Reforged Chapter 65: Ennoblement

What was the purpose of defeating the boss?

Fame! Gear! A sense of accomplishment!

Even though Duke had crossed over and truly entered the world of Azeroth, he still couldn't extinguish his gamer's heart.

Artifacts - they were no longer just powerful equipment; they had become a spiritual belief.

An unstoppable, seemingly arrogant thought surged into Duke's mind: defeat Medivh, who was possessed by Sargeras, and snatch Atiesh!

Thinking about the wonderful feel of that artifact staff, the shocking and outrageous magical power bonus, Duke's heart couldn't calm down.

"Phew—" Duke let out a turbid breath.

Beside him, the invited Elizabeth Jones and the old mage Norton showed concerned expressions.

"Are you alright?" they asked in unison.

Duke knew that they were not asking about him, but about his relationship with Medivh.

"It'll be fine," Duke's confident tone gave them confidence.

Completely ignoring the schadenfreude glances from some of the nobles, Duke, led by a servant, entered the banquet hall with Norton and Jones.

After today, there would likely be various interpretations of this event among the nobility. Duke had no interest in those political games. For a group of people who were destined to have bad luck, Duke almost ignored them, silently letting the system fairy record all their information.

The luxurious banquet hall, slightly larger than a football field, was not only magnificent and splendid, but the tall dome above was filled with exquisite murals. Humans used such artistic forms to record civilization and history.

On the huge dome mural, Duke saw the seven human kingdoms, the high elves' Quel'Thalas, the dwarves' Ironforge, and the Emperor Solderon defeating the Troll Empire.

Duke was so fascinated by the murals that it made Miss Jones beside him anxious.

"Oh, my Sea King. The New Year's banquet is an important gathering for nobles. Although I know you have an extraordinary status as a mage, getting along well with the nobles would be beneficial for our business expansion. I beg you, at least for the sake of your mage tower, let's pay our respects to the most important nobles."

Duke's goal in making money was to build a mage tower, which was already a public secret. It was precisely because of this perfect excuse that neutral nobles had fewer qualms about Duke. Thanks to Jones, who was well-received among noble ladies, the perfume became a hot seller.

However, Duke shook his head at Jones and whispered, "A shocking event will happen tonight. I suggest you put away your promotional mindset for now."

Jones' body suddenly stiffened.

Even after several months of pleasant cooperation, she still couldn't understand what this seemingly half-grown youth was thinking. His thoughts transcended the mundane, and his gaze always seemed to fall beyond the imagination of others.

Miss Jones did not dare to defy Duke, as he was practically her boss now, with ninety percent of her business related to Duke.

At this moment, the herald announced, "King Llane and his consort have arrived—"

Dressed in dazzling golden attire, Llane, holding the hand of his beautiful queen, led their children into the hall, accompanied by his guards.

On the prepared platform, the huge candelabra's bright light allowed everyone to clearly see every detail of the gold ornaments on King Llane's body.

Llane's face was full of smiles, the kingdom's situation had improved, and the return of his friend Medivh had put him in high spirits. Everyone could feel the king's triumphant air.

"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the kingdom, welcome to this gathering. I—King Llane Wrynn am delighted to host the New Year's banquet here. Over the past year, the entire kingdom has enjoyed prosperity, and our people have lived better lives than ever before."

"Here, I would like to formally introduce and express my gratitude to a young man. He is the newest member of our Royal Magi, the newly appointed Archmage of Earth, the master of the Pearl Route, the benefactor of New Stormwind Harbor, and the sponsor of Stormwind Kingdom's naval vessels—Duke Marcus!"

"Mr. Marcus, please come to the stage."

With an open palm, Llane gestured toward Duke.

Duke was taken aback; he did not expect Llane to introduce him so grandly to the entire nobility. This was undoubtedly the king's favor.

Suddenly the focus of everyone's attention, Duke felt somewhat overwhelmed. His slightly agape mouth revealed his nervousness.

"Don't be nervous, young man. This is well-deserved." Anduin Lothar, ever the handsome one, appeared near Duke, patting his shoulder to encourage him onto the stage.

After Duke regained his composure, the cunning Anduin whispered, "I publicly support you for the sake of the city walls."

Duke could not help but smile and frown.

Lothar! Can you not be so calculating? Are you planning to bleed me dry next year?

In the midst of everyone's gaze, Duke took the stage. King Llane smiled warmly at Duke, giving him an amiable pat on the shoulder before slowly unsheathing his sword adorned with a magnificent golden hilt shaped like an eagle in flight.

"Please kneel, young man."

Kneel? Kneel for what?

Duke didn't quite catch on.

Ever vigilant, Lothar whispered to Duke, "His Majesty wishes to grant you a title. If you wish to refuse, you may choose not to kneel."

Uh, is this an ambush?

I've already crossed over to this world and can't go back. I must either integrate into this world or be rejected by it—there is no third path.

Fine! A title is a title. I'll kneel.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Duke decided to kneel on one knee.

King Llane was pleased, his eyes filled with laughter as he brandished his splendid sword, lightly tapping Duke's left and right shoulders with the flat side of the blade.

"Duke Marcus, I do not know where you hail from, but as long as you are willing to serve the Stormwind Kingdom, to contribute your courage and wisdom for the betterment of our people, and to see their smiling faces, I dub you a knight! From now on, I hope you will continue to fulfill your duties, creating more wealth and happiness for the kingdom and its people."

Llane's words brought comfort to Duke.

"I, Duke Marcus, vow to serve the people of Stormwind." No one noticed that Duke skillfully followed Llane's words, avoiding the terms 'kingdom' and 'king,' and only vowed to serve the people.

Llane was overjoyed, "Sir Marcus, it is not my intention to exploit you. However, the lives of our people are still challenging, and I hope you can perform even better next year."

"I will," Duke stood up.

He could feel the envy and jealousy emanating from all around.

Earning a title as a commoner usually required significant achievements to rise from the ranks of the knights. But Duke had completely bypassed the entire knightly class, entering the true realm of nobility directly.

This was inseparable from his indirect expansion of the Stormwind Kingdom's territory.

As Duke took in the envious stares, he knew that he had to continue working hard, both for the kingdom and for himself. He couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. The weight of his new responsibilities and the expectations of those around him began to settle in.

In the following days, Duke Marcus focused on his duties, using his newfound influence to improve the lives of the citizens of Stormwind. He worked closely with King Llane Wrynn and Anduin Lothar, advising on matters of state and sharing his wisdom to help the kingdom thrive.

The people of Stormwind grew to respect and admire Duke Marcus for his dedication and contributions to their well-being. He had become an integral part of the kingdom's leadership, helping to guide it through both good times and bad.

As the years passed, Duke Marcus' reputation and influence grew stronger. He continued to serve the people of Stormwind, standing by their side as they faced countless challenges and threats. Through it all, he never wavered in his commitment to the kingdom and its people.

His journey from a stranger in a foreign land to a respected member of the nobility was a testament to his strength of character and determination. Duke Marcus proved that anyone, regardless of their origins, could rise to greatness and make a lasting impact on the world around them.