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“While I’m gone, the Fischer family must be cautious. The Kesse family is likely to seek revenge, as our actions have clearly humiliated them.”

He knew the Kesse family’s domineering style well, and with the Garcia family backing them, they were certain they could completely overpower the Fischer family.

Thus, having been fiercely slapped in the face by the Fischer family, they must brace for the possibility of retaliation.

Irene nodded with her arms crossed, her expression serious as she said, “Mm, we will keep as low a profile as possible and not leave Nasir Town. Even if we must leave, we will do so with caution and secrecy.”

Chris also nodded silently.

He considered whether to assassinate key figures on the Kesse family’s territory, but since Byrne and Irene had decided to act with discretion and subtlety, that plan would have to wait.

When Byrne left Nasir Town, he only brought Guard Captain Theo with him and did not take anyone else on the road.

After departing Nasir Town by carriage, he did not head directly to Fein City but first made a detour to the nearby Ourde Village toward the west.

Although it was originally a Royal Family enclave, its distance from the Cyart Royal Capital made it effectively impossible for the Royal Family to control, leading to the Kesse family taking charge of the area.

While the Cyart Royal Family still collected taxes and knew they could not manage such distant territories, they had no choice but to let this situation persist.

The village appeared unremarkable, with just over a thousand inhabitants living in relative poverty but managing to survive.

Its true value, in fact, lay in the dense and vast jungle outside the village.

This area, adjacent to the endless jungle north of Nasir Town, was dozens of times larger than the village itself. The mysterious creatures within steadily produced Class 2 and occasionally even Class 3 Extraordinary Material.

Even for various baronial families, Class 3 Extraordinary Material was undeniably of great importance.

Whether breaking through from high-level Beginning to low-level Transmutation, or from low-level to mid-level Transmutation, one needed Magic Potion made from Class 3 Extraordinary Material as an aid.

Without a doubt, the Fischer family had suddenly snatched the fattest piece of meat from the mouths of the Kesse family.

Byrne could understand their hostility; anyone from any family would grind their teeth in anger upon hearing such news, unable to sleep all night.

“Theo, let’s go.”

The two set off by carriage on the road to Fein City.

Along the way, Byrne, inside the carriage, was reading books about tea while contemplating whether to bestow the Power of Consecution on Theo.

“Theo.”

“Yes?”

Theo, who was driving the carriage with graying temples and nearing fifty, was a bit puzzled and replied immediately:

“Lord, what’s the matter?”

Byrne inside the carriage closed the book about tea with a smile and asked calmly:

“I realize I’ve never asked you before, do you believe in any deity?”

After hesitating a bit, Theo answered honestly, “Actually, I’ve discussed this with Mr. Lucius before, and Madam Irene has also asked me.”

“Truth be told, I’m not particularly interested in religion or deities. To me, practical things are most important—the things you can see.”

He contemplated and finally added, “Like money, family, friends, weapons… I’m too simple, Lord, I just can’t grasp things I can’t see with my eyes.”

So that was it. Byrne smiled and nodded, a very down-to-earth view that indeed perfectly suited Theo’s serious and earnest nature.

Good.

Compared to the invisible and intangible gods, the existence and the powers bestowed by the great Lord of the Lost were undoubtedly very real and unquestionable.

Theo had been with the Fischer family since Byrne’s father’s time; back then, he was even Byrne’s swordsmanship teacher, and now he served as the Captain of the Guards.

Theo’s loyalty was beyond question; otherwise, they would never entrust him with such an important role.

Now, perhaps it was time to give him a chance.

Byrne guessed that the Path of Conquest would suit Theo best because he was, without a doubt, a true warrior.

Yes, they would decide whether to offer Theo the Power of Consecution during the next discussion about bestowing powers on John.

Finally, they reached the distant Fein City, a place Byrne had frequented over the past few years, witnessing firsthand its transformation.

In just a few years, the population of Fein City, the only city in the East Coast Province, had exploded significantly.

However, with the sharp increase in population, Fein City was now plagued by unstable law and order, chaotic construction, and infectious diseases, leaving the city hall officials frantically overwhelmed.

The Leone family of Viscount Bast had several manors, but the most commonly used was Herbstblatt Manor, situated at the foot of the mountains some distance from Fein City.

It was an extremely vast area, with three huge and luxurious mansions connected together, surrounded by lush greenery and shallow green ponds, looking poetic from afar.

As soon as Byrne arrived at Herbstblatt Manor, he noticed there were many people waiting in line here.

They had come from all over the East Coast Province, without exception seeking the urgent counsel of the Lion Leone family, many with looks of extreme tension and anxiety.

It was not only Byrne who thought his matters were important; everyone in line here felt the same.

