Chapter 116: The Secret of Ennoblement
Chapter 116: The Secret of Ennoblement
As Rain was still basking in the afterglow of his recent battle, he heard Hamilton's words and turned to him with a puzzled look.
Hamilton surveyed the area and said, "Let's go to the office to discuss this."
Rain nodded in agreement.
After Hamilton and the others left, the entire training ground erupted like a boiling cauldron, everyone buzzing with excitement.
"Rain has become a Ranked Knight at such a young age! His knightly talent is probably rare even in the County City!"
"Indeed! I don't think we've ever had a knight as young as Rain in Flashgold Town."
"The last one was Vasily, and he was already in his twenties!"
". . ."
Inside the office, the three sat facing each other. Connor continued to examine Rain with a smile, as if he were admiring a newly unearthed gem.
Hamilton, on the other hand, maintained a serious demeanor and addressed Rain, "Rain, there's something you need to start preparing for—the Empire's Ennoblement Exam."
"The Empire's Ennoblement Exam?" Rain asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
After becoming Extraordinary, wouldn't the Empire directly ennoble him as a knight, the lowest rank of nobility?
Why would he need to take an exam? Rain wondered.
Hamilton, noticing Rain's confusion, didn't keep him in suspense. He continued his explanation, "If you're a noble's heir, you can automatically apply for ennoblement upon becoming Extraordinary. However, for non-heirs, commoners who have been promoted, or outsiders seeking to serve the Empire, they must first contribute to the Empire before having the opportunity to be ennobled."
Rain nodded in understanding. It made sense that the Empire would require a contribution in return for the privileges of nobility. Unless one's ancestors had made significant contributions, there was no such thing as enjoying the benefits without putting in the work.
"Of course, some newly promoted knights with weaker abilities might choose to pledge loyalty to a powerful noble family, becoming a family knight. But I'm sure that's not a path you'd consider," Hamilton added.
Rain nodded in agreement. If he had the choice, he would naturally lean on the strongest tree—the Empire itself. After all, no other noble could match the resources, rare battle techniques, and secret knowledge that the Empire could offer.
"So, Lord Hamilton, are you saying that this Ennoblement Exam is challenging or has certain requirements?" Rain asked after some thought.
"Absolutely!" Hamilton confirmed.
"If you're a noble's heir, you can directly apply for ennoblement upon becoming Extraordinary."
"But for commoners, the process is more complicated. First, you need to submit an application to the Ennoblement Exam Committee under the Empire's Elder Council. They will investigate your background and past to ensure you're not a spy or affiliated with any hostile forces."
"Secondly, you must serve in an official capacity or carry out missions for the Empire's functional departments, gradually accumulating Ennoblement Points. Once you surpass 1000 points, you'll be eligible to apply for the exam."
"In your case, Rain, you don't need to worry about the application process. If you agree, I'll submit it on your behalf when the time comes. Additionally, since you're already serving in the Night Watch, you're already ahead of others in this regard."
"Thank you, Lord Hamilton. How many Ennoblement Points do I currently have?"
"324 points, including the reward for eliminating the Black Flame Sect's secret stronghold," Hamilton replied, stating the exact number.
Still needing over two-thirds of the required points, Rain realized that accumulating 1000 Ennoblement Points wouldn't be an easy task.
The simpler the mission, the fewer Ennoblement Points were awarded. Conversely, more dangerous missions offered significantly more points but at the cost of personal risk. Whether it was worth it or not was a personal decision. Rain contemplated this silently.
However, Rain still had a few questions that he felt needed clarification.
"Lord Hamilton, how does the Ennoblement Exam typically work? What kind of assessment is involved?"
"Usually, it involves completing a specific mission, which can be done individually or in a group, the mission is successfully completed, it will contribute to the accumulation of Ennoblement Points. The points awarded will depend on the difficulty and danger of the mission."
After some thought, Hamilton added, "You can consider your previous mission to eliminate the Black Flame Cultist and rescue the children as a trial run for the exam. Of course, there are differences, mainly in the evaluation."
"If your evaluation is high enough, you might directly receive the title of Baron. Viscount is the next rank, and Knight is the lowest, just enough to pass the exam."
Upon hearing this, Rain's expression turned pensive. "Wait, wouldn't it be better to take the exam later? The longer we wait, the more time we have to train and improve our strength."
