Chapter 44: Saw Through It
“Grandfather, you called for ?”
Monica brought two books with her as she approached Marquis Visen.
She behaved as though she had suddenly developed obsessive tendencies, repeatedly adjusting and aligning the two books, trying to make the upper biography perfectly overlap with the one beneath.
Marquis Visen glanced at Monica. Although he found her actions sowhat odd, he did not dwell on it. “I heard you’ve been visiting Yam Soderbell quite frequently lately.”
“Yes.” Monica suddenly stiffened, and her right hand shielded the spine of the second book, revealing only the words “Knight.”
“How is his condition?”
Monica was a little puzzled as to why her grandfather was showing such interest in Yam. Though she did not understand, she still replied, “The physician examined him. His internal organs suffered a slight displacent, which will require so ti of quiet recuperation to heal. As for his other injuries, they are not much of a concern, most of them have already healed.”
“So that ans he can’t practice Battle Arts for now?”
“That’s right.” Monica nodded. “So recently he asked to bring him so books... ones about bloodline knowledge or Battle Arts.”
Marquis Visen nodded and said nothing more.
Books on Battle Arts generally refer to those that introduce and categorize the art of Battle Arts.
Most of the ti, they introduce and distinguish between various well-known techniques, including so widely known fundantals. However, they rarely cover any specific training content.
In truth, even these general “educational” materials were mostly inaccessible to ordinary Bloodline Users.
The reason Giggs had no understanding of the difference between High-tier Battle Arts and Mid-tier Battle Arts was precisely because the Bole Family did not possess any books on such subjects.
“You may let him read books about Battle Arts, but not those concerning bloodline knowledge.”
“Yes.” Hearing Marquis Visen’s order, Monica didn’t argue.
In fact, this was the standard practice.
The Bloodline Nobles were regarded as nobility largely due to their accumulated and preserved knowledge on bloodlines.
Although the core archives of the Kasein Family were kept at the castle in Eaglehead Territory, two carts of books had been brought to Red River City during the relocation, including many volus on bloodline knowledge.
Marquis Visen’s intention was to ensure that the relocated mbers of the Kasein Family could grasp the basic foundational knowledge.
This batch of materials primarily covered first to third-tier bloodline knowledge and classifications, with a focus on the Red Eagle Territory.
So portions touched on the Fertile Territory and Cold Ridge Territory. The content was very basic, making it especially suitable for newly established families with no foundation, like the Soderbell Family.
Previously, when Monica heard Yam’s request, she had indeed considered lending him these books. But now that her grandfather had spoken, Monica absolutely dared not let Yam read any of this foundational material.
“What are your thoughts on the two brothers, Yam and Akar?”
“Akar is rather simple-minded and reckless. His actions are easy to predict and manipulate. But when he is with Yam, he becos hard to influence.” Monica thought for a mont before continuing slowly, “Yam, on the other hand, is a man of strong conviction. He is capable and upright... that much was evident in his duel with Andre. From what I’ve observed and tested, his bloodline aptitude should be quite high, but he rarely ntions or boasts about it. I believe this humility stems from his noble character.”
Marquis Visen nodded slightly. After a brief silence, he asked, “If we were to recruit Yam Soderbell to serve us, how should we go about it?”
“Marriage.” Monica answered without hesitation. “He is righteous and humble. Just as the rumors around the city say, he embodies all the virtues a knight should possess. If we wish for him to serve the Kasein Family, then the only thod is marriage.”
“You’ve taken a liking to him?” Marquis Visen didn’t comnt on Monica’s proposal. Instead, he posed a question that caught her off guard.
“I...”
“Keep your distance from him!” Marquis Visen spoke with a cold tone.
“Yes.” Monica was startled. She suddenly realized her grandfather was truly angry, and she quickly lowered her head.
Indeed, she did have so admiration for Yam Soderbell.
After all, he was one of the top three most outstanding n she had ever co into contact with, the other two were from the Senels Family.
But Monica understood clearly. Viscount Agley would never allow his two most promising sons to marry into the Kasein Family.
Even if she were willing to renounce her position as heir of the Kasein Family to marry into the Senels Family, Viscount Agley and her grandfather would never agree.
Therefore, her only remaining candidate was Yam Soderbell.
“He is already engaged.” Marquis Visen, realizing his tone might have been too harsh, softened it slightly. “Baron Ster has already betrothed his daughter, Lily Bole, to him.”
“I understand.” Monica nodded.
“You may go now.”
“Yes.”
Monica said nothing more and quickly stood up to leave.
Marquis Visen stared at Monica’s sowhat desolate departing figure, and his gaze gradually darkened.
Monts later, Wade Kasein pushed the door open and entered.
Looking at his third son, Marquis Visen no longer wore the kind expression he had when facing Monica. He imdiately spoke in a low voice, “Did you find anything?”
“Arsens indeed discovered a secret tunnel a few kiloters away from where Burton died.” Wade nodded. “According to the information we’ve gathered, the tunnel had been heavily concealed with various disguises. If not for the unusual incident in the Withered Wood Forest revealing the entrance, it might have remained hidden for centuries... However, due to the passage of ti, the tunnel has not only beco a Magical Beast Lair but also collapsed.”
“Then find a way to clear out those magical beasts and excavate the tunnel for !”
