Chapter 4: Gervas, Different from Usual!

With the morning sun just rising, Gervas wisely slipped away.

Because he was simply too happy, he knew he might have disturbed the townspeople.

While galloping on horseback, a ding-dong sound rang in his mind.

【Ding! Daily information has refreshed...】

【Information One: Lady Mary just received a family letter from your father, Baron Andrew. The serf rebellion in the Wheat Fragrance Valley has been crushed under the siege of various nobles; he and his eldest son are about to return, with an estimated time of no more than half a month.】

【Information Two: Five li south of Spring Town, hunter Karl has luckily captured a low-level magical beast, the Tricolor Rabbit, which has no attack power but very delicious meat. However, six hours from now, he will secretly sell the Tricolor Rabbit to a passing merchant caravan at a very low price.】

【Information Three: In the territory of Viscount Pat, separated from Gale Territory by one domain, a titled knight with the potential of a Golden Knight is about to be executed. This knight was originally the Captain of the Guard Knights for Viscount Pat, but his wife was so incredibly beautiful that Viscount Pat's second son coveted and insulted her.

Afterwards, the Captain of the Guard Knights, Lei Meng, knowing the truth, flew into a rage of shame and killed the Viscount's second son on the spot. However, after killing Pat's second son, Lei Meng did not flee; instead, he disarmed and went to the castle to surrender. But Viscount Pat felt this was an insult to him and his family, so he ordered the secret execution of this loyal Captain of the Guard Knights.

The execution will take place in the pine forest on the west side of Pat Territory at dusk, and the executor will be Baron Boro, Viscount Pat's vassal!】

【Information Four: Because Baron Boro has long gone to Black Rock City to gamble and enjoy himself, causing massive deficits in his territory, he has tampered with the wheat production figures of his territory for the past two years, paying at least thirty gold coins less in taxes to Viscount Pat each year. It is only because the matter was kept secret that Viscount Pat has not yet detected it.】

【Information Five: In the Chaos Wasteland located on the southwest side of Storm Territory, a rare drought has occurred this year. The land is cracked, grain production has decreased, causing locusts to begin appearing!】

【Information Six: In the Death Mountains located on the south side of Storm Territory, the python leader Kueikela, injured in a fight with a sixth-rank magical beast, will hide in Black Winter Lake to hibernate. At that time, his subordinate, the violent three-headed snake woman Abas, will temporarily hold the tribal authority. The three-headed snake woman loves to use humans as food, so it is highly likely that the human border will welcome another wave of turmoil.】

【Information Seven: A juvenile unicorn seems to have arrived near Storm Territory. The unicorn is a divine creature rarer even than dragons. The Elf Kingdom once gifted one to the Griffin King, which is now kept within the royal palace; the Griffin King only rides it during major festivals.】

【Ding! Today's information has been fully updated!】

"This information even includes details about Storm Territory?"

Thinking again, it was not strange; now that Storm Territory nominally belongs to his domain, it is quite reasonable for such a miraculous existence as the system to broadcast it in advance.

The Gale family castle is built on a hill by the banks of the Dona River.

It lacks the luxury of a viscount's castle and the grandeur of a count's castle; it is simply a war fortress built from stacked bluestone.

Although it offers no comfort or aesthetic appeal, it is the absolute symbol of power in Gale Territory.

On the dirt road extending from outside the castle to the small town, Gervas came galloping, carrying dust and smoke.

The guards on duty at the castle alertly placed the wooden palisades in front of the drawbridge, but as Gervas approached, the guards stood frozen in place.

"Since you recognize me, why don't you let me in?"

"Y-yes... Young Master Gervas!"

The guards hurriedly moved the palisades aside, watching Allen enter the castle gate, their eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension.

And after entering the castle gate, Gervas was greeted by a wave of greetings. He flipped off the horseback with a graceful somersault, handed the reins to the castle male servant, and said, "Feed him well with water and fodder!"

"Yes! Young Master Gervas!"

"By the way, where is Lady Mary?"

"S-she is... in the back garden..."

Gervas nodded and quickly headed toward the back garden.

Only at this moment did the male servant come to his senses, saying in shock to those around him, "How is Young Master Gervas today so different from usual..."

Stepping into the back garden, Lady Mary was lazily reclining on a sofa.

Her head rested on a goose-down pillow, her honey-brown curly hair falling carelessly, her thin silk long dress shimmering in the sunlight. Her snow-white long legs, unobscured by the falling hem of the skirt, were exposed to the air without any stinginess.

Just as Gervas's gaze lingered for an extra second, a fierce glare was cast upon him.

It was Lady Mary's personal maid, Caroline.

Caroline was younger and had even more delicate features.

If Lady Mary could be rated eighty points, Caroline would score ninety-five.

The remaining five points were deducted because of her eye-rolling at him.

Is this the woman possessing the lucky constitution?

A look of certainty flashed in Gervas's eyes.

The personal maid sensed his longing gaze, frowned, and immediately reminded Lady Mary.

Lady Mary spotted Gervas's figure, immediately adjusted her attire, and the fragrant and beautiful scene vanished instantly.

"Why have you returned? Where is Lanier?"

"Lanier is in Spring Town outside the castle; he said he wanted to stroll for a while and told me to return first!"

"Alright then, since you're back, the manure in the backyard has been piling up for two days; go clean it up quickly!"

Good heavens, Gervas exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

She was specifically waiting for me to return, wasn't she?

Gervas remained unmoved.

Lady Mary flew into a rage of shame, "What, are you not going yet? Or do you feel that since you are about to come of age and leave the family, your wings have already grown hard?"

"That's right, Lady Mary, my wings have indeed grown hard, because a viscount has taken a liking to me. He intends to hire me to manage his manor for a term of at least ten years; the contract has already been signed!"

Lady Mary was stunned; she did not expect this boy to be so lucky.

However, if this boy leaves early, it saves her the trouble.

"Then you should leave early!"

"That certainly does not need you to say, but Lady Mary, my father once promised that when I leave, he would give me fifty gold coins as capital..."

"Fifty gold coins? That is the castle's expenditure for a whole year; are you dreaming?" Lady Mary was like a cat with its fur standing on end.

In this world's currency system, one gold coin equals one hundred silver coins, which equals ten thousand copper coins.

And the annual income of an ordinary barony is only three or four hundred gold coins.

This does not include paying taxes and the expenses of the territory's castle.

Thus, wanting to take fifty gold coins from Lady Mary is even harder and more painful than killing her.

"Lady Mary, this was promised by father, and with fifty gold coins, in exchange for my leaving, no one will compete with Lanier for the Black Pine Forest Farm; isn't that worthwhile?"