Under the perfect concealment of the Shroud of the Gloomy Night.
Lin Gui and Elvia slipped silently into Duke Joseph's Mansion like two ghosts.
Upon entering, Lin Gui felt for the first time the staggering wealth possessed by a top-tier power holder in the Royal Capital.
The paths beneath their feet were paved with solid white jade featuring natural cloud patterns, polished so brightly they reflected one's silhouette.
Hanging on both sides of the corridors were not ordinary oil paintings, but Epic Scrolls imbued with magic to maintain dynamic light and shadow effects.
The battlefields within the paintings even emitted faint sounds of slaughter and bugle calls.
Exquisite porcelain pieces taller than a person and lifelike specimens of demon beasts were visible everywhere.
Armor and weapons inlaid with various gemstones served as decorations.
The passing maids and stewards were dressed in uniform.
Their fabrics were of better quality than those worn by wealthy merchants, and they moved with trained silence.
The air was permeated with the rich fragrance of expensive spices and fresh flowers.
Elvia lay on Lin Gui’s back, her face almost pressed against his shoulder as she looked at everything before them greedily.
She sighed softly, her tone carrying an unmistakable envy and even a hint of jealousy:
“A noble should live like Joseph... Compared to this, my princess mansion is like the house of some backwater local tyrant.”
“I’m afraid only the Carter Palace, situated at the peak of Stellar Mountain, can surpass him in grandeur and luxury.”
Lin Gui had no interest in her sentiments and cut straight to the point.
“Where is his secret treasury?”
Elvia reined in her thoughts and spoke the truth with some helplessness:
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure.”
“Joseph is an old fox who hides things too deeply; even the informants I planted in his mansion have only heard vague rumors.”
She lowered her voice, as if sharing a secret:
“Some say the entrance to his treasure vault is behind the massive floor-to-ceiling mirror in his bedroom.”
“Others say there is a mechanism in his private study leading to a secret underground vault.”
“There are even more outrageous rumors saying he hid his most valuable treasures at the bottom of that massive man-made lake on the grounds...”
After hearing this, Lin Gui commented flatly.
“It would be good if Theia were here.”
“With her vision and keen perception of energy fluctuations, she would find the hidden mechanisms or compartments much faster.”
Elvia nodded in deep agreement.
“That girl’s eyes are indeed formidable, like searchlights, especially when finding treasures. However, the guards at Duke Joseph's Mansion are no pushovers either.”
She began to count the defensive forces here, her tone growing solemn:
“There are twenty-six High-tier Transcendent Knights stationed permanently within the mansion alone!”
“There are two hundred and forty-nine Transcendent Rank warriors and mages combined!”
“And that’s just inside the mansion! Next door is his camp of three thousand private soldiers, which includes two thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine High Rank warriors!”
“That number is almost enough to rival a formal knight order or a city defense legion of the Royal Capital!”
Lin Gui suddenly asked, “Does Gorn also come from here?”
Elvia nodded.
“Yes. Gorn was practically raised by Joseph, who poured a massive amount of resources into him.”
“To train Gorn into a Legendary archer, Joseph spent no less than five hundred thousand gold coins just to purchase the blueprints and materials for the Magic-Breaking Arrows.”
“He even hired two Legendary Rangers from transport teams to take turns instructing him. Those fees were astronomical.”
“Not to mention the tailor-made demi-artifact longbow and the various secret elixirs to enhance perception and agility...”
Elvia let out a bitter laugh.
“Now you know why the vast majority of adventurers are stuck below High-tier Transcendent?”
Lin Gui replied flatly, “I know. Improving a warrior’s strength requires a mountain of resources, and the advancement of a mage is a bottomless money pit.”
Indeed.
Whether it was the precious materials and potions needed for a warrior to hone their body and break through bottlenecks.
Or the ancient scrolls, experimental materials, and guidance from master mages required for a mage to study profound magic.
Or even the powerful equipment that both must update as their strength rose...
Every single thing required a massive amount of gold coins as support.
Furthermore, as one’s strength grew, many things could no longer be bought with just money.
Elvia sighed with shared sentiment.
“Exactly! Just training one High-tier Transcendent knight to breakthrough to Legendary almost drained my private savings as a princess!”
“Not to mention those adventurers from commoner backgrounds.”
“Commoners with exceptional talent basically have only three paths to advance further.”
“Either join the nobility as guards or knights, trading their freedom for resources.”
“Either risk their lives in ancient ruins where survival is unlikely, like Rona.”
“Or join a transport team, which has extremely high returns but also extremely high mortality rates and entry requirements.”
These words made Lin Gui realize once again the value of the system.
If the system hadn't directly funneled mana into his body.
He would likely be scurrying around like other mages for a High Rank magic scroll or a potion to increase his mana.
He might even have to take desperate risks.
Ordinary mages needed to spend a vast amount of time meditating to accumulate mana.
They had to spend a fortune to purchase or transcribe higher-tier grimoires.
They needed expensive materials to practice magic control.
And they had to pay exorbitant tuition fees to higher-tier mages for knowledge...
And from the journey starting at New Covenant City up until now.
Lin Gui had hardly ever meditated 'properly' like a traditional mage.
Yet, his strength had steadily reached Mid-tier High Rank.
This was a full half-year ahead of his original plan.
Moreover, the mana reward for this ultra-long-distance letter delivery from Caran to the Royal Capital was estimated to be over a thousand points!
While not enough for him to immediately break through to High-tier High Rank, it wouldn't be far off.
Well... it wouldn't be long before his rank as a 'messenger mage'.
Would probably catch up to a certain princess knight currently clinging to his back.
The one who was teetering on the edge of a mental collapse from envy over Joseph's wealth.
The two of them spent several rounds sneaking around the heavily guarded Duke's Mansion.
They even risked slipping into Duke Joseph’s extremely luxurious bedroom, which was as large as a small square.
Here, Elvia’s gaze was firmly drawn to several documents on the desk involving military movements and mining approvals.
If she could get these things, they would be of great benefit to her future struggle for power.
She forced herself to suppress the urge to take them, gnashing her teeth as she left with Lin Gui, tears practically in her eyes.
Even if she took them, she couldn't use them right away, and it might trigger a frantic retaliation from the Duke.
From the mansion, they entered the expansive garden.
They discovered that the Duke's Mansion was exceptionally lively tonight.
In the massive garden behind the mansion.
A grand noble banquet was being held.
Soft magical lighting illuminated the garden like day.
Noble men and women, dressed in splendid attire and acting with elegance, gathered in small groups to chat and laugh.
Dancers in thin, gauzy skirts moved gracefully on a temporary stage.
Exquisite 'delicacies' were laid out on long dining tables.
And in the center of the crowd, the figure of the Third Prince appeared.
He was engaged in a pleasant conversation with a slightly portly, ruddy-faced middle-aged man wearing a gold-embroidered formal suit.
That was the master of this mansion, Duke Joseph.
Elvia narrowed her eyes, like a lioness that had spotted her prey.
She gently patted Lin Gui’s shoulder.
Leaning close to his ear, she spoke in an extremely low voice tinged with excitement:
“Let’s sneak over and hear what they’re saying.”
Rate on N.U.
