met free Chapter 125 Borrower VII
Chapter 125 Borrower VII
Chapter 125 Borrower VII
The Avery Desert is a dry desert located in the northern part of the kingdom.
It is located in the southern part of the palace bay, and to the east is a wilderness area directly under the control of the royal family.
Desert regions are not only barren but also lack fresh water, so apart from jujubes and sand melons, there are almost no other crops grown there.
This has led to the Avery Desert being almost entirely dependent on food imports, while the region's main economic output comes from sea and land trade with port cities along the Palace Bay.
There you can see the largest port on the north shore of the kingdom, the Bottom Port.
Dick had been there once and witnessed the grandeur of the End Harbor.
The docks were filled with boats, and the market was bustling with activity.
However, although the climate there is cool, the sun is very strong, so almost everyone wears a veil or headscarf.
And in the Avery Desert, there is also a famous school.
The Desert Knight Academy, one of the kingdom's five great knight schools.
Dick Buchanan was a knight apprentice at this school.
At this moment, he was sitting upright on the back of a tall warhorse dressed in full horse armor.
He himself was also fully armed.
Not long ago, he received a mission from the academy.
The academy sent him to Herald City to deliver a batch of personal emblems of newly appointed knight squires to the Herald Academy for entry into its heraldry archives.
Dick successfully delivered the emblem to the Herald Academy, completing his mission.
Therefore, on the return journey, he no longer needed to carry heavy items, and his travel speed was much faster than when he came.
He has now been in the Avery Desert for several days.
According to Dick's estimate, he should be able to return to the college today.
Sure enough, he arrived at the school's outskirts in less than four hours.
The surrounding area is no longer just endless, desolate ravines and sand dunes; occasionally, one can see green vitality and lush greenery.
Gradually, low camel thorns began to spread along both sides of the road.
Thanks to the roots and stems of the plants firmly gripping everything beneath the ground, the road surface under the horses' hooves could finally be called soil.
When he saw two huge red rocks standing tall in front of him, Dick knew he was back.
Those two red rocks symbolize the gates of the Desert Knight Academy.
Once you cross this seemingly indistinct boundary, you've entered the interior of the academy.
The college is situated in an oasis in the Avery Desert, but despite being an oasis, the soil here is still relatively soft and therefore cannot support the weight of tall buildings.
Therefore, most of the houses here are low, usually only one story.
Many places don't even have roofs.
It is precisely for this reason that the school occupies a very large area.
This is why, after entering the school, Dick not only did not dismount, but instead kicked the horse's belly several times with the heel of his iron boot, urging it to speed up.
The place he was heading to was called the Round Table Hall.
We are still some distance from there.
After traveling some more distance, he finally arrived at his destination.
The red rock building next to it is the Round Table Hall.
Every knight academy must have a round table hall.
The Round Table Hall is the heart of the Knights School and a symbol of the school's will and ideals.
Every major decision at the Knight Academy is made in the Round Table Hall.
For this reason, the daily offices of the school's instructors and executives are mostly located around the round table hall.
Dick dismounted and led the horse into the stable.
Ma Xin took the reins, and Chong Dike nodded slightly.
There are several livestock sheds scattered throughout the college to facilitate the activities of faculty and students within the college.
The desert is short of water and food, so livestock such as horses and camels must be cared for by special people.
Therefore, each livestock shed must have a horseman in charge.
Dick turned and walked toward a house with a courtyard next to the round table hall.
Dick was heading towards the Dean's office.
This place is not only the workplace of the college dean, but also his residence.
Dick stood at the door of the dean's office and knocked.
A short while later, someone opened the door.
Inside the door was a man around fifty years old, with long, light brown hair tied in a bun and a clean-shaven beard.
His only armor was a leather breastplate that wouldn't hinder his movements too much; he didn't even have a dagger on his belt.
This man was none other than Sir Matt, the headmaster of the Desert Knights Academy.
Knights were divided into two types: noble knights who were granted titles, and Templar knights who were granted teaching positions.
Matt belonged to the former group, but Dick never inquired about who had bestowed the title upon him.
Upon seeing Dick appear before him, Dean Matt's face immediately broke into a smile:
"You're back!"
"yes,"
Dick nodded, clenched his right fist, and slammed his finger guard heavily against the breastplate directly in front of his heart.
"All emblems have been successfully transported to the Herald Academy."
Matt nodded, waved for Dick to follow, and then turned and went inside.
In the very center of the room, there was a tactical table.
