Chapter 110: Promotion and Underlying Turmoil
Chapter 110: Promotion and Underlying Turmoil
"Lord Hamilton, the 'materials' mentioned in the note are, of course, the children who were forcefully abducted by various gangs and pirates on their behalf. If my guess is correct, this Black Flame Sect you speak of is obviously preparing for something significant in the near future."
"You're right, Rain. I will immediately report this matter to the County City," Lord Hamilton nodded, sharing the same sentiment.
The recent spate of child disappearances had a clear culprit—the Black Flame Sect.
At that moment, a messenger arrived and reported, "Sheriff, Knight Lloyd and his team have arrived at Sterwin Farm. Shall we go to them, or should we invite Knight Lloyd here?"
After hearing the messenger's report, Lord Hamilton didn't make a decision right away. Instead, he turned to Rain and asked, "Have all the children been rescued?"
Rain nodded and replied, "The rescue operation was a complete success. No casualties and no injuries!"
"Excellent! Then let's go to Sterwin Farm and meet up with Knight Lloyd's team." Lord Hamilton waved his hand, clearly in high spirits.
"Just over a month? Did Kayla take the initiative to approach him?" Dennis shared some news that Baron Norman wasn't aware of, leaving the baron quite surprised.
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[Your skill, Bear Sword Technique, has been upgraded. Experience gained: +326]
Rain had finally learned Lagra's Shield Defense Technique, and it was now displayed on his Night Watch interface: Skill: Shield Defense lv1. During these past few days, Rain had also reflected on his combat techniques from previous battles, feeling that he had gained valuable insights.
Regarding Rain's encounter with the Black Flame Practitioner a few days ago, there was no record of it in the archives. It seemed that this information had been obtained three days ago.
The opponent, despite being injured in the abdomen, had a movement speed and agility that were vastly different from Rain's. It was easy to imagine how fast the opponent would have been if they hadn't been injured.
Rain had been extremely lucky to win that battle.
"Thank you, my lord. I recommend Rain and Matteo, but I lean more towards Rain. Although he hasn't been with the Night Watch for long, his strength is evident. Without him, the rescue operation wouldn't have been as successful."
Although the office was filled with the scent of healing potions, Lord Hamilton, dressed in noble hunting attire, was full of vigor as he handled matters. The destruction of the cult's hideout and the defeat of the Black Flame Practitioner had invigorated him.
However, Baron Norman remained expressionless.
[You have experienced a battle. Night Watch profession experience gained: +172]
"Father!" Dennis was surprised to see his father as he opened the door. He stood up and replied in a trembling voice, showing fear.
[You have experienced a battle. Night Watch profession experience gained: +172]
"Oh, and messenger, immediately report to the County City Sheriff, Viscount Hamadi, that we have destroyed a secret cult hideout and rescued dozens of children."
As Rain returned to Flashgold Town...
Dennis had no intention of resisting, nor did he argue or even speak up. Instead, he obediently followed his father, heading towards the manor's main gate.
Valen was genuinely grateful to Rain.
Unfortunately, he was just a Night Watch captain.
"Hmm?" Rain's heart sank a little upon hearing this.
".In the Elim Mine Cave incident, killed Crystal Lizard. Slain the injured Mountain Stone Beast."
"Wrong! The opponent's identity is sensitive, and my intervention would be inappropriate. Phil Clareze will directly intervene in a day or two."
Due to the Black Flame Sect's hideout incident, the County City had yet to dispatch a team to investigate the Demon Knight, leaving Lagra feeling a bit down.
Rain didn't linger at Sterwin Farm for long. He accompanied the Night Watch team escorting the children back to Flashgold Town.
Lord Hamilton remained silent, his thoughts complex as he witnessed this scene.
Upon seeing the first page, Dennis exclaimed, "This is Rain, the farmer's son!"
This made Dennis feel apprehensive. He understood his father's intention—to have him read the materials first before making any decisions.
"The Black Sail Pirates?" Dennis whispered in surprise.
As Dennis continued to read through the materials, his shock grew. Many of these documents were new to him.
