Keleir g Annie, gestured with his hand, and said, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

  He poio another young officer and said, “Ebner Soumet! My closest friend, a fifth-rank ander of the Twenty-Fifth Corps, a Seveh-Tier Grand Knight, and the only man who has ever forced me to take off my gloves and fight.”

  The sun shone warmly. The young officer with bck hair and bck eyes exuded a natural, imposing pressure and ughed, “I’ve heard about you! My cousin’s loyal subordinate.”

  Charlot chuckled awkwardly and chose not to eh that ent. After all, he couldn’t admit in front of Ahat he was actually an admirer of Menielman, the Empire’s First Rose. That would be far too tactless!

  Keleir, Ebner, Annie, and Charlot walked away side by side.

  The students of Gias Uy who had gathered couldn’t help but whisper among themselves. Many of them were not Transdents, so they couldn’t fully grasp the key details of Charlot’s calm evasion of Keleir’s Seveh-Tier Grand Knight assault, or his use of Bloodfme Transfiguration. Misuanding Charlot’s abilities, they spread word of his deeds throughout the campus, elevating his reputation to a level unlike before.

  Outside Gias Uy, Keleir pulled open the door of a military carriage and climbed in first.

  Charlot had no choice but to follow. The interior of this carriage was quite different from ordinary household carriages—it resembled a small feren, clearly equipped to fun as a mobile and post during wartime.

  Keleir resumed the previous topid asked, “Aold me you’re only Fourth-Tier?”

  Charlot nodded. “Yes.”

  Keleir asked again, “And you’ve awakehe Bloodfme Aura ability?”

  Given that all four uies ied the legacy of Blood Glory and Keleir must have read the human sage Protagoras’ fidential manuscripts, Charlot saw o hide it. “Yes.”

  Keleir smiled. “Since you’ve mao prehend Blood Ba Meditation at the Fourth Tier and even dense a Blood Ruhere’s o test the st two moves. Ebner and I will take the duel for you.”

  “However, if you wish to marry Annie, being a Fourth-Tier Transdent is far from enough.”

  “Mr. Meburg, please keep w hard!”

  Annie’s cheeks flushed scarlet as she said angrily, “Keleir, what nonsense are you spouting? Charlot and I are just friends!”

  Even as she said this, she felt a little guilty.

  After all, if they were truly just friends, the young dy of the Bretagne family wouldn’t o ask her cousin Keleir for help. Keleir Bretagne was a rising star in the military. If not for his youth and ck of signifit achievements, he would have long anded his own army.

  Keleir shrugged, not wanting to embarrass Annie. “All right, we o return to the army noon’t disturb you two any longer.”

  As Annie and Charlot exited the carriage, Keleir said regretfully, “I inally wao introduo you, but it seems someo me to it.”

  Ebner Soumet smiled faintly and said, “Stop w about my retionships. You’ve met Dolores—are you ied?”

  Keleir shook his head. “Your sister’s temper is too peculiar, and I don’t think she has any i iher.”

  Ebner ughed heartily. “Suddenly, I feel at peace.”

  Keleir sighed softly. “It’s a pity I still don’t have the Proof of War and never got the ce to challehat man.”

  Ebner looked equally regretful. “I heard he’s already beeed.”

  “I hate myself for not being strong enough to challehat sdrel on Menielman’s behalf.”

  The two of them didn’t mention the man’s name—Zimourman Axel Robin.

  As the military carriage slowly drove away, Charlot asked, “I just bought a sed-hand carriage today. Shall we go for a ride?”

  Annie’s i iqued. “Sure!”

  Mrs. Yanmills had long seen Charlot emerge, but when she also saw him with a strikingly beautiful young dy and two military officers b a carriage, her experieold her to quietly wait ihout disturbing her employer.

  When Charlot returned with Annie, Mrs. Yanmills smiled and said, “Sir, Miss, please get in.” She then reached out and pulled the brass lever beside her, and the carriage door slid open.

  This small feature was on in high-end carriages. A meism he an allowed for the door to open gracefully, providing a means for the owo get in and out.

  Charlot invited Ao the carriage before stepping in himself.

  Annie gnced around briefly but lost i. As a young dy of the Bretagne family, she only traveled in ade carriages. A mass-produced vehicle like this was nothing but a “means of transportation” in her eyes, devoid of any luxury.

  She said softly, “You’ve densed a Bloodfme Rune as well?”

  Charlot spread his hands. “Yes.”

  “I didn’t mean to hide it. I simply thought such a minor achievement wasn’t worth bragging about.”

  Annie didn’t care that Charlot hadn’t mentiohe ruo her; instead, she seemed slightly excited and happy.

  Although she had already seen him use Bloodfme Transfiguration and heard his ao her cousin, she still wao ask one more time.

  After receiving firmation, Annie said quietly, “With a Blood Rune densed, your true bat strength might already rival a mid-tier Transdent!”

  “If…”

  Annie fell silent for a long while and didn’t tihe topic.

  Charlot said to Mrs. Yanmills, “Take us to the Rose District. Just wander around.”

  Mrs. Yanmills responded softly and drove the carriage along the streets toward the Rose District.

  The Upper Seven Districts of Strasb each had distinct funs.

  Val-de-Vas housed the imperial pace, the four uies, various gover offices, and grand ates.

  Alexander District scale ercial area, akin to a medieval CBD, favored by the wealthiest elite.

  Alcatras District was a middle-css residential area with the most detective agencies and private panies.

  Picardy District was a ercial and artisanal hub, home to the rgest markets where anything could be bought and sold.

  Galon District, Rose District, and Mavinsado District were old quarters dating back to the Sherlock Dynasty, featuring many sidmarks such as the nearly city-spanning Rose River, the famous Bridge of Love, Destiny Square from the Sherlock era, the Star Gate, and the Laower.

  Of course, these areas were somewhat aged, so the Fars Empire’s new nobility generally avoided living in the old quarters.

  Passing by a famous café along the Rose River that had been open for over three hundred years, Charlot asked Mrs. Yanmills to buy two cups of coffee.