Chapter 176: Lady Crowley's Request

Chapter 176: Lady Crowley's Request



After some contemplation, Rain leaned towards the third option, which was to serve as the Governor and Sheriff of Fishport Town.

The reason was simple; there would be plenty of battles awaiting him there! And through these battles, he could achieve significant growth.

Rain's hesitation, however, stemmed from his lack of knowledge about the strength of the enemies in Fishport Town.

As for why the appointment was primarily as a Governor and secondarily as a Sheriff? Hamilton had mentioned this during their previous conversation.

Generally, the Sheriff of an imperial town was usually a Knight, occasionally a Squire or a Squire Knight, like Hamilton himself.

It was indeed rare for a Squire Knight to hold the position of Sheriff.

If a Baron were to be appointed as a Sheriff, it would imply a clear demotion.

Therefore, it would be unusual for Rain, as a Baron, to be appointed solely as a Sheriff of a small town.

However, the Governor held a different status; they were the top authority figure responsible for managing all affairs in the town.

It was not uncommon for a Baron to serve as a Governor of a small town.

But Rain's current concern was something else.

Although he had no difficulty in choosing among the three options presented by Count Habsburg, his current dilemma was that he actually wanted to continue serving as Hamilton's deputy in Golden Flash Town.

Rain's next step was to go to the Golden Coast to study under Master Gandal, a renowned swordsman, for a period of time. By remaining as the deputy sheriff in Golden Flash Town, he could maximize his free time, as Hamilton would handle many matters on his behalf.

However, if he chose to take up the position in Fishport Town, it meant he couldn't set off for the Golden Coast in the short term.

After some thought, Rain decided to be direct with Count Habsburg:

"Count, regarding the appointment, I'd like to request a temporary delay. Currently, I'm in a phase of rapid growth, so I wish to study swordsmanship under a master swordsman. That's why..."

As Rain spoke these words, he felt his scalp tingle under Count Habsburg's intense gaze.

After all, from a certain perspective, Rain's decision could be considered as going against the will of his superior.

Especially when the superior had given him the freedom to choose.

After a brief silence in the room, Count Habsburg finally spoke.

"Very well, I'll give you a month's time. However, I'll make the appointment directly. Rain, after a month, you will become the Governor and Sheriff of Harbor Town."

Hearing this, Rain's face lit up with joy. He hadn't expected Count Habsburg to assign him this position.

"Of course, thank you for your understanding and support, Count."

After this conversation, Count Habsburg suddenly changed the topic with a smile, "Rain, I heard you and Kayla have known each other for a while now?"

"Hmm?" Rain was taken aback, realizing that the Count had probably investigated him thoroughly.

It made sense; the Habsburg Manor, where they were, was also under the ownership of Count Harris. Everyone, from the manor's steward, Sir Royde, to the swordsmanship instructor, Master Perres, and even the head maid, Shadya, would likely report everything if the Count wanted to know about Rain.

It seemed that Rain's request to go to the Golden Coast had been granted due to Kayla's influence.

"Yes, Count, Kayla has, in a way, been my guide on the path of knighthood," Rain replied honestly.

"Haha, excellent, Rain. If you ever encounter any difficulties, you can come to me. Remember, Myester County will always be your home."

"That's all for today. I have some other matters to attend to. As for the minor details, my steward, Henryk, will assist you in handling them."

"Of course, thank you for your understanding and assistance, Count," Rain said, bowing slightly.

Count Harris then rang a bell on the table.

"Ding-a-ling!"

Soon, an elderly man in a tailcoat entered the room and led Rain to a room on the first floor.

Count Habsburg's steward, Henryk, was an elderly man. Rain was surprised to see a large model resembling a sand table in the room, which accurately depicted the topography of the county town, including detailed markings of the main streets.

The noble residences were represented by small wooden houses, each crafted with exquisite detail, almost like a scaled-down replica.

"Baron Rain, these are the available residences. You may choose whichever you prefer," Steward Henryk said, pointing to the three small wooden houses with white labels on top.

"Thank you!" Rain nodded and examined them carefully.

The noble district was also divided into different levels. On the outer ring were the Knights and Lords, who, in the eyes of some upper-class nobles, were not considered true nobility. Their numbers were the highest, but in a county town where land was scarce and expensive, their mansions occupied the smallest plots.

