Chapter 124: The Reason to Become a Noble

Lin Qi and Enzo sat on the big tree branch, looking down at Orwf’s castle below.

The private soldiers were working hard to train their bodies. Over thirty well-trained private soldiers made up an exceptionally strong armed force in a place like Light Town. With good training, ‘powerful’ Combat Qi, and fine standard equipment, even several hundred ordinary farmers were no match for them.

It was unclear how these private soldiers would perform against the Alien Races that invaded the inland areas and caused disturbances, but they were enough to ensure Orwf could collect taxes smoothly in Light Town. That was their greatest use.

Enzo pointed out and commented on the performance of these private soldiers—things like their formation wasn’t neat, their movements weren’t standard, and they lacked enough killing intent. But Lin Qi felt Enzo was being too picky and letting his personal feelings influence his judgment too much. Formation not neat? Movements not standard? Just take a look at the Militia from the Black Tiger Family—those were the truly unorganized and non-standard ones.

The two of them sat on the branch for a full half-hour before the private soldiers lined up and marched back into the castle. Soon after, the clattering of pots and pans could be heard, and the rich smell of vegetable soup and freshly baked bread wafted out. Lin Qi couldn’t help but twitch his nose. He pulled two pieces of dried meat wrapped in oil paper from his coat pocket and handed one to Enzo.

Having not eaten breakfast yet, the two sat on the branch gnawing on the dried meat, eagerly watching the activity in the castle.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and a Four-Wheel Carriage rattled as it was driven to the front of the castle’s main residence. Twelve private soldiers in Leather Armor led warhorses behind the carriage. After a while, a middle-aged man in a tight-fitting uniform walked out of the main residence with a serious expression. He went to the carriage and opened the door. A tall middle-aged man with white hair stepped out, glanced up at the sky, and then climbed into the carriage.

“Orwf, that old fiend!” Enzo gently patted the hilt of his sword at his waist and made a motion as if aiming a crossbow for a long-range shot.

Lin Qi shrugged. The middle-aged man’s aura was restrained yet intense. His face, reminiscent of a lion or tiger, still carried a daunting ferocity. The Hundred-Year Land-Island War had ended thirty years ago, but he was still so full of aggression, showing that he must have been quite skilled in the military back in the day.

Clearing his throat softly, Lin Qi whispered, “Ah, if you need, I can make him into a porcupine!”

Enzo glanced sideways at Lin Qi and shook his head. “No, it’s not necessary. I must deal with him myself.”

Lin Qi helplessly spread his hands. In his mind, what was so complicated about someone like Orwf, a mere rural Noble? If they wanted him dead, they could just send assassins. This Orwf couldn’t possibly be a Celestial Knight, so thirty well-trained assassins armed with Heavy Crossbows would definitely turn him into a proper porcupine.

If they wanted to frame him, it would be even easier. There wasn’t a Noble in the world who didn’t crave wealth. Just give a small bribe to the mayor or the high-ranking Nobles directly overseeing Light Town, fabricate a charge of conspiring with the Alien Races, and Orwf could easily be thrown into prison.

But since Enzo wasn’t willing, Lin Qi had nothing more to say.

Sighing softly, Lin Qi shook his head. “I really don’t get what’s so great about those women. Are they cuter than shiny, clucking Wowo Calls? God, my life’s dream is shiny gold and gleaming silver. Beyond that, what does the most beautiful woman even matter?”

Just as Lin Qi was speaking, a slender woman walked out of the residence. She went to the carriage door and said something quietly to Orwf inside. Orwf responded with a few impatient grunts, slammed the door shut, and with a shout from him, the carriage driver cracked his whip. The two carriage horses immediately set off at a run.

The woman in a white long dress stood on the steps outside the door, watching the carriage surrounded by private soldiers until it disappeared beyond the castle gate. Then she lifted her head and looked up at the sky. From their angle, Lin Qi and Enzo could clearly see most of her face. It was a clean, dignified, soft, and gentle face—like a daffodil by a stream, exuding a tender meekness and freshness.

This woman couldn’t be very old, at most a year or two older than Enzo. And since Enzo was only a little over a year older than Lin Qi, that meant the woman was at most in her early twenties. Orwf, who had fought in the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, had to be at least in his fifties.

“She is…” Lin Qi looked at Enzo in surprise.

“She is Molly, the woman I love!” Enzo’s expression became exceptionally solemn and sacred. He stared unwaveringly at Molly’s slender figure and gentle face, saying softly, “I want to become a Noble. That way, I’ll have the qualifications to formally challenge Orwf to a duel, and he won’t be able to refuse my challenge. I’ll kill him, and then, I’ll marry her!”

Heaving a deep sigh, Enzo murmured, “It’s the only way to free her from this wretched marriage. If Orwf dies from an assassination, she would still be the widow of Orwf, the Thorn Iron Shield Knight. And for a Noble widow to remarry—you know how troublesome that can be. Not only would the higher Nobles interfere, but Orwf’s own clan wouldn’t agree either.”

Lin Qi took a deep breath and cursed under his breath, “That old lecher Orwf. At his age, why did he have to marry the woman you love?”

Molly went back into the residence. Enzo lifted his head with a lingering look and sighed quietly. “Because he is the lord of Light Town, because Molly is the most beautiful and kindest girl within a hundred miles of Light Town, and because I didn’t have the power to stop it!”

Clenching his fist, Enzo said through gritted teeth, “I must become a Noble, even if it’s the lowest-ranking Knight or honorary title. As long as I become a Noble, I can challenge Orwf, I can kill him, and take everything he has. His family property, his title, and—Molly! I can give up everything else he owns. I only want Molly!”

Lin Qi remained silent for a long time, then heavily patted Enzo’s shoulder. “Alright then, let’s work hard together. You strive to become a Noble, and I’ll strive to become the only gang leader in the Imperial Capital. But I still think we should just finish off the old guy. If you want it, you know I can take him out anytime!”

Enzo resolutely shook his head. He stood up and jumped heavily off the tree branch.

Looking up at Lin Qi, Enzo smiled and said, “I know you can easily take him out, boss. But I want to use my own strength, openly and honorably, to marry Molly back without anyone finding any fault. She is mine, so I must be the one to marry her back myself!”

Lin Qi gave Enzo a deep look and shook his head firmly.

“Alright, you have your reason to become a Noble.”

“Then, I also have my reason to become a super-rich man! Because that’s my life goal! You know that too!”