Bruno Hornes didn't hesitate at all. He told Fabian to lead the way. To speed things up, Bruno even rented a carriage.
On the way,
Bruno asked, "Who is this guy?"
During the past month, he had been stuck in his training, so he turned his attention to the contract. But finding someone willing to trade was really hard. Bruno told the old butler to look for someone.
Fabian explained, "He's an old scholar who's never gotten anywhere. He's been studying the Meditation Technique since he was a kid, but he never got it. Now he's 74 and still not even close to the basics."
Bruno sighed deeply in his heart.
He was already weak at meditation. Common meditation techniques took ten years to get into. And here was someone even worse than him, who never got in at all in his whole life.
"Getting into it has become his life's obsession. He spent a lot of money on potions and medicines, but nothing worked," Fabian shook his head, feeling sorry for the old man.
A short while later,
The two arrived at the slums.
Bruno met Ignaz in a broken, drafty hut.
The old man was curled up in a corner, his hair white and messy, his eyes cloudy. He didn't react at all to Bruno's arrival. He just kept drawing unformed shapes in the air with his fingers, muttering, "Celestial Light... dawn... where is the door..."
"His obsession is getting into the Meditation Technique," Fabian said in a low voice, his tone full of pity.
Bruno nodded. "You go outside and watch. I'll talk to him."
"Yes," Fabian nodded.
Once they were alone, Bruno said seriously, "I can let you get into the Meditation Technique. What are you willing to give me in return?"
Ignaz stiffened. He looked at the young man with devotion. "I'm willing to give you everything."
"Good," Bruno snapped his fingers and pulled out the contract from his pocket, writing the words:
[Party One: Bruno Hornes
Party Two: Ignaz
Deal: Party One gets twelve years of Party Two's study and practice of the Meditation Technique and breathing method.
Price: Party One gives Party Two the 'beginner state' of Celestial Meditation.
Term: Effective immediately.
Rule: Everything can be given; everything must be paid. Both parties agree. Once the contract is signed, no one can disobey.]
"Sign it," Bruno handed the contract to the old man.
Ignaz didn't hesitate. He pressed his handprint.
The next second,
Bruno felt a strange feeling of being pulled away from his body. The Celestial Meditation that had once been so familiar now felt completely strange. He knew how to feel it, but it just didn't feel the same anymore.
On the contract, a white light appeared. Bruno sensed it immediately. This was the 62 years of Ignaz's meditation practice.
He could take it whenever he wanted.
And at the moment the contract was done, Ignaz's cloudy eyes suddenly shone with amazing light.
He suddenly sat up straight, a pure, childlike smile on his face. His fingers moved in the air, and the lines they made became smooth and flowing.
"Door... opened... I saw it... Celestial Light..." Tears rolled down the old man's cloudy eyes. He finally felt the feeling of entering the Meditation Technique, even though it cost him all the hard work he had put into it for sixty-two years.
Bruno patted Fabian on the shoulder and said, "Let's go. It's over here."
Fabian glanced back at Ignaz, nodded, and followed.
The old butler was very curious. What method had the master used to make the old man cry like that?
Back at home.
Bruno was about to tell the old butler his next plan, when three carriages suddenly rushed in.
The master and servant looked at the approaching carriages with curiosity.
Fabian guessed, "It looks like the Avery family."
Avery?
What was he doing here?
Bruno was still thinking when Paul ran down from the carriage, rushing toward the young man who had just gotten his title back.
"Respected Baron Hornes, please don't blame me for coming without warning," Paul said, taking off his hat and bowing low, looking very respectful.
One month had passed.
Paul Avery's "Knight Experience Card" had also expired.
Bruno was now the rightful owner of the baron title again.
"What do you want?" Bruno asked, confused. He and Paul hadn't spoken in a long time.
Paul licked his lips and said, full of desire, "Respected Baron Hornes, may I ask if I can continue trading my title with you?"
Bruno suddenly understood.
Paul had tasted the flavor of being a noble and now wanted more. After getting the title, he had mixed with the upper class and was respected and envied by common people. Now he wanted the noble title even more.
And now he had even come to ask to sign the contract.
"Uh..." Bruno hesitated for a moment.
Just a moment.
Paul clapped his hands, and servants jumped down from the carriage, carrying all kinds of jewels, gold, and some silk and porcelain.
Fabian's eyebrows twitched.
Most of the family's valuable things had already been sold. Now Paul showed up with all this, like pouring a whole bucket of water into a dry field.
But the huge profit made Fabian even more calm.
"Master," the old butler stepped forward and whispered in Bruno's ear, "The Avery family thinks highly of themselves. They usually look down on common nobles, seeing themselves as counts or viscounts. You must be careful, don't be tricked easily."
In his eyes, Paul was offering such a high price because he must have something in mind. The value he wanted from Bruno was probably matched with what he was giving.
The old butler was just afraid Bruno would be tempted.
"Paul licked his lips and smiled, saying, 'Baron Hornes, what do you think?'"
Fabian frowned, feeling something was off.
Hey!
When have the Avery family ever been so polite and humble before?
Bruno thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
Paul was overjoyed and bowed even lower. "Thank you, Baron Hornes."
Another contract was signed.
This time, Paul rented the baron title for three months and paid 3,000 coins.
Bruno was happy about it.
After all, a baron was the lowest noble title. Below it was only a knight. Politically, it had no real power. Militarily, it was almost useless. A respected baron could have a few knights under him. An unimportant baron, like Bruno, was bullied by commoners, and even counts didn't pay attention.
But Paul Avery treated this title like a treasure.
The deal was done.
Paul got into the carriage, full of pride. The memory of being a baron returned to him. Now he could walk around with knights like other nobles.
"Thank you, Mr. Hornes. See you next time," Paul waved and left with his servants, showing off like a proud rooster.
Bruno shook his head, finding it funny.
Looks like Avery would be his biggest customer from now on.
His pocket got full again. Bruno pulled Fabian aside and said, "I'm going to the martial arts academy. Everything at home is up to you."
"Uh, Master, I..." Fabian wanted to say he wanted to go with Bruno, but the young master cut him off. "The castle is in your hands. There are two things. First, the plantation at home needs to be cleaned up. Find someone to do it. Second, find someone who really, really wants to achieve a wish. Take notes for me."
Fabian nodded heavily. "Okay."
Bruno smiled. "I'll leave you 1,000 coins. Use it however you want. If you need more, come find me at the academy."
He was going to the Gaston Martial Arts Academy.
...
"Bruno Hornes, 16 years old, pre-paid one session, 300 coins."
The receptionist quickly wrote it down, not looking up, and asked, "One session is three months. Today is July 2nd, so your next payment is due before October 31st."
"You signed up for the beginner class. It has three parts: Meditation, breathing, and combat skills. Which one do you want to start with?"
Bruno didn't hesitate. "Meditation."
"Okay, I'll write that down," the receptionist said. "By the way, the Meditation class is every three days. The master himself teaches it. Today is the first class. It's on the third floor, room two. You can still make it if you hurry."
Bruno took the student card, said thanks, and rushed to the third floor.
He wasn't going to miss this chance.
Room 2 on the third floor.
Bruno sat right in the front row, confident and calm.
The atmosphere in the training room changed. Everyone's eyes turned to Bruno.