The greenery of the Northern Territory's vast lands began to slowly recede in autumn, leaving the wilderness and hills interwoven with grey and yellow hues, instilling a sense of emptiness and vastness, yet also evoking a whisper of solitude.
In the wilderness, a merchant caravan continued along a faint muddy road towards the north. A recent autumn shower had turned the road somewhat muddy, slowing the caravan's pace a little.
Seated on the carriage of the White Wolf Adventure Group, Lis, somewhat bored, called out to Fink, who was following with the team, summoning him over.
Fink approached hesitantly and spoke in a low voice.
Lis looked at Fink, somewhat speechless. What was up with this guy, acting all fidgety?
"What's with that look?"
Fink, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head while looking at Lis on the carriage.
"It's nothing much... just that a friend I knew turned out to be somebody important, and it's taking some getting used to."
"You're still too green, haha."
Lis took out a piece of honey candy from his storage ring and tossed it to Fink.
As if sensing that Lis's attitude towards him hadn't changed, Fink also seemed to relax a bit.
After tearing open the wrapper of the honey candy, Fink took a few quick steps and hopped onto the advancing carriage, sitting on the side. With his mouth full, he mumbled:
"Hey, isn't this like how we've always heard how amazing the great nobles are, and now it turns out you're one for real!"
"And you still call me Moriarty?"
Lis lay atop the luggage on the carriage, staring at the azure sky.
"Haha, I just wanted to tease you at first, I didn't expect that you really wouldn't notice."
"Can you blame me? Uncle Magat and the others have always kept it from me, and I've never met a real great noble, have I?"
Fink felt like an idiot and couldn't help but make excuses for himself.
"So... now that you've met one, you'll be able to recognize them in the future?"
Fink shook his head silently, then earnestly said:
"I always feel that you're not like the great nobles that rumors speak of, but when you stood beside Count Solo in Northwind City, I felt that if you weren't a noble, then nobody could be."
"Being about the same age as me..."
These were Fink's inner thoughts. That day at the inn in Northwind City, he had seen Count Solo engaging in a warm conversation with Lis, which deeply shook his young mind.
This was Fink's first encounter with the highest echelon of the Kingdom's nobility; a league entirely unlike those impoverished nobles who still forcibly maintained a semblance of nobility.
In that moment, Lis seemed both familiar and strange to him.
But at the same time, it was what first kindled his desire, his longing to be somebody like Lis.
To become a noble, it seemed, might not be that difficult?
Perhaps it was just a misguided feeling of a youth; after all, Lis's status was not something any common noble could compare with.
Lis had been about to tease Fink some more, but he paused when he saw the gleam in Fink's eyes.
"Do you want to become a noble?"
After a moment of silence, Lis asked.
"To become a distinguished lord, who wouldn't want that?"
Fink scratched his head, feeling as if his fanciful daydreams were a bit out of touch with reality. If it was so easy to become ennobled, the title would have been commonplace.
"For most people it's difficult, but for you, Fink, it's not impossible."
Lis sat upright, looking earnestly at Fink and said:
Fink looked at Lis curiously. His instinct was to retort, but seeing Lis's seriousness, he realized that the man before him was none other than the Marquis of Bright City.
Could it be... he wasn't joking?
"Fink, do you know the simplest way to become a noble of the Kingdom?"
Lis took out a bright red apple from his storage ring and began to munch on it.
Fink thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Become a Gold Level powerhouse."
"As long as you become a Gold Level strength, swear loyalty to His Majesty the King, you can directly become a Court Baron," said Lis.
"Gold Level strength..."
Fink had been somewhat hopeful, but hearing the prerequisite of becoming a Gold Level strength, he was suddenly at a loss for words.
Within the entire White Wolf Mercenary Group, only the leader was a Gold Level strength, even Uncle Magat had been stuck at the Silver Level for many years, could he really do it?
"Do you know why I came to find you on the day we set off?"
Lis's face showed a hint of a smile as he looked at Fink.
This was also something that puzzled Fink. As a Marquis, Lis should have been living in a comfortable and luxurious castle, served by countless servants, and enjoying lavish meals.
Yet, he chose to accompany the merchant caravan to the Northern Territory, even willing to endure hardships and serve as a sentry with the White Wolf Mercenary Group for several days.
Before, Fink could hardly imagine such a great noble doing this.
"Because of you, Fink!"
Lis raised his right hand, pointed at Fink, and said with a smile.
Fink, somewhat puzzled, asked.
"At the end of the day, it's one's own strength that matters most in this world."
"Only with sufficient strength can you fulfill your own desires."
"Like you, Fink, you will become a Gold Level strength in the future."
Lis looked at Fink with a smile, but his expression was somewhat serious and solemn, just like a Priest conveying the will of All Gods.
A so-called charlatan!
Fink instinctively found it hard to believe Lis's words, even though the others in the Mercenary Group usually praised him for his Talent, no one was as certain as Lis that he would become a Gold Level strength in the future.
"You don't need to ask, and I'm not going to tell you why I would say that," Lis smiled and teased.
"As a Prophet, I can feel that you have this Talent."
"So, it all depends on whether you are willing to put in the effort to realize your Talent."
Fink fell silent for a moment, his voice slightly deeper:
"Then what should I do?"
Lis nodded, feeling the time was ripe.
"Train, learn; there is still much you lack."
"Follow me these next few days; I will train you well."
Looking at Lis eager to start, Fink suddenly had a bad feeling.
Did he plan to give me a beating?
Of course, Lis had his own plans.
Fink's future achievements proved he had enough Talent, but the current reality was that he was progressing too slowly.
The reason why Nobles are Nobles, is because while strengthening their family's lineage over time, an abundance of learning and growth resources are also essential.
Unless one truly lacks Talent, no Noble would allow their family's youth to waste time idly.
Of course, the commoners of this world are not without a way out.
The existence of Extraordinary Power gives the vast majority of ordinary people a pathway to ascend socially.
Compared to Nobles, the overwhelming numerical advantage of commoners always allows for exceptional talents to emerge.
Therefore, as long as the Kingdom functions normally and those in power do not become unduly inept, the Noble class can continue to strengthen its power by absorbing and accepting talented individuals from among the commoners, maintaining its ruling status.
In fact, what Lis was doing was not much different from those Nobles.
He was simply certain of Fink's Talent and making an early investment, that's all.
The Combat Techniques and training resources Fink lacked were trivial to Lis.
The future Kane Floating City needs a lot of talent!
And naturally, Lis would not let go of any promising seedlings!