Chapter 97: Mentor's Inquiry (33)

As a princess, Selena has always been poised and generous; few things in this world can embarrass her.

Now that it's related to Anna again, Luosen knows the mentor must have already returned to Shire County.

Then his overstaying with the Blazing War Corps is surely impossible to delay any further.

Because the Baron had previously written him several letters, all of which he had brushed off with vague excuses, and now the Baron must have told the mentor about this.

Taking the letter Selena handed him, he sat on the long bench in the inner warm hall, while Selena leaned against his shoulder, and they read the letter together.

The letter's magical seal was still intact, indicating that Selena hadn't read it either.

Pulling out the letter paper and opening the envelope, a faint, soft fragrance immediately wafted out—exactly the alchemical perfume called "Ocean's Dream" that the mentor liked to use most.

Selena lightly sniffed and commented, "The scent has slightly changed from before; it seems the Ocean's Dream from Lockwood Perfume Shop has a new version."

"Has it changed?"

Luosen carefully distinguished it, then nodded in agreement: "Seems a bit different; I'll have someone buy a few varieties to bring over."

Selena immediately shook her head: "No need to spend this money; the important matter comes first."

She has always kept in mind the future scene Luosen once depicted at the Blue Whale Mansion.

Luosen then lightly rubbed his wife's cheek, unfolded the letter paper, and began to read:

"My dearest friend Selena, and my apprentice who loves to take advantage of the mentor, greet you."

Upon hearing this, Selena immediately sighed in relief and lightly patted her chest.

"Anna really understands me; she knows those bad ideas weren't mine."

Luosen gave a hehe laugh and continued reading.

"Winter is about to end; I return to my hometown in a happy mood, planning to spend a wonderful Winter Curtain Festival with my brother and sister-in-law."

"I also miss my dearest friend Selena dearly, and I wonder whether my apprentice has been taking good care of her—but now it seems I was overthinking."

"Oh~ I can't wait to see Anna."

Selena clasped her hands in front of her chest, full of anticipation.

"After arriving home, I saw my sister-in-law, who praised me for teaching such a good apprentice; but just as I was secretly pleased, my brother said, 'Your little rascal apprentice has toyed with me!'"

"I was quite surprised; I then asked my brother for details, and found that the whole affair was far beyond my expectations."

"Now, Baron of White Sturgeon Island, my mischievous apprentice, shouldn't you hurry to Shire County and properly explain the whole affair to the mentor and the mentor's family?"

The content was not much, and it stopped abruptly here.

After finishing reading, Luosen and Selena exchanged a glance.

Selena's gaze darted away, her face showing embarrassment.

This was something they did together, with Luosen taking the lead and Selena cooperating.

If the person they were facing weren't Anna but anyone else, she would have done it with a clear conscience.

But with Anna, she simply couldn't face it.

Without her saying it, Luosen knew what she was thinking; he spread his hands: "My love, all the bad ideas were mine; you just went along with me. Now that the mentor is inquiring, it's only natural that I should resolve it."

He then raised his arm, pulled Selena into his embrace, and comforted her softly.

"Don't worry, my love—I won't let you face this embarrassing situation."

"I'll first go to Shire County; once you see my mentor, I will surely have settled the matter perfectly."

Selena's embarrassed mood eased considerably, and she began to worry about her husband: "You going alone—are you sure there'll be no problem?"

Luosen smiled: "If the mentor isn't there, that would indeed be a bit of a problem. But if the mentor is there, at worst I'll just get a few reprimands from the Baron."

He had deliberately delayed things until now, precisely to wait for the mentor's return.

Selena asked: "Are you going now?"

"Tomorrow, then—I still have some domain affairs to arrange, and I need to prepare thoroughly as well."

After carefully putting the letter away and handing it to Selena for safekeeping, he also activated a puppet, sending it to the government office to order Yop, who was training by the sea, to "act prudently and cease provoking the fish people."

Finally, he also made some arrangements for the various affairs of the domain.