On the table is a sand table map of the continent of Ancent.
In a deep corner of the room, there is a desk, which is Matt's daily workspace.
Although this is a knight academy that cultivates martial virtue, judging from the mountain of documents piled up on that desk, the dean's workload of dealing with paperwork is equally heavy.
However, Dick had also heard that the Heralds of the Academy would review many matters in advance and provide solutions, and Matt only needed to approve them or send them back for the Heralds to give other suggestions.
In another corner, there was only a small tea table, which was where the dean received guests.
Dick is here to report on his work, so Matt should sit back down at his desk and let Dick stand at the other end to report.
But Matt chose to come to the tea table and let Dick sit down as well.
Dick was somewhat hesitant, but he obeyed the order and sat down.
Matt poured two cups of tea from the teapot and pushed one of them toward Dick:
"Try this tea. A former student of mine, now a knight of the tundra, brought it for me when he passed through Dihartoum. He said it was imported from the Far East and has a unique flavor. You've come at the right time; this is my first time drinking it too."
Dick said seriously, "Dean, this tea was brought to you by your student, but I am still just an apprentice. It seems a bit inappropriate for me to drink it."
"You're also my student. When you make a name for yourself someday, bring some cool gadgets with you and show them to me, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Dick could think of nothing to say but agree.
"Yes."
Matt nodded and continued:
"The tea from the Far East is good, but it's not cheap, Dick. Do you know how tea is transported from the Far East to the Avery Desert?"
In response to Matt's question, Dick gave a very serious answer:
"Most of them are transported by sea, and generally three main routes are chosen: the northern route, the western route, and the southern route."
Hearing this answer, Matt nodded in satisfaction and smiled, saying:
"Taking the northern route, the ships must navigate a long distance through the gloomy seas, which puts their cold-weather protection to the test."
There is also the risk of hitting an iceberg.
"The southern route requires traveling south all the way until you bypass Lieyang City and then head north, which is a very long journey."
"Although the western route is a shortcut, crossing the Holy Son Canal requires paying high taxes, and then passing through the Evil Spirit Water Corridor requires paying a large sum of money, making the cost outrageously high."
"Therefore, tea from the Far East has never been cheap—but recently the price has dropped."
Dick believed that nothing in the world changes without a reason, and this price reduction must also have a cause.
However, as he just said, he was just an apprentice, while the person sitting opposite him was the dean of the Desert Knight Academy.
Their social statuses were vastly different, and Dick shouldn't have spoken so easily.
To become a truly powerful rider, one must not only master one's weapons and body, but also control one's mouth and be careful with one's words and actions.
However, although Dick didn't ask, Matt immediately explained the reason:
"What can deter merchants is never the high taxes and tolls, nor the long journey and lonely time. As long as there is profit to be made, they will not hesitate to go through all kinds of trouble."
"What they fear and dread most are thieves. Those damned devils will ambush you on the road without warning, robbing you of all your wealth, and even your life. This is a man-made disaster, but it is comparable to a natural one."
"For maritime merchants, this specifically refers to pirates. However, the pirates who have been active on these sea routes have suddenly become much quieter, which has led to a significant drop in the prices of goods imported from the Far East."
"Ha, Dick, don't you have any thoughts on this?"
Although the knight was cautious in his words and actions, he was by no means completely silent.
Since Matt took the initiative to ask, Dick will surely respond.
Even if he had no idea, he still had to answer "I don't know," especially since he happened to know some information:
"Sea of Despair".
“That’s right,” Matt nodded. “Recently, pirates have migrated en masse to the Sea of Despair, resulting in a sharp decrease in pirate incidents in other seas. In this respect, we should thank the navigator, who discovered the new continent.”
Upon hearing this, Dick raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but reply:
"No matter the reason, a pirate is a pirate and does not deserve to be thanked. Besides, he not only discovered the New World, but also caused the barbaric slave trade to be revived."
"Oh! Of course, you're right, but I was just joking." Matt chuckled.
"You're always like this, Dick, taking everything too seriously. Being reserved and meticulous is certainly an advantage, but being straightforward isn't always the best approach."
Dick listened quietly, without replying or making any move.
Matt raised an eyebrow, then picked up his teacup:
"You're too upright, Dick. But the world may be more twisted than you think. If you continue like this, your life may become very difficult. Dick, you're a good prospect. As the dean, I have an obligation to guide every student. I want you to become better, so I suggest that you try to be more tactful and worldly at times."
