Chapter 127: Xu Luoyang

*Ding. You received a mandatory quest from the King.

Description: King Mirella wants you to go to town and catch the culprit who was stealing all the grains from Herven town's storage within 2 days.

Reward: Unlocking the Nobility badge upgrade.

Failure: Favorability with King drops by 5

"Such a simple quest... Is it because now that I'm her younger brother, she wants to make it easy for me?"

Wil bowed, "I'll leave right away and get the job done, your majesty."

15 minutes later;

"That's what I thought but what kind of situation is this…" mumbled Wil as he stared at the empty storage room where not even a single grain of rice left while the town's Mayor, guards, and officials were standing behind him in silence.

The town mayor then spoke, "this was the third time we have been robbed. We increased the guards but still, that thief stole them. What strange is that every time, the grains will disappear as if they don't exist at all."

Glancing at the room once again, Wil frowned, "Hmm, it wasn't the work of any normal NPC thief… It's common sense that a few grains will be left on the floor. Most likely a player is behind it. But, what can even do with those grains…

Another issue is, can a player enter this place without being seen by the guards even if it's night? Hmm, It might be possible with a teleportation skill.

But, the problem here is no matter what kind it is, the teleportation skill doesn't work unless it is the place, the person visited or at least see with naked eyes from a distance…

And the only one that's allowed into the storage room is the Mayor and the guards. It might also be possible that one of the guards is a partner."

Turning around, Wil glanced at the guards, who flinched upon seeing his cold expression, and then asked the mayor, "Viscount Garrat, I want to know the details about the first robbery. Who were the guards at that time?"

As two guards with their shivering legs in fear stepped forward, the mayor replied to clear his misunderstanding, "It happened around a week ago, right around the dusk. But, these two were awake at the same time. We have witnesses to prove they are innocent…"

Ignoring him, Wil then looked at the two of them and asked, "Which one of you worked as a guard for adventurers?"

While the rest of them were taken aback upon hearing an unexpected question, the two guards shook their heads, "No, your highness. We've never worked with any adventurers."

"Hmm, either one of them must be lying to save themselves or… Wait a second, around dusk... Don't tell me it's the work of…"

Wil turned towards the ventilation where the light is passing through it. It was a traditional one with grills that has enough space for a common garden rat to enter.

"No doubt about it," nodded Wil speaking to himself. 

Upon hearing the words, as the mayor opened his mouth, "Your highness…" Wil interrupted him, "Viscount Garrat, do you have any batch of grains available? Pour it into the middle of the storage room and stay outside as usual." 

The mayor nodded, "yes." 

After following his orders, as the Mayor went away while the guards and Wil stood outside, meanwhile, a palm-sized Strix quietly waited in the dark corner of the room.

He waited patiently until the evening for the little rat-like creature to enter through the ventilation while Wil kept his eye on the spot, standing outside with the guards.

Finally, after getting the message from Strix, a smile appeared on Wil, "as I thought," and mumbled, "Gravity Suppression."

*peep*

Ignoring the kneeling guards, Wil quickly opened the door and saw a creature that has an appearance of a rat but with a kangaroo-like pouch on its belly, collapsed on the floor.

Sniffler

Grade: Elite

Level: 120

Hp: 2 million

Attack: 1

Defense: 1

Description: A greedy creature that has the habit of stealing during dusk or dawn.

As he quickly grabbed it, the system sent the notification. 

*Ding. You caught Sniffler.

*Ding. You complete the quest. Your nobility badge upgrade has been unlocked.

*Ding. Your fame crossed forty thousand points; your favorability with King Mirella crossed 85; you completed the mandatory quest. Congratulations, you met all the requirements to upgrade your nobility badge to epic grade and become Marquis.

Upgrade?

Wil clicked on 'Yes' and instantly the color of the nobility badge changed from gold to platinum.

*Ding. Congratulations on becoming the first Marquis in the Llyne Kingdom. You receive 1000 points of fame and 25 gold coins as a reward.

*Ding. Congratulations on becoming the second Marquis in the Xynnar Continent. You receive 1000 points of fame and 50 gold coins as a reward. 

*Ding. Congratulations on becoming the Sixth Marquis in the world. You receive 1000 points of fame and 50 gold coins as a reward.

"Second in the continent and Sixth in the world? F**k. I even lagged behind so much than the last time. Is it because of WBT? Well, I can't compete in every department… Let's just be content with becoming the strongest."

Nobility Badge

Grade: Epic

Description: The badge that represents the status in the kingdom. 

Effects:

50% discount on all purchases across the Llyne Kingdom.

50% discount on all purchases in the Eldershore region.

Free city library and Battle arena access across the Llyne kingdom.

0% weekly interest loan in all public banks up to 333 gold and 5% up to 1666 gold.

The loan credit of all public banks is set to 10000 gold.

You can hire 100 levels above your level for a maximum of 500 from all over the Kingdom.

"Wow, extra features. I didn't expect public banks will provide such high loans to Marquis and above nobles. I thought the loan amount is only equivalent to 50 million credits.

No wonder, Bran seems very rich during the auctions. I thought Sierra was giving him the money… 

10000 loan credit huh… That's nearly 150 million dollars. Too bad I already have more than enough. Or else, I would have taken this loan for sure…"

Walking back and forth in the storage room, Wil continued to think while the rest of them didn't dare to disturb him and stayed silent, "Wait a second. How about just store them in the bank and take this loan of locked gold coins to spend for whatever things needed.

Yeah, the value is already dropped to 1500 credits per silver. Why waste money when I have nothing else to spend on.

