"Although this preference is extremely unique, it is not entirely unheard of. I know of another person who has a nearly identical diet, and that person is our former lord, the esteemed Count Old Medin. While the Count is not as picky as this young man, his fondness for shellfish, shrimp, crab, octopus, and squid is almost identical.
"When I first saw Count Old Medin eating these strange foods, I was indeed surprised. But listening to the Count talk about these two creatures, it was clear that he, like this young man, had a deep affection for them," Viscount Terbo remarked.
"Ah, now that you mention it, I remember our respected Count Old Medin did enjoy eating these two strange creatures. However, his two sons had no interest in them at all. On the contrary, the Count's daughter, that little angel, inherited her father's preferences. If I recall correctly, this young lady, much like you, Ivan, was also picky. I remember that her stern aunt once tried to force her to change her peculiar diet, but it nearly caused a serious incident. After that, no one ever mentioned trying to change the young lady's picky eating habits again, until later..." the old man paused here.
"After the successive passing of the Medin family, that young lady should have been the sole heir, right?" the chubby man inquired.
"Unfortunately, Miss Lisa has also passed away, just a few years ago, due to the plague that struck Southport," Viscount Terbo revealed.
"The plague? Didn't Southport have a church? The church should have methods to prevent the spread of the plague," Lady Lorna, the Baroness, asked. In reality, she was directing her question towards Ivan, as he was the only one present from the southern port city.
"Southport has two churches, and the priests in those churches are unquestionably devout in their faith. However, they do not know how to create miracles through divine protection. The priests can only prevent milder cases from worsening, but for severe cases, they are powerless.
"At that time, the plague spread rapidly, and only those who managed to escape Southport in time were able to survive. During the plague, at least seventeen priests, a mayor, and five prosecutors succumbed to the disease. Those who survived were truly blessed by the gods," Ivan spoke in a somber tone.
"I'm sorry for bringing up those painful memories," Lady Lorna apologized.
"Let's raise a toast to those who perished in the terrible plague, and to those who were fortunate enough to survive. May the gods be with them," Viscount Terbo attempted to lighten the mood. However, his thoughts of the charming and lovely Count's daughter who had left this world weighed heavily on his heart.
"Viscount Terbo's proposal is indeed a good one, I agree!" Baron Lorna, rarely in agreement with his former powerful rival, concurred.
Everyone raised their glasses symbolically and took a sip.
"Does Count Old Medin have no heirs left? So, that stern Miss Old Medin is the only heir, is that correct? Oh my, the thought of that old spinster becoming our lord is truly terrifying," the chubby man remarked.
"Baron Brown said, 'A woman will not be allowed to become the lord of a county as important as Southport. The king will dispatch another minister to take on the role of Lord of Southport.' 'As far as I know, at least three earls are vying for this position, including Count Danbort, who is a relative of the royal family and the youngest brother of our esteemed Queen; Count Rowanell, the respected Deputy Royal Treasurer, who seems to find serving as a vassal in the south of Florence more interesting than counting coins in the treasury; and finally, Count Leipado, the noble Prince Phillips' godson and the commander of the Royal Knights. It is said that the prince intends to have his godson gain experience in Southport to prepare him for taking over his position.'
Baron Brown's wide social circle and well-informed nature made it clear that this information was unquestionable. Furthermore, Southport not only represents a county in the south but also serves as a hub connecting the south and other parts of Florence. Due to the prosperity of Southport and the developed sea routes, the once barren south of Florence has suddenly become a prosperous and happy place. Similarly, this previously overlooked land has now become a beacon of hope for the increasingly depleted treasury.
Most of the nobles at the dining table have held financial positions in the past, even Baron Longa once managed the treasury and was well aware of its intricacies. However, these matters are absolutely not to be discussed openly at the dining table.
'Those three earls may be disappointed. As far as I know, the old lord still has one last heir, Miss Lisa. Initially, she ran away from home because she did not want to accept the marriage arranged by the old earl. Shortly after leaving, she married a destitute nobleman in Southport and soon had a son. Although the plague took the lives of Miss Lisa and her husband, their child fortunately survived.
'A loyal steward has been taking care of the young master, even hiring a group of mercenaries from Ilera to protect his young master. This steward seems to be a sharp-eyed talent fit to be a staff officer in the legion. He foresaw the misfortune surrounding the Medin family and kept the young master hidden away, isolated from the outside world, thus preserving the old Medin Earl's only heir.
'We are doing everything we can to persuade that steward to let us see the young master. However, convincing this loyal steward is evidently quite difficult. At least so far, we have not succeeded in making this stubborn man compromise,' Baron O'Neil said.
