"Master Hadley, the Baron's Manor welcomes you."
At the dining table, Roen lifted his glass toward Hadley, who was clearly unfamiliar with noble etiquette. Noticing this, Roen gently reassured him, telling him not to be restrained by formality.
After the toast, Roen asked, "The Star Troupe is leaving today, correct? I'm surprised Captain Cheers was willing to let you go."
Hadley quickly replied, "Contrary to what you might think, my Lord, Captain Cheers has actually been persuading me these past few days—to remain here and work for you."
"Oh?" Roen chuckled. "Then I owe Captain Cheers a great favor. To gain a talent like Master Hadley so easily—it is no simple matter."
Hadley was visibly delighted by Roen's praise. Suddenly remembering something, he took a letter from his pocket, placing it on the table.
"This was entrusted to me by Captain Cheers, my Lord. He instructed me to hand it over to you before he left."
Roen's fingers twitched slightly, and Egbert stepped forward. He picked up the envelope and—rather than handing it to Roen—quietly put it away.
Hadley blinked in confusion. "My Lord, aren't you going to read it?"
Roen smiled warmly. "I can read a letter at any time. Right now, the most important task is to properly welcome Master Hadley."
Hadley was stunned. His impression of nobles changed at that moment. Perhaps Captain Cheers had been right—staying in Arnold Territory was indeed a wise decision.
Meanwhile, Roen's private thoughts were vastly different:
Hadley… if you don't forge at least a hundred or eighty blue-grade items for me, are you even worthy of me?
After chatting idly for a while, the conversation finally turned to business.
"Master Hadley, have you decided where you'd like your workshop to be built? Once the location is set, I'll have people construct it immediately so your work won't be delayed."
Hadley answered sincerely, "You may decide the location, my Lord. As long as the workshop is built, I can begin right away."
"Then we'll use the open land near the Manor. Egbert, arrange the construction personally—and as quickly as possible."
"Yes, my Lord," Egbert replied.
Roen, in an excellent mood, continued, "Master Hadley, how long would it take you to forge something of the same excellent quality as that shield of yours?"
Roen had already calculated. He didn't need massive equipment—just a few small wearable accessories packed with attributes. The more properties he could equip, the safer he would feel.
But Hadley shook his head.
"I can't forge that quality anymore."
Roen frowned. "What do you mean?"
Hadley explained, "My Lord, please don't misunderstand. The shield I showed you earlier was created when I was still young. To forge equipment of that caliber, one needs not only rare ores, but also exceptional forging tools."
He sighed.
"Over the years, while traveling, I encountered many dangers. The tools I originally brought with me were lost and cannot be recovered."
Roen hadn't expected this answer. "Is it completely impossible to forge good-quality equipment without those tools?"
"It's possible," Hadley said carefully. "However, the final product will definitely be inferior to my shield."
A little inferior means green-grade… still two attribute slots. Acceptable.
Roen's mood eased.
"Where can we purchase good forging tools?"
Hadley immediately perked up. "They can typically be found in any of the three major empires."
"And outside those three?"
Hadley thought for a moment. "Captain Cheers once mentioned that the capital of Carlo Kingdom has a Blacksmith Association. They might have what I need."
"In that case," Roen concluded, "when I go to the capital, I'll buy them for you."
Hadley nearly jumped up in excitement. "Then I will prepare a list for you later, my Lord—just follow it exactly."
—
After dinner, Roen brought Hadley on a tour of the Manor. When they passed by the study, they noticed the lights were still on. Roen had a guess, opened the door, and indeed—Joyce sat inside reading.
Hearing the door, she closed her book, stood, and bowed. "My Lord."
"The lighting is poor at night. Reading for too long will damage your eyes," Roen reminded softly. He walked over to the desk and picked up a book.
"Speaking of this—Master Hadley and I met because of this book. I've been busy with territory matters, so I haven't had the chance to read it since buying it."
This was a lie.
Roen had deliberately avoided opening this book, Secrets of the Royal Family, and had even instructed Joyce not to read it.
Because this book possessed an attribute.
And it was the only book in the entire study with one.
Attribute 1: Snow Fox's Storeroom (White)
When this book is opened, it emits a special signal that can be used for precise positioning.
That was the real issue.
Not even aura practitioners could do this.
Only a mage—or a cleric—could.
Roen leaned heavily toward the former.
"I heard from Master Hadley that this book originally came from a lady?" Roen asked casually, as if making small talk.
Hadley, unsuspecting, nodded. "Yes. That lady was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She had long black hair—rare—and deep green eyes—"
He described her appearance in detail, lost in memory, while Roen silently gathered information.
