When the two of them arrived at the dining hall, the others, including Viscount Fergus, had already arrived.
When they saw Gray and Caroline walking together, they all had different expressions.
Viscount Fergus was gratified. Gray was able to get along well with the others in the family, and the family was able to accept Gray. This was what he wanted to see.
Although he rarely asked about Gray and his sister in the past 16 years, he had to admit that in the two months since Gray and his sister came to the castle, he had indeed given them a lot of care, perhaps out of compensation.
Of course, all of this was based on Gray's excellent talent as a Blood Warrior.
Sarah was puzzled. She had never heard from her brother Gray that his relationship with sister Caroline had improved.
Viscountess Milan and Gray's brother Bernal were surprised at first, but then they smiled faintly. It was as if they were very gratified like Viscount Fergus. When they saw this scene, it was unknown what they were thinking.
Gray's second brother, Elise, had a cold look in his eyes, but because Viscount Fergus was present, he only asked with a slightly questioning tone.
"Why did you come together?"
"We were reading in the library, so we came together."
Caroline casually explained.
She did not deliberately say that her relationship with Gray was distant, but also did not say that she was close. This was her current position in the family.
"You were in the library this morning?"
Viscount Fergus showed great interest in Gray's visit to the library and asked Gray.
"Yes, father."
Gray explained.
"I felt that I lacked understanding about blood fiends and blood spells, so I went to the library to find some related books to read."
"Reading books is a good habit. It can increase your knowledge and experience."
Viscount Fergus nodded with satisfaction.
"When you have time, you can go take a look. Knowledge and experience are essential for nobles."
"I will."
Gray agreed.
Even if Viscount Fergus didn't say it, he would still do it. Coming from the world of information explosion in his previous life, he naturally understood the importance of knowledge.
Hearing Viscount Fergus's words, Bernal, who was sitting opposite Gray, couldn't help but reveal a trace of gloominess in his eyes.
From the conversation between Viscount Fergus and Gray, he could feel that Viscount Fergus cared about Gray. This kind of care was not inferior to how he treated himself.
Moreover, the word "noble" at the end had greatly touched his nerves.
In the Purple Moon Kingdom, the Flame Kingdom, the Crimson Kingdom, and the Jewel Kingdom, the title of nobility was not something that could be casually given. Even if one's father was a noble, one's children could not be called a noble unless they were granted or inherited the title of nobility.
Although Viscount Fergus just said it unintentionally, it revealed the image of letting Gray inherit the title of nobility, which made him feel a deep sense of crisis.
Among the nobles, the title of nobility was generally inherited by the eldest son born to the wife. Illegitimate children had no right of inheritance, but there were exceptions.
If a noble applied to the kingdom and was recognized by the kingdom, even an illegitimate child would be able to inherit the title. This kind of thing had happened several times in the history of the Purple Moon Kingdom, so he could not help but be vigilant.
Viscount Mrs. Milan's face became slightly gloomy like him. Obviously, she also thought of this layer. Her whole face was not good, and she almost couldn't maintain her usual elegance.
Lunch ended in a slightly dull atmosphere. As Gray, who was the last to finish eating, put down the table knife and silver fork, Viscount Fergus coughed lightly and said.
"There's a group of bandits near the southwest border of the territory. I'll leave the castle tomorrow to eliminate them."
"Master, is the situation serious?"
Hearing this, Viscount Mrs. Milan frowned deeply, and the others couldn't help but worry. Even Gray was no exception at this time.
He was now relying on the Fergus family for a living. If the Fergus family's interests were damaged, he would also be affected.
Most of the expenses of the nobles came from the taxes of the territory. For the nobles, the territory was the foundation of everything.
If the bandits' destruction was too serious, the loss of the territory would be too great, and the tax income would be reduced. His current luxurious life would inevitably be severely reduced.
Although it hadn't been long since he came to this world, he was already infatuated with this kind of luxurious life of living in a huge castle and being served by dozens of people.
Moreover, the benefits of the blood of the Blood Wolf once a month were obvious. Just a cup of it increased his strength by a lot. The value of this kind of thing was obviously not cheap, and it required a lot of money to buy. If the territory was seriously damaged, this kind of supply would probably be interrupted.
"According to the information obtained, the strength of this group of bandits isn't that strong. It's just that they don't have a fixed gathering place and often move."
