CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 74: HERE TO COLLECT A DEBT?

Reception Room.

On one side, the attendants’ uniforms were bright red with black and white stripes, while on the other side, they were blue and white.

Behind the "distinguished guest" Delin was a young man with a head full of silver hair, who looked like a butler.

When Fulon and Lin Ke came in, the child named Delin didn’t speak; instead, he looked them over indifferently, focusing particularly on Lin Ke.

"Greetings, esteemed guest."

Fulon lifted one side of her dress and bowed slightly.

"Hello." Lin Ke echoed, his expression calm.

The lady of the house smiled broadly as she stood up with grace and enthusiasm, speaking to Lin Ke and Fulon:

"Sister, come over quickly. Come, Little Lin Ke, come sit with your aunt."

As the future heir, Lin Ke should sit next to that Delin.

However, seeing Lin Ke’s calm demeanor, Delin snorted slightly through his nose: "I heard you’ve been enlightened? What bloodline is it? Is it an above-average one?"

His voice was full of condescension and arrogance.

Lin Ke sat on the chair, feeling a wave of disappointment.

Is this the level of the great nobility here?

This noble child is so rude!

Isn’t noble etiquette supposed to start with introducing oneself?

Who are you, asking so many questions, and am I supposed to tell you what bloodline I have? That’s a secret, don’t you know?

But...

It’s actually easy to deal with such inexplicably arrogant children.

Lin Ke gave Delin a humble smile, like a rabbit submitting to a tiger: "Yes, enlightened."

Seemingly sensing Lin Ke’s humble smile, Delin nodded maturely and asked again: "Hmm, not bad, what bloodline?"

"Mr. Delin, isn’t bloodline supposed to be a secret?" Lin Ke continued to smile, but this time the smile was one of a hedgehog submitting rather than a rabbit.

Seeing Lin Ke’s cautiousness, Delin burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you’re killing me, hillbilly, truly a hillbilly, Uncle Fidel, these hillbillies really don’t know! Hahaha... you’re killing me..."

"To make you happy is their honor." The butler Fidel’s mouth curved slightly upward as he bowed.

As soon as the words were spoken, the surrounding attendants’ expressions changed dramatically.

Hillbilly?!

Calling their young master a hillbilly?!

The Azanen attendants’ eyes burned with anger, but they could only bow their heads, unable to do anything.

They knew Delin was a distinguished guest.

If they acted rashly, it wouldn’t be good for Young Master Like.

And Lin Ke...

Lin Ke continued to smile, first gently tapping Fulon’s hand with his small hand.

Fulon had been frowning, but when Lin Ke tapped her, her brow relaxed, and she said nothing.

Then Lin Ke glanced at Antova next to Fulon.

Antova was still smiling, but her eyes narrowed as she exchanged a glance with him.

Lin Ke instantly understood their intentions.

"Mr. Delin, may I know from what noble place you hail?"

Lin Ke asked softly, his smile like a stick probing a clump of grass.

He was probing to see if this clump of grass was rubbish or Immortal Grass.

If it was from somewhere significant, so be it; but if it was just from a stronger Viscount or a weaker Count, that would be interesting.

And Antova too, should have properly introduced herself upon entering; without clarity, who knows who Delin is.

"Me? Hmph."

Delin’s mouth seemed unable to produce a sound, only making "hmph hmph hmph" noises, like a proud pig.

At least, that’s what Lin Ke thought.

"Uncle Fidel, tell them." Delin glanced at Lin Ke and then turned his head away.

The young butler Fidel behind him bowed slightly and said in a gentle voice: "We come from the ancient Blue Clan."

Blue Clan!

Lin Ke’s eyes flashed at these words.

This surname sounds ordinary, but if replaced with another title, it might be more famous.

That would be the Deep Blue Clan!

Located to the east, the Deep Blue Clan!

The people of this clan possess an ancient bloodline; currently, the powerful Deep Blue Duke in the Gula Kingdom is the leader of the Blue Clan.

Moreover, the Deep Blue Duke is a legend, ruling dozens of planes, with formidable personal strength and power.

