Marquis Giant Frog’s territory.
On this day, a sunny young boy appeared on the street near Marichadon Castle, but the passersby on the street noticed nothing amiss about his arrival.
The boy was dressed like an explorer, seemingly an apprentice member of a Mercenary Group.
The street was lined with shops on both sides, and it was bustling with activity, the boy looking curiously left and right at everything.
“Hey lad, looking to buy something? Longsword or longbow, we’ve got bear skin armor as well, why not come in and have a closer look?”
“No thanks, I’m just looking around.”
“How about taking a casual look over here, sir? I’ll tell you quietly, I have Breathing Secret Medicine in my store with very significant effects, the quantity is sparse, I don’t sell it to just anyone, only to someone pleasing like you—”
“Store owner, keep it for your own use or give it to your son, I don’t need that stuff.”
Despite the boy’s plain clothes, the sharp-eyed shop owners on both sides immediately recognized his extraordinary nature, thinking he might be a young nobleman experiencing life; they eagerly greeted him.
Without exception, they were all rebuffed.
To this, they didn’t pay much attention and soon noticed that the boy headed straight for the castle after reaching the street corner, without a moment’s pause.
“Hey lad, over there is Marichadon Castle where Marquis Giant Frog resides. If you don’t have someone familiar there, it’s best not to get too close; you might get chased away by the guards with force.”
Seeing the boy’s reckless demeanor, the seller of the Breathing Secret Medicine couldn’t help but warn him.
“Thanks for the warning, but it’s no trouble,” replied the boy politely, turning his head back.
“He really seems like a noble young master,” muttered the shop owner, watching the continuing distant back.
“You, you’re not very observant,” laughed the weapons shop owner.
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you notice that the boy’s appearance is unusual? He bears some resemblance to several nobles from the Marichadon family; he might be related to the Marquis,” the weapons shop owner hinted.
“Now that you mention it—indeed, he might be illegitimate—well, it’s none of our business.” The apothecary store owner realized belatedly.
Having touched upon a sensitive issue, he immediately ended the conversation.
Whatever the young man’s identity, it involved the illustrious Marichadon family, which was not something for them as merchants to discuss.
Elsewhere, the boy followed the ascending road up to Marichadon Castle.
“Please stop, this is Marquis Giant Frog’s castle, ordinary people cannot approach,” a few guards stood at the castle gate, and one guard directly stepped forward to stop the approaching boy.
“I want to see Marquis Giant Frog,” called the boy.
“One moment, please show your calling card, or state your family name and explain your purpose,” said the young guard, frowning at his impolite speech, yet still questioned him amicably.
Facing the guards’ obstruction, the boy’s expression remained unchanged, and he loudly answered the question.
“Listen well, my surname is ‘Marichadon,’ and I have a close relationship with Marquis Giant Frog. You better go and report quickly; I must see Marquis Giant Frog himself today.”
“Don’t spout nonsense! How come I’ve never seen you before, you must be some wild—,” the boy’s insolent words infuriated the guard, his tone also becoming rough.
However, before he could rebuke further, he was held back by another older guard, who shook his head at him.
The older guard looked at the boy, about to say something, but the boy grew impatient. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
“Forget it, there’s no talking to you, I’ll find him myself; once he sees me, he’ll definitely recognize me,” said the boy, and with a fierce stomp on the ground, his body, light as if weightless, leaped onto the castle wall in one jump.
He quickly ran toward the other side, completely disregarding that there were quite a few patrolling guards there.
“Scoundrel! How dare you trespass into Marichadon Castle.”
“Where did this little thief come from? Capture him immediately and wait for disposal.”
His action was like pouring a bucket of water into a boiling oil pot, instantly infuriating the guards on and around the walls.
In broad daylight, someone dared to forcefully break into the marquis’s castle, showing utter disdain for them.
The next moment, someone followed the steps wrapped in Combat Energy, quickly chasing after the boy; someone with a ‘clang’ closed the castle and others went to report the disturbance to the master and mistress.
“Quick, catch him! Don’t let the little thief escape.”
“Go, go, go! Don’t let him disturb the marquis, the lady, young master, and young mistress.”
