Chapter 26: 26 Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 26: Unexpected Joy

In the courtyard of the inner castle of Lake Castle, the Germann family was enjoying a cozy afternoon tea on the long bench.

"Father, isn't it inappropriate for us to treat Ronin this way?"

Malik couldn’t help expressing his feelings. He was quite astonished when he heard Germann’s arrangements.

"Yes, Father!"

Marina chimed in while savoring her favorite fruit pudding. She had been depressed eating bread and dried meat on the road for the past two days. It was truly comfortable being back home.

"Even though Ronin's team had terrible food, he still saved both me and Malik. I even planned to have the chefs prepare delicious meals to properly host him!"

"Haha~"

The tall, one-armed Lone Wolf placed the fruit tray down. "You're still young and don't understand many things. Ronin has been stripped of his inheritance rights and assigned to the barren and remote Hills Town, but Barrington of the Hyde family is very petty."

Marina didn’t quite grasp it, but Malik, though younger, seemed to understand.

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

Germann shook his head. "Not at present, Lord Rulance is still alive. But Lord Rulance is not well. If he passes away someday, then it's hard to say."

"I am grateful that Ronin saved you, but being targeted and remembered by petty Barrington without leaving any evidence is not a good thing. So, it's better for us to keep our distance from Ronin."

Meanwhile, Ronin’s caravan had already left Lake Town and was resting by the roadside.

"Lord, the Green family is utterly impolite!"

The manservant Chahar was still complaining to Ronin about the Green family's hospitality.

"We saved their family’s heir after all, but they didn’t even arrange a luncheon and simply let us leave with the supplies. They clearly don’t respect you, nor the Castle of Mount Black!"

Indeed, after preparing the supplies, Floravia had indicated it was time to leave without further ado.

Even if Ronin were thick-skinned, he wouldn’t consider forcing himself to stay for a meal.

For him, securing the supplies was enough.

Chahar glanced at the newly added wagons at the back of the convoy and grumbled, "They only gave so little supplies; who cares about them!"

Ronin chuckled. "What do you understand!"

He cherished these supplies dearly.

Now, calculating, he had 488 gold coins in hand, just a little short of 500.

For Ronin, if he wanted to complete the first-purchase reward and obtain a subordinate with the Solar attribute, he could easily sell a horse to make up the 500 gold coins.

Along with the magical crystal obtained from Pedro, it would be sufficient.

However, he didn’t do this. Money was used to buy magical crystals; if he needed them at Hills Town and didn’t have any, that would be troublesome.

Moreover, he now had two subordinates, Macken and Elron, and he himself was about to become a mid-level professional. It shouldn’t be a problem to stabilize in Hills Town.

"You are just too tolerant, Lord. If it were the Earl’s temperament, they definitely wouldn’t dare act this way!"

Chahar was still angry for Ronin. "We treated Marina and her brother so well these past two days!"

Not just Chahar, honestly, Ronin was prepared to rest well overnight in Lake Town. He truly didn’t expect Baron Germann to be so cautious, or rather, timid.

"Macken." Ronin called out.

Macken immediately approached. "Lord, what do you command?"

"After leaving Lake Town, continue the training of the guards as usual."

Ronin instructed, "Additionally, I will enhance your strength further. Do not disappoint my expectations!"

Macken paused, then felt his internal Qi becoming abundant, and understood Ronin’s meaning.

"Macken will definitely not disappoint your expectations!"

Ronin waved his hand. "Go, properly absorb this enhancement."

To advance from mid-level to high-level, knights require 200 energy essence points, while mages require 300 energy essence points.

Considering the current situation needing a combat representative, and since Elron was a light attribute mage, Ronin decided to first enhance Macken’s level, allowing him to reach the high level quickly.

Currently, Macken’s level progress was at 70/200.

Ronin calculated; without other income of energy essence, relying solely on monthly sign-ins, by next month Macken could become a high-level knight.

