Transcendent Dawn

The next day.

Inside Wolf Fort.

Duke Frank looked at Su Lu:

“Su Lu Pottery… your courage delights me, and your kindness and compassion are even more precious qualities… Allow me to express my gratitude. I grant you the right to make a request to me!”

As soon as he said this, Su Lu immediately felt many heated gazes focused on him, the envy barely concealed.

In the eyes of many knight attendants and guards, this was a shortcut to becoming a noble.

Any sane person would surely choose to have a fief!

“I have an unusual thirst for knowledge. If I were able to freely peruse all the books in your library, my lord Duke, it would bring me immense joy…”

Su Lu was actually quite annoyed with the Duke who had so early in the morning sent Mas to fetch him to the Wolf Fort, but he still made his request.

This was a bit helpless.

After all, in this era, knowledge still largely rests in the hands of the nobles.

“This is indeed… an unexpected request, I accept.”

Duke Frank fell silent, in the face of either regretful or schadenfreude looks, he agreed.

Of course, although he agreed, in reality, certain treasured books, such as those that detailed the Transcendent professions, or those on knight training, he would definitely not allow him to read.

But Su Lu did not have much interest in those either.

He gave a bow, followed a servant to the library, and eagerly plucked a book titled “The History of Witch Hunting: The Rise and Fall of the Forest Witch”, and immediately stood there reading.

‘So this world does have witches!’

‘But their status is very delicate, both feared and desired…even in the Dragon Kingdom’s court, there is a pack of court mages.’

‘In the common folk, there are all sorts of evil legends about witches, and occasionally a witch hunt would break out…’

“He actually… completely missed my hint… This country bumpkin! A stupid pig!”

In the hall, after many servants had left, Madame Monfali’s face twisted somewhat.

What was originally believed to be a surefire courting turned into the current situation, which even she had not expected.

“My sister, prepare to be disappointed… it appears he pays no mind to a fief…”

Duke Frank shrugged, “Quite an interesting little fellow indeed.”

He’s highly ranked, and an additional or one fewer black iron rank knight means nothing to him.

The crowd of people following at his side, especially Knight Mas, took great offense to this.

This was a gambit by a Duke, an olive branch extended by the top nobility of the Kingdom, how dare some lowly commoner refuse it?

Even though he was a black iron rank knight, essentially a Lord-in-waiting, he wasn’t actually a noble!

Mas Gill watched the scene, and after seeing Duke Frank leave, quickly walked a few steps and approached a knight, “Sir Andrew, long time no see!”

Sir Mas… I heard you were defeated by that little whelp with a single sword strike?”

Sir Andrew was tall and brawny. Mas was already tall among ordinary people, but he was still a head shorter than Andrew who was full of muscular strength, and his nature was very rough and violent.

Mas’s facial muscles twitched, “He is a speed type knight…”

“Excuses… If you had advanced to become a bronze knight, with your greatly increased defensive power, his sword would only tickle you…”

Andrew burst into laughter, suddenly clenched his fist, making his knuckles crack with an audible noise, and a glow like that of bronze appeared on his skin.

“You… have you made a breakthrough?”

Mas Gill asked in surprise.

In this world, the nobility has a unique grading system for knights, which they treat as their most powerful military forces.

At the lowest level are the knight’s attendants, also known as the knight’s followers. These are ordinary people who have mastered some exertion techniques and undergone strenuous training but have not yet been promoted to a professional level.

Next are the Iron Knights, also known as official knights, who can obtain the title of Sir after battling hard.

Higher up the ranks are the Bronze Knights. They are more powerful, faster, and can temporarily harden a part of their bodies; enough to withstand swords and even long spear thrusts, or even an arrow shot from a crossbow!

A Bronze Knight, no matter which noble’s faction he joins, would immediately receive enfeoffment without having to prove his worth through meritorious deeds.

Even higher up are the Silver and Gold Knights.

The fighting Qi of a Silver Knight can spread throughout their body, making them a killing machine in war, even without wearing heavy armor.

Currently, there’s only one Silver Knight in the entire northern lands, who serves as the Deputy Head of the Northern Land Knights, overseeing most of the military affairs.

Since the nominal head of the knights’ team is always the reigning Duke, this person is, in reality, the head of the knights’ team.

Finally, the Golden Knight, has already become a legend.

Maybe there are one or two in the kingdom’s capital, but these are only rumors.

“Yes, I made a breakthrough.”

Andrew laughed: “I am now the squadron leader of the Northern Land Knights, remember to address me as ‘My Lord’ the next time you see me! And…hold back your schemes. I might seem impulsive but I’m no fool. Are you trying to provoke me to deal with that kid? What benefit is there for me?”

In the Twilight of the Gods era, how could anyone who trains themselves to the point where they can compete against a second-order occupational person be a fool?

Mas’s expression changed frequently. Originally, he wanted to retreat, but for some reason, thinking about Su Lu’s age, and his carefree smile in the face of anything, he found it hard to control himself: “I won’t give up too much…after all, he’s not a nobleman, just a commoner!”

A somewhat difficult negotiation began instantly.

At night.

Su Lu returned to the inn, tasting the chef’s delicacies.

The landlord’s daughter’s appearance was average, but as a cook, she fulfilled her duties diligently. The sausages served with sauce were particularly delicious.

Although he received a meal at Wolf Fort, the thought of that lunch made Su Lu grimace.

By a fluke, he caught sight of the Duke’s kitchen.

Dark, humid, dirty… Kitchen utensils were scattered chaotically, the floor was covered with feces from chickens and ducks, and they were almost beside vegetables and grains.

The potbellied cook was covered in grime, crudely handling the grill and kitchen knife, and still had time to flirt with the servants.

In short, the image was quite distressing.

“I heard that in this world…even the royal kitchen is of similar standards… It’s really disheartening.”

Su Lu noticed that the innkeeper became more reverent towards him. Perhaps because he had been invited into the Wolf Fort.

This directly caused a significant reduction in the greedy gazes coveting his purse.

“No matter, I’ll rest for a few days and then head to the capital.”

Su Lu was silently making a plan: “No matter what, I have to try and rob the Dragon Tomb!”

This was the knowledge gained from today’s reading. After the demise of Dragon the First, his successor built him a luxurious tomb, and it seemed that the remains of the fallen giant dragon were buried around it.