The next moment, the curtain of the temporary tent was lifted, and Swordsmanship Chief Julie of Earl of South Los, towering to a height far beyond the average person’s limit, walked in with a smile.
That smile contained delight.
And a touch of...
Strange!
Moreover, as soon as she entered the tent, the Swordsmanship Chief’s gaze fixed straight on the lying Arthur.
’Hmm?
What has this guy done this time?’
Marinda, holding her pipe, squinted her eyes and after a glance at Arthur, turned her attention straight to the figure behind the Swordsmanship Chief—hidden by the Chief’s tall, robust stature, three cloaked figures walked in.
Little Lisop!
Even with the cloak’s concealment, Marinda confirmed the identity of the leading figure in an instant.
Why would they come to South Los?
In an instant, a torrent of thoughts flooded the lady’s mind.
Just last night, South Town had suffered what could be called a ’disaster.’
Lord Lisop was assassinated.
Read exclusive chapters at Freewebnovel
South Town was thrown into utter chaos.
Only this morning, her scout had detailed to her the destruction of South Town’s buildings, more than twenty percent had been bombed or burned, and a preliminary estimate of at least five hundred dead miners and residents.
With such a backdrop, Little Lisop couldn’t possibly leave South Town.
Even if Little Lisop had no right to inherit Lord Lisop’s title.
But Little Lisop had indeed inherited that coal and iron mine!
To ensure smooth mining operations in the future, appearances had to be maintained.
Unless...
The title!
Little Lisop had inherited the title!
Almost instantly, Marinda guessed the answer.
The Little Lisop before her had traded part of the coal and iron mine’s revenue for the inheritance of the title...no, hereditary succession!
’He’s completely sided with the Earl of South Los, huh?
That Old Lion is probably fuming with rage, right?’
As she thought this, even more doubts surfaced in her eyes.
After meeting the Lord Count in South Los, Little Lisop had gained his hereditary title, which was the normal procedure, so why did he need to see Arthur?
In the midst of the lady’s puzzled gaze, the Swordsmanship Chief of Earl South Los spoke—
"Lord Little Lisop, I believe it is best that you explain the next part personally, as, after all, it concerns the future of the Lisop Family."
With that said, the Swordsmanship Chief stepped aside.
However, her gaze towards Arthur grew even stranger.
The ’Whale Slaying Sword’ Kangsion also shifted imperceptibly, making room in the center of the tent for Arthur and Little Lisop.
Then...
The ’Whale Slaying Sword’ Kangsion’s eyelids began to twitch rapidly.
Because Little Lisop, having removed his hood, directly knelt on one knee before Arthur.
"My Lord!"
While addressing Arthur reverently, Little Lisop’s face was filled with frustration, regret, and helplessness.
The young lord’s voice even took on a crying tone—
"Your multiple reminders yesterday were all maliciously misinterpreted by me, and as a result, an irreparable loss was inflicted on South Town, and my father was assassinated.
Holding the inheritance of the South Town Coal and Iron Mine, my heart is not only fearful and anxious but also filled with trepidation.
Therefore, I pleaded with the Lord Count for the hereditary title and land of South Town using twenty percent of the coal and iron mine’s revenue, as I believed I needed to make the South Los House complete.
But, I know I lack ability, I am too young, I am too blindly arrogant.
So...
I request that you take over the management of all matters in South Town."
Listening to Little Lisop’s words, ’Whale Slaying Sword’ Kangsion’s head buzzed.
What’s going on here?
Why can’t I understand a word?
Because of his unease, he traded the South Town Coal and Iron Mine for the hereditary rights to South Town, and then, believing himself incompetent, gave South Town to Arthur?
What, what, what?
What’s he scheming?
Is Arthur his father?
So dutiful?
’Whale Slaying Sword’ Kangsion had never doubted Arthur’s strength or ability, recognizing Arthur as his Master from the time he started addressing him as such.
But never had the ’Whale Slaying Sword’ imagined he’d witness something like this before his eyes.
Should such matters not exist only within the pages of illustrated novels?
Should they not be merely legends?
Hey!
It seems there really is such a legend!
In legends, didn’t the founder of the Empire also arrive somewhere, with people bringing soldiers and provisions to join him, imploring that young man to take them in, and willing to offer up their territory?
But legends are legends, while seeing is believing, are factual truths.
How can they be compared?
’The Master is truly deserving of his title!’
In the end, Kangsion, the ’Whale Slaying Sword’ expressed such admiration, looking at Arthur with reverence, not merely willing compliance.
This ’Whale Slaying Sword’ somehow felt that he had just witnessed history.
And in the deep blue eyes of Marinda, there was also a strong flash of surprise.
When?
When had Arthur earned Little Lisop’s loyalty?
And it wasn’t just ordinary loyalty, but diehard loyalty!
Otherwise, how could Little Lisop possibly entrust his territory to Arthur!
Was it during that time last night when he excused himself to ’meditate’?
Impossible, right?
Could a couple of hours truly transform someone into a diehard loyalist, even the Old Lion’s ’Lion Group’ couldn’t achieve that, right?
’No wonder Julie had that expression!’
Marinda thought to herself, the tobacco in her pipe burning more fiercely.
Like the Swordsmanship Chief, Marinda’s gaze at Arthur also turned peculiar at this moment.
While everyone was watching, Arthur slowly rose to his feet.
The young ’Spirit Medium’ raised his hand to help Little Lisop up, and gestured for him to sit beside him before slowly saying—
"Little Lisop, I am very grateful for your trust.
Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.
But I am just a ’Spirit Medium’.
When it comes to managing a piece of land, I am not skilled.
Even to manage a manor, I would need the help of a professional steward, and it would have to be entirely entrusted to him.
Otherwise...
It would be nothing but chaos."
Arthur’s tone was unhurried, and his voice was even gentler, instantly making his words seem all the more modest.
However, Marinda just curled her lip.
’What a hypocrite, spouting off all that, and in the end still ’reluctantly’ accepting, right?
Hmph, seen right through you!’
The lady hummed this to herself.
And indeed, just as this lady had predicted.
"However, I want to try it."
Hearing such words, the Countess’s Swordsmanship Chief, Kangsion the ’Whale Slaying Sword,’ Little Lisop’s combined Guard Commander and Swordsmanship Chief Gold, and the Head Hunter Leixide were not surprised at all.
They all thought like Marinda, believing that it should be so.
But...
They couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit of disappointment.
They believed they would see something different in Arthur.
At least, that’s what they thought before.
And now?
It was just as expected.
Only Little Lisop felt differently, the young Lord looking at his kind father with fervent admiration.
’If father manages South Town, will he live at South Town Manor?
If so, that would be wonderful!
I could listen to father’s teachings every day!’
Thinking this, Little Lisop immediately said—
"You’ll have no problems at all, you…"
"Me?
No, no, no!
I didn’t say it was I!"
Arthur laughed while waving his hand, interrupting Little Lisop’s words.
Then, he looked towards Marinda, his eyes filled with endless tenderness and love—
"My dear, would you help me manage South Town?"