Chapter 28: The Nobles' Association
Namir did not mind obtaining the title of Baron, nor did he entertain the possibility of being recognized by anyone. After all, he had been legally dead in the records for twenty years and had undergone numerous experiences that altered his aura from what it once was. His mind was at ease in this regard, and securing the Baron title would grant him special privileges and discounts on various financial fees.
..
Namir exited the station and found himself in an upscale, grand street—he was in one of the most prestigious noble districts in the eastern section of the capital: the Al-Andalus district.
Before him stood a massive, ornate building whose walls were decorated with small sculptures of royal knights, their swords piercing through demons.
He noticed the building's green gate, decorated with two soldiers whose swords crossed. To the right and left of the gate stood two huge men hiding behind their iron shields, guarding the building; they resembled human ogres.
He sighed upon seeing them and muttered to himself as he glanced at his black glove for a second, "They are Pathfinders... How I pity the thieves."
Namir approached the building until he stood before the massive door. Before either guard could speak, he pulled the silver medal from his pocket and showed it to them, saying, "I have some important business."
Both guards nodded and pushed open a section of the stone door with a single hand. The friction of the door's base against the floor was loud enough to alert the staff inside to the arrival of a noble.
Namir slipped the silver medal back into his pocket and entered the building.
As soon as he stepped inside, a servant dressed in black and white approached him and asked respectfully, "Welcome, sir. How may we serve you?"
Namir drew a slight, subtle smile on his face before replying, "I am considering purchasing a hereditary title and a fine mansion, and there is no better branch than the Al-Andalus branch to acquire these services."
Namir attempted to portray himself as a genuine Baron seeking to establish his family within the Nobles' Association. Instead of telling the truth and informing the servant that he wanted to buy a Baron title, he lied and said he intended to purchase a hereditary title. Thus, the servant would assume he was speaking with a person of genuine influence capable of acquiring a hereditary title, and Namir added the purchase of a mansion to complete his guise.
He had originally intended to buy a modest house and save his money, but after reconsidering, he found that purchasing a mansion was a good idea to infiltrate the Nobles' Association and build a name for himself. After his meeting with Princess Eliza and her weeping, he would become a focus of attention, and he found no better solution than entering the Association to capitalize on the event as part of his performance to draw eyes.
The servant nodded at Namir's response, gestured toward a room with his hand, and said, "We can serve you well, sir. Please follow me to the room while I summon Director Rhys to assist you."
Namir nodded without replying and followed the servant to the indicated room.
The red room was filled with expensive, gleaming furniture, its color blending seamlessly with the red walls.
There were sofas in the center of the room, with a dark wooden table made of costly timber placed between them.
The servant gestured toward the sofa and spoke, "Please, sir, while I fetch you some Black Lancer Tea. The director will arrive shortly; it will not take long."
Namir nodded without replying as he sat on the sofa and waited for the director to arrive.
He noticed a paper on the table with a title written in the Vuden language: 'Ranks of Nobility'.
Namir was not ignorant of the ranks of nobility and their hierarchy due to his education before his escape, but feeling bored, he picked up the paper to read it.
'Duke: The highest rank of nobility, holding the primary word in his provinces second only to the King. He possesses absolute authority over his vast lands, and the title can only be granted by royal decree. It is inherited by only one son, though family sharing is permitted with the spouse. It is an administrative title distinguished by a gold medal trimmed with celestial gems.
Marquis: The kingdom's first line of defense, its spear and shield. His word moves soldiers and determines the kingdom's fate against enemies. Responsible for commanding several provinces, holding the strongest authority after the Duke. It can only be granted by royal decree, inherited by only one son, and cannot be shared with a spouse. It is an administrative title distinguished by a gold medal trimmed with crimson red borders.
Count: Responsible for governing an entire province, making local decisions, and overseeing the daily administration of the province's people. It can be obtained after fulfilling requirements and securing the Duke's recognition. It is an administrative and honorary title that can be passed down to the Duke's children as an honorary title upon achieving major accomplishments, such as owning an influential university or company. Distinguished by a gold medal.
Viscount: Holds authority over a city, and his power does not extend beyond it. His presence is necessary in the Count's cities to represent the region on his behalf. He possesses the authority to lead cities on behalf of the Count, and the title can be acquired with the Count's permission. It is an administrative and honorary title that can be obtained as an honorary rank through influential power, such as owning an influential university or company. Distinguished by a silver medal.
