Chapter 57: Imperial Capital, Du Family

  After a month of traveling, Francis and his companions finally arrived at the Imperial City located in the center of Caesar.

  The imperial capital, named Laitvidis, was named after the founding emperor of the Caesar Empire and is the political, cultural, and economic center of Caesar. The residents are mostly the Imperial Guard and the high-ranking officials of the Caesar Empire, as well as the current Caesar royal family. If anything were to happen to these people, it would be enough to declare a change in dynasty for the Caesar Empire, so this city can be said to be as solid as gold. Speaking of the city walls, they are 38 meters high and 10 meters thick, with countless defensive magic and alchemy spells cast by successive emperors on top. Even the most powerful magical cannons cannot leave a mark on them. Moreover, the Imperial Knights who guard the imperial capital are one of the strongest military forces in the empire, with even the weakest being a fifth-rank swordsman. With the addition of the Imperial Magic Corps and the magic cannons on the city walls, even a giant dragon flying in the sky can be shot down.

  "What a magnificent building!" Francis looked at the city wall in front of him, although compared to the high-rise buildings of his previous life, this city wall was nothing. But in this world, Francis had never seen a larger-scale building than this one, and the various magical patterns that wrapped around the city wall really opened his eyes.

  "Hmm! Anyone who comes to the Imperial City for the first time will have this idea!" Ed raised his head and looked at the huge city wall "This is the west gate of the Imperial City, there are three more gates in other directions! Let's go, let's talk after we enter, you're guests from afar, this time I'll treat you well!"

  "Don't bother!" Francis smiled and refused. "Now, I'm going to take a stroll around the Imperial City first!" The crowd of people coming and going could be seen outside the door, and Francis began to take an interest in the prosperous Imperial City.

  "Master! Master!" A servant-clad person ran out from the Imperial Capital's gate and rushed towards Ed.

  "How did you get here!" Ed asked in surprise, riding on horseback.

  "The old master told the young masters and misses to hurry back! Ah, yes, and there are also these few people over here!" The servant pointed at Francis and his group.

  "Us?" Francis was puzzled, putting down Lant this prince he didn't invite, what did he want us to do?

  "Haha! Mr. Du has invited you, hehe! Francis, you're in luck!" Lantian smiled slyly. Over the past month, the two had gradually come to understand each other. Francis also knew what kind of person he was - unlike Ed's sunny and straightforward nature, Lantian was absolutely a lazybones who didn't care about anything that wasn't his concern. However, this kind of person surprisingly got along well with Francis, and without realizing it, their relationship had become even better than Francis' relationship with Ed.

  "Yes, several!" The servant bowed to Francis and his party, then turned back to Ed and said: "Young master, the old man also said that if these few don't go, you... won't need to come back either!"

  "What for?" Ed couldn't figure out why his grandfather would say something like that, did he know that Francis was a relative of their own family? No way, the Du family had countless relatives, there was no reason...

  Not only was Ed puzzled, but Francis also couldn't figure it out. Apart from Ed's siblings, he didn't know anyone from the Du family, so what did that old man want to see him for?

  "Francis...this...!" Ed said awkwardly, wondering what his old man was up to now.

  "Hehe! Nothing much, just going to take a look shouldn't be any big problem, right? You've accompanied me all the way here, I couldn't just watch you not get in the door and not help you!"

  "That's a real nuisance!" Ed felt a bit embarrassed and didn't know what the old man would be up to next.

  "Hehe! Lante, they're having a family gathering, let's leave first! We shouldn't disturb them." After Linda walked out of the carriage and bid farewell to everyone, she left.

  "Well, I'm off too! Francis, Ed, see you when school starts again! I have a lot of things to do, so I'll be off!" Lant said, hastily walking over to a horse carriage by the side of the road, got on and disappeared into the distance.

  "Is Francis going to our house?" Aisha was surprised, with her grandfather's temper, how could he suddenly want to entertain a stranger.

