Corvinus looked at the middle-aged werewolf who had been scrutinizing him, about to nod in acknowledgment. Suddenly, the oppressive pressure that had been bearing down on him vanished.
"Guests are welcome here. Please, have a seat!" the werewolf said.
"I am Agif's father, Leral. I've heard from my daughter that you are quite exceptional," Leral continued.
"However, aside from your striking appearance, your strength is rather weak!" Leral added as Corvinus barely settled onto the sofa.
Corvinus felt a mix of helplessness and embarrassment. In the Silver Mane Tribe, he had thought that being a fourth-tier warrior at the age of ten was quite impressive. But upon arriving in Canyon City, he realized that there were far too many fourth and fifth-tier warriors. He came to understand that his status as a fourth-tier warrior at ten was merely average. Moreover, he was a fourth-tier warrior, while Agif was a fifth-tier warrior and also a sixth-tier mage. The gap was indeed significant.
When his prospective father-in-law pointed this out, Corvinus was at a loss for words. However, he knew it would be impolite to remain silent. So, he forced himself to say, "Uncle, you're right!"
"Hehe, you don't need to be so nervous. I'm very straightforward. If Agif has taken a liking to you and speaks so highly of you, then you must indeed be exceptional," Leral said with a smile.
"Although your strength is low, you have just come of age, and there is still a lot of room for improvement in the future," Leral added.
He had only returned home the day before yesterday when he heard from his eldest daughter that she had taken a liking to a werewolf. This came as a great surprise to him. After all, since his daughter had come of age, he had introduced her to many talented young men, but Agif had not shown interest in any of them.
Now she claimed to have taken a liking to a werewolf, which was quite astonishing to the old father.
"How did you and Agif meet?" Leral asked again.
"Uncle, I've only been in Canyon City for five days, and I've known Agif for only five days as well," Corvinus replied honestly.
It seemed that this prospective father-in-law was a reasonable and sensible man.
"Five days?" Leral almost thought there was something wrong with his hearing, but a near-legendary figure like him could not possibly have misheard.
He frowned and fell into deep thought.
Seeing Leral's deeply furrowed brows, Corvinus felt as if the soft sofa beneath him had turned into a bed of nails. He glanced towards the door, hoping Agif would come quickly. However, apparently, Lady Luck was not on his side, and the situation continued for several minutes.
Finally, Leral smoothed his brows and looked at Corvinus, saying, "You've only known each other for five days. To be honest, that has taken me by surprise."
"I don't know what my daughter sees in you, but I want to know, what do you see in Agif?" Leral asked.
To be honest, he was initially quite angry. After all, five days was just too frivolous. His daughter was not a traditional werewolf woman; Agif had seen the vastness of the world and knew how high the sky was. She could not be as naive as an ordinary werewolf woman when it came to choosing a partner. Moreover, she had not been interested in any of the many talented young men introduced to her, yet she had taken a liking to the young werewolf sitting across from her in just five days. This meant that the young man indeed had qualities that had caught her eye.
So, his anger quickly dissipated.
Corvinus knew that his response would determine whether he could marry Agif. He took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Uncle, since you're straightforward, I'll be too. I've only known Agif for five days, and saying that I like her sounds ridiculous not only to you but also to me."
Leral stared at Corvinus. Although he remained expressionless, he was inwardly satisfied. Relationships take time. In just five days, there could be no real feelings between them. At most, there could be a strong liking.
Corvinus continued, "As Agif might have told you, I am the chieftain of a tribe. My tribe is small, but I have told all my people that I will lead them to rise and become the masters of the wilderness."
Masters of the wilderness!
Leral's expression flickered. He didn't know whether to mock the young werewolf who might one day become his son-in-law for his overconfidence or to acknowledge his ambition. Masters of the wilderness? That would make them enemies of the royal court. Although the Greymane Royal Court was already in decline, facing a court with at least one epic-level strong being, Corvinus's tribe was no more significant than an ant.
An ant challenging a dragon?
It was almost impossible.
Leral looked at Corvinus, who was very serious, and suddenly smiled. Young people, full of vigor and ambition, it's normal to talk big. He himself had talked big when he was young, and although he hadn't achieved it yet, it was because of those big words that he had come this far.
Corvinus didn't pay attention to his prospective father-in-law's smile, which was either mocking or something else. He didn't want to say more. Time would prove that he never talked big.
"So I'm destined not to put all my love into a woman. Agif has courage, tact, intelligence, liveliness, and an independent personality, which is why I like her," Corvinus continued.
"Only a woman with these qualities can understand and help me."
Courage, tact, intelligence, liveliness, and an independent personality?
Leral nodded inwardly. Corvinus had indeed seen it very clearly.
"Actually, you should know that as a father, knowing that my son-in-law can't give all his love to my daughter, I would never agree one hundred percent. But why did you have to be so clear about it?" Leral asked indifferently.
"I'm just speaking the truth. Actually, Uncle, you and I are the same kind of people," Corvinus said with a smile.
He was telling the truth. To make a small tribe rise, he couldn't afford the time to talk about love, not even family bonds.
Leral was taken aback by his words and sighed. Over the years, he had been so busy with his mercenary group that he had indeed neglected his family and kinship. His three-year-old daughter wouldn't even call him "Dad."
"Young man, those who prioritize their careers are admirable."
"So, you pass the test!"
"However, young man, you should know that she is my eldest daughter. My love for her surpasses that for all my other children. I have never scolded or hit her. I don't want her to experience these things after marrying you," Leral said with a hint of seriousness.
Daughter's choice!
Corvinus's answer made him understand that perhaps Corvinus couldn't give Agif much love, but he was undoubtedly the right man for her.
So, Corvinus passed his test.
"Uncle, please rest assured. I can fight and curse, but I would never treat my woman like that," Corvinus assured him.
"Besides, I couldn't even if I wanted to!" Corvinus added with a touch of helplessness.
"Hahaha...!!!" Leral was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
His daughter's talent was even stronger than his. If things went as expected, Corvinus's future strength might indeed not match up to his daughter's.
The originally somewhat stuffy atmosphere was lightened a lot by Corvinus's helplessness.
"I like your character, young man. But wanting to be the master of the wilderness is like an ant challenging a dragon," Leral said with a smile.
"Uncle, an ant challenging a dragon is definitely impossible. But if that little ant is actually a young dragon that hasn't grown up yet, then the future is not impossible," Corvinus replied.
"Alright, I'll wait and see!" Leral was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly felt there was some truth to it.
"Father, I've been looking for you everywhere. Why are you here?" At that moment, Agif appeared at the door.
And behind her was a large group of people.