Unexpectedly, the young boy who intruded into the castle had exceptional agility. He easily climbed over the walls and railings and in the blink of an eye, had descended the wall and entered the castle, running toward the residence of the Marquis.
The boy moved as if he were in a realm without people.
The numerous guards of the castle hastily pursued him, displaying various Combat Energy glows. Whether knights or Great Knights, none dared to slack off. Once someone from the Marichadon family was injured, they would be in serious dereliction of duty.
For a time, the entire Marichadon castle became noisy.
At the western rear of the castle was a flower garden in full bloom, where Marquis Frog was enjoying tea and flowers with his wives and children when they heard the noise from not far away.
“What’s going on? Can it be that a wild beast is disturbing the castle? Daniel, aren’t you going to check?” Marquis Frog felt somewhat disappointed and instructed a butler nearby to look into the situation.
“Bad news, Marquis Lord.” Before the butler could leave the garden, someone immediately arrived to report, “Someone, a strong intruder, has entered the castle and is heading this way. Please, Marquis Lord, consider retreating temporarily.”
“Joke! This is the family castle of the Marichadon, I am the head of the Marichadon family. With a powerful enemy attacking, I should confront them, not retreat. Where’s the reason in that?”
Where could Marquis Frog retreat? He drew his longsword, which he carried with him, ready to confront the enemy.
Leider, as a Marquis, was also a deep and powerful Great Knight.
“Father, I’ll join you in crushing the enemy.”
“I’m going too.”
His words spurred his young children beside him, all too eager to join their father in the battle.
“Good, all my brave children of the Marichadon family. I’ll go confront the enemy first; you all escort your mother to a safe place, then come to support.”
Hearing this, Marquis Frog couldn’t help but praise them. He gestured to his wife while giving instructions.
However, before they could even start moving, the noise approached, and a light figure overcame the wall, falling directly into the flower bushes.
“Be careful!”
“Protect the Marquis Lord.”
The guards and the butler protected Marquis Frog, who instinctively used his body to shield his wife and children. When he looked towards the intruder in the garden, his gaze froze.
“Ivan???”
“Father.”
“Is it really you, Ivan?”
Marquis Frog couldn’t believe his own eyes, feeling a mix of warmth and strangeness.
Well, the young man in front of him was indeed his third son, resembling the mischievous boy from years ago, not the increasingly sensible one from later.
He examined the young Ivan, and Ivan examined him back.
Nearly two decades had passed; Leider still looked robust and strong, though his temples now had streaks of white hair.
“Yes, it’s me, I’ve come back,” the young man said with a smile.
“You are Ivan, you—you haven’t run into any trouble, have you? You’re not coming to see me for the last time, are you?” Leider parted the crowd, took a few steps forward, then sudden dread made him stop abruptly, his face turning pale.
He had gathered information about sorcerers, and according to the data, this situation might very well mean that the sorcerer had perished.
If Ivan were to perish, it would bring unimaginably disastrous consequences for the Marichadon family.
“You worry too much.” The young man shook his head, stepped out of the flower bushes, and emphasized seriously, “I’ve been very well recently, better than ever before, and yes, I really have come back. I even passed by the castle earlier.”
He subconsciously looked up to the sky, but the airship had already departed.
“That’s good, that’s good.” Leider, hearing this, gradually regained his normal complexion and then somewhat awkwardly turned to look back, “Ivan, these are your younger brothers and sisters. This is Austin, and this is—”
“Father, I’ve come back this time just to see you, Paul, Beaman, Peggy, and Sean. I don’t have much time here, and I’ll be leaving soon.” The young man interrupted him.
“Uh—Alright, I understand.” Leider took a deep breath and solemnly nodded.
“It’s good if you understand. Inform them quickly; I’ll be waiting for them at Flying Fish Port,” the young man imperatively ordered. Seeing him nod, he added with a smile:
“Or better, let them come to the Marichadon family castle first. I think I could have a chat with them, and then go to Flying Fish Port.”
“Alright, I’ll notify them right away so they can come as soon as possible.”
Hearing his words, a smile again spread across Leider’s face.