Ah, I understand...

Lin Ke suddenly understood something, looking at Delin: "May I ask the purpose of your visit this time?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

Delin held hostility towards Lin Ke because Lin Ke hadn’t shown the fearful and respectful attitude he expected.

It’s known that among the other rural minor nobles Delin encounters, eighty percent are fearful and respectful, and the remaining twenty percent are groveling, eager to kiss his toes.

"You owe me 280,000 gold coins, when will you repay?" Delin snorted lightly.

Lin Ke chuckled: "I don’t recall ever owing you gold coins?"

Before Delin could speak, Antova chimed in, but was discreetly stopped by Lin Ke’s gesture.

Delin didn’t notice Lin Ke’s gesture and instead looked incredulous: "You’re going to default? You’re actually going to default on my father’s debt? Do you know who my father is?"

He even turned to look at the butler beside him.

The butler narrowed his eyes, looking at Lin Ke.

No one has ever defaulted on a debt to the Deep Blue Duke, not even the great His Majesty Insomnia of the Gula Kingdom.

Lin Ke shook his head: "You just said I owe you a debt, not that I owe the Deep Blue Duke, or that my father owes the Deep Blue Duke a debt."

Little one, ever heard of word games?

If I were a native rural minor noble, who knows how I’d curry favor with you.

Unfortunately, I come from a world where everyone is equal, at least outwardly, but my dignity will not be easily insulted.

Unless there’s money involved.

Besides... in a place where might is right, who cares whose son you are, you’re not your dad.

"This..." Little Delin seemed to have realized something and didn’t know what to say for a moment.

"Honorable Young Master Like, we are here representing the Duke’s wishes," the butler, unfazed, softly reminded Lin Ke: "There are only a few months left until the repayment date..."

Lin Ke nodded slightly, explaining: "I have no intention of defaulting on the Deep Blue Duke’s money, it’s just that there are still a few months left..."

"But didn’t Viscount Azanen die?" Little Delin suddenly shouted, seemingly surprised: "He’s dead, how will you repay? Just give me the castle and farms directly!"

The truth revealed!

Delin was, after all, a child, exposing the purpose of the trip in a moment.

Coming to demand money was false, coming to preemptively seize property was the real goal.

And hearing "Viscount Azanen is dead," everyone’s expression changed instantly.

Lin Ke narrowed his eyes: "Viscount Azanen is just trapped in another plane, he hasn’t been declared dead... are you so sure he’s dead, does that mean this death is related to you, Young Master Delin?"

"Or... is this the Deep Blue Duke’s intention? To come collect debts before they’re due, and infringe on the interests of other Gula Kingdom nobles?"

The statement "Viscount Azanen is dead" spoken by Delin could cause a scandal if it got out.

If Delin were responsible for Garoce’s death, the issue would be significant, as Garoce has the Azanen Family backing him.

Although Azanen is just a small rural family at the border, its network of connections is intricate and well-established locally.

Moreover, if the Deep Blue Duke were to collect a debt a few months early, it would clearly be a breach of promise.

For honor-bound nobility, this is unforgivable.

Let alone a few months early, even a few days early is a breach of trust.

As for Delin...

When all is said and done, Delin is just one of the Duke’s sons, not to mention how many descendants the Duke has, it’s estimated he has a dozen or twenty sons alone.

Along with various collateral lines and illegitimate children, it’s inevitable there are hundreds or thousands of contemporaries.

If he’s not a descendant valued by the Deep Blue Duke, Delin, if he revealed involvement in a Viscount’s death, he might be ruined.

If, furthermore, it appeared he falsely represented the Deep Blue Duke, damaging the Blue Clan’s honor, Delin would be done for.

"I... I... you’re talking nonsense!" Delin’s face flushed at Lin Ke’s words.

Lin Ke smiled slightly: "It’s not me saying it, it’s you, Young Master Delin, you said Viscount Azanen is already dead, you said you came to seize our castle."

Hmph, you want to seize the castle and farms? Dream on!