Chapter 512: Arrival at Eagle City!

After that, Gervas only stayed in Gael Territory for one more day.

Under normal circumstances, he should have lingered in Gael Territory for a few more days.

After all, such an opportunity was rare; leaving after only a day or two would seem terribly inconsiderate.

But Gervas truly had a reason he could not afford to delay.

Namely, winter was about to set in, and he had to return to his territory early to make arrangements.

Besides that, he needed to hurry back to Eagle City to obtain his territory grant decree.

The king had ennobled him as an earl, and naturally a territory befitting that rank had to be granted.

Although it was the minimum territory size, it would still be at least four or five times larger than Gervas's current Storm Territory.

After all, the standard for an earldom was at least the size of five viscountcies.

And that was in the heartland; if it were in borderlands or other desolate regions, the area could swell by another viscountcy or two.

However, the king had not specified the exact territory range himself, because this was not a dedicated territorial reward, so it could be chosen and decided by the kingdom's cabinet ministers and officials of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Once they had decided, it would be sent directly to Eagle City, and Gervas could simply go collect the grant decree at that time.

And besides Gervas, Mil and the others had likewise received rewards.

So even if he himself were not in a hurry, he had to be considerate of the eager hearts of Mil and the others.

"Little Gervas, now that you've made something of yourself, you're an Earl now! This brings glory to our Gael family; even when your father goes to meet the ancestors someday, he can do so with pride on his face!"

"And from here on, your father can no longer help you with much, so everything will have to depend on yourself; your father can only silently bless you!"

"Go back to your territory and develop it in peace! Father looks forward to the day when Storm Territory becomes one of the kingdom's most powerful domains!"

"Father! I will definitely work hard! So you need not worry about me!"

At the castle's main gate, old Andrew wore a complicated expression.

Now Gervas, in the span of a mere year, had become someone even his own father had to look up to.

Thinking of it that way, it truly felt like a lifetime ago.

And he was well aware of his own limits, so he did not put on a senior's air at parting to lecture Gervas about anything.

Andrew—Lady Mary, who had been silently following alongside, hesitated for a long while, but still chose to speak.

"Gervas, I have done many wrong things in the past; I hope you can forgive me!"

"Also… also, this necklace is something I'm giving to Caroline; please take it with you!" Saying so, Lady Mary held out an exquisite gold-and-gemstone necklace.

This necklace was worth at least ten gold coins.

Although it was ostensibly a gift for Caroline, its greater significance lay in showing Gervas a certain attitude.

Gervas smiled and did not refuse the necklace; otherwise Lady Mary probably would not have been able to sleep easy.

"Lady Mary, I am not one to hold grudges!"

"Also, although Lanier did not come, please tell him not to forget—I am waiting for him to cultivate to the Golden Knight rank."

"If he cannot manage it by then… I will not let him off lightly!"

Saying so, Gervas deliberately shot a glance toward a certain window inside the castle.

Instantly, Lanier, who had been secretly hiding behind the window, was so startled that he gave a shudder, his face turning pale.

Gervas departed.

With his great host, he vanished beyond the horizon under the watchful eyes of Andrew's family.

And just at that moment, tiny ice crystals began drifting down from the sky.

Andrew was startled. "It's snowing! Grim winter has arrived!"

……

Time spun forward ten days.

"Well, Mil, Ian, satisfied now?"

"Haha! Satisfied! More than satisfied! I never thought the day would come when I, Mil, could be so grand. Gervas, the way those fellows were looking at us just now was as if they'd seen some great personage!"

"Mil is right. In the past, let alone here in Eagle City, even the nobles of Wolf City looked down on us borderland minor nobles as country bumpkins. This time, after letting them see us, they all cast reverent gazes our way—it feels absolutely wonderful!"

"Fine! Then we won't delay any longer; let's go straight to enjoy lunch! After lunch, you fellows accompany me to take stock of that fellow Weilade's assets!"

Within Eagle City, Gervas, as previously arranged, took Mil and the others on a good two rounds around the city.

Although this was Eagle City, far more splendid than Wolf City by countless times,

this was the Southern Marches, where great nobles were already few and far between; combined with Gervas's lavishly grand escort, every commoner and noble who saw them sent reverent gazes their way.

So this also let Mil, Ian, and the others thoroughly indulge in a taste of being the center of attention.

"Alright, Gervas! Last time we said it: once you'd given us a taste of that wonderful feeling of being the center of attention, we'd treat you to a grand meal!"

"Even though this is Eagle City, we still have to eat at the best restaurant. Come on, let's head to the East District!"

Saying so, Mil and the others, allowing no refusal, led Gervas off toward the East District.

Of course, although the meal was indeed had in the East District, Gervas did not actually pick the most expensive restaurant.

First and foremost, it was to spare Mil and the others' purse.

These fellows would also need to expand their territories going forward, which would certainly require a large amount of capital for construction.

There was no need to squander it here in Eagle City.

In any case, none of these delicacies could compare to the food prepared by his own Chef Rose.

After a thoroughly enjoyable meal, Gervas got down to business.

On this trip to Eagle City, he had two matters to attend to.

The first, naturally, was to obtain the king's grant decree and confirm the territory reward he had received.

The second was to take stock of and collect the assets left behind by Weilade.

Gervas had already sent someone to inquire; the grant decree had not yet arrived, so most likely he would have to wait another day or two.

And now, he could only go and seize Minister Weilade's assets first.

"Honorable noble sir, this is Minister Weilade's estate!"

"Knight Mi Gen, reward him!"

At once, Knight Mi Gen stepped forward and placed a handful of copper coins directly into the palm of the commoner who had led the way — roughly thirty-odd of them.

The commoner beamed with joy; this was the equivalent of an entire week's income for him.

"Thank you, noble sir, for your reward!" After bowing his thanks repeatedly, the commoner was promptly sent on his way.

Gervas did not delay either, walking straight to the estate's main gate the commoner had pointed out.

The estate looked grand on the outside, with a double-leaf main gate wide enough for a carriage to pass through with ease.

After all, Minister Weilade had previously been a cabinet official of Eagle City, and his standing had been quite high.

So it was only to be expected that he would own such a grand estate.

Another point worth mentioning was that the estate was located in the East District, only about five or six hundred meters from the restaurant where Gervas and the others had previously dined.

It was considered the finest stretch of land in the city.

However, at this moment the estate's main gate was tightly shut.

Unlike the other estates they had passed along the way, there were no guards standing watch at the gate.

"Knight Mi Gen, go take a look!"

At Gervas's command, Knight Mi Gen immediately stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a series of thump-thump-thump knocks, there was finally some movement from inside.

With a loud clang, a middle-aged-looking man opened the gate, revealing half his body. "K-Knight, sir, may I ask what business you have?"