Chapter 402 - 280: Fulina’s Uncle

You could say they were living hand to mouth, never knowing what the next day would bring. If not for the unspoken rule among nobles prohibiting them from taking in commoners from another’s domain, they probably would have fled long ago.

Hearing this, Bodun didn’t get angry. A pained expression merely crossed his face. "To be honest, I’ve long been dissatisfied with my family’s traditions of succession. It’s just that now, I..."

But before he could finish, he was stunned by the sight of the figure before him turning and walking away.

Levi was speechless. ’Trying to find a backer and he comes to me? He should take a good look in the mirror and see if he’s even worthy.’

As someone from a humble background himself, he was all too familiar with tactics like pulling in investors and bluffing by borrowing the prestige of a powerful banner. He’d long since graduated from such tricks.

This illegitimate son, Bodun, was clearly in a precarious position, even with his brother dead.

That’s why he was trying to cozy up to influential figures to secure his standing. And Levi, the Lord of High Cliff Castle of Baron rank whom he had met once before, was the perfect target.

"Treating him like that might breed resentment and cause unnecessary trouble," Bodoff said pointedly once they were a safe distance away.

"Let him be resentful. Plenty of people are resentful of me," the Lord sneered. "But do you see any of them daring to cause me trouble?"

Forget those far away; just look at the Northern Nobles. How many of them truly respected him? Yet when they met him, they wouldn’t dare breathe a word out of line. They still had to respectfully address him as Marquis.

"Your Excellency Levi, an old man tends to talk a bit much, so please don’t take offense." Bodoff tapped his Magic Staff. "Even a Longsword forged from Fine Steel will easily break if it lacks any flexibility."

"What is too rigid is easily broken!"

He had always been the type of elder who liked to guide the younger generation. He had seen too many people suffer bitter consequences because they didn’t know how to sheathe their own sharpness, and he didn’t want to see this promising young man walk that same old path.

"That’s for Fine Steel. Could you still break it if it were made of Mithril and mountain copper?" Levi scoffed.

’The saying "what is too rigid is easily broken" depends on who you’re talking about. He’d already accomplished so much; who would dare try to break him?’

"If you join the Holy Light Church, Levi, no one would dare move against you in secret," Fatir said, never missing an opportunity to persuade the Lord to fully commit to the Holy Light Church.

Unfortunately, the man was like a clumsy farmer hawking cabbages. The more eager he was, the more the Lord suspected something was rotten.

The three of them walked into the conference room, chatting as they went. Before they could even get a good look at the decor, a refreshing breeze carrying an invigorating fragrance washed over them.

In past meetings, the air had been thick with the mixed stench of sweat and stinky feet. The Lord hadn’t expected them to raise the standards this much.

’It seems the big shots from the Royal Court live lives of unimaginable luxury, even in the middle of a war.’

The floor was covered with a red carpet adorned with gilt patterns. Every second spent treading on it felt like a desecration of Gold Coins—the carpet was so expensive that the wear and tear from each step was equivalent to several Silver Coins in damage.

In the center of the room was a long table, covered with a tablecloth and decorated with several silver sculptures.

It felt more like a banquet than a meeting. Levi suddenly regretted eating so much before he came.

Fulina and a large, bald man were discussing something, both seeming to be in good spirits.

The other Northern Nobles were all present, along with some new faces Levi didn’t recognize. He figured they must have come from the Royal Court or the Eastern Territory.

Panda wasn’t there; that giant panda wasn’t qualified to attend a meeting of this level. That kid Fujero, however, nodded at him before quickly lowering his head.

After all, he was only a Baron, seated at the far end of the table. The room was filled almost entirely with major figures, and he was afraid of misspeaking, so he opted to be a silent observer.

"Good day, Duke Fulina." Levi placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly in a noble’s salute. While not perfectly executed, it was good enough that no one could find any real fault with it.

"Look who it is. Our Lion Hunter Knight has arrived." Fulina was in military attire today, wearing tall boots with her waist-length red hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked heroic and exceptionally sharp.

She had always been generous and lenient with this Knight. Not only were his strength and military Talent top-notch, making him well worth befriending, but more importantly, he had done so much to help the Martel Family.

The Lord turned his head, but before he could greet the important figure next to Fulina, his gaze was captivated by a figure standing nearby.

He couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. It took him a great deal of effort to calm his inner shock and avoid making a fool of himself.

The reason the Lord had lost his composure was this—it was the first time he had ever met someone whose looks could rival his own!

Two paces behind Fulina and the bald man stood a Swordsman of about the same height as him.

He wore exquisite, bright silver Armor embroidered with intricate patterns, and a beautiful Sword hung at his side. He was sitting in a chair, engrossed in a book, his expression cold and aloof, projecting an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.

In this military camp full of scruffy, bearded men, he, Mr. Li, had been the one and only pretty boy, the sole standard-bearer for good looks. But now, at this very moment, another had appeared.

The man looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. His skin was as pure white as the bright moon, and his frame was finely sculpted—neither fat nor thin. He had long silver hair that cascaded down to his waist.

And his face, though expressionless and placid, possessed a beauty capable of infatuating every girl—and boy—who laid eyes on it!