Chapter 208 Chapter208-The Patrol Captain
In a world different from his own, Howard realized that the fundamental rules remained the same.
Slaves, guards, servants...
Observing the hundreds bustling about the manor, Howard couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Those in power always shared common traits!
Back in Azure Sphere, although Howard was an orphan, he never fell to the status of a slave or servant.
After awakening his talents, he had even joined one of the top-ranked academies in Azure Sphere, sparing him from such experiences.
Now, witnessing the lives of these slaves and servants, Howard understood how he needed to position himself with Stano.
He had to present his talent in a way that would carve out an identity for himself, ensuring he wasn't seen as just another commoner.
Otherwise, wouldn't he be viewed merely as an enforcer in their eyes?
Time passed slowly, and night soon fell.
A knock at the door broke the quiet.
Howard gathered his thoughts and rose to open the door, only to be taken aback.
There stood Aurelia, transformed in a luxurious gown, her hair and makeup impeccably done.
Noticing Howard's gaze, Aurelia's cheeks flushed slightly, but she curtsied gracefully and spoke softly, "Howard, to thank you for saving my life, my parents have prepared a banquet in your honor. I hope you will accept."
Howard's expression turned curious upon hearing this.
A noble, hosting a banquet for a young man whose background was unknown?
Clearly, this was all Aurelia's doing!
Howard quickly discerned Aurelia's significance within her family, and an idea sparked within him.
Initially, he had planned to use Aurelia as a means to gain entry into the Lord's Manor and then devise his strategies from there.
However, now that Aurelia seemed to harbor feelings for him, he wondered if he could exploit this to a deeper extent.
Given her favored status, if he could make her fall utterly in love with him, Stano might not object.
In this way, Howard could become the son-in-law of the Lord's Manor. Wouldn't such a status be far superior to any other?
Howard was no saint. He had no qualms about deception; any means to an end were justified in his pursuit of ultimate victory.
The wars between planes had always been brutally unforgiving!
With his mind made up, Howard flashed a brilliant smile and said, "Miss Aurelia, you flatter me. Though I have lost my memory, saving you was a heartfelt act, and no thanks are necessary."
"Even if given another chance, I would still intervene. After all, even the gods would not wish to see such a charming young lady meet an untimely end."
Aurelia, having been sheltered since childhood and seldom exposed to outsiders, had never heard such sweet nothings.
Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she found herself at a loss for words, stammering and unable to speak.
Her heart pounded like a drum, beating rapidly with every word he spoke.
Of course, Howard wasn't lying.
Given another chance, he truly would save her, as integrating into this world required finding the right opportunities.
And then, there was the simple fact: Aurelia was indeed charming!
"I... I..."
As Aurelia raised her head again, meeting Howard's intense gaze, she could no longer hold her ground and turned to flee.
"She ran away just like that?"
Howard couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly in amusement.
Fortunately, there were servants nearby.
He approached one who was tidying the room and inquired, "Where is the dining room?"
"Respected guest, the dining room is on the first floor. The lord of the manor is already waiting for you," replied the servant.
These servants were no fools.
Between Howard being accommodated on the fourth floor and his recent exchange with Aurelia, it was evident that he might very well become the master of the house, warranting their utmost respect.
When Howard descended the stairs, he found Aurelia already seated at the dining table, alongside her mother.
Stano sat alone at the head of the table.
Apart from them, no one else was seated there.
Nearby stood a group of more than thirty servants, a scene Howard had never witnessed in person, though he had read about such settings countless times in novels and stories.
He showed no surprise but knew he couldn't just take a seat uninvited.
Seeing Howard, Aurelia's suppressed emotions surged again, her cheeks flushing red as she lowered her head.
Stano and Fenice, seasoned in the ways of the world, immediately noticed Aurelia's state. However, their attitudes were starkly different.
Stano was not keen on Aurelia marrying someone with amnesia, regardless of his talents.
