Chapter 628: Chapter 401: Easily Obtained_2
The next day.
White Tower second-floor study.
Colin stepped in, where Erwin Roon was sitting behind a walnut desk, fiddling with a golden pendant in his hand.
"Good morning, Lord Erwin."
"Good morning, Colin. Is there something you came to see me about?" Erwin looked up, his voice filled with curiosity.
Colin hesitated. It was indeed rash to inquire so abruptly about another family’s secret treasure.
But the treasure that could grant someone a Talent was exceedingly rare, and in his more than two years of searching, he had found nothing.
He decided he would ask first, and if that failed, consider other plans.
Thinking this, Colin began cautiously, "Lord Erwin, I heard that the Roon Royal Family possesses something special named Golden Flame Barley, which can bestow the Flame Talent..."
"Do you want the Golden Flame Barley?" Erwin interrupted Colin’s narration.
"...Yes." Colin shifted his gaze to Erwin’s face.
The elder’s face was austere, scrutinizing him with piercing eyes that betrayed little emotion.
His expression was unreadable, just continuously caressing that somewhat familiar golden pendant... Wasn’t that the symbol of the Yista School?
While the old wizard’s strength seemed unremarkable now, in terms of experience, Colin couldn’t hold a candle to him.
So, when Erwin fell silent, Colin couldn’t discern his thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he continued in a sincere tone:
"It may be impertinent to request this, but if you are willing, I can offer a Magic Stone or any other fair price for the Golden Flame Barley."
Erwin didn’t respond, only weighing silently in his mind.
He indeed had the Golden Flame Barley, an item usable only by First Rank Wizards.
Moreover, due to the decline of the Roon Family in recent years, he had a surplus left unused.
Yet, it was the foundation of the entire Roon Family, not to be used lightly...
"I’m sorry, the Roon Family tradition does not allow Golden Flame Barley to be sold outside, it may only be used by members of the Roon Family." Erwin shook his head gently, declining Colin’s request.
A hint of disappointment crossed Colin’s face, but it was somewhat expected; it would have been surprising if Erwin had agreed.
"Very well, Lord Erwin. Then I won’t disturb you any further."
Colin turned and left the White Tower, feeling slightly dejected.
Yet before Colin could come up with a new plan, the situation took an unexpected turn.
That very evening.
Erwin suddenly summoned him.
Arriving at the third floor of the White Tower, Erwin stood by a square-shaped window, the setting sun’s rays turning his white hair to flaming orange, as if ignited.
He was gazing into the distance, his figure somewhat forlorn.
"I can provide you with the Golden Flame Barley, but you must agree to a condition," Erwin’s voice was somewhat deep, making Colin feel a bit odd, he subconsciously responded, "Tell me, as long as it’s a reasonable request, I can agree."
Erwin turned around; his face, which Colin thought would be stern, bore a slight smile.
"Come out, Jennifer," he called toward the staircase not far away.
Colin gasped slightly, turning his head instinctively.
A young girl in a Victorian-style elaborate white dress carefully descended the stairs, holding her skirt.
Her features were not particularly striking, but her youth lent her the unripe vitality characteristic of young girls.
At this moment, she looked at Colin, then at her great-grandfather, her thin face reddening, seemingly overwhelmed with shyness and anxiety, a flushed hue spreading to her polished shoulders and collarbone, shimmering attractively against her white dress.
"This is my great-granddaughter, Jennifer, an Advanced Wizard Apprentice... greet Lord Colin."
"Lord Colin." Despite her shyness, Jennifer moved gracefully forward, lifting her skirt to curtsy to Colin.
"Lord Erwin... what is this?"
Erwin smiled, "Golden Flame Barley is never used outside the Roon Family, but if you agree to marry Jennifer, then I can gift you a bundle of Golden Flame Barley."
Before Colin could respond with his stunned expression, Erwin continued:
"Of course, marrying Jennifer doesn’t mean you have to join the Roon Family. The only condition is that your first child must take the Roon surname. How about that?"
Jennifer had already lowered her head beside him, her earlobes slightly flushed.
Amidst the chaos in Colin’s heart, he couldn’t help wondering why Erwin would propose such a condition.
"Sorry, Lord Erwin, I haven’t considered getting married yet."
However, regardless, he naturally couldn’t agree to such terms... It seemed he had to find another way to obtain the Flame Talent.
Erwin didn’t continue the conversation but simply squinted his eyes, assessing Colin, whose expression was resolute.
Beside him, Jennifer’s blush had unknowingly faded, and her head had buried even deeper.
"You may leave us, Jennifer."
"Yes, great-grandfather..."
The elegantly dressed girl slowly walked away, her footsteps gradually fading, and the area beside the window quieted down again.
A desire to retreat sprang up in Colin’s mind:
"If there’s nothing else, then I won’t disturb you any longer..."
"I can give you the Golden Flame Barley, Colin." Erwin had moved to the window at some point, the outside brightness growing faint, his white hair dyed by the night, blending into the twilight outside.
"You won’t have to pay any steep price," Erwin turned around and pulled a bunch of barley from his robe, the gem-like barley grains emitting a flame-like glow in the dim night, resembling a cluster of golden flames.
As Erwin approached Colin, he took out a metal badge shaped like a barley sheaf and snapped it into two halves.
"In the future, if you see a descendant of the Roon Family holding this half of the badge, I only hope you can fulfill a request within your capabilities.
Of course, it’s not mandatory... You can choose to agree or not, depending entirely on your thoughts, Colin."
Erwin spread his palm, offering the Golden Flame Barley and the half-badge to Colin.
The latter looked up at Erwin, trying to determine if this was a jest.
But in the old wizard’s eyes, he could discern nothing; they were like a tranquil yet profound pond.
"I will, Lord Erwin."
After a moment of consideration, Colin reached out and took the Golden Flame Barley and the half-badge.
He trusted his own abilities and didn’t believe Erwin would set a trap for him without reason.
Behind Erwin’s actions... there must be some unknown event taking place.
Seeing Colin accept the Golden Flame Barley and the badge, Erwin smiled.
He was familiar with all the wizards stationed in the Roon Kingdom, but no matter how he observed, Colin was the most special among them.
In terms of talent, he was the sole Golden Feather, the rest were lackluster, peripheral wizards.
In behavior, only he consistently showed up for duty most of the time.
Of course, most crucially—this Golden Feather was not close to any School, at least not at present.
All these special qualities made Colin like a white wolf among sheep; initially, he might be mistaken for one of them because of the same fur, but ultimately he would stand out, making it impossible to ignore his presence.
Erwin believed that this wizard before him was a worthy investment.
And now, the Roon Family needed such future investments... just in case.
"I won’t disturb you any further then, thank you, Lord Erwin." Colin carefully stored away the Golden Flame Barley and the half-badge, his heart leaping with joy.
Though he wasn’t sure what was happening, exchanging a simple promise within his capabilities for Golden Flame Barley was clearly a very profitable deal.
Watching Colin leave, the sound of his footsteps echoing as he descended the stairs, Erwin couldn’t help but recall the sudden command that had come from Neustadt City that afternoon—
"Lord Erwin, I regret to inform you that due to the impact of the war, after discussion by the Neustadt School Alliance, we need to increase Roon Kingdom’s grain harvest contribution by an additional ten percent this year..."
Honestly, an increase of just ten percent wasn’t crippling, but it was clearly a gradual encroachment like boiling a frog in warm water!
Turning to look out at the night from the window, a shadow slowly cast over Erwin’s eyes.
’Perhaps, it’s time to consider the last resort.’