Chapter 161 : Chapter 161

Chapter 161. Stars of the Western Frontier

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍leaving Thorne Cathedral, Eli returned straight to La Roche Fortress.

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reported Bishop Tim’s hint about being “an old man who could no longer lift a sword” to Lucius exactly as it had been said.

To ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Eli’s surprise, after listening to his report, Lucius did not show any solemnity or concern.

“Mm, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I understand.” Lucius nodded.

“You ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do not need to pay too much attention to the Church for now. Bishop Tim is a clever man, and he knows his limits. You did well.”

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍waved his hand and lightly passed over the topic.

“Now, prepare properly for tomorrow’s engagement ceremony.

This is not only your private matter. It also concerns the dignity of the Western Frontier. Most of the Western Frontier’s nobles of status will be present then, so there must not be any mistakes.”

Although Eli still had a trace of doubt in his heart about Lucius’s strange reaction, he nodded and accepted the instruction.

“Yes, Lord Lucius. I understand.”

After leaving Lucius’s study and returning to his own room, Eli clearly felt that the atmosphere inside the fortress was different from usual.

In the corridors, servants carrying all kinds of gorgeous fabrics, silver tableware, fresh bouquets, and decorations moved back and forth.

Clearly, they were making the final preparations for tomorrow’s grand ceremony.

Looking at this busy scene, Eli took a deep breath.

He slowly walked back to his room and closed the door, cutting off the noise outside.

Leaning against the door panel, he closed his eyes and rested for a moment, yet the figures of Lynn and Irene involuntarily appeared in his mind.

The two women were completely different, but both had left marks on his life in different ways.

He slowly opened his eyes. A trace of complexity flashed through them, but in the end, it turned into a kind of determination.

All the restraints of his previous life had long since vanished like smoke and clouds. He decided that he wanted them all.

Once this thought became clear, his heart instead felt suddenly open, and the slight hesitation he had felt before disappeared entirely.

……

The next day, before dawn had even broken, Eli had already risen.

With the servants’ help, he put on the formal attire he had worn at the meeting in Thorne Cathedral.

This was a set of exquisite clothing with deep black as its main color. It was tailored perfectly and made from fine materials, outlining his tall, slender figure.

What drew the most attention were the pauldrons on both shoulders, which had been ingeniously shaped into dragon claws gripping tightly.

Behind him, a thick dark-blue cloak, its color like a midnight sea, naturally extended from the dragon-claw pauldrons and fell to his ankles.

After dressing properly, he was led by a butler to the largest main banquet hall in La Roche Fortress.

Ever since Duke Federico of the Western Frontier had been stationed in the royal capital for a long time, this place had been silent for a long while.

But at this moment, the enormous crystal chandeliers illuminated the entire hall as though it were daytime.

The mirror-smooth floor reflected the shifting figures, and long dining tables were covered with snow-white tablecloths.

Shining silver tableware and exquisite porcelain plates had already been arranged on them.

Quite a few nobles in formal attire had already taken their seats in the hall. The men wore splendid formal clothing bearing their respective family crests and spoke with one another in low voices.

The noblewomen glittered with jewels, their skirts drifting as they formed a flowing landscape.

Eli swept his gaze over them, identifying the various family crests…

It seemed that more than half of the Western Frontier’s nobles had gradually gathered in this capital of the Western Frontier because of his engagement ceremony with Lynn,

as well as the recovery campaign that would immediately follow.

At that moment, a young boy dressed in an exquisite little formal suit noticed Eli’s figure.

His eyes lit up. He immediately freed himself from the care of the attendants beside him and trotted toward Eli.

“Baron Eli!” Young Duke Constantine La Roche ran up to Eli, his face carrying unconcealed excitement and a trace of complaint.

“I have finally met you, such a busy man! I looked for you several times, but you were never in the fortress.”

A gentle smile appeared on Eli’s face, and he bowed slightly. “Good day, Young Duke. It has been a long time. Have you continued practicing archery recently?”

Constantine was just about to answer when an old butler with an anxious expression had already hurried over.

“My Young Duke, the ceremony is about to begin. You need to meet the noble lords who have arrived first. This is necessary etiquette.”

Constantine pouted somewhat reluctantly, but he still knew what mattered.

Eli spoke at the right moment to help him out. “It is all right, Young Duke. We have plenty of time. We can talk later. Proper business comes first.”

Only then did Constantine nod and obediently leave with the old butler.

After that, a properly dressed servant came to Eli’s side.

He respectfully led Eli through the noisy side corridor of the hall and brought him to a lounge behind the banquet hall.

When the ornate door was pushed open, the scene inside made Eli’s steps pause slightly.

The room was extremely luxurious. The carpet was soft and thick, and valuable oil paintings hung on the walls.

But what drew even more attention were the people inside the room.

Lucius was sitting in the main seat, his posture relaxed.

And gathered around him were the very few people at the peak of the Western Frontier—the four marquesses: Claire, Kola, Winterbourne, and Hohenzollern.

In addition, there were Count Quintus, Count Ponchi, and more than a dozen other powerful counts who carried great weight in the Western Frontier.

They seemed to be chatting casually, and hearty or reserved laughter broke out from time to time.

The atmosphere looked harmonious, but an invisible field of power filled the entire room.

Here, the true highest core of power in the Western Frontier had gathered.

Eli’s appearance interrupted their conversation and laughter.

The sound of the door opening drew everyone’s gaze.

More than a dozen lines of sight, some scrutinizing, some curious, and some appreciative, all fell at once on today’s main character standing at the door.

Count Quintus and Marquess Marcus were the most familiar with Eli, and they were the first to speak warmly, breaking the brief silence.