"I'd like to meet her myself," Roen said smoothly. "Where did you encounter her?"
"It's unfortunate, my Lord. We met by chance during my travels. She seemed to be journeying as well."
"And is there anything else you know about her?"
"That… I cannot say." Hadley's eyes dodged.
Roen knew then—the person who truly held the important information was Captain Cheers.
Roen dismissed Hadley to rest. Once he left, Joyce approached.
"My Lord, Master Hadley concealed something. He likely knows more."
Roen tapped the book with a finger. "The one who understands the truth might be that Captain."
Joyce's expression turned serious—she agreed. She also understood that this book posed a hidden danger to the Baron's Manor.
"My Lord, I will assume responsibility. Please entrust the book to me."
Roen snorted. "What responsibility? I paid for it. It has nothing to do with you."
Joyce fell silent.
"Joyce," Roen said suddenly, "don't you want to know what secrets are hidden in this book?"
His curiosity had reached its limit. What message was inside, that someone needed to track its reader?
He made up his mind.
Mage or not—his attribute items were not to be underestimated.
He slowly opened the book before Joyce.
—
Somewhere in a remote village.
In a small house, a woman with long black hair moved about quietly. Suddenly, her expression shifted.
"It's time to send the letter," she murmured.
—
More than ten days passed in a flash. Roen's departure for the capital drew closer.
The potatoes planted in the yard had already sprouted vigorously—thanks entirely to the Miracle Tree enriching the soil.
The Manor's land-clearing work had spread across the surrounding villages. Hearing that the wages were good, even more people applied. To maintain normal daily labor, Egbert restricted the number of workers to five hundred.
Hadley's workshop was being built on an open plot eight hundred meters from the Manor. Roen had hired the best craftsmen from Cott Town, but they suffered daily under Hadley's endless stream of "professional advice"—furnace dimensions, chimney height, personal room placement…
Everything was progressing smoothly—until Egbert collapsed from overwork.
—
In the Butler's room.
"Egbert, rest well. Don't worry about the territory—I will handle everything," Roen said. The doctor had just given him medicine.
Egbert was past sixty. Managing both the Manor and the territory after Elva left had stretched him far too thin. Only his green-grade administrative attribute had let him endure this long.
"Of course I trust you, my Lord," Egbert said weakly. "But the internal affairs of the Manor are handled by the Head Maid… and you are not yet familiar with them."
He reached under his pillow and retrieved a stack of documents.
"These are the profiles of maids who are eligible by seniority. Please review them and choose the next Head Maid."
Roen accepted the documents—and guilt washed over him.
He held Egbert's hand tightly. Only then did he notice Egbert's favorability toward him had quietly risen to 92.
After arranging a caretaker, Roen returned to the study.
He examined the eleven documents—thoroughly compiled, objective, and without Egbert's personal preference. The Baron's Manor could not afford the wrong choice.
Eileen peeked over his shoulder.
"Sister Joyce!"
Her voice made Roen turn. Joyce's file was indeed inside—she had worked in the Manor for twelve years since Blake brought her in at age seven. Qualified by seniority.
Roen didn't hesitate. He turned the page.
Eileen puffed her cheeks slightly.
Roen sighed. Eileen looked utterly confused.
At that moment, a soft rhythmic knock came from the door.
"Sister Joyce!" Eileen whispered immediately.
She was right.
Joyce entered, bowed, and said, "My Lord, my work today is done. I've come to read."
Roen nodded.
Joyce went to retrieve her book. Eileen tiptoed beside her like a curious cat.
"Sister Joyce," she whispered, "we're choosing a new Head Maid. Your name is on the list!"
Joyce froze.
Eileen continued rambling—until Roen called out, "Joyce."
She approached the desk.
"Since you know I am choosing a new Head Maid, do you have any suggestions?"
"Young master, I think Jo—"
Eileen's words were muffled by Joyce's hand. Joyce stepped forward.
"Replying to my Lord," she said calmly, "I believe Sister Diana is fully capable of serving as the new Head Maid."
Eileen's eyes widened in disbelief.
Roen smiled.
_____________________
support me on patreon for 30+ chapters
https://[email protected]/mrSOMEONE01234? [replace @ with a]
For those who cannot become members, they can support with power stones
200+ powerstone = 1 chapter
10+ review = 1 chapter
>>>>>I'm a student, and I'll try my best to keep uploading chapters regularly <<<<<
[[[[Please at least visit my patreon so I can have some traffic]]]]]