"Then why did Lord Hamilton suggest preparing for and taking the exam as soon as possible?" Rain immediately identified the inconsistency.
At this point, Colonel Connor, who had been listening quietly, spoke up with a smile, "Don't you understand why Lord Hamilton wants you to hurry up? It's because..."
Rain nodded and said, "Indeed, there is such a question. Isn't it more appropriate for those with higher strength?"
"That's because of age, which is also an important factor in the evaluation." Connor smiled and explained.
"Additionally, Hamilton has another very important reason he didn't mention. It's about the invitation from the Empire's 'Swordbearer.' The invitation is only sent to those who have reached the Baron level."
"At this point, age becomes a critical advantage."
'Swordbearer'?
This seemed to touch upon another knowledge gap for Rain.
Seeing Rain's slightly dazed expression, Colonel Connor added,
"Swordbearer, Rain. You can understand it as an extremely privileged organization with a vast reach across the entire Empire. If you can join, you'll be exposed to a much broader world."
"You'll have access to a much wider realm!"
This couldn't help but stir Rain's heart.
Of course, that would be great.
At this moment, Hamilton continued where Connor left off, saying, "So, most new knights choose to play it safe by slowly accumulating merit points. It usually takes about two to three years to accumulate 1000 merit points. Then, they participate in the Ennoblement Exam to become knights."
"But Rain, I think with your talent, doing it this way would be a waste!"
"Swordbearer! When I was young, I once strived and struggled towards this goal, but the gap in talent ultimately led to my defeat." Hamilton seemed to recall the past, and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Of course, Rain, the final decision is up to you."
"Connor and I are just informing you of this news. At the same time, we believe that with your exceptional talent, it would be a pity not to give it a try."
Rain nodded and said, "Thank you, sirs, for informing me of such important news."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Rain didn't hesitate and said, "If I have the opportunity to witness a broader realm, I must seize it."
Hamilton laughed upon hearing this, and his gaze towards Rain became even more appreciative. "Alright, I'll keep an eye out for any tasks with high merit rewards. Rain, just wait for my news."
"Additionally, I'll arrange for someone else to take care of the night patrol duty at the Night Watch."
"I never expected that right after appointing you as the Night Watch Captain, you would enter the Extraordinary rank today!"
"In that case, you can be my deputy first. I'll submit the application for the Flashgold Town's Deputy Sheriff to the County City tomorrow." Hamilton was clearly in a good mood and took the initiative to say.
"Thank you, Sir Hamilton," Rain said sincerely.
When Rain left Hamilton's office, the sky was already turning to dusk.
Rain took a deep breath and looked at the town, which was gradually lighting up with lamps.
The night view of Flashgold Town hadn't changed, but Rain himself was already very different from when he had arrived.
Or perhaps, Rain, who had entered the Knight (Extraordinary) rank, had taken the first step towards controlling his own destiny.
When Rain returned home, he was greeted by the aroma of food as soon as he stepped through the door. It was the scent of his mother, Emma, preparing dinner.
"Brother, you're back!" Mint, who had been playing with the Linty dog 'Cheesecake,' ran over happily and hugged Rain.
However, Mint released her hands, tilted her head, and looked at Rain with a puzzled expression. "Brother, you seem different somehow?"
"It's like... your whole person is glowing."
The child's keen perception immediately noticed the strong aura of life that Rain was emitting, but she didn't know how to express it or what it meant.
At that moment, Ragle and Anna, who had heard Rain's arrival, also came downstairs.
After hearing Mint's words, they began to examine Rain closely.
Although Anna also felt that Rain was different, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
But Ragle was different. She stared in surprise, then suddenly widened her beautiful eyes, pointing at Rain in astonishment, "Rain, did you... enter the Extraordinary rank?"
At this moment, the entire family's gaze was fixed on Rain, including his mother, Emma, who had been cooking in the kitchen. She dropped her spoon in shock, her whole body trembling as if struck by lightning. Her face turned red, and her eyes rolled back in her head; she was so excited that she almost fainted.
Rain quickly took a step forward and supported her.
Meanwhile, Old Rain, who was holding a bottle, was also trembling. He seemed to have palsy, his lips quivered as he tried to speak, but he didn't know where to begin.
Anna's big eyes fluttered as she looked at Rain, her expression complex.
That night, Old Rain drank until he was completely drunk!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
