Chapter 15 The paranormal events at the ancestral estate

The ancestral mansion of the Rolin family is located in the southwest of the Rolin Plain, where a tributary of the Rolin River flows through. The land along the riverbank is fertile, dotted with several farms, and there are towns nearby. Following this tributary downstream, one would pass through a picturesque valley.

This place is where the great Rolin family originated. Hundreds of years ago, when the ancestors of the Rolin family were just minor nobles with a small estate, the bloodline of the Rolin family began to spread across this land.

Passing through a stretch of dark woods, with lush green trees on both sides and fresh air, one could see the small valley on the left and, looking to the right, a distant tall tower—this is the ancestral mansion of the Rolin family.

After centuries of glory, the small village that once existed here is no more, and the original ancestral mansion, after countless renovations and reconstructions over hundreds of years, has grown to a considerable size!

Surrounded by a red stone wall, the castle is built with white giant stones quarried from the adjacent valley—originally a small mountain that, after centuries of stone extraction, was turned into a valley.

The arrival of the eldest son of the family naturally attracted special attention. The three hundred private soldiers stationed in the castle, all wearing their brightest armor, were lined up outside the red wall, the arched gate giving a majestic appearance. From his vantage point in the carriage, Duwei felt a sense of grandeur, and in his eyes, this thick stone wall could serve as a formidable defensive ring when necessary!

Trained and disciplined, the three hundred soldiers stationed within the castle were handpicked from various private military units across the Rolin Plain. Their training was exceptional, rivaling even that of the local imperial forces.

The black forest outside the castle served as a natural hunting ground, where annual hunting activities provided a form of training for these soldiers.

The main structure of the castle had two towers, one of which was particularly tall, even higher than the nearby mountain. Duwei, who had studied the family history, knew that this was because in a previous generation, the Rolin family had an eccentric patriarch. Although he was a warrior, he had a keen interest in astrology, even marrying a female astrologer. The tall tower was built to facilitate his wife's observation of the night sky.

A red carpet stretched from the castle gate all the way to where Duwei's carriage stopped. As Duwei stepped out of the carriage, a silver-haired old man who had been waiting approached. Tall and lean, he wore a meticulously tailored gray suit, and his demeanor was conservative yet respectful.

As soon as Duwei stepped out of the carriage and set foot on the ground, the old steward had already bent down deeply, offering his respects. In a low and deliberate tone, he spoke, "Young master, I am the resident steward here, Hill Rolin. I received news of your imminent arrival three days ago. Everyone in the castle is prepared to receive your visit. Please follow me."

With that, the old steward turned and carefully led Duwei up the steps. He displayed impeccable etiquette, respectful and courteous without being servile, guiding Duwei along the red carpet while he himself walked cautiously outside it, allowing Duwei to bask in the honor.

There was no time to observe the interior decor of the castle in detail, but one thing left a strong impression: as they entered through the castle gates, they were greeted by a gigantic flag adorning the facing wall!

This flag was enormous, about seven to eight meters high and six meters wide, covering the entire facing wall! It bore the family crest—a pair of crossed swords with flames swirling around their blades, topped by a crown.

Entering the first-floor hall of the castle, the imposing flag immediately imparted a solemn and dignified atmosphere to the surroundings!

Following this, all the servants of the castle, dressed in neat uniforms, stood on either side of the hall to welcome Duwei's arrival. Duwei wasn't particularly interested in this peculiar "inspection." He nodded casually and then whispered, "My steward, please take me to the study now... As for everyone else, you may all disperse and return to your duties."

Steward Hill executed Duwei's command meticulously, and soon Duwei was led to a study...

Well, if he could, Duwei would prefer to call this place a "library"!

Because it was enormous!

The circular room had a high domed ceiling adorned with quaint plaster motifs, and there were plaster statues on either side—many of them depicting prominent figures from the family's history.

Around the perimeter of the room were towering bookshelves... It was astounding! These bookshelves were at least two stories high! They were filled with all sorts of books, densely packed. Duwei made a rough estimate and realized that there were at least tens of thousands of volumes here! Additionally, there were many iron cabinets storing important items, such as the family genealogy or ancient documents.

Of course, even in the study, there was a hint of martial spirit befitting a family of martial distinction! Right as you walked in through the door, directly opposite, hung a gigantic sword with hands gripping it, alongside a massive battle-axe! These weapons were crossed on the wall! From the gleaming edges, it was evident that the servants took great care in polishing and maintaining them.

On another wall of the bookshelf, several large cabinets were deliberately displayed, containing various kinds of weapons, all seeming like antiques.

There were short bows from a hundred years ago, old-fashioned knightly swords, long cavalry sabers, and black ironwood bows...

These weapons drew Duwei's attention, and he could tell that despite the passage of time, these antiques were well-maintained, with some still emitting a faint glint of sharpness!

"These were all used by outstanding ancestors from generations past," said the elderly steward, Mr. Hill, in his unchanging tone. "These record the glory of our illustrious ancestors of the Rolin family."

Due to the shape of the room, speaking here caused the sound waves to resonate, adding an extra layer of solemnity.

