Chapter 512: Arrival at Eagle City!

Next, Gervas stayed in Gail Domain for only one day.

Under normal circumstances, he should have stayed several more days in Gail Domain.

After all, the opportunity was rare; leaving after just one or two days seemed heartless.

But Gervas had a compelling reason to leave.

That was the coming winter—he needed to return to his domain early to make preparations.

Moreover, he had to hurry back to Eagle City to claim his land grant.

The King had enfeoffed him as a Count Lord, so he naturally had to be granted a corresponding territory.

Even if it was the minimum possible size, it would still be at least four or five times larger than his current Storm Domain.

After all, a Count’s domain was expected to be at least five times the size of a Viscount’s.

This applied to inland areas; in border regions or desolate lands, the size could increase by one or two Viscount’s domains.

However, the King had not specified the exact boundaries, since this was not a dedicated land reward—it was left to the Cabinet Ministers and Civil Affairs officials to select and decide.

Once they decided, they would issue the order directly to Eagle City, and Gervas could simply go there to receive his grant.

Besides Gervas, Mil and others had also received rewards.

So even if he himself was not in a hurry, he had to understand Mil and the others’ eagerness.

“Little Gervas, you’ve made something of yourself now—you’re a Count Lord! This brings honor to our Gail family; even when Father meets our ancestors, I’ll have pride in my face!”

“And from now on, Father can no longer help you—everything depends on you. I can only silently bless you!”

“Go back to your domain and develop it in peace! Father looks forward to the day when Storm Domain becomes one of the Kingdom’s strongest territories!”

“Father! I will work hard! So you don’t need to worry about me!”

At the castle gate, Andrew’s expression was complex.

In just one year, Gervas had become a figure his own father could no longer look down upon.

Thinking of it, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

He was also fully aware of his own limitations, so he offered no paternal advice at parting.

Mary, who had silently followed beside him, hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

“Gervas, I’ve done many things wrong in the past—I hope you can forgive me!”

“Also… also, this necklace was meant for Carolin—I hope you’ll take it!” Saying this, Mary handed over a fine golden gemstone necklace.

The necklace was worth at least ten gold coins.

Though presented as a gift for Carolin, its true meaning was to convey a stance to Gervas.

Gervas smiled and accepted the necklace—he refused, and Mary might not sleep soundly.

“Lady Mary, I am not one to hold grudges!”

“Also, though Lanier didn’t come, tell him not to forget—I’m waiting for him to reach Gold Knight.”

“If he fails to achieve it… I won’t let him off easily!”

As he spoke, Gervas deliberately glanced toward a window inside the castle.

Instantly, Lanier, who had been hiding behind it, shuddered and turned pale.

Gervas left.

Departing with his army, he vanished beyond the horizon as Andrew’s family watched.

At that very moment, tiny ice crystals began drifting from the sky.

Andrew froze. “Snow! Winter has arrived!”

…

Ten days passed.

“Well, Mil, Ian—satisfied now?”

“Ha! Satisfied! Extremely satisfied! I never thought Mil would one day be treated like a big shot! Gervas, the way those people looked at us just now—it was like we were nobility!”

“Mil’s right. In the past, even nobles in Wolf City looked down on us border minor lords as country bumpkins. Now, seeing us, they stare with awe—it feels incredible!”

“Good! Then let’s not waste more time—let’s go have lunch! After lunch, you’ll accompany me to claim Willard’s assets.”

Inside Eagle City, Gervas kept his promise and took Mil and the others on two full tours of the city.

Though Eagle City was far more luxurious than Wolf City,

it was still the Southern Marches, where great nobles were few. Combined with Gervas’s lavish escort, every commoner and noble they passed stared with reverence.

This allowed Mil and Ian to savor their moment in the spotlight.

“Alright, Gervas! Last time you let us experience this glorious attention, we promised to treat you to the best meal!”

“Even here in Eagle City, we must eat at the finest restaurant—come on, let’s head to Dongcheng!”

Saying this, Mil and the others led Gervas to Dongcheng without room for refusal.

Of course, though they ultimately dined in Dongcheng, Gervas did not choose the most expensive restaurant.

First, to save money for Mil and the others.

They would soon need to expand their domains and would require large sums for development.

There was no need to waste gold here in Eagle City.

After all, no delicacy here could match the food prepared by his cook, Rose.

After a satisfying meal, Gervas turned to business.

He had two tasks to complete in Eagle City.

First, naturally, to receive the King’s grant and confirm his territorial reward.

Second, to inventory and claim Willard’s assets.

Gervas had already sent someone to inquire—the grant had not yet arrived, so he’d likely need to wait another one or two days.

For now, he could only proceed with collecting Willard’s property.

“Esteemed noble lord, this is Willard’s former ministerial estate!”

“Migen, reward him.”

Immediately, Migen stepped forward and placed a handful of copper coins—over thirty—in the guide’s palm.

The commoner beamed—it equaled a week’s wages.

“Thank you, noble lord!” After profuse thanks, the man was dismissed.

Gervas wasted no time and walked straight to the estate’s gate.

The estate was grand, with double doors wide enough for carriages to enter easily.

Willard had been an Inner Cabinet official of Eagle City—his status was high.

So a grand estate was expected.

Notably, the estate was located in Dongcheng, just five or six hundred meters from the restaurant where Gervas and the others had dined.

It was among the best locations in the city.

But now, the estate gates were tightly shut.

Unlike other estates along the way, no guards stood watch at the entrance.

“Migen, go check.”

At Gervas’s order, Migen stepped forward and knocked.

After a series of loud knocks, movement finally came from within.

With a clang, a middle-aged man opened the gate, revealing half his body. “K…Knight, what do you want?”