Chapter 25: Purple in the Night Wind (Part 1)
On Greenleaf Road in Fenlai City, the capital of the Holy Alliance kingdom of Fenlai, numerous luxurious mansions were clustered together. In front of one such mansion, over a dozen people had gathered.
"Our Debbs family thanks you for your help, Linley. If it weren't for you this time, that child Kalan would likely have suffered a great loss." An old man with neatly combed silver hair smiled as he spoke to Linley. Beside the silver-haired elder stood Kalan, while Alice, Tony, and Niya were also nearby. Behind them were a group of servants from the Debbs family.
The silver-haired elder turned and nodded to a servant behind him. The servant then took out a small yellow pouch from his bosom.
The silver-haired elder accepted the yellow pouch and handed it to Linley, saying with a smile, "This is one hundred gold coins. Though it's not much, it represents the sincerity of our Debbs family. I hope you, Linley, will accept it."
"No need. It was just a small effort on my part," Linley said politely. "Then I'll take my leave now."
The silver-haired elder didn't insist and watched Linley leave with a genial smile.
"Tony, all three of you should go home as well. Your parents must be very worried," the silver-haired elder said with a smile. Alice, Niya, and Tony bid farewell to Kalan and each headed toward their own homes.
Once Kalan and the silver-haired elder entered the living room, the elder's face instantly turned cold. He said sternly, "Kneel!"
Kalan immediately dropped to his knees with a thud, his kneecaps hitting the floor directly. He said, "Second Grandfather, I was wrong. This time, I didn't investigate the dangers of the Magical Beast Mountain Range thoroughly before rashly taking three close friends inside. Please punish me, Second Grandfather."
"Hmph. Rashly?"
The silver-haired elder's icy gaze swept over Kalan. "Kalan, you are already an adult, and you are also the future heir of our Debbs family. How could you commit such a foolish mistake? The dangers of the Magical Beast Mountain Range are far beyond what you can imagine. Venturing recklessly without reporting to the family—hmph. I'll leave your punishment to your father. I'm just reminding you: if you continue to act without a brain, even if the family is handed over to you in the future, you will ruin it."
Kalan lowered his head and listened, not daring to speak.
The Debbs family ranked among the top three in the entire kingdom of Fenlai. Their strength did not come from holding high official positions, but rather from being the cooperative partner of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce—one of the three great chambers of commerce on the Yulan continent—within the kingdom of Fenlai.
The Dawson Chamber of Commerce was wealthier than entire nations, with business spread across the entire Yulan continent.
Any one of the three great chambers of commerce on the Yulan continent possessed terrifying financial and military power. Even within the kingdom of Fenlai, many families sought to cooperate with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. Cooperating with them was like boarding a giant war chariot.
For the Debbs family to have established a connection with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce was no small feat.
After all, the attitude toward the three great chambers of commerce was such that even the two major alliances and the four empires sought to win them over.
******
Leaving Fenlai City, Linley set off on the road back to Ernst Institute. Bebe was perched on Linley's shoulder, looking around, while Doehring Cowart walked alongside Linley.
"Grandpa Doehring, don't you think this world is a bit frightening?" Linley communicated through his soul.
Doehring Cowart nodded but didn't say much, simply listening quietly.
"In the past, when I went to Fenlai City, I didn't feel anything special. But after returning from the Magical Beast Mountain Range this time, I've noticed a lot. In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the cruelty, the survival of the fittest—it's naked, it's bloody, without any pretense."
"But in Fenlai City, the nobles, the mages, the powerful warriors—they all dress elegantly and treat others with courtesy. The entire city appears so prosperous, yet its hierarchy is so rigid and cold."
"Even in the law, the rights of nobles far exceed those of commoners. Although Fenlai City is prosperous and filled with laughter, the hidden rules within are far more complicated than those of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. In the mountains, there is no distinction between noble and lowly—only the strong and the weak."
At this moment, Linley was gradually gaining a deeper understanding of this world.
In this world, the great nobles stood at the top, while commoners were exploited. No matter how gentlemanly or hypocritically kind the nobles appeared, they could not conceal the rigid hierarchy of the entire world. To gain status, one had to become a great warrior or a great mage.
Those who didn't strive would be eliminated.
"Human society is more complex than the world of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. They cloak the brutal competition of the mountains in a gorgeous garment. But sometimes, that gorgeous garment is very useful." A trace of disdain for those hypocritical nobles arose in Linley's heart.
From the cruelty of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to witnessing the prosperity of Fenlai City, this stark contrast had also caused a shift in Linley's mindset.
"Are you afraid of competition?" Doehring Cowart suddenly said.
Linley grinned. "Afraid? No, I like it. If there were no competition in the world, and every day was dull and ordinary, what would be the point? I like competition—thrilling, exciting competition. Dancing on the edge of a blade—that kind of life has passion."
"Squeak squeak~~" Bebe beside him also let out two cheerful cries.
……
Stepping into Ernst Institute.
Having entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range once and witnessed the evil of human nature, Linley cherished the brotherly bonds within the institute even more. As he walked to the dormitory door, he heard voices coming from inside—
"Big Brother Yale, Linley still hasn't come back. He went into the Magical Beast Mountain Range—could he be in danger?"
"Fourth Brother, shut your stinking mouth. Third Brother will definitely come back safely. Come on, let's go eat—" Yale looked up and saw the figure at the courtyard gate, freezing in place. George and Reynolds beside him were also stunned for a moment. Then Yale, George, and Reynolds all rushed over excitedly.
"Haha, Third Brother, you're finally back!" Yale was the first to charge over and gave Linley a bear hug.
Reynolds also shouted loudly, "Wow, Linley, Big Brother Yale and George have been talking about you every day, worrying about you. I, on the other hand, was sure you'd come back safely."
"Fourth Brother." George glared at him. "Weren't you just now worried that Third Brother might be in danger?"
"Me?" Reynolds put on a confused expression. "Did I say that?"
Linley looked at his three good brothers, and his heart instantly warmed. Yale immediately waved his hand and said boldly, "Alright, you two, stop talking nonsense. Third Brother coming back safely from the Magical Beast Mountain Range is a great occasion. Come on, let's go celebrate properly."
"Second Brother, Fourth Brother." Linley also smiled and said, "Let's go. Today, we'll drink well. My treat."
"Oh?" Reynolds widened his eyes. "Your treat?"
Yale burst out laughing. "Right, Third Brother's treat. Don't forget, a few days ago, the Proulx Gallery sent over the invitation letter. Third Brother's three works sold for over four thousand gold coins. It's time to make him pay up properly."
"The Proulx Gallery's invitation letter?" Linley was taken aback.
Yale quickly explained, "Third Brother, your stone sculptures sold for a high price. The Proulx Gallery has fully recognized your carving skill, so they've invited you to set up an independent exhibition space in the 'Master Hall' of the Proulx Gallery. Ah, I'll go get the invitation letter for you." Yale said, running toward the dormitory.
Reynolds then said mysteriously to Linley, "Linley, you don't know this, but ever since the people from the Proulx Gallery came to the institute, the news that you've been invited to set up an independent exhibition space there has spread throughout the entire institute. You've become quite famous."
"Spread throughout the institute?" Linley was a bit stunned. He himself had only just found out.
"Right, you're probably the last person in the entire institute to know about this," George said with a chuckle.
"Linley, here's the invitation letter from the Proulx Gallery." Yale ran out of the dormitory holding a gold-embossed white envelope.