As Duwei gently touched the desk made of black pearwood, he observed his surroundings quietly.

It was clear that although everything here had undergone rigorous preservation and meticulous cleaning, the marks of time were still evident. Many areas of the bookshelf were polished to a smooth shine, and even the massive desk under his hands seemed older than the elderly steward in front of him.

"This used to be the power center of the Rolin family, where family heads would contemplate and make various decisions. Every item here bears the traces of our past glory," murmured the steward in a low voice. "Although the family's decision-making center later moved to Yanjing, according to family tradition, every returning family head or temporary visitor to the castle must spend the first night here in the study. This is to remind oneself not to forget the glorious history of the family and the weighty responsibilities on one's shoulders."

Pausing for a moment, the old steward glanced at Duwei and lowered his head. "As the eldest son of the current Earl, you have come to inspect the castle on his behalf. May I ask if you will be staying here tonight?"

Duwei immediately nodded in agreement, smiling. "Tradition is tradition, and it must be respected. I am no exception. Although I am not the head of the family, I am my father's eldest son and have come here as his representative. Tonight, I will stay in the study as tradition dictates."

The old steward's expression softened, and there was a hint of warmth in his tone as he spoke slowly, "Yes, I will have everything prepared. Also... I understand that you are here to inspect the estate's properties on behalf of the Earl. May I ask where you would like to start your work? Upon receiving news of your return, I have already arranged and prepared the accounts and ledgers for this year's family estate. When would you like to begin reviewing these documents? Or shall I..."

Duwei smiled and interrupted him. Naturally, he bypassed the desk and sat down behind the expansive table. Though the sofa was a bit firm, it was still comfortable to sit on. After a moment of thought, he chuckled, "My good steward, I have traveled a long way and am feeling a bit hungry now. Please have some food prepared for me first, and then I think I can start looking at the documents you've prepared."

It seemed that the efficiency here was quite good.

Soon enough, Duwei enjoyed a very typical southern noble-style afternoon tea in the study. After devouring a sweet pumpkin pie, just as he finished wiping his mouth, Mr. Hill, the old steward, had already directed two sturdy footmen to the study.

The two footmen wheeled in a cart, piled high with thick volumes like a small mountain! These volumes, when stacked together, were probably taller than Duwei himself by half a head!

"These are all the financial records for this year?" Duwei frowned, beginning to suspect that the old steward was playing a prank on him.

"Yes, young master, these are all of them," Mr. Hill replied earnestly. "The documents here include measurements of land area and arable land within the entire Southern Corte Province, financial income and expenditure from six towns within the family estate, logistical support expenses for the private army dispersed in three areas of the estate, military pay, supplies, weapon consumption, and so on. Additionally, there are records of this year's grain harvest and budgets for some new constructions. I have also started on next year's budget, but due to the rush, I haven't completed it yet. However, I believe you won't be leaving here soon, so we have plenty of time."

Duwei couldn't help but touch his nose, looking at the mountain of documents in front of him. "...Is everything here?"

"This is only a part of it. As for the rest..." The old steward, unusually, said something slightly less serious, "I believe you might need a week to go through the rest."

Duwei began to furrow his brow, silently scrutinizing the steward in front of him.

The old steward didn't seem to be joking. But... would he be so naive as to think that a thirteen-year-old child like himself could understand these accounts? Even more so, would he be so naive as to believe that a thirteen-year-old child could shoulder the entire family estate's industry?

If that were the case, then he should know that being sent back to his hometown by the family head was effectively a form of banishment. So why did this guy bring over this pile of accounts and solemnly request him to inspect them... What was his intention?

Was it because the staying steward was displeased with him being sent back and feared that he would dilute the power in his hands upon his return, so he was first showing him his authority?

Or perhaps he had some tricks up his sleeve within the family's industry, seeking to profit privately, and now he was using him, a child, to cover it up?

Everything seemed possible!

However, Duwei didn't say anything. He didn't even raise a single question. He simply picked up the topmost ledger, blew off the dust, and calmly sat down to flip open the first page, quietly reading.

After a while, Duwei lifted his head, and the old steward was still standing nearby.

"Oh, does the steward have anything else to say to me?" Duwei's tone seemed to chill as he casually remarked, "I don't like having someone around while I read."

"Understood, young master." Mr. Hill's eyes showed a hint of surprise, then he seemed to hesitate, as if about to say something, but he swallowed his words and turned to leave with the servants.

Once the heavy study door was closed, Duwei gently set down the ledger in his hand. He stood up, paced back and forth in the spacious study for a few steps, stretched his body, and then smiled to himself, murmuring, "It seems that there might be something worth looking forward to happening after all."

As time passed until dusk fell, the old steward came to the study twice more during this period. Once to pour tea for Duwei, and once, after dark, to personally bring someone to light the candles for Duwei.

To the old steward's surprise, the young master was actually reading through those accounts!

And he wasn't just putting on a show; he was genuinely reading them! Several ledgers were opened on the desk, and Duwei seemed to be calculating something. After the old steward brought in twenty large candlesticks to light up the study, Duwei casually asked a few questions about the accounts.

