Lei Luo walked to the stall, his gaze first falling on the so-called treasure map fragment, and then turning to the old soldier.
"Boss, how much for this?"
The old soldier raised his eyelids, his cloudy gaze sweeping over Lei Luo, then resting on Moonlight on his shoulder, seemingly more interested in the little fellow.
He didn't answer immediately, instead taking another swig of wine before speaking in a hoarse voice: "You want to buy it?"
"Just looking around."
Lei Luo squatted down, picked up the parchment fragment, and examined it carefully.
The parchment felt ancient, and the lines on it indeed looked like part of a map, but there was too little information to determine its authenticity or location.
"It looks quite old, but this map... it's too incomplete."
"Hmph, if it were complete, would it be sold at a stall here?"
The old soldier snorted coldly.
"Kid, this is a map fragment pointing to an ancient ruin at 'Storm's End.' It's said to contain the legacy of a Storm Archmage from the previous dynasty. If you're lucky enough to find the remaining parts, you'll be set for life."
Storm's End?
Lei Luo's heart stirred slightly. He had some impression of this place name; it seemed to be a treacherous area on the eastern coast of the Duchy, constantly ravaged by storms and rarely visited.
If there truly were ancient ruins, it wasn't impossible.
But this fragment...
"Sounds tempting."
Lei Luo put down the fragment and looked directly into the old soldier's eyes, "I just feel that someone like you shouldn't be selling a treasure map of uncertain authenticity here."
"Someone like me?"
The old soldier gave a self-deprecating laugh, pointing to his leg.
"Just a crippled Waste, what else could I be?"
"A cripple?"
Lei Luo shook his head.
"A senior instructor of the Duke Lei Long's Knight Order, reduced to scamming people with such a tattered map in this backwater?"
The old soldier's face instantly changed, his once cloudy eyes becoming incredibly sharp, "Who exactly are you? How do you know all this?"
"Allow me to introduce myself," Lei Luo met his gaze calmly, "Lei Luo, Lord of Blackstone Territory. Perhaps you should know my previous identity: the second son of Duke Lei Long."
Only then did the old soldier realize that the person standing before him was the lord of this territory.
Lei Luo smiled, "We are actually very similar, just unfortunate souls toyed with by fate."
The old soldier was silent for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Having been in the Duke Lei Long's Knight Order for many years, how could he not know the rules of the Duke Lei Long family?
Barrett's voice carried a hint of weariness.
"The Duke Lei Long's Knight Order... that's all in the past. I'm just a cripple getting by at a flea market now."
"The past may well become the foundation of the future."
Lei Luo's tone was sincere.
"My territory is just starting, with everything needing to be built from scratch, especially a lack of experienced knights and instructors. I need someone to train my knights, to turn them into true warriors..."
Lei Luo paused, "I think you should be capable of this position."
"Why me?"
Barrett's voice was a bit dry, "A person whose cultivation has fallen, with no future?"
"The Duke Lei Long's Knight Order abandoning you is their loss."
Lei Luo's tone was resolute, "What I value is your experience, your knowledge. A drop in cultivation doesn't mean your insight and tactical prowess have disappeared. Scars only make a true warrior more resilient."
He paused, then continued: "I intend to build a Knight Order comparable to the Duke Lei Long's Knight Order. I need a chief knight instructor, sir, are you willing to accept this invitation?"
Barrett fell silent. He lowered his head, looking at his inconvenient leg, then raised his head to look at Lei Luo's young but sincere and confident face.
Years of destitution and despondency had almost extinguished all his hope.
"This barren territory can't support a force like the Duke Lei Long's Knight Order?"
The old soldier's voice was hoarse.
Lei Luo said frankly, "Sir, everyone must have a dream. Whether a frustrated prince or a crippled knight, it's all the same."
The old soldier seemed to be moved by his words; he suddenly grinned.
"What am I hesitating for? Can life get any worse than it is now?"
Finally, this old soldier, Barrett, the former Earth Knight, packed up his dilapidated stall and joined Lei Luo's party.
"Let's go, Mr. Barrett. I happen to be going to the tavern in the south of Blackstone Town to find someone, and then we'll head back to the castle together."
"Find someone? Who?"
Barrett propped himself up with a wooden stick serving as a crutch, rising with some difficulty.
"A cook." Lei Luo blinked, "A cook who is said to make excellent roasted goose."
Barrett: "..."
He began to feel that this young lord was not quite what he had imagined.
The tavern in the south district of Blackstone Town had a very ordinary name: "The Old Oak Tavern."
The tavern was small, dimly lit, and filled with the mixed scent of ale, roasted meat, and sweat.
It wasn't peak dining hours, so there were only a few scattered customers in the tavern.
Lei Luo walked directly to the bar, behind which was a slightly plump middle-aged woman wearing an apron, wiping wooden mugs.
"Excuse me, is Marlene here?" Lei Luo asked.
"That's me."
The woman looked up, her movements quick, her voice clear and crisp, with a hint of briskness.
"Something I can help you with?"
Lei Luo observed her.
This was Marlene?
She looked quite ordinary, but her eyes were bright, revealing a capable spirit.
"I heard your roasted poultry is exceptional, especially your family's 'Honey Herb Goose'?"
Lei Luo got straight to the point.
Marlene's wiping motion paused, and she looked at Lei Luo with some surprise: "So what if it is? Want to order? It's not mealtime right now."
"No, I'm not here to eat." Lei Luo smiled, "I'm here to... poach you."
"Poach me?"
Marlene raised an eyebrow, put down the mug, and put her hands on her hips, "Young man, what do you mean by that?"
"I'd like to hire you as the head chef in my castle."
Lei Luo directly extended the offer.
"The salary will be double what you earn here, you'll have an independent kitchen and living quarters, and as for ingredients, anything available in the territory or that can be bought will be prioritized for you."
Marlene was stunned, clearly not expecting such a good thing to fall from the sky.
She sized up Lei Luo, a bit hesitant: "You are... the Lord?"
"Indeed." Lei Luo nodded.
Marlene opened her mouth, seemingly unable to believe it.
To be the head chef in the Lord's mansion?
This was a dream job for many cooks!
Double salary, plus an independent kitchen and living quarters... this treatment was like a windfall!
Marlene bit her lip, weighing the pros and cons.
On one side was a familiar environment and a decent job, on the other was a promising future and a well-paying position as head chef in the Lord's mansion.
This choice wasn't difficult to make.
"Good! My Lord, I accept!"
Marlene finally made this not-so-difficult decision.
Lei Luo nodded with satisfaction.
"Report directly to the castle tomorrow morning. The guards will know you."
"Thank you, My Lord! Thank you, My Lord!"
Marlene was overjoyed.