“Arsens is already working on it, but the commotion has disturbed many magical beasts in the Withered Wood Forest. Even Fourth-Tier beasts have started to appear now. Arsens is under a lot of pressure, so he needs reinforcents.”
“Send Tyrot there personally!” Marquis Visen said coldly. “Tell him he must have that tunnel fully excavated within half a month! I want to know what lies beneath it by then! I can’t keep the lords of the Marquisate here indefinitely.”
“I understand.” Wade nodded quickly.
“And have people closely monitor Red Soil Territory. Don’t let them catch wind of our actions.” Marquis Visen paused to think, then added, “That old man really thinks that just because he’s backed by the royal family, I wouldn’t dare move against him.”
“Father, what about the people of the Senels Family?”
“No need to concern ourselves with them. Do you think the Senels have enough resources to let Agley challenge the Sixth-Tier for no reason?” Marquis Visen sneered. “They’re even more eager than us to see the Bourbon Family completely wiped out.”
...
“Father.”
At that mont, in another wing of the Marquis’s Estate, in the room where Viscount Agley Senels resided, a young man pushed open the door.
His expression was uncharacteristically stern, unlike his usual relaxed deanor.
“Seems the news you’ve heard isn’t too pleasant.” However, Viscount Agley still wore a bright smile, unaffected by the grave look on his second son’s face. He rely put down the book he was reading and nodded, “Go on.”
“Yam Soderbell’s father, Ion Soderbell’s bloodline, is indeed the Fla Hound. This was personally confird by Baron Ster.” The young man, Wilk, said in a low voice. “And Yam Soderbell publicly claims that his own bloodline is also the Fla Hound. As for Akar Soderbell, his bloodline is the Fla Sparrow.”
“Heh.” Viscount Agley chuckled and shook his head. “Looks like their family really did lose its inheritance. They don’t even understand the basics of bloodline identification.”
“The Fla Hound bloodline manifests as Blood Fla. At the First-Tier, the fla engulfs the upper body and burns everything except specialized Rare Iron gear. Its colors are primarily red, black, and blue, with occasional orange and violet. The hues are dim and unstable. At the Second-Tier, the flas cease to burn outward, but the colors remain the sa.”
Viscount Agley smiled. “But in that duel, did you see the color of the flas on Yam?”
“Bright orange-yellow.”
“Exactly.” Viscount Agley nodded. “That is the Fla Demon Hound bloodline, whose manifestation is Fla Stream. It’s said that only the purest direct descendants of the Bourbon Family can awaken this bloodline. It is the prerequisite for ascending to the Raging Fla Lion. The Fla Hound, put plainly, only its king can be called the Fla Demon Hound, the rest are rely subordinates.”
“So the Soderbell Family is...”
“Most likely.” Viscount Agley nodded. “Both Marquis Visen and I misjudged them... But knowing how cautious Visen is, he’ll definitely probe them one more ti. Only after he confirms that the Soderbell Family is truly a lost branch of the Bourbon Family will he take action.”
“I heard from Baron Ster that Marquis Visen gave Yam a battle art codex for Fla Stream Strike.”
“Hahaha.” Viscount Agley burst into laughter. “Fla Stream Strike is the precursor to the Bourbon Family’s inherited battle art, Raging Fla Core. Fla Stream Strike can bring Bourbon Family mbers up to the Fourth-Tier, after which they begin learning Raging Fla Core for the Fifth-Tier. According to rumors, only descendants of the Bourbon Family can learn Fla Stream Strike. So even if we were mistaken about Yam’s bloodline, if he manages to master Fla Stream Strike, then he must be of Bourbon descent!”
“But why didn’t Baron Ster stop or warn him?”
“The Bourbon Family has been extinct for a hundred years. When the royal family struck, they destroyed many records and tos. Aside from Marquis Visen and , probably only the Southern Duke and mbers of the royal family still know about the Fla Demon Hound bloodline.” Viscount Agley shook his head, his tone somber. “I don’t know what exactly Marquis Visen is plotting, but the fact that he’s keeping all of us lords at his estate and probing Yam’s bloodline ans it’s definitely related to the Bourbon Family.”
“Should we take any action?”
“No need.” Viscount Agley shook his head. “Whatever Marquis Visen plans to do, we just need to cooperate, or even pretend we know nothing. Right now is a critical period for the Senels Family. I don’t want to beco a target of the Ape King.”
“Is Marquis Visen really that dangerous?”
“For Bloodline Nobles like us, once our strength reaches a certain level, we act with so restraint, we still care about appearances. Often, we pretend not to see certain things to maintain a façade of propriety.” Viscount Agley said slowly, “But Visen Kasein... he doesn’t care.”
“The Viscount of Red Soil suffered heavy losses when he aided Marquis Visen in attacking Red River Territory. Marquis Visen not only failed to compensate him but also accepted the defection of the Baron of White Mountain Territory. The Viscount feels humiliated, which is why he didn’t attend Marquis Visen’s so-called banquet this ti... He’s relying on the Tyrella Kingdom’s royal family backing him and sees himself as an ally in the sa faction as Marquis Visen, so he’s expressing his dissatisfaction.”
“But just wait and see.”
“Once Marquis Visen finishes handling his current affairs, the entire family of the Viscount of Red Soil won’t be able to escape.”
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