Chapter 190: Arriving Early

In the early morning, the morning training of the Ferrchelen Knight Order began as usual again.

The appearance and departure of the Goth people yesterday had not affected the young people’s enthusiasm for morning training in the slightest, after all, it concerned the ownership of a steel breastplate.

However, as the training progressed, watching Dean’s figure darting quickly through the fog, appearing and disappearing, these young people were struck with shock one after another—

“The Regiment Commander’s speed seems to have increased again!”

Theron, who had always looked up to Dean as a role model, was the first to notice the difference.

“It’s not that the Regiment Commander has become faster, but rather, you have become slower, haven’t you? Yesterday afternoon at the town entrance, I saw some guy getting very close to Met and disappearing for a while!”

Ike teased his good friend with a clicking sound.

“I was asking about the whereabouts of that Goth fugitive!”

Theron’s face turned red, and he argued loudly.

“Oh!! Is that so??”

Ike’s voice stretched out a bit, and the young people around him had the same tone.

“I won’t talk to you anymore. The first breastplate is definitely mine!”

Theron, whose face was already flushed, said this and then sped up, running forward.

“How could it be yours? That must be mine!”

As Theron accelerated, Ike was not to be outdone, and Chad on the side rushed forward silently but fiercely, even Mah, an Auxiliary Soldier, gritted his teeth and exerted all his strength.

Huck, who was running alongside the young people, watched this healthy competition with a smile.

He was deeply admiring his Regiment Commander for using a breastplate as a reward instead of storing it up or giving one to each person—only what is gained through effort is cherished.

Huck himself had a considerable understanding of this point.

“But the Regiment Commander’s speed really does seem a bit faster!”

Huck thought to himself, looking at Dean’s figure that had long since disappeared ahead.

In fact, this was true—

After taking the special Baptism Potion, Dean’s [Strength] and [Agility] each increased by 0.2. Similarly, the disadvantages of consecutive Baptisms also appeared: the maximum [Constitution] decreased by 0.5; although he also obtained a new Talent belonging to the Psychic Sorcerer, [Mental Suggestion], due to the reduction in maximum [Constitution], Health, Stamina, and the duration and cooldown time of applied Skills all decreased accordingly.

Therefore, overall, this was just a relatively balanced ‘transformation’.

Of course, this was with the Blood of the Psychic Sorcerer acting as a neutralizer to enhance the drug’s effects.

Otherwise, the effect would have been even weaker!

But the immediate changes still made many people addicted to it.

Even Dean, feeling the significantly increased speed at the moment, could not help himself and accelerated his own pace.

However, when he was about to reach his goal of the past few days, finding it increasingly difficult to move his legs, Dean’s caution at the bottom of his heart grew heavier: “0.5 attributes traded for 0.4 attributes. Although another Talent was unlocked, the 0.1 attribute loss was purely due to the drug’s effects. Moreover, unlike the first Baptism, there is no accumulated drug potency… It’s becoming less cost-effective. My current situation is much better than my past life; I should be more prudent—I shouldn’t take such risks until my physical qualities reach the level of a Grand Knight!”

While adjusting his breathing with the [Body Forging Technique (Emerald)], Dean thought.

After his breathing completely calmed down, Dean looked at the Talent section of his status panel—

[Mental Suggestion Lv1: The power contained in your Bloodline makes your words and gaze possess special power; Effect: Consuming 10 Stamina points, you can plant a suggestion in a person or sentient creature. A Willpower check is required between the two—Your Willpower – 2.5 > Opponent’s Willpower (When facing someone who is wary of you, hates you, or an animal, even if you cast Suggestion, it will be ineffective)]

(Note: Once a Suggestion is planted, it will last indefinitely unless a major accident occurs)

“With Willpower minus 2.5, even with the bonus from [Indomitable], given the remaining 1.09, it will have no effect on most of the people I need to face… I must raise the level of [Mental Suggestion] or the value of [Will] as soon as possible!”

Dean was not surprised by the appearance of the Talent [Mental Suggestion].

Because, based on Churde Defendi’s performance, the power contained in his Bloodline was obviously inclined towards the side of affecting human minds, consistent with his nominal uncle and actual Father.

Although some methods of Psychic Sorcerers to confuse and bewitch enemies were also very powerful, for Dean, [Mental Suggestion] was the most appropriate.

After all, there were too many things he could not let people know, and in many cases, he needed more hands on deck.

Whether it was Jack in Janel Territory, Lit who was responsible for the Goth spy network in Vauban County, or even spies like Pine, they were all Dean’s targets.

Of course, specific implementation would still take some time.

At least, until he raised the level of [Mental Suggestion] or [Will].

The heat flow in his body belonging to the [Body Forging Technique (Emerald)] began to fade, Dean picked up his clothes, said hello to Huck, asking him to be responsible for the subsequent training, and then walked quickly towards his room.

