Chapter 130: The Heir

"Trenn."

Inside the study, Rex kept his eyes fixed on Trenn as he entered.

"Father."

Li Ju followed the memories of the original owner and bowed to Rex.

"You have seen the situation at today's family meeting."

"Although I do not wish to strip you of your status as the heir to the Count, the voices of dissent within the family are simply too loud."

Rex spoke directly once Li Ju had seated himself.

"I have discussed this with Sac. We will temporarily have Sac replace you as the heir to the Count. As compensation, we will demand at the next family meeting that you be granted a Knight-level nest and a fiefdom of a Knight’s territory."

"I leave it entirely to your discretion, Father," Li Ju nodded mechanically.

The original owner had always lacked a mind of his own in front of his father, typically doing whatever Rex told him to do, so Li Ju maintained this submissive facade.

"Rest assured, you are my most beloved child. Your mother entrusted me to take good care of you before she passed. Sac becoming the heir is only temporary. When the time is right, I will have you restored as the heir."

"Spend more time communicating with Sac. Do not let the bond between you brothers grow distant. In the future, when you ascend to the position of Count, you will need Sac's help."

Rex reached out and patted Li Ju's head.

Hearing Rex's words, Li Ju recalled the memories of the original owner.

According to those memories, the original owner's mother had been with Rex even before he succeeded as the Count of Iron Gold. The two were deeply in love, but tragically, she died during a difficult childbirth. Rex was devastated at the time and sank into a long period of depression.

It was out of this love for his late wife that Rex transferred his affection to the original owner, spoiling him to such an extent that he allowed the heir to the Count to forgo the training required of a noble and instead spend his days in debauchery.

Rex's second wife, Sac's mother, was a marriage of convenience forced upon him by family pressure. Rex himself never felt deep affection for her, nor for Sac.

"This title of Count will definitely be yours. Your father will plan everything out for you."

Rex said this and took a book from his drawer.

"I heard from a maid that you went to the third floor of the library today to look through swordsmanship manuals?"

"Father, I feel that I should try to become a qualified noble heir, and I want to start with swordsmanship."

Li Ju stood tall, puffing out his chest to project the image of a prodigal son turning over a new leaf.

"Having such an idea is a good thing."

"This is the strongest swordsmanship treasured by our Iron Gold family—the Sword of Armor. It is a Count-level technique that can be cultivated up to the forty-ninth level."

Rex said, handing the manual to Li Ju.

"However, swordsmanship is something that only needs to be practiced occasionally to familiarize yourself with combat techniques; there is no need to place too much importance on it."

"You must understand that the foundation of our nobility always lies in our nests. A noble without a nest can never be considered a true noble, just like those so-called 'court nobles'."

Rex spoke as he watched Li Ju curiously leaf through the manual.

Li Ju immediately assumed a posture of rapt attention.

Court nobles were those granted titles by the monarchy but who lacked nests. They were always looked down upon by traditional nobles who possessed nests, to the point that they were often not even considered true nobles.

"A commoner, even with a Count-level swordsmanship manual, would need about ten years to reach the Knight level. But when that same commoner refines a Knight-level nest, they can possess Knight-level power through the enhancement of the nest's strength."

"Not to mention that the Knight-level biological creatures born from such a nest are, at the same level, at least as strong as, if not stronger than, a human Knight."

"Remember, we humans have never been known for our physical strength among the various nest creatures and free-roaming beings. Even in terms of intelligence, we are not the best. We dominate the world because of our ability to control nests for our own use," Rex said patiently.

"Father, I understand."

Li Ju nodded thoughtfully.

"That is good. Go back and prepare. Things should have a result soon."

"I will try my best to secure the territory by the Rattan River for you."

Rex waved his hand, dismissing him.

The territory by the Rattan River was the most fertile land directly under the control of the Iron Gold family; it could be considered a land of plenty.

***

"Mother."

Inside a luxuriously decorated room, Sac bowed to a graceful noblewoman. This woman was his biological mother, the current Countess of Iron Gold.

"Sac, how did things go?"

The Countess sat on her chair, her feet not touching the floor, but rather resting on a naked maid who was kneeling on the ground.

"Father's words have softened. He has agreed to let me replace my brother as the new heir to the Count."

Sac stood in the room and said.

"Hmph, that old man. I have been his wife for so many years, yet he still cannot forget that woman!"

"At least this time I finally got him to agree to strip that piece of trash born from that woman of his inheritance."

The Countess sneered.

"But from Father's words and actions, I fear that after this period passes and the storm settles down, he will bring my brother back to be the heir again," Sac said after a moment of reflection.

"That would only happen if the person is still around!"

The noblewoman let out a cold laugh.

"At the next family meeting, the territory doesn't matter, but you must apply for the best nest for that piece of trash."

"There are currently three ownerless Knight-level nests in the family, and the Iron-Armored Ant nest is of the highest quality. Apply for that one for him; since it will end up in our hands eventually, we must ensure it is the best one."

The noblewoman paused for a moment.

"It is a pity. If it weren't for those people in the family who would never agree to give out a Baronet-level nest, it would have been better to give that trash a Baronet-level one. There happens to be an ownerless Baronet-level nest in the family."

"Mother, there are too many people eyeing that Baronet-level nest. Even with Father's influence, that nest would not be given to my brother," Sac shook his head.

"That is why I say it is a pity. If you could obtain a Baronet-level nest, it would be of great benefit to your future."

"After all, a Baronet-level nest is far superior to a Knight-level one."

The noblewoman said with some regret.

"The Count-level Iron-Armored Golden Dragon nest passed down through our family has a restriction placed by our ancestors: the creatures born within it cannot raise a hand against members of the Iron Gold family."

"And your father does not control any other nests. Even with the Count-level strength granted by the nest, he cannot contend with the other nobles in the family. This has led to your father's lack of authority within the family, forcing him to compromise repeatedly with the Viscounts and Barons at family meetings."

"So, you must learn from your father's mistakes. Control more nests besides the Iron-Armored Golden Dragon nest so that you can have greater authority when you inherit the title of Count in the future."