Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 37 Evolution of Runes (Thanks to the Alliance Leader for the reward!) (2/2)

The Duke, such an important figure wanting to see him, Byrne rose in a daze to follow the soldier out of the tent.

He entered the largest tent and saw a burly old man clad in black cotton, strong and with a military bearing in every movement, yet his skin was abnormally pale.

The old man sat behind a desk piled with documents, his sharp gaze like that of a shrewd and seasoned old griffon, constantly fixated on its prey, never relaxing its vigilance.

Byrne subconsciously felt tense, standing before a “Monarch” of Level 3, a pillar of the Cyart Kingdom, and a revered figure; even the Cyart King treated the stalwart Duke Black Iron with great respect.

A woman with short golden hair and glasses stood beside the old man.

She looked calm, dressed entirely in black, her skin pale and smooth, and a fluffy, snow leopard-like large tail behind her buttocks most eye-catching.

Duke Black Iron, without any superfluous words, asked coldly and directly,

“You are Byrne of the Fischer family, son of Lucius?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Byrne nodded, a bad premonition slowly rising from the depths of his heart.

Duke Black Iron stared into his eyes, his tone becoming grave,

“Your father bravely died in battle, desperately killing two knights and a dozen enemies, showing extreme valor amid the fight, a warrior, a role model, a paragon among the Cyart people. You, his only son, what reward do you seek?”

Byrne was momentarily unable to respond, hesitating for a long time as if confused by what he had heard.

The old man just sat there silently, waiting for him to come back to his senses.

“I wish…”

Byrne was silent for a long while, incessantly thinking how his father would have answered if he were here, and finally spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice,

“I wish the Fischer family could become a member of the Cyart aristocracy.”

Duke Black Iron shook his head decisively, his icy gaze piercing the overly greedy young man,

“Impossible, only the Cyart King can confer nobility. I can only make you a knight, and the Fischer family a knight clan nominally loyal to the Romann family.”

The Romann family was Duke Black Iron’s family, one of the top three prominent noble houses in the entire Cyart, whose colossal influence and status were second only to the Royal Family.

Byrne nodded with reddened eyes, showing a sorrowful smile, “That is enough, my lord. I am truly grateful for your mercy and generosity.”

Duke Black Iron nodded dispassionately, “All right, you may leave now.”

Without a chance to ask another question, Byrne was taken away by the soldiers, while Duke Black Iron lowered his head to continue his work, not sparing the young man another glance.

“Only eighteen years are left until the peace treaty between the two nations expires!”

The old man sighed and then fell silent, his eyes filled with deep wisdom as he pondered, “Whose handiwork was the so-called ‘divine sign’ those people encountered?”

On his way back to the tent, Byrne was completely dazed, his mind filled with memories of his father, recalling how light-heartedly he had said goodbye, claiming he was just going ahead to scout the road as he had done many times before.

He couldn’t comprehend why everything in the world was so absurdly wrong; that day turned out to be the last time he ever saw his father.

Suddenly, Byrne felt nauseous, but as he crouched down, the tears wouldn’t stop, he cried and retched continuously, nothing coming out since he hadn’t eaten anything.

It turns out, people can vomit from extreme grief.

He still remembered the words spoken by the black-armored knight with an arrogant tone,

“Your deaths are of little consequence. Hand over that artifact, and the Meyer family shall ascend to the highest throne of the Ouden Continent.”

The Meyer family!

That might be a noble house in the Rhea Kingdom, not inferior to the Romann family, extending for hundreds or even thousands of years, a terrifying behemoth that Fischer family now cannot shake.

Kneeling on the ground, Byrne clenched his fists so tightly his skin broke and bled, and he roared in a low voice,

“Father! The Fischer family will remember all the hatred! I swear to the Lord of the Lost, I will avenge you, and one day, we shall repay everything with the blood and tears of the Meyer family!”