Chapter 46: Determined Beggar?
Without wasting any further time, Roderic closed the quest and opened the system’s archive.
’Let’s see, the corrupt merchant Victor Fenwick,’ he thought, quickly typing in the name.
[Searching ’merchant Victor Fenwick’...]
Only a few seconds had ticked by before the system window filled with text.
———————— Historical Record ————————
Name: Victor Fenwick
Age: 32
Birthplace: Ravenport, Valemont Marquisate
Occupation: Merchant
Rank: Unranked
Current Status: Alive
Victor grew up in Ravenport City, working alongside his father as a merchant. Shortly after his eighteenth birthday, his father passed away. From there, he created his own... [Continue Reading]
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Roderic’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’Thirty-two?’ he thought. ’That means he’s about twenty-two right now?’
It wasn’t the first time he’d looked at the young merchant’s information.
But the previous times, he’d quickly dismissed it after finding him all the way in Ravenport City.
’Ravenport is Marquis Valemont’s territory in the north,’ he thought, shaking his head. ’That’s a three-week trip back and forth. It simply wasn’t worth it at the time.’
But now, that had completely changed.
The Young Noble Gathering he was required to attend in a month and a half was in Adlermere City, which was the capital of the Valemont Marquisate.
And Ravenport was only two days away from there.
’That changes things,’ Roderic thought, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
He was already going to spend weeks traveling north for the gathering anyway. There was no reason he couldn’t make a small detour while he was there.
Leaning back in his seat, Roderic let out a satisfied sigh.
’If Victor is still in Ravenport, I can finally finish this damn main quest,’ he thought, relaxing. ’And with the Appraisal Eye, I’ll be able to speed things up immensely.’
For now, he’d just have Frederic begin basic training under Captain Harris.
Even without knowing what weapon or technique suited him best, building his body and awakening his aura would never be wasted effort.
As for himself, sitting around the estate for the next month and a half was completely out of the question.
There were still villages and towns throughout House Whitemane’s territory he hadn’t visited, many of which had problems that would turn into quests.
More territorial quests meant more Throne Coins and traits while allowing him to recruit more talented people at the same time.
Roderic’s grin widened as he pressed his head against the carriage wall.
’So much planned...’ he thought. ’I wonder how it’ll all go.’
...
It was already late in the afternoon by the time the Whitemane estate finally appeared in the distance.
Frederic stared out the window with wide eyes, having never seen a castle with walls up close.
As the carriage came through the gates, it gradually began slowing to a halt.
Roderic pushed open the door immediately and stepped outside, stretching his stiff arms above his head.
’’Young master!’’
One of the knights stationed near the entrance quickly approached him.
Roderic lowered his arms, raising an eyebrow as he turned.
’’What is it?’’
The knight hesitated briefly before glancing toward the side of the manor gates.
’’There’s someone here asking for you,’’ he explained. ’’He’s been waiting outside the estate for almost two days now.’’
Roderic’s eyebrow only rose further.
’’Two days?’’
’’Yes, young master,’’ the knight replied. ’’We’ve told him several times that you weren’t here, but he refused to leave.’’
Now genuinely curious, Roderic glanced at the entrance.
’’Where is he?’’
The knight quickly gestured toward the right of the gate.
’’Over there, young master,’’ he said hesitantly. ’’The man with a... beggar-like appearance.’’
Following his gaze, Roderic finally spotted him.
A man in his late twenties sat against the stone wall several dozen meters away.
His clothes were filthy and covered in patches, while an old cloth bag rested beside him.
Roderic recognized him almost immediately.
’That guy?’
It was the man he’d seen through the carriage window when leaving.
He’d even seen the man before that, when he’d punched the fat Darrel through a window.
Just then, as if sensing someone looking at him, the man slowly raised his head.
The moment his eyes landed on Roderic, he shot to his feet.
He grabbed his bag and hurried toward him.
Two knights immediately moved to block his path.
’’Young master!’’ the man called out.
Roderic stared at him for a moment before raising his hand.
’’Let him through,’’ he said calmly.
The knights clearly hesitated for a moment before finally stepping aside.
The man immediately rushed forward before dropping onto one knee in front of Roderic.
’’Young master,’’ he said, breathing heavily. ’’Please allow me to serve you.’’
Roderic blinked once, his eyes widening slightly.
That certainly wasn’t what he’d expected.
’’Serve me?’’ he repeated slowly.
The man nodded frantically.
’’You saved me from humiliation after I’d lost everything,’’ he quickly said. ’’You gave me justice for the crimes committed against me.’’
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
’’Please! I can work, I can fight, I can do anything you ask of me. Please allow me to serve you!’’
Roderic remained silent for a moment.
The man was clearly exhausted, with large dark circles beneath his eyes. And judging from all the dirt on him, he really had been sitting outside for the past two days.
Yet his eyes told a completely different story.
They held no hesitation or uncertainty. Literally just pure determination.
And something inside Roderic’s gut told him it’d be more than worth taking a chance on.
’’What’s your name?’’ he asked with a smile.
The man quickly glanced up as his eyes widened.
’’My name is Paul, young master!’’ he quickly answered.
Roderic nodded slowly, glancing him up and down once more.
He wasn’t a knight, nor did he sense any aura coming from his body.
But that didn’t necessarily mean much.
’His age is a little on the older side though,’ he thought. ’But who knows, anything could happen.’
His smile only widened.
’’Alright,’’ Roderic said calmly. ’’I’ll give you a chance.’’
Paul froze for a moment.
His head slowly turned up as shock flashed across his face.
’’Y-young master?!’’
’’I said I’ll give you a chance,’’ Roderic repeated. ’’Whether you manage to make anything out of it is entirely up to you.’’
Almost immediately, Paul lowered his head.
’’Thank you, young master!’’ he shouted. ’’I swear I won’t disappoint you!’’
Roderic chuckled lightly.
’’You’d better not.’’
He glanced back toward the carriage.
Frederic had just climbed out alongside Edmund and was curiously watching everything unfold.
’Perfect timing,’ he thought.
Roderic pointed toward Frederic.
’’You’ll be training alongside him from now on,’’ he said. ’’Captain Harris will handle both of you.’’
Paul’s eyes immediately lit up.
But Roderic had already turned toward Edmund.
’’Get him cleaned up and fed,’’ he said. ’’After that, have Captain Harris start training him alongside Frederic.’’
Edmund nodded immediately.
’’Of course, young master.’’
With that settled, Roderic turned around.
As he walked toward the manor, his eyes narrowed slightly.
’Well then,’ he thought. ’Time to start setting everything in motion.’
Starting tomorrow, he’d be traveling across the territory nonstop for an entire month.