Lying in bed and recovering felt like it took forever.

This world didn’t have cell phones, so besides staring at the ceiling and trading verbal jabs with Kase, there wasn’t much else to pass the time.

It was worth mentioning that the food in Dragon’s Fang Castle was actually pretty good.

For every meal, the two of them got to eat delicious stews made with fresh meat and seasonal vegetables. Most of the time, there was even fresh fruit, which was quite a rare treat. The fruit sold in the slums was never very fresh.

For a moment, it even made Colin recall his life before he’d transmigrated.

During this time, whenever he had a spare moment, he also wondered what kind of person the visiting noble would be.

There were over eighty renowned and influential families in Thousand Masts City.

Commerce, military, agriculture... these families controlled all the city’s affairs, and there was fierce competition among them.

This system of nobility was probably similar to that of the late Middle Ages.

In other words, nobility was actually a symbol of capability. Wealthy merchants, skilled soldiers, powerful Adventurers... as long as you were exceptional in some area, there was a high probability of being ennobled.

Of course, old-school nobles tied to their lands also existed.

Such people generally looked down upon the new nobility who lacked a "noble bloodline."

Just as in the late Middle Ages, the various families here were entangled in grievances and interests that were difficult for outsiders to comprehend.

Even powerful Adventurers were unwilling to get involved in the political vortex of these nobles. The power of these great houses was enough to crush most individuals who acted alone, and in extreme cases, they could even call upon Legendary figures for help.

To put it bluntly, it was a stinking cesspool.

So, now that he was about to meet a noble, Colin was a little nervous. Over the past few days, he had specifically warned Kase not to say anything reckless.

Who knew what words might wound a noble’s pride? That would just spell trouble.

On the third day, just as Colin and Kase were scheming against each other over the fresh apples on their plates, the door creaked open.

Immediately after, the commander of Dragon’s Fang Castle and a few veterans entered first. They were dressed in formal Armor with weapons hanging at their waists—fully armed, you could say.

Seeing this formation, Colin knew the so-called noble was about to arrive.

And things went just as he expected.

The corner of a woolen robe appeared at the doorway first, and its owner stepped into the room right after.

Colin stared at the young face, slightly stunned.

"I had a feeling it was you, Colin and Kase," the visitor said with a smile.

’Isn’t this the village chief from Flint Village? So I just happened to run into this noble while he was inspecting one of the villages under his jurisdiction?’

Colin said impassively, "It’s an honor to see you again, esteemed sir."

Kase took a bite of his apple, chewing so hard that juice sprayed everywhere.

’Crap, this guy’s a poor sod. We’re not getting any money out of this.’ Just by looking at the Half-Orc’s expression, Colin could guess that’s exactly what he was thinking.

The young noble glanced at the Half-Orc, and his expression seemed to stiffen slightly.

Colin could only pray that the man’s ability to read people wasn’t sharp enough to decipher a Half-Orc’s expression.

"Perhaps I should reintroduce myself. I am Albert Weston. I’d be very pleased if you would just call me Albert."

"Alright, Albert."

The commander standing to the side seemed a little surprised. "You know each other?"

"These are the heroes who took care of the Winter Wolf in Flint Village," the young noble explained.

"Wasn’t the one who dealt with the Winter Wolf Colin Kase? A burly human over two meters tall with a strange surname."

"I heard he grabbed the giant wolf by the tail and just ripped its hide clean off. They say the pelt is still displayed in the hall in Flint Village."

The two veterans beside them spoke one after another, and their words made Colin break out in a cold sweat.

The commander, however, looked rather incredulous.

"These are the ones? Forgive me, but they’re just... uh..."

"An amateur in Leather Armor and a Half-Orc in linen clothes, right?" Colin finished the man’s sentence for him, then added, "In that battle, luck was on our side."

"Luck can be on anyone’s side, but victory only stands with the strong. You are truly a hero—and one who has saved both a village and a fortress, back-to-back." The commander’s expression grew serious.

A newfound respect appeared in the eyes of the veterans beside him.

Seeing their reactions, Colin suspected that if he tried to be humble again, he might actually get cursed out for it.

The young noble cleared his throat twice and said, "Sometimes, a story needs a little... embellishment."

A silence fell over the room.

Albert and Colin were both awkward for their own reasons, each trying to figure out what to say next.

You could clearly see Albert’s face turn visibly red.

He broke the silence with difficulty. "Actually, last time... you both learned of our recent situation. The Weston Family’s holdings are mainly located north of Thousand Masts City, which means trade routes and a small portion of the agriculture and timber industries.

But the recent severe winter has had a huge impact. We need a lot of money to maintain order and support our conscripted troops, so..."

Kase swallowed his apple with a GULP.

"We understand." As he replied, Colin glanced at Kase, who just gave him an innocent shrug.

The Half-Orc hadn’t said a word, but he still gave off a strange vibe.

"Even in terms of equipment, what I have on hand is... Regardless, we still have many friends. If you have any requests, I will absolutely do my best to help."

Albert continued, "For example, with your abilities, I feel you shouldn’t be mere ’New Bloods’."

"Uh... what’s New Blood?" Colin asked.

"You don’t know? For recruited field agents, the City Watcher has established five titles. From lowest to highest, they are: New Blood, Black Robe, White Blade, Shield of Strength, and Dragon Crown. As your title increases, you’ll be assigned more difficult commissions, and the corresponding rewards and stipends will also be greater."

Colin mentally wiped away a bead of cold sweat.

’Staying as a New Blood is actually pretty good for now. My recent missions have been troublesome enough. If they got any harder, with my luck, I’d probably end up shattered to pieces.’

’But if I want to take on more valuable commissions, raising my title is definitely useful. I’ll have to ask Edwin about it when I get back.’

"So, would you like to raise your title, or is there something else...?"

A promise from a noble could mean many things.

But Colin spoke without a second thought: "I’d like to ask about Kase. He’s been Cursed, and I think a renowned Priest or someone similar might be able to solve it."

"Don’t ask about that. We’ve asked tons of people—Shamans, Priests, Druids... no one has a solution."

Although Kase grumbled discouragingly, you could see his spirits had lifted considerably.

"Oh? May I ask what the specific circumstances are?" Albert asked.