Chapter 328: Pursuit at the Banquet

Lights and bonfires; inside and outside the luxurious banquet hall, everything was brightly illuminated.

The sounds of broad conversation, laughter, musical instruments, and singing merged into one.

Tonight, the Jinyu Palace held an unprecedentedly lively gathering for Blanche's birthday.

Nobles gathered here, both to celebrate the Princess's birthday and to take advantage of this occasion to chat about sentiments and discuss cooperation with other nobles.

Those minor nobles fortunate enough to attend the banquet had even more opportunities to get to know great nobles here, thereby expanding their own networks.

Luoning also met quite a few people at the banquet, though most were exchanges of a polite nature; after all, he was not clear on the true backgrounds of these nobles.

"Hi, Luoning, could I have a drink with you?"

Having changed into formal attire, Falanzi looked even more handsome and dashing, his entire being exuding an elegant temperament; he was the object of conversation for many young noble ladies this evening.

"Of course, it is my honor!"

Luoning raised his wine glass and lightly clinked it against the other's.

Falanzi Silva could be considered one of the people Luoning most wanted to get to know.

If there were an opportunity, Luoning also wanted to pay a visit to the other's grandfather.

This living centenarian must be a person of vast experience, and he was also a Magician; Luoning could very likely learn a great deal from him.

Falanzi took an elegant sip and praised with a smile: "The wine from Grego Heights is the most famous; for quality like this, one can only drink to their heart's content at the banquets of the Jinyu Palace."

Tonight's wine was indeed quite a bit more Advanced than what was in Wushan Castle.

"Your Excellency is very fond of wine?"

"Haha, what I love to do most after training is to have a sip of fine wine." Falanzi had an expression of intoxication. "That feeling is like a traveler walking in the desert, about to die of thirst, suddenly drinking a sip of sweet spring water."

Luoning did not pay much attention to drinks like wine; the plan he originally had to brew white spirits had not yet been put on the agenda.

Thus, he discussed the wine culture of this world with Falanzi and understood the other's requirements for wine.

Although there were wine and beer in this world, according to Falanzi, many knights would complain that the strength of the drinks was insufficient after intense training and combat.

Given that knights had no lack of spending power, if Luoning brewed white spirits, there would certainly be a certain market for them.

Perhaps when Luoning returned to his territory, he could gather two brewers to give it a try.

After a pleasant chat, the two were somewhat more familiar with each other, and Luoning raised a question he found rather puzzling.

"People who dual-cultivate Battle Qi and Magic are not rare, but it is very rare to see someone like you who has cultivated both Battle Qi and Magic to the same level. Why don't you focus on one direction to raise its level as high as possible?"

Hearing this, Falanzi sighed helplessly: "Compared to the disadvantage of a Magician in close-quarters combat, I prefer the thrill of a knight winning under the blade of a sword. It's just..."

He spread his hands, "This is my great-grandfather's requirement. He wants me to first cultivate both Battle Qi and Magic to Level 6, and then, according to my own preferences, focus my main energy on one of them."

Luoning was startled in his heart.

Falanzi's great-grandfather, that would be the Magician Beiluola. For such a figure to make such a request of his grandson, there must be a basis for it and it must bring benefits.

"Is there any benefit to doing this?"

"I don't know the specific benefits, but my great-grandfather told me that when I am fortunate enough to become a Blazing Sun Knight or a Great Magician in the future, there will be no small gains."

He did not hide it, because in this world, people like him who could dual-cultivate magic and martial arts were rare. Moreover, not just anyone could persist in such a method of cultivation.

Luoning could not help but feel some emotion in his heart.

Perhaps this was the foundation of a family of the strong; Beiluola's expectations for his descendants were no longer mere Gold or Meteor, but directly reached Level 9.

Luoning even suspected, had this legendary Magician already broken through to become a Great Magician without people knowing?

This question was clearly not suitable to ask.

"Lord Beiluola is the top Magician on the Orland Continent; what he says must be correct."

Luoning's eyes flashed with reverence. "I wonder if I have the opportunity to go to the Amethyst Count Territory to pay him a visit?"

"Hahaha, the Silva Family welcomes you to visit the Crystal Territory at any time."

Falanzi welcomed him warmly, "However, my great-grandfather rarely sees people year-round, so I cannot guarantee whether you will be able to see him."

Luoning understood this very well.

Such a strong person who transcended the constraints of power did not need to give face to every noble. When the other came to Wushan Territory back then, it was purely because he was attracted by the Soul Devouring Surge on Lulansi.

"Count Luoning~"

A warm greeting, but it was a man Luoning did not recognize who walked over.

He responded politely, "Your Excellency is?"

"This is the Kingdom's Minister of Finance, Viscount 'Lude Kaokesi'." Falanzi introduced him with a smile, then raised his glass, ending his conversation with Luoning.

Kaokesi—this man had the same surname as Knight Mixi.

Linking this to the afternoon when Kalada mentioned that someone would seek out Luoning, could it be this person in front of him?

"You are Miss Mixi's father?"