  "I'm also curious, what is Grandfather going to do again?" Ed asked the servant beside him on horseback, "Do you know what's been going on with Grandfather these past few days?"

  "This doesn't seem to be it, though. But from a few days ago, the old master's mood suddenly improved a lot, and he's been smiling all day!" The servant thought for a moment, but didn't think of anything either.

  "Ai De, let's go first! What's the use of daydreaming here? We can't keep your old man waiting!"

  "Hehe! That's also true. Francis, if my grandfather does something too out of line later on, you have to forgive him!" Ed rode his horse ahead and after taking out a waist card at the city gate, the city guard let Francis' group in without checking.

  "It's not that exaggerated, is it?! You're making me a bit nervous now!" Francis felt a chill in his heart as he recalled Lant's previous nickname for Ed's grandfather - Old Mad Dog.

  "Hehe! Don't worry, Grandpa is still a nice person. I'm just worried that he might suddenly do something out of line!"

  Francis was perplexed, Ed's grandfather, the current head of the Du family: Duke Raiser, who was also the Grand Marshal of the Empire's military. This old man could be said to have nothing in common with himself, what did he want to see him for? What did he plan to do?

  "Master! What now?" Dis asked Francis, in the Imperial City, he could feel the presence of many experts.

  "Let's go to the Du family first! After all, my surname also has a 'Du' character, let's just visit our elders!" Francis didn't feel particularly honored by Duke Ruther's invitation, only curiosity.

  After a few people followed Ed for a while, they saw the Duke's mansion of the Du family far away. Two stone-carved male lions were placed outside the gate, and a large "Du" character was hung on the gate. Four swordsmen stood at the door.

  "Master! I'll go and report first, the old master is probably getting impatient!" The servant said, and then ran in quickly.

  One of the men jumped off his horse and handed it over to a nearby guard. Saber, holding Deloris, followed Aisha out of the carriage. "Francis, let's go in first..."

  "Master! You're back!" a voice interrupted Ed's words.

  "Grandpa Ted, how did you get here?" Ed exclaimed in surprise.

  "Grandpa Ted!" Aisha greeted warmly.

  Francis followed the sound and saw an old man standing at the gate, dressed in a butler's uniform. Although the old butler had white whiskers and was thin, his eyes shone brightly. What surprised Francis was that he couldn't see through the old man's strength. In his heart, Francis sighed, no wonder it was a famous golden family on the mainland, even a butler had a divine level of cultivation.

  The old steward nodded at Ed and Aisha, focusing his attention on Francis. The three of them, under Francis' command, hid their true abilities and didn't attract the old man's attention.

  Francis was puzzled, wondering why he kept staring at him. Francis wiped the hat on his head and bowed to the old man: "Old man, I don't know if you have any instructions?"

  "Haha!" The old butler shook his head and said to Francis, "My master has been waiting for a long time! Please come in!"

  "Wait... for me!"

  "Yes, sir!" The old butler stretched out his hand and invited Francis inside.

  The old butler led the crowd through the front yard and had just reached the entrance of the living room when a loud, hearty laugh was heard. A tall, robust old man with a height of nearly two meters, wearing a black martial artist's uniform, walked towards them. Francis took a closer look and saw that the old man's hair and beard were all white, but his face still looked ruddy and stern. This person was none other than the current Grand Duke, Duke Raiser.

  "Hahaha! Ed, good job, hahaha! You didn't go out for nothing this time!" Duke Rutherford patted his grandson's shoulder with force, making Ed stumble.

  "Francis is it! Haha! Good! Good!" Raiser sized up Francis for a few moments, his eyes narrowing into slits!

  "Nice to meet you, Duke!" Francis greeted him, despite being puzzled by the old duke's expression that seemed to say "I already know you".

  "Haha! Not bad, not arrogant or humble, knowledgeable and reasonable! Very good! Very good! Come on in, everyone!" Raiser invited the group into the house, where wine and dishes were already set out on the table. Everyone sat down, but Dis's three men did not sit, standing behind Francis instead, feeling the presence of many experts around them.

