The sounds of chatter, laughter, musical instruments and singing blended together.

Tonight, the Golden Feather Palace held an unprecedentedly lively party for Blanche's birthday.

The nobles gathered here not only to celebrate the birthday of Her Royal Highness the Princess, but also to use this opportunity to chat with other nobles about feelings and cooperation.

Those minor nobles who are fortunate enough to attend the banquet will have the opportunity to meet the great nobles here and expand their own network of contacts.

Roning also met a lot of people at the banquet, but most of the interactions were just polite. After all, he didn't know the background of these nobles.

"Hey, Ronin, can I have a drink with you?"

Franz, who changed into a formal suit, looked even more handsome and elegant, with an elegant temperament all over his body. He was the person that many noble ladies were happy to talk to tonight.

"Of course, it's my pleasure!"

Luo Ning raised his glass and clinked it lightly with the other party.

Franz Silva is one of the people Ronin most wants to meet.

If there is a chance, Luo Ning would also like to visit the other party's grandfather.

This living century-old man must be a knowledgeable person, and he is also a magician. Roning is likely to learn a lot from him.

Franz took a sip gracefully and praised with a smile, "Gregorian wine is the most famous. Wine of this quality can only be drunk at the banquet of the Golden Feather Palace."

The wine tonight is indeed much higher quality than the one in Wushanbao.

"Your Excellency is very fond of wine?"

"Haha, my favorite thing to do after training is to drink a sip of good wine." Franz looked intoxicated. "It feels like a traveler who is almost dying of thirst in the desert suddenly drinks a sip of sweet spring water."

Luo Ning is not very interested in drinks such as alcohol, and his original plan to brew liquor has not yet been put on the agenda.

So, he discussed the wine culture of this world with Franz and learned about the other party's demand for wine.

Although there is wine and beer in this world, according to Franz, many knights will complain that the strength of the drinks is not enough after intense training and battles.

In view of the fact that knights have good spending power, if Roning brews liquor, it will definitely have a certain market.

Perhaps after Roning returns to the territory, he can call two winemakers to give it a try.

After a long conversation, the two became more familiar with each other, and Luo Ning raised some puzzling questions.

"It's not uncommon to find people who practice both fighting spirit and magic, but it's very rare to find someone like you who can practice fighting spirit and magic to the same level. Why don't you focus on one direction and improve its level as much as possible?"

Franz sighed helplessly after hearing this: "Compared to the disadvantages of a magician in close combat, I prefer the excitement of a knight winning with a sword. It's just that..."

He spread his hands and said, "This is my great-grandfather's request. He asked me to cultivate both fighting spirit and magic to level six first, and then focus on one of them according to my own preference."

Luo Ning was shocked.

Franz's great-grandfather was Magister Bellora. For such a person to make such a request to his grandson, there must be a basis and it must bring benefits.

"Is there any benefit in doing this?"

"I don't know the specific benefits, but my great-grandfather told me that when I am lucky enough to become a Prideful Knight or a Grand Mage in the future, I will gain a lot."

He did not hide it, because there were very few people in the world who could practice both magic and martial arts like him. Moreover, not everyone could persist in such a practice.

Luo Ning couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

This may be the confidence of a strong family. Bellora’s expectation for the younger generation is no longer gold or meteor, but to directly reach the ninth level.

Luo Ning even wondered if this legendary magician had already broken through and become a great magician without people knowing. This question was obviously not appropriate to ask.

"Lord Bellora is the top magician on the continent of Orlant. What he said must be correct."

Luo Ning's eyes flashed with reverence, "I wonder if I will have the chance to go to the Amethyst Earldom to pay him a visit?"

"Hahaha, the Silva family welcomes you to visit Crystal Territory anytime."

Franz welcomed him warmly, "However, my great-grandfather has not been seen for many years, so I can't guarantee whether you can see him or not."

Luo Ning understood this very well.

This kind of strong man who transcends the constraints of power does not need to give face to every noble. The other party came to Wushan Territory purely because he was attracted by the soul-devouring surge on Lu Lans.

"Count Ronin~"

A warm greeting came from a man Roning didn't recognize.

He responded politely, "Your Excellency?"

"This is the kingdom's finance minister, Viscount Luther Cox." Franz introduced with a smile, then raised his glass and ended his conversation with Ronin.

Cox, the man has the same last name as Missy Knight.

Considering that in the afternoon, Karada mentioned that someone would come to find Roning, could he be referring to the person in front of him?

"Are you Missy's father?"

Luther smiled and nodded: "Missy is very strong-willed. She is a girl but she always stays with men. She lacks the beauty that a girl should have."

