Starting as the Baron of the Lonely Island

Duane’s phrase, "a considerable price," was a stark contrast to Natalia’s subconscious guess, and it greatly piqued the Countess’s interest.

She was very curious how the Baron of Black Forest Island had managed to annihilate a horde of over a hundred Frog Fish Monsters with so few people and such minimal casualties.

Duane didn’t hide anything. He not only recounted the specific details of the battle but also mentioned the Holy Hand Association and the Broken Wave Gang.

Once this topic was broached, the two of them talked for a long time.

Upon hearing that these two groups were hostile to the Lord, Natalia grew curious about how Duane would deal with them.

When she heard they had feigned surrender only to betray him on the battlefield, her eyes filled with admiration for Duane’s meticulous planning.

And when she heard of Daniels’s cruel atrocities—raising people as Magic Potion Materials—anger clearly flashed across Natalia’s face.

She was a Mage herself and was also learning to create Magic Potions.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of twisted person would treat innocent people as materials.

"What did you do with him? Did you kill him?" she asked hurriedly.

Duane nodded. "Of course. Although a Mage is important, especially one who has mastered healing and the ability to create Magic Potions, a person who has committed such a sin does not deserve to live!"

Natalia couldn’t help but voice her approval. "You did the right thing, Baron!"

If he had let a person like that live, she would want nothing more to do with him.

At the same time, she felt a burgeoning admiration for this young man, who was her own age.

She’d heard about the Brian Clan’s situation from Moer and knew Duane had no powerful figures by his side.

She never imagined that in less than a year, he had not only repelled a Demon Beast attack but also consolidated the two deep-rooted factions on Black Forest Island—and crucially, had done so at a very small cost.

She knew with certainty that she couldn’t have done the same.

This also caused her to discard the labels she had heard from Moer about Duane: "an ordinary person who can’t cultivate," "the son of a Knight with weak mental fortitude," and "the ostracized and cast-aside Baron of the Lonely Island."

’Rumors can’t be trusted.’

Still, there was something she didn’t understand.

’If things on Black Forest Island are going so well, why is he visiting today?’

’Is he here to request funding?’

’It doesn’t seem like it.’

Duane didn’t plan to mention a partnership between their families to Natalia; after all, she couldn’t represent the Count or make decisions on political matters.

The location of their meeting said it all.

Therefore, his only goal this time was to build a closer relationship.

"Lloyd helped me out when I was leaving the Royal Capital," Duane said.

"You know my second brother?"

"The King’s Clerk. I imagine many people know him."

Duane said with a smile, "He was the one who gave me the Nautical Map for the Sea of Silence, and he helped me a great deal with matters like Guards and recruiting craftsmen."

He paused for a moment. "So I came this time, first, to pay my respects to the Count, and second, to thank Lloyd for his kindness."

Although these were all pretexts, they made Natalia feel a little embarrassed.

’He didn’t come to ask for funding; he came bearing gifts.’

"Eleanor just told me you’re a Mage prodigy," Duane said.

The fact that Natalia was a prodigy Mage was known to everyone in the Earl’s Territory, so it didn’t matter whether Eleanor had said it or not.

"That’s just their exaggeration. I still have much to learn about Magic. For now, I’m only a Level 3 Mage."

Duane raised an eyebrow. ’Leave it to a Count’s daughter to be so modest,’ he thought.

’A Level 3 Mage at sixteen. If that’s not a prodigy, what is?’

"You’re truly humble!"

Duane couldn’t help but add, "I’ve brought a specialty from Black Forest Island, Hot Spring Mountain Tea. It helps Mages improve the effectiveness of their Meditation. You should give it a try."

"Hot Spring Mountain Tea?"

Natalia asked in surprise, "What’s that?"

Duane stood up, took a wooden box from Michele, and placed it on the table before opening it.

Inside the wooden box were four smaller boxes, engraved with exquisite patterns.

Each of these four small boxes contained a pound of tea leaves.

"This is from a special tea tree that grows on Black Forest Island. I discovered its effects by accident one time, so I tried to make some tea... Hmm..."

He thought for a moment and then explained, "You can think of it as a type of Magic Potion, but one that can be made without a Mage."

"There’s such a special Magic Potion?"

Natalia was a bit surprised. The way he described it, it sounded more like a fruit picked from a Magic Plant.