  "Haha!" Raiser gulped down the wine in his mouth and laughed, saying "If it weren't for your report last time, you defeated a mercenary group called Red Wolf in Murphy City. I wouldn't have known about Francis otherwise."

  "Mommy! I want some of that!" Dorothea sat in Francis' lap pointing at the dishes on the table.

  "Haha! This must be your adopted daughter, right? She's really cute!" Raiser immediately figured it out, after all Francis looked like she was only eighteen years old, how could she have such a big daughter.

  "Not at all! It's a real one!" Deloris made a face at Raiser and ignored him.

  "Excuse me!" Francis apologized for his daughter.

  "Not bad! I haven't been this excited in a long time," Raiser said, taking another sip.

  "Grandpa! Don't drink too much!" Aisha said while eating her meal. It's been a long time since she left home, but the food at home is still delicious.

  "Fart! In my day... Cough, cough, hmm!" Raiser was about to say something, but suddenly remembered there were guests present and swallowed his words. He looked at Francis again and said: "Haha! Seeing you in the magical image, I thought you were a great beauty already. Now that I've taken a closer look, I think even the noble ladies of the empire can't compare to you! Haha..."

  "Ah!" Francis thought this duke seemed to have misunderstood something "Duke Ruther..."

  "Haha! What's with the 'Duke'?! Too formal! Doesn't your surname also have a 'Du'? Speaking of which, we're practically family now. From now on, just call me Grandpa! That Eddie kid, his luck isn't bad, being able to meet you is his good fortune!"

  "Huh?! Francis listened more and more out of tune, what was this old duke saying? "Duke Ruther! Your meaning, I'm a bit... unclear?"

  "Hahaha! What's not clear about that?! It's simple, isn't it?! Young people are just shy, that's all! I mean to say, you and Ed, when are you two getting married?" Raiseth laughed out loud, his words almost scaring Francis to death.

  "Ptoo!" Ed and Aisha spat out what was in their mouths.

  "Grandfather!" Ed shouted, jumping up "How could Francis and I? It's absolutely impossible!"

  Francis sat awkwardly in his seat, unsure of what to do with the wine glass in his hand.

  "Bullshit! I say it's okay, then it's okay! Who are you to tell me what to do? Sit down! I'll deal with you later!" Raiser was furious and raised his sleeves ready to fight, but thinking of Francis still being there, he sat back down.

  "No way! Grandpa! Listen to me..." Ed hurriedly explained, today's matter was too embarrassing. On the side, Aisha spat out the food in her mouth and still hadn't reacted yet.

  "What can't be done? You don't understand anything! Such a good girl, if you don't speak up now, what if she runs away later? Still dare to waste words, I'll kill you!"

  Francis stood up silently, he couldn't take it anymore: "Today's events have been so misunderstood! I'll take my leave first!" After saying that, he didn't even wait for Raiser's reaction and left with Dolores in his arms.

  "Mom! I haven't finished eating!" Dolores gazed longingly at the dishes on the table.

  "We'll go out and eat, Mom will buy a lot for you!" Francis now just wants to hurry up and leave this place, it's too dangerous!

  "Wait! Francis, little girl, don't go yet! Ted, you go after her first!" Raiser ordered the old man standing aside, turning to Ed "Look! You've driven people away with your temper! I'm so angry I could die! I told you, it's just her, I've taken a liking to her! If you don't bring her back, I'll beat you to death!"

  "Grandpa! No way! Listen to me... just listen to me!" Ed was on the verge of tears, what's going on today.

  "Miss Frances! I'm terribly sorry! About today's affair..." The old butler caught up from behind.

  "No! Today's events have been greatly misunderstood!" Francis didn't stop and continued walking forward.

  "Miss Frances! Actually, young master didn't mean it that way..." The old butler hastily explained.

  "No! What Ed means is the same as me! Please inform the Duke that Francis is a man!" After saying this, Francis quickly walked out of the gate and left without looking back. The old butler was left standing alone in his original position.

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