Chapter 319: Generous Gift

Though reluctant, everyone—except the injured Cross—stiffened their backs and attended the King’s invitation.

Yet they departed swiftly.

Before long, the vast dining hall was left with only Bruno, Blanche, and Roning.

Bruno took the towel offered by the servant and elegantly wiped his lips. “I thought, after I punished them, you’d still demand compensation.”

Roning smiled. “The King has already arranged for me. Naturally, I won’t press them further.”

“Oh? So you’re already certain you’ll win the Tournament of Champions?”

“I shall give my all, Your Majesty!”

Once word spread of how Bruno had handled the matter, the rumors surrounding Roning were stamped with the label of distrust.

But when he triumphed over Goldfeather City’s finest at the Tournament, his current reputation would utterly eclipse his past misdeeds.

Blanche encouraged from beside him: “Roning, I hope you win the championship—and present the wreath to me.”

When a knight claimed victory, he presented the wreath to a woman in attendance—not merely as celebration, but as homage, or even affection.

To accept the wreath signified accepting his reverence or love, symbolizing her allure—but it did not imply romance, nor marriage.

It was merely custom. Many noble daughters had received wreaths. Only Blanche never had. The lingering regret kept her from attending most tournaments.

“I shall, Your Highness!” Roning vowed.

“Don’t underestimate the geniuses of Goldfeather City. You’ll meet your match.”

Bruno chuckled, then shifted tone. “But if you win the championship, I shall give you another gift.”

Roning raised an eyebrow. “What gift?”

A royal gift could never be ordinary.

Bruno clapped his hands. A subordinate official entered respectfully, delivered a scroll, then withdrew.

Roning hurried forward, helping unroll the two-meter-long, one-meter-wide parchment. It was no painting—but a remarkably complete map of the Orland Continent.

It marked the domains of every noble within the kingdom, islands at sea, and distant vortex symbols far from the coast.

“Northwest of the Screaming Sea, near the territory of the Amethyst Count, lies a solitary island.”

Bruno pointed his finger. “Flux Island.”

Roning gazed at it.

Though close to the Amethyst Count’s lands, the island lay near the northern midline of the Screaming Sea—nearly as near to the North U region as to the Amethyst domain.

“It’s small—barely larger than a viscountcy. For ages, it’s been a prison colony. Since the founding of Auduin, the convicts and their descendants have multiplied into tens of thousands. They’ve built several factions up there.”

Roning’s brow lifted. The place sounded chaotic enough.

Bruno continued: “The guards stationed there report recent unrest—these factions are stirring, showing signs of slipping from control. If you win this Tournament, I shall assign you to subdue them. Along the way, you’ll also eradicate the White Whale Pirates’ stronghold.”

Roning knew the kingdom would deal with the White Whale Pirates’ attacks on nobles—but he hadn’t expected to lead the charge.

Still, Flux Island intrigued him more.

“Your Majesty, what’s so special about this island?”

Bruno smiled. “It produces unique fruits, shipped annually to the Goldfeather Palace. And its timber is abundant—excellent for furniture, for shipbuilding.”

“Though limited in resources and unremarkable otherwise, it remains royal land. I cannot allow it to descend into lawlessness.”

The King turned to Roning. “When you’ve cleansed the pirates’ base and restored order to Flux Island, I shall announce your betrothal to Blanche—and in recognition of your honor and service, I shall grant you the title of Viscount of Flux Island.”

Roning’s heart warmed. To become a viscount of the kingdom was a firm step toward becoming a marquis.

This father-in-law was truly generous—gifting generously, and wisely.

And Roning noticed something else:

The King never gave gifts outright.

The books from the library? Framed as compensation for Roning’s “Burning Slash.”

The fifty thousand gold coins for reputation and convalescence? Wrapped in the promise of Tournament victory.

Now, the title? Tied to eradicating the pirates, subduing Flux Island, and marrying Blanche.

Every step carried a plausible justification.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust!” Roning bowed gratefully.

He stared at Flux Island. Its location was... delicate.

If the port of North U were built, his warships could circumvent the Northern Sea, enter the Screaming Sea, and threaten the Screaming Island Count.

With Flux Island in hand, his encirclement of Screaming Island alongside the Dennises would become seamless.

He could even use Flux Island as an aircraft carrier.

“Flux Island isn’t far from your North U domain. When Blanche marries, I’ll gift you several griffons—so traveling between them will be easier.”

Roning couldn’t stop smiling.

Griffons—coveted mounts of countless knights.

Back in Shoretown, he’d once coveted the griffon riders under Hesus’s command—but had abandoned the idea.

Now, the King himself offered them.

Clearly, marrying into the royal family brought immense advantages.

Roning dropped to one knee. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your favor. To wed Princess Blanche is my greatest honor!”

Blanche laughed beside him, teasing, “Am I so cheap? Father has paid dearly to marry me off!”

Indeed, the price was steep.

But Roning didn’t believe Bruno acted out of paternal affection.

Roning harbored designs against the Screaming Island Count. Bruno likely did too.

From his observations, Bruno was no foolish, pleasure-seeking monarch.

On the contrary, his handling of these affairs revealed meticulousness.

Roning had reason to believe that when he saw the alliances between Fhernsbourg, Vila, Screaming Island, and Moonvale, Bruno had felt unease.

Granting Flux Island to Roning was, in truth, leveraging the power of the Wushan family.

As neighbor to Vila, Moonvale, and Screaming Island, if the Wushans grew strong, they could ease the King’s burdens.

No one gives unearned love—not to distant kin.

(End of Chapter)