Chapter 291: Chapter 290: Paving the Way

The celebration banquet reached its climax with the ascension of the new Count of Wushan Territory.

Amidst the cheers and applause, Ronin accepted the golden medal symbolizing his new noble title and the letter of enfeoffment from Lurans.

In that instant, a series of notifications appeared in his vision:

[“Famous Throughout the World” achievement unlocked. Attribute Points +500, Energy Essence +1000]

[Monthly Sign-in Mechanism updated. Reward Multiplier +2]

[“Siege and Conquest” achievement unlocked. Attribute Points +200, Energy Essence +400]

Ronin was delighted.

The achievements and the sign-in mechanism were both tied to his noble rank. Now that he had become a Count, the effects triggered automatically.

Ronin could now gain 417 Attribute Points and 345 Energy Essence each month. Not counting Attribute Points gained from achievements, he would only need a year to break through to the Sixth-level.

If he completed other achievements during that time, this period would be shortened even further.

Lurans patted Ronin on the shoulder and offered a few words of encouragement.

The ceremony wasn’t over. However, compared to the ennoblement of a Count, the process of knighting Honorary Knights was much simpler and less formal or grand.

Nevertheless, for those who were crossing the class threshold from commoner to Honorary Knight—the lowest rank of nobility—it was still a momentous occasion.

Although it came with no territory, this was a step that many Professional Knights could never take in their entire lives.

The six Honorary Knights emotionally proclaimed their oaths to serve Wushan Castle to the death, kissing their medals.

After all this was done, Lurans raised his glass for a toast with everyone and then left the banquet hall, leaving the celebration to the younger generation.

“Haha, congratulations, Lord Count!” Marvin was the first to come over and offer his blessings.

Ronin smiled. “Uncle Marvin, please just keep calling me Ronin.”

Marvin raised his glass and sighed wistfully. “I still remember you buying horses at my ranch. I never thought you’d go from a Baron to a Count so quickly!”

“This is a legendary tale worthy of being written into a chivalric romance by the bards!”

Many people crowded around, vying to offer their congratulations.

While thanking them, Ronin also offered his own blessings to the nobles and knights who had been ennobled and knighted today.

The atmosphere in the hall was bustling, but not everyone’s smile concealed a joyful heart. Some were feeling rather sour.

Take Viscount Dennis of Sharp Horn City, for example.

Back during the war against the Polante Thief Gang, the Silver-Level Viscount Vitorino had been considered a top-tier combatant. He should have personally participated in the war to annihilate them, but for his own reasons, he ultimately did not, sending only a squad of knights and soldiers in his stead.

As he now held his cup, congratulating Philip and the other Silver Knights who had been promoted to Baron, he couldn’t help but wonder. ’If I had joined the war, would I have received such handsome rewards too?’

’A promotion in my noble title would have been unlikely, but could I have gotten a piece of land like Marvin did?’

’After all, there are quite a few villages near Shore City.’

But it was useless to regret such things now. All he could do was watch with envy.

Besides Viscount Vitorino, the representative from the Hyde Clan was naturally unhappy as well.

Most of those who received titles this time had fought on the Southwest front. On the Southeast front, aside from Melonika, no one was promoted to Honorary Knight, let alone granted land.

Wushan Castle would probably have to manage the two newly reclaimed territories themselves. However, considering the constant harassment from the Black Gold Brotherhood, Wiggin likely wouldn’t invest much effort into those two Baron’s Domains.

There were two main reasons for this great disparity in rewards between the two fronts.

On one hand, the results from the Southeast front were indeed inferior to the Southwest. The Black Gold Brotherhood had primarily been a diversionary force this time. Faced with an offensive led by Melonika, they fled to Black Pine Ridge with little resistance.

On the other hand, Lurans had arranged things this way intentionally.

The great victory on the Southwest front was mainly due to Ronin. The men who were granted honorary knighthoods and noble titles all knew they were riding on Ronin’s coattails, so they would inevitably feel grateful to him.

With this relationship established, people like Philip and Solstein would likely become Ronin’s steadfast supporters in the future.

Lurans’s decision to grant them territories in Casier Town and Sari Town, both near Chishan Town, was also part of this consideration.

At the same time, these enfeoffments also let everyone know that there were benefits to be gained by following Ronin.

The banquet in the great hall continued lively, with an invited performance troupe putting on an exciting show.

To the sound of elegant music, some clinked glasses and drank, some went outside to spar and exchange pointers, and others took to the dance floor.

In a corner of the hall, Erin watched Ronin chatting happily with the various nobles, her eyes filled with admiration.

“Hey, little beauty, not going to dance?”

McKinney came over and sat down beside her, raising a wine glass to toast Erin, only to find the younger woman was holding a cup of fruit juice.

“You don’t drink?”

Erin shook her head, embarrassed. “Lord… Ronin said I’m still young, and drinking would affect my development.”

Hearing this, McKinney couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“My little brother actually said something like that?”

She looked Erin up and down, then teased, “You’re developing just fine. Nothing to worry about.”

Erin’s face flushed red, and she didn’t know how to respond. However, she did realize the mature woman’s identity.

“You’re Lord Ronin’s sister?”

“Of course. His real sister!”

McKinney’s gaze shifted to Ronin in the crowd, her tone suddenly turning wistful.

“Maybe it’s because our mother and grandfather died so early, but Ronin never lived in Sari Town. Otherwise, he probably would have taken our mother’s hometown into his own domain.”

Sari Town, which had been occupied by the Polante Thief Gang for so long, was the domain of Ronin and McKinney’s maternal grandfather, Amos Sari. It had now finally returned to the fold of the Wushan Territory.

It was just that Sari Town had been neglected for years. It had few people and no special resources, so Ronin hadn’t paid it much mind.

She sighed. “If I had known, I should have had Kabil follow Ronin this time, and sent Viscount Marvin to the Southeast. Maybe then Kabil could have earned a title, and I could have gone to live in Sari Town.”

Kabil was stationed in Splendid City and controlled a considerable amount of wealth.

But like Toru, he was of low birth. Things only started to improve for him after McKinney married down to be with him. Even now, he was only an Honorary Knight, not yet a Baron.

This really was a lost opportunity.

Erin comforted her, “But we’ve taken Sari Town back from the Polante Thief Gang now. I think with your status, you should be able to go back and visit anytime you want.”

McKinney nodded slightly. She had originally thought a girl from the mountains might be timid, but after talking with her, she found that while Erin was a bit shy, she wasn’t tongue-tied and stammering like many children from commoner families.

“Yes, it’s all thanks to Ronin this time. I never expected him to grow up so fast!”

McKinney looked at Ronin in the crowd, suddenly feeling that her little brother had become so tall and handsome without her even realizing it.

She couldn’t help but say hopefully, “He’s already become the backbone of the Wushan Clan! I believe that in the near future, if he successfully marries Princess Blanche, the Wushan Clan will enter a new era of glory!”

Erin froze for a moment, then asked instinctively, “Marry Princess Blanche?”

“You didn’t know?” McKinney asked, puzzled.

The people of Wubei Territory had heard that Ronin had rescued Princess Blanche when he was promoted to Viscount, but they didn’t know about a marriage alliance between the two.

“Ah, that’s right. Since it’s not finalized, Ronin wouldn’t just spread it around.”

McKinney nodded slowly. “But in my opinion, it’s pretty much a done deal.”

Erin’s expression suddenly became strained.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep