Chapter 330: Release the child.

The Jijialie family’s mansion was located in the heart of Jeliteli.

That area was an advanced residential district, akin to the Noble District of the Royal Capital. It was just that Jeliteli had fewer nobles than the Royal Capital, so not only nobles lived here but also some wealthy merchants and the like.

Shane and his companions, riding on You Lin, flew towards this place, and naturally, the people of the Jijialie family couldn’t possibly have failed to notice.

Thus, as You Lin descended from the sky and headed toward the Jijialie mansion, Triss was already waiting there with a group of knights and servants.

“Welcome, Lord Beizut, I didn’t expect you to come to me.”

Triss greeted Shane and the others who had just jumped off You Lin with a smile, but inwardly he was cursing relentlessly.

There was no help for it; he had been wishing Shane would leave Jeliteli sooner to restore calmness to the area and to avoid too many uncontrollable incidents. Yet, the very next day, Shane came riding on a dragon, truly giving Triss quite a fright.

After all, the sight from yesterday of You Lin shattering Jeliteli’s protective barrier with a single Dragon Breath was still vivid before his eyes.

Triss certainly didn’t believe that his own home could be sturdier than the barrier protecting the city.

So, he was genuinely afraid that, inadvertently, he might have offended Shane, leading Shane to come seeking vengeance with his dragon.

In that case, the entire Jijialie family would surely be buried under Dragon Breath.

Shane, on the other hand, hadn’t thought so much. He approached Triss, leading Ai Yi and holding Jade, with Lasha holding Jade, his back towards You Lin who hovered mid-air.

“My apologies for coming uninvited.”

Shane said, somewhat embarrassedly as he smiled at Triss.

“Not at all, it’s my pleasure to have you visit,” Triss hurriedly shook his head, pulling out what seemed to be a heartfelt smile, then said, “Since you’ve come, why don’t we go inside and sit down?”

“Go inside?”

Shane glanced at the mansion behind Triss.

The mansion wasn’t large, but when compared to the usual Viscount, its scale was quite impressive.

Presumably, this was because Triss wasn’t just a Viscount, but also the governor of Jeliteli and the Captain of the Second Knight Order.

Of course, there was no way this mansion could compare to the one in Shane’s family home.

Shane considered it for a moment, then nodded.

“Very well, I’ll just impose for a bit.”

After all, he had come to ask for help, so Shane didn’t feel good about putting on too many airs.

“Then, please,” Triss gestured with his hand, and the knights and servants on both sides promptly lined up neatly to clear a way. Someone quickly rolled out a red carpet on the path, indicating Triss’s respect for Shane.

Shane, moved by these formal gestures, didn’t hesitate and led the disinterested Ai Yi and the expressionless Lasha towards the Jijialie residence.

Jade, still obediently led by Lasha, had the same curious look around yet remained undisturbed, a truly peculiar child.

As for You Lin, seeing Shane and the others enter the Jijialie residence, the knights and servants on the ground watched nervously, seemingly fearing her. She snorted dismissively, flapped Dragon Wings, and soared toward the high sky, disappearing into the clouds.

Whenever there was no place comfortable for her, You Lin would simply vanish into the clouds like this, waiting for Shane’s call, the result of Shane’s training.

And so, Shane and his companions entered the Jijialie home and came to a luxurious salon.

This appeared to be a guest room specifically for entertaining esteemed visitors, spotlessly clean, yet from the stagnant air, it seemed to be seldom used.

Shane didn’t know that this room was usually reserved by Triss for guests of higher status than himself.

For Shane, a fellow Viscount, to be invited here was somewhat of a precedent.

Once everyone had settled down amidst formalities, two elegantly dressed maids immediately served expensive hot tea.

Yet, these maids were secretly observing Lasha, who was expressionless at their side, their pretty faces turning slightly red, as if they had seen some heartthrob, which left Shane unable to complain.

(Even the maids who see her for the first time act like this?)

Truly magical.

Could it be that Lasha possesses a Unique Skill that instantly raises the favorability of any maid and servant to full value?

What Skill is that? Is it a Big Sister aura? Or a Perfect Maid aura?

Crazy…

While Shane was internally commenting, Triss also began to inquire.

“May I know the reason for Lord Beizut’s visit?”

Triss must be quite concerned with this question, mustn’t he?

“There’s no need to be so nervous, Captain Triss,” Shane provisionally soothed the apparently overly tense Knight Captain, while touching his nose and saying, “I just wanted to ask if you recognize this little girl?”

