"Thank you."
Reyn accepted the congratulations. Kenji had indeed made the most favorable impression on him. Though it was only their second meeting, Reyn, sensing the subtle emanations of Kenji's soul, felt that he harbored no hostility—quite the opposite, he showed genuine sympathy. Definitely, this was someone worth building closer ties with.
Viola, standing nearby, smiled and said:
"Since you already know each other, no need to introduce you. Mr. Kenji is a very prominent figure in our Longsand. He started from nothing and in less than two decades became one of the city's richest men, even earning a baron's title. Reyn, you should take him as an example and learn from him."
"Lady Viola is too kind," Kenji laughed heartily, his face reflecting genuine modesty. "My modest achievements today are largely thanks to the Mechanics Guild's support."
However, Reyn noticed that Viola's praise pleased Kenji greatly, and a spark of complacency flickered briefly in his eyes.
They seemed well acquainted. Viola added:
"Mr. Kenji is a regular client of our house and frequent guest at trade gatherings, though unfortunately, we haven't collaborated yet."
"I too am eager to become your business partner, my lady," Kenji responded promptly. "I'm sure such an opportunity will arise in the future." Regret and hope tinged his voice, lending his words special sincerity.
Listening to this courteous exchange of pleasantries, Reyn couldn't distinguish truth from flattery and merely sighed inwardly: what cunning foxes circled in trading circles!
At that moment, a maid approached Viola and whispered something quietly. Viola nodded and said apologetically:
"Excuse me, one client wants to close a deal, and it seems for a rather large sum. I must leave you briefly."
"Of course, my lady, I wouldn't dream of detaining you," Kenji replied understandingly.
Viola, thinking for a moment, added:
"Reyn, please keep Mr. Kenji company."
Having gotten his agreement, she left with the maid.
Watching her tall figure disappear into one of the negotiation rooms adjoining the main hall, the men turned their gazes back to each other. Kenji turned to Reyn, a shadow of bewilderment in his eyes.
"Reyn, you're incredibly lucky—I even envy you a little."
Reyn, guessing Kenji had suspected something, shook his head:
"We're just friends, and we've known each other quite recently, to be honest."
"Is that so?" Kenji smiled skeptically but, seeing Reyn seemed truthful, cautiously asked, "You really don't know who Lady Viola truly is?"
"I don't."
Reyn shrugged. In truth, he had long wanted to find out but didn't know whom to ask.
Kenji eyed Reyn appraisingly again and said with genuine admiration:
"I'm starting to suspect you're the illegitimate son of the Goddess of Magic herself! Knowing nothing, just by your attractiveness and talent, you've gotten so close to Viola! Believe me, many in Longsand would give anything to be in your place."
Kenji's words further ignited Reyn's curiosity.
"So who is she really?"
Kenji hesitated. It wasn't much of a secret—everyone in Longsand's upper circles knew. Lowering his voice, he said:
"Viola is her name. Her family name is Silveri. Now do you understand?"
Reyn froze, instantly realizing everything.
In the Empire, most commoners had no family names. For example, he himself was just Reyn, nothing more. A family name was a mark of status, usually borne only by aristocrats as a symbol of honor and lineage heritage.
A commoner could acquire a family name in two ways: either receive a noble title or, becoming a superhuman and rendering great service to the Empire, earn recognition, found their own line, and pass the name to descendants.
Essentially, these paths differed little: without being a superhuman, it was hard to perform deeds worthy of nobility.
If someone had a family name, it meant their ancestors were aristocrats, or they themselves were descendants of a powerful superhuman. Behind such a person stood a lineage, granting high social standing and undisputed membership in the upper class.
Longsand had many aristocratic houses and families, but one family name held absolute dominance—Silveri.
Because Silveri was the family name of the line founded by the Silver Star Duke!
Not every one of the twelve Holy Soul Mages of the High Council founded a line, but those who did created something unique, one of a kind.
Across the entire Empire, all who bore the Silveri name were blood descendants of the Silver Star Duke.
It suddenly dawned on Reyn. No wonder Viola wielded such influence and regularly hosted such grand trade gatherings! Being merely a sixth-level mage, she had access to vast quantities of priceless items and calmly managed the "Violet House," earning sums unimaginable for ordinary mortals, in gold shields. Undoubtedly, this was partly her own merit, but support from a mighty lineage played no small role.
Everything fell into place.
Who would dare obstruct a ducal house's business? Who wouldn't show due respect?
Those men who glared hostilely at him when he appeared beside Viola probably dreamed of winning her hand and thus allying with the powerful ducal line.
"Pah, shameless lot!" Reyn cursed inwardly but immediately felt secret glee at outpacing them.
One thing remained unclear: The Silver Star Duke had entered the High Council over three hundred years ago, and his descendants had multiplied greatly—rumors said the line numbered several hundred. To which branch did Viola belong?
"Mr. Kenji, do you know Viola's relation to the duke?" Reyn asked quietly.
