The Duke's eyes shined, "Ho, let me hear first."
"If my team becomes this year champion of Silverpool Winter Cup, you will give me 1,000 gold coins. If we can't, I will work for you for free for 20 years. How about that?" Ruby said.
The Duke was dumbfounded, he then said, "Hahaha, nice move girl. If you win the bet with me, you can also win your bet with His Majesty. And if you lose, you want to take shelter to me.
But, you must mask your deceit well, so you can trick me.
But, when I heard those words from you, it shows me that your confidence to win this bet was reduced.
Sweetheart, I know it will hurt your pride to turn around now. But when you start to think realistically, it means you have already grown up. Your father's arrangement for you..."
"Stop! Stop it, grandpa! Or I will leave now," Ruby's eyes became moist. She prepared to stand up.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I won't talk anything else. Pretend we have never talked about it. Let's have dinner," The Duke said and then sighed.
He then looked at Ruby's wrinkled robe and her exhausted expression.
"I'm a fool," The Duke murmured.
***
The menu of the dinner that evening was a magical beast called horned hare that was processed to become a stew. Ruby was eating it with gusto.
The old duke could only look at her lovingly. He only ate a few spoons of it before gave up. For him, looking at Ruby eating was the most satisfying moment.
"If you are only an ordinary girl, hah~," He said unconsciously.
"Huh? Did you say, anything grandpa?" Ruby asked.
"No, I just, I mean the stew is delicious tonight. Maybe because I was eating with you. You know, recently, your uncle rarely has dinners at home. He is always busy with his job. I hope sometimes we three can have dinners together," The Duke said.
"I will scold him. I know the territory's matter is important because it is related to the citizen's well-being. But the family is also important," Ruby said seriously.
"Yes, scold him. He has never listened to me. By the way, how's your study? Is everything okay?"
"So so. If everything is going well. Next year I can try the professional test. After that, my salary will be 10 gold per month."
"It's good then. There is still so much stew. Help me finished it."
"Okay."
***
"I have to go now, grandpa. It's already late. Tomorrow I have a morning shift," Ruby stood up and prepared to go.
"How about staying tonight? We can get breakfast together tomorrow," The old Duke said.
"As I said, I have to arrive at the academy hospital at 4 am. Maybe next time. Good night Grandpa," She then opened the door and exited.
"Good night sweetheart, be careful on the road."
"Sure."
Looking at the closed door, The Duke sighed. He then drank a glass of water.
"James!" The duke said.
In front of him then appeared a man in a black suit.
"I'm waiting for your order," the man bowed and said.
"How about the princess's security?" The Duke asked flatly.
"Everything is fine. Three agents always make sure nothing to happen to Her Highness, But..." The man in black looked hesitant to continue.
The Duke looked at him, "Go on!"
"This morning, the princess shook hand with a boy."
The Duke looked surprised, "Who is he?"
"His name is Adam Elbaz. This morning, Cleon almost killed him by accident...," After that, the man in black explained everything he knew about Adam including his magic test and his debut in battle ball arena.
At first, The Duke looked angry, but as he was listening, his expression gradually became relaxed. But only for a second.
"It is interesting. Elbaz, falcon, raptor," His face became serious. He then walked to the window. He saw Ruby was walking along the road to the gate.
"Monitor him!" The Duke ordered.
"Is it protocol A?" The man in black asked nervously.
The Duke then saw Ruby turn her head to the window where he was looking at her and waved her hand to him. He then waved his hand awkwardly.
"No, protocol C is okay. After all, he is her friend."
***
"You are too much Eve! You can try to explain to me first," Adam crossed his hands while scolded Eve who sat down on the table.
"But what I said was the truth. You can't go there empty-handed," Eve said.
"What's in there?" Adam asked.
"I don't know, but surely it won't be peaceful."
"How do you know that? Oh, I'm sorry, you just know right?" Adam said sarcastically.
"Hah... You have changed, only one day, and you have already changed," Eve then disappeared.
