Chapter 2

【Name: Roko Raymond】

【Level: Initial Stage Quasi-Knight (28%)】

【Talent: B-】

【Breathing Method: None】

【Skills: Basic Swordsmanship · Entry (10%), Basic Horsemanship · Entry (8%)】

【Status: Healthy】

Sure enough, he also had his own attribute panel.

His level was Initial Stage Quasi-Knight.

This was the level he had reached in the family's basic training over the past few years; it was neither high nor low, the kind that would be completely unremarkable if thrown into a crowd.

His talent was B-.

This was very real, and also very cruel.

His skills were also all at the most basic entry level.

But the most important thing was that golden finger.

The ability to view his own attributes and those of others.

This ability was simply a divine skill for the chaotic border he was about to head to!

He could judge the strength of enemies in advance and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

He could identify who was worth winning over and who harbored malicious intent.

This made the death rate, which was originally as high as fifty or sixty percent, plummet in his view.

He had confidence that with this golden finger, he could survive at the border, and even live better.

Emerging from the study, the heavy oak door slowly closed behind him.

Roko's footsteps were steady, and his face still wore that calm, unruffled expression.

But only he knew what kind of surging waves lay beneath that calm facade.

His father's words still echoed in his ears.

"Rules are rules."

"Head to the border and become a Pioneer Noble."

"This is your responsibility, and also your destiny."

Yes, destiny.

But now, the trajectory of this destiny seemed to have the possibility of deviating.

He was no longer that poor wretch who could only passively accept fate, praying he wouldn't become one of that fifty or sixty percent death rate.

He had a trump card to defy fate.

Returning to his slightly remote courtyard, Roko did not delay.

He went straight to the family's Internal Affairs Office.

The person responsible for receiving him was a middle-aged steward who looked quite shrewd.

Seeing the family crest on Roko's chest and his face, which bore some resemblance to the Marquis, the steward's attitude was respectful but not sycophantic.

"Young Master Roko, what are your instructions?"

"According to family rules, I am about to head to the border, and I am here now to collect the assistance provided by the family." Roko was concise.

A flash of understanding crossed the steward's eyes, perhaps accompanied by an imperceptible trace of sympathy.

He quickly brought over a list and a heavy money bag.

"Young Master Roko, according to the regulations, you can receive a startup fund of ten thousand gold coins, and a set of Great Knight-level knight armor and weapons."

"As well as a guard squad composed of twenty Quasi-Knights, three Knights, and one Great Knight."

The steward handed over the money bag.

"This is your ten thousand gold coins."

"However, because gold coins are too heavy, I have exchanged them into equivalent gold notes."

"The gold notes are issued by the Bulake Kingdom's royal family, and within the Bulake Kingdom, gold notes can be exchanged for gold coins."

Roko took the money bag; it felt heavy in his hand.

Ten thousand gold coins was a huge sum for an ordinary person, but for pioneering a territory, it was not much.

"What about the armor, weapons, and the guard squad?"

Seeing that Roko only took the money bag, the steward couldn't help but ask.

Roko shook his head.

"Not for now."

"Let's talk about it when I'm ready to leave!"

The steward was slightly stunned, then reacted.

This young master seemed to have more of his own ideas than the rumors suggested.

"Very well, Young Master Roko, the equipment and personnel will be reserved for you; you can come to collect them at any time."

"Mm."

Roko nodded and turned to leave the Internal Affairs Office.

He did not return to his residence but walked straight toward the outside of the castle.

Mu Guang City.

This massive, imposing city was currently bathed in the afternoon sun, appearing grand and magnificent.

The towering obsidian city walls reflected a cold, hard luster.

On the wide streets, the flow of people was like a weave, with heavy traffic.

The patrolling guards wore standard-issue armor and marched in unison; the lowest among them were at the Quasi-Knight level, demonstrating the Raymond Family's absolute control over this city.

However, Roko's destination was not this prosperous central area.

The place he was going to was a corner on the edge of the city that was completely out of place with this glitz and glamour.

The slave market!

The guard squad provided by the family might have decent strength, but what about loyalty?

At the crisis-ridden border, what he needed was power that was absolutely reliable and could be completely controlled.

People he cultivated himself were the most useful.

And the slave market was the best place to find usable talent, especially those uncut gems whose potential had not yet been discovered.

Relying on his attribute panel, he had the confidence to find those buried pieces of gold.

The closer he got to the slave market, the thinner the scent of luxurious spices in the air became, replaced by a complex odor mixed with sweat, filth, and despair.

The streets also became narrow and dirty.

The surrounding buildings were low and dilapidated, forming a sharp contrast with the exquisite nature of the city center area.

The pedestrians here mostly had numb or vigilant looks in their eyes.

Roko wore well-tailored noble attire, especially the Flame Griffin emblem on his chest symbolizing the Raymond Family, which looked particularly eye-catching in this area.

Almost the moment he stepped into the slave market area, a patrol of city guards not far away noticed him.

The guards quickly closed in, led by a tall, steady-looking Knight.

Roko's gaze swept over.

【Name: Barton】

【Level: Initial Stage Great Knight】

【Talent: C+】

【Status: Healthy】

【Favorability: 60】

【Loyalty: 0】

A Great Knight!

Serving as a guard captain in Mu Guang City, his strength was considered quite good.

Barton walked quickly to Roko, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard knight salute.

His face wore just the right amount of respect, and even a trace of undisguised ingratiation.

"Respected Young Master, why have you come here?"

"The environment here is complex and not very safe; please allow us to escort you."

Barton's voice was loud, and his attitude was humble.

He clearly recognized Roko's identity, or rather, recognized that emblem.

Roko nodded slightly.

"No need to be nervous, I'm just looking around."

He did not refuse the guards' "escort."

Having someone to clear the way could also save some unnecessary trouble.

Seeing that Roko was not repulsed, the smile on Barton's face grew even wider.

He immediately signaled his subordinates to spread out, vaguely protecting Roko in the center.

At the same time, they maintained a suitable distance, able to protect without being intrusive.

This guy really knew how to handle things.

Roko evaluated him in his heart.

It seemed he was someone eager to climb the ladder.

The surrounding slave traders and some buyers who had come to select slaves naturally noticed the commotion here.

When they saw Roko surrounded by guards and the dazzling emblem on his chest, looks of awe appeared in their eyes one after another.

People from the Raymond Family.

Even if it was just a young-looking master, it was not someone they could easily offend.

For a time, many slave traders showed eager looks, hoping to attract the attention of this noble young master.

Roko turned a blind eye to this; his attention was entirely focused on the slaves locked in the cages.

His gaze swept slowly.

Attribute panels appeared and disappeared before his eyes one after another.