Baron: Represents the link between the nobility and commoners. Holds authority over his lands and can represent the Viscount in governing districts. An administrative and honorary title; it can be purchased with money, and the right to inherit it can also be bought with money. Distinguished by a bronze medal.'
Namir sighed after reading the paper, which condensed a vast amount of information. There were many details omitted, such as the distinction between administrative and honorary titles. Had he not been educated in the Dukedom, he would have struggled to understand the nuances and would have asked the director about them, which would have painted a weak impression of him. 'This must be a deliberate move.'
Namir suspected this was a deliberate tactic by the Association to evaluate nobles and individuals intending to purchase honorary titles. Therefore, he decided not to present himself as trivial, ensuring he reinforced the image he planned to project to cover the incident with Princess Eliza. His evaluation would spread among branch directors and influential figures.
Half a minute after he put down the paper, a bald man with a black beard, nearly two meters tall, entered the room. There was a sword scar across his eye, though it did not affect his vision. He wore a high-quality black coat over his white suit and brown trousers. He held a stack of papers in his hand, followed by the servant who had welcomed Namir, carrying two cups of tea.
Namir stood up from the sofa and extended his hand to shake the bald director's hand, saying without lying, having recognized him, "Marquis Gabryong! No one knows how amazed I am—I did not expect to meet you here! You were one of the survivors of Princess Marika's battle! I am truly grateful to you."
Gabryong was surprised by this and drew a smile on his face as he returned the handshake, saying, "Truly! It is a pleasure to meet you. I never imagined seeing one of the survivors here. How many years has it been?!"
Namir responded immediately in a lively voice while gesturing toward the sofa across from him, "Twenty-two years. From that moment until today, I have been grateful to you. I saw death before my eyes back then; had it not been for you, I would be dead. I truly did not expect to meet you. Please, take a seat, Lord Marquis."
Marquis Gabryong shook his head and chuckled, "No, no, please, after you. You are the guest, and I am the branch director; I should see to your comfort, not the other way around."
Namir refused to sit before the Marquis, but the Marquis immediately took Namir by the shoulder and urged him down, laughing, "You have brought back so many memories. That was a fierce battle."
Namir smiled without replying. The servant placed the tea on the table and departed. As soon as he left, Namir chuckled and complimented, "How long have you been working here? Had I known, I would have come a long time ago."
Marquis Gabryong raised his hand behind his head and said, "In truth, I have been here for two years. When I passed the title to my son, I intended to relax, but I received an invitation from Queen Marika, and through her influence, I became the director of this branch."
Namir was astonished for a second, and the former Marquis continued, "Men's wars never end."
Namir agreed and laughed. When he was seven years old, the Lansot Empire attacked the borders of the Vallo Dukedom, penetrating deep into its territory. However, Princess Marika, along with the Marquis, devised a trap to defeat the commander of the Empire's army. It succeeded flawlessly; the Marquis seized the moment of his fall and, with a swift counterstrike, crushed the majority of the Empire's forces and repelled them. Namir and his sister Force were with Princess Marika at the time.
While Namir was reminiscing, the former Marquis's voice interrupted him, saying, "I didn't expect one of the survivors to become a Baron and purchase a hereditary title—and from the branch I oversee!"
Namir's lips twitched slightly before he replied, placing a hand behind his neck, "In truth, I am not yet a Baron, but I will purchase the title, and I will acquire it as a hereditary title." Namir paused for a second before adding with a laugh, "I only said that earlier to project an image of myself before the servant."
The former Marquis stared at Namir's face for a second and said, "That is remarkably candid. I am certain you would act brilliantly if you were an administrative Baron."
Namir laughed and said, "Your praise embarrasses me."
The Marquis picked up the papers, handed them to Namir, and said, "Then, we should begin with the official paperwork."
..
After filling out the papers and having them reviewed by the Marquis, Namir pulled three 10,000-Lir notes from his wallet and handed them to the former Marquis as fees: 24,000 for the Baron title and 6,000 to make it hereditary.
The former Marquis did not ask where Namir obtained the money or how he gathered it, as Namir had recorded that he worked as a professor at the University of Patis, meaning he would earn that amount in two months with his salary of 20,000 a month.
