Starting as the Baron of the Lonely Island

Count Kais’s study.

Housekeeper Moer led a young man to the door.

"Young Master Derek, the Count is inside. Please, go in."

"Thank you!"

Derek took a deep breath, straightened his clothes before the door, and then pushed it open to enter.

He caught a quick glimpse of Count Kais sitting in the chair behind the desk and hurriedly walked over.

"It is a pleasure to see you, my lord!"

"Ah, Derek, you’ve arrived."

Count Kais’s tone was cordial. He set down the intelligence report in his hand and looked at the young man, who stood with his head bowed, staring at the floor.

"There’s no need to be so tense. Just act as your father does in my presence."

Derek verbally agreed, but his body remained rigid.

According to the Kingdom’s laws, after reporting to the Royal Family, a Count could enfeoff one Viscount, five Barons, and twenty Knights.

His father, Cruz, was a Baron enfeoffed by Kais. Because he had grown up with the Count and they shared a close relationship, not to mention he possessed Celestial Tier strength, he was more relaxed in the Count’s presence.

Seeing that Derek was still a bit nervous, Kais changed the subject.

"I trust there’s an outcome regarding the matter I asked your father to handle?"

"Yes, my lord!"

Derek replied, "The Silver Gale has brought the latest intelligence from the Starfall Islands. The Viscount of the Blazing Sword has suffered immense losses due to the Secret Realm and is requesting resource support from Crown Prince Howard."

The King of the Akutas Kingdom is Tyron. Although he was victorious in the final battle against the Pruck Kingdom, he was also severely injured.

Tyron is now over eighty years old. Though he has not abdicated, he handed over the affairs of state to Crown Prince Howard long ago.

Kais nodded.

In that case, the Starfall Islands certainly had a motive to plunder resources from Black Forest Island.

Derek continued, "We also have a lead on Garrot, the man you had us investigate. He was a Knight before this, but he distinguished himself in the recent Secret Realm battle. With the original commander of the Gale Corps killed in action, he took his place as commander and was simultaneously enfeoffed as a Knight."

"I see."

Kais understood now. ’No wonder I’d never heard of this Garrot fellow. He must have only recently emerged.’

’Figures that someone promoted on the fly wouldn’t be up to snuff. To think he’d crash and burn on a tiny little place like Black Forest Island.’

"What about that Secret Realm? Any valuable intelligence on it?"

"Yes!"

Derek said, "It’s rumored to contain Meteorite Iron Deposits of extremely high value!"

Count Kais’s eyes lit up, and his interest was immediately piqued.

"That Freddy... he sure has some damn good luck!"

His tone was filled with envy and jealousy.

Basically, every High Lord possessed a high-value Secret Realm. Even a Viscount like Ugo Calvin controlled the Fire Source Beast Secret Realm.

But he, a top-ranking noble of Grant Province, didn’t have a single Secret Realm to his name!

He was constantly cursing the unfairness of fate.

And now, a Viscount from a neighboring kingdom actually controlled a Secret Realm with Meteorite Iron—a mineral used to craft top-tier equipment, its value immeasurable!

Kais fell silent, lost in thought. Derek didn’t dare to disturb him and just stood there quietly.

After a long moment, the Count emerged from his thoughts and said with a smile, "The Silver Gales your parents breed are excellent. Have them expand the operation."

The Silver Gale was a type of small falcon. Because of their homing instinct, they were bred to be messengers.

The Silver Gale was a Level 1-2 Demon Beast. Its normal flight speed could reach 90 kilometers per hour, with bursts of up to 220 kilometers per hour. It could fly for over a thousand kilometers continuously, even against a headwind.

It was precisely by relying on the Silver Gales that Kais was able to get news from the Starfall Islands so quickly.

"Yes, I will relay your order," Derek responded.

"Mm. Also, your father wants you to gain some experience here at Sea Cliff Castle. I am prepared to appoint you as a Clerk. What do you think?"

Derek’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this. His parents weren’t skilled at managing a territory, so they had hoped to arrange for him to study territory management under the Count.

Although a Clerk held no real power, the position offered access to a great deal of information, which would be excellent for improving his abilities.

"I will follow all of your arrangements!" He knelt on one knee to express his assent.