Everyone can hear that this is a humble statement.

"Being heroic is also a kind of beauty."

This phrase caused Luther to laugh. "I have sent your championship reward to your residence and handed it to your two followers. I wonder if I could take up two minutes of your honorable Flame Knight. I would like to chat with you."

"Of course, it's my honor, Your Excellency."

"Don't call me that. I'm just a viscount. I'm still a long way from being a real noble!"

As they talked, they walked out of the hall and stopped by the exquisite pillars in the corridor outside.

Roning knew that the other party might be talking about Karada.

"I have a request, and I hope the Earl can agree to it," he said.

"Oh? Please go ahead."

Luther got straight to the point: "I saw you approach Karada alone this afternoon, so I boldly guessed that you wanted to recruit him."

“I like dealing with people who have potential.”

Roning smiled and said, "Although Karada comes from an ordinary family, I am very optimistic about him. I would be very happy if he could join my Wubei Territory."

"But I hope you can give up recruiting him."

Luther looked directly into Ronin's eyes, his expression very serious: "As a price for changing your mind, I will strive for cooperative projects for your territory, Wubei Territory, and give up some of the benefits within my authority."

The Minister of Finance is in charge of the kingdom's finances.

His words were definitely not empty talk. Luo Ning believed that since the other party said it, he would definitely do it.

No wonder, no wonder Karada, who has such great potential, is not needed by any nobles.

I am afraid that some small nobles would not dare to recruit him at all, while some big nobles would deal with Luther and would inevitably give him some face.

Under such circumstances, it would be very difficult for Karada to squeeze into the aristocratic circle.

"You may not know that even if I don't recruit him, he can join the Royal Knights once he becomes a Golden Knight."

"Perhaps."

Luther's tone was somewhat nonchalant: "Even if he joins the Royal Knights, it will still be very difficult for him to go from being a knight to becoming your Majesty's honorary knight."

It seems that the finance minister is determined to target Karada.

"May I know why you are targeting him so much?"

Luo Ning asked: "From my two contacts, there is nothing wrong with him."

"It's simple. I hate him."

Then Luther stated the reason why he hated it.

It turned out that Karada and Missy met at an exchange meeting between the Royal Knights Academy and the Niujiao Bay Super Academy and became friends.

Seeing that the two were gradually developing into lovers, Luther, as a father, chose to intervene.

In Luther's eyes, his daughter was very outstanding and she wanted to marry a true nobleman.

Karada, who was born in a commoner family, had to spend a lot of energy to acquire high-level fighting skills, and was not worthy of Missy at all.

Luther smiled slightly, but his smile was a little cruel: "But I want to tell him that this circle is not for everyone who wants to enter. Without connections and connections, it is not enough to rely on just a little strength."

Some people are born into an aristocratic circle and cannot understand how difficult it is for people outside the circle to break in.

"With Karada's talent, he has the potential to become a Meteor Knight." Roning defended him.

"Meteor Knight is indeed powerful, but he is only powerful alone."

Apparently, Luther is not afraid of Meteor Knight.

It’s not that he’s that strong, but I feel that even the Meteor Knights can’t fight against the nobles as a group.

"What if he can become a Knight of Silver Moon?"

Luo Ning smiled and asked, "A Silver Moon-level warrior doesn't need to be knighted. He is a noble being in his own right."

"Then I can only wish him the best."

Luther said, "But even if he is better than Crown Prince Garrett, he is only a Meteor Knight now. I don't think Karada will be better than the Crown Prince. Wait another ten or twenty years. By then, Missy will have been married."

Luo Ning reminded: "Offending a Silver Moon-level expert doesn't seem to be a good choice for the Cox family."

"Thank you for your reminder, Count Ronin, but this is only a theoretical possibility."

Luther still looked calm. "There are many people in this world with great potential and good qualifications, but how many of them can finally grow up? We can't always worry about this and that for what may happen in the future, right?"

"Besides, it's not that I didn't give him a chance. It's just that he couldn't even get into the noble circle in the past few years. How can he become an honorary knight at the age of 28?"

From Luther's perspective, I have to say that these words do make sense.

After all, there was no such thing as freedom of love and marriage in that era.

Of course, even in modern society on Earth, parents still pay attention to the social status of their children's marriage partners.

However, Roning did not think it was reasonable for Luther to use his status and power to cut off a person's future and career path.

"How about it?"

After saying so much, the Minister of Finance asked with a smile, "What do you think, Your Excellency?"

Luo Ning hesitated for a moment and said, "I wonder what cooperation projects you will provide to my Wubei leader?"