Hmm, combined with the income generated from Scarlet Districts, I can provide bigger loans to the guilds during the next system auction… Yeah, that's a good idea."

*peeep*

Wil came to his senses upon hearing the long squeak of Sniffler and mumbled, "let's deal with you, now, buddy..." 

Under the curious gazes of the officials, Wil flapped his wings and fly until the ceiling before catching two legs of Sniffler and started to shake it upside down. While its eyes roll, the grains started falling at an extreme speed.

Finishing his job, Wil stepped out of the storage room and left for the capital city after capturing this very rare elite creature that has an infinite amount of storage space in its belly.

***

Imperial palace, Llyne City;

"Well done, younger brother. As I promised before, now that your contributions reached the status of a Marquis, I'll give you the East Ocean city just like you wanted. Ravus can be transferred to the capital and serve as a deputy treasurer in the Finance department. The post is comparable to that of a Mayor of a city, either way...

On the other hand, You can serve as the Mayor of both Deloris town and the East Ocean city. I'm sure no one will object," said Mirella with a smile while both of them sat together for dinner in the dining room filled with dozens of dishes.

Wil shook his head, "It's fine, your Majesty. I no longer had an interest in that city anymore." As Mirella was taken aback and take a look at him, he smiled and then continued, "Can I be the mayor of Eldershore city, instead?" asked Wil, placing a small piece of steak in his mouth and waited for her reaction. 

"Oh, Eldershore city? That's Countess Christaire's city. She's a bit close to my uncle but… I guess it will do… Okay, fine. We can also hack down one more enemy. Wait a second. If you become Mayor of Eldershore, then, that means…"

Wil nodded with a smile, "yes, with Deloris and Eldershore, I will be the same as region lord. When my contributions reach the status of Duke, you can just make me Eldershore region lord.

With that way, not only I can protect the borders of the kingdom, with Leon as the guardian of the northern Llyne, we can prevent outside enemies to invade our Kingdom."

*Ding. Your favorability with Mirella increases by 1.

"Hmm, that's a feasible plan. If you can become the region lord, then, I would also have fewer worries. Tomorrow in the court assembly, I'll announce you as the mayor of Eldershore city. Be there on time."

*Ding. You receive a quest.

Description: You are summoned at the Courtroom by the King. Reach there before 9 o'clock in the morning.

Rewards: The position of Eldershore city's Mayor.

Failure: Mirella's favorability drops by 10 

***

Xuzou Village, Eastern continent;

In the streets of an ancient village that was built below Mt. Xuzou, a very fit old man in his early 80s and a 22-year-old young man who look like a pumpkin is walking together while returning from the market.

"Grandpa, how long you were going to live here in this small village? Can't the rest of you return with me to Xuanyang? It's a big city.

There are a lot of people who are interested in martial arts and other fighting techniques, these days. We can at least make some money if we open a dojo there," said the grandson trying to convince his grandfather.

Upon hearing his words, his grandfather replied, "Xiao Jin. I already mentioned to you not to bring that topic again. It's enough that your dad permitted you to study and live there. And our Liao sect's techniques aren't for show. Do you know why the sects are built on mountains…"

"Yeah, yeah... I know. Don't start those tales of discipline again. That age is already disappeared more than a hundred years ago. Even if our Xuzou sect has a thousand-year-old history, what's the use when we can't earn a single penny from it? It's time for you and dad to realize that the sect died…"

His Grandfather snorted, "hmpf, no matter what you say, we won't leave the village. If you bring this topic once again, I'll force you to stay in this village forever. Instead of your younger sister, I'll make you succeed as the next head and thoroughly train you."

Upon hearing his grandfather's verdict, Jin grumbled, "Do it. I'll disband the sect the moment I become the leader."

"What did you say?" The grandfather tightly grabbed the skin behind his neck, "say that again?"

"Ah… I'm sorry…" as the young man apologized; his grandfather left him and then, stared at the mountain with a sigh…

Meanwhile, on the top of Mt. Xuzou, a 20-year-old girl equipped with dual swords sparring against a middle-aged man in his early fifties, who was very muscular.

*Cling*

She kept jumping and turning around while attacking with dual swords in unexpected moments at a terrifying speed, giving him no moment to retaliate or dodge except for blocking the attacks with the sword head-on.

Her eyes are fearless and there is no hesitation in her attacks even though she was sparring with real swords that can take her life or her father's with one wrong judgment.

*Cling* *Cling*

Every time, the swords clash, the middle-aged man is stepping backward while the girl gaining the momentum.

*Cling* the sword on his hand was thrown away upon clashing once again and she stopped with the sword at his neck with a smile, "I win, Dad. I have to fulfill my promise at all costs no matter how dangerous the journey will be. Now, please let me go."

He sighed, "I lose. Go on, then…"

The next day morning, on the village outskirts, while Jin kept on screaming, "No way… I won't stay here," his grandfather grabbed his collar tightly, "Until she returns, you'll be spending your time in training. Staying in the city made you so fat. You need to exercise…"

"Good luck, Big Brother. Maybe, by the time I return, I'll see a new 'Jin'," said Luoyang with a grin before leaving the village with her aunt who lives in Xuanyang city. 

"You traitor… How could you betray your brother like this… Aunt, please save me… No, I won't train in those…" bellowed Jin as he was dragged away by his grandfather.

Meanwhile, their father, Xuzou sects current leader, Xu Wuhan looked at her back and mumbled while shaking his head with a sigh, "silly girl. That junior sister of mine probably had forgotten about it, long ago."