Lying on his bed, Rain was still replaying the battle with the Black Flame Practitioner in his mind.
"I obtained this information a few days ago with the help of a former naval colleague."
The recent information on Rain was incredibly detailed, as if copied directly from the County City's Night Watch archives.
As Dennis entered the room, he was about to reprimand the newcomer, but upon lifting his head, his pupils constricted.
Sterwin Farm, a secret Black Flame Sect den, should have revealed traces of the sect, but Mort's raging fire had burned away all evidence.
"Rain, highly regarded by Flashgold Town's Sheriff Hamilton."
Ever since the incident with Blackbeard, Anna had been staying at her own home, seemingly growing accustomed to the arrangement.
Of course, this was also due to Rain wearing a Knight's Plate Helm, which, aside from the narrow cross-shaped slit for eyes and breathing, prevented outsiders from seeing the knight's true face.
"Wrong! The opponent might have discovered Rul's origins from his belongings, linking him to the Norman family. If given time to grow, this genius would become a major problem."
As Valen spoke, he bowed deeply.
Rain's heart clenched as he recalled the events. If the Black Flame Mage hadn't been injured by Hamilton, he knew he wouldn't have stood a chance against him.
"I need to improve my strength!" Rain muttered to himself.
"Rain, sit."
His killing move might be easily dodged by the opponent.
"Promoting Rain to the Night Watch Elite."
Rain thought for a moment and instead of seeking Lagra and the others, he returned to his room.
"It's true! Father, I saw Rain a month ago, and he was skinny, just like an ordinary person!" Dennis explained, his face turning red.
His father, Kulos Norman, was a retired naval officer from the Dragon Empire, known for his strict and efficient military-like conduct.
Additionally, with Lagra's meticulous guidance, Rain's Shield Defense improved rapidly, reaching Shield Defense lv2 (124/300) just now.
After all, in just over a month, Rain had advanced his Breath Technique from scratch to the level of a Knight Acolyte, an incomprehensible talent.
[You have experienced a battle. Night Watch Experience +42]
Rain remembered that Phil Clareze was the vice-captain of the Black Sail Pirates, a seasoned Knight with expertise in archery, earning him the nickname 'Bloody Archer'.
Before Dennis could finish, Baron Norman interrupted.
With the arrival of Knight Lloyd, Sterwin Farm became bustling, surrounded and thoroughly searched by the guards from Habsburg Manor.
At this moment, his father was at his most terrifying, suppressing his anger like a volcano ready to erupt.
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As a father himself, Valen's actions were entirely reasonable.
Dennis pondered, certain he had heard of this person before.
"I called you here for a reason. I intend to promote you to the Night Watch Captain." Hamilton smiled at Rain.
[Your skill, Bear Sword Technique, has improved. Experience +278]
The 'note' found on Mort's body was significant, further increasing Hamilton's interest.
Rain recalled when Kayla was around, his progress in Bear Sword Technique had been rapid.
Rain was puzzled, wondering how news of the Black Flame Sect had spread so quickly. He entered Hamilton's office.
Rain had no intention of 'shocking' Hubert, instead focusing on spending more time with his daughter Abi and family, a newfound happiness.
Both the Night Watch and Bear Sword Technique professions reached over half their experience requirements, with the Night Watch at lv4 (593/1000) and Bear Sword Technique at lv5 (1049/2000).
Hubert, therefore, couldn't recognize Rain.
No, he wouldn't have stood a chance against the opponent.
From his initial spar with Lagra, to the fight with the Hammer Man, the subsequent six-on-one battle, and finally, the Black Flame Mage, the experience gained from these encounters was substantial.
"This is impossible." Baron Norman pondered, then spoke.
"Rain's strength, though not yet that of a formal Knight, surpasses that of a Night Watch Elite. I assess his strength to be at the level of a Third-Rank Knight Squire, perhaps even a Knight Acolyte!" Baron Norman declared solemnly.
". Clear out the Gleam Lake Fishmen."
"Sister Anna and Sister Lagra are at Sister Anna's home, tidying up the room. They said they'll be staying there tonight."