'You think that steward is very loyal, but I find it suspicious. This steward doesn't even let us know the real name of his young master, let alone allow us to meet the young earl. The surveillance reports also mention that there are no signs of anyone living in the young earl's room. Even if someone is confined, there should be times when the window is opened or the curtains are drawn, but the young earl's window has never been touched, raising doubts about whether anyone is actually living inside,' Viscount Terbo said.
'Why did the Earl's mansion send people to monitor without our knowledge?' Baron O'Neil seemed somewhat displeased.
'It was the old lady who instructed me to do so. Do you have any objections?' Viscount Terbo retorted.
It seems that the sister of the old Medin Earl holds considerable authority in Southport, as Baron O'Neil fell silent upon hearing this."
"Being able to afford mercenaries as a private guard, this noble from Westbay must be quite wealthy," Medit remarked.
"He may not be a bankrupt noble, but he is a playboy. After selling off all the family assets, he bought a ship to travel the world. It is said that he has been to many places and knows many people. When he met Miss Lisa in Florence, that guy settled in Southport. He owns a fleet of nine Westbay sailboats. With vast estates in Westbay, Florence, and Ilera, his assets amount to no less than three million gold florins. Just the fleet alone brings him an annual income of one hundred thousand gold florins, making him one of the wealthiest in Southport.
"An ordinary mercenary earns about twenty-five gold coins per month, while a squad leader earns one hundred gold coins. With a mercenary squad of about a dozen people, the annual wage cost is around three thousand gold coins, with additional maintenance expenses totaling about five to six thousand gold coins. For a wealthy man earning one hundred thousand gold coins a year, this is hardly a concern," Terbo seemed well-informed about this family.
"Three million florins, nearly one hundred thousand florins in annual income. If I had such wealth, I wouldn't care about the title of Lord of Southport either," Baron Brown said.
"Perhaps, the steward also thinks the same way," Medit added.
"However, there is no trace of the young master in that mansion, and that is the key issue," Terbo said.
"Perhaps, the young count has been secretly moved elsewhere. Considering the terrible fate of the Medin family, a mercenary squad may simply not be powerful enough. The best course of action would be to hide the target where no one knows, wouldn't it?" the Fat Man said.
"Perhaps, our young heir did not escape the arrival of misfortune and has long been lying in a cold grave. But if it is known that this young master is already dead, then the annual income of one hundred thousand gold florins will be left without an owner, and few people would ignore such a fortune," Terbo expressed his opinion.
"Baron Terbo, you truly understand the dark side of human nature, but I believe loyalty and virtue still exist. Based on my interactions with the steward, he is a respectable gentleman, and from the accounts, there are no discrepancies, except for an annual expenditure of six thousand gold florins that is somewhat unclear. I believe that this amount may be exactly the maintenance cost of the mercenary squad, isn't it?" Baron O'Neil said.
"This is not a discussion on human nature, I simply have enough evidence to show that there is not a fifteen-year-old boy in that estate, that's all," Viscount Terbo said.
"Alright, alright, let's not engage in such meaningless disputes at the dining table, let us happily have dinner together, you two are making the atmosphere worse," Lady Henrietta, the Baroness, stopped any further argument.
"Yes, let us bless the young lord and wish him good health. As for whether there will be a new lord in Southport, it doesn't matter to us, the work of the Treasury and Tax Office will not become easier or more burdensome, and our salaries will not increase or decrease," the Fat Man said casually.
"Indeed, that is true, but it may not be the same for our Viscount Keweielle Egret Hyde," Baroness O'Neil said with a smile.
However, her husband apparently did not want his wife to offend a young man who might become a wizard in the future. He said, "For Viscount Keweielle Egret Hyde, there will be no problem either. His property is scattered in Florence, Westbay, and Ilera. Just a slight adjustment is needed, and it doesn't matter who becomes the lord for the viscount. Besides, who would want to be at odds with a wizard? The lord won't, the prince won't, and our respected King won't, right?"
Baroness O'Neil clearly understood her husband's implication, and although quite unwilling, she had to admit this fact. The young Baroness lowered her head and ate and drank quietly, no longer speaking.
With no noisy individuals, the banquet became quite peaceful. Over the next hour, apart from chatting about everyday matters and hearsay, there was no more discussion of sensitive topics.
The banquet was quite enjoyable for Ivan. The baron's daughter had been attentively catering to him, knowing well his picky eating habits and favorite dishes of oysters, lobsters, and crabs. Although she hesitated to take someone else's portion, she was more than willing to offer her own to Ivan, giving him a feeling of being pleasantly surprised.
Baroness Lorna also intentionally or unintentionally left a portion of her own, making Ivan undoubtedly the darling of the dining table.
