Chapter 188 - 182: Count Lumbar’s Appreciation

Chapter 188: Chapter 182: Count Lumbar’s Appreciation

Vili inquired further.

Kirk nodded, showing no trace of impatience. "There should be many, but I don’t know the specific number of members. The Holy Light Knight Order doesn’t belong to the Lanton Duchy. It originated in a distant, foreign kingdom. The Holy Light Knight Order’s influence is immense, spreading across the entire continent. The Lanton Duchy is merely one of their outposts."

As he spoke of this, even Kirk himself wore an expression of awe.

Although he was a noble Viscount of the Lanton Duchy, he was truly insignificant when viewed on the scale of the entire continent.

Those Kingdoms, even Empires, and the incomparably powerful Extraordinary Organizations were all existences they could only look up to.

’An independent Extraordinary Organization... And its influence spreads across the entire continent...’

Vili had originally thought that all Extraordinary Power was held in the hands of various nations, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Certain Extraordinary Organizations appeared to be independent, existing outside the normal world.

Vili had read many history and geography books, so he knew a little about the outside world.

Although the Lanton Duchy was powerful, it was pathetically weak compared to those Empires and Kingdoms.

According to the vague records in those history books, the most powerful nations occupied the very center of the continent, the most prosperous and wealthy place in the world.

And as for him, a mere Baron, he wouldn’t even count as a background character on the world stage.

However, Vili didn’t mind too much. With the Title Attribute Panel, he might be able to reach even more distant places.

’I wonder if Count Lumbar and Lord Fidel have finished their conversation...’

Kirk estimated the time.

Just as he was thinking this, a guard hurried over. "Lord Kirk, the Count’s conversation with Lord Fidel has ended. He wants you to go over immediately."

Kirk replied, "Understood."

Then he turned to Vili. "Let’s go. We’re going to see the Count."

Following Kirk’s lead, Vili arrived at Count Lumbar’s study.

After a knock on the door, Kirk and Vili walked in together.

As soon as Vili stepped inside, he saw an old man with grizzled hair.

His hair was deliberately combed back, and his face was etched with deep wrinkles.

From the old man’s bright, calm, and dignified gaze, one could tell he was a man long accustomed to a high position.

"My Lord Count."

Kirk was the first to bow.

Vili followed close behind, bowing in courtesy. "Greetings, my Lord Count."

"So, you are Vili Ferren?"

Although he had long heard Vili’s name and had personally enfeoffed him as a Baron, Count Lumbar had never met Vili before.

So now that they met, Count Lumbar sized Vili up carefully.

Young. That was Count Lumbar’s first impression.

"Yes, my Lord Count."

Vili answered respectfully.

"I must thank you properly for this. If it weren’t for you, I might have become the laughingstock of the entire Lanton Duchy."

Count Lumbar didn’t mind at all revealing his previous predicament to Vili.

"There’s no need for that, my lord. Defending my territory and my people is my duty as the Baron of White Bear Town."

Vili replied.

Upon hearing this, Count Lumbar let out a great laugh.

He nodded as he laughed.

Count Lumbar was very pleased with Vili’s answer.

That’s right. A proper lord must have the resolve to defend their territory to the death.

Count Lumbar himself was such a man. He believed one must do everything in their power to achieve victory in war. It was a responsibility to one’s people, a duty to oneself, and an enactment of the glorious will of one’s ancestors.

"Worthy of a Hanged Man who possesses a Heart of Justice."

Count Lumbar said with admiration.

Almost everyone had a naturally favorable impression of the Hanged Men.

After Vili had eliminated the leader of the Green Shell Pirate Gang, Count Lumbar learned that Vili was a Hanged Man.

Although Count Lumbar had met quite a few Hanged Men, Vili was the only one who was also a nobleman, which was very rare.

"As a Hanged Man, shouldn’t you be wandering the continent, punishing evil?"

Count Lumbar spoke to Vili as if they were just chatting, his face wreathed in smiles. "And yet, you’ve remained rooted in White Bear Town. Won’t you lose your Heart of Justice?"

At this, Kirk, who was standing to the side, also glanced at Vili.

In fact, he was also very curious about this question.

Seeing Vili again, he felt that Vili’s Power of Justice had grown stronger. However, because of the High Level Knight’s Fighting Spirit within Vili, Kirk couldn’t clearly perceive the strength of Vili’s Ability as a Hanged Man.

As their strengths became more and more similar, Kirk found it increasingly difficult to see through Vili.

"Every Hanged Man abides by a different code of justice. For me, safeguarding the security of my people is my code of justice."

Vili began to spout nonsense with a straight face.

Of course, while it was a lie, what Vili said was a real phenomenon.

The awakening of a Hanged Man’s Ability stems from the birth of their own Heart of Justice. And the Heart of Justice, in turn, arises from an individual’s personal understanding of the concept of justice.

Therefore, not every Heart of Justice possesses the same will.

In fact, there were extreme examples among the Hanged Men.

Some individuals with confused minds and twisted ideals believed that justice was slaughter and destruction. Then, by some twist of fate, they would awaken a specific "Heart of Justice" unique to them, gain Extraordinary Power, and begin to commit evil.

These people were the very existences that other Hanged Men most wanted to destroy.

This kind of justice was a negative form of justice, sharing the same origin as Malice Power, and the outside world would not recognize them as Hanged Men.

When these individuals awakened their Extraordinary Power, they didn’t project the same field of justice as a Hanged Man, but rather a distinctly perceptible field of malice. Therefore, it was basically impossible for such a person to disguise themselves as a true Hanged Man.

Ultimately, the acquisition of a Hanged Man’s Ability was a combination of and resonance between one’s own spiritual beliefs and the Power of Natural Mystery.

That was why almost every Hanged Man was extremely stubborn about their so-called obsession with justice.

Because if they ever lost this obsession, they would lose all their power.

"I admire your code of justice."

Count Lumbar strongly agreed with what Vili said, as they both belonged to the noble faction, after all.

"You said you were able to eliminate the two enemy forces this time because you have a Magical Beast and two Secret Masters in your territory?"

Count Lumbar was a little curious.

For a young man from a rural village to gather such talented individuals in less than a year was truly remarkable.

"Yes," Vili replied. "One Bronze Level Magical Beast, one Junior Mage, and one One-Engraving Silence."

"A Silent?"

Count Lumbar raised an eyebrow. The Silent were a profession as rare as the Hanged Men.

However, he wasn’t too surprised. A righteous Hanged Man often had many followers.

Count Lumbar didn’t press further about the origins of the Magical Beast and the Secret Masters. Everyone had their secrets, and there was no need to probe.

"Although you were defending your own territory, you did indeed make a contribution to Dawei Province."

Count Lumbar said to Vili, "I’ve been thinking about how to reward you, but I haven’t decided yet. In that case, why don’t you stay in Golden Flower City for a few days? I’ll make a final decision once I’ve figured out your reward."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of doubt appeared in Vili’s mind, but he still agreed.

"Alright, you may go and rest for now. I’ll have an attendant arrange accommodations for you."

Count Lumbar ordered, "As for you, Kirk, stay behind."

"Yes, my lord."

Vili and Kirk responded in unison.

"My Lord Count, I shall take my leave then."

Vili gave a slight bow and then walked out of the room.

Only Count Lumbar and Kirk remained in the room.

"You don’t seem to understand my decision?"

Count Lumbar seemed to have noticed Kirk’s confusion. "According to my usual way of doing things, I would have issued the reward immediately, wouldn’t I?"

Kirk nodded. He truly didn’t understand.

A reward for a Baron’s meritorious service shouldn’t require so much deliberate thought.