Chapter 65: Checking Favorability
Fredrinn explained everything to his parents the moment he entered the room.
"What do you think we should do?" Roland asked while looking at Fredrinn.
"We will do as I had initially planned. We will bring this matter to the city lord. With his help, we should be able to cause some trouble to the Blackcrow Household." Fredrinn replied.
Hearing this, Roland nodded. This was the best option for them.
"With my present reputation, the city lord might not take me seriously if I visit him by myself. Father, it would be better if you came with me to the city lord's mansion." Fredrinn suggested.
"Mn." Roland nodded in agreement. "Then we shall visit him tomorrow morning."
Fredrinn turned his gaze to Margaret and hurriedly spoke. "Mother, I know you want to come with us, but please stay at the mansion for the time being. We can't let anything happen to you."
Margaret couldn't bring herself to push the matter when she saw her son's stern gaze. "Fine, but you two better be careful out there."
The family of three talked for another hour before Fredrinn bid them farewell. His mother still had to rest so he didn't linger for long.
The next day, Fredrinn headed out of the mansion together with his father. This time, he didn't bring Cain since the guy was still recuperating so he brought Gunnar and Aurelius instead. Meanwhile, Roland brought Sir Dontos and Sir Darius with him.
[Nascent Soul 5th Layer]
[Core Formation 10th Layer]
[Core Formation 10th Layer]
His father was already a 5th layer Nascent Soul martial practitioner, while both Sir Dontos and Sir Darius were at the peak of the Core Formation realm. On the other hand, the captain of his guards unit, Sir Gunnar, was at the 7th layer of the Core Formation stage, and Vice Captain Aurelius had only recently advanced to the Core Formation stage.
Fredrinn checked everyone's favorability using the Favorability Meter Function. He hadn't used this function in a while so he decided to try it out.
[Roland Firecrown] Favorability: 89
[Gunnar Haraldson] Favorability: 81
[Aurelius Gorgon] Favorability: 80
[Darius Rockfall] Favorability: 66
[Dontos Gorgon] Favorability: 50
'It seems like Sir Darius and Sir Dontos are still not satisfied with me.' He chuckled upon seeing their low favorability. It wasn't surprising since he had rarely interacted with them. Furthermore, Fredrinn had a bad reputation since he was young so he guessed that it must have played a huge factor in their low favorability.
Roland didn't bring the elite unit with them. He only brought twenty Foundation Establishment martial practitioners to act as their guards.
Soon, the group left the estate and headed to the city lord's mansion. When they reached the inner parts of the city, the impressive entourage brought awe to the crowd.
"That's the private carriage of Patriarch Roland!"
"Look, isn't that Sir Dontos Gorgon? I heard that he is only one step away from advancing to the Nascent Soul realm!"
"Who are the three martial practitioners next to him? They also look strong!"
"I know the middle-aged man beside Sir Dontos. If I remember it correctly, that should be Sir Darius."
"Wow! I wonder where they are headed."
"Isn't it obvious? This path leads to the city lord's mansion."
Everyone discussed excitedly as they watched the Firecrown Household's entourage.
Contrary to the crowd's excitement, Fredrinn and Roland who were inside the carriage looked serious.
"Father, do you think the city lord will support us?" Fredrinn asked in a low voice. The city lord's mansion might be powerful, but the Blackcrow Household wasn't any weaker.
"The city lord is a man of honor. I'm sure that he will do something." Roland replied.
"I hope so…"
By the time they arrived at the city lord's mansion, it was already almost noon. The city lord's assistant, an old man called Roderick came out to invite them in.
"Good morning, Patriarch Roland! The city lord is not feeling well so I came here to invite you inside on behalf of him." Roderick warmly greeted while looking at Roland.
Fredrinn stared at the old man and was surprised by his cultivation.
[Nascent Soul 4th Layer]
The old man was only one layer weaker compared to his father!
Roland didn't seem to mind this. He already knew that the city lord was not in good health. "I feel honored that you came to invite me in despite coming unannounced, Sir Roderick. How is the city lord's condition?" He asked.
Roderick's smile disappeared as he sighed and shook his head. "I won't hide it from you, Patriarch Roland. The city lord's health hasn't improved since you last came here. Even the most famous doctors in the city are clueless about his condition."
Hearing this, Roland furrowed his eyebrows. "Have you invited someone from the capital?"
Roderick nodded. "We already did. They came here last month, but they were also baffled." His voice sounded gloomy when he said those words.
Roland only brought Fredrinn inside the city lord's mansion. It was only then that Roderick noticed his presence. "Oh, isn't this Sir Fredrinn? I haven't seen you in a while!" He tried to sound as friendly as he could, but his voice lacked enthusiasm.
[Roderick Ironsand] Favorability: 20
Seeing this, Fredrinn smiled bitterly. From the looks of it, the old man didn't seem to have a good impression of him.
"It's good to see you, Sir Roderick." Fredrinn greeted him with a smile.
The old man gave him a short response, but he didn't say anything to him after that.
Fredrinn tactfully remained silent so as to not offend the old man.
A few minutes later, Roderick brought them to the lounge where the city lord was waiting for them.
From Fredrinn's memories, the city lord was already in his seventies, but because of his high cultivation, he still looked like a middle-aged man.
[Nascent Soul 9th Layer]
The city lord's cultivation was the highest he had seen except for the old librarian. Unfortunately, this powerful man was afflicted with a strange illness.
"Haha! I didn't expect that you would visit me today, Roland." The city lord stood up when he saw them walking towards him.
Knowing the city lord's health, Roland quickly stepped forward. "City Lord, I hope I didn't disturb you with my unannounced visit." He muttered apologetically.
The city lord heartily laughed. "Of course not! I'm getting bored these days since my doctor didn't want me to move around too much. With you here, I finally have someone to play chess with." He soon noticed Fredrinn who was standing behind Roland.
"Oh! You brought your son with you?"
"Greetings, city lord." Fredrinn bowed upon sensing his gaze.
The city lord nodded to him before turning his gaze back to Roland. "Sit down. I already asked someone to prepare some refreshments for you two."
Fredrinn didn't say anything and just bowed before taking his seat. He then looked at the city lord.
[Ludwig Springfield] Favorability: 22
As expected, the city lord didn't have a good impression of him.