His true self then went to the Magic Method Laboratory, packing each item of the latest batch of low-end magical devices into boxes.

These magical devices were extremely low-end, almost down to the dirt—so cheap that even an ordinary person could afford and use them.

Yet the magical knowledge contained in these devices was not low-end at all; some secret arts were even the highest-end among all the devices he had previously sold.

Its strategy naturally followed his longstanding approach of "taking the lowest-mass line, surrounding the cities from the countryside."

He packed about five large boxes; four of them, together with a letter and a list, he gave to his wife Selena, instructing her to hand them over when the merchant Ají arrived.

He himself carried a single box separately, intending to bring it to Shire County.

This time, going to Shire County, his first aim was to persuade the Baron to support him.

At the same time, another important purpose was to go to the Baron's family library to thoroughly examine historical records, to see if there was any relevant knowledge about demons and fish people.

Besides the low-end devices, he also took some high-end lure-type arcane defensive devices, which were intended as gifts to exchange favors.

Once ready, everything proceeded as usual.

At night, while resting, he held his wife's warm, soft body, about to relax, but she stopped him.

"No."

"Huh?"

"The little rascals are here."

Upon hearing this, Luosen understood immediately; he placed his hand on his wife's lower abdomen to feel.

He then sensed two very hidden auras—one lively and jumping, the other calm like water—both faintly resonating with his own power.

This resonance is extremely subtle, a sensitivity possessed only by mages of the fifth ring or above, allowing them to easily confirm whether it is their own bloodline.

Selena's pregnancy was certainly his bloodline, since the two of them had been working whenever they had a free moment, extremely diligent.

Luosen leaned to Selena's ear, his face full of joy: "A boy and a girl—how wonderful."

Now that the dragon‑phoenix twins have arrived, he truly has the qualification to contend for the Duke.

Selena drew her neck in, a little uneasy: "It came too fast; I thought it would take at least a year or two." In this world, mages don't find it hard to become pregnant, but because of their magical power, the pair need to harmonize.

So normally, in the first one to three years there are no children, and then they come one after another.

As a result, Selena arrived before the three months were up.

"Anna and her husband have been married three years and still have no child."

Luosen needs it to be quick, and the speed is inseparable from his covert efforts.

Because nowadays infant mortality is relatively high, high among common families and not low among lordly families.

Under three years old, they can disappear without a word, so in popular opinion, an heir under three counts at most as half.

If they live past three, staying plump and healthy, then with proper care and no self‑destruction, they can basically reach adulthood.

Therefore, the child must arrive early; at the crucial moment, it can greatly solidify the people's hearts.

He whispered soothingly, "Dear lady, doesn't this show the harmony of our magical power? Once the child is born, it will surely be very healthy."

"Hmm~~ that's also true."

Selena felt greatly reassured, turned and embraced Luosen, saying, "I knew we hadn't chosen the wrong person back then."

Luosen thought for a moment, then added, "For now, don't announce this; I will raise the Black‑Iron Guard's alert level to the highest. Also, Ailiya will stay by your side."

Luosen whispered, "Ailiya's battle aura has already advanced to fourth‑level Battle Master; she is alert, and I feel at ease with her by your side."

Of course it wasn't a natural promotion; it was his secret assistance.

"Intelligence officer Stonard should be put to good use. His information‑gathering ability is strong and he is absolutely loyal; I will also have him raise the castle's alert level to the highest."

"Now, I am not in danger, you are, because surely many people do not want our child to be born."

"But rest assured, as long as the news doesn't leak, there is no danger. Because the child arrived early, it avoided the perilous period."

The mage couple will have a child only after a year; this is almost an iron rule with rare exceptions, thus it becomes a blind spot in thinking.

Now, he has not yet risen, receives little attention, making it the perfect time for conception.

Selena understood, "Dear, I get it."

But that is still not enough.

Luosen also plans to quietly continue casting some destiny‑blessing spells around Selena and Crescent Castle, completely concealing the matter of the child, to the greatest extent avoiding prying eyes.

