That man's expression changed: "Red-haired Baron, although you are a baron, I serve Count Daolun, and I am currently carrying out tasks for the Count. I have always shown you the utmost respect and have never dared to offend you in the slightest. If you attack me, I'm afraid the Count will not allow it."

"That's right, you haven't offended me. If I were to kill you, the Count would definitely hold me accountable. But you, on the other hand, are about to attack a baron. If that baron kills you, even if Count Daolun were here, he wouldn't say a word." Stephen Brooks said with a grin.

"You want to frame me! The Count is wise and discerning; he will never be deceived." the man said harshly.

"Who has the time to frame someone like you? You think too highly of yourself. Old White, finish him off quickly and let's go. Everyone else is waiting for us." Stephen Brooks no longer looked at the man and turned to Edward White.

Edward White revealed the baron insignia on his forehead, considering whether to teach the man a lesson. Unexpectedly, as soon as the man saw the baron insignia, he dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing to the ground as if planting scallions, loudly cursing himself as he did so. After a while, he raised his head and slapped his own face hard with both hands, quickly turning his cheeks red and swollen.

"Let's go." Edward White and Stephen Brooks left together. The man didn't dare stop slapping himself until the two were completely out of sight.

"These guys are getting more and more outrageous, collecting fees everywhere in the Count's name. As far as I know, the protection fee set by the Count has always been one hundred life scales per month and has never increased. As for Miss Xiangfei's coming-of-age ceremony, those people have no right to attend at all, and the Count would never accept their gifts. They're just taking advantage of Miss Xiangfei's coming-of-age ceremony to line their own pockets. We really shouldn't have let him off so easily just now." On the way, after hearing Edward White explain the whole story, Stephen Brooks said angrily.

Not long after, Stephen Brooks led Edward White to a small courtyard inside the Daolun Society.

"Redhead, is this the newcomer you found? How long has it been since you were promoted to baron?" As soon as Edward White entered, he was surrounded by three burly men. One of them, a muscular man with arms thick enough for a horse to run on, sized up Edward White and asked.

"When did you become a baron, and how many martial skills do you know?" asked a man with a well-proportioned build and sharp eyes.

"How many baron-level weapons do you have?" asked the last man, who looked a bit scholarly.

"I've been a baron for less than three months, know one martial skill, and have only one baron-level greatsword." Edward White answered all three questions in succession.

"Only promoted to baron for less than three months? You probably can't even fully control your life plate," the muscular man said.

"Only know one martial skill? That's basically useless. Once someone has seen it, it's hard to do anything more with it," said the sharp-eyed man.

"Only one baron weapon? For a baron, that's really poor," said the scholarly-looking man.

Finally, the three of them turned their cold, electric gazes to Stephen Brooks's face and said in unison, "This is the new team member you found for us?"

"Ahem, listen to me. Most barons already have their own teams, and it's really hard to find anyone. Plus, Miss Xiangfei's coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow. If we can't gather five people, we won't be able to participate in the tournament, so..." Stephen Brooks said awkwardly.

The three lost interest in Edward White and didn't even ask his name, each going off to do their own thing.

"Old White, don't take it too hard. They're just a bit impatient, but they're actually good people. You'll see once you get to know them. There are private rooms inside—get some rest, or practice your martial skills in the courtyard. Tomorrow morning, we have to go to the tournament." After arranging things for Edward White, Stephen Brooks chased after the others.

"Redhead, you're really unreliable. We asked you to find someone, and you brought back someone like this—completely useless. If Daodun was still here, we'd have a shot at the top five. Now, it's hard to say if we can even make the top ten," the muscular man complained.

"There was no other way. If we make the top ten, at least we get a martial skill. If we can't even get into the competition, we get nothing," Stephen Brooks said.

"Forget it, it is what it is. We'll just have to work harder. If we're lucky, maybe we can still make the top five. Getting two martial skills wouldn't be bad," said the scholarly man.

"This is all we can do now."

The four of them discussed for a long time before finally going off to do their own things.

Chapter 11: Drawing Lots

"Didn't they say today is Miss Xiangfei's coming-of-age ceremony? Why don't I see Miss Xiangfei?" Stephen Brooks looked around. The huge square was filled with fully armed barons.

The muscular man said impatiently, "Are you stupid? This is just the place for the tournament. The coming-of-age ceremony is tonight, and it's somewhere else. Besides, do you think just anyone can attend? Ordinary barons don't have that privilege. Only viscounts have a chance, or the champion of this tournament can attend."