Lude nodded with a smile: "Mixi, that fellow, is very strong-willed; though she is a daughter, she is always stuck in a pile of men, lacking a bit of the beauty a girl should have."

Anyone could hear that this was a humble remark.

"A heroic and spirited bearing is also a kind of beauty."

This phrase brought a hearty laugh from Lude. "I have already had people send the champion's reward to your residence and handed it to your two attendants. I wonder if I might occupy the noble Flame Knight for two minutes? I would like to have a chat with you."

"Of course, this is my honor, Viscount."

"Don't call me that; I only hold the title of Viscount, and I am still far behind a true noble!"

As the two spoke, they walked out of the hall and stopped by the exquisite pillars in the corridor outside.

Luoning knew that what the other was talking about might be the matter of Kalada.

"I have a request, and I hope the Count will be able to agree," he said.

"Oh? Please speak."

Lude got straight to the point: "This afternoon, I saw you meet with Kalada alone, so I boldly guess that you must be wanting to recruit him."

"I like to deal with people who have potential."

Luoning smiled and said, "Although Kalada comes from a humble background, I think very highly of him. If he could join my Wubei Territory, I would be very happy."

"But I hope you can give up on recruiting him."

Lude looked straight into Luoning's eyes, his expression very serious: "As the price for you changing your mind, I will secure cooperative projects for your territory, Wubei Territory, and will concede a portion of the benefits within the scope of my authority."

The Minister of Finance, who manages the Kingdom's finances.

His words were definitely not empty promises; Luoning believed that since the other party had said it, he would absolutely do it.

No wonder, no wonder a Kalada with such potential had no nobles who wanted him.

I am afraid some minor nobles dare not recruit him at all, and some great nobles would have dealings with Lude and would inevitably give him some face.

Under these circumstances, it would be very difficult for Kalada to squeeze into the noble circle.

"You might not know yet, even if I don't recruit him, once he becomes a Golden Knight, he will be able to join the Royal Knights."

"Perhaps."

Lude's tone was somewhat indifferent: "Even if he joins the Royal Knights, it is still very difficult to go from a Knight to becoming His Majesty's Honorary Knight."

It seems this Minister of Finance is determined to target Kalada.

"May I know why you are targeting him so much?"

Luoning asked: "From my two contacts with him, there is nothing wrong with him."

"It's very simple, I dislike him."

Immediately after, Lude stated the reason he disliked him.

It turned out that Kalada and Mixi met at an exchange meeting between the Royal Knight Academy and the Ox Horn Bay Extraordinary Academy and became friends.

Seeing that the two were gradually developing into lovers, Lude, as a father, chose to intervene.

In Lude's eyes, his daughter was very outstanding, and if she were to marry, she should marry a true noble scion.

Kalada, who came from a commoner background, had to spend a great deal of energy just to obtain high-level Battle Technique, and simply was not worthy of Mixi.

"The Kalada of the past was very confident; he told me that with his strength, he would definitely become an Honorary Knight before the age of twenty-eight and squeeze into the noble class."

Lude smiled slightly, but the smile was somewhat cruel: "But I want to tell him that this circle is not something anyone can enter just because they want to. Without connections, without a network, relying solely on a bit of strength is not enough."

Some people are born in the noble circle and cannot comprehend how difficult it is for those outside the circle to get in.

"With Kalada's talent, he has the potential to become a Meteor Knight." Luoning defended the other party.

"A Meteor Knight is indeed powerful, but what is powerful is only him alone."

Clearly, Lude was not afraid of a Meteor Knight.

It was not that he was particularly strong, but that he felt that even a Meteor Knight could not contend against the group that is the nobility.

"What if he could become a Silver Moon Knight?"

Luoning asked with a smile: "A powerhouse of the Silver Moon level, without needing to be enfeoffed, he himself is a noble existence."

"Then I can only wish him well."

Lude said: "However, even someone as outstanding as Crown Prince Jialete is currently only a Meteor Knight, and I do not believe Kalada will be more outstanding than the Crown Prince. Wait another ten or twenty years, and by then, Mixi will have long since married."

Luoning reminded him: "Offending a Silver Moon level powerhouse does not seem to be a good choice for the Cox Family."

"Thank you for your reminder, Count Luoning, but this is only a theoretical possibility."

Lude's expression remained calm, "There is no shortage of people with great potential and good aptitude in this world, but how many can actually grow up? We cannot worry about this and that just because of things that might happen in the future, right?"

"What's more, it's not that I haven't given him a chance. It's just that he hasn't even been able to squeeze into the noble circle for these past few years; at twenty-eight, how can he become an Honorary Knight?"

Standing from Lude's perspective, it must be said that these words do indeed have a certain logic.

After all, in this era, there is no such thing as freedom of love and marriage.

Of course, even in the modern society on Earth, parents still pay attention to social status when it comes to their children's marriage partners.

It is just that Luoning does not feel that Lude's method of using his own status and power to cut off a person's future and path of advancement is reasonable.

"How about it?"

The Minister of Finance said so much, then asked with a smile: "How does the Count feel about it?"

Luoning pondered slightly: "I wonder what kind of cooperative projects you would provide to my Wubei Territory?"

