After a while, Viscount Fergus withdrew his smile and looked at Gray. His voice was both surprised and puzzled.
"But how did your strength increase so quickly?
It hasn't even been a year since you became a lower-level Blood Warrior. "
"I'm not too sure myself."
Gray shook his head and mumbled.
"Since coming to the castle, especially after consuming the blood of the blood fiends, my strength has increased much faster than before."
Gray felt that the inexplicable "transformation" of his body had a lot to do with his transmigration. After all, before he occupied this body, this body did not have such a big reaction to consuming blood fiends' blood. Therefore, he chose to keep it to himself and did not say it out loud.
Viscount Fergus frowned and thought about the reason behind it. After a while, he came to a conclusion.
"It should be that before you came to the castle, you didn't have the blood of the blood fiends and your training conditions were too poor. Therefore, your training talent could not be fully stimulated."
This was the only explanation that could explain Gray's current situation.
"It seems that we have underestimated your talent before."
Viscount Fergus sighed slightly.
He suddenly felt a little regret. If he had known that Gray had such talent, he would have brought Gray to the castle to take care of him when he first started training.
Unfortunately, he did not do so at that time and wasted a year of Gray's time. If he had done so at that time, Gray might not be far from becoming an upper-level Blood Warrior by now.
"Father, we have indeed underestimated Gray's talent."
Hearing Viscount Fergus's sigh, the corners of Bernal's mouth curled into a wry smile.
Of all the people present, he was probably the one who felt it the most.
They were both middle-level Blood Warriors, but he was already a little over 22 years old, while Gray was not even 17 years old. Comparing the two, his talent could be said to be a complete loss.
Although he knew that he was not a genius, he did not expect the gap between him and Gray to be so large. The result of seven years of training was actually caught up by Gray in less than two years.
"Perhaps father was right to pass on the title to him!"
He couldn't help but think of the biggest conflict between himself and Gray.
If he were to inherit the title, it would not be a problem for him to keep his title and property. However, it was almost impossible for him to take the next step and claim the title of count in the Sidney Marquisdom.
With Gray's current talent, it was almost certain that he would become a Berserker. With the family's current accumulation of military merits, as long as he obtained some more military merits, he would immediately be able to bring the family to the position of count.
There was no doubt that having Gray inherit the title was the best choice for the family.
"This guy is already a middle-rank Blood Warrior?!"
Elise stared blankly at Gray.
He really did not want to believe that Gray was already a middle-level Blood Warrior. However, in the face of all kinds of evidence, he had no choice but to believe it.
Without the strength of a middle-rank Blood Warrior, Gray would never have been able to snatch the Hanhu cub from Morey Locke, who was already a middle-rank Blood Warrior.
Moreover, he could already practice blood techniques three times in a row and had already begun the fourth time. This was indeed a characteristic of a middle-rank Blood Warrior.
Being able to use blood energy about ten times in a row was also a characteristic of a middle-rank Blood Warrior.
He did not think that the other party would lie. After all, this kind of lie could be easily seen through.
"What a strong talent for cultivation!"
Caroline also looked at Gray with extreme surprise. Becoming a middle-rank Blood Warrior in two years was something that even a count's son with better cultivation conditions than the Fergus family might not be able to achieve.
This younger brother who had appeared out of nowhere had shattered everyone's understanding of his talent time and time again. Other aspects aside, just his talent for cultivation alone could already be described as "stunning".
She could not help but sympathize with her elder brother Bernal.
Regarding the battle for the title between Bernal and Gray, she naturally favored Bernal. After all, he was the elder brother of the same father and mother, and would definitely be closer to him than Gray, the younger brother of the same father but different mothers.
But now, she really did not think highly of her elder brother. It was too difficult to fight for the right to inherit the title with such a person.
"Brother, you're too amazing!"
Compared to the complicated emotions in Bernal, Elise, and Caroline's hearts, Sarah was much simpler. She hugged Gray's hand with a face full of excitement, as if she had become a middle-rank Blood Warrior herself.
In terms of closeness, she was even closer to Gray than to Viscount Fergus. It could be said that she sincerely hoped that Gray's talent for cultivation would be as strong as possible.
Bang, bang, bang!
Just as everyone was immersed in the atmosphere of shock, there was a knock on the door outside the room, followed by the voice of Steward Nissen.
"Lord Viscount."
"What is it?"
Viscount Fergus frowned slightly and asked. He had already instructed not to disturb them if there was nothing important.