“Hahaha, come, come. Our great hero, young Eli, hurry over!” Marquess Marcus beckoned with a laugh, his voice resonant.

Count Quintus also smiled as he looked Eli over and praised him. “Baron Eli, you look very handsome today! Far cooler than us old fellows. Hahaha.”

As soon as he said this, a wave of agreeing laughter instantly rang through the room, and the atmosphere relaxed again.

But being watched simultaneously by these dozen or so top figures of the Western Frontier, even with Eli’s current temperament, he still could not help feeling an invisible pressure. His heart sped up slightly, and he inevitably felt a little nervous.

For a moment, it made him vaguely recall the awkward feeling from his previous life when he had been watched by an entire crowd of relatives during New Year.

Lucius waved to him at just the right time.

Eli steadied himself, quickly crossed the room, and stood beside Lucius.

Lucius first swept his gaze around the nobles present, then began introducing them to Eli one by one.

He first pointed at a middle-aged man with a relaxed expression, whose formal attire was embroidered with the image of a galloping horse.

“This is Marquess Frey Claire.”

Eli immediately bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Marquess Claire.

I have long heard that the fine horses raised by the Claire Family are extraordinary and unmatched in the kingdom. They are steeds that knights like myself dream of owning in this lifetime.”

A trace of surprise appeared on Marquess Claire’s face, then turned into a satisfied smile.

He smiled and extended his hand toward Eli. “A hero deserves a fine horse. This is Claire’s honor.”

The Claire Family had been rooted in the eastern plains of the Western Frontier for generations. Most of their fiefs bordered the Royal Domain, and they were renowned throughout the Kingdom of Orlando for raising superb horses.

The steeds they raised not only possessed excellent speed and endurance, but were also highly intelligent.

Silver bells were often tied to their manes, and when they ran, the ringing of the bells was clear and bright. The family’s titled knights also bore the fine reputation of the “Silver-Bell Knights.”

Their family crest was “silver bells around a horse’s head,” and their family motto was “Ride for righteousness, halt disorder.”

If a caravan in the Western Frontier saw silver bells flashing in a horse’s mane, they knew that a Claire patrol was passing.

This family never plundered merchants. Instead, they guided those who had lost their way, so there was also a saying in the Western Frontier: “See silver bells, and find guidance.”

Eli calmly extended his hand and shook Marquess Claire’s, feeling the strength and warmth of his palm.

Lucius then pointed at another man.

This marquess looked somewhat older, with a cold and stern face. He did not smile, and he wore dark formal attire. His family crest was a steep mountain peak.

“This is Marquess Karl Kola.”

Eli bowed again, his tone remaining respectful.

“Marquess Kola, when I was in the Royal Domain, I had already heard of the Kola Family’s loyalty and valor. I have long admired you.”

Marquess Kola merely nodded slightly and produced a brief sound from his nose. “Hello.”

That counted as a greeting. His attitude was cold, but there was no ill will. Clearly, this was simply his nature.

The Kola Family guarded the Dragonbreath Mountains in the northeastern part of the Western Frontier, bordering the Northern Frontier.

For generations, they had protected Frostwind Pass, the only narrow pass leading to the northern lands. It was said that their family fortress, Icicle Fortress, was built at the summit of a mountain.

Their family style was tough and fierce, and they were known for loyalty and their skill at defense.

Next was an elderly man with a kind face and gentle eyes. His family crest was a stream winding around wheat ears.

“This is Marquess Mellon Winterbourne.”

Eli’s face showed a fitting trace of gratitude as he bowed. “Marquess Winterbourne.

During the early days of my pioneering in the Western Frontier, much of the grain I purchased came from the Winterbourne Family. I have always wished to thank you in person.”

The Winterbourne Family lived in Clearstream Valley in the southeastern part of the Western Frontier. Most of their territory bordered the Southern Frontier, and they were the Western Frontier’s true “grain bag.”

Their family motto was: “Moisten the soil, feed the people.” Their family members were mostly gentle and intelligent, skilled in farming and herbalism.

Although they were not skilled in warfare, they silently supported the entire Western Frontier’s foundation for survival with their abundant products.

When Marquess Winterbourne heard this, the wrinkles on his face relaxed, and he let out a hearty laugh.

“Good, good! As long as it was of help!”

He smiled and looked toward the others around him, teasing them.

“Everyone, I think you should stop making things difficult for our little hero.

Look at him. His whole mind is thinking about how to search his memory for words to flatter you all. I fear he could not even eat breakfast in peace.”

Marquess Winterbourne was highly respected. As soon as he said this, another wave of friendly laughter instantly rang out.

“Haha, old marquess, please do not. It has only just reached our turn. I was still waiting to hear how Baron Eli would praise our Frank wine!”

A slightly plump count with a ruddy complexion laughed and protested.

Eli secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Marquess Winterbourne with gratitude.

He had indeed almost wrung his brain dry. Greeting these great nobles with deep foundations was truly no easy task.

A trace of amusement also flashed through Lucius’s eyes. He no longer made things difficult for him and directly introduced the remaining dozen or so counts in one go.

Although these counts were slightly lower in status than the marquesses, they were likewise indispensable pillars within the structure of the Western Frontier, controlling large amounts of land and troops.

Eli bowed respectfully to all of them at once. “Eli Pendragon greets you, my lords.”

Everyone responded with smiles, and the scrutiny in their gazes gradually turned into recognition and acceptance.

They knew very well that the young man before them was not standing here only because of the merit he had earned in a battle and his marriage alliance with the La Roche Family.

The potential he himself had displayed, as well as that steadiness inconsistent with his age, were enough for him to truly step into the Western Frontier’s core circle.