Starting as the Baron of the Lonely Island

Lately, the Silent Shore had been abuzz with activity as nobility of all ranks gathered.

On the evening of February 2nd, the night before the scheduled negotiations, Count Kais hosted a grand welcome banquet in his castle.

In addition to the prominent nobles of the Pruck Kingdom, esteemed guests from the Akutas Kingdom were also in attendance.

Business was business, and conflict was conflict. Even Freddy, who wasn’t in the best of moods, chose to attend.

Sea Cliff Castle was brightly lit as the nobility filed in.

Count Kais’s eldest son, George, and Lloyd, who had returned home for the occasion, were receiving guests outside the main keep.

"It feels like our home hasn’t been this lively in years, has it?"

Lloyd replied, "The last time Sea Cliff Castle welcomed Foreign Nobility was right after the armistice between the two kingdoms."

George grunted in agreement. The armistice agreement had also been signed at the Silent Shore.

"We weren’t even born back then."

Both George and Lloyd had short, silver hair and shared a slight resemblance.

They had lived in Sea Cliff Castle since they were children and had a very good relationship.

In recent years, Lloyd had been serving as a Clerk by His Majesty’s side, so his visits to Sea Cliff Castle had become less frequent.

However, the bond between the brothers hadn’t weakened; on the contrary, they frequently corresponded by letter.

"The last of the esteemed guests has arrived!" Lloyd noted.

George looked ahead and immediately put on a smile as he went to greet them.

"You’ve finally arrived, Viscount Raul!"

The one who had arrived late was Viscount Raul Stewart.

The Viscount had a prominent beer belly and a broad, burly frame, making the well-proportioned George seem almost petite in comparison.

"Haha, sorry to keep you waiting!"

Viscount Raul leaned on his cane with both hands and greeted them with a smile.

"George, Lloyd! It’s been years. You’ve both matured quite a bit!"

The two brothers smiled faintly and made a gesture of invitation.

"Just this morning, my father was wondering why you hadn’t arrived yet. He thought you might not be interested in this matter!"

"Haha, how could that be?"

Raul laughed and explained, "I was delayed for quite a while by a heavy downpour on the road."

He hadn’t come all this way just to attend a banquet; he was seeking a partnership in the development of the Secret Realm.

After all, the Stewart Clan’s Mammoths offered a significant advantage in transport and manual labor.

As they walked toward the main keep, Raul asked George curiously:

"Baron Duane has arrived, I assume?"

Viscount Raul thought of Carter, that young Celestial Tier Warrior.

"To be honest, after hearing about his legendary exploits, I’m quite eager to see what kind of young man he is!"

"I’m afraid you might be disappointed, then!"

George said with a hint of regret, "Baron Duane has matters he can’t get away from. For these negotiations, he has sent a representative."

Both Count Kais and George had their suspicions about Simone’s identity, but it wasn’t exactly a savory topic.

Thus, George didn’t bring it up proactively with Viscount Raul.

"What a pity!"

Raul asked casually, "Is the representative Kaelon? I heard he’s the only Earth Tier Warrior on Black Forest Island."

"You’ve guessed wrong. It’s not Kaelon."

George pointed to a young man in the castle’s first-floor hall, who was currently talking with Derek.

"You see, that is Lord Simone, the man representing Baron Duane at the negotiations."

Hearing this name, Viscount Raul froze for a moment.

And when he saw Simone’s face, his expression darkened.

"Apologies, you’ll have to excuse me for a moment!"

Viscount Raul strode toward the hall.

George and Lloyd exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

It seemed their suspicions were correct. The representative sent by Duane was indeed Simone of the Gobel Clan.

"This Baron friend of yours really knows how to stir up trouble for us."

Lloyd chuckled. "Perhaps Duane doesn’t know Simone’s identity?"

"Do you think that’s possible?" George spread his hands helplessly and quickly followed, hoping to prevent a conflict.

At that moment, Simone was talking with Derek and Sharp.

He had come this time to deliver Duane’s latest design drafts to Natalia and the others.

At the same time, he also needed to get an update on the current progress of the Time Closet to report back to Duane.

"Simone!"

Viscount Raul’s voice rang out, tinged with anger. "How dare you show your face here?"

The sudden voice interrupted Simone and Derek’s conversation. They both turned to look at the newcomer in unison.

’Viscount Raul?’

Derek frowned, not understanding why the man looked so furious.

Simone subconsciously took a step back, his mind flashing back to the scene of the Viscount’s angry tirade all those years ago.

But he immediately remembered what Duane had said, and also the reason he was here.

He couldn’t help but take a step forward, schooling his expression to appear calm and composed.

He gave a slight bow and took the initiative to greet him. "It’s a pleasure to see you, Lord Viscount!"

Viscount Raul snorted in anger, slamming his cane hard against the floor.

The commotion immediately attracted the attention of those nearby, who all looked over with curiosity.

Raul noticed this and reined in his anger. "Follow me!"

With that, he led the way out.

Simone hesitated for a moment, then followed.

"Something’s happening!"

Derek’s gossip-loving heart suddenly flared with excitement. "Should we go see?"

"Is that a good idea?"

Sharp said, but his feet were already moving toward the door.