"There are many areas where the kingdom can cooperate with the nobles every year, such as food procurement, weapons supply, material supply, clothing, tools, etc. Even if a small part of a project is given to your Wubei Territory, it will be a huge profit for you and your territory."

This is true. Even if you subcontract, you can still make a lot of money.

However, Luther did not come up with a practical and executable plan, which was a bit like writing a blank check.

Luo Ning nodded slightly: "I'll consider it."

Luther raised his glass: "I believe you will make the right choice. After all, a considerable profit can bring more silver knights and gold knights to your territory."

The two men clinked their glasses, and then the Finance Minister turned around and reentered the meeting room to negotiate with his partners.

Looking at the back of the slightly plump man, Luo Ning shook the last sip of wine in the glass with a half-smile on his face.

He and the other party are standing in a different position, thinking from a different angle, have different ambitions for the future, and naturally have different ways of looking at problems.

Silver Knights and Gold Knights are easy to find, but Meteor Knights are difficult, especially those who are sincerely loyal to him.

If he still extends an olive branch to Karada now, it would undoubtedly be a timely help.

As for whether insisting on recruiting Karada would offend Finance Minister Luther, Roning didn't care much.

He is a feudal noble and the son-in-law of the future King, and his identity and status are higher than the other party.

The porcelain and silk in the future territory are all specialties of Wubei Territory. Even if the other party really interferes, the impact will not be significant.

What's more, compared with the several hostile forces in Wushan Territory, Luther is nothing.

Just as he was thinking about these questions, a burst of laughter interrupted his thoughts.

He couldn't help but turn his head, but saw a group of noble children gathered in a corner of the open-air square, constantly making laughing and mocking noises.

The person they surrounded was none other than Karada.

"interesting."

Luo Ning shook the red wine glass and walked over.

Not only him, many noble young men who liked to watch the fun also approached that direction.

"Look, everyone, look at this commoner who wants to become a noble!"

The person who was speaking was a little drunk, and his tone of mockery was extremely strong, "Look at his clothes, look at his demeanor, how dare he come to the princess's banquet?"

"And the way he ate just now!"

Another person walked to the long table in an exaggerated manner, cut a large piece of monster meat and stuffed it into his mouth, looking like he was wolfing it down, leaving the corners of his mouth and hands covered in grease.

"With the way you eat, have you never seen monster meat since you were a child?"

He cut another piece and threw it on the table, "Come on, come on, you have to eat enough tonight, hahaha~"

This remark also caused laughter from the onlookers.

Although Karada is stronger and more talented than them, he often feels more pleasure in laughing at such people.

Roning observed the other person.

Although Karada's clothes at this moment were not very gorgeous, they were still decent.

There was no oil on the corners of his mouth or on his hands, and it was obvious that he had never thought of eating the monster meat.

At this time, Karada just had a sullen face and frowned. Even though he was being pointed at and ridiculed, he did not rush up in anger to beat up the person who mocked him.

He knew that if he took action himself, he would be severely punished regardless of whether he was right or wrong.

Because commoners beating nobles is an infringement on the privileges and dignity of nobles! He did not want to send himself to prison on impulse.

At this time, one of the people who were mocking noticed that Ronin was also present, and hurried over: "Honorable Flame Knight, come and see your defeated opponent."

He smiled and said, "He doesn't deserve to be on the same field with you, let alone appear at the banquet tonight!"

Luo Ning didn't know this person and didn't know his identity.

But the other party used him to mock Karada, which made him very unhappy.

"It is His Majesty's intention to share the joy with the people."

Roning's appearance suddenly made things interesting.

Many people who had just laughed at Karada immediately shut their mouths.

The nobleman who originally wanted to borrow Luo Ning's power froze in his face. He didn't know how to respond to this.

Luo Ning came to the long table, cut off a piece of monster meat, and stuffed it into his mouth: "The meat is tender and delicious, and tastes good. I have never eaten such delicious food in my life. What kind of monster meat is this?"

"It's the meat of a level three anaconda."

Karada said: "I killed several of them myself in the Monster Mountain Range and ate them for half a month."

"Then you must be sick of this kind of meat."

"Yes, Lord Ronin."

Karada seemed to be recalling its taste, and couldn't help but say, "Perhaps the monster meat in the palace has a special method of preparation, but I really don't want to eat it."

After he finished speaking, the faces of the people who had just mocked Karada turned pale and blue.

They obviously did not expect that not only did Roning not join them in mocking the defeated opponent, but he even helped him to embarrass them.

But they didn't dare to mock and slander Roning as well.

With no other choice, he could only leave quickly and dejectedly.

Ronin said to Karada: "I think we can have a good talk."

"As you wish, sir!" (End of this chapter)