Chapter 5: Title of Nobility
Ernst Magic Academy never publicly disclosed magic incantations of the seventh rank or higher. If you wanted to learn higher-level magic, your only choice was to pledge allegiance to a certain faction.
"Thank you, Lord Gilmore, Lord Lampson." Linley said gratefully.
Linley couldn't help but recall the descriptions of powerful wind-style magic he had read in books. The higher the level of wind magic, the more terrifying its power became. Especially single-target attack magic, which could even be said to be the best among all elements. For example, the forbidden spell 'Dimensional Blade' and the ninth-rank spell 'Vacuum Annihilation Technique.'
"Linley, when we return to Fenlai City, I will immediately send someone to inform Clayde. Clayde will confer a title upon you and grant you a mansion in the near future." Gilmore said with a smile.
Linley nodded.
"Linley." Lampson, standing beside him, patted Linley's shoulder affectionately. "You don't need to worry about official matters. What you need to do is cultivate in peace. I would very much like to see the Radiant Church gain another Saint-level powerhouse within fifty years."
Fifty years?
Linley was confident he could become a Saint-level Dragonblood Warrior within fifty years. However, becoming a Saint-level Archmage within fifty years was far too difficult.
"Work hard." Gilmore also warmly patted Linley's shoulder.
...
Luxurious carriages sped along the country roads, the cedar trees on the sides quickly receding into the distance. In front of and behind the carriages were rows of valiant knights. This luxurious convoy had already arrived at Fenlai City by noon.
Inside the living room of the Debbs family mansion in Fenlai City.
"Alice, can you forgive me?" Kalan held Alice's hand, gazing at her as he spoke.
Alice let out a helpless sigh and gently nodded.
What else could she do?
"Rolin will be here soon." Alice said softly. "I'll go back first."
Regardless, Alice and Kalan were not yet husband and wife. Even after their engagement, they were not considered married. Only after the grand wedding ceremony would they truly be husband and wife. Before the wedding, Alice still needed to maintain propriety and returned to her own home every day.
"Rolin?" Kalan frowned upon hearing that name.
Rolin was Kalan's lawful wife.
Because of the fame of the stone sculpture 'Awakening,' the woman depicted in 'Awakening' had become deeply ingrained in many people's minds. Once Kalan got engaged, many people would likely recognize Alice. The Debbs family had already chosen a lawful wife for Kalan in a short time.
"Kalan!"
A cheerful voice rang out. A blonde girl with a long braid ran over happily. This girl looked very pure and also possessed an aristocratic air. Her big, sparkling eyes were especially cute.
"Rolin, you're here." Kalan forced a smile.
Kalan had to admit that Rolin was a very adorable girl. Being with Rolin, probably no one would refuse. But the one he truly loved in his heart was Alice.
"Where's Uncle Bernard?" Rolin's big eyes darted around.
"Father went out to handle some business. He should be back soon." Kalan replied.
Kalan knew very well what his father was going to do. Because of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce's suppression, almost all of the Debbs family's various businesses in the Fenlai Kingdom were on the verge of collapse, losing money every day. Such losses could be endured for a year or two, but if they continued for a long time, even a family with deep pockets would be unable to bear it.
Moreover, the family couldn't just sit idle and consume its resources. After all, other families in the Fenlai Kingdom were also watching covetously.
So... his father, Bernard, had made a very risky decision: to smuggle Water Jade ore.
Water Jade was a relatively precious crystal, generally used for inlaying on magic wands. It was very beneficial for water-element mages. The underground reserves of Water Jade in the Fenlai Kingdom were quite abundant. The Fenlai Kingdom also earned tremendous wealth from Water Jade.
Because of Water Jade's value, naturally, many people began smuggling it.
However, smuggling Water Jade ore was something King Clayde deeply detested. He would directly execute any smuggler caught. But because the profit from smuggling Water Jade ore was enormous—five or six times the cost—such huge profits were enough to make merchants take the risk.
In the past, the Debbs family didn't need to take such risks, but now they had no choice.
All their legitimate business channels had been blocked by the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, so the Debbs family could only choose smuggling.
"It shouldn't go wrong, right?" Kalan thought to himself. "The partner my father chose is Duke Patterson, the kingdom's Finance Minister and His Majesty's own younger brother. Cooperating with him should make the chances of problems very low."
Patterson was indeed the Finance Minister of the Fenlai Kingdom.
As the ruler of a kingdom, Clayde naturally wanted his most trusted person to hold the position of Finance Minister.
"Uncle Bernard is back." Rolin's crisp voice sounded.
Kalan looked up.
He saw Bernard walking in from the door with a smile on his face. Seeing Rolin, he said with a laugh, "Rolin, you're here? Have you had dinner yet?"
"Not yet." Rolin replied.
Bernard nodded. "Then have dinner with your brother Kalan tonight. Ah, I have some things to discuss with Kalan. You go chat with Alice for a while. I'll have Kalan come keep you company later." Bernard said, giving Kalan a wink.
Kalan obediently followed Bernard, and the two entered a secret room.
After closing the stone door and lighting the candles.
"Father, how did it go?" Kalan asked anxiously.
Bernard had a smug smile on his face. "I've discussed it carefully with Duke Patterson. He has agreed. However, for this business, the profits will be split fifty-fifty."