Viscount Fergus waved his hand.
"Fortunately."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it was rare for a powerful Blood Warrior to appear among the roaming Bandits, and powerful Blood Warriors could usually easily find a good job, it was not always the case.
In the kingdom, there would occasionally be some strong blood warriors who were wanted by the kingdom because of their mistakes and joined the bandit group. Moreover, some nobles would also train some bandits to achieve the goal of quickly amassing wealth and attacking the enemy family.
"So don't worry, it's not too serious."
Viscount Fergus concluded.
"Father, can you bring me along?"
Just when everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Bernal's eyes moved and he opened his mouth.
Viscount Fergus looked at Bernal in surprise. His eyes were filled with gratification, and he was obviously very satisfied with Bernal's actions. However, after some consideration, he shook his head and said.
"The time spent this time should be longer, and there isn't much value in gaining experience. Next time, if there is a suitable opportunity, I will bring you along. I look forward to the opportunity for us father and son to go to the battlefield together."
"Yes, father."
Bernal's face was slightly regretful, but he was rather happy in his heart. Everyone could see that his performance just now had added a lot of points to him in Viscount Fergus's heart.
The next morning, after being sent off by Gray and the others, Viscount Fergus, who was wearing a golden battle suit and had a head full of golden hair, exuding a faint aura of majesty, rode a war horse with blood red hair. He led more than three hundred armored warriors on war horses and left the castle in a grandiose manner.
Behind him, at a place slightly behind him, were two middle-aged men.
One of the middle-aged men was wearing a brown battle suit. He was tall and sturdy, and his face was square. There was an obvious killing intent on his face. He was Baron Gardner Kipling, who was enfeoffed by the Fergus family ten years ago. He had the strength of an upper blood warrior.
The other middle-aged man was wearing a beige battle suit. He was of medium build and had a strand of beard on his chin. His face was slightly rigid.
He came from the Ricardo family, a Baron family enfeoffed by the Fergus family fifty years ago. He was Baron Gerbert Ricardo of this generation of the Ricardo family. He also had the strength of an upper blood warrior.
Behind the two of them, there were seven men in black battle suits. The seven of them were all Lords.
Two Barons, seven Lords, and Lord Lynd Niassen, who was in charge of guarding the castle. These were all the nobles within the Fergus family's territory.
Generally speaking, a Viscount could be enfeoffed with three Barons and ten Lords. A Count could be enfeoffed with three Viscounts and ten Lords. Above that, Marquises, Dukes, and so on.
Because these bandits were roaming everywhere, they needed to be split into several groups to search for them. Therefore, Viscount Fergus had conscripted all the nobles and warriors within his territory.
"The nobles of this world have so much power. Not only can they enfeoffe lower nobles, but they can also openly command an army."
Watching Viscount Fergus and his entourage ride off into the distance, Gray's heart surged with emotion. He couldn't help but feel a trace of desire to become a noble.
In his eyes, the nobles of this world were practically local tyrants who ruled over their own territories.
Not only did they have the right to self-rule their territory, but they also had the right to enfeoffe and dismiss nobles and officials. They could also openly recruit and train an army. There was even no limit to the number of troops they could recruit.
Of course, considering the ability of the territory to support them, the number of troops that each noble could support was limited. Even so, it was already extremely impressive.
In reality, it wasn't just Gray. Seeing such a scene, even Bernal and Elise's eyes couldn't help but blaze with passion. The feeling of commanding a troop of over three hundred cavalry was something that the two of them yearned for.
Only when the troop had disappeared from sight did the people in the castle return to the castle.
Gray headed to a secluded area of the castle that he'd found earlier, and prepared to begin his training for the day.
Although the progress of his training was gratifying, and he should be able to become a low-level Blood Warrior again in at most a month, he still hoped that this time would be faster. Therefore, he never slacked off in his training every day.
Not long after he left, Elise looked gloomily at the male servant following behind her.
"Do you know where that fellow is training now?"
The male servant following her was a man in his twenties. He had some freckles on his face and a shrewd look in his eyes. When he heard her question, he quickly replied.
"I've already asked. He's near the secluded house in the south of the castle."
"Hmph, lead the way. I'd like to see what he's up to."
Elise snorted coldly and followed the male servant towards the secluded house where Gray usually trained.