"Number Zero." Edward Scott unconsciously spoke the name he used to give to chips in the past.

"Name confirmed. Number Zero chip automatic auxiliary initialization program is about to self-destruct. Wish you a pleasant experience. If you have any complaints or suggestions, please call 40355627. Thank you for using." The female voice abruptly stopped.

Edward Scott knew this was the chip's final auxiliary voice. From now on, there would be only a completely genderless machine voice, directly extracted from his own language memory area.

For a moment, Edward Scott's emotions surged, and his breathing became a bit rapid.

He was well aware of what it meant to possess a biochip in this era of cold weapons.

The candle on the desk flickered with a faint yellow light, casting a thin layer of phosphorescence on Edward Scott's face.

Right in front of the desk was the window, a wooden window covered with a layer of white, paper-like film—this was what constituted a window in the earthen fort.

Edward Scott stood up and pushed open the wooden window.

With a creak, the window swung outward.

A refreshing night breeze blew in, carrying a faint scent of fresh grass.

Edward Scott leaned his head out the window, wanting to calm himself down.

His bedroom was on the fourth floor of the earthen fort. Looking out from the window,

in the distance were vast stretches of black forest, like shadows. The wind rustled the leaves, and the calls of countless unknown insects blended together.

In the night sky, two crescent moons hung quietly, casting a thin layer of silvery moonlight.

Between the forests, the only road leading to the outside town faintly carried the sound of horse hooves.

Edward Scott took a breath of the cold air, and his mind cleared a little. By the moonlight, he saw at the end of the road, deep in the woods, a group of black-clad knights slowly approaching the fort.

Several of the knights were holding torches. The horses beneath them occasionally snorted.

From afar, the leading knight seemed to be talking to someone behind him, occasionally letting out a light laugh.

By the torchlight, Edward Scott could just barely make out the face of the leading knight.

His expression was solemn, a small patch of black beard on his chin, long flaxen (a mix of golden and brown) hair draped over his shoulders, a strong build, clad in silver-white full armor. He looked both wild and noble.

"It's Father, Baron Kyle." Edward Scott immediately recognized him, having seen him not long ago. Besides, Andrew's memories also left a deep impression of him.

The baron's hands, holding the reins, were both gloved in black leather. At the moment Edward Scott looked over, he seemed to notice Edward Scott's gaze as well, turning his eyes in this direction.

Seeing Edward Scott watching him from the window, he took off one glove and waved, a slight smile on his face. He nodded slightly toward Edward Scott, then gave the reins a gentle shake, quickening his pace.

Chapter 004 Life 1

The group of knights soon arrived at the fort in the darkness, passing through the already-lowered drawbridge and entering the fortress.

Edward Scott watched the group until they had fully entered the fort before slowly sitting back down.

He had a general understanding of this father through Andrew's memories.

Though he was a brutal lord to outsiders, he was an exceptionally loving father to him. He often spoke harshly, but had never once been willing to hit him.

"By custom, I should go greet Father at this time." Edward Scott was just about to get up when the bedroom door thudded.

"Young master Angley, the baron requests your presence." The maid Maggie's voice came from outside the door.

"Alright, I'll be right there," Edward Scott called out loudly.

He hurriedly stood up and opened the door.

The maid Maggie was standing outside, holding a candlestick.

Edward Scott followed Maggie through the corridor, down the spiral staircase, and into the hallway on the second floor.

At the end of the hallway, a room's door was half open, a faint light shining through the crack.

Maggie bowed respectfully. "Young master, I'll wait for you here."

Edward Scott nodded and strode over.

As he got closer, the baron's deep voice grew louder.

"...In the territory, no one dares defy me. These convicts must have come from outside." Edward Scott only caught the latter part of the conversation.

Another familiar, hoarse voice came from inside. It was the knight Otis.

"That's not certain. Judging by the way these convicts are dressed, they should be from the Saladin Empire to the east. Both their weapons and clothing styles are similar to those over there, and their fighting style is very disciplined, nothing like vagrants. I suspect it's related to that incident four years ago."

"From the Rio territory to the Saladin Empire, even the fastest horse from Candia City would take nearly half a year, with vast forests in between. That's unlikely. By comparison, I think it's more likely the work of that old man from Candia," the baron's voice was cold. "It must be his last dying struggle."

"That's very possible. Candia has been under a lot of pressure from us lately..."

Edward Scott stood outside the door without knocking. He knew the abilities of his father and Uncle Otis; they must have already heard him arrive. He just needed to wait outside.