In fact, with millions of people in the East Coast Province, those wanting to see Viscount Bast every day were too many, and many who didn’t qualify for an audience were not even allowed into the manor.

There was no other way, so he decided to wait a little while.

Byrne was very aware that his status didn’t amount to much within the Lion clan, thus he sat patiently in the lounge waiting.

Suddenly a female servant in a tailcoat caught his eye, she was a young woman with flames flickering at the edges of her hair, her eyes sharp and bright, exuding a graceful temperament.

Flame descendant, like the silver descendant, was one of the four main sub-human groups.

The flame descendant maid said politely, “Mr. Byrne, please follow me, Viscount Bast wishes to meet with you first.”

“Alright, I understand!” Byrne stood up immediately.

All eyes turned towards Byrne, speculating whether he was actually the offspring of some high-ranking figure, otherwise why would the viscount choose to meet with him first?

Following the female flame descendant servant, Byrne could also feel the heat emanating from her.

This was his first time encountering a flame descendant in the East Coast Province, where the silver descendants and stone descendants were the majority, and seeing those of the Flame Tribe, naturally capable of producing flames, was rare.

Byrne walked through the mansion for quite some time, almost having the illusion that he was in some provincial palace.

He felt if someone hadn’t been leading him, he might have gotten lost during his first time inside the mansion.

Along the way, he saw many servants, each one showing subservience, wearing smiles, and being very polite.

Then, he didn’t see even one of the family’s guards, and he quickly realized that anyone daring to attack the manor wouldn’t be stopped by ordinary guards.

Therefore, the Bast family’s guards were probably not ordinary people. The few Extraordinary Exponents acting as guards were likely living in rooms he couldn’t see.

Finally, the maid stopped and said with a smile, “Lord Byrne, Lord Viscount is in this drawing room, please come in.”

So Herbstblatt Manor had more than one drawing room. Byrne silently took note of all the information about Herbstblatt Manor, and then met Viscount Bast, who was quietly drinking tea in the drawing room.

Viscount Bast was obviously a man who valued his appearance greatly at home.

He had several young and handsome male and female servants around him, some responsible for brewing tea, some for holding clothes, and others for offering pastries.

Each servant in the Leone family was responsible for one task only.

In a noble family with deep roots, servants followed the principle of “one person, one duty.”

“You’ve finally arrived, Byrne, I was wondering just which day you would come,” he said.

“Sit, have some tea.”

Viscount Bast sat calmly on the sofa, sipping fragrant black tea.

Byrne knew that it was quite normal for the other party to have guessed that he would come.

After all, the Fischer family’s foundation in East Coast Province was not solid, and it was only a matter of time before they had to seek a reliable patron, with Viscount Bast being the most familiar and manageable option.

Byrne tried not to let himself get nervous and sat calmly opposite Viscount Bast.

They drank tea.

For a long while, neither of them said anything, they just drank their tea. The few servants standing by were immobile, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Suddenly, Viscount Bast asked, “What do you think about the tea you just had?”

That was the right question indeed. Byrne instantly recalled all the knowledge he had seen in the carriage and smiled as he replied:

“The quality is very good. The books I’ve read mentioned tea leaves and only very good leaves can produce such aroma. The taste is rich and mellow, with a certain bitterness and sweetness.”

Viscount Bast nodded with a smile and said:

“Hmm, you’re a person who likes reading, I can see that.”

He suddenly sighed and said, “Alright, let’s get down to business.”

The servants swiftly and skillfully cleared away the tea, the whole process fluid like water, and Viscount Bast leaned on the sofa, gazing at Byrne calmly.

Byrne nodded, then took a contract out from his bosom and handed it over.

Viscount Bast took the contract, glanced at it calmly—it was a declaration of the transfer of a significant share of two factories. After looking at it, he didn’t speak and casually placed the contract to one side.

Byrne took a deep breath and inquired, “Lord Viscount, I wish to have your protection. Is there anything else you require me to do?”

He had long been psychologically prepared, knowing that he would likely have to proactively divulge his vulnerabilities or do certain things as a “Proof of Loyalty” to demonstrate his allegiance to Viscount Bast.

He just didn’t know what exactly were the inner demands of Viscount Bast.

However, Viscount Bast shook his head, his voice low as if he were recalling something.

“I don’t need you to do anything more to show your loyalty because, as I said, I can see a person’s character from birth, and you are the kind that values relationships and righteousness,” he said.

“Byrne, I know you will never betray me.”

He slowly stood up, turned towards the window, and watched as the red leaves continuously fell outside.

Winter was coming.

“You’ve come at just the right time, I wasn’t wrong after all, otherwise, it couldn’t have been such a coincidence.”

With his back to Byrne, Viscount Bast continued, “Come with me to a place, Byrne, you will be exposed to another entirely different world.”