For the subsequent small talk, Ivan had no room to interject as it involved matters completely foreign to him. Up to this point, the only nobles he truly knew were Mr. Hyde and Baron Lorna, and his understanding of the noble social circle was limited to this banquet and the knowledge taught by Audrey.
Ivan still couldn't fully adapt to this peculiar world.
However, in the following hour, Ivan remained silent, but he had already become the star of the banquet, the most eye-catching figure at the dining table.
The elderly couple sitting on the other side of the table occasionally looked at him with a gentle and kind gaze, making Ivan feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, the seemingly smiling glances from Medite and the chubby man made him feel slightly better.
But what truly made Ivan uncomfortable were the covert glances from the young ladies at the table.
These glances not only made Ivan feel uneasy, but even the baron's daughter beside him inexplicably became nervous.
The dinner ended in a mix of enjoyment and awkwardness. Most people showed little interest in the dessert, instead discussing activities for after dinner.
With so many people gathered together, the men naturally suggested playing cards. Although the chubby man and Baron Brown were eager to ride Ivan's purebred horse for a spin, the darkness outside and the lack of a dedicated racecourse at the villa meant that this wish would have to wait until the next morning.
In fact, these two had already eagerly arranged with Ivan to borrow the purebred horse for an hour the next morning.
Ivan had no interest in playing cards. While there were some stakes in the card game, the baron would never accept large bets, but playing without any stakes was also out of the question.
Ivan wasn't worried about losing money. He already had a strong mathematical foundation and, with Audrey's specialized training, he was quite adept at playing cards. Even without any tricks, winning against the people at the table would be a breeze.
But Ivan didn't like gambling.
During his time in Nangang, Ivan had the belief that gambling was the root of all evil, a path to sin, and a symbol of decadence.
Aunt Jenny never gambled, and there was no gambling in the shop. Even the boss considered gambling the most significant stain on one's character.
In Nangang, few merchants frequented gambling establishments. Once someone was found to have such a habit, their reputation would be greatly damaged, and no one would be willing to do business with a gambler, nor would any moneylender lend money to a merchant who enjoyed gambling.
In Nangang, merchants only played a few rounds when dealing with tax officials, but this was clearly a means of bribing tax officials, and everyone understood this without saying it out loud.
Influenced by this environment, Ivan didn't like gambling, so he declined the baron's invitation.
As for the ladies, they went to the lounge to chat, their preferred way of passing the time.
Ivan had no interest and felt awkward joining them.
"By the way, Ivan, didn't we agree to go to the study together? Maybe you'll find something there," Baron Lorna suggested.
This suggestion was immediately met with approval from the others.
Everyone left the dining table one after another, with Baron Longna leading the way holding a candlestick. After climbing the stairs, the room to the north at the end of the west side was the study. Upon opening the door, Baron Longna casually placed the candlestick on a desk. The candlelight was dim, and the study remained quite dark, with two rows of bookshelves against the wall. The paint on the bookshelves had peeled off, revealing the purpleheart wood underneath. This hard and high-quality wood had remained sturdy and reliable for centuries.
The desk and the chair next to it seemed relatively new. The desk was made of red pine wood, thinly coated with paint on the outside, with a row of drawers underneath. The main advantage of this desk was its practicality; the drawers could hold many items, and the top two drawers were locked, suitable for storing important documents. Against the north wall was a fireplace, above which was embedded a statue of a book.
Originally an independent statue, Baron Longna had buried most of it in the wall, leaving only the surface exposed. Everyone wanted to squeeze into this small study, but the space was clearly insufficient. At this moment, all the children were ushered out, as they were the most vulnerable group. The elderly couple, no longer as curious and impulsive as in their youth, were taken care of by the maids and went to rest in the lounge. Except for Lady O'Neil, the other ladies voluntarily left the study, making way for the men.
Although most people stood outside the door, the audience inside the study still seemed somewhat crowded. Through the crowd, the dim light from the candlestick on the desk appeared even dimmer. However, for Ivan, this was not important. He slowly walked towards the statue, holding the ring in his hand, and approached it cautiously. Ivan was filled with uneasiness and nervousness. Although Professor Lavash had said he had the talent to become a wizard and could likely become one with training, he was still a novice and knew nothing. Whether this statue truly possessed magic, he had no idea; it was all speculation. Moreover, he was unsure if this magical power posed any danger to him. He had far less knowledge of the magical world than the people behind him.
Despite his inner tension, Ivan still held the ring up to the statue. Before he could get closer to the statue, the blue sapphire on the ring emitted a faint purple light. Although weak, everyone in the study clearly saw this miraculous scene. Ivan was filled with excitement and intense nervousness, as if he were creating a miracle with his own hands. Perhaps this was truly a miracle.
