Chapter 4: 4 The Perilous Territory

Luoning pondered for Along while before picking up a pen and writing a new surname on the appointment letter—Firestorm.

Fire and storm, implying intensity and vastness; wind aids the fire's momentum, and fire borrows the wind's power, endless and unstoppable, sweeping away everything in its path.

Luoning chose this word as his surname, signifying his own rebirth while also hoping that his future journey would be as intense and unstoppable as a firestorm!

After all, having become a minor lord in another world, who wouldn't want to become a great lord?

"Please, Steward, tell my father that I have chosen 'Firestorm' as my surname, and I hope the Wushan Territory and my own domain will flourish like a fire fanned by the wind."

Huoerhuate nodded repeatedly; it was a well-chosen name.

"Rest assured, Young Master, I will convey your thoughts to the Master!"

He felt that the eldest grandson of the Marquis, who had a poor reputation, was different today than in the past; perhaps he had grown a lot after the sudden changes of the last two days.

A mature and steady family member was very important to the current Wushan Territory, even if this person no longer carried the Wushan surname, the bloodline remained.

No matter where one went, the signature black eyes and silver hair of the Wushan Family would always be present.

Luoning blew the ink dry on the appointment letter and placed it back into the box.

He glanced at the map spread out on the table, thinking that the steward before him might know a bit more, so he asked:

"I am about to become the Baron of Shanlin Town, yet I know nothing about it. Huoerhuate, do you have any understanding of Shanlin Town?"

As a steward, Huoerhuate had much more insight than an ordinary servant.

Plus, having served by Weijinsi's side for many years, he would also come into contact with some information.

"Young Master Luoning, this subordinate does indeed have some understanding of Shanlin Town."

He introduced: "Shanlin Town is located in the north of the Wushan Territory. It borders the tail end of the Wushan Magical Beast Mountain Range to the west, and is surrounded by a vast expanse of woodland and hills to the east and north. It is said that beyond them lies the sea. Only the south provides access to the outside world, but there are also rolling hills blocking the way, so transportation is not very good."

Luoning frowned slightly; this place was truly a remote area, and it seemed to be somewhat dangerous as well.

"The Magic Beasts in the Wushan Magical Beast Mountain Range won't attack Shanlin Town, will they?" He asked with some concern.

"That is possible, Young Master."

The steward said: "I remember that over the years, the Master has successively arranged for Barons or Pioneer Knights to manage Shanlin Town, but they all seemed to die in the confrontations with the Magic Beasts that winter."

Luoning's face turned pale; holy crap, isn't this a place of great misfortune?

No wonder Weijinsi said those who had performed meritorious service didn't have much of an opinion on appointing Luoning as the Baron of Shanlin Town.

This was a place that was both dangerous and had poor transportation, and presumably had no profit to be made; who would want to come here as a fief?

Seeing Luoning's face change, Huoerhuate knew his introduction had frightened the other party, so he hurriedly comforted him:

"Actually, Young Master, you don't need to worry. Magic Beasts are accustomed to coming down the mountain to forage when food is hard to find during the snowy winter. At that time, you just need to stay in the castle and go out less, and you will be fine."

Luoning revealed a very bitter smile, "Thank you for your advice, I find it very useful."

"Thank you for your affirmation."

Huoerhuate continued to introduce: "Actually, it's not just the Magic Beasts; there are also some savage tribes in the mountains north of Shanlin Town that pose a certain threat."

"More than twenty years ago, the Marquis sent people to suppress these savage tribes. Although we lost a few Guards and Knights, we had already beaten that group into insignificance."

"What!" Luoning was shocked, "There are still savage tribes??"

Magic Beasts were one thing, but what were these savages? Humanoid creatures covered in long hair?

After Huoerhuate's introduction, Luoning gained a certain understanding of the savage tribes in the woodlands north of Shanlin Town.

The savage tribes were not actual savages, but the remnants of defeated troops who had fled into the mountains while being hunted by the Marquis over twenty years ago.

Initially, the suppression army went in and out of the forest many times, killing the opposing side until they were no longer a threat.

Later, due to the remote location of Shanlin Town and the lack of supplies, the matter was shelved and they were not completely wiped out.

As time passed, those remnants absorbed some thieves, bandits, and refugees who had fled into the deep mountains, gradually forming the current savage tribes.

It sounded scary, but their actual combat power was not very high; otherwise, Shanlin Town, which had no lord, would have long been swallowed up by the savage tribes.

But Luoning was still very worried; he had to make some preparations to ensure his own safety.

"Mr. Steward, has the Count arranged any escorts or elite family troops for me?"

