Chapter 148: Compensation, Part 1

“The Prison of the Demon Dragon appeared during the Giant Dragon War. It was created by a Dragonborn named Joe to imprison Giant Dragons and Dragonborn from enemy camps… At first, it was just a slightly special prison. But later, when an unknown human suddenly found this prison and made contracts with the Demon Dragons and Evil Dragons inside, turning them into allies, the Prison of the Demon Dragon became unique. In certain eras, like the Devils of Hell, it was regarded as a taboo that people sealed away!”

The Grand Duchess said slowly while sitting in her chair.

“Did that human eventually suffer backlash?”

Dean asked.

“No, but the person disappeared. There aren’t even any records of his name… Perhaps Secret Spell Island or Sky City might have more records, but the Emerald Royal Family’s archives do not.”

The Grand Duchess shook her head, admitting she did not know much.

“I see…”

Dean nodded slightly, but his mind went back to the Conqueror King. Although Gosai, Emerald, and City had not been established during the Giant Dragon War, it did not mean the ancestors of the Gosai Kingdom did not exist.

“Your Highness, thank you for your explanation!”

Dean looked up and expressed his gratitude to the Grand Duchess.

“It is just some knowledge I know!”

The Grand Duchess smiled lightly again.

“Knowledge… is priceless!”

Dean’s answer was somewhat serious.

“Merely the words of a Wizard… but it makes sense in some ways. This is the compensation I give you!” The Grand Duchess took out a palm-sized box, only two inches thick, and placed it in Dean’s hand. Then, without waiting for Dean to reply, she said directly and with her usual firmness: “Do not refuse. The value of that Contract of the Prison of the Demon Dragon, and the aftereffects left on your body after using it, are far greater than what this can compensate for. But I can only offer this now. The rest… Come to the Capital of Emerald during the Midsummer Festival next year, and I will give you a surprise!”

“Next year’s Midsummer Festival?”

Dean was stunned. At that time, less than a month remained before City launched its attack on Emerald. Moreover, on the night of the Midsummer Night, the Grand Duchess before him had suffered an unprecedented assassination attempt. Although she repelled the assassins, she had sustained serious injuries. Dean, who had been by the Grand Duchess’s side at that time, knew this very well.

In fact, everyone guessed that City had launched the attack so urgently because they wanted to take over Emerald completely while the Grand Duchess’s injuries had not yet healed.

Although the enemy had not succeeded completely, the Grand Duchess’s ultimate defeat in Falling Moon Valley was absolutely related to encountering this assassination and having unhealed injuries.

Thinking of this, with an exceptionally serious expression, Dean spoke word by word:

“Your Highness, next year’s Midsummer Festival, I will arrive at the Capital of Emerald on time!”

After speaking, Dean performed a Knight’s Salute while seated.

This represented a Knight’s oath, and Dean had never broken his knightly vows, even if he did not care about higher True Name oaths.

“Mm, I will wait for you!”

The Grand Duchess nodded, and there was a hint of surprise in her eyes as she looked at Dean.

After all, even the Emerald Grand Duke had never thought Dean would accept her invitation so solemnly. That degree of seriousness seemed to go beyond normal categories.

Could he have misunderstood something?

Subconsciously, the Grand Duchess thought this.

After all, this was not the first time such a situation had occurred. The Emerald Grand Duke herself did not care about her appearance, but she understood what kind of attraction this appearance had for men, especially young men.

However, when her gaze fell on Dean’s eyes again, she dismissed her thought.

Dean’s eyes were very bright, filled with gravity, determination, and even a trace of resolve.

But… there was not a trace of romantic affection between men and women.

The lust that she detested, the Emerald Grand Duke believed was sensitive and would not be mistaken.

Was it because of the gift arranged as a ‘surprise’ for her?

If Dean were ten years younger, the Grand Duchess would definitely entertain this idea.

As for greed?

Based on Dean’s words and deeds, the Grand Duchess did not think Dean was a greedy person. After all, if he were greedy, he would never have performed the heroic act of risking his life before.

Dean did not see the Grand Duchess’s surprise. At this moment, Dean, who was immersed in thoughts of the Midsummer Festival in August of next year, had his mind filled with various assassination and counter-assassination plans. He only heard that the Grand Duchess was waiting for him. Instinctively, Dean nodded again and said: “Your Highness, I will arrive as promised!”

“And guarantee your safety!”

Dean did not say this sentence out loud; he vowed it in his heart.

After that, neither the Grand Duchess nor Dean discussed this issue again, but chatted about upper-class society and military matters.

Dean’s knowledge of the upper class of Emerald and his familiarity with the army once again surprised the Grand Duchess.

However, this was followed by even more praise.