"Is there any boiled water here?"

Natalia looked at a nearby maid, who immediately understood and hurried off to prepare it.

"And bring two cups."

Soon, a pot of boiling water and two cups were brought up. It seemed this area was equipped with its own kitchen.

Duane took out a suitable amount of tea leaves, placed them in the cups, and then poured in the boiling water to steep them. A faint aroma of tea began to drift through the air.

Natalia leaned in and sniffed. "A very unique fragrance."

"That’s the aroma of tea."

Duane described his own clumsy first attempt at making tea, framing the discovery of Hot Spring Mountain Tea as a complete accident.

"You can try it once it cools down a bit."

Natalia nodded, then actually reached out and cast a spell. A faint mist appeared in her palm, allowing her to hold the cup without feeling the heat.

Soon, the water temperature dropped.

She handed the cup to Duane. He couldn’t help but chuckle; he really hadn’t expected her to use Magic to cool the tea.

He took the cup, said his thanks, and then took a sip. The flavor hadn’t changed at all.

Natalia used the same trick again. When her tea had cooled to a suitable temperature, she also took a sip.

"A very special flavor. It’s completely different from wine and has a hint of sweet fragrance."

Natalia commented while taking another two sips.

Soon, her ability to perceive external Elements was slightly enhanced.

She quickly closed her eyes and entered a state of Meditation.

A moment later, she opened her eyes. "It really does enhance a Mage’s Meditation! I can’t believe Black Forest Island has such a unique product!"

As a Mage, Natalia naturally understood the value of such a plant.

"How much Hot Spring Mountain Tea can you produce? If there’s a lot, I’d like to purchase some."

The corners of Duane’s mouth turned up slightly. ’Doing business with Mages is always easy,’ he thought.

"Currently, the annual yield is less than a hundred pounds, but I’m actively expanding cultivation this year. I believe the output will gradually increase."

He said with a smile, "Since Miss Natalia likes it, I’ll bring some more next time I visit. Compared to the help your second brother gave me, this little bit of tea is nothing. Please don’t mention purchasing it."

"You’re too kind."

Natalia said with a smile, "My brother is my brother. I mean, we should keep things separate."

Duane laughed out loud and didn’t press the issue further.

’I’m sure the Hot Spring Mountain Tea will find its way into the Count’s hands.’

’If he’s interested, he’ll be in touch.’

"Besides the Hot Spring Mountain Tea, I have one more thing I’d like to give to the Count."

"Oh?"

Natalia blinked her beautiful, large eyes. ’Why is this Baron of the Lonely Island being so generous?’

"A merchant fleet from the Blazing Sword Clan of the Starfall Islands came to Black Forest Island, led by Viscount Freddy’s Gale Corps."

Duane said, "Because I placed a limit on the trade volume, I drew their dissatisfaction. So, their commander, Garrot, took his men and tried to kill me under the cover of night, but I captured them instead."

"I confiscated five of their ships."

He said with a helpless tone, "As you know, miss, I don’t have a Captain, and I can’t maintain so many ships. They’ll just go to waste if they stay with me."

"So, I brought one of the cargo ships with me this time. It’s currently docked at Silent Harbor."

Duane looked at Natalia sincerely. "This is my gift to the Count. Please ask him to accept it."

"Wait!"

Natalia suddenly felt her thoughts couldn’t keep up with him.

"Are you saying you captured Viscount Freddy’s Gale Corps?"

"Yes!" Duane said.

Natalia was shocked.

’The Gale Corps serves a legitimate Viscount. Can just any noble capture them on a whim?’

"I didn’t mishear you, did I, Baron?"

She asked in disbelief, "Don’t tell me the Gale Corps only sent a few men?"

"It wasn’t many, only twenty-some men."

"Weren’t they strong?"

"The commander, Garrot, is an Earth Tier Warrior. Besides him, there were three Advanced Warriors, five Middle Level Warriors, eight Basic-level Warriors, and one Level 4 Mage."

"Oh, heavens!"

Natalia finally dropped her distant demeanor. "How did you do it?"

"Details determine success or failure!"

Duane summarized, "I simply seized upon the details that revealed their weaknesses before they made their move."

"I want to hear it!"

Natalia felt as if she were listening to a bard tell a story. Even though these events had actually happened, they had an air of unreality.