The man called Joe turned his head to see Visari, revealing a friendly smile.
"Welcome, my compatriot. I am Joe Sak."
A warm, spring-like smile bloomed on Visari's face.
"Thank you for hosting this banquet for me, Viscount. And thank you for coming, Joe Sak."
"No need to be so polite, Baron Visari. As members of the great Blue Blood, helping each other is only right," Viscount Lister replied with a smile.
On the other side of the banquet table, Baron Salvas, who was heartily enjoying his meal, paused his movements, then let out a very clear "Hmph!"
Viscount Lister frowned slightly but did not react.
After being comfortably seated, Visari perfectly fulfilled the obligations of a guest, not asking about things he shouldn't. It was not appropriate for a guest to interfere with the host's affairs.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Viscount Lister smiled and announced the official start of the banquet: "Today we gather here to congratulate our dear compatriot, Baron Visari! He has broken free from the faded abyss and reawakened the great Blue Blood."
However, Baron Salvas suddenly interrupted Viscount Lister:
"I wonder what merits he has to be conferred the title of Baron? I, who single-handedly cleared out bandits from three mountains, wasn't granted a title. Why can this young brat easily sit at the same table as me?"
Hearing such a challenge, Viscount Lister's face darkened: "Enough! You half-human, half-beast mongrels. What damned new nobles? If it weren't for His Majesty the King's foolishness, what right would you have to sit at the same table as me?"
Visari's smile couldn't even be maintained; he looked at Viscount Lister in astonishment.
This... Is this the kind of conversation nobles should have?
Shouldn't it be outwardly harmonious, with daggers hidden behind smiles, and knives used in secret? Why are they directly cursing each other?
Visari quickly scanned the banquet table. Joe Sak was cutting the deer steak in front of him as if no one else was present, and Baron Christine opposite him was still eating heartily, completely ignoring the fiery argument between the two.
Seemingly noticing Visari's astonishment, Joe Sak turned his head with a smiling face and explained: "Don't mind them. Viscount Lister just has that kind of fiery temper."
Christine also swallowed the piece of meat in her mouth: "Baron Visari, you don't need to worry. Salvas didn't mean to target you; he just wanted to find a topic to show off his achievements back then."
Visari struggled to maintain his smile: "It's fine. This is also a sign of the banquet being lively and harmonious. Viscount Lister is old but vigorous, and Baron Salvas is also..."
Visari carefully considered his words.
"Full of vitality."
Christine shook her head and laughed: "It seems they will still be arguing for a while. Let me introduce myself to you."
"I am Christine, and that is Baron Salvas. We are both non-hereditary barons conferred for our merits. Speaking of which, Salvas's territory is quite close to your manor."
"Although it's impolite, just as Viscount Lister said, what flows within our bodies and grants us power beyond mortals is the bloodline of Strange Beast."
"Strange Beast?" Visari asked in confusion.
"Yes, Strange Beast. After hunting Strange Beast, we can integrate their bloodlines into our bodies through the bloodline transformation ritual," Baron Christine replied.
"But there are also differences in strength among Strange Beast. Duke Ralph has the bloodline of a dragon flowing within him, while Salvas has the glory of a tusked spotted pig."
Christine smiled wistfully: "Look at him arguing with Viscount Lister now, how much he resembles a pig in heat. He wasn't like this before; back then, he was steady and calm."
Joe Sak swallowed the last bite of deer steak and added nonchalantly:
"These new nobles are not only affected in personality by their bloodline, but their spirits also have difficulty connecting with the energy of heaven and earth. They can only temper their qi and blood to strengthen their bodies, following the path of knights."
"While we Blue Bloods have keen spirits and are not affected by bloodline, we cannot condense life seeds, so naturally, we can only follow the path of wizards."
The three of them each picked some delicious dishes and watched the two argue while eating, much like "appreciating" an opera.
After quite a while, the two finally stopped. It seemed that Viscount Lister, being older and more experienced, had emerged victorious.
Viscount Lister was all smiles, sitting back in the main seat, showing no trace of having just been pulling at his beard, glaring, and cursing others.
"Alright, Salvas, you've vented your temper today. Let's talk about serious matters next."
"Visari, you are the protagonist of today's welcome banquet. I invited you to this banquet to let everyone get to know each other and also to allocate your rightful interests."
Viscount Lister then asked: "May I know which direction you are researching?"
Visari replied: "I was a medical student at Padua University before, and now I am mainly focusing on the Scarlet School."
As soon as he finished speaking, Baron Salvas slapped the table and stood up.
"Are you really a Scarlet Witch?"
Viscount Lister glared fiercely at Baron Salvas: "Sit back down! Do you look like a noble like that?"
Baron Salvas, however, said: "Since he is a Scarlet Witch who studies flesh and blood, I propose allocating half of the (real) bodies in the city to Baron Visari."
After speaking, he even smiled at Visari.
Now Visari was completely bewildered. Unprovoked hatred was common, but there was no unprovoked love in the world, especially after offending someone before trying to please them.
Joe Sak seemed to sense Visari's confusion and explained:
"Among us classical nobles, there are very few who research the Scarlet School. However, Scarlet Witches can help knights change or purify their bloodlines. That's why he suddenly tried to please you like this."
Baron Christine echoed: "I also agree with Salvas's suggestion. This portion will be deducted from my and Salvas's allocation. It's a good thing for all of us if Visari's techniques mature."
Viscount Lister pondered for a moment and agreed to the proposal:
"Besides the (real) body supply, Baron Visari should also have a permanent seat on the Padua City Council, a Baron's mansion in the noble district of Padua City..."
After reading out the various rights and interests, large and small, Viscount Lister added:
"Baron Visari, do you have any other demands for interests?"
Visari first expressed his gratitude, then said: "Since childhood, I have had the idea of helping the world. Now that I have the ability, I want to open a clinic in Padua City to treat the suffering of the city's residents."
'Does he want to test the results of his witchcraft on living subjects?' Viscount Lister made his guess.
This matter was really harmless for a noble. Viscount Lister quickly gave his promise.
Seeing that things were almost settled, Viscount Lister clapped his hands and announced the second phase of the banquet.