"I...," Adam wanted to deny, but he suddenly thought, maybe it was true. He tried to remember all of what he did today.
Everything seemed okay until he played the match. He felt more confident, more positive, and, "I become impatient. I'm too hasty, Is that true Eve?"
Adam waited for a while, but it looked like Eve didn't want to talk to him.
"But, what's wrong with that?" Adam was irritated.
"I didn't do anything that caused damage, right?" Adam waited for her response. But it looked like it was useless.
"I... I... Please talk to me. What do you want?" Adam sighed.
After that, Adam had never heard Eve's voice until morning.
***
That was a long night for Adam. He couldn't sleep even for a minute. But the strange thing was, he didn't feel tired or sleepy.
Bored, he tried to open the space in the pendant of his necklace. He put all of his creature cards there. Then his attention was drawn to a letter. He took it out.
The envelopes of the letter didn't have any wrinkles or anything that showed if this latter an ancient thing. Adam then opened it and read it.
Dear my descendant,
If you read this letter, it meant that you are like me someone who has a golden physique. A body that is suitable for training our ancient cultivation, 'golden raptor'.
Before that, I like to tell you about my origin. I am actually not a Salama Continent inhabitant. I came to this continent 24 years before I wrote this letter because my home was destroyed. But it's alright, this place is pretty cool and has many lovely women. I gave this necklace to my third wife, Amira. So you should be her descendant.
By the way, my purpose in writing this is to tell you about your obligation and your right as my offspring. As one of the founders of Laits kingdom, I hope it can last long. So, as a Raubtier descendant, you have to help Leits kingdom when it needs. Coordinate with the Greylion family and Serp family when the Leits kingdom in danger.
I have put in the book about my cultivation method here. There are also other cultivation books from my collection. you can teach them to your trusted friends or subordinates.
Finally, I hope you live well and make our family prosper.
Greylion City, Mid Summer 12 1157 AR
Droon Raubtier
After reading the letter, Adam contemplated the letter.
First, the year of the letter, in the former Adam's memory, the year of today was 1648. It meant the age of this letter was almost 500 years.
Second, He got an exclusive cultivation method that fit his condition. It made him excited.
Third, He was surprised for finding out that his ancestor was one of the founders of Laits Kingdom. the other two must be the Greylion family who ruled the kingdom, but he never heard the serpent family.
when Adam was still contemplating those issues, he heard a knock on the door.
*knock knock knock*
"Yes?"
"Young Master, it's time for practicing fencing," Victor called him behind the door.
It was Adam's daily activity for practicing fencing before the sunrise. For years his practicing partner was Victor. Because of that, he called him uncle. For Adam, Victor was a teacher and protector. Adam studied Leits sword art from him and he was someone who always stood in from of danger to protect him.
Last year, Victor had successfully brokethrough to level 5. Adam's father, Viscount Ryan Elbaz then appointed him to become a knight. When his father offered him to become a member of knight squad, he refused. He preferred to become Adam's bodyguard.
"Ok, I'm coming," Adam then stood up and go to the door.
***
Leits sword art emphasized on taunt and counter-attack rather than aggressive attack. The practitioner of this sword art was required to be patient and deceitful. It could be said, this sword art was ways to bait, annoy, and trap the enemy, and used the enemy's anger and weaknesses to destroy himself.
At the backyard of the hotel, near the place where straws and firewoods were stored, Adam faced Victor. Their distance only 4 meters. They looked at each other while waiting for a chance. Victor then walked around, Adam followed him, never let him out of his vision.
Then Victor stepped on a stone and looked like losing his balance a little so his right hand which held the stick moving a little outward.
Adam didn't want to lose this chance, stepped up, and thrust his stick to Victor's chest.
Looking at Adam's attack, Victor jumped backward. Adam followed him, then after a second, he realized he had been deceived.
Victor then hit Adam's right-hand wrist with his stick, caused adam's stick to slip out.
It made Victor frowned, he then said, "Next!"
***