Gray Harbor’s City Lord’s manor was located on the highest ground in the northern outskirts of the city, overlooking the bustling port.
It wasn’t far from Igor’s new home, less than five hundred meters in a straight line.
Evening.
Igor, or rather the Elementalist “Bolo,” arrived at the City Lord’s manor on time.
Igor had not declined the invitation.
He still wore that faded mercenary leather armor, covered by a traveling cloak. His beard concealed most of his face, revealing only a pair of calm, deep-set eyes.
The guards had clearly been instructed beforehand. They respectfully led him through the neatly trimmed courtyard and into the brightly lit main hall.
The banquet was set in a lavishly yet solidly decorated dining room.
A long table was covered with a snow-white linen tablecloth. Silver candlesticks and crystal goblets reflected each other, emitting a warm glow.
The air was filled with the scent of roasted meat, pungent spices, and the faint aroma of fine wine.
Sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged man and woman of distinguished bearing.
The man appeared to be in his forties. He had a scholarly face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s. He wore a dark blue noble’s casual attire, with the emblem of the Leslie family embroidered on the shoulders: a gray lighthouse with crossed anchors.
He was the ruler of Gray Harbor, Baron Leslie, a renowned High-Rank Elementalist who had successfully consolidated three Tiers of his Seal many years ago.
The Baroness beside him exuded grace and dignity. She was also a Second-Tier Imprinter, said to be the second daughter of the Count of Shadowgrove Bay.
She wore a dark green gown, a proper smile gracing her lips, but her gaze held a trace of barely perceptible scrutiny as it shifted.
Besides the Baron and his wife, six other guests, each with distinct auras and subtle flows of Mana around them, sat on either side of the long table.
Five men and one woman. Their attire was more opulent than that of ordinary guards, yet clearly distinct from titled nobility. They were the six Feudal Knights under the Baron’s command, all uniformly First-Tier Imprinters.
Their glances swept over Igor seemingly inadvertently, carrying assessment, curiosity, and a hint of veiled rivalry.
In the past, any one of these individuals would have been someone Igor could only look up to, figures who would absolutely never pay attention to a bastard mercenary like him who wasn’t even a proper noble.
But now, he could actually sense gazes from them that regarded him as an equal, or even held a hint of wariness.
All the change stemmed from the transcendent power he had only recently acquired.
This caused Igor to sigh inwardly, his desire to grow stronger swelling once more.
“Welcome, Sir Bolo.”
Baron Leslie stood up, a warm yet restrained smile on his face, and personally came forward to greet him.
He extended his hand elegantly. Igor also snapped out of his reverie and shook it in a courteous manner.
The moment their hands touched, Igor clearly felt a subtle yet refined thread of wind-attributed Mana brush against his fingertips from the Baron’s touch, carrying an intent to probe.
His heart stirred slightly. The icy Mana within him flowed naturally, quietly absorbing that thread of wind Mana without causing the slightest ripple.
A flicker of surprise passed through the Baron’s eyes.
Igor’s expression remained unchanged. He gave a slight bow.
“My lord, thank you for your invitation.”
The Baron’s gaze shifted, his smile deepening. He guided Igor to a seat on the right side, close to the head of the table. It happened to be directly under the brightest candlelight, precisely at the convergence point of the gazes of the Baron and his wife.
Subsequently, he introduced Igor to tonight’s guests one by one.
The banquet began under the Baron’s lead.
He chatted and laughed amiably, speaking of Gray Harbor’s prosperity, the convenience of its shipping routes, and interesting anecdotes from the County. His words subtly revealed his close relationship with the Count of Shadowgrove Bay and his family’s trade network that extended as far as the northern glaciers.
“The environment in the North, while harsh, often yields discoveries for the fortunate in the frost-laden ruins.”
Baron Leslie raised his glass, speaking as if casually.
“It’s said that some ancient Ice Elemental relics are occasionally brought back by merchant caravans from the glacier ruins, and can even help Ice Elemental Spirits advance further.”
“Sir Bolo, as a contractor of ice elements, might you have an interest in such relics?”