「Around a corner behind the castle.」

Viscount Raul, walking in front, suddenly spun around.

"I thought you were dead. I never expected that not only are you alive and well, you even dare to appear before me!"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you right here and now?"

Simone’s initial apprehension had faded. The fact that the other man hadn’t attacked him immediately said it all.

"I follow a new master now."

He said unhurriedly, "If you lay a hand on me, it will be a provocation against Baron Duane."

"You think bringing up Duane will scare me?"

Raul suddenly raised his hand, throwing a straight punch right at Simone’s face.

Simone didn’t dodge or evade, raising his own hand to meet the punch.

BANG!

The fists collided, and the immense impact sent both men stumbling backward.

It was clear that Simone was slightly weaker.

But Raul knew that Simone was now, without a doubt, a Human Tier Warrior.

Although the conflict was happening around a corner behind the castle, the fluctuations of Fighting Qi and the sound of the impact still drew the gazes of many.

George and Lloyd, who hadn’t planned on intervening, hadn’t expected the two to come to blows so directly. They immediately rushed over.

"Gentlemen, what’s going on here?"

"If there’s some misunderstanding, we can sit down and talk it over. Please, don’t resort to violence!"

Simone flexed his wrist. "I am here representing Baron Duane in the negotiations between the two kingdoms. If you continue to attack me and draw a crowd, it will reflect poorly on the Stewart Clan, and indeed, on the entire Kingdom."

These were negotiations with a foreign power; if internal strife broke out, it would undoubtedly become a laughingstock.

If the reasons behind it were to be exposed, the name Stewart would become an international joke.

Viscount Raul did not press his attack.

"Constance... such an outstanding girl. She should have had a happy life, but now she can only live cooped up in that castle!"

His fury hadn’t diminished in the slightest. "This is all your fault!"

George and Lloyd stood on either side, unsure of how to mediate.

Although the affair between Constance and Simone hadn’t spread widely, it was an open secret among the high-ranking nobility.

If Simone were on his own right now, they could have him seized directly.

But he just had to be following Duane, and on top of that, representing the aggrieved party in these negotiations.

They couldn’t deal with him as they pleased.

What’s more, the Kennedy Clan was cooperating with Duane.

Even after the negotiations were over, they couldn’t possibly let Viscount Raul take Simone away on Kennedy Clan territory.

This was why George had said Duane was causing trouble for them.

"I am very sorry about that matter!"

Simone said, "But what’s done is done. Please allow me to make amends!"

"Make amends?"

Viscount Raul laughed in fury. "In terms of status, you’re not even a Knight. In terms of strength, you’re just a Human Tier Warrior."

"I have dozens, if not hundreds, of men like you in my territory, and there are countless more throughout the kingdom!"

He demanded coldly, "What could you possibly use to make amends?"

Simone seemed to be transported back to the scene of the incident, surrounded and accused by everyone. He was momentarily lost in the memory.

Back then, he couldn’t find the words to defend himself, but now, his mindset had changed.

"To the Stewart Clan, a Human Tier Warrior might be nothing."

Simone’s gaze was firm. "But what about a Celestial Tier Warrior? Would you disregard one of them just as easily?"

Viscount Raul was taken aback.

’A Celestial Tier Warrior?’

Even in the entire Kingdom, the number of such Warriors was limited.

To say nothing of a Celestial Tier Warrior loyal to the Stewart Clan.

Back then, it was only out of respect for Simone’s grandfather that he had turned a blind eye and let Simone escape.

Otherwise, how could Simone possibly have escaped from the castle dungeon?

Simone continued, "Even if you look down on a Celestial Tier Warrior, what about an even stronger Star Realm Warrior?"

Viscount Raul realized the implication of his words, and his face turned ugly.

Even now, with the Power of Elements growing denser, it had only increased the number of low-level warriors. The number of top-tier experts remained few and far between, at least in the short term.

"What, you think you can become a Shooting Star Warrior?"

He sneered, "It’s been years. I never thought you’d become even more arrogant!"

Simone took a deep breath. "I believe I can do it! So until then, you’d better treat Constance well."

"If anything happens to Vera’s mother, the Stewart Clan had better prepare to face the wrath of a Star Realm Warrior!"

The words sounded arrogant and boastful.

But Simone had no other choice. He could only use this to raise his own standing.

At the same time, he also hoped that, in this way, he could let Constance know that both he and Vera were alive and well.

However, Viscount Raul only grew angrier upon hearing this.

"Fine. Just fine! You’re really something!"

He laughed in fury. "Before I have to bear your wrath, perhaps your master, Baron Duane, should prepare to face my accusations!"

Seeing the crowd of onlookers growing, Viscount Raul didn’t linger after saying his piece. He turned and left.

Leaving Simone standing alone, feeling both a sense of relief and a mounting pressure.

’I’ve still caused trouble for the Baron!’

Although Duane had anticipated this kind of trouble and told Simone not to worry about it...

...Simone still couldn’t help but feel guilty.

’I’ve already made the boast, and I’ve already caused the trouble. The only thing I can do now is increase my strength as quickly as possible—to repay the Baron for his support, and more importantly, for Constance and Vera!’

Simone secretly clenched his fists, regulated his breathing, and turned to head back to the main banquet hall.