Chapter 201: The Meeting

In the end, the Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander did not go to Tier Town, and furthermore, she refused Dean’s kind offer to give up his own room for her to live in. She merely took a blanket and chose the warehouse of the Knight Order’s station—

‘I came here more to protect your safety than to teach you, so I cannot leave you too far… Moreover, the warehouse happens to be right next to your room, so this is just right!’

Facing such words from ‘White Rose’, Dean could not refute.

Even though he knew that aside from truly protecting him, the main reason was the shyness of a lady not used to living in a man’s room, it was all the same.

To speak such words aloud would obviously be rude.

Therefore, Dean could only provide a brand-new blanket for that Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander.

After doing all this, Dean had Mah, who was on patrol duty, go to Tier Town to report the arrival of ‘White Rose’ to Baron Tier—although the Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander came for him, Baron Tier, as the local Lord, naturally had the standing to know of the other party’s arrival.

Watching Mah’s figure riding away, Dean turned and returned to his own room.

First, he poured more alcohol into the alcohol lamp to ensure that the several Minor and Secondary Healing Potions being prepared would not fail due to temperature issues. Only then did he begin to organize his thoughts—

“Among the three Secret Techniques, [Stone Body Technique] helps me the most right now, but three months’ time is obviously too long and cannot be achieved overnight… [Body Forging Technique] of Goth and City only requires about two weeks to obtain the recognition of the System, so I cannot stop. Although [Hazy Shadow Inter-Space Breathing Technique] takes a bit longer, I cannot give up halfway either… Therefore, the Secret Techniques, including [Stone Body Technique], will need to be put into the training plan after the Midwinter Festival!”

As soon as Dean thought of the Midwinter Festival, his brows subconsciously furrowed.

This was because, previously, the Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander had informed him of some not-so-good news.

“The Nord Mercenary Group, the Poison Scorpion Mercenary Group, and the Lion Mercenary Group?”

Dean murmured in a low voice.

Dean was no stranger to these three mercenary groups; he had even had some contact with them in his previous life.

Among them, he had cooperated with the Nord Mercenary Group several times, and the reason Dean still retained a minimum level of goodwill toward mercenaries was precisely because of the Nord Mercenary Group; regarding the Nord Mercenary Group, especially that Commander Nord, Dean had maintained a relationship similar to friends with the other party right up until the final battle.

However, Dean did not have the slightest goodwill toward the remaining two mercenary groups.

First of all, the Poison Scorpion Mercenary Group was a hidden operative of the Thieves Guild in Dell County; they were here now only because the Thieves Guild in Vauban County had been completely wiped out, and they had come to take over the territory.

As for the Lion Mercenary Group?

Although there was no lack of brave warriors within it, the other party’s Commander was definitely not a man of integrity—in the previous life, before the City Iron Cavalry, the Commander of the Lion Mercenary Group had not considered his friendship with the County King of Hosh County at all; he directly opened the city gates and welcomed the City people in, causing Hosh County, one of the Four Northern Counties, to fall in less than three days.

“The underground world of Vauban County absolutely cannot be controlled by the people of Poison Scorpion. As for the Lion Mercenary Group… this Kestted, who has a fairly decent reputation, was obviously just thrown out to die…”

Dean would absolutely not forget that among the resisters after the fall of Hosh County, Kestted’s name was present.

Then, merely a few seconds later, Dean had some specific arrangements.

For Dean, this was not a difficult matter; after all, facing enemies, there was only one option: kill. And for those between enemies and allies, if they could not become allies, then they were also to be killed.

“Any enemy that stands in my Path only needs to… be killed without mercy!”

Sitting in the Shadow, the cold glint in Dean’s eyes radiated a thick killing intent in the Darkness.

…

In the early morning, Dean appeared on the training ground on time, practicing the [Body Forging Technique] of Goth, while Huck led the young people in running laps around the Knight Order’s station.

And that Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander, after saying a word to Dean, chose a more secluded place to start cultivating.

Aside from some secrets regarding Secret Techniques, similarly, this Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander just did not want to undermine the prestige Dean had established within the Knight Order.

After all, just like how Dean was using a 300kg load to practice [Body Forging Technique (Goth)], that Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander only needed one hand to handle it; it could not be considered training at all, it could not even be considered a warm-up—the huge disparity in physical attributes had long since caused the Silver Knight to exceed the imagination of ordinary people.

“Phew!”