"Viola's father is the duke's favorite grandson," Kenji paused, then added with friendly concern, "Reyn, if Viola doesn't mention her parents herself, you'd better not ask."
"Why?" Reyn wondered, calculating that made her the duke's great-granddaughter, not so distant a blood tie.
Kenji lowered his voice again and explained:
"Her father was a Legendary Demon Hunter, the duke's favorite grandson. But over twenty years ago, he went into the Abyss with her mother, a moon elf mage, and nothing has been heard from them since."
Reyn shuddered involuntarily.
Viola's parents were incredibly brave! Venturing into the Endless Abyss was pure suicide!
The Abyss consisted of countless planes, truly boundless, and no one had fully explored it even now. Demons swarmed everywhere, everything soaked in corrosive Fel that constantly eroded intruders, threatening to corrupt and turn them fallen at any moment. And that wasn't counting legions of horrifying greater demons and mighty Abyss lords.
Even a Legendary couldn't last long in the Abyss. Either demon hordes would devour them, or they'd become one themselves.
Viola's parents hadn't returned from the Abyss for over twenty years. "Nothing known" was putting it mildly. Their survival odds approached zero. Essentially, they were dead.
Kenji continued:
"Since Viola's father was once the duke's favorite grandson, after her parents vanished, she enjoyed his special affection too. Her standing in the Silveri line is very high, yielding perhaps only to the duke's direct sons."
"You should seize this chance. If things work out with Viola, it'll save you at least several decades of hard struggle," Kenji clapped Reyn on the shoulder like a man who understood such male ambitions perfectly.
Reyn smirked but said nothing.
Truth be told, even if Viola weren't from a ducal line, her beauty alone would make any man seek her favor.
What concerned him more now was that Viola seemed to have her own goals, and until he figured them out, he couldn't act rashly.
Talk of women often bonds men. Reyn changed the subject, and they chatted a bit more with Kenji.
Soon Viola returned, beaming—clearly, the deal had succeeded.
Kenji exchanged a few pleasantries with them, then politely departed, giving Reyn a meaningful look farewell.
Viola, waiting until he was farther away, asked suspiciously:
"What did he tell you?"
"What a sharp woman!"
Reyn sighed and replied:
"Nothing special, just mentioned your family name."
Viola's face changed subtly, but she casually said:
"Just that? Well, being born into a ducal house is undoubtedly fortunate, something many can't even dream of. However, sometimes a family name becomes a true burden. Anyway, even if he hadn't mentioned it, I would've told you sooner or later myself."
Reyn stayed silent, at a loss for words. Viola spoke from the heights of her position, untried by commoner hardships. The confidence in her words stemmed from possessing everything ordinary people dared not dream of their whole lives.
If her father hadn't been the duke's grandson and a Demon Hunter, how could he have wed a noble moon elf? Without the glory and resources of the ducal line supporting her father, Viola might not exist.
Perhaps Viola's father was exceptionally talented and could have become a superhuman even from an ordinary family, but without the duke's aid, it would undoubtedly have been far harder.
How hard was it for an ordinary person to become a superhuman?
Reyn's own origins were already decent. Though from a small, remote town, his father was prosperous enough to send him to the Superhuman Academy. In their town, fewer than twenty peers qualified for such a place. Far more children from farmer and worker families had no chance at all to touch the superhuman world. And even so, before arriving in this world, Reyn's own odds of becoming a superhuman—even turning to dark gods—were practically nil.
Thus, Reyn greatly valued what he had and never took it for granted. He was determined not to miss any opportunity to gain more power. Even if it meant resorting to seemingly morally dubious means, like courting a woman for gain.
And Reyn had been extraordinarily lucky. Most young people who passed the Soul Transformation Ritual could only hope for ordinary superhuman jobs. Even with talent for enchanter or mage, where would they get funds for spiritual power mediums and Demonic Souls? Each cost dozens, even hundreds of gold shields. Those who couldn't afford it had to sign contracts with powerful organizations or noble houses, serving them and likely never gaining true freedom.
The world was always ruled by a handful of elites. Even in Ellunes, where supernatural power existed and some exceptionally gifted could break their birth chains and rise above their class through personal strength, they still couldn't shake this vast, entrenched system. Moreover, class divides here felt even harsher than in his previous world.
As one benefiting from the system, Viola calling her origins a "burden" showed some naivety.
Of course, it wasn't her fault.
Natural selection, survival of the fittest.
This law of nature was universal across worlds.
Viola noticed Reyn's odd expression but didn't guess the whirlwind of thoughts in his head, assuming he was intimidated by her origins.
She quietly comforted him:
"Reyn, don't overthink it. With your talent, you'll surely found your own line and earn your family name."
Reyn nodded slightly and smirked:
"Definitely."
Viola wanted to say more, but suddenly the hall erupted in a buzz of astonished exclamations, drawing everyone's attention.