Chapter 49: The Baron’s Surprise, Part 2

“Mmh!”

Baron Tier looked at the reserved young man before him. Some of his features were obviously those of a Tier Territory native—such as the calluses on his fingertips, unique to hunters caused by drawing bows, and the well-developed arms; even though the man was weak and slender, these traits were still obvious. Plus, that local accent only confirmed that he was a local, not one of those small nobles from the Capital of Emerald.

This made Baron Tier and his Advisor exchange a look, and both nodded in satisfaction.

Clearly, this was a Noble who knew the rules and had no ill intentions.

In fact, when Baron Tier learned that a Noble from the Capital of Emerald might appear in his Knight Order, he had been thinking about it constantly in his heart.

After all, as the Lord of Tier Territory, Baron Tier was very clear about what his Territory was like to those Nobles in the Capital of Emerald.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say it was poor mountains and fierce waters.

No Noble would come here, even to gild their reputation for a good future— they would choose Marquis Vauban’s Vauban City instead.

Even, Baron Tier had seen young Nobles from the Capital of Emerald there more than once.

That appearance full of manners, but an arrogant nature deep inside, left a very vivid memory for this Baron Tier; therefore, if possible, he absolutely did not want to see such a young Noble on his Territory, especially entering his local Knight Order.

Later, when his Aide, his very trusted Advisor, told him of another possibility, Baron Tier’s mood became even worse.

After all, a young Noble who was so troublesome that he needed to flee to his poor, remote place was obviously even more unacceptable.

Therefore, after receiving the Knight Order’s plea for help, Baron Tier first sent out his relative whom he disliked, with no blood relation at all.

This was done merely to test that small Noble.

However, unexpectedly, that small Noble had actually hanged his two disliked Retainers to death.

Of course, even more unexpectedly for him was that the other party had killed the murderer of his original Knight Order Regiment Commander and a group of elites!

Instantly, this Baron Tier’s impression of this small Noble from the Capital of Emerald improved a bit—perhaps, although the other party was arrogant, he still had certain abilities.

Later, when the gold-foil gift card was delivered, seeing the flowery writing on it and the modest words, Baron Tier’s impression of Dean improved again—young people could be impulsive, but if they were capable and knew how to correct their mistakes, they still had a bright future.

Finally, when Ike, a native of Tier Territory, appeared as the other party’s representative, Baron Tier was extremely satisfied—the other party was undoubtedly showing that he had no ill intentions and would not replace the Knight Order with his own people; for such a young and sensible Noble, Baron Tier instantly became interested.

Baron Tier’s gaze looked at his Aide again, and when he saw the other party nod slightly, he immediately smiled kindly at Ike, who was still bowing, and added, “Rise, Captain Ike!”

“Yes, My Lord Baron!”

Straightening his body, the weak Militia Captain almost without pause, took out from his chest the gift he had always personally treasured—since it was a gift card, if there was no gift, what kind of gift card was it?

“My Lord Baron, this is the gift given to you by Regiment Commander Dean!”

The weak Militia Captain bowed again, holding the palm-sized brocade box high with both hands.

“This is…”

Seeing the brocade box, Baron Tier and Ikes were stunned—for although the previous gift card was enough to prove that the young man from the Capital of Emerald had an extraordinary background, and was at least rich, seeing this brocade box still made the two of them pause in surprise.

The box itself was not extraordinary, but the silk on top of it was exceptionally noticeable.

Although it had been cut several times to be used as decoration covering the box, both Baron Tier and Ikes could see that this was a piece of high-quality silk.

“What a pity!”

Baron Tier sighed in his heart—he knew that since he had acquired a “silk” blanket, he had wanted another one, but for someone like him whose finances were increasingly tight, such a price was really unaffordable; for this reason, Baron Tier had always regretted it; and now, seeing this brocade box, he naturally thought that if these silks were given to him, he would definitely own a matching blanket.

However, after such a thought just turned once in his mind, Baron Tier became even more expectant.

After all, the gift box was already like this, so what would the gift be?

