Chapter 46: Duke

"Thank you."

Lei En accepted the congratulations; he had a good impression of Kaneji.

Although it was only their second meeting, from the soul's emotional reading, Kaneji had never harbored hostility toward him, even showing a hint of goodwill, indicating he was a person worth befriending deeply.

Beside them, Viola laughed and said, "Since you already know each other, I don't need to introduce further. Mr. Kaneji is a celebrity of Longshande, a self‑made man who entered the ranks of the ultra‑wealthy in less than twenty years and was granted a baronial title. Lei En, you should take Mr. Kaneji as a role model and learn from him."

"Madam, you flatter me. I only achieved a little thanks to the help of the Mechanical Guild," Kaneji said with a bright smile, his face full of humility.

However, Lei En could still see that he took Viola's praise to heart, his eyes unable to hide his pride.

The two seemed very familiar, and Viola added, "Mr. Kaneji has always been a regular at our shop, often attending trade fairs, but unfortunately we haven't had a chance to cooperate."

"I also wish to become the lady's business partner; there will be an opportunity someday."

Kaneji replied at the right moment, his tone both regretful and hopeful, appearing sincere.

Lei En listened to their polite chatter, and for a moment couldn't tell which sentence was true or false, silently sighing that only the clever could navigate the market.

At that moment, a female server came over and whispered two words to Viola.

Viola nodded, apologetically saying, "Sorry, there's a client over there who needs to complete a sizable transaction; I have to step away briefly."

"Madam, please go ahead," Kaneji said, showing his understanding.

Viola thought for a moment, then said, "Lei En, please entertain Mr. Kaneji for me." After Lei En responded, she left with the server.

Watching her tall figure enter the trading room beside the hall, the two men finally withdrew their gaze.

Kaneji turned to Lei En, his eyes somewhat complex, and said, "Lei En, your luck is truly great; it even makes me a bit envious."

Lei En thought he had seen something, shook his head and said, "We're just friends; we actually just met not long ago."

"Is that so?" Kaneji smiled skeptically, noticing Lei En didn't seem to be lying, and probed, "Don't you already know the background of Lady Viola?"

"I don't."

Lei En shrugged; actually he had wanted to know for a long time, but didn't know whom to ask.

Kaneji couldn't help but scrutinize Lei En again, exclaiming, "I even suspect you might be a bastard child of the God of Magic; you know nothing, yet with just good looks and talent you get so close to Viola. Many in Longshande dream of taking your place."

Hearing that, Lei En grew more curious and asked, "What exactly is her background?"

Kaneji hesitated briefly, thinking it wasn't a secret among Longshande's upper echelons, and in a low voice said, "Viola is her given name, but her surname is Xi Er Wei Rui; you get it now."

Lei En's expression froze, and he immediately understood.

In the Empire, most commoners have only a given name without a surname. For example, Lei En himself is just called Lei En, nothing more.

A surname is a status, usually only the nobility possess one, representing a family's honor and lineage.

Commoners can obtain a surname in two ways: being ennobled as a noble, or becoming a Transcendent, establishing achievements for the Empire, gaining recognition, and then founding a family to pass down their surname.

In fact, the two methods aren't much different; without being a Transcendent, it's hard to make contributions sufficient for ennoblement.

If a person has a surname, it indicates their ancestors were once nobles, or they are descendants of a powerful Transcendent, backed by a family, generally enjoying high social status as part of the upper class.

Longshande has many nobles and families,

but one surname holds absolute dominance: Xi Er Wei Rui.

Because Xi Er Wei Rui is the family surname founded by the Duke of Silver Star!

Among the Supreme Council's Twelve Holy Soul Wizards, not every one founded a family surname, but those who did each have a unique, singular lineage.

Throughout the Empire, everyone bearing the surname Xi Er Wei Rui is a blood descendant of the Duke of Silver Star.

Lei En's mind suddenly cleared.

No wonder Viola has such strong influence, regularly hosting sizable trade fairs.

She is only a Level 6 Wizard, yet has channels to acquire a large amount of precious items, peacefully runs the Violet House, earning Gold Shield amounts unimaginable to ordinary people; this is due both to her own ability and significant family backing.

All of this has an explanation.

The Duke family's enterprises—who dares to cause trouble? Who dares not to show a bit of respect?

Those men who see themselves aligned with Viola and thus bear hostility toward him probably just want to cling to Viola's leg and become members of the Duke's family.

"Pah, how shameless!"

Lei En cursed inwardly, then secretly rejoiced that he had gotten ahead.

However, he still had an unanswered question: the Duke of Silver Star had been in the Supreme Council for over three hundred years, with countless descendants; it's said the family has several hundred members, and he didn't know which generation of the Duke's bloodline Viola belonged to.

"Mr. Kaneji, do you know what relationship Viola has with the Duke?" Lei En asked quietly.