"Haha, go on. Go back and tell Cruz, then make your preparations and come over."

"Yes, sir!"

Derek slowly exited the study. Just as he stepped out, he saw Housekeeper Moer bowing to a beautiful young lady.

’It’s Natalia.’

He quickly walked over to offer a greeting. "Good day, my lady."

Natalia nodded in acknowledgment. "Hello, Derek. What brings you to Sea Cliff Castle?"

"I came to deliver some intelligence," he replied with a smile.

The two knew each other, so they exchanged a few pleasantries upon meeting, but they didn’t chat for long.

"My apologies, Derek, but I must be going."

Natalia said, slightly apologetically, "My father is waiting for me!"

"Of course." Derek bowed slightly.

Natalia walked toward the study.

Watching her back, Derek thought to himself:

’Miss Natalia is as beautiful and cool as ever. I wonder if the rumors spreading outside are true. Baron Duane... I’d really like to meet him.’

As soon as Natalia entered the study, Kais’s voice rang out.

"My dear daughter, you certainly were the center of attention last night!"

His tone was teasing, with no hint of anger.

Natalia was a bit embarrassed. "Father, the news has probably spread everywhere by now. Please don’t make fun of me!"

"Hahaha!"

Kais laughed instead. "It has indeed spread, but all the talk is about Elwin’s lack of grace and noble etiquette."

"Tsk tsk, just thinking of Ugo’s face, so angry he could spit blood, fills me with satisfaction!"

Natalia felt helpless. Every time Viscount Ugo was thwarted, her father was especially delighted.

"Did you bring the painting Duane made for you?"

Natalia took the scroll from Eleanor’s hands, placed it on the desk, and unrolled it.

"Hiss!"

Kais looked at the person in the painting, then at his daughter before him. "This Duane certainly has a lot of tricks for making girls happy. Natalia, you haven’t fallen for him, have you?"

Natalia was stunned, and her face immediately flushed red all the way to her neck.

"Father, how could you..."

"Hahaha!"

Kais rolled up the scroll, handed it to Eleanor, and then his smile faded.

"If the dress in the painting were to be produced, it should have a decent market. If you’re willing, I can provide you with all kinds of support."

"I... haven’t decided yet."

"Fine. The decision to produce it or not is up to you."

Kais sat back down in his chair. "And Duane?"

"He’s still at the inn near the docks."

Natalia couldn’t help but ask, "He offended Elwin yesterday. Will he face retaliation from the Calvin Clan?"

"What, are you worried about him?"

Natalia said helplessly, "I was the one who invited him to the banquet, after all. Besides, Father, you share some of the responsibility for this matter."

"Me?"

Kais was taken aback. "What responsibility do I have?"

"You were the one who told me to find an excuse to keep him here for a couple of days so you could investigate the Starfall Islands. Have you forgotten?"

Hearing this, Count Kais truly didn’t know how to refute it.

He could only tap his forehead lightly. "Yes, you have a point. I am responsible."

"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have had you receive Duane!"

He was now feeling some regret, as this incident had led to outside speculation about the relationship between his daughter and Duane.

For Natalia, who did not have a confirmed marriage alliance, this was not a good thing.

"Don’t worry. Although Duane is a Baron, in our eyes, they are both juniors. As long as his dispute with Elwin doesn’t actually escalate to an accusation in the Noble Court, Ugo won’t get involved."

Kais looked at his daughter. "Natalia, although your mother and I both love you dearly, there is something I must remind you of."

Natalia’s expression turned serious; she already had an inkling of what was coming.

"Our family’s advantage among the High Lords is not at all obvious. As a member of this family, you must be prepared to make sacrifices for its interests and continuation!"

It was a cruel thing to say, but it was the reality for the children of nobility. "Don’t be like Constance!"

Natalia lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable, but she murmured, "I understand, Father."

"Good!"

Kais sighed. "Go on, have Eleanor inform Duane to come to Sea Cliff Castle tonight. Also, Moer..."

The housekeeper walked in. "At your command."

"Arrange a banquet according to the protocol for receiving a Baron... no, use the protocol for a Viscount."

Kais said with a laugh, "Duane crushed Ugo’s son and made Ugo lose face. That’s something worth celebrating."