Chapter 154: The Inside Story of the Title Conferment

Enter the Wu Shi Ta and step onto the teleportation array in the lower hall.

The scene shifts, and I find myself in a spacious, luxurious room; Lei En recognizes the place, having been here last month—it is the residence of the Silver Star Duke.

The two of them instantly spot the Silver Star Duke reclining at an angle on the sofa.

She has already shed the solemn robes of the ennoblement ceremony, wearing a comfortable home dress, her posture relaxed, cradling a book and reading with great interest, apparently unaware of anyone entering.

In the room, only the Duke is present; the head guard Flink has disappeared.

Viola hesitated for a few seconds; she knows the Duke likes to read and dislikes being disturbed, and finally steps forward, softly calling, "Your Excellency."

Lei En also walks over.

The Silver Star Duke lifts his head, his gaze sweeping the two of them, showing no discernible expression, and nods, "You've arrived; sit and speak."

When the two are seated opposite the sofa, she closes the book in her hands, looks at Lei En, and asks, "You already know where Glamorgan is?"

"Yes," Lei En replies truthfully.

"Good, then I don't have to tell you again." The Silver Star Duke suddenly laughs, shifts his sitting posture, and sighs, "Glamorgan is a fine fief; when I obtained its jurisdiction back then, I was surprised—the downfall of the Dukagen family caught many off guard."

"Unfortunately, the fief's profits are immense; countless people covet it, even I can't bite off a piece, so I could only scrape up some scraps."

"Otherwise, I could have built Fu Kong Cheng at least fifty years earlier."

The Silver Star Duke's expression is rather regretful.

Viola, however, grows a bit anxious and asks, "Your Excellency, if that's the case, why still confer the title of Earl of Glamorgan on Lei En? The record company is already on track; I assure you, within five years its annual revenue will definitely exceed five hundred thousand Gold Shields."

The Silver Star Duke remains unmoved.

She hums and retorts, "Viola, do you think I'm short of money, and that's why I set my sights on the Glamorgan fief?"

Viola gives no reply, but she clearly thinks so.

Lei En feels the same.

Beyond that, they can't think of any other reason. Throughout Longshande, anyone with even a slight knowledge of the Glamorgan fief likely shares the same thought.

The Silver Star Duke pauses briefly, then says, "You've run the record company well; I also have high hopes for the Phonograph's prospects—it's an industry that can generate profit over the long term."

"But do you know how much the Mo Du aristocracy hands over to me each year?"

Without waiting for Lei En and Viola to guess, she continues, "It happens to be exactly five hundred thousand Gold."

"That much!"

Both are somewhat startled; the amount is far higher than expected.

An annual income of five hundred thousand Gold, compared with the total tax revenue of the Longshande dukedom, seems modest, yet it is pure profit—no work required; just lying around, one can collect five hundred thousand Gold each year.

The Mo Du aristocracy's willingness to give the Silver Star Duke so much clearly indicates their earnings from Glamorgan far exceed that figure.

Perhaps this is merely an insignificant portion of it.

Lei En thinks that the Silver Star Duke is not content with just the five hundred thousand Gold; she wants more.

Viola still cannot understand and asks, "Why specifically Lei En?"

No matter how strong Lei En's abilities are, he is still only a Fourth-level Wizard.

He entered Mo Du, the trade capital of the Empire where countless strongmen gather, and it was a near‑death experience.

The Duke could reclaim Glamorgan by appointing someone else; any of the five legendary super‑humans under the Duke would be more suitable than Lei En to become the new Earl of Glamorgan.

"Do you think I'm pushing Lei En into a fire pit?" the Silver Star Duke asks in a deep voice.

Viola lightly bites her lip, thinking, isn't that so?

The Silver Star Duke sneers, showing slight displeasure toward his great‑granddaughter, and says calmly, "It seems you understand neither me nor Lei En."

Lei En's heart jumps, but he says nothing.

Viola, however, looks bewildered, not grasping the meaning of the words.

"Your Excellency?"

The Silver Star Duke tosses the book aside and says slowly, "First, I am indeed short of money now, but not to the point of tearing up the agreement made with Anxiwodasi. The recent earthquake caused considerable loss; at most it will delay the construction of Fu Kong Cheng by a few years, and I'm not in a hurry."

"Second, you underestimate Lei En's strength; Longshande has no better candidate for the Earl of Glamorgan than him. Sending him to Mo Du makes survival easier than for anyone else."

Lei En's feeling grows worse, as if the Silver Star Duke knows something.

Viola can't help but glance at Lei En beside her, a hint of doubt in her eyes, and says, "Your Excellency, Lei En is only a Fourth-level Wizard."

A strange smile appears on the Silver Star Duke's face.

"Have you ever seen a Fourth-level Wizard who can storm a castle and kill twenty‑four super‑humans within five minutes, including Seventh-level Steel Knights, Fifth-level Wizards, and Sixth-level Shadow Warriors?"

Those words, to Lei En's ears, are as shocking as a stone breaking the heavens.