"Viola's father is the Duke's grandson," Kaneji paused, then kindly reminded, "Lei En, regarding Lady Viola's parents, if she doesn't mention them, you'd better not ask."

"Why?" Lei En wondered, realizing she is the Duke's great‑granddaughter, the blood relation not far.

Kaneji lowered his voice again, explaining, "Her father was a legendary Demonkin hunter, beloved by the Duke, but over twenty years ago he and her mother, a moon‑elf mage, ventured into the Abyss and have been missing ever since."

Lei En couldn't help but be shocked.

Viola's parents were too daring! To dare enter the endless Abyss—wasn't that courting death?

The Abyss consists of countless planes, vast beyond measure; to this day no one has explored its end. Demons roam everywhere, it teems with corrupt energy that constantly erodes outsiders, who may at any moment be polluted and fall, not to mention the many terrifying high‑level Demons and Abyssal Lords.

Even legends cannot endure long within the Abyss.

Either they are overwhelmed by endless Demons or become one of the Demons.

Viola's parents entered the Abyss over twenty years ago and never returned; "missing" is a polite term—the chance of them being alive is near zero; essentially they're dead.

Because Viola's father was once the Duke's most beloved grandson, after her parents vanished she remained close to the Duke; within the Xi Er Wei Rui family her status is high, only slightly below that of a few of the Duke's sons.

"You should seize this opportunity; if you can succeed with Viola, it will save you decades of struggle," Kaneji patted Lei En's shoulder, wearing an expression only men understand.

Lei En smiled lightly, saying nothing.

Even if Viola weren't of the Duke's family, her looks alone would ensure no man would easily forgo a chance to be with her.

He now worries that Viola seems to have other motives; without clarifying, he shouldn't act rashly.

Among men, talking about women easily narrows the gap; Lei En shifted the topic and chatted with Kaneji for a while longer.

Viola returned shortly, her face beaming, evidently having completed the transaction.

Kai Nieji made small talk with the two, then politely walked away, and before leaving gave Lei En a meaning‑laden expression.

Viola waited until he was far away, then asked with some doubt, "Did he say anything to you?"

This woman is really too clever!

Lei En sighed, and replied, "Nothing, I just mentioned your surname."

Viola's expression shifted slightly, then she said naturally, "That's all? Being born in the Duke's house is my luck, and something many people can't obtain, but sometimes a surname becomes a burden. In fact, even if he doesn't say it, I'll tell you sooner or later."

Lei En fell silent, offering no reply.

Viola still stood there speaking without a hint of humility, having never experienced the life of the lower‑class commoners.

The reason she can speak so confidently is that she already possesses something an ordinary person would never dare to hope for in a lifetime.

If her father were not the Duke's grandson and not a Demon Hunter, how could he possibly have married a noble Moon Elf?

Without the prestige and resources of the Duke's family supporting her father, Viola herself would not exist.

Perhaps Viola's father is exceptionally gifted and could become a transcendent even if born in an ordinary family, but without the Duke's help it would undoubtedly be far more difficult.

And how hard is it for an ordinary person to become transcendent?

Lei En's background is already decent; although he comes from a remote town, his father's financial strength is good enough to send him to the Transcendent Academy.

In the town, fewer than twenty peers are eligible to enter the Transcendent Academy.

The rest of his age group—children from farmer and worker families—have no chance to encounter the world of the transcendent. Even so, before Lei En's crossing, even worshipping an evil god would hardly make one a transcendent.

Therefore, Lei En cherishes all of this and never takes it for granted; any method that can help him gain more and stronger power, he will not miss.

Even if it means pursuing women, a tactic that seems somewhat base.

Lei En considers this still good; many young people who have undergone the Soul Transformation ceremony can only choose ordinary transcendent professions.

Even with the talent of a class‑changing spellcaster or Wizard, where would the money come from to purchase soul‑energy media and Demon Soul?

Each of these items costs tens of Gold Shields, even hundreds of Gold Shields; if one cannot afford them, the only option is to sign a contract with a major faction or family, serve them, and later find it hard to regain freedom.

The world is forever ruled by a tiny handful of people.

Even in Ai Lun E Si, where some possess trans‑cendent power, a few rare geniuses can break their chains with their own might and rise above their class, yet they still cannot shake this massive system, and class rigidity is even harsher than in the previous life.

As a beneficiary herself, Viola saying this is her burden is almost taken for granted.

Of course, it is not Viola's fault, nor anyone's.

Survival of the fittest, natural selection.

In any world, it is a universal Natural Law.

Viola noticed Lei En's expression was odd, not realizing he was thinking of so many things, and assumed he was frightened by her lineage.

She whispered soothingly, "Lei En, you don't need to overthink; with your talent, you'll surely establish your own family and have your own surname."

Lei En nodded slightly, smiling, "I will."

Viola was about to say something else when a sudden gasp erupted in the hall, drawing everyone's attention.