Chapter 218 - 198: Going Out to Sea

Chapter 218: Chapter 198: Going Out to Sea

Vili met with Budar after the New Year’s banquet.

Inside the newly renovated study, Vili sat at his desk while Budar stood before him.

"Did the route scouting go smoothly?"

Vili laced his fingers together, his gaze calm and his voice deep.

"Everything went very smoothly. All the routes you marked have been scouted, and I’ve recorded detailed information about everything we found along the way."

Budar bowed, his tone deeply humble.

With that, Budar placed a thick notebook in front of Vili.

Vili flipped open the notebook and skimmed through a few pages.

It contained detailed records of the conditions along each route.

With this, Vili now had a good understanding of the area surrounding their destination.

"Very good."

’The notebook really shows that Budar put his heart into this.’

"We set sail again in half a month."

Vili closed the notebook, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

’It seems I’ll soon be able to uncover the secrets of the Cold Lion Duchy’s royal legacy.’

Vili was determined to participate in this treasure hunt personally. He had been in White Bear Town for too long, and it had been ages since he had earned a new title. By going himself, he could both command the expedition and perhaps gain some new titles along the way.

"Set sail again?"

Budar was taken aback.

’And Vili had said "we".’

’Baron Vili was actually going to set sail himself.’

"Yes, Lord Baron. I will make the preparations for the voyage and get the men ready in advance."

Budar nodded at Vili.

Vili thought for another moment, then waved his hand. "Go on back. It’s the New Year. Spend some more time with your family."

"Thank you, Lord Baron."

Budar bowed his head, then turned and left the room.

Vili walked to the window, gazing out at the night.

’The royal legacy of the Cold Lion Duchy...’

Previously, Vili had chosen not to explore it immediately because White Bear Town hadn’t been strong enough.

But things were different now. White Bear Town had quite a few powerful Transcendents.

Vili had already planned out who would be going on the trip.

Vili himself, Colson and his Speaker, Benduin, and Budar with a few of his Junior Knight subordinates.

As for Wally, he would need to stay behind and ensure the safety of White Bear Town.

Even though the group of Transcendents he planned to take was numerous and powerful, Vili wasn’t certain of success.

This was the legacy of a duchy’s Royal Family, after all. No one knew what kind of terrifying traps might lie within.

Furthermore, Vili had no way of knowing whether other royal descendants had already claimed the legacy.

Still, faced with such a temptation, Vili felt he had to at least try.

’I hope everything goes smoothly...’

Vili’s eyes narrowed slightly.

SLAM!

Suddenly, the door to Vili’s study was thrown open without warning.

"Vili, are you still working on New Year’s?"

It was Vilia who burst in. Only she dared to be so brazen before the Lord Baron.

Vilia sidled up to Vili and tilted her head. "You have to take care of yourself."

Vili rested a hand on Vilia’s head, the corner of his mouth curving up. "Alright, out with it. What do you want this time?"

Vili knew Vilia all too well. Whenever she acted so thoughtful, she was definitely about to ask for something.

"Umm..."

Sure enough, Vilia lowered her head, clasped her hands behind her back, and shifted shyly. "In a couple of days, Shadie Town is holding a festival to celebrate after the New Year, and I want to go with Lilien..."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced up to gauge Vili’s expression.

Vili raised an eyebrow at her words. ’I didn’t expect this Lilien to be so capable,’ he thought. ’It seems she’s already built a good friendship with everyone in the Ferren Family.’

"Well..."

Vili walked over to his chair, leaned his whole body back into the large, soft seat, and propped his legs up on the desk.

Vili never restricted Vilia’s freedom within White Bear Town, because her safety could be fully guaranteed there.

But if she wanted to leave White Bear Town, Vilia first had to get Vili’s permission.

"I haven’t left White Bear Town in so long. It’s so boring here I could die..."

Vilia took the hint, followed him to his side, and began to lightly pound on his legs with her small, clenched fists, her eyes full of pleading.

Vili chuckled softly. After a long, feigned hesitation, he reluctantly agreed. "Alright, I’ll allow you to go to Shadie Town. But you can only stay for two days at most, and Wally must accompany you."

He had to be serious about Vilia’s safety.

"Thank you, Vili!"

Vilia stopped her diligent work, leaned close to Vili’s face, and puckered her lips.

Just as Vilia was about to kiss Vili, he suddenly reached out and pinched her puckered lips. "I have no interest in your kiss of false flattery."