The taste of encountering this mysterious power for the first time is simply indescribable. Fortunately, Ivan still remembers what the magician Lavash told him about the usage of this ring. The purple light, if I'm not mistaken, represents the magical energy of the spiritual element. It was this power that killed the magician involved in the excavation, along with all the unfortunate workers around him. It was to resist this power that the magicians created this ring. However, is the power of the magicians in later generations enough to resist the strongest magician in legend? Ivan has no grasp on this matter. Ivan is well aware of how dangerous a task he is undertaking. However, curiosity conquers all. The mysterious power, the treasure left by the strongest magician, unknown dangers, what could be more thrilling than this?
Ivan has always yearned for adventure, eager to roam the vast seas like those sailors, eager to witness more extraordinary things. Now, the adventure he is embarking on is something he never imagined and something that ordinary people would find hard to encounter. Whether the end of this adventure leads to the gateway to the city of doom or the dazzling treasure left by the strongest magician, no one can answer this question.
Driven by curiosity, Ivan gently placed the blue sapphire ring face on the surface of the statue. The purple light suddenly became dazzling, and the faint glow of the candles was instantly suppressed. This change was so sudden that a gasp rang out in the study, and everyone hurriedly stepped back. Ivan was equally frightened, but fortunately, during the time spent with Herbert, Herbert had trained Ivan in various ways so that no matter what happened, he would not panic. Although Herbert could not completely eliminate Ivan's terror of danger, he successfully enabled Ivan's body to not be controlled by the fear in his mind, at least not by sudden scares. Therefore, Ivan was the only one among all present who appeared relatively calm.
Although equally nervous and trembling all over, although Ivan was well aware that his calmness was due to the strict training by Herbert, he was still driven by a strong curiosity, slowly turning the movable blue sapphire ring face with his thumb. The empty hand had already reached into his pocket, taking out the talisman given to him by his teacher. Everything was in order. Ivan dared not make the slightest mistake, as his life depended on the effective use of these two magical items. One circle, two circles, three circles... Although the people nearby did not know what Ivan was doing, they believed that Ivan was an expert in handling such matters.
He is, after all, an apprentice of magic, holding in his hand the magical ring. Everyone waited anxiously in silence, in the study, the corridor, even the servants and maids knew that a magician was performing a marvelous spell inside the study. The night sky was quiet.
Ivan cleared his cluttered mind and slowly chanted the incantation taught to him by his teacher, the magician Lavash. Each note seemed to be filled with infinite magic, drawing out Ivan's strength and courage bit by bit. The long incantation finally came to an end.
Suddenly, Ivan felt a strong sound wave piercing his eardrums, like a silver needle deeply stabbing into his brain. The sudden impact left him momentarily unable to feel pain, but the intense stabbing sensation that followed deeply transmitted to every nerve ending in his body, a burning pain.
If it weren't for Herbert's lessons on enduring pain and the various punishments that taught his body to endure this cruel lesson without leaving permanent marks, this attack would have completely destroyed Ivan long ago. But, fortunately, Ivan endured this most difficult moment.
Just as the pain came suddenly, its disappearance was equally sudden. Everything returned to calm, as if nothing had happened, no sensation of pain, as if the intense pain that had been inflicted on Ivan had never occurred.
Everything returned to calm.
Just as Ivan was guessing that everything had been resolved, suddenly the wall changed. A thick smoke emerged from the sculpture.
Faced with this sudden situation, Ivan had no time to think, and his left hand naturally raised the talisman he was holding. Countless golden threads danced in the air, covering half of the study in an instant.
The metal threads formed a dense and impenetrable spider web, tightly wrapping the smoke. The smoke shrank smaller and smaller, finally falling to the floor with a clang. When everyone came to their senses, they saw an empty hole where the statue was originally embedded on the wall, with plaster debris and broken bricks scattered on the floor.
Among the debris, lay two things. One of them, anyone could see at a glance, was a thick notebook with a dark blue cover inscribed with several unknown mysterious characters, tightly bound with a golden silk ribbon. The ancient and mysterious patterns on the dark blue cover were imprinted with a magical array on the back. The palm-sized magical array was engraved with countless magical symbols. It was the most complex thing Ivan had ever seen, with so many characters and symbols, even dozens of times more than the incantations engraved on the ring in his hand.
Surely, this was the magical notebook left by the great archmage Kymirtdi. Next to the notebook lay a square metal block, two inches long, one inch wide, and half an inch high, shining with a dazzling golden light, like a pure gold block. Although he didn't know what it was, being placed next to the magical notebook of the great archmage Kymirtdi, it was definitely not an ordinary object. Ivan carefully picked them up from the ground.