Elegant Goddess, along with royal descendant Tadeus Media, descended onto the platform beneath the temple in a flying shuttle drawn by Pegasus.

After the two stepped down, Pegasus circled twice with the flying shuttle in tow before soaring into the sky and vanishing.

Ace stared at Pegasus in surprise, but his gaze soon became resolute again. So long as he applied the scientific spirit of his previous life—dissecting and studying them—he would sooner or later uncover the secrets behind these extraordinary creatures.

"My people, I am Rhonamuth, your king!"

Rhonamuth wore the same white robe and purple sash. The only difference was the olive-branch crown of pure gold upon his head. His voice was not loud as it entered their ears; it was like someone whispering gently from very close by, carrying a reassuring strength.