Chapter 1: Rhett and His Three Sons

The night was cold, with a bitter wind howling through the air, like the roar of a demon.

Snowflakes as large as goose feathers were falling from the sky, covering the entire town of Chuiying in a thick layer of silver frost.

The usually quiet and cold town of Chuiying was even more deserted tonight, with all the shops closed and the streets empty.

Looking westward, less than a kilometer away stood a majestic and towering fortress—Deep Rock Fortress.

On the fifth floor of the fortress, in the deepest part of the grand hall, a fireplace crackled with flames, emanating warmth. This was the spiritual core of most noble families.

In most cases, people would gather around the fireplace, their minds active and their bodies relaxed.

However, at this moment, a faint sorrow lingered in the air.

Three young men were gathered around a middle-aged knight who, though not tall, exuded an unusually calm demeanor. Yet, the middle-aged knight's condition seemed far from well.

There was a patch of white hair at the front of his forehead, and if one looked closely, it seemed to form a hook-like shape, resembling an eagle's beak. This patch of hair contrasted sharply with the rest of his black, silky hair.

It was a symptom of the "White-Headed Eagle Poison."

The three young men's expressions were heavy, though they tried to conceal their worry.

"Father, I believe that once this winter passes, the White-Headed Eagle Poison in your body will be dispelled with the arrival of spring," the second son, Riley, said confidently, gently patting his chest.

The third son, Thales, kept his head down, silently fiddling with the edge of his clothes, seemingly distracted but inwardly deeply troubled.

After struggling internally for a while, Thales spoke in a low voice, "In a few days, once the snow stops, I'll go find Rilys."

"She once said that if I agreed to spend a night with her, she would grant any request I made! Although her words might be exaggerated, if I use this opportunity to establish a relationship with her, we might gain the support of her father, Viscount Bolton."

After saying this, Thales lowered his head even further, but his eyes revealed a determined resolve.

Riley looked at his usually shy and delicate third brother in shock and disbelief, unable to find the words to respond.

Thinking of the boisterous and brash Rilys, Riley took a deep breath.

So, that fat woman prefers the young and tender?

However, Riley was not optimistic about Rilys. He had heard that she, relying on her exceptional talent and powerful family, had forced numerous young nobles into compromising situations.

Her past was not only filled with chaotic relationships but also rumored to involve some perverse habits.

If Thales went to her, wouldn't it be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, falling into a deadly trap?

Imagining such a terrible outcome, Riley shuddered and was about to dissuade him.

At that moment, the head of the family, Rhett Green, who had been resting with his eyes closed, could no longer remain silent!

With a sharp clap, he slapped the armrest of his chair, blew out his mustache, and glared at Thales, speaking in an annoyed tone, "Thales, don't even think about it! I won't allow you to sell your body for my sake."

"That fat woman with a face full of pockmarks wants to sleep with my son? If it were Tucker, I might consider it. After all, Tucker has thick skin and can endure, but not you. Your small frame, without even the talent for fighting spirit, wouldn't be able to withstand her torment!"

"I've heard that a year ago, Fields from the Dolon family, also a weak-looking lad who had just become an apprentice knight, couldn't get out of bed for three days after being toyed with by Rilys! And now she dares to set her sights on my son? Not a chance!"

Despite his weakened state, Rhett's voice grew louder as he roared.

Afterward, his chest heaved with anger, and he added, "Thales, don't bring this up again. I'm fine!"

Tucker and Riley exchanged glances. Although they also disagreed with letting that fat woman ruin their younger brother, they were well aware of their father's condition—it couldn't be delayed any longer.

Thales pouted, seemingly wanting to say something more.

At this moment, Rhett's expression changed slightly. Perhaps his raised voice had agitated the White-Headed Eagle Poison lurking in his body.