Theoretically speaking, for a child leaving home to start a business, the family would provide some resource support.

It was just that with a person like Weijinsi, it was hard to say.

"Uh..."

Huoerhuate hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "Sorry, Young Master, the Master did not arrange any escorts or elite troops."

Sure enough, the father of his predecessor did not give Luoning any surprises.

"Then money? Food? Horses and the like?"

Huoerhuate still shook his head; it was clear that Weijinsi had provided absolutely no resource support.

"Alright, I understand!"

Luoning began to appear very dejected, and he slumped into his chair.

If he wanted to have any preparations, he had to obtain material or financial support from others, especially money; with that, Luoning could at least go out and buy things.

He had to find a way to get some money.

"It looks like I'll have to be thick-skinned and ask for it."

After making this decision, Luoning prepared to start acting.

He knew from his memories that Weijinsi and his predecessor's mother, Fatima, were very much in love; if it weren't for her accidental death, he wouldn't have a stepmother named Daianni Haide.

"It seems the Count doesn't treat me as a son at all. Has he forgotten the promise he made to my mother back then?"

Luoning looked pained, "He once promised my mother that he would use his own life to protect the safety of me and my sister, but now? I am about to go to such a dangerous place as Shanlin Town, yet he won't even give me a single Guard or a single gold coin!"

"He clearly wants me to die in Shanlin Town!"

Luoning looked straight into Huoerhuate's eyes, and only when the latter's gaze dodged and dared not meet his, did he say in a tone that was thirty percent crying, thirty percent complaining, and forty percent angry:

"If I meet with an accident on the road or in my territory, I will definitely tell my mother in heaven that the man she loved so deeply is actually a heartless person who does not keep his promises!"

"I truly feel it was not worth it for my mother!"

"Young Master, please... please don't be so agitated."

Huoerhuate was somewhat flustered; he had only come to deliver an appointment letter and had not expected such a scene to occur suddenly.

The Earl's son, the Baron of Shanlin Town, was actually weeping and complaining right in front of him.

A noble, weeping and complaining to a Steward like him—this was a first.

He hurriedly concocted an excuse to appease him: "Perhaps, perhaps the master is just too busy and forgot; I will go remind him as soon as I return later."

Luoning touched the corners of his eyes, performing the action of wiping away tears, though in reality, his eyes were dry.

"Then I am truly grateful to you, Mr. Steward. Please also convey my words to the Earl, and ask him if he still remembers a woman named Fatima Sali."

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Huoerhuate hurriedly agreed, then politely and hastily retreated from the room.

Seeing the Steward leave, Luoning let out Along sigh.

In just half a day, he had already performed two acts in a row; not being an actor by trade, he felt quite exhausted.

Returning to the Attribute Panel, Luoning used the 1 Attribute Point obtained from today's check-in and added it to his level.

【Level】: Mortal (0/10) → (1/10)

In an instant, Luoning felt the fatigue on his body vanish, and at the same time, he felt his physical strength and spirit had been strengthened to a certain degree.

"Adding points during the Mortal stage should be the process of helping me shed the frail constitution of my predecessor."

He looked at the other four interfaces with great satisfaction.

The check-in was automatic and required no action from him;

The Seven-Day Login and Achievement Task were also completed automatically, but the rewards required him to claim them manually.

He could claim the first day's reward now, which would grant him a subordinate with the aptitude to become a level 6 Golden Knight.

However, now was not the time to claim the reward.

A stranger suddenly appearing in the Marquis Mansion would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Luoning did not want this matter to be exposed.

"No rush, I'll claim it when I go out. The most urgent matter now is to get money!"

Where to get money?

Luoning tapped his fingers on the tabletop.

In the entire castle, the people who controlled the wealth were just those few—his grandfather Marquis Lulansi, his father Earl Wiggins, his stepmother Daianni, and his younger brother Buleidun.

He had already had the Steward Huoerhuate speak to Wiggins, and Daianni might also be present there.

Therefore, Luoning did not need to set his sights on those two.

And his younger brother Buleidun was currently at the Supernatural Academy in Wushan City and not at home, so the only one left was Lulansi.

But having just been stripped of his inheritance and then graciously granted the title of Baron, was it appropriate for Luoning to go and ask Lulansi for resource support?

Someone with thin skin might not want to go, but Luoning felt it didn't matter; his skin was just a little bit thick.

Following his memories, Luoning sprinted to the outside of the old Marquis's detached small building.

He could hear the sound of Lulansi coughing inside, as well as the busy figures of several Servants.

"Grandfather~"

Luoning called out, then walked into the room.

(End of this chapter)