The Duke did not refuse and accepted it naturally.
He certainly knew that Lloyd's invitation was not just to express gratitude.
A stranger capable of taking down a Level 1 Peak Demon with a single blow suddenly appeared in a remote village in the Earl's Territory; any Knight Captain responsible for border patrol would not be at ease letting him roam freely within the territory.
Rather than letting him act in the shadows, it's better to bring him into the open, where one can keep an eye on him and respond as needed.
But for the Duke, acquiring a local identity was equally beneficial.
The societal structure of this territory was far more mature and stable than he had previously imagined. The hierarchy among lords, knights, villagers, and adventurers was clear and strict, meaning a wealth of intelligence and information was entrenched within this network of social relationships.
