And because he already knew the kind of man Duke Reynard was, he did not hold high expectations for him. Kaito would never go so far as to make an enemy of the Duke, but he also had no plans to flatter him excessively.
He had learned from experience. On the surface, Duke Reynard might act as though he trusted someone completely, even praising them highly. But behind the scenes, he was the kind of person who would not hesitate to backstab and even use others as pawns. And if those pawns became inconvenient, he would crush them without hesitation.
Kaito would not fall for that trap.
His plan was clear. He would maintain a friendly reputation with Duke Reynard, but he would never debase himself by licking his boots. He would keep his distance where it mattered. At the same time, he would keep a low profile. His focus was on quietly building his strength until he reached a point where he could protect himself against both NPCs and players. Only then would he reveal his true abilities.
But keeping a low profile didn't mean doing nothing.
Kaito would make full use of his memories from his past life. Every opportunity he had missed before, he would seize this time. Every hidden chance, every loophole, every advantage he remembered, none of them would be left behind. Whether in reality or in the game, he would take every step necessary to ensure his growth.
Then after carefully planning his future steps, Kaito walked straight towards the City Hall.
The building was massive far larger than the town hall in South Glade Town but it lacked the luxurious touch of Viscount Elrick's mansion. That wasn't surprising. The City Hall was a place of governance, not indulgence. Its value lay in authority, not appearance.
Kaito didn't waste time admiring the structure as he had already seen what true luxury looked like in his previous life. Back then, he had once entered Duke Reynard's mage tower during a quest issued by one of Reynard's subordinates. Compared to that overwhelming grandeur, let alone the City Hall of Astralis even Viscount Elrick's mansion seemed plain. Remembering this, Kaito simply ignored the details of the hall's design and walked further inside.
The soldiers at the entrance didn't stop him, instead even greeted him, The reason was simple his title. As he approached the gate, Kaito had deliberately activated his Viscount title. The moment the guards saw the mark of nobility, none dared to block his path. Even after greeting him, one of the soldiers quickly, bowed respectfully, and then hurried into the building ahead of him.
Kaito immediately understood. The soldier had gone to report his arrival to the Vice City Lord.
The Vice City Lord was actually the true manager of Astralis City. Although Duke Reynard was the official city lord, as a Tier 6 mage, most of his time was devoted to magical research and experiments. He had little interest in mundane administration. Because of this, he had delegated the city's daily management to the Vice City Lord, a position with significant authority.
And this Vice City Lord wasn't just an ordinary official. For his contributions, Duke Reynard had even granted him the title of Earl. It was a mark of both trust and power, and it placed him firmly among the upper nobility.
Knowing this, Kaito was certain that his next meeting would be with the Vice City Lord.
Then he stepped through the entrance and into the main hall. There, along the walls, were several seats arranged for Visitors. Choosing one of them, Kaito sat down calmly to wait.
The City Hall bustled with activity. Various city officials moved quickly from one corridor to another, each carrying documents or speaking in hushed tones. Yet no matter how busy they were, none of them ignored him. Whenever an officer passed by Kaito, they would stop, bow, and greet him respectfully as "Viscount."
Kaito responded with a light nod each time. He knew the reason behind their careful manners.
No matter their position in the City Hall, these officials were still servants of the nobles. Working here might sound prestigious, but it was also dangerous. If they offended a noble, regardless of the noble's rank, they risked being dismissed immediately. So their livelihoods depended on keeping those with titles satisfied.
Because of this, nobles were treated with deference everywhere, at least by ordinary officials and citizens. Titles carried real weight, and people were cautious not to provoke them.
Still Kaito kept his demeanor calm and polite. He didn't let the greetings inflate his pride. He knew this respect was directed at the title of Viscount, not at him personally.
Before long, the soldier who had rushed ahead returned. Walking in front of him was a middle-aged NPC dressed in formal attire. The man carried himself with authority, his every step measured and composed. From his appearance alone, it was clear that this was no ordinary official.
"Ha ha ha! Mr. Viscount, Mr. Viscount is here! If only you had informed me earlier, I would have arranged a proper welcome for you."
Kaito looked up to see the middle-aged man followed by the soldier who had gone in earlier.
The man's appearance was striking. His eyebrows slanted like an eagle's wings, sharp and firm, giving his eyes a piercing look. His nose was high, though slightly wide, and his face carried a radiant expression that suggested both Vigor and confidence. His waist was straight, his posture upright, and every step he took gave off an aura of steady strength. Even without speaking, his presence carried authority.
Behind him, the soldier who had run in earlier followed closely, his demeanor full of respect. And not far behind them trailed a beautiful young girl. She had an attractive figure and carried herself gracefully, clearly someone of status who served in close proximity to the man.
"Please, please come in," the man said warmly, gesturing for Kaito to follow.
This man was the Vice City Lord of Astralis City, Earl Romund.
Although he showed great enthusiasm, Kaito immediately understood the reason behind it. The Vice City Lord's warm attitude was not directed at him personally, but rather at the noble title he carried. In Glory, noble titles commanded respect, regardless of who bore them. Moreover, there was another factor. Kaito was the very first player noble that Romund was meeting.
At this point in time, the balance between NPC nobles and player nobles was still shifting. Among NPCs, encountering someone with a noble title might happen once in a thousand interactions. But among players, the ratio was much higher nearly one in a hundred would eventually gain some form of title. As more players entered Astralis City, nobles among their ranks would become common, and NPCs like Romund would no longer treat them with the same level of excitement.
But right now, it was still new. For this first encounter, Romund put on the same enthusiasm he would show to an established noble of the kingdom.
And Romund himself understood his own situation well. Although he bore the title of Earl, it was only a courtesy granted by Duke Reynard for his service. Outside Astralis City, he did not hold significant influence. That was why he made it a point to treat every noble title with care, regardless of whether it was high or low. Showing proper etiquette and respect was his way of maintaining balance.
As Kaito observed the Vice City Lord, Romund was also observing him.
When the soldier had first reported that a Viscount had arrived, Romund had been a little confused. Normally, nobles informed the city hall before their visits, and preparations were made to receive them. This time, no such notice had come. For a Viscount to appear suddenly without warning was unusual.
Still, confusion did not stop him from following the correct etiquette. He immediately accompanied the soldier so as not to keep the Viscount waiting. That was how he now stood here in the guest area of the City Hall.
When Romund finally laid eyes on Kaito, he was momentarily surprised.
The Viscount before him was young far younger than any noble he had ever seen with such a title. In his years of service, this was the first time Romund had encountered a noble of such youthful appearance.
But surprise quickly gave way to calculation. If this young man truly held the title of Viscount, it could mean only two things.