After saying that, Matt seemed to have been burned by the hot water and moved his fingers along the side of the cup.
He blew a few more breaths of cold air before taking a small sip.
"Hmm~!"
After finishing his drink, Matt let out a soft sigh, then smiled and said:
"Dick, you should try it too, this tea is really good!"
Dick nodded upon hearing this, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
His tongue was burned, but he didn't flinch.
As a man, you should never show it on your face because of a little pain.
However, the tea was indeed very fragrant, and Dick tasted a hint of tar, which added a sense of richness to the tea.
Dick agreed with Matt's comments about tea, but he was somewhat dismissive of Matt's advice.
Everyone knows that knights are the representatives of justice. If even knights have to abandon justice, wouldn't that prove that this world is already corrupt and rotten?
However, he didn't say it aloud: the Knights wouldn't prove their point with words alone.
He ultimately just nodded slightly and replied:
"It tastes good."
Matt smiled and then said:
"A few snacks would make the experience even better—but let's get down to business first, who's greeting you?"
"Joseph Sanders, tutor at the Heraldry Academy."
"That's good. This matter must be handled by our mentor; otherwise, it would be an insult to us," Matt nodded. "And since you returned so quickly, it means you didn't encounter any accidents on the way?"
"Hmm," Dick nodded.
Matt shrugged. "I want you to complete the mission safely, but I don't want it to be too easy for you. I sent you there to train you; without any setbacks, the results will be greatly reduced."
"But this was undoubtedly a valuable experience."
"That's true. Well, since things are like this, we can only try to look on the bright side."
Matt smiled, stared at Dick for a long time, and then suddenly asked,
"Dick, how old are you again?"
Nineteen years old.
"Oh, yes, you're really young," Matt said. "But we warriors rely on our bodies for a living, and youth is our most precious asset. Nineteen isn't young, but it's not old either. There are plenty of people who become knights' squires at sixteen."
“I understand,” Dick nodded. “Among the emblems I’m escorting this time, one belongs to a sixteen-year-old knight squire.”
Matt brought the cup to his lips again; the water seemed to have cooled down considerably. This time, he took a large gulp.
He then put down his teacup, looked at Dick, and his expression instantly became much more serious:
"However, Dick, when you were sixteen, you also reached the level to be recommended as a knight's squire, but I kept you at the academy all along. You should have sensed that, right?"
Dick nodded. "Yes. But I think you must have a reason."
"It's amazing that you understand me. Yes, I do have my own thoughts."
Matt gave a wry smile, his expression tinged with self-reproach.
"From the first day you entered our school, the instructors here discovered your talent, and I have been keeping an eye on you ever since. Your growth has always far surpassed that of your peers, but you are never on the list of those selected as knights' attendants. You must be very disappointed."
Dick shook his head and said, "No, if I feel discouraged, it only means that I am not strong enough, which proves that I am not prepared."
"Ha, Dick, we knew we hadn't misjudged you," Matt nodded approvingly. "But you can rest assured, Dick, you are undoubtedly one of the most outstanding apprentices in recent years, and the reason we haven't let you go is to find you the path closest to the top."
"vertex?"
"The continent of Ancent is the birthplace of knights, and in this current age of faith, the pinnacle of knighthood is undoubtedly the Guardian Knight. You should know this, right?"
"Yes," Dick nodded, "the twelve knights who guarded the Great Scripture and the King were known as the Guardian Knights."
That's exactly it.
Matt said this, looking into Dick's eyes.
"And I originally intended for you to become a squire of the Guardian Knights directly."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Dick's eyes.
He never imagined that the college would keep him on campus for this reason.
Dick couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"As you just mentioned, there are twelve Guardian Knights. Of these twelve seats, four are reserved for noble sons, three are given to commoners of humble origins but exceptional martial skills, and the remaining five are divided among the five major knightly schools."
Matt explained,
"The Guardian Knights, in other words, are the king's personal bodyguards, who are always by the king's side and often have access to confidential information. Occasionally, they can also express their opinions and influence the king's decisions."
"Therefore, for the five major knight schools, vying for a seat is equivalent to vying for their respective voice within the kingdom, thereby securing more benefits for the school."
Dick understood. They wanted to send Dick to the capital to become a squire of the Royal Guard, just so they could have a better chance of getting close to him.
Once a Guardian Knight relinquishes his seat for some reason, Dick is able to seize the opportunity and fill the vacancy immediately.
Of course, if one's own strength is insufficient, then no matter how many opportunities are given, one will inevitably fail to seize them.