Moving inward, the next circle belonged to the Barons, who formed the backbone of the county. Their numbers were significantly fewer than the Knights and Lords.

Closer to the center were the Viscounts' mansions, with only five or six of them, each more spacious and luxurious than the previous circles.

At the very center, like a moon surrounded by stars, stood the grandest and most luxurious mansion of all—the Habsburg Manor, where Rain currently stood.

As Rain scanned the Baron-level mansions, he soon spotted one with the Crowley family emblem. Not far from it, about three mansions away, was an unoccupied Baron's mansion with a white label.

After a moment's thought, Rain pointed to it and said, "Lord Hendrick, how about this one?"

"Of course, as long as Baron Rain likes it."

"This one it is!"

"Alright, by the way, Baron Rain, since you don't have a fief yet, I'll register it as the Manor of the Rain Baron family. Is that alright?"

Rain nodded in agreement.

In the Dragan Empire, male nobles without fiefs were addressed as "Lord" followed by their name, or as "Baron" or "Viscount." For example, Rain could be addressed as "Lord Rain" or "Baron Rain."

However, once a noble acquired a fief, their formal title would include the name of their fief. For instance, if Rain's fief was named "Normandy," his official title would primarily be "Baron of Normandy."

The previously mentioned titles could still be used in informal settings without issue.

Regarding fiefs, this aspect was somewhat different from Rain's previous life. In the Dragan Empire, the nobility was divided into Dukes, Marquises, Counts, Viscounts, Barons, and Lords.

Upon initial ennoblement, unless inheriting a title, nobles did not possess fiefs.

To acquire a fief, one needed to exchange the appropriate amount of merit points, a system implemented by the Empire to encourage continued service from the nobility.

Additionally, the Empire strictly limited the amount of land a noble could acquire to prevent excessive land consolidation. Each noble rank had a maximum area they could claim within the Empire's territory. For example, a Count's fief had an upper limit of one thousand hectares.

Once a noble's land reached this limit, they could no longer exchange merit points for additional land.

Count Habsburg's fief, for instance, already reached this limit, covering the northern part of Golden Flash Town and the surrounding area. However, even this region was not considered large for a Count, as it didn't even encompass an entire town.

To motivate these nobles, the Empire enacted the Frontier Ordinance, allowing them to exchange merit points for different levels of frontier permits. With these permits, nobles could claim vast territories outside the Empire's borders.

"Additionally, Baron, you'll receive 1% of the profits from Elim Mine and be exempt from the Empire's public order management regulations," Lord Hendrick continued.

Rain nodded as he listened.

Finally, he had obtained the exemption! He felt a sense of liberation, like a peasant who had broken free from their chains.

And even though it was just 1% of Elim Mine's profits, it still amounted to around a thousand imperial gold coins.

"Since you're a Baron, you automatically gain a seat in the Myester County Noble Assembly," Lord Hendrick added.

Rain wasn't particularly interested in these privileges.

His goal was clear: to advance his position within the Empire, whether through official posts or noble ranks, to gain easier access to resources.

These resources were crucial for his progress on both the wizard and knight paths.

"That's all, Baron Rain. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime," Lord Hendrick assured him.

"Thank you, Lord Hendrick, for your information."

"By the way, Baron Rain, do you want to visit your manor now? In case there are any issues, I can help you make the necessary arrangements."

"Sure!" Rain agreed.

It was a perfect opportunity to invite Lady Crowley and Jenny to inspect the manor with him.

The group soon arrived at the Baron's mansion that Rain had chosen. It was a three-story detached villa located in the middle of the noble district, occupying an area of three to four hundred square meters. The front yard was over three hundred square meters, but the highlight was the backyard, which spanned an impressive fifteen hundred square meters. The backyard's vastness was due to the presence of a training ground, similar to the one Rain had seen at the Crowley family's estate.

The entire manor covered an area of around two thousand square meters, and Rain was particularly impressed by the training ground in the backyard.

Unexpectedly, he now had his own private training ground, which made him feel rather happy.

As for the stables, it was also quite necessary for Rain at the moment, especially since he was currently feeding the black horse with a mutated growth potion.