"There are many areas where the Kingdom can cooperate with nobles every year, such as grain procurement, weapon supply, material supply, clothing, tools, etc. Even if a small portion of a project is handed over to your Wubei Territory, it would be a huge profit for you and your territory."

This was not a lie; even subcontracting could make one very wealthy.

It was just that Lude had not brought out an actually executable plan, which meant it was somewhat like writing a blank check.

Luoning nodded slightly: "I will consider it."

Lude raised his glass: "I believe you will make the right choice; after all, a substantial profit can earn your territory more Silver Knights and Golden Knights."

The two clinked glasses, and then the Minister of Finance turned around to re-enter the venue to negotiate with his partners.

Looking at this slightly chubby back, Luoning swirled the last bit of wine in his glass, his expression neither smiling nor unsmiling.

He and the other party stood in different positions, thought from different angles, and had different future ambitions, so naturally, their ways of looking at problems were different.

Silver Knights and Golden Knights are easy to find, but Meteor Knights are difficult, especially Meteor Knights who are sincerely loyal to him.

If he were to still extend an olive branch to Kalada now, it would undoubtedly be like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

As for the question of whether insisting on recruiting Kalada would offend the Minister of Finance, Lude, Luoning did not care much.

He is a landed noble and the future son-in-law of His Majesty the King; his status and position are both higher than the other party's.

The porcelain and Silk in his future territory are both specialties of Wubei Territory, so even if the other party really interfered, the impact would not be great.

What's more, compared to the several hostile forces of Wushan Territory, Lude does not count for much.

Just as he was thinking about these problems, a burst of laughter interrupted his train of thought.

He could not help but turn his head, only to see a group of noble scions gathered in a corner of the open-air plaza, constantly making jeering and mocking sounds.

And the person they were surrounding was none other than Kalada.

"Interesting."

Luoning swirled his red wine glass and walked over.

Not just him, but quite a few young nobles who enjoyed watching the fun also moved closer to that side.

"Everyone, take a look, take a look at this commoner who is bent on becoming a noble!"

The person speaking was somewhat drunk, his tone of mockery incredibly intense, "Look at his attire, look at his manners; how does he still have the face to attend the Princess's banquet?"

"And that way of eating just now!"

Another person walked up to the long table in an exaggerated manner, cut off a large piece of Magic Beast meat and shoved it into his mouth, looking like he was wolfing it down, leaving his mouth corners and hands covered in grease.

"With this kind of eating, have you never seen Magic Beast meat from the time you were small until now?"

He cut another piece and threw it on the table, "Come, come, come, you must eat your fill tonight, hahaha~"

These words also drew muffled laughter from the onlookers.

Although Kalada's strength and talent were stronger than theirs, mocking such a person often brought more pleasure.

Luoning observed the other party for a moment.

At this moment, although Kalada was not dressed very luxuriously, he was still considered presentable.

There was no grease on his mouth corners or hands; clearly, he had not even considered touching the Magic Beast meat just now.

At this time, Kalada just kept his face sullen and his brows furrowed; despite being pointed at and mocked, he did not fly into a rage and rush up to beat the person mocking him.

He knew that as long as he took action, regardless of whether he was in the right or not, he would receive severe punishment.

Because for a commoner to strike a noble, this was an infringement upon noble privilege and dignity!

He did not want to be impulsive and send himself straight to prison.

At this moment, one of the mockers noticed that Luoning was also on the scene and hurriedly ran over: "Respected Flame Knight, come and see your defeated opponent."

He said with a smile: "He is simply not worthy of standing on the same field as you, and even less should he appear at tonight's banquet!"

Luoning did not know this person and did not know what the other party's status was.

But the other party using him to mock Kalada made him feel very displeased.

"Sharing joy with the people is His Majesty the King's intention."

Luoning's appearance immediately made the situation interesting.

Many who had just been muffledly laughing at Kalada also immediately shut their mouths.

The young noble who had originally wanted to borrow Luoning's influence had his expression stiffen; he did not know how to respond to these words.

Luoning came to the long table, cut off a piece of Magic Beast meat, and stuffed it into his mouth: "The meat is fresh, tender, and delicious; the taste is not bad. I have lived this long and have never eaten anything so good. What kind of Magic Beast meat is this?"

"It is the meat of a Level 3 Water Python."

Kalada said: "I have personally slaughtered several of them in the Magic Beast Mountain Range and ate them for more than half a month."

"Then you must have eaten until you were sick of this kind of meat."

"Yes, Count Luoning."

Kalada seemed to be recalling its taste and could not help but say: "Perhaps the Magic Beast meat in the Wangong has a special way of being prepared, but I truly do not want to eat it."

After these words were finished, the faces of the few people who had just mocked Kalada turned a shade of green and then white.

They clearly had not expected that Luoning would not only fail to join them in mocking his defeated opponent, but would even put them in an awkward position for his sake.

But they did not dare to mock and slander Luoning along with him.

Helpless, they could only slink away quickly.

Luoning said to Kalada: "I think we can have a good talk."

"As you wish, my lord!" (End of chapter)