A week later, in the afternoon.
As Rockta drove the carriage, Lin Suo lay on a cashmere cushion, his head resting on the thigh of his Half-Beast cat-blooded maid, as the girl tenderly massaged his temples. She plucked a succulent grape and brought it to his lips.
Suddenly, Lin Suo shook his head vigorously, jostling the cat maid.
"This damned noble life, it almost corrupted my iron will."
Lin Suo, struggling to get up, suddenly saw the fearful expression on the cat maid’s face, and lay back down.
Muttering to himself.
"For your sake, what’s the harm in letting this class enemy corrupt me for one more day?... Just one day, though..."
In the Upper City district of Koster, Migaron Castle.
The chaos in the Wizard World couldn’t affect the daily life of the nobles. Compared to his last visit, Lin Suo was now familiar with the place.
No longer behaving like a country bumpkin.
This time, Titan only met with him briefly, saying that after the banquet’s dance, he would introduce him to an official from the Capital. How the conversation goes and whether it would be fruitful would be up to him.
The change in attitude wasn’t about burning bridges after crossing the river or killing the donkey once the grinding is done.
It was an acknowledgment of Lin Suo entering a kind of subordinate role within the Migaron family... With such a status, naturally, he would not be treated with undue warmth.
Considered as half an insider.
However, the way Titan thought and acted was because such were the unspoken rules of Dan Dong’s noble society.
He didn’t care about the attitude, as long as he could achieve his goal, everything was negotiable.
The standard of food at the banquet was higher than the previous mere dance party.
Titan was all smiles throughout the banquet, seeming quite spirited.
Seeing the occasional glances cast his way by Titan, Lin Suo assumed the matter with the rice seeds must have had a significant impact.
His uncle and father-in-law, the King, must have approved of him.
A young man achieving success~
Lin Suo couldn’t help but reflect on his own shortcomings, realizing the need to continue learning.
In a blink of an eye, the banquet ended.
Titan Migaron kept his promise and introduced him to an official from the Capital.
Tominoos Galenfa Bellgreen, an Intermediate-level Wizard Apprentice focusing on politics due to lack of talent, the third son of the Prime Minister and current left hand of the Empire Governor, in charge of the sale and purchase of noble titles.
"Hello, Mr. Tominoos."
The two excused themselves to a quiet corner where they wouldn’t be disturbed.
"Titan has told me everything, so let me explain to you briefly about the Empire’s vetting process for purchasing qualifications."
"It’s an honor, sir."
Seemingly satisfied with Rhein’s attitude, Tominoos spoke frankly, laying out the requirements directly.
"Firstly, one must possess Dan Dong bloodline; judging by appearances, you qualify."
"Officially, one must demonstrate a certain level of economic strength. Titan has told me about this aspect. You’d definitely qualify for a knight or baron title; for a viscount, you’re still lacking."
"Hmm, your background and origins must be free of direct criminal records and commercial crimes."
"Shouldn’t be a problem."
"This aspect must be verified by the Great Wizards of the Golden Academy, from the Prophetic Witchcraft and Astrology Schools, through the means of witchcraft. What you say doesn’t suffice."
Lin Suo was startled and immediately a bit worried.
In this era, there were no cameras, and identity was only recorded in a household registration system, which noted where one came from. Yet, there were many who were never recorded.
So, ever since he learned that everyone in Silver Fish Village had died, he felt secure about his identity. Although Charon had set up a system for identity verification, Lin Suo had paid money.
And was not recorded officially.
That dispatched ambassador, after having his fill of the "women from the North Country" at the brothels, he left, and should be in heaven by now, as those were no good women.
But to use witchcraft...
If one used Prophetic Witchcraft to snoop around, there would indeed be cause for worry.
At this point, there was no turning back. To regret precipitously could arouse Tominoos’ suspicion.
He could only follow this dark path to the end.
Even if everything came to light, it would only expose a Fake Body. Moreover, it’s not certain, this assembly-line system of buying nobility had a long history, and it is impossible for a Great Wizard to check every single time, it’s surely a minor Spell.
He steadied his mind.
"Mr. Tominoos, if I were to purchase a Viscount title, how many Magic Stones would it require?"
"Oh? Seems you have saved up a bit."
Tominoos pondered for a moment, then pulled out a small booklet from his chest and began to speak as he flipped through it,
"To obtain a Viscount title, there are two options for you. One is the official Empire process, which costs around two hundred thousand Magic Stones, no fief given, only entitled to the basic privileges of the title, having legal authority over two hundred soldiers."
"The other path is through the channels of Bertos Kingdom, which only requires one hundred thousand Magic Stones, of course, you would have to pay me an additional fifty thousand."
"What’s the difference?"
Lin Suo narrowed his eyes, trying to guess at Tominoos’ intentions.
"You would have the same rights as granted by the Empire, but..."
"You would have a piece of land in Bertos Kingdom."
Lin Suo was taken aback, his breathing grew rapid.
However, Tominoos’ next words were like a splash of cold water on him.
"The land granted to you would require a yearly sum for its upkeep, but you would not be allowed to go there."
Are they treating me like a pig to be slaughtered?!
Pay fifty thousand less Magic Stones, and then for the rest of his life, he would have to continuously pump money into this fief, which only belonged to him in name and he wasn’t even permitted to visit in person.
That’s completely nonsensical!
Noticing Lin Suo’s dissatisfaction, Tominoos added,
"The vast majority choose the second option because that is their only way to ascend socially, and in case of trouble, they can always invoke the name of the Migaron family or the Bertos Kingdom."
"Maintaining a Viscount fief for a year barely costs a few thousand Magic Stones; what are your thoughts?"
The cost of supporting a Viscount fief doesn’t really go up to a few thousand Magic Stones; Bertos Kingdom is definitely making a profit.
What he needed to do was to keep sending money...
Tominoos, unaware of his underground business, offered this price, calculating the income of the grain store and estimating the profits from expansion correctly.
But merely a Treasure that instills fear in others on his behalf is not worth this price.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Suo suddenly revealed his teeth, gleaming white.
With a somewhat chilling smile, he said,
"What if I offer a bit more, thirty thousand Magic Stones a year, for Bertos Kingdom to grant me access to First Rank wizard knowledge?"
Tominoos exclaimed, somewhat angrily.
"You have no idea what you’re talking about, short-sighted fool."
"Mr. Tominoos, I am but one man, if you are unsatisfied we can negotiate further, with the God as my witness, right..."
Tominoos looked at him suspiciously, wondering if this guy was hinting that Lin Suo had already calmly set his sights on him.
"Since your excellency is not satisfied, how about three for one year? Thirty thousand Magic Stones could get you several First Rank spells from the Padolon Wizard Association, right?"
"And also... with God as my witness, since we hit it off so well, why not do me this courtesy?"