"My Lord, look at this clause."

Ethan frowned and leaned closer. "What is it?"

Randall pointed at a line written in fine ink. "Here. It says, 'The noble house leader must be present or send a representative of equal stature.'"

Ethan narrowed his eyes and read again. The words felt heavy, even though they were written in simple ink.

Randall continued, "For a Baron, the representative needs to be at the Intermediate stage. For Viscount or Count, they must be at the Advanced stage."

He paused for a moment, then looked up. "But My Lord, don't forget… you are still a Baron. That means you can send someone at the Intermediate stage instead of going yourself."

Ethan stayed silent for a moment. The meaning of Randall's words sank deep into his mind.

Lia looked up at him, her eyes full of fear and confusion.

"So…" Ethan looked at Randall with a dull expression.

Randall nodded slowly. "So, you just need to send someone from the Intermediate Stage as your representative."

Sophia and Lia's eyes widened as the realization struck them. The words sank in deeply. It didn't matter whether the noble lord himself went or sent someone else. What mattered was that the person's strength had to match the rank required by the decree.

If Ethan was promoted to Viscount, he would have to go personally, no matter the situation as there were no Advanced Stage fighters in Blank City except him.

But as a Baron, he could still send someone else in his place as he had Intermediate stage below him

Ethan lowered his gaze and spoke quietly. "However… Who will go instead of me? Will anyone risk their life for such a matter?"

"My Lord, how can you say that?" Randall stepped forward, slamming his fist on his chest. "I will go instead."

"What… Uncle?" Sophia shot up from her seat, her face pale with shock. Her voice trembled as she looked at Randall in disbelief.

Memories flooded her mind .

It was the same strong hands that once guided her through training that held her steady when she fell as a child. Those hands now might carry a sword to war. The thought of never seeing him again made her heart twist painfully.

"But Uncle…" Ethan opened his mouth to protest, but Randall stepped closer and held his shoulder firmly.

"My Lord, your presence is needed here," Randall said firmly. "You are the pillar of this barony. Without you, everything could fall apart."

He paused, his eyes calm but filled with a quiet determination. "I am going because I want to, not because I am forced. As a knight, there is no greater honor than dying on the battlefield. That dream of hearing my name sung across the land. It still burns in my heart. I want to live that dream again."

Randall smiled faintly and placed his hand over his heart. "This heart that was once silent now burns with passion again. Let me fight this war, My Lord. Let me bring honor and pride to Blank City. I swear, our efforts will not be in vain."

The room fell silent. Ethan looked at him, speechless. Lia's eyes glistened with tears, while Sophia stood frozen, unable to say anything.

...

In the Fenwick Estate, silence filled the grand hall. Only the soft rustle of paper broke the still air.

"My Lord, you seem happy," a voice said quietly.

Baron Fenwick set down the letter in his hand and smiled faintly. "Of course, I am happy."

He leaned back in his chair and looked at the flickering candlelight. "After all, what others see as a curse is a chance for me. This war is a chance to climb higher and test my limits."

His words left his followers stunned. The butler and attendants exchanged worried looks, but the Baron ignored them. He tapped his fingers slowly on the armrest.

"The war brings both fortune and danger," he said calmly. "If I survive and make real contributions, I will surely be rewarded."

" Even if the rewards are small, for a low-ranking Baron like me, they will still mean a lot. If I can get anything that increases my strength or clears my path toward becoming a Master Knight, it will all be worth it."

The butler took a step forward, his voice pleading. "But My Lord, please think about the risks. If you fall, the Fenwick Barony will collapse. The Young Lord is still at the Beginner Stage. He cannot handle such pressure yet. And being the heir, we cannot arrange a marriage with a strong noble house that might harbor ill intentions."

Baron Fenwick froze for a moment. The butler's words made him pause and think deeply. He rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing in thought. Then, an image flashed in his mind.

'As far as I know him,' he thought silently, 'I don't know whether he will join the war. If I tie my side with him, it might secure my future.'

He leaned back slightly, recalling a rumor he had heard. 'I heard he married a wolf woman…'

He crossed his arms, lost in thought for a moment. Then he picked up a quill and a piece of parchment. His handwriting was steady but fast as he scribbled a few lines.

"Go and give this to Diana," he said finally, sealing the envelope. He handed it to one of the servants. "Deliver it at once."

"Yes, My Lord," the servant replied and hurried away.

Baron Fenwick stood up slowly and walked toward the window. The morning light spilled faintly across the fields. His eyes looked cold yet determined.

"No matter what happens, I must join this war," he murmured. "Tell the soldiers to start preparing early. We've spent years training and feeding them. It's time they prove their worth."

He looked out into the distance where the horizon glowed faintly red, as if touched by blood. "It's time for the Fenwick forces to show their true strength. Let the world see what our name stands for."

His voice carried softly through the hall, firm and calm, but heavy with the weight of ambition and the shadow of war.

After losing dungeon and other opportunities,this was his only chance to prove.

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