That's why Matt values a gifted young man like Dick so highly.
Dick asked, "So, how many Guardian Knight positions does our academy currently hold?"
"well-...·"
Matt sighed deeply, shook his head repeatedly, then raised his right hand and extended one finger.
"one?"
"That's right."
"Wouldn't that mean—"
"...I only got the guaranteed spot," Matt said with a gloomy expression. "In the last two or three decades, the number of promising talents recommended to the Desert Knight Academy has been decreasing, and those who have the potential to become pillars of the Guardian Knights are even fewer."
Hearing this, Dick finally understood why Matt valued him so much.
Matt was hoping that Dick could enter the palace, be granted the title of Guardian Knight, and lead the Desert Knight Academy out of its slump.
Dick asked, "Then why has it been delayed until now?"
"To become a knight's squire, you must obtain the consent of the knight you serve. Knights from other schools will naturally not accept you easily."
"But isn't there still one spot left?"
"That old knight has already taken one of your senior brothers as his squire."
Matt said,
"The recruitment of squires by a knight is a two-way street. The squire must serve him and follow him, and the knight must train him to obtain the knighthood. During this period, no other squires may be recruited."
"If a squire fails to acquire a title within ten years, it will certainly be a stain on that knight's record, proving that he was incompetent or irresponsible."
"The attendant may choose to leave this cavalryman and find his own way."
ten years..
Dick frowned, thinking, "How many decades does one have in a lifetime?"
Clearly sensing Dick's concern, Matt said:
"I understand that this is not fair to you. Becoming a Guardian Knight is not your only way out. You don't need to waste your youth on meaningless waiting."
"I thought you, my senior, would be able to obtain a title as soon as possible, but it seems that something must have happened."
"So, Dick, you must understand that we're keeping you at the academy not to suppress you, but to nurture you."
And I depend on you.
"We have never relaxed our training in martial arts and strategy, and the same applies to sending you on this mission—it's all to cultivate your ability to handle affairs and adapt to changing circumstances. Many things can only be truly understood and mastered through personal experience."
Dick nodded; he could still sense these things.
However, there were also things he didn't understand:
"But why tell me this now?"
"The opportunity to become a squire in the Knights of the Guard is uncertain," Matt said. "But you're already nineteen, and I can't keep you waiting any longer. So, I have to tell you. After all, you had the chance to leave school and become a squire three or four years ago, and I have to give you an explanation for the time you wasted."
Dick himself couldn't describe the feelings he was experiencing at that moment.
But he remained expressionless and asked in a cold tone:
"So, Dean, what are your plans for me after this?"
"I've already sent someone to the capital to try and persuade the various Guardian Knights again," Matt sighed. "If there's still no chance, well, I'll arrange another place for you."
Dick nodded calmly: "I understand, Dean."
Before leaving the dean's room, Dick finished the tea in his cup.
The tea had cooled down and tasted somewhat bitter.
Dick wasn't picky; a true knight wouldn't begrudge even a tiny bit of bitterness.
Similarly, they will not easily regret or feel sorry for others, nor will they vent their emotions on others at will.
Dick realized that he had wasted three years of his life.
The academy did not solicit his opinion, but Dick could probably guess why.
It's probably because they were afraid that if Dick knew how highly the academy valued him, he would become arrogant and complacent.
If the academy's plan succeeds, it will indeed be of great help to Dick's future.
It could even give Dick the opportunity to become one of the twelve Guardian Knights.
Therefore, Dick had no intention of blaming Matt or the Academy.
He is an apprentice of the academy and should follow its arrangements.
A true knight must be able to fulfill his duties and must never be arrogant.
Besides, what's done is done and cannot be changed.
Therefore, Dick decided to focus on the future and think about how to proceed.
Back in his dorm room, Dick was organizing his belongings when he found the book, "How to Train Your Dragon: Uriel's Fitness Secrets".
This book was given to him by a heraldic apprentice named Anne Booker.
Dick had only met Anne once, but he fell in love with the girl at first sight.
Anne was so beautiful that Dick couldn't take his eyes off her.
However, Dick felt that he was not attracted to Anne's appearance at all.
Anne's eyes were exceptionally bright and clear, and Dick could see the extraordinary wisdom hidden within them.
Those eyes dared to look directly at everything, unlike the evasive gazes of ordinary women.
During his brief conversation with Annie, Dick became even more convinced that his guess was correct.