After taking the money, the Marquis left the room and instructed the servants to begin carving a bronze medal bearing the name of the Dagon family. It took him some time to return as he searched for the documents regarding available mansions.
Upon his return, he handed the papers to Namir and waited for him while sipping tea as Namir chose the mansion he would select, for he could not retract his decision once made.
..
As Namir browsed through the mansions, he found one in the papers he had not expected. He adjusted his posture and read its details.
'Viconiter Mansion on Blessing of the Fire God Street, Al-Andalus District:
An ancient mansion built 200 years ago from antique jade stones possessing spiritual resonance. It served as the main mansion of the Habsburg Dukedom in the capital, Trakis. Built to exceptional quality, it will remain standing for another two hundred years.
Located at the beginning of Blessing of the Fire God Street, three minutes away from the steam metro. It features a prime location free from major disturbances.
The mansion consists of three floors and includes 17 rooms, excluding the kitchen on the first floor, the two lounge rooms on the second floor, and the master bedroom on the second floor. Among the 17 rooms, there are 5 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and a small kitchenette.
The backyard is equipped with a horse stable accommodating up to 16 horses, three carriages, and a rear area formerly used for training soldiers. The mansion also includes private servants' quarters—nine rooms in total: 6 rooms for females and 3 for males, each containing a private bathroom, four beds, a simple desk for servants, a common kitchen, and a shared laundry room.
The mansion's price is 445,000 Lir from the Association, fully prepared for immediate use with new furniture, while retaining antique relics such as paintings.'
Namir adjusted his posture after reading the paper and stared slowly at his black glove.
In the past, Namir had received a curse upon his soul that reincarnated him into a new body whenever he died. Each rebirth felt like a curse, leaving the past buried in the folds of history, as in every life he had to restart the cycle and walk the Pathfinder world from scratch.
In one of his past lives, he was the official heir to the Habsburg Dukedom, and he was the one who built this mansion and constructed a secret cellar to store his Aether tools.
However, that was 200 years ago, and the cellar would certainly have been uncovered over time. Moreover, enough years had passed for most of the tools to have degraded..
The Marquis noticed that Namir had paused and was contemplating one of the documents. With a quick glance, he recognized the mansion and said, "It is a fine mansion. I was present two weeks ago during its renovation. However, its daily maintenance costs, from servants' salaries to food and wine, can reach around 9,000 Lir a month."
"Still, it is situated in a good area, and the neighbors are people of respectable professions and influence across various fields.. What kind of head butler are you looking for? I can recommend some excellent staff to you."
Namir hummed softly, contemplating before replying in a calm tone, "Well.. it would be best if they have previously served a noble family and possess experience in managing a mansion and its expenses." This type of servant would assist him in expanding his social circle.
Marquis Gabryong went silent for a moment to recall his acquaintances before speaking, "Servants with these qualifications are rare. As you know, nobles seldom change their servants, as they possess knowledge of secrets; the more experience they have, the more information they hold. However, we do have three servants who match what you are looking for and are ready to work. Would you mind if I bring their documents? Or would you prefer to meet them? I can send them wherever you wish."
Namir picked up his teacup and drank the small amount that remained before replying, "It would be faster to read their documents, but I prefer meeting them in person. Could you send them to the Viconiter Mansion? Today at five in the afternoon would be suitable."
Marquis Gabryong nodded and said contentedly, "Am I to understand that you have settled your decision on purchasing this mansion? I can bring the property deed and the key right now. Given the circumstances, you may pay a portion of the amount, and we will grant you a six-month grace period to pay the total cost."
Marquis Gabryong stood on his feet and extended his hand toward Namir, saying, "A deal?"
Initially, Namir had been hesitant to use Bakr's medal to secure a discount, but upon receiving the grace period, he set the idea aside, stood up as well, and returned the handshake, saying, "A deal!"
Marquis Gabryong smiled and said as he gripped Namir's hand firmly, "I will instruct the servants to craft the medal immediately and bring it with them to the mansion. You can wait a short while while I fetch the key and the property deed. As a token of goodwill, we will gift you a private carriage complete with a driver."
Namir drew a smile on his face and nodded his head in gratitude without replying.