"Does that mean he'll be promoted to Knight soon?" Dennis asked, his eyes filled with doubt.
"What? How is that possible? It's only been a little over a month since Sister Kayla approached him. How could he have progressed so quickly?" Dennis was shocked by the news.
"If it weren't for you arriving just in time, blocking that Black Robe Mage and Rain successfully rescuing all the children, I would have felt guilty for a lifetime."
"Finished?" A deep voice echoed within the enclosed carriage.
Valen, accompanied by his daughter, found Hamilton at the Sterwin Farm, handling the aftermath. Valen said, "Sir, I request to resign from the position of Night Watch Captain. I deeply apologize for my negligence during the entire incident."
In a study room on the second floor of the Habsburg Castle.
"Yes, sir!"
The following two days in Shiny Gold Town were calm.
Dennis suddenly realized, "So, Father, you're planning to take action yourself?"
Early on the third day, Rain received a notification from the guards, asking him to visit Hamilton's office.
"Mint? Where's Sister Anna?" Rain asked his sister, who was playing with a Spirit Hound.
Without knocking, the door suddenly opened.
Additionally, the threat from the Jackal Gang had already ended, and it was reasonable for Anna to return to her home. Moreover, with Sister Lagra's martial prowess, protecting Anna would be more than sufficient.
The two arrived at the entrance of the Habsburg Manor, where a black carriage was already waiting for them. On the carriage was a prominent black and gold double-headed wolf emblem, the family crest of Norman.
With Sister Lagra's accompaniment, his one-handed swordsmanship and shield defense improved daily.
Having a sparring partner was indeed beneficial.
Phil Clareze? Why does that name sound so familiar?
Upon returning home, Rain quickly noticed the absence of Sister Lagra and Sister Anna.
"Hmm." Dennis nodded.
[Your skill, Bear Sword Technique, has improved. Experience gained: +359]
[You have gained experience from a battle. Night Watch experience gained: +205]
Dennis was initially stunned, but then he realized what was happening and immediately took the document, quickly flipping through it in front of Baron Norman.
Soon, Rain, who had been tired all day, fell into a deep sleep.
He was surprised and looked up at his father. He hadn't expected his father to have already started investigating the farmer's son who killed Rul.
However, it seemed that the person standing next to Sheriff Hamilton, also wearing Knight Plate Armor, was Rain.
The system prompts flooded the screen.
Hamilton nodded and said, "Alright! Valen, I'll keep my promise. By the way, do you have any recommendations for the Night Watch Captain position?"
He had endured many hardships since childhood, and this time, under the pretext of pursuing Sister Kayla, he had come to the Habsburg Manor to temporarily escape his father's control. Unexpectedly, due to Rul's death, his father had personally arrived.
Rain even spotted his familiar swordsmanship instructor, Hubert.
He estimated that he would be beaten up and might even be in danger.
"If it's as you say, then his Knight talent is even higher than the most talented genius in Myester County. Do you know what that implies?" Baron Norman asked with a frown.
However, upon reflection, his room was already full, and with Sister Lagra, there wasn't enough space.
"Follow me," said the burly middle-aged man with bushy eyebrows, exuding a formidable aura. He glanced at his son and spoke coldly.
After boarding the carriage, Baron Norman took out a file and handed it to Dennis without a word.
On the way back, Rain finally had time to check the system prompts: [Your skill, Bear Sword Technique, has improved. Experience gained: +86]
When his father served in the Imperial Navy, he had shown kindness to some pirate groups, and these pirates would provide extra care to the Norman family's merchant ships. The Black Sail Pirates were one of them.
Apparently aware that Dennis had understood, Baron Norman slowly revealed a secret: "Phil Clareze, the vice-leader of the Black Sail Pirates, owes me a favor."
"They had planned to unite with multiple pirate groups to raid several towns in Myester County in the near future."
".
There will be one update each on the next two days, and regular updates will resume on the third or fourth day of the new year! Wishing everyone a happy new year and a prosperous Dragon Year! ^_^
(End of Chapter)
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