After all, only in this way was Dean’s words of ‘restoring the Ancestor’s honor’ not empty talk.

“I look forward to meeting you again, Ken!”

About half an hour later, the Grand Duchess stood up and said goodbye to Dean.

“Although I wanted to stay a little longer, that old man, Lord Marquis Vauban, seems quite impatient!”

As she spoke, the Grand Duchess smiled lightly.

However, when Dean prepared to stand up to see her off, he was stopped by the Grand Duchess once again. She pressed him back onto the bed. Seeing his insistence, Dean shrugged and smiled bitterly.

The door closed silently.

Listening to the fading footsteps of the Grand Duchess, Dean subconsciously touched the box. He was not unfamiliar with such boxes. Every member of a Royal Family in various countries was eligible to receive a ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potion upon coming of age, and once every five years thereafter.

However, it was different from ordinary ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potions.

The ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potions of various Royal Families were certainly unique.

Compared to most ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potions with a success rate of only 20% or 30%.

A ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potion with a success rate of up to 90% was obviously precious. Even though Dean’s attributes now exceeded ‘2’, it did not mean Dean did not need a good ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potion.

On the contrary, he needed it more.

Because the best Royal Family-level ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potions not only greatly enhanced one’s five attributes but also allowed an awakened Talent to reach a higher level.

For Dean, whose Strength was still relatively weak at this moment, this was naturally something he would gladly accept.

In fact, the medicinal materials brought by Long Lang were also prepared by Dean to mix his own ‘Knight’s Baptism’ potion.

However, it seemed unnecessary now.

After all, this was a Baptism Potion better than what he could mix himself. Although his recipe came from several Grand Nobles, it was still not on par with the Emerald Royal Family.

“Now that I have the Baptism Potion, what is next…”

Dean did not take the Baptism Potion immediately but thought about his next plan. After all, his current body was not suitable for taking it.

Even the best Baptism Potion needed to be taken when the body was in its prime to achieve the best effect.

Tick, tick, tick…

The crisp footsteps interrupted Dean’s thoughts. For Dean, that sound of footsteps wearing Armor was too obvious.

Thump, thump, thump…

“Please come in!”

After the knocking, Dean said. Then, Marquis Vauban pushed the door open with Baron Jandu.

Marquis Vauban was dressed as meticulously as ever, but his smiling face hid an overwhelming fatigue. Obviously, this Lord Marquis had not slept well for two days.

Behind Marquis Vauban, Baron Jandu, who also followed Knight traditions, was carrying two boxes, one large and one small.

The large one was half a person’s height and square.

The small one was very slender.

From the sound Baron Jandu made when placing them on the floor, Dean could feel their heaviness.

At the same time, after putting down the two boxes, Baron Jandu began to look at Dean with a burning gaze. Dean was not unfamiliar with such an expression.

He often saw it in the eyes of the young men under his command.

“Dean… um, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that?”

Lord Marquis Vauban sat in the previous seat of the Grand Duchess. After smiling and signaling Dean to lie still, he said this.

“Of course, Lord Marquis!”

Dean nodded immediately.

“Then… Dean, are you willing to accept my enfeoffment? To honor your previous bravery and merit. Although it is only a Lord title, I think you and your Family would not mind having a Lord title passed down within the Family, right?”

Seeing Dean nod, Marquis Vauban immediately said with a smile.

“I feel extremely honored by this!”

Dean appropriately showed his reverence and fear.

“This is what you deserve. In fact… if I had more suitable inhabited territories, I would not mind granting you a fief!”

A fraction of shame appeared on Marquis Vauban’s face.

This was not an act, but real shame. After all, Dean had not only saved his life but also, in a sense, saved the entire Vauban County. Receiving a title and a fief was a matter of course.

However, it was not easy to develop a suitable place to live in Vauban County, located in the Northland.

It required not only clearing trees and beasts but also solving the biggest problem of population migration.

Vauban City, which had just completed the population migration of Jandu County, could not afford a second population migration temporarily.

Marquis Vauban was also unwilling to bear the bad name of ‘fooling’ someone by casually giving Dean an undeveloped piece of Territory. If he did that, not only would the Grand Duchess be dissatisfied, but even his subordinates would feel ashamed. After all, Shiva, whom he regarded as his right-hand man in the last two days, had expressed his gratitude to Dean more than once, and the two Grand Knights, Anli and Cid, praised Dean endlessly.

Marquis Vauban, like an old fox, naturally knew how to do it:

“So, this Armor and this Longsword count as my compensation to you. Also… this is a contract for a shop in the Lower District. Originally, I wanted to give you a Vauban Family Baptism Potion, but… obviously, that is redundant!”

Marquis Vauban pointed to the two boxes, large and small, by his feet, and took out a shop contract.