"Fifty-fifty?" Kalan's eyes widened. "Father, this Duke Patterson's appetite is too big! For this Water Jade ore smuggling operation, our family is providing all the capital and all the manpower. He's just arranging some channels and securing safe smuggling routes."
Kalan understood the importance of channels.
But the Debbs family was spending far too much money, while Patterson, without spending a single gold coin, would gain a huge fortune just by using his connections.
"A fifty-fifty split is still acceptable." Bernard said with a faint smile. "Duke Patterson isn't just arranging channels. The most important thing is that by doing this, he is betraying the Fenlai Kingdom and betraying his brother. If Clayde found out, even though Patterson is his own brother, Clayde probably wouldn't show any mercy."
Kalan nodded slightly.
The other party was a duke and the Finance Minister. Taking such a huge risk to arrange the channels, it was understandable that he would get half the profits.
...
Bernard and Kalan left the secret room and returned to the living room. At that moment, Rolin was chatting with Alice.
"Oh, by the way, Kalan. I just found out from Patterson that in three days, the King will personally confer a title upon Linley in the palace." Bernard instructed. "Prepare a gift for me. I'll need to give it to Linley in a few days."
Kalan nodded.
Not far away, Alice, who was talking with Rolin, couldn't help but glance over.
"Brother Linley... is going to be granted a title?" Alice murmured in her heart.
Inside the palace hall of Fenlai City.
Dozens of noble ministers stood orderly below the hall, while Clayde sat high above, looking down upon the crowd below.
"Everyone, I have an important matter to announce today." Clayde said with a bright smile and a clear voice. Some ministers who had already received inside information knew exactly what Clayde was going to say. Clayde glanced at the attendant beside him. The court attendant immediately announced loudly: "Summon Linley Baruch to enter the hall."
The sound echoed out. After a moment—
Linley, wearing a mage's robe interwoven with black and gold, strode slowly into the hall. All the noble ministers in the hall turned their gazes toward Linley.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Linley bowed respectfully.
Clayde looked at Linley, his face beaming like a blooming flower. "Linley, I am very pleased that you are willing to serve the kingdom. I now appoint you as the First Court Mage of the Fenlai Kingdom and bestow upon you the title of Marquis."
"Does anyone have any objections?" Clayde swept his gaze across the hall.
The noble ministers below looked at Linley with envy, but none raised any objections.
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty." Linley immediately bowed in gratitude.
In fact, according to Cardinal Gilmore, the Radiant Church could have made Linley a Duke. However, Linley felt that would be too shocking. After all, he had held no title before. Jumping up too quickly wouldn't be good.
So he took a step back and became a Marquis first.
"Linley, as the First Court Mage and a Marquis, you naturally can no longer stay at the Dawson Chamber of Commerce's place. I have arranged a very quiet mansion for you, located on Green Leaf Road, not far from the palace." Clayde said with a smile.
Linley thanked him again.
In fact, Clayde had already discussed the title and mansion with Linley the previous night. Today's announcement in the palace hall was merely a public declaration.
As he left the hall, Linley also exchanged a few words with the ministers.
The highest levels of the Fenlai Kingdom mainly consisted of the Legion Commander, the Right Prime Minister, the Left Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, the Inspector Minister, and a few others. These few individuals essentially managed all internal affairs of the Fenlai Kingdom.
Most of these people held the title of Duke, with the lowest, the Inspector Minister, being a Marquis.
On Green Leaf Road.
Linley sat in the carriage, eyes closed in quiet meditation.
"Lord Linley, we have arrived." The servant's voice came from outside the carriage.
Linley opened his eyes, then lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. Bebe jumped directly from the carriage onto Linley's shoulder.
"Wow, what a huge mansion!" Bebe's eyes sparkled as he looked at the mansion before them.
Linley also carefully examined this mansion granted by the King. The mansion indeed occupied a vast area. The main gate alone was ten meters wide. Through the open gate, Linley could see many male and female servants inside, as well as several knights from the temple.
"Not bad." Linley nodded and stepped inside.
"My lord." The gatekeeper servants bowed respectfully. Immediately, all the maids and servants in the front courtyard stopped what they were doing and bowed to Linley.
First impressions were important. These servants all knew how remarkable their new master was.
"Master Linley, congratulations, congratulations!" Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside him.
Linley turned his head to look. "Mr. Bernard."
The visitor was none other than Bernard, the patriarch of the Debbs family. Bernard smiled at Linley. "Master Linley, what a coincidence. My family's mansion is also on Green Leaf Road, just one house away from yours. It will be much easier to visit each other in the future."
"Oh." Linley remembered that when he first rescued Alice, Kalan, and the others and sent them to Kalan's house, Kalan's house seemed to be nearby.
"However, Master Linley, your mansion is much larger than my family's. This mansion used to be where His Majesty himself lived." Bernard flattered.
Linley also felt that this mansion was astonishingly large, much bigger than his ancestral home. To have such a large mansion in Fenlai City, where land was as precious as gold, was not something that could be achieved with money alone. No wonder it was originally where King Clayde himself lived.
"Mr. Bernard, I'll take my leave now. We can chat another time." Linley smiled modestly, then turned and walked into the mansion.
At that moment, at the entrance of the Debbs family mansion, Kalan, Rolin, and Alice stood together, looking over in this direction.