Igor’s heart grew alert, recognizing this as a probe. On the surface, he merely raised his own wine glass and replied in a slightly hoarse mercenary tone, his words carrying a trace of regret.
“Ice Elemental relics are indeed rare, but alas… they hold no value for someone like me who has contracted a Lifebound Spirit.”
The Baron smiled faintly, neither affirming nor denying.
The Baroness then seamlessly took over the conversation, her tone as gentle as a spring breeze.
“Speaking of which, at the Elemental Tournament hosted by the Duke five years ago, that young Baron from the Orion family also displayed frost power, and it was quite a spectacle.”
“However… in terms of the purity and restraint of the power, it seemed to still fall short of the chill contained within you, sir.”
Her eyes held a smile, as if she were merely mentioning a casual piece of gossip.
Igor paused slightly.
That was right. Among the few Elemental Spirits the Orion family possessed, one was also an Ice Elemental Spirit.
It was a reward Viscount Orion had received from the Duke of the Western Region seven years ago, but Igor had never seen it with his own eyes.
The contractor of that spirit was Igor’s cousin, the Viscount’s nephew.
He was also the most celebrated genius of the Orion family in recent years, having come very close to manifesting two Radiances of Law, and was being cultivated with the family’s full resources.
“My lord, the Orion family enjoys illustrious prestige, while I am merely a wandering mercenary. I cannot be compared to them from afar.”
Igor shook his head.
He handled it flawlessly, playing the part of a cautious, taciturn, and slightly reserved Free Mercenary.
The banquet continued. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but undercurrents swirled beneath the surface.
Igor could feel as if he were placed on a meticulously arranged stage. Every gaze, every word, was probing his background.
When dessert was cleared and black tea was served, Baron Leslie gently wiped the corner of his mouth and glanced at his six retainers.
Without a word, the six of them stood up in unison, bowed, and silently and swiftly withdrew from the dining room.
Only three people remained in the dining room.
The candle flames crackled softly. All the previous liveliness vanished instantly. The air seemed to solidify, carrying a slightly heavy pressure.
Igor set down his teacup, his brow slightly furrowed.
“Sir Bolo.”
Baron Leslie leaned forward slightly.
He placed his clasped hands on the table. Those scholarly eyes seemed capable of stripping away all disguises.
“Gray Harbor, though small, is the gateway to Shadowgrove Bay. Information flows freely here, and it’s inevitably full of prying eyes. What do you think of this place?”
Igor met his gaze, his voice carrying a hint of forced calm.
“It’s a good place. Prosperous, with many opportunities.”
“Opportunities indeed exist, but so do risks.”
The Baron sighed softly, his tone taking on a sincere, heart-to-heart quality.
“Especially for… those who possess something precious, yet lack foundation and protection.”
“Shadowgrove Bay is not a lawless territory, but some rules here are more brutal than the laws written on paper.”
“For example, a wild, highly malleable Elemental Spirit is enough to make many seemingly respectable people shed their disguises…”
The implication in his words was almost explicit.
Igor frowned slightly, his hand on his knee tightening a little.
The Baron took in his reaction and continued slowly.
“Sir Bolo, my Leslie family has held Gray Harbor for five generations. We have always believed that talent is the core of a family.”
“Especially an Orthodox Imprinter like yourself, who stepped into the realm of the transcendent through your own ability and luck, you are precisely the pillar a family seeks.”
His gaze burned as he looked at Igor.
“Might you be willing to accept my recruitment, receive a knighthood, and become my retainer?”
Igor’s expression froze for a moment.
But he quickly lowered his head, speaking with an apologetic tone.
“My lord, you are mistaken. I am merely a lucky one who obtained an Elemental Stone and managed to hatch a Lifebound Spirit. Moreover, I am accustomed to freedom. I enjoy an unfettered life. I’m afraid…”
“Freedom sometimes also means standing alone and helpless.”
The Baron interrupted the young man, his voice still calm but carrying undeniable force.
“Especially… when a person’s secrets and whereabouts have already been seen through.”
He picked up his teacup, gently blowing away the foam. The action was elegant, but his words pierced into Igor’s vital spot like an ice spike.
“Don’t you agree? Igor Orion?”
…