On the other hand, Fenice nodded slightly, showing considerable satisfaction with Howard.
After all, Howard's appearance and innate qualities were too exceptional, making her overlook the gap in their social standings.
Fortunately, as the lord of the manor, Stano knew how to control his emotions.
He welcomed Howard with a smile, gesturing for him to sit on the opposite side.
Once Howard was seated, the servants immediately began serving the meal.
Howard wasn't particularly concerned about the food. He ate while observing Stano and responding to his questions.
Fortunately, during their journey, Howard had learned much from Aurelia, which prevented Stano from growing suspicious.
While Stano was unclear about Howard's exact identity, he was convinced that Howard was from their Obscured Celestial Realm.
As the dinner progressed, Stano even offered Howard the position of a patrol captain.
Howard understood Stano's intentions clearly.
He wanted to draw Howard closer but also wished to keep Aurelia at a distance, which explained why he was being sent away from the manor.
Otherwise, assigning a task within the manor would have been more appropriate, especially since Howard had recently lost his memory.
Although Aurelia didn't grasp all these nuances, she realized that if Howard was to enforce laws in the city, he likely wouldn't be able to stay in the manor and they would hardly meet.
She pouted and said, "Father, Howard has not fully recovered. Won't it be problematic to send him on duty?"
"Perhaps we could let Howard rest at home for a while?"
"There's no need!"
Before Stano could respond, Howard interrupted Aurelia, smiling as he said,
"Neither injuries nor amnesia are significant obstacles for me. If the lord of the manor holds me in high esteem and is willing to offer me an opportunity, I naturally won't refuse."
"A man must forge ahead!"
At these words, Aurelia's mouth fell open slightly, and her gaze towards Howard transformed into one of admiration.
Even Stano was somewhat surprised.
After all, no one was a fool!
Everyone knew the difference between being assigned within the manor and in the city.
Howard had merely lost his memory, not his intelligence. His acceptance of the offer indicated his resilience and mentality.
At this moment, Stano even felt an impulse to nurture Howard, preparing him for the upcoming interplanar battles.
This wasn't to put Howard in harm's way; indeed, distinguishing oneself in such a conflict could bring bountiful rewards from the king.
Indeed, the Obscured Celestial Realm operated under a national system.
This was why, upon recognizing Howard's talents, Stano was willing to give him a chance.
They felt a sense of belonging to their nation and naturally wished for its prosperity.
This was unlike Azure Sphere, where, despite the formation of the Alliance, each city harbored its own ulterior motives.
Those truly considering the Alliance's interests were exceedingly rare.
Pondering this, Stano maintained a composed exterior and said indifferently, "Rest here tonight, and assume your duties tomorrow. Perhaps, engaging in battle might help recover your memory."
At this, Howard couldn't help but express his surprise, "Battle? Are there battles within the city?"
In Azure Sphere, conflicts generally occurred in the wilderness.
The city was under strict control, with the occasional skirmish breaking out in places like taverns.
However, as soon as patrol soldiers arrived, people would usually restrain themselves.
Howard found it hard to imagine battles taking place within a city's confines.
"Of course, there are," Stano nodded. "Despite the empire's strength, it harbors many rats seeking to subvert its rule. Additionally, certain factions aim to take advantage of the chaos. Nowadays, one could say that every major city is in a state of turmoil."
"However, those daring to cause trouble within the city are merely small fry, not very powerful. You should be able to handle them easily and needn't worry too much."
"Once you're accustomed to combat, I'll send you to a real battlefield."
Upon hearing this, Howard did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.
Having arrived in this world, his objective was to understand the intricacies of the Obscured Celestial Realm.
Regardless of Stano's intentions, his current arrangements posed no threat to Howard, who naturally accepted the offer.
As for marrying Aurelia, it was only one of his plans, and Howard wasn't particularly insistent on it.
The dinner concluded in a manner that was neither wholly joyful nor unpleasant, with no incidents occurring.
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