Rhett felt a sudden surge of inexplicable energy in his chest, followed by a choking sensation in his throat. His face turned pale as he straightened his body and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The sight of this frightened Rhett's three sons. Tucker, the eldest, who had been about to mutter something, hurriedly grabbed a towel from the side and pressed it against Rhett's mouth to wipe the blood away.

"Ugh, Tucker, get out! Who told you to use a tablecloth as a towel?" Rhett, initially holding back his weakness, couldn't stand the stench that came so close to him and pushed away the careless Tucker.

"Oops, I was too nervous. Sorry, Father," Tucker sheepishly scratched the back of his head, grinned foolishly, and said, "I'll go find a clean towel right away."

The small mishap eased some of the tension.

After Tucker left, under the watchful eyes of his other two sons, Rhett closed his eyes once again, and the quiet atmosphere resumed.

With the beast poison coursing through his body, Rhett's mind drifted to memories of the past.

He… was a transmigrator.

Before he transmigrated, he had no parents and grew up in an orphanage, which had fostered his self-reliant and resilient personality.

It had been more than thirty years since he transmigrated to this vast and extraordinary world.

Although he hadn't seen the entirety of this world, he was aware that it had two power systems—knights and magicians. Knights could cultivate fighting spirit, and magicians mastered all sorts of magical spells.

The kingdom he lived in was the Kingdom of Jinlun. A few years after his transmigration, his parents in this world died during an orc raid on the border.

His father had once told him that his great-grandfather had been a magician and had left behind a low-level meditation method as proof, which had been passed down as a family heirloom.

In Rhett's generation, he happened to awaken his magical talent and became an earth-element magician.

However, he only had a low-level talent, so even in his forties, he had only reached the level of a second-tier magician.

In his youth, he had traveled far and wide. He had been a mercenary, an adventurer, a lone wanderer. After learning of his parents' death, he resolutely joined the front lines.

Initially, Rhett only sought revenge, but as he spent more time on the battlefield, his scarcity as an earth-element magician and his special role on the battlefield, combined with his hard work, allowed him to kill dozens of orcs of the same rank and accumulate considerable merit.

He even had the good fortune to cooperate with others and kill a third-tier orc, who had royal blood—'Bloodmoon Werewolf.'

In the end, thanks to his extensive battlefield experience, outstanding merits, and a beautiful record of killing a royal-blooded orc, he met the requirements for being granted a baronial title by the Kingdom of Jinlun, becoming a small noble.

In the Kingdom of Jinlun, earning a noble title through military merit was no easy feat. Rhett achieved it, and though it was the lowest baronial title, it brought a significant change in his status and position.

Although the Kingdom of Jinlun imposed the obligation that "every newly promoted noble family of baronial rank must send at least one second-tier magician or two second-tier knights to the front lines for ten years," Rhett's magical status meant he only needed to serve for ten years.

A knight, on the other hand, would need to serve twenty years on the front lines alone!

Yes, there was still professional discrimination in this world, but no one ever disputed it. After all, compared to knights, magicians naturally had an advantage, and the gap only widened as one's power grew.

Two months ago, at the beginning of winter, the temperature plummeted. Around this time, the Kingdom of Jinlun and the orcs typically reduced their military activities.

Coincidentally, Rhett had just fulfilled his ten-year duty as a noble.

Despite his commanding officer's pleas and the temptation of "stay another ten years, and you'll have a chance to be promoted to viscount," Rhett resolutely left the front lines.

The reason was that he had received a letter while still on the front lines, informing him that Tucker's wife was pregnant with a boy and was about to give birth.

His excitement at the news made him ignore any further persuasion to stay.

Of course, part of his decision was due to his lack of confidence in his talent—he pessimistically believed he wouldn't be able to break through to a third-tier magician within ten years.

And in the Kingdom of Jinlun, if you didn't meet the rigid power requirements, no amount of merit could earn you a higher title.

Moreover, orcs were known for their brutality, and staying on the front lines always carried the risk of death. Considering all factors, Rhett decided to return to the rear, settle down, and develop quietly.