Chapter 54: Personal Guard Bureau

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Personal Guard Bureau

"Alright everyone, that’s all for today’s work. Go home and have a full meal tonight."

Vili held his hands down, signaling for the crowd to quiet down. "You’re all dismissed."

This time, the way the villagers looked at Vili had changed yet again.

The gratitude in their eyes had now turned to respect, mixed with a hint of fear.

Vili took it all in, knowing his [Reputation] Ability was at work. As Fandou Village continued to expand, the [Reputation] Ability would play an increasingly greater role.

A very old villager bowed deeply to Vili. Soon after, more and more villagers followed suit. Only after everyone had paid their respects did the crowd slowly disperse. Old Yor offered to drive Vili’s carriage home for him, but Vili declined, having spotted Vilia and Lake nearby.

"Vili, you’re such a kind person."

After the crowd dispersed, Vilia ran up to Vili, holding Wally in her arms.

"Perhaps..."

Vili rubbed his nose, neither confirming nor denying it.

Lake walked over to his side. "Vili, you’re going to be a fine Village Chief."

"Father, I’ll be leaving for Baron Kels’s Personal Guard Team in a few days. While I’m gone from Fandou Village, I’ll need you to manage its affairs. If you run into any trouble, you can ask Old Yor for help. He has enough sway in the village to handle things."

Vili had won over the hearts of the people, so he felt at ease leaving matters in Lake’s hands.

Fandou Village wasn’t very large at the moment. With Old Yor’s help, managing it wouldn’t be difficult.

"Don’t worry."

Lake clapped Vili on the shoulder. He felt a wave of emotion. In the blink of an eye, his son had grown so much—something he would have never dared to imagine before.

"Let’s go home."

Lake took the reins at the front of the carriage and urged it forward.

Vili and Vilia quickly jumped onto the carriage as well.

That evening in Fandou Village, the aroma of wheat drifted from every home without exception. The sound of laughter and cheerful chatter floated over the village.

「Four days later.」

「Diamond Town, beside Kels Manor. The Personal Guard Bureau.」

Dressed in a set of clean clothes, Vili walked into the Personal Guard Bureau.

The Personal Guard Bureau served as the office and training ground for Baron Kels’s Personal Guard Team. The guards took turns standing watch by the Baron’s side and spent their free time at the Bureau. Vili hadn’t been able to see his older brother, Sopps, at the Baron’s Manor earlier because Sopps had just joined the team and was undergoing training at the Bureau.

Most of the personnel at the Personal Guard Bureau were the Lord Baron’s Personal Guards, but there were also some clerks to handle the paperwork.

"Hello, I’m here to report for duty with the Personal Guard Team."

Vili walked up to the front desk of the Personal Guard Bureau and spoke to the young female clerk sitting there.

The young female clerk looked up at Vili and asked, "Please state your name."

Female clerks were a rare sight in Diamond Town, especially in a core institution like the Personal Guard Bureau. Any woman working here came from an exceptional background—they were either relatives of those in the Baron’s inner circle or daughters of major merchants with close ties to the town.

"Vili Ferren."

Vili stated his name.

"Vili Ferren?!"

The female clerk seemed extremely surprised after hearing Vili’s name.

She quickly stood up, a smile spreading across her face. "Master Olay has been waiting for you. Please, follow me."

A few days prior, Master Olay had come to the front desk personally. He instructed her to immediately bring a young man named Vili to his office the moment he arrived. The clerk had been shocked; she had never seen Olay treat any visitor with such importance, so she had made a mental note of it.

Then, just two days ago, the Baron’s heir, Bamos, had stopped by the Personal Guard Bureau to ask if Vili had arrived yet. This left an even deeper impression of Vili on the clerk. She had made some inquiries through her family and discovered that this Vili was a newcomer favored by the Lord Baron himself, as well as Master Olay’s new student.

With a status like that, one could do practically anything they wanted in Diamond Town.

"Thank you."

Vili followed closely behind the female clerk.

As the female clerk walked, she glanced at Vili out of the corner of her eye. She hadn’t expected Vili to be so young, nor had she expected someone with his status to be so composed and polite.

The female clerk led Vili to the fourth floor of the Personal Guard Bureau’s office area, taking him to the very end of the hallway.

"Master Olay, Mr. Vili has arrived."

The female clerk knocked lightly on the door and announced softly from outside.

"Let him in!"

Olay’s voice came from inside the room.

Vili gave the female clerk a thankful glance, pushed the door open, and walked in.

Olay was sitting at his desk, dressed in a suit of Light Armor.

His room was spacious. In addition to bookshelves and a variety of potted flowers and plants, one wall was covered with an array of decorative melee weapons.

"Teacher."

Vili gave Olay a slight bow.

The relationship between a teacher and a student wasn’t merely about passing on knowledge; it involved a much deeper connection.

"You’re finally here. How are things? Is everything in Fandou Village settled?"

Olay asked with a smile. He had his own village as well, so he knew that managing one was no simple task.

"Everything in Fandou Village is taken care of. It’s all running smoothly now."

There wasn’t a trace of arrogance in Vili’s tone.

Olay laughed heartily. If anyone else had claimed to have sorted out a village in just a few days, he would have thought they were boasting. But coming from Vili, he believed it without a doubt.

"The Lord Baron has said that even though you’re a Personal Guard, you can opt out of guard duty at the manor for now. You need to focus your energy on your studies."

Olay understood the Lord Baron’s intentions perfectly. ’He’s building a core team for his successor, Bamos. An excellent Lord needs to have capable subordinates to follow him.’

Vili nodded. "I will work hard."

"And by studies, I don’t just mean combat training. It also includes academic lessons."

Olay asked with a smile, "Vili, can you read?"

Vili shook his head, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

’In this world, only nobles and wealthy merchants could afford an academic education. As an ordinary boy from the countryside, how could he possibly know how to read? But from the sound of it, Olay was planning to help him overcome this weakness.’

This was great news for Vili. Leaving aside the content of the lessons, simply being able to read would be incredibly convenient. Once he was literate, he could read books to understand the world on a deeper level, learning about things he previously had no access to.