He knew that those Goth people had departed ten hours earlier than him.

As for the reason for his departure?

“My Lord!”

Old Anders, who had been waiting in Dean’s room for a long time, stood up immediately to bow and greet him upon Dean’s appearance, and took out the packages and boxes he carried with him.

“My Lord, this is ninety grams of Bailanzhi Essence!”

First, Old Anders placed the cloth-wrapped package in front of Dean, and then, with a very cautious attitude, held the box in his hands and gently opened it: “My Lord, this is the Family Crest, your Identity Certificate, and the Family Seal that the Lord Marquis asked me to bring you. Everything was made according to your requirements!”

Inside the small box were three items—

The parchment Identity Certificate was on top, tied together with a red ribbon in a bow shape, and below it were Dean’s Family Crest and Seal. The box was lined with red velvet, which was pressed into a very appropriate concave shape to completely support the Family Crest and Seal.

The Family Crest was made of pure gold, shaped into an oval, and against the silver-white background, a emerald-green tower stood tall within it.

The Seal was made into a Ring shape, following the style of most Nobles in Emerald, and in the place where a gemstone should have been set, a miniature Family Crest and the letters representing Dean’s name were prominent.

Dean gently stroked the Family Crest and Seal, a strange emotion in his eyes—

In fact, in his past life, Dean had also been titled as a Lord.

However, before the actual Knighting Ceremony could take place, the Emerald Grand Duke died in battle; and the Knighting Ceremony was naturally not held. Although most people still called Dean ‘My Lord’, a Lord who was not officially titled and whose country had fallen clearly had little value.

It was merely out of etiquette.

“I must absolutely not repeat the same mistake!”

Dean put the Family Crest and Seal back into the box, checked the Identity Certificate again, confirmed there were no errors, and then carefully stored the box away.

Whether for recruiting Retainers later or issuing some private orders, these three items were indispensable.

Even in the future, his Armor and carriage would need to bear his family’s emblem.

And this required Dean to produce these items.

Otherwise, blacksmiths and tailors would definitely not dare to make them privately.

After all, privately copying a Noble’s Family Crest or Seal was punishable by hanging.

“Thank the Lord Marquis for me!”

After Dean put away the box, he turned and thanked Old Anders—after all, apart from his hired identity, Old Anders now also represented Marquis Vauban.

“Lord Marquis asked me to convey that if you have any needs, he will introduce you to good blacksmiths and tailors!”

Old Anders told Dean all the words that Marquis Vauban had informed him of before leaving.

“I am extremely grateful!”

Dean thanked him again.

Then, Old Anders detailed the situation of the shop’s operations and set up a schedule with Dean to report accounts every month—after Dean explicitly stated that he could not return to Vauban City in the short term, Old Anders had proposed this method long ago, but it had not been truly settled because of Dean’s hasty departure from Vauban City. It was only here that it was finalized.

Apparently, having completed a major matter on his mind, Old Anders breathed a long sigh of relief, stood up, and said goodbye.

“Do you need me to send someone to see you off? Things are not very peaceful recently!”

Dean asked.

Dean could not guarantee what Baron Defendi might do when desperate.

“Thank you for your concern, My Lord. I am just an old man; no one would target me. If I had more escorts, it might attract attention!”

Old Anders smiled and declined Dean’s kindness.

“Then have a safe journey!”

Dean saw the other man off at the gate of the Knight Order’s headquarters, and only after watching him mount his horse with reasonable agility did he return.

Regarding Old Anders’s safety, because of his own assurance and the relationship with Marquis Vauban, Dean only flashed through his mind and then cast it aside.

After returning to his room, he began to organize his personal belongings and then instructed his deputy—

“This is the Bailanzhi Essence owed to that Barbarian Lady. I need to deliver it to Buchea. Then, Buchea will act as an intermediary to allow us to complete this Transaction… It will take roughly four or five days. If I am lucky enough to be invited to Chekeduo, this time will extend to about a week! During this period, I will temporarily hand over the Knight Order to you!”

After estimating in his heart, Dean told his deputy an approximate timeline.

“Uh, I’ll handle things here!”

Huck nodded seriously.

Huck was not hearing about Dean trading Bailanzhi Essence with the Barbarians for the first time, after all, he had also seen that Magic necklace.

Naturally, Huck was deeply admiring his Regiment Commander’s integrity, and he was also helpless regarding the Barbarians’ traditions.

The only fortunate thing was that the straight-line distance from Buchea’s Stockade to the Knight Order was not very far, so the time consumed for the round trip would not be too much.

Even if he was truly invited to that large Barbarian Stockade, Chekeduo, there would be no trouble.