"Lord Viscount, we found something in Hanhu's intestines."
Outside the door, Steward Nissen spoke.
"Come in!"
Viscount Fergus nodded.
* Creak! *
The door was pushed open and Steward Nissen, who was wearing a black steward uniform, walked in. He was holding a piece of yellow leather that was more than ten centimeters in length and width. The surface was wet and it was unknown what kind of animal's leather it was.
Holding this piece of leather, he walked to Viscount Fergus and spread it out on the table in front of Viscount Fergus.
Viscount Fergus looked at it casually and then his gaze turned slightly serious. He turned to Steward Nissen and said, "You may leave now.
"You can leave now. Tell all the servants not to spread any information about this piece of leather."
"Yes, Lord Viscount."
Steward Nissen bowed respectfully and turned to leave. When he left, he closed the door again.
"Father, what exactly is it?"
Gray and the others obviously noticed the change in Viscount Fergus's expression and could not help but ask curiously.
"Pass it around and have a look!"
With that, Viscount Fergus passed the piece of leather to Madame De Milan beside him.
Everyone passed it around one by one. After reading it, they could not help but have a look of uncertainty on their faces. Finally, it was passed to Gray. Gray spread it out on the table to take a look.
On this piece of leather, there was an overall irregular pattern branded. The edges of the pattern were not smooth and there would occasionally be a sharp edge that extended out.
And near the bottom of this outline, there was a clear triangular symbol.
"A triangular symbol?
It's the same as the one I got last time that was suspected to be the symbol of the imperial ruins. Could this be a map of the imperial ruins as well? "
"And the shape of this pattern seems to be a topographic map of the Red Leaf Forest …"
With curiosity in his heart, Gray passed this piece of leather to Sarah beside him. Sarah glanced at it and lost interest. She passed it to Caroline on her right. In the end, this piece of leather returned to Viscount Fergus.
"How is it? Can you tell?"
Viscount Fergus looked at everyone with a smile.
"Father, this should be a treasure map, right?"
Bernal said after some consideration.
"Yes, it is indeed a treasure map. What else can you tell?"
Viscount Fergus asked with interest.
"This should be a map of the Red Leaf Forest."
Caroline frowned slightly and was slightly uncertain.
"It really is the Red Leaf Forest!"
Hearing Caroline's judgment, Gray was even more certain of his own judgment.
"Yes, this is indeed a topographic map of the Red Leaf Forest. And if I'm not wrong, it should be a treasure map."
Viscount Fergus smiled faintly and concluded.
"Master, why is this treasure map in Hanhu's body?"
Madame De Milan frowned and asked.
"I'm afraid he swallowed it by accident."
Viscount Fergus paused for a moment and said.
"From the map, the location of this treasure should not be far from Goat Horn Village. I've always been curious why Hanhu appeared at the edge of the forest. Now it seems that he was probably driven to the edge of the forest by someone."
"Driven away by someone?
That is to say, someone has already gone to this place where the treasure may be hidden? "
Madame De Milan's expression suddenly became slightly disappointed. When she saw that it was a treasure map, she was still thinking whether the Fergus family would make a fortune. She didn't expect that the place had already been visited.
"It should be. I'm going to check it out when I have time, but don't have too much hope."
Viscount Fergus nodded.
"By the way, Master, this time the Rock family actually snatched Hanhu's cub, and they almost snatched it away. What are you going to do about this matter?"
Having lost interest in the treasure map, Madame De Milan's attention couldn't help but return to the matter of the Hanhu's cub almost being snatched away by the Rock family.
When she learned that Hanhu was snatched away, she was incomparably angry and continuously scolded the Rock family for being shameless. Fortunately, it was snatched back, otherwise the Fergus family would have suffered a great loss this time.
Viscount Fergus couldn't help but frown when they talked about the Rock family. After a moment, he sighed and said.
"This matter needs to be put aside for the time being!"
"Father, isn't this letting them off too easily?"
Elise said hatefully.
Viscount Fergus shook his head and said.
"Although we won the battle with the Oliver family last time, we also lost a lot of people. In addition, the Hanhu's cub was also snatched back. This matter can only be put aside for the time being."
After a slight pause, Viscount Fergus said again.
"However, this debt will be settled with the Rock family sooner or later. Alright, it's getting late. You should all go and rest. Tomorrow morning, remember to each receive a portion of Hanhu's blood!"