Under Baron Tier’s somewhat impatient gesture, Ikes quickly walked forward, took the gift box from Ike, and feeling the friction between his fingers and the silk on the outside of the box, that smooth touch made him involuntarily think of a young girl’s skin—truly worthy of being silk!

With such a sigh, Ikes handed the box immediately to Baron Tier.

Click!

Almost in the instant he took the gift box in hand, Baron Tier opened it, and instantly, a soft luster radiated from the box—a round, full pearl, about the size of an adult’s thumb plus a bit more, was placed inside the box, supported by a layer of black velvet.

“Ah!”

Such a soft exclamation could not be suppressed from Baron Tier’s mouth, causing the Guard Captain, who had been guarding outside the door, to break in immediately.

“My Lord, what is it?!”

The Guard Captain had already drawn his Longsword, looked around with a frown, and finally landed on Ike, and his murderous aura clearly showed that as long as Baron Tier said one word, their weak Militia Captain would lose his head.

“Cough, cough… nothing, I just suddenly remembered an omitted matter!”

Baron Tier waved awkwardly to his Guard Captain, then looked gently at Ike, who was Dean’s representative.

“Did Your Excellency Dean say anything else?”

Baron Tier asked.

“Regiment Commander asked when My Lord Baron would be willing to visit him!”

Feeling Baron Tier’s gentle tone, although the weak Militia Captain was nervous, he understood that his Regiment Commander’s gift had worked, and his courage grew, so he spoke out his Regiment Commander’s orders one by one.

“Of course, at any time…”

“Cough, cough!”

Baron Tier, holding the gift box tightly, said immediately, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by his Aide beside him, who immediately took over and supplemented for Baron Tier, “Tonight! Tonight, at the Baron’s Mansion, My Lord Baron invites Your Excellency Dean Ken to attend the banquet!”

“Please come this way and get the invitation from me!”

Then, Baron Tier’s Aide led their weak Militia Captain out of the room.

And about twenty minutes later, this Aide Mr. returned to this room—

“My Lord, you should be cautious with your words and deeds; if you deal with it casually, it will only make Your Excellency Dean Ken think that you are deliberately slighting him!”

Aide Mr. looked at Baron Tier, who was still hugging the gift box and admiring that pearl, and suggested sincerely.

“Of course, of course, I was just too excited!”

Baron Tier closed the gift box and smiled embarrassingly; clearly, he also knew his previous rashness—the communication between Nobles was absolutely not the so-called “gentleman’s friendship is as light as water,” but required a true sense of courtesy and reciprocity.

Simply put, if Dean gave Baron Tier a pearl, then Baron Tier had to give a gift of equivalent value in return.

Of course, before that, a banquet was needed to entertain the other party.

If Dean felt satisfied, then the next time he would invite Baron Tier to his home to attend a banquet, and then the two parties would exchange gifts again.

And this procedure needed to be repeated three or four more times before both parties could visit each other empty-handed, but on certain festivals, some small gifts were inevitable.

Therefore, for this kind of Noble communication method, ordinary families could not afford it at all, and even some Noble families needed considerable financial support; if such support could not be obtained, they would soon fade out of this upper-class circle, and finally be forgotten by people.

As for having the thick skin to go there?

That would only become a real joke, bringing shame to the entire Family.

Baron Tier certainly did not want to bring shame to the entire Family, but looking at that pearl, he was worried; after all, according to his appraisal, that pearl was worth at least fifty Gold Pulton, plus the gift box, the total value reached sixty Gold Pulton.

That is to say, he had to give away sixty Gold Pulton of equivalent value.

Instantly, Baron Tier, whose finances were very tight, got a headache.

“My Lord, don’t forget, Your Excellency Dean Ken also put out a group of bandits; you should deserve to give a reward!”

And before Baron Tier had time to think about which collection in the Family’s Treasury to take out, the Aide’s words beside him immediately made this Baron’s head hurt even more.

“Ikes, this is really bad news; if there is more bad news, you might as well tell it all at once!”

Baron Tier looked bitterly at his Aide.

“You also need to prepare a banquet—although the guests invited can be limited, food and wine are unavoidable!”

Aide Mr. said again, and instantly, Baron Tier leaned back in his chair and let out a painful groan.