One night passed without a word.

The next morning at dawn, a fully prepared Luosen put on a cold‑weather leather coat, lifted a suitcase, boarded a carriage, and, under his wife's farewell gaze, left Crescent Castle.

When a lord travels, guards naturally escort, and simultaneously Luosen also brought a newly forged Puppet No. 3.

As for Puppet No. 2, it stays at Crescent Castle; should any special incident occur, Selena can control it to save the situation.

Along the way, Luosen stayed hidden in the shadows, letting Puppet No. 3 act outwardly.

The road from Crescent City to Sturgeon Dock has been fully steel‑reinforced—wide and smooth—so the carriage runs especially fast.

In no time they reached the dock; a Baron's guard composed of ten senior knights and twenty intermediate knights boarded a wooden cargo ship over 40 meters long and set sail.

The wind was favorable and the ship was small, so it sped away quickly.

They departed at 7 a. m.; by 9:30 a. m. they had crossed the Breeze‑Breath Strait and arrived at Shialin City's Fragment‑Gold Dock.

Because it was a public diplomatic mission to declare identity, upon landing they immediately went to the dock administration, and had one of the guard knights state their credentials.

The dock supervisor was a middle‑aged man with a protruding belly and a half‑bald head; Luosen's database had his information—named 'Godelin'—a coward who shies away from strength.

He chatted a few words with the guard knight, then walked toward Luosen with a smiling face.

Upon reaching him, he smiled before speaking, "Baron, the Earl has ordered me to await your arrival here. He said that once you arrive, you should go directly to Maple Leaf Castle."

"By the way, the Earl also prepared a carriage for you and horses for your guard knights."

He bowed his head and pointed to the warehouse beside the dock administration; his attitude was exceedingly courteous.

The times are different now.

The whole of Shialin City knows that the White Sturgeon Island Baron received a generous princess dowry, is especially wealthy, and has recruited many people from Shialin City at high prices to go there.

Godelin has a relative living on White Sturgeon Island, whose salary is generous; even he feels a bit envious.

Luosen gave a flat nod, "Then I'll trouble the supervisor."

Ordinary people are like that; their minds are as fleeting as floating duckweed, forming inexplicable contempt toward strangers because of rumors, and for the same reason, generating baseless respect.

As for Luosen, the Ten Rings soul grants him an indomitable spirit; he does not get angry at others' arrogance nor become complacent from others' respect.

Nevertheless, the proper courtesies still need to be observed.

Because there are few gentlemen and many petty people in the world, and he also needs to craft a wealthy image of White Sturgeon Island to reverse the common contempt toward it.

Only by inspiring longing in people will more talent be willing to flock to him.

Considering the dock supervisor's seemingly polished appearance, his annual salary is only a bit over 80 Ogres, so Luosen offered a bounty of 5 Ogres.

As expected, Godelin was so delighted he couldn't find his north, his waist bent and his chin nearly touching the ground.

They boarded the carriage, the guard knights mounted their horses, and rushed toward Maple Leaf Castle.

Along the way, his guard knights looked left and right, eyes full of amazement, clearly dazzled by the big‑city scenery.

Although this rustic performance is a bit embarrassing, it doesn't matter; just bring them out a few times.

They arrived at Maple Leaf Castle quickly.

Maple Leaf Castle had also learned the news early; the steward Abulu was already waiting at the suspension bridge gate outside the castle.

At the sight of the carriage, he hurried forward to greet, respectfully saying, "Baron, the Earl has ordered that you meet him directly upon arrival."

Compared with last time, this treatment is indeed a great step up.

Luosen smiled, "Then please have Mr. Abulu lead the way."

He appeared calm on the surface, but felt a little nervous inside.

Because he is about to meet the master soon, he is a bit worried about being scolded by the master.

Readers, don't panic, the lord of this book will develop the main storyline; we won't just collect every person we meet. Like a deep-sea demoness who spends all day seeking pleasure, how could ordinary mortals withstand that?

(End of chapter)