In the study.
The door was knocked.
"Master!"
Charlie's respectful voice sounded.
"How is it?"
Count Engel Dressrosa's voice came, his gaze still fixed on the book.
"Master Thor has already handed over the Life Potion to Rain!"
Butler Charlie's respectful voice sounded.
"I see!"
"You may leave now!"
Count Engel Dressrosa nodded, and Butler Charlie immediately left.
Thor hadn't expected that this conversation would not only be a lesson from his father but also a test.
The value of a mid-level Life Potion was undoubtedly significant, and whether he would choose to stay was uncertain.
If he stayed, it would indeed further enhance his knightly prowess. However, compared to his personal growth, what mattered more to a lord was resources and future prospects. If he couldn't grasp this, his father would consider reducing some investments.
But such a test was redundant in front of Thor, who had the Daily Intelligence System. He didn't need to consider these matters.
As time passed, Thor immersed himself in preparations for the departure, while waiting for the Daily Intelligence System to refresh. However, like before, the next ten days didn't offer him much.
Only a few items worth several or hundreds of gold coins were discovered. There were no sightings of Life Fruits or top-tier geniuses like Rain.
This was normal. In the entire territory governed by Dressrosa Castle, with only a population of a few hundred thousand, the appearance of Life Fruits and geniuses like Rain was already a miracle. Miracles couldn't happen indefinitely; otherwise, they wouldn't be called miracles.
Thor wasn't disappointed. As he thought, the real stage would be in the Northern Province. An entirely undeveloped world with unimaginable resources and opportunities would be revealed in his Daily Intelligence reports.
As night fell, Thor's final day at Dressrosa Castle arrived.
Early in the morning, Thor was summoned to his father's study.
"Take a look at this. See if there's anything you need. I will try to satisfy you!"
Count Engel Dressrosa's gentle voice sounded as he looked at his son.
A list was handed to Thor by Butler Charlie.
"Yes!"
Thor felt a little nervous and excited. He knew this was his father's and Dressrosa Family's assistance for his journey as a pioneering knight. These were crucial for his future development.
Thor's gaze converged on the rows of text that appeared before him.
- Ten thousand gold coins
- Fifty bottles of low-grade Life Potion
- Three bottles of mid-grade Life Potion
- Thirty-four knights, one hundred squires, three hundred reserve knights
- One suit of golden armor, thirty-four sets of silver armor, one hundred sets of bronze armor, three hundred sets of black iron armor
As he read these words, Thor's breath became heavy.
This was too much.
Even with just a rough estimate, their value exceeded tens of thousands of gold coins. Considering the entire financial income of the Dressrosa Family's territory for a year, which was likely less than ten thousand gold coins, the value of these gifts far exceeded that.
Not to mention the value of thirty-four knights, one hundred squires, and three hundred reserve knights, which was almost one-tenth of the Dressrosa Family's knight group.
His gaze immediately lifted, and with heavy breaths, he looked at his father.
"I've said that the Dressrosa Family's eaglet is about to spread its wings. As your father and the head of the Dressrosa Family, it is my duty to give you these gifts!"
"How about it? Are you satisfied?"
Count Engel Dressrosa's gentle voice sounded again, his expression calm and unchanged.
Even with such wealth, it was the same for him.
"Thank you, Father!"
"I'm already very satisfied!"
Thor took a deep breath and spoke respectfully.
At this moment, he truly meant it.
Though he had expected his father, Count Engel Dressrosa, to give him a substantial farewell gift, he hadn't anticipated it to be this enormous.
This amount of wealth was enough to serve as his initial startup capital.
"As long as you're satisfied!"
"Let's go. Take a look at your future subordinates. Today, under the witness of the Goddess of Life, they will become your most loyal knights!"
Count Engel Dressrosa smiled and gestured to his son.
"Yes, Father!"
Thor nodded, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
As they walked up, the leading youth drew his sword.
"Swear!"
A low and solemn voice rang out.
Next moment, voices echoed across the entire training ground.
Amidst those voices were oaths.
At the same time, above their heads, a golden scroll unfolded.
The power of the contract began to connect.
Compared to Rain's Guardian Contract, this was a Loyalty Contract.
Based on the contract book, its binding power was much weaker.
But to expect everyone to wholeheartedly obey Thor was nearly impossible, even though Thor had already shown his gratitude. However, for the time being, this was enough.
With the completion of the contract, Thor waved his hand, bestowing all the armor and weapons his father had given him, including thirty-four out of the fifty bottles of low-grade Life Potion.
(End of the chapter)