Anne has a strong inner strength, is confident and optimistic, and can be neither arrogant nor humble in front of anyone.
Dick believed that what he was captivated by was probably Anne's independent and self-reliant spirit.
A true knight never speaks recklessly.
What he said to Anne that day was not a spur-of-the-moment thing, but something he had thought about carefully before speaking.
He did indeed fall in love with Anne at first sight, and he wanted to marry her.
If Anne asked, he could even kneel down on the spot and swear a blood oath.
The fact that he dreams of Annie's face every night is the best proof of that.
However, Anne's intriguing reply to Dick left him completely baffled.
Anne gave him this book, and although he hadn't read it yet, just from the title, it didn't seem like it contained any hidden meaning.
Dick asked if it was a token of their love, and although Annie confirmed it, there seemed to be a strong sense of perfunctoriness in her answer.
Anne told him to take the book to a library in O'Brien Bay and ask the librarian there for his hand in marriage.
So, Anne is the librarian's daughter?
The library in the Kingdom of Great Books has the highest level of autonomy and can be inherited.
Therefore, it is equivalent to a lord without a title.
In this respect, Anne was the lord's daughter.
Of course, Buchanan is also a noble surname, but the title of nobility had virtually no chance of being passed down to him.
In terms of family background, he felt that he and Annie were a good match.
He was still a knight's apprentice and had the opportunity to obtain the title of knight.
Dick was very confident in himself and believed that he had a very high chance of becoming a knight.
Therefore, Dick felt that if he went to propose marriage, the old administrator would definitely agree.
Even so, we still need to be fully prepared.
Take this book, for example. Although it may just be a keepsake, according to Anne, it is, after all, something from the library.
What if the old gentleman asks about the contents of the book and he can't answer? Would the old gentleman think that he didn't even pay attention to what Annie gave him, and thus judge that he doesn't care about Annie?
Yes, that's possible!
Besides, Annie also said that he could try to learn some things from the book.
Could this be a hint?!
"I understand, Anne," Dick thought with a sudden realization. "You've really gone to great lengths to marry me!"
Dick made up his mind to study the book carefully and thoroughly understand its contents.
I will strive to memorize it perfectly so that I can confidently face all of the old man's tests!
Three days passed, and Dick had carefully read some of the contents.
Initially, he only used the book to increase his chances of successfully proposing marriage.
But as he read on, his mindset changed.
Dick realized that this book by Uriel might contain something extraordinary.
As a martial artist, his keen intuition told him that the "fitness" mentioned by Uriel in the book's title did not simply refer to physical fitness. To verify his conjecture, Dick felt it necessary to try practicing according to the methods in the book. But not today, Dean Matt had sent someone to summon him again.
Dick arrived outside the dean's room and knocked on the door. A voice immediately called out from inside, "Come in."
The door wasn't locked; it seems Matt left it there specifically for him.
This means that Matt has something important to tell him.
Dick entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Matt stood up from behind his desk: "You're here, Dick."
"Dean, is there anything I can help you with?"
"It's about what I told you last time. The man I sent to the capital has returned."
Upon hearing this, Dick felt his heart skip a beat.
He realized he was a little nervous.
This indicates that his spiritual practice is not yet up to par, and he must strengthen his self-discipline.
"how?"
"Unfortunately," Matt shook his head, "there is still no Guardian Knight willing to give you this opportunity."
A damn sense of loss welled up in Dick's heart.
At that moment, Matt continued speaking:
"but--"
Dick looked at Matt and saw the dean pick up a document from his desk and walk towards him.
"Although there is no opportunity in the royal palace, there is now another position available for a servant."
Dick asked, "What quota?"
"Dick, I made you waste several years of your youth, so naturally I can't just give you an ordinary servant position. In my opinion, this spot is quite rare."
"The one who asked us for servants was a nobleman. Although he is no longer young, he was a household name in his youth, and could even be said to have been famous and enjoyed great success."
"This person is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also possesses amazing strategic thinking and courage. His character and morality are admired by many, and some even regard him as a synonym for loyalty."
"By following him, you will surely learn many valuable lessons from him, not just improve your martial skills."
"Moreover, he has never had any servants before. You will become his first disciple, and perhaps his last."
"Dick, in my opinion, making you his servant might make up for what I've wronged you over the years."
Dick asked, "Who is he?"
Matt handed the documents to Dick and then said:
"He was a lord who owned a port city."
"You can call him Earl Hubert Peyton, but he has a more well-known name—"
"Loyal dog!"