Placing the stone block on the ground, Dean adjusted his breathing again, narrowing his eyes slightly to feel the heat flow appearing within his muscles; but when the heat flow gradually subsided, the movement at the front of the station forced Dean to temporarily stop his cultivation.

“Regiment Commander, Lord Baron has arrived!”

The soldier on duty reported.

“Mhm, I’m coming right now!”

Dean picked up the shirt beside him, draped it over his bare shoulders, and walked quickly toward the gate of the station.

“Dean, good morning!”

Baron Tier, who had already jumped off the carriage, waved his hand immediately upon seeing Dean walking over.

“Good morning, Lord Baron!”

Dean responded, and nodded in a friendly manner toward the Guard Captain and Aide behind him; however, after seeing Miss Baron a bit further back, Dean looked away without a trace.

And that Miss Baron stomped her foot in anger.

“Indeed, it is good to be young!”

Baron Tier seemed not to see the matter between Dean and his daughter. Looking at Dean, who was still steaming all over as if he had walked out of a steam room, he could not help but laugh.

“Necessary training; every Knight should be like this!”

Dean answered with his characteristic humility.

“Is ‘White Rose’ also training?”

Baron Tier asked.

In fact, this was also the reason Baron Tier rushed to the Knight Order station early in the morning: to visit that Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander.

Otherwise, even if his private relationship with Dean was good, he would not have come to visit in person early in the morning; after all, nominally, Baron Tier was still the Lord of the Tier Territory, while Dean, this newly promoted Noble, was merely the commander of his subordinate Knight Order.

“Mhm, Lord Baron, please wait in my room for a moment!”

Dean nodded and invited Baron Tier to go to his room.

Naturally, Baron Tier would not refuse; compared to the cold wind at the entrance of the Knight Order station, the warmth in the room was undoubtedly more to this Lord Baron’s liking.

Dean did not accompany them; he merely stated that he still had to finish the morning training, and then left the room first.

“Truly a serious young man!”

Baron Tier looked at the closed door and could not help but praise.

“When I was young, I’m afraid I wasn’t this hardworking!”

Guard Captain Allenor sighed as if reminiscing.

“Moreover, he has very good taste!”

Aide Ikes pointed at some of the unobtrusive yet ingenious arrangements in the room and similarly expressed admiration. Then, looking at those vessels, he chuckled and said: “And he is multi-talented!”

Listening to the praise for Dean from her father and the other two, Miss Baron at the side felt an involuntary sweet sensation in her heart; however, that was immediately followed by a look of gloom.

This was because, since returning to the Tier Territory from Vauban City, the number of times they met had become fewer and fewer.

The relationship that was originally able to converse freely became increasingly unfamiliar, just like when they first met.

This feeling was truly terrible for this Miss Baron.

But, most importantly, she had no way to change it.

“I heard that ‘White Rose’ is not only powerful but also very kind, and likes all kinds of tea and snacks…”

Aide Ikes beside the Baron said this as if talking to himself.

Suddenly, Miss Baron’s eyes lit up.

Baron Tier was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and shook his head at his Aide.

Obviously, Baron Tier knew what this sentence meant—he had originally wanted to stop it; interfering in other people’s relationships was very common among Nobles, but Baron Tier was obviously an exception; his love for his late wife was famous throughout Vauban County.

Similarly, Baron Tier hoped his child would inherit this trait of his.

However, seeing his daughter’s suddenly spirited face, this Lord Baron was left with a bitter smile.

Facing his child’s love, Baron Tier once again made a concession to his principles.

“I hope everything will become wonderful!”

Baron Tier prayed silently in his heart.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps from outside made him quickly collect his thoughts, adjust his clothes, stand up quickly, and walk toward the door.

Creak!

Amidst the slight sound of the door pushing open, the Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander, draped in a white coat, walked in. In this world of ice and snow, dressed entirely in white, coupled with her silver-white long hair, the Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander was just like the ice and snow elves of legend, and that frail aura added even more to her beauty.

Even Miss Baron, who had always been quite confident in her own appearance, was momentarily dazed.

The Baron’s Guard Captain and Aide were similarly stunned.

However, Baron Tier himself remained as normal as ever; his longing for his late wife had long since made it impossible for him to have any interest in other ladies.

“Greetings, ‘White Rose’!”

Baron Tier greeted the Emerald Grand Duke’s Swordsmanship Commander very respectfully.

“Greetings, Baron Tier!”

‘White Rose’ similarly expressed her friendliness.