However, Huck still reminded his Regiment Commander—

“If possible, please be sure to return before the Midwinter Festival. Baron Defendi will host a banquet, inviting all the prestigious people of Tier Territory. That would be the best time for you to recruit Retainers and Guards!”

“Okay, I’ll remember that!”

Dean nodded, took the dry food, water, and strong liquor prepared for Buchea from Huck’s hands, put them all into the backpack on the first layer of the saddle, and urged his horse to leave.

Watching Dean’s departing figure until it completely disappeared, Huck turned around and returned to the Knight Order’s headquarters—

“The Regiment Commander is handling some private matters and will be away for about a week! During this week, I will double your training!”

Looking at the young people who had gathered around, Huck immediately shouted without mercy.

“Vice Regiment Commander, how can you do this?”

The young people, who had been looking forward to Dean’s departure and expecting a short break, immediately wailed.

However, after being kicked twice on the butt by Huck, they all began training vigorously.

Clearly, a short vacation was important, but that steel breastplate was equally important.

…

“First go to Buchea’s Stockade, hand over the Bailanzhi Essence to Buchea, who will then pass it to Takli. Based on the distance between the two Stockades, it will take about three days… And these three days are my time!”

Sitting on his horse, Dean quickly clarified the time he had in his mind.

Three days. It was not very ample, but if things went smoothly, it was enough time for him to complete everything.

And what he needed now was to continuously fill in the complete plan to minimize the chance of accidents.

Naturally, Dean spent this entire day thinking and traveling.

When the sky turned dark, Dean, who had traveled smoothly all the way, began to see the Stockade where Buchea lived in his vision—

“Dean! Dean!”

When Dean made his identity known from afar, Buchea, the Patriarch of this Barbarian Stockade, ran out quickly to welcome him.

“Catch!”

Dean naturally knew that such enthusiasm was not just to welcome him, and directly threw the bag of Strong Liquor he had prepared long ago to him.

“Hahaha…”

Immediately, Buchea let out a series of loud laughs.

Then came a series of sounds of his Adam’s apple moving up and down, swallowing.

After these swallowing sounds ceased, Buchea let out a long breath, then laughed again, and embraced Dean with Barbarian etiquette.

“Welcome, my brother!”

Buchea slapped Dean’s back heavily and shouted loudly.

“Long time no see!”

Although Dean was well aware of the Barbarians’ habits, he still felt somewhat unaccustomed.

As for the term ‘brother’?

After Dean won a sparring battle against Buchea with overwhelming victory, Buchea had always addressed him this way—in Barbarian tradition, the strong were always respected and acknowledged.

Just like now—

Dean did not need to look for leftovers in the tent prepared for outsiders anymore; instead, he went directly into Buchea’s tent to enjoy the traditional Barbarian delicacies: greasy, large pieces of golden roasted meat and Strong Liquor.

The meat was naturally good.

And the Strong Liquor was obviously worse than what Dean had brought.

It was not that the Barbarians didn’t put their heart into it; it was just that the raw materials and brewing methods were different.

“Buchea, do you know Takli in Chekeduo?”

During the banquet, Dean, sitting cross-legged, asked Buchea directly.

“Of course I know! My brother, Takli is the most famous woman in Chekeduo. She is not only strong but also has a bad temper… Many men like her!”

Buchea said this while looking at Dean with a strange expression, obviously misunderstanding something.

Dean immediately waved his hands continuously—although Dean was not a celibate, the women he needed were definitely not described with words like ‘strong’ or ‘bad temper’ in the prefix. Dean was always respectful but declining when it came to Barbarian aesthetics.

“No, no, I’m just here to complete a Transaction we didn’t finish!”

Dean immediately recounted what had happened in the shop in Vauban City.

“Hahaha… Truly my brother Buchea’s brother, honest and reliable, much better than those bastards and cunning merchants! Leave this matter to me!”

Buchea laughed loudly and frequently raised his cup to Dean.

Dean did not refuse and kept drinking with Buchea until the other man was truly unconscious.

People who love wine are not necessarily heavy drinkers.

This saying was very practical when applied to Barbarians.

In fact, if it were not for their strong bodies, most of these Barbarians could not outdrink some veteran drunkards—although Dean was not a veteran drunkard, his body was obviously stronger, and even after reducing some stats, he was still comparable to Buchea in this regard.

And with Buchea’s intoxication, Dean’s welcome ceremony was considered over.

The next day, when Dean proposed to train nearby and temporarily store his horse, this Barbarian Patriarch was not yet truly awake, only vaguely indicating—

“I, I… will deliver the Bailanzhi Essence to Chekeduo!”

“When you return, just light a torch on top of the Stockade at night, and at that time, I will come back!”

After leaving such a sentence, Dean hurriedly departed.

Although he knew where those Goth people were headed, he could not drag things out indefinitely.

After all, some preparations were indispensable!