He had thought no one would know, not even Viola, and felt a bit smug.

He didn't expect the Silver Star Duke had already discovered it.

Lei En feels a little uneasy inside, yet his face remains impassive, as if the words weren't about him.

He is also somewhat curious—whether he slipped up somewhere, or the Holy Soul Wizard possesses some unknown superior technique?

Viola is shocked, staring at Lei En, "Did you kill Ga Luo Wei Na?"

Lei En gives no answer, effectively conceding.

He senses a stern gaze upon him—it's the Silver Star Duke—whose expression is not pleasant, seeming somewhat angry.

That makes Lei En feel uneasy.

Ga Luo Wei Na is the Silver Star Duke's grandson, one of the descendants she values highly; I killed him and still sit here brazenly—at least I wasn't slain on the spot.

Lei En suddenly realizes why the Silver Star Duke sent him to Mo Du—it is both a gift and a punishment.

Combining favor and threat, the method most favored by those in power.

Understanding this, his mind relaxes; at least the Silver Star Duke won't trouble him again before he returns from Mo Du.

He forces a dry laugh and, bracing himself, asks, "Your Excellency, what should I do in Mo Du?"

The Silver Star Duke had already said that she appointed him as Earl of Glamorgan not for money, but for another purpose.

"Viola, you go out first."

The Silver Star Duke whispered a sentence, evidently the matter that followed needed to be kept secret. Viola was startled for a moment, and seeing the Duke's resolute attitude, she had no choice but to step into the teleportation array and leave.

In the vast room, only two people remained, which made Lei En feel a bit uneasy.

The Silver Star Duke said gravely, "Appointing a new Earl of Glamorgan wasn't my idea; it was Anxiwodasi who voluntarily proposed it to me, I merely chose you."

"Huh?" Lei En was momentarily at a loss.

What kind of move is this?

He had imagined many reasons, yet never guessed that it would actually be Master Anxiwodasi's idea.

A flood of thoughts suddenly surged in Lei En's mind.

Master Anxiwodasi, as the leader of the Weizelan Floating City and the strongest figure stationed in Mo Du, would, by normal logic, be on the side of Mo Du's nobles, since they share common interests.

Could a rift have arisen between the two sides?

Moreover, Master Anxiwodasi seems to have a good relationship with the Silver Star Duke; at least there is a certain trust, otherwise the Duke wouldn't be allowed to meddle in Mo Du's affairs.

He hurriedly asked, "Why does Master Anxiwodasi want to do this? Does he have a conflict with Mo Du's nobles?"

"I'm not clear; he hasn't told me many details about the situation," the Silver Star Duke seemed somewhat puzzled, "You should go to Mo Du after the New Year, the sooner the better."

"When you arrive in Mo Du, you will enter the Weizelan Wizards Academy. I've already written a recommendation letter for you; this letter can directly make you a student of the academy without further entrance examinations."

"People from Anxiwodasi's side will also get in touch with you."

"Do not reveal your connection to Anxiwodasi while in Mo Du, but he promised me that if you complete the task, he can take you as a student."

Lei En couldn't help but be startled, "Become Master Anxiwodasi's student!"

That promise was incredibly tempting.

Master Anxiwodasi is one of the three heads of the Supreme Council; in terms of status and power, he is among the few in the Empire, and moreover, this master enjoys great prestige in imparting magical knowledge.

Across the world, one might not find a better teacher than Master Anxiwodasi.

However, the better the terms, the greater the danger.

Lei En's expression grew solemn as he realized the seriousness of the matter.

To make a Holy Soul Wizard so vigilant, while even the Silver Star Duke is unaware of the details, and to be drawn into it oneself—one careless move could cost a life.

He brazenly asked, "Sir, aren't you sending anyone to accompany me to Mo Du?"

In the past, for the Earl of Glamorgan, the Silver Star Duke would always dispatch guards; if no one is sent this time, it might raise suspicion.

The Silver Star Duke considered for a moment, then nodded, "I will send a Secret Fire Guard unit to accompany you, plus a squad of Silver-clad Knights. However, they can only operate outside the academy; inside the academy, you will have to rely on yourself."

Lei En was overjoyed; that was enough.

All members of the Secret Fire Guard are elite Wizards, and the Silver-clad Knights are Longshande's finest guards; with them present, one's safety is greatly enhanced.

Later, the Silver Star Duke gave further instructions on matters to watch, and produced the prepared recommendation letter.

Before departing, the Silver Star Duke suddenly said, "Your family, I can assure you, are very safe in Longshande."

"No matter how long the Mo Du nobles' hands stretch, they cannot reach into Longshande."

"Go with peace of mind."

Lei En listened with helplessness; those words were ominous... Moreover, the Silver Star Duke's words carried a hidden meaning—saying he would protect his family was actually to hold them as hostages.

She feared he might refuse to go to Mo Du and flee at the last moment, so she kept his family as leverage.

But this is also fine; at least he no longer has to worry about his family's safety.

(End of chapter)