On the clean training ground, Rain enthusiastically drew out the glowing greatsword from his back and spontaneously performed a set of Bear Swordsmanship.

"Whirlwind Slash!"

"Downward Chop!"

"..."

The valiant and vigorous movements, along with the fluid and graceful techniques, captivated the two women beside him, their eyes sparkling with admiration.

After inspecting the training ground, the group entered the interior of the villa, walking from the first floor to the third floor. Rain found that the county administration office had done a very good job in maintaining the mansion.

Basically, everything that needed repairing had been taken care of, and when Rain touched the wooden handrail, he found it smooth and new.

Seeing this, the butler, Henryk, couldn't help but smile and say, "Baron, the county administration office has assigned dedicated personnel. Every three days, they will send someone to clean. So, you can move in at any time."

Rain nodded and said, "Indeed, it's very well maintained. Lord Henryk, thank you for bringing me here. I've decided on this one."

"Alright, Baron. Lady Crowley, Miss Jenny, there's something else that needs my attention at the Count's place, so I'll take my leave now." Butler Henryk bowed slightly to bid farewell.

Before leaving, he also gave Rain a knowing smile that men would understand.

This left Rain speechless, as he was completely innocent.

"Sir Rain, when do you plan to move in?" Lady Crowley asked, twirling a strand of hair by her ear.

Rain thought for a moment and replied, "As soon as possible. After settling my family here, I plan to leave Myester County for a while."

"After all, the security in the county city is relatively better, so I'll feel more at ease."

"Hmm? Is Sir Rain leaving again?" The beautiful woman asked in surprise.

"Yes, I'm going to Rosby County to study under a swordmaster for about a month. I'll be back soon."

"By the way, if you encounter any issues that you can't resolve, you can contact me. This time, I'll bring the Blue Helmet Pigeon that Jenny gave me last time." Rain said with a smile.

Hearing that Rain was going to improve his strength, the beautiful woman's eyes lit up, and she nodded in agreement, also smiling as she said, "I finally understand why Sir Rain is so powerful at such a young age. Aside from your extraordinary talent as a knight, your hard work is also beyond that of ordinary people."

"Yes, little William of the Stand family has also passed the ennoblement examination. The empire hasn't officially announced it yet, but little William has already held a banquet at home, and it's been going on for three days." Jenny added with a hint of disdain.

After inspecting the villa inside and out, Rain, accompanied by Lady Crowley and Jenny, returned to the nearby Crowley family.

"Sir Rain, it's already dinner time. I've instructed the servants to prepare a banquet, so please do join us." At this moment, the beautiful woman invited him with a smile.

"Wouldn't this be too much of a disturbance?" Rain looked up at the sky and indeed, the sun was setting.

He had planned to pick up some armorsmithing books and return to his home in Shangjin Town, but now it seemed a bit late.

In the morning, he had helped the Crowley family retrieve the stolen Bordeaux vintage, and in the afternoon, he visited Count Habsburg and toured his future baronial mansion. Time had flown by.

"Yes, Sir Rain, you've helped the Crowley family a great deal this time. Please do join us." Jenny also smiled and said.

"Alright then!" Rain nodded.

It was just a dinner, and the host had invited him repeatedly. It would be impolite to refuse again, so Rain accepted without further hesitation.

Immediately, Rain followed Lady Crowley and Jenny to the Crowley family's banquet hall, which was also their dining room.

The walls of the banquet hall were adorned with various decorations such as shields, deer antlers, and more. Over a dozen mountain-shaped candles illuminated the entire hall, and a rustic long table was set with various dishes, fine wines, and large bouquets of flowers.

Although only Rain, Lady Crowley, and Jenny were dining, the feast was extremely sumptuous.

The beautiful woman seemed to know that Rain, as an extraordinary knight, had an extraordinary appetite, so she specifically arranged for the kitchen to prepare two types of expensive ferocious beast meat.

After finishing an entire roasted red-crested turkey and a pot of stewed cliff-spiked wild boar, Rain felt a warm current rising in his stomach, spreading to his limbs and bones.

"Sir Rain, this is the twenty-year-old Bordeaux vintage that you helped retrieve. Please have a taste and tell me how it is." Lady Crowley smiled and gestured to the wine glass.