In a small town, a high-level knight is already the pinnacle of combat power.

Take Lake Town, for example; besides Baron Germann being a bronze knight, the Green family seems to have no second bronze knight.

Their knight captain, Andrea Lory, is only a peak high-level knight.

While Ronin was pondering, a commotion suddenly erupted among the guards.

"What’s happening?" Ronin looked over.

He saw a guard excitedly running over, kneeling on one knee before Ronin.

"Lord, Lord! I broke through; I awakened a Qi seed!"

"Oh?"

Ronin showed a pleased expression, glanced at the mage, and said, "Elron, please help me examine him."

"Happy to serve!"

Elron smiled and stepped forward, pressing his finger against the guard’s heart position. With a slight penetration of spiritual power, he sensed the Qi seed, albeit in a very weak state.

The guards weren’t familiar with this sudden addition to the team, only knowing Elron was the Baron’s friend, so everyone was respectful.

At this moment, the kneeling guard finally understood that the Baron’s friend was indeed not an ordinary person.

He looked expectantly at Elron, who nodded and turned to congratulate Ronin. "Lord, he indeed awakened a Qi seed."

"Congratulations, Lord! You have another knight subordinate!"

Chahar was excited, increasingly feeling that following Ronin was a wise choice.

Upon hearing this confirmation, the other guards all showed envy.

Supernatural power; supernatural ability had emerged among them.

People say becoming a noble involves four steps: first, becoming a freeman; second, becoming an official, servant, or awakening supernatural power; third, becoming a knight; fourth, possibly receiving a title.

This guard had reached the second step.

Ronin looked at this somewhat thin but hopeful young man and laughed heartily.

"Excellent! Tell me your name and age!"

"Lord, I am David, sixteen years old in May!" the youth answered excitedly.

Ronin’s eyes brightened. Unexpectedly, this was a young promising talent. Indeed, his decision to select those under eighteen was correct.

"Excellent!"

Ronin was very satisfied. "From today, you will be Macken’s assistant. Your salary will increase from the original 2 copper coins per day to 30 copper coins per day!"

Ronin wasn’t arbitrarily setting wages; when leaving Mount Black Castle, he had inquired with Hallwart, and this was basically the standard compensation for a junior knight.

"Heaven, thirty copper coins!"

David was stunned by the figure; he had never expected to receive such a high salary, nor had he ever imagined that he might one day become a professional knight.

When he thought of his persistence during this period, and of Lord Ronin providing him with excellent food and drink, he was so moved that tears streamed down his face.

"Thank you, my Lord—sob—thank you, my Lord!"

David spoke in a trembling voice, overcome with emotion. "It was your benevolence and training that allowed me to awaken the seed of battle qi. The Seven Gods bear witness: from this day forward, I, David, swear to follow you to the death, my Lord!"

"I have seen your loyalty!"

Ronin offered his encouragement. "I also believe that a novice knight is merely your starting point. One day, you will grow to a height that will astonish even me!"

"Captain of the Guard, I leave David to you. Hone his skills well, and let him become the peak fighting force of my Mountain Forest Town!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

Macken responded with vigor; he finally had a professional knight serving under him as well.

The other guards, especially those under eighteen, looked upon David's treatment with a mixture of envy and jealousy, while simultaneously hardening their resolve to train diligently.

If Ronin’s previous claims that training could lead to a breakthrough had seemed like mere coaxing, David’s real-life success was now proof to everyone that his words were true.

Training truly possessed a miraculous efficacy!

As for whether it was truly genuine?

Ronin himself harbored a few doubts.

He was more inclined to believe that David's breakthrough was thanks to the recent improvement in their diet, coupled with the fact that the boy's natural talent was indeed quite formidable.

At sixteen years old, to awaken the seed of battle qi and become a novice knight, his aptitude was excellent.

"Now, I have three extraordinary beings under my command!"

For a moment, Ronin felt a surge of high spirits and pride.

"Mountain Forest Town, here I come!"