After he spoke, Vili even put on a look of disgust.

"Vili!"

Vilia struggled to escape from Vili’s clutches, her lips stinging.

Vilia shook her fist, preparing to retaliate, but after a moment’s hesitation, she gave up. If she provoked Vili into taking back his promise, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Vilia lowered her fist, huffed, and turned to walk toward the door.

However, just as she was about to walk out the door, Vilia seemed to remember something and turned back.

"Vili, I’ve started having that dream about the sky full of stars again."

Vilia said to Vili, her voice tinged with worry.

Vilia’s starlight dream had ended after lasting for half a month, but in the last couple of days, she found herself having it again.

Moreover, the dream was more vivid and realistic this time. Sometimes, she knew she was dreaming but just couldn’t wake up.

"I always feel like I can control the starlight in my dream, but whenever I reach out to grab it, the lights just flee from my grasp."

Her voice was heavy with concern as she said this.

Vili frowned slightly but still tried to comfort Vilia. "Everyone has some strange dreams at your age, so it’s nothing unusual or worth worrying about... However, I do suggest that the next time you dream of that scene, you try to put more effort into grabbing a piece of starlight. Something unexpected might happen..."

"Are you sure?"

Vilia looked at Vili doubtfully.

Vili just shrugged, offering no reply.

"Alright..."

Seeing Vili’s reaction, Vilia knew he didn’t have any good ideas for how to get her out of the recurring dream either.

She turned, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked to the doorway.

"Good night, Vili."

Vilia waved to Vili.

"Good night."

Vili smiled and waved back at Vilia.

’Star Speaker...’

Watching the empty doorway where Vilia had disappeared, Vili’s expression grew thoughtful.

’Based on what Vilia said, she seems very close to truly mastering the abilities of a Star Speaker.’

But Vili didn’t know much about this class of Extraordinary Secret Master.

’I can only hope Vilia grows up quickly. She might even become a great asset to White Bear Town in the future...’

His eyes held a trace of expectation.

...

The joys of the New Year were fleeting.

Over the next half a month, Vili spent more time with his family and paid far less attention to matters of governance.

During this period, Vili and the Ferren Family made a special trip back to Fandou Village, bringing New Year’s gifts for the original villagers.

When the villagers of Fandou Village saw their Lord Village Chief return, now a Baron, they were ecstatic.

What they had gained from Vili was far more than the empty title of living in a Baron’s village.

Ever since Fandou Village had been incorporated into White Bear Town, the White Bear Town Hall had enacted many favorable policies for it.

The village received significant help and support, both in terms of taxation and agricultural technology.

This caused the standard of living in Fandou Village to improve severalfold. The people of Fandou Village, who initially couldn’t even afford to eat, had long become the envy of other villages and hamlets. Many outsiders wanted to marry their daughters into Fandou Village to enjoy a better material life.

Initially, the new Village Chief, Old Yor, was very satisfied with this. The growth in the village’s population was a welcome development for him.

But as time went on, Old Yor discovered that more and more outsiders wanted to pour into Fandou Village, so he immediately put a stop to it. From that point on, anyone who wanted to become a resident of Fandou Village, by any means, had to be personally approved by the Village Chief himself.

It was with this method that Old Yor managed to curb the frantic influx of outsiders into Fandou Village.

When they returned from Fandou Village, Mrs. Shaven made sure to bring back some coarse grains.

Having enjoyed a life of wealth and luxury for so long, Mrs. Shaven had grown nostalgic for the food of the past.

Because of this, after returning to White Bear Town, Vili once again experienced a few days of the simple food he remembered from when he had just transmigrated.

However, these leisurely days did not last long. According to Vili’s plan, it was time to put the voyage to the distant seas to find the Cold Lion Duchy’s lost treasure on the agenda.

「The twentieth day after the New Year.」

Six large ships were docked at the coast of White Bear Town.

Vili, dressed in a simple seafaring uniform, boarded one of the ships with Colson, Benduin, and Budar following behind him.

"Lord Baron, the men and the supplies for the journey have all been prepared."

Budar reported to Vili after inspecting the ships that were ready to depart.

The experienced Pirate Leader was thoroughly familiar with the affairs of a long voyage.

"Very good."

Vili nodded.

He looked toward the dazzling morning sun in the distance and the sparkling surface of the sea, then commanded in a loud voice, "Prepare to set sail!"

And just like that, as the great ships began to move, Baron Vili’s next ocean voyage had begun.