He wasn't asking randomly; each question hit the mark! This was enough to prove that this young master was serious! He really delved into those tedious accounts!

Was this... the young master who was considered a "simpleton" within the family in Yanjing, as the message had said?

Despite his efforts to conceal it, Duwei still caught the surprised expression on the old steward's face. Duwei didn't say anything more; he simply closed the ledger in his hand, which he had flipped to the last page.

Actually... these accounts are quite fascinating!

Duwei spent an evening but didn't actually look at those tedious numbers, nor did he bother to check if the accounts were falsified. After all, he wasn't a genius, and it was impossible for him, someone who knew nothing about the industry, to tell if the accounts were accurate.

Perhaps no one would know that Duwei was reading in a different way, one that others couldn't guess!

Who said that ledgers could only be used for keeping accounts?

At least, Duwei learned a lot from these things! And these were things that were not recorded in history books or in the volumes that documented the family history!

From the names and contents of the various items in these accounts, Duwei immediately gained a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which the Roland Family controlled their territory.

Within the territory, the Roland Family was almost autonomous, even possessing considerable autonomy. The financial and tax powers here belonged to the family, and even the appointments of local officials were mostly decided by the family. Although tax rates were determined according to imperial law, the family could modify them using special titles, exemptions, or increases, as long as a certain percentage of the collected taxes was submitted to the central imperial finance each year.

Then there was military power. Basically, from the details of military expenditure in these accounts, it seemed that there were very few imperial troops stationed here; just two small local reserve infantry regiments stationed on the periphery of the territory. It was worth noting that the supplies for these two reserve infantry regiments were provided annually by the Roland Family! And most of the territory's security and order were maintained by the family's private army.

Almost effortlessly through these accounts, Duwei completely grasped the current situation of the entire Roland Family in various fields such as economics, politics, and military affairs!

Perhaps if the old steward knew that he was "reading" the accounts like this, his eyes would pop out!

From these accounts, Duwei had confirmed at least two points: first, the family could fully control this place in terms of taxation! And the same applied to military matters!

Duwei, who came from another world, had learned an important common sense from his knowledge in that world: two crucial indicators of a country's territorial sovereignty are taxation and the presence of troops!

And now, both of these points were almost entirely controlled by the Roland Family! What did this mean?

It meant that the central government of the empire had almost lost control over the Roland Family's territory: half of the territory of the Kote Province was under the control of the Roland Family! It was almost like a feudal kingdom within the empire.

Duwei leaned back on the sofa, contemplating. This situation surprised him because when the central authority of a country gradually lost its authority, it often heralded the beginning of turmoil.

After sitting for a while in the quiet room, occasionally interrupted by the crackling of candle flames, Duwei suddenly stood up, turned around abruptly, and looked at the wall behind him!

On the wall was a massive floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, filled with densely packed books, seemingly nothing out of the ordinary.

But Duwei felt a faint unease in his heart... Yes, the feeling he just had seemed right!

Because his mental prowess was stronger than that of ordinary people, Duwei was more sensitive to his surroundings. Just now, he suddenly felt like he was being watched from behind, as if someone's gaze was silently fixed on him from some unknown hidden corner!

There was nothing unusual on the bookshelf, so Duwei's gaze moved upward.

Above the bookshelf, on the wall, hung a row of portraits.

The portraits, painted in an oil painting style, were neatly arranged in chronological order, depicting the successive heads of the Roland Family!

And placed in the leftmost position was the oldest-looking portrait, the one with the farthest back in time and perhaps slightly distorted in its depiction. It portrayed a middle-aged man in uniform. This man on the canvas was none other than the Imperial Marshal of that era! He was the ancestor of the Roland Family who had won great victories for the empire in wars and had been granted the Roland Plains by the emperor himself!

The man appeared vigorous, with a cold and resolute gaze between his brows, much like the stern gaze of Duwei's father, Count Raymond. And that gaze seemed to be fixed directly on Duwei!

Duwei's heart skipped a beat. He took a few steps back, then walked to the side, all the while keeping his eyes on the portrait. Then he chuckled softly, sighed lightly, and murmured, "Ah, perhaps I'm just being too sensitive... it's just a painting."

He turned away, casually picking up another ledger...

But behind him, the eyes of the marshal in the portrait blinked!

Yes, the figure in the oil painting suddenly came to life, his eyes blinking as if injected with vitality! Those eyes, which should have been stiff and lifeless within the painting, suddenly seemed to be infused with life! They fixed upon Duwei's back, their gaze tinged with curiosity...

And at that moment, Duwei, seemingly engrossed in reading the ledger, suddenly turned around without warning, staring straight at the portrait on the wall!

In an instant, the gaze of the man in the painting and Duwei's eyes met!

"No need to pretend anymore. I know you've been watching me," Duwei said slowly, raising his hand. In his hand was a silver spoon, the one he had used earlier to eat the pumpkin pie. The silver spoon gleamed like a mirror!

"You've been watching me, and just now, I was watching you with this," Duwei said, smiling as he stared at the painting on the wall. "There's no need to keep pretending... But, don't you know that peeking at others from behind is quite rude?"