Looking at the amber-colored red wine, Rain could already smell the aroma of the wine mixed with a hint of aged oak barrels, which made him want to taste this world's red wine as well.

"Thank you, Lady." Rain raised his glass in acknowledgment and took a sip.

Suddenly, a rich and fruity aroma filled his mouth, and the taste was surprisingly delightful.

So, accompanied by Baroness Crowley and Jenny, Rain devoured the meal with great satisfaction.

During dessert, Rain inquired, "Madam, I'd like to borrow that book on armorsmithing, if I may."

"Of course, Lord Rain. Please follow me." The tipsy beauty, her face flushed with allure, stood up and led the way.

In truth, at this moment, the beautiful woman was feeling rather nervous about what she was about to do.

Ever since her husband, Baron Crowley, passed away a year ago, the stunningly beautiful woman had attracted the attention of many, including wealthy merchants and nobles.

At first, she believed that with the Crowley family's background and her own business acumen, she would be able to sail through the challenges.

However, she soon realized that despite her capabilities in business and family management, in a world where strength was paramount, the Crowley family, without its core fighting force, was like a ship without a mast, vulnerable to the winds and waves.

Any strong gust or wave could capsize them.

The recent incident of the Bordeaux vintage being hijacked was a prime example.

The beautiful woman increasingly felt that in Myester County, there seemed to be a hidden hand pulling the strings, manipulating certain individuals and factions, with the intention of gradually consuming the Crowley family.

Now, she was powerless to resist this hidden force!

But when she saw the recovered cargo this morning, she instantly felt that the young man, whose age was similar to her daughter's, possessed a tall and robust physique that resembled a sturdy shield, capable of protecting her and the Crowley family's future.

From that moment on, the beauty made up her mind to find a way to 'bind' herself to this promising young man.

However, to her dismay, the young man seemed completely uninterested in Jenny, a noble lady.

Especially when Jenny mentioned that she had invited her best friend, Agatha, to accompany him on a tour of the family library, but he showed no interest in Agatha either.

After he was granted the title of Baron, the plan to marry into the family became completely unfeasible!

This left the beauty with a headache.

Until today, when she momentarily lost her composure and hugged him, she realized that the young man seemed quite interested in her instead.

This left her undecided for a moment; on one hand, Rain was too young, and on the other, there was Jenny.

So, when Rain went to visit Count Harris, she explicitly mentioned to Jenny the importance of the Crowley family and the actions she might take.

But to the beauty's surprise, she received Jenny's full support.

In fact, Jenny had witnessed her mother's struggles to keep the Crowley family afloat over the past year.

As the saying goes, adversity fosters growth.

Jenny had been growing rapidly during this time.

She knew that for the Crowley family to continue standing tall in Myester County, they needed the support of a powerful figure.

This person could be Alonso, or someone else, but now, there was also the newly-titled Baron Rain.

If given a choice, anyone would know that the best option would be the promising Baron Rain, who showed no interest in Jenny but was, instead, interested in her mother.

When Jenny heard her mother's plan, she felt a twinge of heartache, but she understood the importance of the situation, and her mother was putting the family's interests first.

The primary reason for this was that the promising Baron Rain showed no interest in her but was, instead, interested in her mother.

Jenny looked down at her chest and felt a sense of disappointment.

As she watched the two of them ascend the stairs, Jenny slowed her pace.

Rain followed the beauty up to the second floor of the villa.

When they entered a room, Rain sensed something amiss.

It was clearly a bedroom, with a luxurious bed in the center, flanked by bedside tables, a dressing table, and other furnishings.

At this late hour, entering Baroness Crowley's bedroom seemed rather inappropriate.

However, when he turned around, he realized that Jenny, who had been following behind, was no longer there.

At this moment, the room contained only him and the Baroness.

As he pondered how to broach the subject, the beauty suddenly turned, her face flushed, and playfully tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. In a soft voice, she said, "Lord Rain, could you do me a favor?"

"The armorsmithing book you want is in this cabinet, but it's probably buried at the bottom."

Thank you for the support, and for the 100 starting coins!

Also, I'd appreciate some monthly votes at the beginning of the month!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end