As Shane spoke, Lasha, leading Jade, stepped forward in front of Triss.

Triss, in fact, had been well aware of the little girl’s presence and had discreetly paid attention to her.

Who would’ve thought that Shane, who had come alone the day before, would bring with him such a little girl today?

Out of this consideration, Triss had been watching Jade without daring to scrutinize her openly until now when he took a serious look at her.

Upon looking, Triss noticed something unusual about the little girl.

Despite her young age, she was not at all shy and stared directly at him, quite different from most children.

What was even more unusual was her appearance.

Although the little girl was very cute, and it was clear she would grow up to be beautiful, Triss was more concerned about her features.

“Golden hair… Purple eyes…”

Triss muttered to himself, and then his expression suddenly changed.

“What is it?” Shane, who had clearly observed this moment, asked immediately, “Do you know the origins of this child, Captain Triss?”

A single sentence had left Triss at a loss for words.

Triss’s expression kept changing, and the look he gave Jade gradually turned anxious until, after a long while, he forced out a bitter laugh.

“My apologies, Lord Beizut. I might have to disappoint you,” Triss said in a hoarse voice, “I don’t know her origin. I can only advise you to let this child go as soon as possible, to avoid disaster.”

“Disaster?” Shane’s brows furrowed as he looked directly at Triss, “What do you mean by that?”

“This…” Triss hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, “It relates to a legend from the Duke Sterling’s Domain. Just listen to me, it’s better not to meddle with the rest.”

As he said this, Triss kept glancing towards Jade, as though he was wary of her presence.

Seeing this, Shane’s eyes narrowed in thought.

At that moment, Lasha suddenly spoke up.

“It seems we still have some things to prepare before we leave Jeliteli. If you don’t mind, may I be excused to make those preparations now?”

Lasha’s unexpected interjection caught everyone by surprise.

Only Shane, once again marveling at the maid’s versatility, nodded his head.

“Go ahead, and take Jade with you for a walk.”

Shane agreed to Lasha’s request.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Lasha executed an impeccable curtsy to those present, then took Jade with her and left.

“I’ll go with them,” said Ai Yi indifferently. Without waiting for anyone’s permission, she followed Lasha and Jade, leaving on her own accord.

This girl had appeared utterly bored from the very beginning. She probably had no interest in Shane and Triss’s conversation, right?

(The women around me really do each have their own personality.)

Shane couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation as he turned back to Triss.

“Can we talk now, Captain Triss?”

Shane’s tone grew slightly more intense.

Triss understood that Shane would not rest until he got the answers.

But Triss didn’t really want to discuss the matter.

It wasn’t that he didn’t respect Shane or that he was afraid, but it truly was a taboo of a sizeable nature within the Duke Sterling’s Domain.

The Sterling Family had even issued a proclamation forbidding the discussion of this matter.

Being a vassal of the Sterling Family and the Captain of the Second Knight Order, Triss naturally didn’t want to break the edict.

Yet, he could ill afford to offend Shane either.

It was vexing, truly vexing.

So, Triss sighed.

“How about this, Lord Beizut?” Triss spoke, “My family possesses an ancient book. If you’re interested, perhaps you should take a look at it?”

Triss had opted for this middle-ground solution.

He believed that after reading the book, Shane would understand what he was trying to say.

And as for himself, by not speaking of the matter directly, he would also have adhered to the family’s directive.

Shane understood Triss’s suggestion and, though he felt it troublesome, he could only nod in agreement.

“Then I will trouble you for it, Captain Triss.”

Shane expressed his gratitude.

“Don’t mention it, it’s just a trivial warning, nothing more.”

Triss shook his head, evidently not intending to discuss the matter further.

In such a situation, the two conversed sporadically, waiting for the servant Triss had sent to retrieve the book.

Just then, the great door to the reception room was forcefully opened.

“Father!”

A young man stormed in from outside.

“Taylor?”

Upon seeing the newcomer, Triss was startled at first, then his face darkened.

“What’s the matter?”

Shane hadn’t expected someone to barge in suddenly and was visibly perplexed.

But the next second, Shane noticed that this person, referred to by Triss as Taylor, was looking at him with a fiery defiance in his eyes.

“Are you Shane Beizut?”

The young man named Taylor, with an unfriendly tone and manner, pointed at Shane and declared loudly,

“I want to duel with you!”

At these words, Shane’s eyebrows rose.

In his heart, only one thought remained.

“Well, well, it seems I’ve stumbled upon another cliche plot situation.”

A duel, huh?

A duel he had ultimately encountered.